AutoWeek Daily Drive — Tuesday, November 16, 2010

HOME   |   CAR NEWS   |   CAR REVIEWS   |   RACING   |   AUTOSHOWS   |   SUBSCRIBE   |   MARKETPLACE Tuesday, November 16, 2010                  Bidding for the collage of autographed tickets from the 2009 IRL season starts at $75--but it won't stay... Once-in-a-lifetime experiences, all yours for the bidding, to benefit CARA! Fact: Indy cars have a greater terminal velocity--a faster top speed--than even the most exotic Formula One cars. Have you ever thought about what it would be like to go into a corner flat-out on the razor's edge in an Indy car, your backside inches from the asphalt? Wouldn't that be the ultimate A-ticket ride? Well, you can experience it. As part of our annual auction that benefits...   L.A. auto show: Mercedes-Benz Biome concept wears biofiber body Mercedes-Benz will make waves at this year's Los Angeles auto show. But it won't all because of the pending world debut of the new CLS63 AMG. No, the talk of the show is set to center around a spectacular-looking Mercedes-Benz concept called the Biome. Created at Mercedes-Benz's advanced design ...   Infiniti to sell Essence sculpture The Los Angeles auto show will host several world debuts this week, including Infiniti's Essence Sculpture. Inspired by the Infiniti Essence concept car unveiled last year in celebration of Infiniti's 20th anniversary, the Essence Sculpture is made from solid resin. And as the...   L.A. auto show: 2011 Chevrolet Camaro is braced and ready to roll A power folding top, the addition of structural braces and the same powertrain lineup as that found in the coupe are the key selling points of the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro convertible. The drop-top Camaro, which gets a full debut at the Los Angeles auto show on Wednesday, goes on sale in February....   2011 BMW Z4 sDrive35is, an AW Drivers Log EXECUTIVE EDITOR--AUTOWEEK.COM BOB GRITZINGER: Whenever I'm behind the wheel of a Z4, my mind invariably drifts back to the previous-generation Z3, which is now some eight years in the rearview mirror. Why? Because that car always seemed like a four-wheeled motorcycle to me: light, quick,...   Ford to offer 4 vehicles in 2011 with certified EPA ratings of 40 mpg Ford Motor Co. expects the 2012 Focus compact to earn 40 mpg, giving the automaker four vehicles that produce 40 mpg or more in 2011. Three of the 2011s--the Fiesta subcompact SE with SFE package, Fusion Hybrid and Lincoln MKZ Hybrid sedans--have certified 2011 EPA ratings of 40 mpg highway/41...   Formula One: McLaren's Whitmarsh says Abu Dhabi needs track changes McLaren-Mercedes Formula One team principal Martin Whitmarsh said he thinks that the Abu Dhabi circuit needs modifications to improve racing there, after last weekend's Grand Prix was chock-full of zero passing. The track at Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina is under fire after faster cars were unable to...   Geely president Li Shufu admits disputes with Volvo managers Three months after becoming the new owner of the Swedish car brand Volvo, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. President Li Shufu said he disagrees with Volvo's management about its product plans. Speaking last week at a forum hosted by the Chinese Web site of the Financial Times in Shanghai, ... You May Have Missed...   Driver out to top his U.K. electric-car speed record before someone else does In August 2000, Don Wales and the Bluebird Electric Team set the current U.K. land-speed record for an electric car at 139 mph. Now that the record looks vulnerable, Wales intends to set the bar higher--before anyone else does.Wales and his team plan to return to Pendine Sands, Wales--where he set...   IndyCar: Wheldon to compete in SKUSA SuperNationals Dan Wheldon, the 2005 Izod IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500 champion, finished fourth in the TaG (Touch and Go) Senior division of the USA SuperNationals karting event last year. Now he hopes to contend for the win during the 14th edition of the event, scheduled for Nov. 17-21 at the Rio Hotel...   IndyCar: Ostella to Firestone Indy Lights with Jensen team Jensen Motorsport will join the Firestone Indy Lights series in 2011 with 19-year-old Canadian driver David Ostella, who has signed a long-term contract with the Canadian-based team. Jensen Motorsport has a long history in North American open-wheel racing.“This is a very exciting new program...   NHRA: Force becomes oldest champion in history, completes comeback John Force became the 2010 NHRA Funny Car champion when he came from behind to win on Sunday at the season finale in Pomona, Calif., completing a comeback from the crash that almost ended his career.In order to clinch his 15th NHRA championship, 61-year-old Force had to make up two rounds' worth of ...   Formula One: Strong finish lifts McLaren’s confidence for 2011 McLaren-Mercedes ended the 2010 Formula One season Sunday with a strong performance in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, as both Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button finished on the podium. McLaren also captured second place in the constructors’ championship.“We’ve ended this year on a high--...   Formula One: Toyota ends deal with HRT team Erstwhile Formula One entrant Hispania Racing Team (HRT) won't use Toyota hardware in 2010, after all. Cologne, Germany-based Toyota Motorsport GmbH on Monday issued a statement that said the company has ended its association with the new-for-2010 F1 team, apparently because of lack of payment.HRT... CLICK HERE TO UNSUBSCRIBE from the AutoWeek Daily Drive E-mail or to sign up for other AutoWeek e-mail products. IMPORTANT: Please add AutoWeek.com to your E-mail Address Book to ensure you will continue to receive our newsletters. Please DO NOT reply to this e-mail. You will not receive a reply if you use this e-mail address. Crain Communications, 1155 Gratiot Ave. Detroit, MI 48207.