After reporting yesterday on the possible boycott of Round 2 of the FIA GT1 World Championship by both Nissan GT-R teams due to a controversial weight penalty assessed to them prior to the season opener in Abu Dhabi, we have since learned that the Swiss Racing Team and Sumo Power GT have confirmed their attendance at Silverstone this weekend (Apr. 30th to May 2nd).

This is good news for GT-R and GT1 fans alike, since earlier reports of a possible boycott along with the travel difficulties caused by the volcano eruption in Iceland were both sources of concern. Swiss Racing Team principals had to call in a favor from long-standing friendly motorsports relations with Jetalliance in order to get their crew back to Europe in time to prepare for Silverstone. “Many thanks to the AUA, to Jetalliance CEO Lukas Lichtner-Hoyer and Werner Langer. They supported us enormously. It was an organisational masterpiece,” said SRT managing director Othmar Welti. “We are working at the limit and on Wednesday morning we will travel to Silverstone. The team is still busy assembling the cars and is doing a great job,” team manager Erich Kolb said praisingly.

UK-based Sumo Power GT also faced travel difficulties and they too had to get creative to find their way home prior to Silverstone. According to team manager Allen Orchard, “It’s been a race in itself to get the cars, kit and all the team back from Abu Dhabi in time for this next race. With a few days still to go there’s still a lot to be done and we, like all teams, will be working flat out to ensure we make it to the grid. After all we’ve been through over the past few days, I sincerely hope that the Balance of Performance will be corrected so we can compete on an equal basis and the Championship can put on a great show for the spectators.”

It’s still unclear what, if any, action the FIA will take regarding the penalty weight assessed to the GT-Rs, but at least we now know that both Nissan teams will be in attendance and fighting as best they can for the race win at Silverstone.

For more information on the FIA GT1 World Championship, go to GT1 World.  For a video recap of Round 1 at Abu Dhabi, watch the video after the jump.

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Hollywood may claim itself as the center of glitz and glamor, but as far as auto aficionados go, it is likely to be upstaged on May 1st by RM Auctions’ first ever Sporting Classics of Monaco. Held at the Grimaldi Forum, within the tiny principality, the event coincides with the 7th annual Historic Grand Prix of Monaco, which brings together some of the most famous and desirable race cars in history, running on one of the most storied and prestigious circuits in the world.

The Sporting Classics auction, will also bring together some of the most desirable and sought after European motorcars in the world and at present, eight of the featured cars have already brought in pre-sale estimates in excess of €1,000,000.

A total of 105 cars are slated to cross the auction block on May 1-2, with a strong focus on British, French, German and Italian marques. Among the featured vehicles up for grabs, is a stunning 1938 Delahaye 135 MS cabriolet, sporting one-off coachwork by famed builders Figoni et Falaschi, custom red leather interior and performance that endowed it with true Gran Turismo prowess, both on the road and racetrack.

Other significant vehicles including a multiple (six) race winning 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 “Birdgcage,” one of 17 ever built, plus a one-off 1937 BMW 328 “Bugelfalte,” built for the company’s racing division (which won it’s class in the 1938 Mille Miglia). Yet another is a 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II “Special”, with body by Brewster -recognized as one of the most historically significant Rolls-Royces ever produced and the only one out of three ever built to retain its original coachwork.

Besides cars, the auction will also feature a diverse assortment of memorabilia, including the world’s largest single-owner collection of Shell Petroliana. The result of some 35 years of judicious collecting by passionate Dutch collector and long-term Shell employee, Mr. Gilles Warning, the collection was amassed during Mr. Warning’s 30-year career at Shell and his many travels around the world. Today, the impressive collection comprises 1,000 different items, which will be sold as a single lot. From porcelain and enamel signs to oil cans and tins, glass pump globes and oil bottles, the collection spans Shell’s history and global presence with many items displayed in English, Dutch, French and Arabic languages.

[Source: RM Auctions]

“Boys and their cars.” You’ve may have heard the following statement muttered between groups of women knowingly. But a recent study by researchers at City University in the United Kingdom suggests it’s just something they naturally gravitate towards from the moment they can crawl.

For this study, the researchers gathered a group of boys and girls, from 9 to 36 months old, along with a range of toys, and recorded which each gender played with and for how long. The information gathered found that the boys spent more time playing with cars and balls, while girls spent more time playing with the dolls and teddy bears. This, in the researchers’ conclusion, suggests that there is an “intrinsic bias” in children towards gender-typical toys.

According to City University researchers, this study is the first of its kind to find consistent and stable differences regarding the toy choices girls and boys younger than 18 months make. One researcher, Dr Brenda Todd, states, “Children of this age are already subject to a great deal of socialization, but these findings are consistent with the idea of an intrinsic bias in children to show interest in particular kinds of toys.”

So ladies, the next time your man is in the garage tinkering with his latest toy, stop before you admonish him for spending so much time with toy and not with you. It’s not his fault – he was born that way.

[Source: Kicking Tires via BBC News]

Being saddled with huge installments over a long period of time is usually a hallmark of predatory mortgages or poorly-designed “As Seen On TV” exercise equipment, but for those who aspire to the finer things in life, have we got a deal for you, and you can’t get it on QVC.

Lamborghini Houston is offering a special deal on their 2009 Gallardo LP560-4 Coupes. With a 20% down payment on a base price of $198,000 (quite possibly higher, since these cars almost certainly have high-dollar options), you can then pay off the balance of the car in 144 months, at an interest rate of 3.99% (assuming you have a credit score of 720 or better). According to our rough calculations (and since no payment calculator was able to amortize payments over a period of 12 years), you will still be saddled with a hefty $1,235.97 payment every month! Best of all, by the time the car is paid for, it will look horribly dated and out-performed by a mid-sized sedan.

Of course, your monthly pound of flesh car payment gets you one of the finest exotics in the world. Ten cylinders, 560 horsepower, 8-piston Brembo brakes, the ability to lure admirers of both sexes with this cars racy good looks. Just make sure you really, really like the Gallardo and are not afraid of committing to a long-term partnership with your aluminum-bodied comare.

[Thanks to Zerin Dube, Editor-In-Chief of Speed:Sport:Life for the tip!]

Indian vehicle manufacturer Mahindra, has reportedly completed testing to ensure it’s compact, diesel powered pickup will meet US Federal emissions requirements. The vehicles will be available in regular and crew-cab configuration, are expected to be priced at around $22,000 and will boast a 1.3 ton payload capacity. But while smog testing might have been completed, according to Mahindra’s stateside distributor, Global Vehicles USA, the company has yet to settle on an official on-sale date.

Being exclusively powered by Mahindra’s own 2.2-liter diesel four-cylinder engine, the trucks have to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s, Tier 2 Bin 5 regulations for emissions, which are the toughest in the world and a primary reason why so many automakers have a very hard time selling diesels here. However, now that those requirements are believed to have been met in testing, EPA certification of the Mahindra pickup will likely be granted within 60 days. However, GV USA Chief Executive Officer, John Perez, is apparently frustrated at the lack of information he’s receiving from Mahindra in India. “It’s a battle to get anything from them. It’s not that they don’t have the information, it’s the culture – they don’t like to make announcements.”

And while that might be par for the course in India, if Mahindra is to have a fighting chance in the world’s most competitive vehicle market, it needs a targeted and focused strategy. Simply waiting until the trucks show up on these shores could cost the company a significant number of initial sales as potential customers sit on the fence or look elsewhere. And to make matters worse, without the initial sales and marketing buzz, if the trucks aren’t well received when they finally arrive here, the company will likely face a sizeable uphill battle to win over buyers – one that could potentially jeopardize it’s long term future in the US.

[Source: Automotive News]

“Add lightness,” is the world famous maxim of Lotus founder Colin Chapman, and decades on, the British specialty firm rigidly adheres to their mantra, producing cars like the Elise, Exige and Evora that can hang with the world’s best supercars and still deliver terrific fuel economy, thanks to their featherweight construction and efficient powertrains.

But the sports car market is limited in its scope, and Lotus is looking to bring its trade secrets to the mainstream world. Lotus held a demonstration featuring a Toyota Venza that had been given a weight reduction treatment by Lotus, and the improved car was 38% lighter, excluding the drivetrain.

Despite retaining the same interior and exterior dimensions, as well as safety characteristics, the car used lighter interior pieces, climate control units and re-designed suspension components that allowed for more efficient packaging of the car, and exotic materials were kept to a minimum.

Lotus claims that lightweight cars will have a positive effect on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and boost fuel consumption, although no specifics were given. Lotus has collaborated with other manufacturers in the past, notably General Motors and Ford, but their projects have always been performance rather than economy cars.

[Source: World Car Fans]

If you don’t have the room on your dash for a GPS system (as that’s prime dash bobble-head area) or you’re afraid of it getting stolen, then having the unit built right into your vehicle’s visor is the solution you’ve been looking for.

This is a brilliant idea especially for those who like everything in their car streamlined – and don’t like anything popping up on the dash to distract them. Sure, it may feel as if it’s blocking your line of sight, but that depends on the size of your car’s windshield and visor. But keep in mind that this gadget kills two birds with one handy stone – it keeps the sun out of your eyes and it shows you how to get to where you’re going.

Okay, so it’s not on the market just yet, but a concept is a good start. One crafty driver decided to take matters into his own hands by making this unique GPS system his own. The GPS is embedded within the car’s visor with aluminum and seamless mounting. This setup makes it seem like the handy pull-down GPS visor came standard from the manufacturer. And once you get to your destination, just flip the GPS visor up to keep it out of sight – and out of the hands of sticky-fingered thieves!

[Source: Coolest Gadgets]

Consumer watchdog, Consumer Reports has released its list of 2010 cars, which includes the Hyundai Accent and the Chevrolet Aveo, that do not come with the electronic stability control (ESC) safety feature.

A computerized technology that improves the safety of a vehicle’s stability by detecting and minimizing skids in a turn, electronic stability control will become a standard feature in all light-passenger vehicles come 2012. This category includes cars, pickup trucks and SUVs. According to Consumer Reports, the majority of manufacturers have already equipped their vehicles ahead of the mandate.

The list was a short one – only nine other cars managed to make the cut. Others on the list include the Chrysler PT Cruiser, Dodge Dakota, Dodge Viper, Kia Rio, Lotus Elise, Tesla Roadster and Scion tC.

But don’t worry if you’re in the market for a Hyundai Accent – it will have electronic stability control upgrade shortly. According to Hyundai spokesman Dan Bedore, “The Accent is our only non-ESC vehicle. It is also the oldest in our lineup. We continue to roll out new technologies as vehicles are freshened and replaced.” At this time, the Accent is the only current vehicle made by Hyundai that does not come with ESC.

[Source: Inside Line]

Last week we reported about the Citroen Metropolis and its goals to rival German automotive manufacturers BMW and Mercedes-Benz, specifically in the China market. Low and behold a few days later, the first photos of the Citroen Metropolis in its full reality have surfaced.

Now that we’re able to admire every angle imaginable of the vehicle, we can tell that Citroen is fairly on point in terms of styling for the luxury sedan market, perhaps even setting a new standard in design. What is unique to the Metropolis, that is clearly evident in these photos, is its lower roof-line that is reminiscent of Citroen’s GT supercar concept circa 2008.

As we mentioned before, the Citroen Metropolis is eco-friendly with an electric motor powering it at low speeds but while on the freeway a 2.0L V6 contributes 272-hp. Citroen claims that with both the electric and V6 engines working harmoniously, they put out 460-hp combined.

We’ll be keeping our eyes tight on this concept and hopefully it will become a reality. One thing is for sure, competition is never a bad thing, with the Porsche Panamera and the Aston Martin Rapide paving the way, things are looking bright in this market. Make sure to check out the video of this beauty after the break.

[Source: Carscoop]

Gallery: Citroen Metropolis Concept

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A 20-year-old Dutchman borrowed his father’s Bugatti Veyron, only to have the car seized for going 50 mph over the speed limit. Michel Perridon, the director of Trust International BV, a former sponsor of the now defunct Spyker F1 team, leant the supercar to his son last Thursday, shortly before the car was taken by police. Perridon’s son was clocked going 100 mph in a 50 mph zone. The man also had to forfeit his license as a result of the speeding charge.

Dutch police have begun implementing aggressive campaigns against speeding, and vehicle seizures are an increasingly common method of punishment. While highway speeds are limited to 75mph, the 50 mph limit applies to most roads in the country. It was unclear if and when Perridon will be able to get his car back, which is known as the first Veyron in the Netherlands, and valued at $2.4 million (including taxes).

[Source: Elsevier via Jalopnik]