Provisional 2009 F1 calendar released

While Kimi, Felipe, Robert and Lewis are fighting it out for the 2008 Formula One World Championship, the sport's regulatory body has released the provisional calendar for next season.

Much of the calendar mirrors this season and years passed, however next year's championship will include the new grand prix in Abu Dhabi (tacked on to the end of the season in November), bringing the total number of races up to 19. The French Grand Prix, whose future was in question until recently, is confirmed, but switches slots on the calendar with Great Britain. The United States GP, held in previous seasons at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, remains off the calendar for yet another season

Provisional 2009 Formula One calendar:

March 29, Australia
April 5, Malaysia
April 19, Bahrain
May 10, Spain
May 24, Monaco
June 7, Canada
June 21, Great Britain
June 28, France
July 12, Germany
July 26, Hungary
Aug. 9, Turkey
Aug. 23, Europe (Valencia)
Sept. 6, Italy
Sept. 13, Belgium
Sept. 27, Singapore
Oct. 11, Japan
Oct. 18, China
Nov. 1, Brazil
Nov. 15, Abu Dhabi

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2009 Dodge Ram arriving with much more power

Sure, it's not a great time to debut an all-new full-size pickup truck with sales falling fast courtesy of $4/gallon gas, but unlike Ford, which has delayed the release of its redesigned '09 F-150, the all-new 2009 Ram is coming despite fuel prices and market conditions. Pickuptrucks.com reports that the new Dodge pickup will actually be offering more power underhood than originally thought. The 5.7L HEMI V8 option will see its horsepower increase from 345 to a whopping 390, while torque goes up from 375 pound-feet to 407. It was originally thought the '09 Ram would offer 380 hp and 404 pound-feet of torque, so here we have a case of underpromising and overdelivering. The improvements in power come courtesy of variable cam timing, an active intake system, higher compression ratio, improved airflow and a reworked Multiple Displacement System.

And what of speculation that there would be a Ram model capable of achieving 23 mpg highway? Not in the cards says Dodge, who told Pickuptrucks.com that the most fuel efficient model would be a regular cab 4x2 with the 3.7L V6 and 3.55:1 rear axle good for around 14 city/20 highway mpg. All Ram models, however, will receive some boost in fuel economy, and there's also a new light-duty Cummins turbodiesel and Ram 1500 Hybrid coming after 2009. The fastest Ram model will also be significantly quicker than originally thought, with an R/T regular cab 4x2 sporting a 4.10 rear axle capable of hitting 60 mph in the 5-second range. With a new coil-spring rear suspension that should provide a more compliant ride without sacrificing too much towing prowess, we think the Ram may give Dodge an opportunity to pick up some market share in the full-size pickup segment, though the bad timing will almost certainly translate into lower sales overall for the truck despite its improvements.

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Nissan FF Hybrid - rumours about sport car

With the reign of the Japanese sports car well and truly on track to make a return, new rivalries are appearing such as the new Honda NSX is to the Nissan GT-R.

The most recent and unique addition to this bitter rivalry is Nissan’s new FF Hybrid sports car - with the Honda CR-Z squarely in its sights.

An entry-level coupe to slot into the Nissan range just below the FR, the 2+2 front-wheel drive FF coupe will feature a hybrid drivetrain, aiming to be both fuel efficient and a spirited drive.

It will be based on the existing Nissan ‘B’ platform as used on the Tiida, and follow on from new styling trademarks established on both the new Maxima and upcoming 370Z.

Lightweight aluminium panels are likely to be used extensively to keep weight below 1100kg, and its possible a flat bottom panel similar to that on the GT-R could be employed to improve aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.

It’s expected the FF coupe will be powered by a revised hybrid version of the HR15DE 1.5-litre four cylinder engine mated to a 6-speed DSG gearbox.

© Source: caradvice
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