Autoblog

From our friends at the Axis of Oversteer comes a story of determination, fortitude, and a healthy dose of Darwinian law.

With less than a mile left in a stage of the Ralley de Serrians in France, the throttle cable in our hero's Renault finally gives up the ghost. Does he give up? No! Does the team try to push their way to the finish? Hell no! The driver tells his co-pilot to man the wheel while he hops into the engine bay, pulls the hood over himself and then manually controls the throttle cable bracket to a heroic finish. The picture above speaks for itself, but the video after the jump tells the whole tale.

[Source: Axis of Oversteer]

Renault plans to make a splash at the 2012 Olympics in London where the automaker will have a trio of electric vehicles on display and in action at the games. The first EV from the French automaker will be an electrified Kangoo MPV that will shuttle both Olympians and spectators from event to event. Renault's second planned EV will be based on the Megane sedan and will be featured as part of the automaker's Project Better Place rollout in Israel. Lastly, a small city car that seats five occupants is planned on a brand new platform that's not shared with any other models.

Electric vehicle charging is one current (ha ha) sticking point that needs to be addressed before we're driving with electrons, and Renault has plans on that front as well. Quick charging stations would be set up in and around the London area for the car's rollout and these could be replicated anywhere EVs are planned. Alternatively, special stations could be created that are equipped to swap out a vehicle's battery in just five minutes, providing at least 100 miles of range. Each EV would have a standard GPS navigation system with every charging or swapping station pre-programmed. Of course, the cars could also easily be charged at night from a normal power outlet.


[Source: Autocar]

Ever wonder how expensive it is for a manufacturer to compete in Formula 1 racing? Not surprisingly, it ain't cheap. Each of the successful teams spend hundreds of millions of dollars on their programs, but success is not necessarily tied in to how much dough was spent. For instance, Ferrari, winners of this year's constructor's championship with 172 total points, spent about $2.4 million per point in 2008. McLaren and BMW, numbers two and three respectively, spent a bit more than that figure, but still under a cool $3 mil. Honda and Toyota, though, had budgets nearly as large as the top-tier manufacturers yet scored significantly fewer points. In fact, Honda's meager 14 points cost the automaker over 28 million buckaroos a piece, making theirs the most expensive points of all. On average, teams spent about $4.3 million per point. No wonder the sport is looking to cut its budget as soon as possible. Thanks for the tip, Keith!

[Source: F1 Fanatic]

On the same day that General Motors announced it would be discontinuing talks with Cerberus over a possible purchase of Chrysler, news hits by way of Reuters that a replacement suitor has sprung up. Wow, that didn't take long. The latest partner is none other than Hyundai, Korea's largest automaker. Not surprisingly, it's the Jeep brand that is again taking center stage according to these initial rumors. Everybody wants Jeep, it seems. If true, the possibility of breaking Chrysler's automotive operations into bits and pieces once again seems like a distinct possibility. What's more, after acknowledging that GM is abandoning talks of a "strategic acquisition," Chrysler's Bob Nardelli may now be back on the phone with Carlos Ghosn, head of the Nissan/Renault juggernaut, along with, presumably, anybody else who is willing to listen and has a pulse.

[Source: Reuters]

Now that the 2008 Formula One championship is decided, teams will begin moving on confirming their drivers for next season. And while several already have, one major question mark has just been resolved as Renault has confirmed the extension of Fernando Alonso's contract. And not just for next season, but through 2010. Along with it, they've confirmed his team-mate's contract through next season as well, giving the team continuity for its upcoming assault on the title.

Renault managed a notable recovery in the latter part of this season that saw Alonso win two races back to back. And while that may be a far cry from the two titles he won with the team a couple of years back, it's a start. That no doubt had a positive impact on Fernando's decision to stay with the team, but insiders were surprised to see him sign for two more years instead of one. Meanwhile, though Nelson Piquet Jr. had a rough start to the season, he managed to pull off some noteworthy performances when the team found its form again, earning him a renewal as well.

The hirings should allow the rest of F1's teams, now relieved of the suspense, to confirm their drivers for next season. So far, Ferrari, McLaren, BMW Sauber, Williams and now Renault have announced they're sticking with the same pairings, and Red Bull has confirmed Sebastian Vettel is moving up to take Coulthard's seat alongside Mark Webber, leaving Toro Rosso, Toyota, Honda and Force India to announce their drivers for the upcoming season. Stay tuned.

[Source: Renault F1]

If Cerberus is ever going to shed itself of Chrysler, it looks like a deal will happen with soon-to-be former rival General Motors. Automotive News is reporting that no further talks have been scheduled between Nissan/Renault and the Auburn Hills-based automaker, as Cerberus has determined that the General can provide a sweeter deal that may also be better for the auto industry. It doesn't help that Nissan/Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn has decried that a deal between the two doesn't make sense during these shaky economic times.

We've never been at the table of a multi-billion dollar negotiation before, but we're pretty sure it's better to be sitting across the table from more than one company that wants what you've got. At this point, the once preposterous idea of GM merging with/buying/devouring Chrysler seems likely, and only a presidential election and a few billion dollars stand in the way of its completion.

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]

Renault has thankfully brought more to the Sao Paulo Auto Show than just an F1 edition of its inexpensive Dacia Sandero with racy decals and a bodykit. The other car in its display is another Sandero, but this one is much cooler. Called the Sandero Sand'up concept, it's a 2+2 beach runabout that can go from a closed hard-top coupe to a convertible pickup thanks to its modular design. While not the freshest idea to appear on a concept, the Sand'up is charming enough with its big wheel arches, satin nickel roof rail arches and see-through doors. The first concept by Renault to be designed entirely in South America, the Sand'up is not surprisingly powered by a 1.6L Hi-Flex engine that produces 107 hp on gasoline and 112 hp on ethanol, the latter of which is a more popular fuel below the equator than above at the moment.


[Source: Renault]

Click above to view more of the Dacia Sandero F1 edition

Oh, this is just precious. We have no problem with Renaultsport rolling out F1-themed versions of its hot hatches because, well, they're pretty hot. Some of the hottest hatches around, actually, it's worth re-iterating. But we can't help but feel this is pushing things a little too far.

Renault's Dacia division is supposed to be a budget-oriented, no frills sub-brand. And while F1 may be working on the budget orientation, spec'ing out some low-cost econo-boxes with go-fast bits is a little much. But that's what they're doing at the Sao Paulo auto show soon to kick off in Brazil. To compound the issue, the pair of F1 Team editions of the Dacia Sandero and Dacia Logan receive no mechanical upgrades whatsoever, just a fresh coat of paint and some decals. So while American driving enthusiasts may look longingly at F1 Team editions of the Clio and Megane, this is one we can do without.

[Source: Argentina Auto Blog (no relation)]

The automotive world is abuzz with rumors and speculation regarding a possible Chrysler merger, and with good reason. It appears Cerberus, which owns 80.1% of Chrysler LLC, may be ready to wash its hands of the auto industry, and either General Motors, Nissan, or some other entity altogether could take the Pentastar off the private company's hands. Optimistic Chrysler Vice Chairman Jim Press told reporters at a recent Society of Automotive Engineers' conference that Chrysler would "be around", and that everyone should stop paying attention to wild speculation by the news media (Is he talking about us?). Press went on to say that Chrysler has adjusted the size of its business to meet the current economic realities (read: downsized) and that the negative cash flow has largely stopped. The affable vice chairman even joked that Chrysler's $11 billion in cash reserves could be a big reason that other companies are interested in shacking up with the beleaguered automaker.

Press' public words regarding a possible merger were the first from a Chrysler exec, but he sure didn't provide much in the way of details. That's not surprising, considering the sensitive nature of what could be ground-breaking negotiations for the auto industry. That means the wild speculation will continue, as the fate of thousands of workers and scores of Mopar minions hang in the balance.

[Source: The Detroit News, Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty]

The fate of Chrysler LLC continues to grow more complicated as reports today indicate that Nissan/Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn has made an offer to buy 20% of the privately owned automaker from Cerberus Capital Management, which is also currently in talks to make a deal with General Motors. Unlike a potential deal with GM that could see Chrysler's brands dismantled, a deal with Nissan, which already has an alliance with Renault, would likely keep the American automaker intact and moving forward. Chrysler would become, in effect, the American arm of a triumvirate of brands that includes Nissan from Japan and Renault from Europe. Only Nissan's name is on the offer, however, because it reportedly has the cash on hand to make a deal, while Renault has around $5 billion of debt on the books. Nissan also already has a partnership with Chrysler in which it will get a version of the Dodge Ram full-size truck to replace the Titan and in return supply Chrysler with a new small car.

A potential Chrysler/Nissan/Renault mashup makes much more sense than combining two American automakers whose products overlap and are both in bad shape right now. But sense doesn't mean much when companies are out to make money, and Cerberus may not be interested in a deal with Nissan that keeps it a player in the auto industry. The investment firm reportedly still favors a deal with GM that would essentially fill its pockets with cash and absolve it of any responsibility for the house that Walter P. built.

UPDATE: Some people have asked about what will happen to Daimler's remaining 19.9% of Chrysler LLC if Cerberus makes a deal with either GM or Nissan, and reports indicate that Chrysler is actively seeking to buy the rest of Daimler's stake before any deal is made. We're guessing the German automaker is just about ready to relinquish its rights to Chrysler and get as far as away from this cluster **** as possible.

[Source: The Detroit News]