Road Tripper

 

Looks can be deceiving. At first look, Andy Priaulx’s BMW may look like any other Wold Touring vehicle from the German Automaotive maker. But the World beating BMW 320si WTCC isn’t just like any other road car — it had sent Andy Priaulx to two consecutive driver’s championship.

The remarkable BMW 320si is a lot faster than other automobiles that hit the British Motorways, but is less comfortable at the same time. Luxury had been traded for performance because it is a hybrid racing car from showrooms down the block.

The car body weighs 355 kg made up of 550 sheet metals assembled at the BMW factory in Regensburg, Germany. It had undergone welding and installment of adhesive seams to build the car figure.

The safety cage was developed from computer assisted design engineering. It took almost 200 hours for the specialist engineers at BMW to fit the steel cage.
A series of virtual crash test was done to determine the strength of the case, where and how it will be distorted in cases of collisions.

Safety features of the car includes the Hans (head and neck support) system, crash pads, special foams for energy absorption during a crash and a vice-like six-point safety belt that clamps the driver in his seat.

The car must meet the weight requirement of the World Touring Car Championship of 1,140 kg, the driver included.

Under the hood of the BMW 320si is a 2.0 litre, four cylinder engine that generates 275 horsepower compared to the 173 horsepower from an ordinary road car engine. Other BMW engine parts like BMW Catalytic Converter (not Volvo catalytic converter), Radiator and other engine parts are also enveloped under the hood.

The BMW 320si WTCC is built with huge brakes. The size of the brake aims to slow the car from 200kph to standstill in 130 metres and at the stame time presses the driver into the safety belts with a force of 1.5kg.

It is the first BMW racing car that uses state of the art technology that simplifies the transmission of electrical and control signals. It also enables exchange of data between different control units.

In a study made by the University of Michigan it has been found out that Americans now are more satisfied with their Buicks and Lincolns, all from American Car Manufacturers, General Motors and Ford than their Japanese made Toyotas.

The result does not necessarily mean an improved quality of cars produced by Ford (8.37, +0.14, +1.7%) and General Motors (34.46, +0.61, +1.8%) but a question of Toyota’s function (119.40, +0.07, +0.1%).

Toyota sloped down from the list being the first and had allowed Buick, Lincoln and Mercury to climb the post.

Claes Fornell, who headed the study, says, “What goes up must come down, but it remains to be seen whether this is just a stumble for Toyota or a sign of something more serious,”

“But Detroit automakers would be making a huge mistake if they think the Asians will keep falling back to them,”

“They have to do it on their own.” He added.

Before this study, American Car makers had also made it to the Customer satisfaction Index in the previous years based on price promotions which tend to wear down profits and discredit the brand according to Fornell. But lately much have improved on the quality of the vehicles of General Motors and Ford.

On top of the study was Lexus with the score of 87 out of 100 from last year’s score of 86 and an over all average of 82 making it the top in the industry. Although it is Toyota’s luxury division, it deposed its parent brand.

GM’s Buick and Cadillac (grille inserts can be replaced by GMC Grille insert), Ford’s Lincoln-Mercury and BMW all scored 86.

Being on the sixth place, Toyota gained 84 points.

Ford’s luxury brand, the Blue Oval Brand ranked seventh with the score of 80.

Mazda and Kia both made it almost to the bottom having scored both 78.

Chrysler’s jeep with 75 points is on the last place.

No comments have been heard from Toyota’s side regarding the published result of the study.

“I’m a little bit skeptical on their approach to fixing their current problems,” says Fornell.

 ”But in the long run, Toyota will find a way to handle it”.

Let’s just hope so.

A recent survey has revealed that though 91% of Americans admit that they think it is unsafe to send SMS messages while driving – likening it to drunk driving (89% of them even suggested that it should be prohibited) — more than half of them, 57% admitted that they are guilty for it.

The survey also found out that both men and women are likely to text while driving with older adults aged 55 and above covered 6% and the younger adults aged 18-34, an overwhelming 64%.

The survey was commissioned by Pinger Company, which intends to replace text messaging with voice messaging technology, a service they intend to provide the Americans.

Greg Woock, CEO of Pinger said, “We all know that distracted driving is dangerous, especially when drivers take their eyes off the road to text message,”

“But, as these numbers show, people want to stay connected when they’re on the go. Pinger allows drivers to be productive in a way that’s safer.”

Last May, Washington DC outlawed sending text messages while driving and other states like Arizona, Florida are considering the same ban.

Washington DC’s ban rooted from an accident in Seattle Interstate, where a man while driving and also reading his blackberry caused a 5 car pile-up.

Washington DC representative Joyce McDonald said, “The fact is, it is a very, very dangerous activity,”

“Not only do people jeopardize their own lives, but they’re jeopardizing the lives of everyone else on the road.”

However, in California, and other states, it will be illegal to drive while talking in a handled phone, but there is no mention of text messaging.