//:: Ferrari F10 is out and ready to race!

F10!!! Is what they call it. It's the 56th single-seater of Ferrari to contest in the 2010 season of Formula 1. The drivers for this season are Felipe Massa, who returns to the grid after his scary accident last season which resulted to prompting a replacement for him until the season ends. The 2nd driver will be the new comer to the team. The 2-time world champion Fernando Alonso who won both his titles with Renault in '05 and '06 and is sitting in also as a replacement for the 2007 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen who is taking a sabbatical (as they say) for the 2010 season.

Because of the new regulations this season which we will see and witness the ban of refueling. Teams had to fit in bigger fuel tanks to carry enough fuel to let the drivers finish the race which offers big challenges to the engineers in terms of design and the drivers as well. Mainly at the early stages of the race where they will have to manage their tires well because of a heavy fuel load. There were lots of talks around concerning the wheelbase of the car. Larger fuel tanks means larger space needed.... The picture says it all. If you compare the it to the F60 (2009 car). It is actually longer from the center of the rear end of the car. Look closely at the body panels after the exhaust pipes. The F10's are much longer while the F60's are much shorter.


One more interesting change with the F10 compared to the F60 is the top part of the nose, where the nose cone and the end part of the chassis meets up (above the suspension and steering parts).... it does look more like the design similar to Red Bull's RB5 which they used last year during the 2009 season. I have posted also a picture of Red Bull's RB5 at the bottom of this blog. Try to see for yourself.

This is I think a smart move by Ferrari. If you look at how things have gone last year. Red Bull was the only car that fought at the front end of the field without a "double diffuser". It was even faster than the Brawn GP cars at some circuits. So meaning whatever made the RB5 quick was down to the whole package and not just because of the diffuser because Red Bull's RB5 has pretty much the same diffuser as to the 2009 cars of Ferrari, Mclaren, Renault, etc. etc.

The side pods also of the new car is different from last years car as it is more articulated at the outer end.

These are some of the interesting and noticeable parts of the new car. Of course it has lots of changes inside it that's for sure! If only we they've released pictures of it without the body panels. Which I don't think will happen!

Once again Ferrari became the first team to launch their car! Check out the pictures below!

F10 pictures

Ferrari has also announced that they will be running the F10 for the first time on Thursday afternoon at the teams own private test track "The Fiorano test circuit" with Felipe Massa behind the wheel to man it for it's first few laps before packing it up and join other teams for the formal first test session of the 2010 season in Valencia, Spain!

Ferrari has also released some basic technical specifications of the car, though none of the really interesting information such as its wheelbase:

Chassis

Carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite structure
Ferrari longitudinal gearbox
Limited-slip differential
Semi-automatic sequential electronically controlled gearbox – quick shift
Number of gears: Seven, plus reverse
Brembo ventilated carbon-fibre disc brakes
Independent suspension, push-rod activated torsion springs front and rear
Weight with water, lubricant and driver: 620 kg
BBS Wheels (front and rear: 13 inch)

Engine

Type: 056
Number of cylinders: Eight
Cylinder block in sand cast aluminium: 90-degree V
Number of valves: 32
Pneumatic distribution
Total displacement: .2398 cm3
Piston bore: 98 mm
Weight: > 95 kg
Electronic injection and ignition
Fuel: Shell V-Power
Lubricant: Shell Helix Ultra

F60 (Ferrari's F1 car for the 2009 season)

Red Bull's RB5 (2009 F1 car of Red Bull)

Formula 1 2010, Ferrari , Ferrari F10, Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa //TAGS

//:: A tribute to the king of Pop

Travis Payne (Michael Jackson's choreographer) visited the Cebu city in the Philippines to meat the inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC), a maximum security prison.

About 2 years ago people from this said facility someone made this dancing thing for the inmates as a daily exercise for the inmates to keep them fit "I assume". They found out that the inmates are very participative and decided to shoot videos and upload them in youtube.

Here is a sample video of the inmates doing their dance ...

From an interview, Travis said that sometimes he and Michael would take a minute to watch the video of the inmates and this has really touched his heart. I recon that if Michael Jackson is still alive today? he would have done an MTV with this inmates.

Here's the video of the inmates with Travis Payne and and dancers' Daniel Celebre and Dres Reid. (Video was shot & uploaded by Sony Pictures - click here to visit Sony pictures' youtube channel)

Michael Jackson, Travis Payne, Cebu Inmates, Dancing inmates in Cebu city Philippines//TAGS

//:: The return of the Canadian GP

In 2008 F1 has announced that they will no longer race in Canada for some issues with the track in 2007.

Well worry no more -- cause in 2010 Canada will be back in the racing calendar.

Check out this video courtesy of Red Bull F1 Team promoting the Canadian GP for the 2010 season.

Sebastian Buemi the driver for Red Bull's sister team - Scuderia Toro Rosso.

Mind you, Sebastian was driving the F1 car on ice! It's not easy to keep an F1 car on the road let alone on the ice!

Check out this race between a Renault F1 car versus a Ford GT40 with FIA VP and Rally racer Mohammed Bin Sulayem at the wheel of the F1 car. He looses it and the rest is history!

Red Bull F1 Racing Team, Sebastian Buemi, Canadian Grand Prix, Formula 1//TAGS

[CARS-MANIA] All-New Mazda5 with Spunkier Styling Revealed Ahead of Geneva Show

The here is new Mazda5 people carrier and it will have its world premiere at the Geneva Motorshow in the beginning of March. The Japanese firm's Renault Scenic and Opel Zafira rival in the compact MPV segment features all-new sheetmetal that brings it in line style-wise with the rest of Mazda's lineup.

As well as adopting the company's trademark smiley face grille up front, the new Mazda5 also uses swoopy elements of Mazda's 'Nagare Flow' design language that was previewed on several concept cars including the Furai.

Like its predecessor, the new '5 comes with sliding rear-doors and can accommodate up to seven passengers in three rows of seats.

Among the engine options will be Mazda's newly-developed 2.0-litre four-cylinder gasoline engine with direct-injection and i-stop, linked to a six-speed manual transmission with gear ratios specific to this version.

The gasoline line-up will also features a 1.8-liter engine with a six-speed manual transmission.

The all-new Mazda5 is scheduled to go on sale across Europe later this year with more details to be released at the Geneva motor show.





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Posted By tyson9500 to CARS-MANIA at 1/24/2010 01:26:00 AM

//:: Pastrana's New Year stunt

Travis Pastrana possibly holds the record of the most broken bones from crashes and accidents from his favorite motor sports, stunts or sometimes in when his mind kicks in for some action.

For his latest BIG stunt. He took his World Rally car Subaru Impreza and launched it 269-feet across water in Long Beach. As you may imagine, it was not easy.

Because a car lacks the jet turbines, fuselages, wings and stuff, they don't generally fly well. Pastrana does not believe this and he tries everything to get his Scooby off the ground, through the air smoothly, and back down cleanly.

Which doesn't always work. Skip to 1:30 on the video and you'll notice his car nosedive into planet Earth and roll across the dirt like tumbleweed. After that little incident, he reaches a conclusion.

"If I just pull the handbrake, the front end will come right up", he says. In mid-air!

"Errr... Righ!" hahaha

Travis Pastrana, Subaru Impreza World Rally Car, New Year 2010, Jump Car Stunt //TAGS

[CARS-MANIA] 2011 BMW 335is: First Official Photos of 322HP Coupe and Convert...

While BMW has yet to make an official announcement on the all-new 335is Coupe and Convertible, the Bavarian firm uploaded the first official photos of both models on its public website. The 335is, which is believed to be offered initially only in North America, closes the gap between the 300HP 335i (306HP in Euro spec) and the 414HP M3 (420HP for the Euro model).

As we've already informed you from our previous post, a leaked spec sheet from BMW's Canadian division reveals that the 335is makes use of a tweaked version of the outgoing 335i's N54 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline six - and not the single-turbo N55 engine of the facelift 2011 335i.

The 335is' straight-six pumps out 322 horsepower (+22HP) and 332 lb-ft of peak torque (+32 lb-ft) with 369 lb-ft available temporarily on the over boost function.

Power is transferred to the rear-wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox or an optional seven-speed double clutch transmission.

We assume that like the new Z4 sDrive35is, the 335is model will get suspension calibrations for a sportier ride.

Naturally, the new 335is models get an M Aerodynamics package that includes unique front and rear bumpers as well as specific 18-inch alloy wheels and shadow trim for the double kidney grille, window surrounds and the dual tail pipes.

We expect an official release with more details to be released shortly.




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Posted By tyson9500 to CARS-MANIA at 1/23/2010 01:25:00 AM

Lexus LFA: Early Customer Interest Exceeds Production Numbers (You don't Say...)

To no one's surprise, in the three months that have passed since the official introduction of the LFA at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2009, the number of formal expressions of interest in purchasing the $375,000 V10 supercar is already far greater than the limited production run of only 500 examples, Toyota's subsidiary announced today.

Lexus said that it will continue to accept "formal expressions of interest" up to mid-March. At that point though, the 500 LFAs will be allocated across the 56 countries where they are on sale, with confirmed orders with deposits to be invited from the end of May.

Devshi Varshani, the Personal Liaison Manager who looks after all LFA sales, said: "The level of interest we have witnessed reinforces just what an exceptional car the LFA is. Even though few people have even seen the car in the metal, let alone experienced its breathtaking performance, it has quickly achieved the status of a truly rare and highly sought-after machine."

The Japanese automaker's first-ever supercar is powered by a mid-front mounted 4.8-litre V10 engine that churns out 552bhp for a zero to 62mph (100km/h) sprint time of just 3.7 seconds and a maximum velocity of 325 km/h or 202 mph.

[Super Cars] Lexus LFA: Early Customer Interest Exceeds Production Numbers (Y...

To no one's surprise, in the three months that have passed since the official introduction of the LFA at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2009, the number of formal expressions of interest in purchasing the $375,000 V10 supercar is already far greater than the limited production run of only 500 examples, Toyota's subsidiary announced today.

Lexus said that it will continue to accept "formal expressions of interest" up to mid-March. At that point though, the 500 LFAs will be allocated across the 56 countries where they are on sale, with confirmed orders with deposits to be invited from the end of May.

Devshi Varshani, the Personal Liaison Manager who looks after all LFA sales, said: "The level of interest we have witnessed reinforces just what an exceptional car the LFA is. Even though few people have even seen the car in the metal, let alone experienced its breathtaking performance, it has quickly achieved the status of a truly rare and highly sought-after machine."

The Japanese automaker's first-ever supercar is powered by a mid-front mounted 4.8-litre V10 engine that churns out 552bhp for a zero to 62mph (100km/h) sprint time of just 3.7 seconds and a maximum velocity of 325 km/h or 202 mph.



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Posted By tyson9500 to Super Cars at 1/23/2010 01:18:00 AM

[CARS-MANIA] 2010 Toyota Auris Facelift gets Subtle Makeover and New Hybrid V...

When Toyota introduced the successor to the hatchback versions of the Corolla (the sedan variant kept the name) in Europe in 2006, the company's bosses decided to baptize the new car "Auris", not only due to its supposedly fresh and contemporary styling, but also because the name "Corolla" had become more synonymous with dull than with quality in the Old Continent.

Fast forward to 2010, and the Auris has yet to shake off its predecessor's bland-mobile reputation...

And while the subtle cosmetic makeover for the 2010 model year won't make the standard Auris any more interesting than before, the addition of a full hybrid version to the range is something that could very well capture the interest of European buyers.

Toyota's Spartan press release did not get into any details whatsoever, but the two official photos reveal that the 2010 Auris hatchback benefits from the same cosmetic changes as the JDM model that was introduced last October and almost the same styling upgrades as the Auris HSD Hybrid study that was presented at the 2009 Frankfurt Show.

On the outside, the 2010 model year Auris features a revised grille, reshaped front and rear bumpers, new headlamps, tail lights and alloy wheels plus a different bonnet design and new exterior mirrors with integrated turning signals.

We assume that the production Auris HSD (which stands for Hybrid Synergy Drive) will keep if not all, most of the exterior styling cues and aerodynamic tweaks such as the underbody panels of the concept study.

The Auris HSD's petrol-electric hyrbid drivetrain will be largely shared with the Prius meaning that the five-door hatchback can run on battery power alone in zero-emissions mode.

Full details and photos of both the standard and hybrid versions of the Auris are expected to be released closer to their official debut at the Geneva Salon in early March.


2010 TOYOTA AURIS FACELIFT

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TOYOTA AURIS HSD HYBRID CONCEPT STUDY

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Posted By tyson9500 to CARS-MANIA at 1/22/2010 01:23:00 AM

One more 2010 Camaro-Based Pontiac Trans Am Conversion

Not surprisingly, Pontiac's demise has spurred an interest in the creation of Trans Am replicas based on the new Chevrolet Camaro. We remind you that we've already seen a conceptual proposal for a modern-day Pontiac Trans Am from ASC Creative Services and real-life examples from Lingenfelter and Trans Am Depot.

The latest company to join the list of tuners interested in creating a Trans Am replica is a company called Gearhead Performance Group.

Along with the cosmetic upgrades that include new front and rear fascias complete with unique lights, 21- or 22-inch snowflake wheels, a large rear spoiler and gold interior accents (...), the tuner claims that it will offer an optional twin-turbo LS9 V8 with some 900 horsepower.

Source: Gearhead Performance , Via: Autoblog.com