Reports of Red Bull’s reign of dominance over the 2023 season coming to an end have been greatly exaggerated. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free In a year when competition between their rivals behind has been as unpredictable as it has been gripping, Red Bull have routinely rocked up to paddocks across the globe only to crush all opposition with near-militaristic execution. Then, in Singapore, a rare stumble from the world champions offered hope that the Red Bull giant could indeed be toppled. Yet six days later, Red Bull and Max Verstappen reminded everyone just how powerful a combination they are when they stormed to pole position in Suzuka by one of the biggest margins of the season – and the largest for nearly 20 years at the famous Japanese circuit. Not that it was of any surprise to their opposition. “Our internal messaging was ‘expect them to be back out front when we get back to Suzuka’,” admitted Mercedes’ trackside engineering director Andrew … [Read more...] about Verstappen sitting pretty but unexpectedly hot track could cook up drama
Hilling corn with the double wheel hoe
Suzuka layout ‘punishes’ Mercedes’ weakness in high-speed corners
Suzuka’s high-speed corners amplified a weakness of Mercedes’ car and left their drivers on the fourth row of the grid over a second behind pole-winner Max Verstappen . Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free Lewis Hamilton said he made strides with his car’s set-up after a difficult Friday but could not overcome the shortcoming of its lack of rear-end grip. “Yesterday was a nightmare, not the kind of balance that you want on a track like this,” said Hamilton. “But we did some great work overnight, the car was feeling much nicer to drive today like it’s as good a balance as we could possibly get. “It’s just massively down on rear downforce, so we can’t carry anywhere near the speeds as these guys are carrying through that first sector.” Mercedes have found it consistently difficult to dial their car in from track to track this year. “We have a very peaky car,” said Hamilton. “When we talk about knife-edge [handling], it’s literally like trying to balance … [Read more...] about Suzuka layout ‘punishes’ Mercedes’ weakness in high-speed corners
2024 Nissan Sentra Priced From $21,725, Up $430 From Last Year
Nissan's Sentra gets several significant changes and a slight bump in price for the 2024 model year. Now in its eighth generation, the revisions include updated styling, improved fuel economy, and a price that's up $430 over the 2023 model. The Sentra lineup comprises three trim levels. The base S starts at $21,725, including $1,095 in destination fees. The mid-level SV begins at $22,655 and is available with an SV Premium Package that includes features like an eight-speaker Bose sound system and integrated side-mirror turn signals. At $24,815, the top-level SR gets dark chrome trim and 18-inch wheels. Inside, the SR includes heated front seats and a red-orange stitching accent similar to the Altima SR and Frontier PRO-X . Gallery: 2024 Nissan Sentra 43 Photos Most noticeably, the 2024 Sentra sports a revised front fascia with a revamped V-motion grille, new … [Read more...] about 2024 Nissan Sentra Priced From $21,725, Up $430 From Last Year
DTM Red Bull Ring: Van der Linde takes first win of 2023 in wet-dry contest
The Abt Audi driver recorded his first triumph since 2021, finishing almost two seconds clear of Laurin Heinrich , who led the first phase of the race from pole position. Van der Linde's team-mate Ricardo Feller prevailed in a thrilling late scrap with Rene Rast to take the final podium spot, while championship leader Mirko Bortolotti came home in ninth. The race started on a damp track, with most of the field opting for wet-weather tyres. Team 75 Motorsport Porsche driver Heinrich converted a maiden pole into the lead at turn one, but then was challenged on the climb to turn three by van der Linde. Heinrich managed to prevail in that battle, with van der Linde slipping to fifth after running wide and then getting swamped on the run to turn four by Heinrich's team-mate Ayhancan Guven, Mercedes-AMG driver Maro Engel and championship contender Thomas Preining . Heinrich pulled out a three-second advantage over Engel in the early stages, while van der Linde recovered … [Read more...] about DTM Red Bull Ring: Van der Linde takes first win of 2023 in wet-dry contest
Are Red Bull and Ferrari on back foot for potential Japanese GP tyre wrecker?
The iconic figure-of-eight track has always been punishing on its rubber, but things could well be a bit more extreme this time around. Race day is expected to be another scorcher, and complaints that George Russell mentioned on Friday about a "strange" sliding have been caused by a track surface that has had a 15% drop in macro roughness (so effective grip) compared to 12 months ago. As Ferrari's Charles Leclerc said: "Especially with the very warm temperatures this year, the overheating is really, really bad. So, I expect that it [the race] will be all about the tyre management and the strategy." A two-stopper looks nailed on then, but it comes with not all teams having the luxury of what appears to be the ideal tyre allocation to get them through without much drama. F1 tyre supplier Pirelli thinks the best approach to the race is to start on the soft, run through until laps 12-18, and then split the rest of the grand prix up into two hard stints. But that is … [Read more...] about Are Red Bull and Ferrari on back foot for potential Japanese GP tyre wrecker?
Kia Seltos ADAS: Two New Variants Launched at Rs. 19.39 Lakh
Home Four wheelers -Irwin Mills By Irwin Mills Updated: Wednesday, September 20, 2023, 10:58 [IST] In April of 2021, Kia India revitalized its image in sync with its fresh brand identity, "Movement that Inspires", which is committed to providing customers with impactful experiences supported by trailblazing products and services. Leveraging this evolved brand identity, Kia is exploring methods to surpass new pre-established standards while stimulating consumers to achieve more. To date, Kia India has introduced five cars in the Indian market - the Seltos, the Carnival, the Sonet, the Carens, and the EV6. From its Anantapur plant, Kia India has achieved more than 10 lakh dispatches, which includes over 7.5 lakh domestic sales and nearly 2.5 lakh exports. Continuous with its customer-focused approach, Kia India, a significant mass premium automaker in India, has launched two new models: the GTX+ (S) and X-Line (S). These … [Read more...] about Kia Seltos ADAS: Two New Variants Launched at Rs. 19.39 Lakh
It’s advantage McLaren in the strategy game at the Japanese Grand Prix
With Pirelli predicting the best strategy for the Japanese Grand Prix will be a two-stop of soft-hard-hard, it’s advantage McLaren as the Woking team is one of only three outfits where both drivers have those tyres in hand. Oscar Piastri will line up alongside Max Verstappen on the front row of the Japanese Grand Prix, the Aussie having grabbed a career-best grid slot, with Lando Norris sitting third. But while the McLarens didn’t have the pace to challenge Verstappen on Saturday as the reigning World Champion crossed the line an incredible 0.581s faster, they could try for a two-pronged attack on Sunday. McLaren: The only way we can attack Max is tactical And according to Pirelli they have the tyres do it. Formula 1’s tyre supplier believes the best strategy for the Suzuka race is a two-stopper with the driver starting on the soft tyres and then slitting the rest between two sets of hard tyres. On a weekend in which the drivers dealt with high temperatures and … [Read more...] about It’s advantage McLaren in the strategy game at the Japanese Grand Prix
A R Rahman Buys Lamborghini Urus S SUV – Check Out All Details Here
Home Off beat oi-Athul By Athul Published: Sunday, September 24, 2023, 8:06 [IST] Music maestro A R Rahman needs no introduction in India and he is no stranger to grabbing headlines. However, recently A R Rahman's name has been buzzing quite loudly in the automotive world due to his latest ride. According to the pictures shared by Automobili Ardent , A R Rahman's latest addition to his garage is a Lamborghini Urus S SUV. That being said, the images were taken when the vehicle arrived at a detailing studio in Chennai. Analysing the images, we can see that A R Rahman's Lamborghini Urus S is finished in Bianco Monocerus shade. Interestingly, the A R Raman's Lamborghini Urus S seems to be devoid of any fancy optional extras. Speaking about the new Lamborghini Urus S, the super SUV is priced at Rs 4.18 crore (ex-showroom). Moreover, the model is powered by a 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged, V8 petrol engine (sourced from … [Read more...] about A R Rahman Buys Lamborghini Urus S SUV – Check Out All Details Here
Meet the Tiny Giant of Urban Transportation: Fiat Topolino
Home Four wheelers -Rohit Nambiar By Rohit Nambiar Updated: Wednesday, September 20, 2023, 11:25 [IST] Fiat, the Italian automotive giant, has initiated the reservation process for Fiat Topolino, the smallest electric vehicle (EV) in its portfolio. Unveiled earlier this year, the Topolino is designed to be the perfect personal commute option, specifically catering to the densely populated and congested city regions of Italy. The micro EV is already in high demand, leading to a delivery timeline of around 19 weeks due to the influx of orders. The Fiat Topolino is built on the Citroen Ami platform and features an astonishingly compact design, measuring only 2.53 meters in length with a top speed of 45 kmph. Intent on prioritizing practicality over flamboyance and speed, this quadricycle-class EV has managed to secure a spot as Fiat's second EV after the Fiat 500e. The Topolino also has an edge over similar vehicles due to its ability to … [Read more...] about Meet the Tiny Giant of Urban Transportation: Fiat Topolino