Gullwing Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Becomes New F1 Safety Car

The 2010 season of Formula One racing will see a new safety car in the series, as the “gullwing” Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG will replace the SL 63 AMG, formerly used by the championship in back-to-back seasons (2008 and 2009). In addition to that news, it was also confirmed that the Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Estate will continue to be the series' official medical car for the 2010 season.


“Together with the entire AMG Team, I am very proud that the new SLS AMG is the official F1 safety car. I'm sure all Mercedes and AMG fans will be excited to see the gullwing model together with the new Mercedes GP Petronas Team at the F1 circuits," said Volker Mornhinweg, Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

As in the previous years, the Formula One safety car will be driven by 38-year old German Bernd Mayländer – former DTM driver – who will himself be co-driven by FIA's Pete Tibbetts.

According to an official press release from Daimler AG, the new F1 safety car will benefit from the same engine, power transmission, suspension and brake system as the standard-production SLS AMG. That means it will be powered by the 6.3-litre AMG V8 naturally aspirated engine producing 420 kW (571 hp) and a maximum torque of 650 Nm, and recording a 0 to 100 km/h sprint in 3.8 seconds.

It will also feature the AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission with double-clutch technology and AMG ceramic high-performance composite brake system, aimed at minimizing the brake distances.

As for the C 63 AMG Estate, the car will be driven by South African race driver Alan van de Merwe, joined by the official FIA Grand Prix Chief Medical Officer Dr Gary Hartstein.

Source: http://www.autoevolution.com/news/gullwing-mercedes-benz-sls-amg-becomes-new-f1-safety-car-gallery-17356.html
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HYUNDAI SCORES WITH i30 WORLD CUP TOUR

- 33 specially-designed i30s touring Europe.
- Each car decorated in colours of the qualifying nations.
- Celebrates Hyundai’s official sponsorship of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
It may be 192 days until the FIFA World Cup gets underway, but Hyundai – the official Automotive Partner of the global football fest – is already getting into the spirit of the event.


To celebrate the end of the qualifying stages of the event – which will kick-off in South Africa next June – Hyundai is touring Europe with a fleet of 33 specially designed i30s. To make the tour as colourful as the event itself, 32 of the cars have been wrapped in the national colours of the qualifying teams – which, of course, includes England. The other is a car of all nations, decorated with 32 different flag designs.

The i30 World Cup tour has stopped at Hyundai retailers around Europe, meeting thousands of football and Hyundai fans along the way. After a tour through London over the weekend the convoy stopped at Chelmsford Hyundai – one of the UK’s most successful Hyundai dealerships – on Monday 30th November.

Bill Cook, dealership owner and Chairman of the Hyundai Franchised Dealer Committee, lined up with his staff to welcome the touring i30s which had battled through weather conditions which will be a far cry from those expected at the finals next June.

Also greeting the 33-strong convoy of World Cup cars were budding footballers from two local schools. Players from Meadgate Primary and Broomfield Junior schools lined up to cheer the i30s as they arrived at the dealership.

Football mad Bill Cook said; “We’re really delighted that the i30 World Cup tour has come to Chelmsford Hyundai – and that Hyundai is getting so involved with the event. Of course, I’ll be supporting England next June and hoping that we can bring the cup back home.”

Ken Lee, president of Hyundai Motor UK, added; “Being the official Automotive Partner for such a huge global event is a great honour for Hyundai. Although I hope England do well, I’ll be supporting South Korea in the finals!”

The convoy of i30s is now making its way from Essex to Holland for the next stage of the tour.

Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Co. has grown into the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group which was ranked as the world’s fifth largest automaker in 2007 and includes over two dozen auto-related subsidiaries and affiliates. Employing over 75,000 people worldwide, Hyundai Motor sold 2,796,370 vehicles in 2008 in 193 countries through some 6,000 dealerships and showrooms. Operating profits for 2008 were 1.877 trillion won (£990 million). Hyundai-Kia was named Automotive Manufacturer of the Year 2008 by Autocar magazine. In the UK, Hyundai cars emitted an average of 148g/km of CO2 in 2008, a 10 percent improvement on the previous year. Further information about Hyundai Motor Co. and its products is available at www.hyundai.co.uk.

Source: europeanmotornews.com/2009/12/01/hyundai-scores-with-i30-world-cup-tour/
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