It is not a headline you see everyday. Certainly not if you are talking football. But in the world of auto manufacturing, it looks like Mexico is set to take over Brazil’s place as Latin America’s top automobile producer for the first time in more than ten years.
The new Shelby GT350 Mustang is the sixth-generation and most extreme version yet of this pony car produced by Ford. Under that bold striped bonnet is the most powerful naturally-aspirated engine ever in the company’s production cars.
Lewis Hamilton bagged his second F1 world championship title after wining the Abu Dhabi GP. Entering the finale with a 17-point lead, Hamilton only needed a second place win to clinch the title despite the widely-criticised double points award for the final race of the season.
After finishing third in the Beijing ePrix, Virgin’s Sam Bird soared to first place in Putrajaya, displaying impressive driving skills and adept energy conservation. Starting from second on the grid while Dragon Racing’s Oriol Servia was in pole position, the Brit hijacked the lead shortly after the yellow-flag period that ended on lap 4.
As if the uncertainties of an inaugural race season and developmental electric-race car technology is not enough, the threat of rain looms over the Putrajaya ePrix as the second race is set to take place tomorrow, during a time when thunderstorms are besetting the country’s capital.
There seems to be no end of new car companies trying to establish themselves as niche players in a seemingly wide-open market for alternatively-fueled vehicles. Now a British start-up company backed by some of Germany’s automotive design royalty may be set to break the mold and become one of the few legitimate stand-outs, thanks to an attractive design, clever engineering, a cheap propulsion system and a highly advanced leasing system.