The Great Sound Debate In Formula 1

2014 will mark a new technical era in Formula 1 with the reintroduction of turbocharged V6 engines. As car manufacturers move away from high displacement in favor of more economical setups, it makes sense that Formula 1 would follow a similar path. The switch will also invite new manufacturers to join the sport with Honda and Hyundai rumored to enter in 2015. From a business perspective, the new technical regulations make sense, however there are worries that the sport will loose some of its spectacle.

The unique and at times violent roar of Formula 1 cars has always played an important role in the sport. The Ferrari V12s of the early 90s produced a sound heard nowhere else before or since. Many including Bernie Ecclestone, are worried that the muted tones of forced induction will turn some fans away from the sport.

Many will recall the first turbo era of Formula 1 in the 80s. The manufacturers used 6-cylinder engines not unlike what we’ll see in 2014 and the roar of their turbos’ external wastegates, provided an equally menacing soundtrack to the V10s and V12s to follow. The inline 6 turbocharged engines from BMW where known to be the most power Formula 1 has ever seen – rumored to produce nearly 1500 HP and 65 PSI in qualifying trim. While the 2014 cars will max out at around 750 HP, there’s still the potential for them to sound fantastic.

The sport’s engine manufacturers are already hard at work completing the new V6s and their sound has been a closely guarded secret. However Eccelstone has complained about the sound and even suggested the use of artificial enhancements, to make things more exciting for spectators. While Formula 1 purists will scoff at that mere suggestion of artificial noise, no one really knows what to expect. No official videos have been released of the new engine sound, however one YouTube user has produced some possibilities of what we might hear in 2014.

Each engine sound has been modified to rev to 15000 RPM which will be the limit in 2014. While the modified VR38 from the GT-R sounds exciting, the actual sound may be closer to the modified Alfa 155 DTM. It’s unlikely the turbochargers will feature external wastegates which are largely responsible for the roar of the cars in the 80s. They will also be producing significantly less boost in favor of an Energy Recovery System.

The 2014 regulations all seem a bit complicated however they’re a reflection of what we’re seeing on production cars these days. BMW is one manufacturer known for pumping artificial engine noise through the speakers of their M cars. Even Mercedes are shying away from their iconic V8s in favor of more economical turbo setups.

Despite my initial reservations, I’m excited for the new turbo era of Formula 1. With added boost we may be treated to less traction in the bends. The new ERS will also provide an additional 150 HP at the touch of a button. It will increase the potential for overtaking and make for better racing in general. While the simulations are all very entertaining, my hope is that we’ll be hearing this in 2014.

Videos courtesy of ngendro & CarniftyTV.

Season Begun

What a truly fantastic weekend of Formula 1 racing! As usual the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne’s Albert Park, was home to the season opener.

I went into this race with no expectations. Testing really doesn’t tell us much in terms of who’s going to be “good” during the season, so it was anyone’s game. One thing was for sure, it was all about Mercedes-powered cars. The McLarens were especially fast all weekend, with Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, 1-2 on the front row of the starting grid. However, things didn’t fare so well for Red Bull and Ferrari, especially the latter. The F2012 certainly has its faults and they became quite obvious, as the weekend wore on. With that said, massive respect for Fernando Alonso, who somehow managed to finish a respectable 5th, after offing the car in the second round of qualifying, for a starting position of 12th.

When all was said and done though, the man of the hour was (of course) Jenson Button. Another fantastic drive from Button who was just as cool and collected as he always is. This weekend was another fitting reminder of why he’s the new face of McLaren.

Lewis had a respectable drive on Sunday, but was once again beaten by Vettel, who finished 2nd. Some may say the safety car was to blame and if there hadn’t been one, Lewis would’ve been there. That may very well be the case, but he was already out driven by his teammate, at the start of the race.

This is just the beginning and it’s going to be a very long season to come. The cars will be completely different by the end of the season, so it’s still anyone’s game. I’m so stoked Kimi Raikkonen is back. For a guy who just doesn’t seem to care about anything, he’s one hell of a driver. I’d imagine it’ll take a few races for him to get his F1 legs back, but he’s definitely a wild card to look out for this season.

The Malaysian Grand Prix is next weekend and I’ve got a feeling Vettel’s going to have something to say about another McLaren win.

Photo courtesy of McLaren & Hoch Zwei.

Daily Driver

Apart from a few, brief stints, I’ve daily driven my Subaru since 2005. While I’ve done everything I could to keep the car looking good, driving on California roads has not been kind to it. The car hasn’t been up to my standards for years now and needs a lot of work. But until it’s retired from daily driving duties, I don’t want to invest the money to fix it.

Which car would be my ideal daily driver? It would have to be something powerful from the factory, yet comfortable and refined. It would preferably be European, since I’ve already got the Japanese thing covered. I’ve lusted over owning an M3 for years, but I’m afraid I would mod it and then I’d have a second car to place on the mantel. I just can’t help myself; I see a car, I see what can be improved. I never look at one for what it is. I guess that’s something all car guys do.

At this moment, I’d have to say the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG is what I see myself in. That’s not to say it’s a better car than the M3. Even though Mercedes would tell you the C63 is their answer to BMW’s ultimate driving machine, it just isn’t. The C63 is German muscle, in it’s most eloquent form. It’s a bulldog on the streets, a terrorizer that loves to slide around and make a lot of noise doing it. The M3 on the other hand, is more refined, a precision tool at home on the track.

Naturally, the M3 is more appealing to me. I prefer it’s looks and it’s handling. But I also see it the way I see other cars, not as it is, but “better”. I see it with a VRS front lip, BBS LM’s and an Eisenmann exhaust. The C63 appeals to me because I know I’d leave it alone. I like the Mercedes in it’s factory form, so there would be less of a desire to mod it. It’s more exclusive than the M3 to boot. I see E46′s and E92′s on a daily basis, I’m lucky if a see a C63 in a month’s time.

You’re probably thinking “that’s because the M3 is the better car”. You may be right, but better how? Better in terms of a spec sheet, or better in terms of how big the smile it puts on your face? Subaru and Mitsubishi guys have been going at it for years, which is better? They’re both better for whoever happens to own either. It’s as simple as that.

The C63 is also Formula 1′s official medical car.

That’s engine sound, not a specially tuned exhaust. The V8 of the C63 is louder than the SLS AMG safety car. It also looks astonishingly good as a wagon, but I digress.

I could keep this comparison going all day long, but it’s just down to an opinion. A few things are for sure though. BMW’s are becomming more technology packed than ever (good or bad), they’ve also gotten heavier in recent years (so have all cars) and many aren’t thrilled about their conversion to forced induction. While none of these may be considerations to you, consider this; the competition has gotten a lot better over the years.

Photos courtesy of JSitthi.

DTM C-Coupe Unveiled At Frankfurt

The Frankfurt Motor Show is in full swing and Mercedes-Benz was there to unveil their new DTM AMG C-Coupe.

After a closer inspection of the body work, it’s easy to see where the Black Series inherits it’s good looks.

Mercedes GP drivers, Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg where on hand to unveil the C-Coupe. Parked along side it was Michael’s #7 MGP W02, which did one hell of a race on Sunday. I hope everyone was able to catch the Italian Grand Prix, I’ll be discussing that more this week.

Photos courtesy of Daimler.

Cars & Coffee

It seems only fitting that any automotive blog based in Southern California, do an obligatory Cars & Coffee post. This is by no means an in depth coverage; Mike Garrett and Albert Roxas already have that covered. These are just some cars that stood out for me, on my last visit in June.

Cars & Coffee gets started right around the crack of dawn. Getting up on time is never easy. It’s a struggle and you just have to deal with it. Once you’re there, the sleep deprivation subsides and the sights, sounds and smells take over. Waking up early was definitely worth it.

You’re always going to see something different at Cars & Coffee. It’s a great opportunity to check out all the cars in detail. This was my first time seeing the Ferrari 599 GTO in person. It’s quite a big car, more than I expected. The Tipo F140C is the most power production V12 Ferrari has ever produced. It’s very subdued compared to the polished velocity stacks on Ferraris of old.

A Ford GT40 in pristine condition. It could’ve rolled right off the showroom floor.

One thing you can be sure of at Cars & Coffee, there’s going to be Porsches. Next to Corvettes, I’d say there are more Porsches than any other make of car. I really liked the cream white and black combination on the 911 above. Does anyone know which version of the 911 this is? I’m pretty sure it’s a 2.7 from 1976, I could be wrong though. I’m terrible with 911 models.

The 550 Spyder is a thing of beauty. It’s easily one of the most gorgeous cars Porsche has ever produced. It’s also the car that James Dean fatally crashed in.

This particular 550 was completely spotless. Like the Ford GT40, it could’ve come straight from the dealership.

In stark contrast to the Porsches was this Frankenstein van by Slims Fabrication.

This is what I hate most. The popularity of Cars & Coffee has acted as a double-edged sword. The meet has definitely gotten bigger and better, but it’s brought in a bunch of wannabes. This dude needs to put his car in the parking garage like everyone else. I have a WRX too and you don’t see my shit on display. Subarus don’t belong at Cars & Coffee. Save your Rotas for the In-N-Out meets.

A Mosler MT900S, for sale no less. This car had a swarm of people around it all morning.

The owner was a great guy though. He was taking the time to talk to everyone about his car. That’s one of the other awesome things about Cars & Coffee, the opportunity to talk with the owners. It’s a very social atmosphere. Everyone is excited to share their passion for cars and it’s a very casual setting to do so.

Nearly every car at the meet owes something to the Mercedes-Benz 300SL.

I’ll end things with this Porsche 997 on Work Meisters. It always turns up at Cars & Coffee and I always have to take a minute to stop and admire. I believe it’s a Carrera with an OEM trunk spoiler, but I could be wrong. There’s a lot of money invested in this car, something that becomes apparent upon closer inspection.

There have certainly been better turnouts, but you can be sure there will always be something cool to see at Cars & Coffee.

Boss

Turn your speakers to 11 for this one.

Mercedes-Benz 190E DTM. Why can’t we drive these things on the street?

VRS X AMG

As if the looks of the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG weren’t aggressive enough already, VRS has 3  new aero options for the car.

VRS is the European styling division of Varis and they’ve already gotten their name out with original parts for a range of BMW models. At last year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, VRS debuted their C63 AMG demo car complete with an original front lip, trunk spoiler and rear diffuser skirt.

As with anything made by Varis you can expect the upmost attention to detail and near perfect fitment. The VRS front lip looks right at home on the C63 AMG, so much so it could be mistaken as OEM by some.

The rear diffuser skirt and trunk lip add a nice touch of carbon to the exterior.

Mercedes-Benz have definitely be giving their AMG division more attention lately and I’m beginning to see more and more on the road. The C63 still isn’t nearly as common as the M3, but it’s nice to see Japanese manufacturers creating new parts for the car. The VRS C63 AMG will be at Fuji Speedway along with the Sunbeam M3 for Euro Club Sport Meeting on January 22.

Photos courtesy of Varis.

Black Series

I spotted a bit of a unicorn the other day. After grabbing some lunch in Tustin, I came across one of my favorite cars.

This is the first time I’ve ever had the chance to see the Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series in person. This is a car I’ve drooled over for a very long time. I’d easily trade up an M3 for the chance to own one someday. It is in many ways a DTM car for the streets. The Black is also equipped with the same epic V8 engine, found in Mercedes’ other AMG models.

I must say, the Black Series is incredibly discrete in person. I had to do a double take to realize it wasn’t any normal CLK. Once you begin to examine the car’s features though, it becomes quite a different animal. The wheel arches are the Black’s most defining feature and are a direct homage to the car’s racing roots. Unfortunately, I was armed with only an iPhone for pictures so this is the best I could do. They don’t do the car justice, it really is a glorious machine.

Scheiß

6.3L V8? Yes please! If you read my post earlier today then you’ll know I’m on a bit of a Mercedes binge. The CLK 63 Black Series is probably my favorite Mercedes, but the C63 AMG is what I would buy immediately, if I had the money. When it comes to German cars, I’m a BMW guy at heart, but you just can’t deny the looks and performance of this beast! I was browsing Flickr earlier and I came across these amazing pictures.

I prefer sedans to coupes and this car is about the same size as my WRX which is why I’d go with it over the CLK Black. Besides, you can always add the flared wheel arches yourself. Yes the M3 will handle better and yes there are far more aftermarket options for it. But if I just need something loud, fast and comfortable to drive to work, the C63 AMG could very well be the best option.

I love the car’s massive brakes and aggressive body lines. The gill slits on the front bumper are a nice touch. It looks fantastic in red too! My only gripe is that it doesn’t come with a manual transmission. This photographer does top notch work, make sure to take a look at his Flickr page.

Photos courtesy of JSitthi.

It’s Like An M5

As far as German cars go, BMW steels the spotlight just about every chance it gets. But what about Mercedes-Benz? I rarely see people modifying Mercedes-Benz’s. I know they’re out there though and when I do see one on that rare occasion, it’s something pretty impressive. The other day I saw a C63 AMG getting off the freeway. It was perfectly styled and sounded like a bat out hell. That perked my interest a bit and got me looking into more of Mercedes-Benz’s offerings.

This is the E55 AMG. If you have no idea what that means, it’s basically a BMW M5. AMG has busted out 2 versions of the E-Class. The E55 AMG has a supercharged V8 and the E63 AMG (which was on the last episode of Top Gear) is equipped with a slightly larger V8 and isn’t supercharged. The W211 above is amazingly well built. The black wheels and grill are the perfect contrast to the otherwise stark silver that Mercedes has become famous for. The Brembo 6-piston calipers add just enough flare without overdoing it. I know nothing of the performance, but I don’t need to, it’s an E55 AMG and it’s fast.

BMW dominates the market and Audi has also found a nice niche to slide into, over the last few years. You can’t forget about Mercedes-Benz though. After seeing cars like this E55 AMG and some of the other builds I’ve come across, it’s certain they have just as much potential to look great, demand presence, and make huge power as BMW’s and Audis. My friend has been wanting to pick up an E55 AMG for days, and now I understand what he’s on about.