Detroit Automakers One Step Closer to Being Saved

Congress and the White House have come to an agreement on the proposed plan from the Detroit 3 for financial aid during these troubled times that the three automakers have been experiencing due to the current economic crisis. The current $15 billion bailout proposal already has most of its major points agreed upon and is now on its way to the Senate and House of Representatives.

The $15 billion plan will provide General Motors and Chrysler low-interest loans that should help the sustain the two until somewhere near March next year. Ford on the other hand will not be taking any loans until its financial situation worsens. The funds will most probably be drawn from a fund established earlier in the year by the Energy Department.

One of the conditions required in the financial aid proposal is that the President will appoint a person to oversee all the restructuring and management of the companies to ensure that all the plans submitted to Congress will indeed be followed and that the changes proposed will be made. The elected person will hold the power to give recommendations and direction during this critical period, and should these be ignored, the financial loans could be withheld or postponed. Bankruptcy could also be on the cards if so recommended, a move strongly in favor of by the Republicans.

Interestingly, the owners of Chrysler, private equity firm Cerberus Capital, were not required to be held accountable for the loans, should they be approved to Chrysler. This would mean that if Chrysler were to cease operations and fold, Cerberus would not have to repay the federal loans and that would be the last we will see of all that taxpayer money.

The bill will now have to pass through the Senate and House of Representatives before any of these federal loans can be approved. Even with their approval, possible lengthy legislative procedures might mean that it could take some time for GM and Chrysler to see any cash flow into their accounts.

Should The Big 3 Be Rescued?

The current state of the economy has left the US automotive industry in dire straits and the Big 3 have been crying out for help from the U.S. government to the tune 25 billion of American taxpayers' dollars. Eric Reguly from Globe and Mail [via Paultan.org] argues that GM, Ford & Chrysler should be left to crumble and then rebuilt on their own efforts.

In his article, Eric points out that the root of their problems stemmed from general laziness and mismanagement from the automakers, hence the reason they should not receive any funding aids at all. He also points out that they have already been exploiting the U.S. government for decades through CAFE - the Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard. In exploiting the CAFE, the Big 3 have been able to use the CAFE loopholes to sell massive cars at extravagant prices without having to be accountable or responsible, in a manner that other European and Japanese manufacturers without federal help had to achieve by creating essentially better cars in terms of quality & fuel economy, amongst others.

Now that petrol prices have risen substantially and sales figures of these gas-guzzlers have plummeted in favour of better cars by their competitors, the Big 3 are once again going back to the government for rescue, which is something they already expect. However, since automakers around the globe are also facing similar issues, would it mean that every manufacturer should receive some from of financial aid or subsidy from their respective governments?

I definitely agree with Eric when he says that the Big 3 have fallen into this pit due to their own actions. I strongly agree that the Big 3 are lazy and as a result they should have to overcome this situation on their own. How much longer can GM continue to pull the wool over their customers' eyes by introducing "new and improved" models which are actually just rebadged models to begin with, i.e. the Chevrolet Lacetti made famous by Top Gear UK in the Star In A Reasonably Priced Car segment is in fact a rebadged Korean Daewoo model. Similarly, the most recent Pontiac GTO model is in fact just a rebadged Australian Holden.

The respective CEOs from GM, Ford and Chrysler will be meeting with Congress again tomorrow with to elaborate on the plans they submitted detailing how each manufacturer will be using their cut of the financial aid, alongside the president of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Ron Gettelfinger. The UAW is also planning to contribute by possibly eliminating the Jobs Bank, which is a highly controversial program that allows laid off workers to receive up to 95% of their basic salary. Once again, this only seems to demonstrate the level of laziness that the American auto industry in shrouded in.

We can now only wait to see how Wagoner, Mullaly & Nardelli will present their detailed plans to Congress. Rest assured though, that after the personal jet fiasco of last time, all 3 CEOs will be driving to D.C. this time around.

Have a look at the plans submitted by GM, Ford & Chrysler and have your say in the comments.

[Source: Globe and Mail, Automotive News, Paultan.org, Autoblog, press releases]

Project Blackjack - Drifting & Video Made Art

As gamers already know, driving games make up one of the main genres in console and arcade gaming alike. Driving game enthusiasts often fall in one of two categories; the arcade/family fun type racer such as the Need For Speed & Midnight Club series, and the simulation type racer such as the Gran Turismo, Forza Motorsport & Project Gotham Racing series.

Traditionally, the simulation racer community has always been in search of lower lap times and the perfect racing line, but now, there is a new emerging crowd that is slowly and surely spreading its influence across the driving game community - the drifters. The introduction of more realistic physics engines coupled with the ability to essentially fully tune the in-game cars down to exact suspension rebound settings & camber alignments, enabled gamers to successfully initiate very long & smooth drifts in-game.

A drift team in particular, Project Blackjack, caught my attention with one of their Forza Motorsport 2 drift videos which they titled The Rising Storm. Besides the drifting abilities of the drivers, an aspect of the video that intrigued me was that the entire video was shot in Forza 2, with in-game cars placed at strategic locations around the tracks as camera cars. One can only imagine the amount of time used and dedication of the team to be able to create a video such as this.

Catch the video from Youtube embedded below and have your say in the comments section.

More of their Youtube videos here: ProjectBLJK

Vietnamese Crack Face Recognition

Many new laptop computers nowadays are brandishing the latest in personal face recognition technology in the latest of marketing activities by brands such as Toshiba and Asus. These new steps towards personal data recognition have been tested to be efficient and effective, until now.

BKIS, a Vietnamese security firm, has recently demonstrated that despite having these laptop face recognition systems set to their highest security level, these laptops can be duped to believe that a simple sheet of paper is as good as a face. Face recognition is currently offered by Toshiba, Lenovo and Asus, and uses the laptop's built-in webcam to capture faces and then analyze for authentication.

In a demonstration in Vietnam organized by BKIS, the firm showed that by using a simple picture printed on a mere sheet of paper, they were able to trick the face recognition systems from all 3 manufacturers. All that had to be done was to capture a simple photo of the authenticated person's face. The photo was then processed, possibly to enhance the particular features that the facial recognition softwares identify, and then printed out on a sheet of paper. When held in front of the laptop, surprisingly within moments the computer accepted the faux face and allowed full access to all data.

Thought that your face was unique, did you?

[Source: cnet news]

Exclusive Marques Feeling the Economic Crisis

Now that it is official that the economy is now in recession, the auto market across the globe is now in turmoil, especially in the US. The Big 3 (GM, Ford & Chrysler) have yet to close the deal for its financial bailout, and it seems that the situation is very dire for the Americans manufacturers. Ford, for instance, recently sold off its stake in Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata, and even the controversial sale of Aston Martin which was thought the only profitable arm under Ford at that time.

However, news has arrived of layoffs at Aston Martin, which shows that despite the popularity of the DB9, the British marque is also suffering from drops in sales. AM have announced that they will be cutting off 600 jobs to save costs and will be working closely with the unions to reduce the workforce.

Even Bentley, who hit record sales in 2006, are also experiencing issues and have already cut their production figures by 15% in response to the drop in sales. Bentley are working closely with their dealers through these difficult times but we can expect more layoffs from the brand as well.

Only time will tell how the automakers will continue to respond to the recession but cost cuts seem to be the only way forward. The most evident of this would certainly be the absence of several major brands in the Detroit Motor Show this year. We can only hope that these big brands will pull through this crisis.

Feel free to have your say in the comments section.

Top Gear Trio interview

A relaxing watch of the trio from Top Gear, in an interview:



This was posted recently in Finalgear but the video was taken down for some reason..boo

Guitar Hero III, On Drums?

Guitar Hero World Tour just came out weeks ago and we have already gotten our hands on it. Many hours have been spent banging away on the new drum kit, and massive strumming on the new model guitar with its touch-sensitive fret board. A full review to come soon but before that, we will have to revert back to the good old Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock days.

Those among us who have played Guitar Hero III would remember the iconic track "Through The Fire And Flames" by Dragonforce, commonly known as TFFAF in the Guitar Hero community. TFFAF was designed by RedOctane to be the hardest track to master on GH3, and they were spot on. Countless online forums and communities established their own TFFAF boards to monitor the high score rankings for that one particular track. One who could master Expert level on TFFAF was indeed a true Guitar Hero.

Now imagine playing the same track, but on the drums. Impossible? Apparently not for this guy who posted a video of himself rocking out on TFFAF on the drums. Using his own custom MIDI drum set controller replacing the guitar and some mad drumming skills, this guy is out to prove that he can beat you on guitar, using drums. Have a look at the video below, and leave your say in the comments section.

[Source: College Humor]

Monster Pit R32 at Sepang Drag Battle

As we pull into the Sepang parking area and notice the available lots rapidly diminishing, the excitement starts to build in anticipation of the night's Sepang Drag Battle event. The car park is full of modified and as well as stock cars, but the entire crowd consists of drag racing fans. For some it is even a family event as moms can be seen wheeling their children through the entrance on their strollers.

We pay the entrance fee (RM180 for participants, RM30 for spectators) and enter the pit area. Right from the start, you can see that these people mean business. Many of the participating cars aren't even road legal, evident by the fact that not only do they not even have a full chassis or body, the cars have to be actually towed or transported by flatbed to the event. I find it difficult even to refer some of them as actual cars but more of highly tuned engines with wheels fitted to lift them off the ground.

A short walk over to Pit 11 where the class B (2WD Forced Induction category) cars are parked, we find the Monster Pit car that we have come to support. The R32 Nissan Skyline of Monster Pit owner Ivan Tan is easily the most attractive car competing today. Fresh from the Mean Machines event at Juru recently, the Monster Pit R32 is still sporting its fresh show car paint and livery. Ivan and his chief mech have worked hard to get the car where it is today with its new RB26 powerplant ready to lay down a baseline 400m time in stock form with its new driver, Akina Teo.

As the qualifying session begins, our eyes are truly opened to the fact that these cars are really quick in the quarter mile. Plenty of cars in class B can be seen pulling off 10" and 11" runs. The class A (Open category) cars are even quicker, with cars including a highly tuned Satria, and an Impreza and Evo from Singapore.

In conclusion, the Sepang Drag Battle was an interesting experience indeed with the Monster Pit team having a very good first outing. The team will continue to grow with more experience and track time with Ivan's goal of building a powerful track weapon that works equally well as a daily driver set in the team's sights. We wish the best of luck to the Monster Pit team.

Pictures from the 15/11/08 Sepang Drag Battle below.

Ken Block doing wonders on 4 wheels.

Found this video of Ken Block working his 530HP WRX. Great watch.

http://www.dpccars.com/car-videos-08/11-13-08page-Ken-Block-in-a-530whp-Subaru-WRX.htm

Reviewed: Honda Civic Type-R

It’s almost 4am when we climb into the new Honda Civic Type-R and I nestle myself into the Type-R’s supportive passenger seat. Instantly I breathe in the subtle details that set this Civic apart from the regular ones we see so often on the roads. Besides the Type-R exclusive seats, only the red ‘H’ logo on the steering wheel and small Type-R emblems give tell-tale signs of the beast that lives within this Civic.

The exterior tells a whole different story, with the Championship White paint and colour-matched lightweight wheels echoing the looks and performance of Honda’s own NSX Type-R. The redesigned bumper with larger air dams and front spoiler give the car a very aggressive look, and at the rear the large wing and diffuser clearly state the new Type-R’s racing and track intentions.

As we close the doors and insert the keys into the ignition, the anticipation and excitement builds within me. A push of the red starter button brings the K20A powerplant to life, but not with the drama one would expect from such a highly-strung engine. At idle the Type-R feels no different from the regular Civic, and even a blip of the throttle at standstill does nothing to excite.

Moving along empty city roads, I am annoyed to find that the exhaust note is rather flat, with the engine sounding very harsh at higher revs. At low speeds, the Type-R seems to want to settle down like a regular Civic, but the very hard track tuned suspension leaves no room for passenger comfort. So far, the Type-R has failed to impress me, but the passenger seat is not where you would want to judge this particular Honda. 

We pull over and I hop over into the driver’s seat. As soon as we set off, the answer suddenly becomes clear. The rev-loving engine pulls smoothly all the way to the redline. The throttle response is crisp and immediate, with no slack in the pedal. There is this sense of urgency throughout the car, encouraging you to rev the engine harder and shift faster. True to a highly tuned V-TEC engine, revs have to be kept high to keep the car pulling hard in its powerband and the close-ratio transmission on the Type-R is mated perfectly to the 4-cylinder masterpiece. The gearbox has a nice short throw and the shifts are very quick and precise. The combination of the narrow powerband and short, close-ratio gearing enables the driver to keep the car accelerating at its hardest, of which its usefulness should be evident on a closed track.

Another piece of the FD2 that is perfectly suited for the track are the brakes, courtesy of Brembo. The brakes were spectacular, being able to bring the car to a standstill quickly without even the slightest squirm. Pedal feel was excellent and modulation was easy at all speeds. Even with its track-tuned suspension, braking hard over bumpy, city roads posed no problems to the Type-R. All four wheels were always in contact with the road and the chassis allowed the car to be stable and settled at all times.

The Type-R’s sharp engine and drivetrain combination are indeed beautifully set up and can wear its badge proudly, but its real pièce de résistance is its handling; it is truly breathtaking. The steering is instantaneous and extremely precise, well weighted for spirited driving and communicates perfectly with the driver, letting the driver know and feel exactly what the tyres are doing. The front-end grip is phonomenal for a front-wheel drive car and the car does not push wide easily. The back end rotates very well to interpret the driver’s steering inputs, and the ability of the rear to follow the front into the corners enables the car to be very neutral in the corners when flat-out. The superb handling and high levels of road adhesion of this amazing cornering machine will over-flatter and keep increasing your confidence the more you drive it. It just begs to be driven hard, and it equally rewards the driver in return.

As we step out of the Type-R and I return the keys after our drive, I am still in a struggle to completely accept it. I love the way the car feels in my hands, how easy it is to communicate with it at high speeds, and how the car manages to instill a level of confidence that makes the car standout from the crowd. However, it just does not seem like it will make a good everyday car. Without a doubt, you could take your entire family and a day’s worth of supplies to the track, have a wonderful, all-out experience all day, and then just drive your family home after but it just does not feel like what the Type-R was built for. It was made for one purpose only and that is to be driven hard and flat-out on the track or closed mountain road all the time with a big smile on your face, and to that end the Type-R is a great success. Perhaps the biggest success of all is that at the end of the day, despite my doubts, not only did it leave a smile on my face, it left me wanting more.

Many thanks to Tom and Zerotohundred.com. Please have your say in comments.

 

 

 

Top Gear Around The World

The 12th season of Top Gear UK will soon begin to air on November 2nd and the kind folks at the BBC have released a little teaser trailer for all of us to enjoy. From the looks of the trailer, the new series will be brilliant. The trailer shows cars such as the Dodge Challenger, Cadillac CTS-V, Corvette ZR1, Lamborghini LP560-4, racing driver Mika Hakkinen, and the usual three middle aged men just cocking about. The video can be found here.

Top Gear US has also had some news with the launch of their new site with some previews of what we can expect from the new series. The site is still quite UK oriented, but there is US specific material, and we can expect more as more work gets done and the pilot gets closer to air time. The US site includes a blog, photos, videos, and if you have spare time on your hands, some of those videos are actually worth a watch.

Top Gear Australia has aired 5 episodes so far and the cast seem to be on the right track. Although many reviews stated that they didn't see the Aussie trio mashing together as well as their British counterparts, they need to remember that the Brits have been doing it for years and that the Aussies have barely started. Having said that, I do see the Aussies coming together better now in the features, and the film work is coming close to that of Top Gear UK quality. They are not yet as entertaining as the UK trio, but the chemistry is definitely coming together. We'll just have to wait and watch the rest of the series to see if they can hit it off hard.

For those of you having never watched Top Gear, Finalgear.com is a great site to visit where you can find links to torrents for not only Top Gear but Fifth Gear as well. The Finalgear forums are also very busy and occasionally informative, where you can find episode reviews and ratings on the boards, and even previews for upcoming episodes.

Photo Hunt: Mean Machines 2008

Deepavali marked the conclusion of the Mean Machines 2008 autoshow at Juru Autocity. Mean Machines is labelled to be the biggest car show in the Northern Region, but I would only say that the turnout was slightly above average. Some highlights of the cars on display include a pair of Lamborghini Gallardos and a few tastefully done BMWs at the Motorsport Division tent. Local motoring sites such as Zerotohundred and Autojunctions were also around to show their support. Enjoy some highlight pics below.

Lastly, which idiot thought that this was a good idea?

Rise of the GTR

(picture taken from autoblog)


The Nissan GT-R. Known as Godzilla, or a 911 killer on the 'Ring....until Porsche started an accusation...



Anyway, there's a cool video about how Carlos Ghosn, hailed as Nissan's saviour, brought the GT-R to life.

They have a really good marketing strategy, getting the enthusiasts and crowed excited without the conventional media advertising. Smart indeed.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/21/video-nissan-gt-r-documentary-by-national-geographic/


The video is about 47 minutes but it's a nice watch.

If the video is not there anymore, try torrenting it. There's no guessing when it'll be off the site.


...

There has been news in forums about how Nissan is voiding warranty on the GTR when transmission problem occurs...well, tough luck for those owners who apparently launched the car far too many times...sadly enough it's hard to take forums seriously...


It apparently cost USD 20k for a new transmission....


Or USD 20k for a Nismo titanium exhaust system..








( from http://gt-rr.com/gt-r/r35/nismo_japan/part/exhaust_system_titanium_with_diffuser/pid/178 )



Either way...it's still a great car, depending on the hands of the owners.


-Seng Lee

Meet the Beckers

Got to love it when automakers pay attention to owners demographically...and use that to blow other automakers.



It's rather true for drivers around my area, whether it's Boston or Rhode Island.

But nevertheless, it's an entertaining jab at other automakers with stereotyping at its best.

-Seng Lee

Photo Hunt: Pixar CARS Failed Audition Pictures