Tesla is Looking for a Design Chief to Help Design cars for Chinese Market. #Tesla

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January 11, 2021

Tesla Inc is looking for a design director in China, which is part of the efforts to open a “fully functioning” studio in Shanghai or Beijing and design electric cars tailored to the Chinese consumer and their automotive taste, according to three people with knowledge of the matter. The US carmaker‘s HR heads as well as several headhunters, have been going looking around the industry over the past four months, the sources said.

They are looking for “bi-cultural” candidates with 20+ years of experience who are familiar with Chinese tastes and can bridge the gaps between China and the United States, they added. Some candidates have been interviewed by Tesla’s global design chief Franz von Holzhausen, according to the people. It remains to be soon, however, as to how many people have been interviewed. Tesla and von Holzhausen did not respond to emailed requests for comment.

Also Read: Ford Ranger Raptor launch soon.

For those unaware, China is the world’s biggest auto market, plus the largest for all-electric vehicles with sales volumes expected to reach roughly 1.5 million vehicles there this year, according to consultancy LMC Automotive. It is also Tesla’s No.2 market after the United States, which means it is a very important market for the company.

The carmaker’s plans for the design studio are not fully developed, and the sources believe Tesla will likely wait for more clarity in regards to some political issues.

The talent search, which the sources said was mainly focused within China, is in line with comments from Tesla boss Elon Musk early last year. “I think something that would be super cool would be … to create a China design and engineering centre to actually design an original car in China for worldwide consumption. I think this would be very exciting,” he said at a media event in Shanghai.

What are your thoughts in regards to this development? Do you think this idea is good? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Mercedes Chief talks about Lewis Hamilton and Contract woes.

Mercedes Head Toto Wolff Opens Up about Lewis Hamilton and Contract Worries #TotoWolff

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News Desk

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January 10, 2021

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff on Sunday opened up about Lewis Hamilton’s qualities, which according to him stretch far beyond what he shows on the Formula 1 track, including the fact Hamilton does not think the universe revolves around him.

The world champion perhaps had his strongest ever season in 2020 as he roared to his seventh title, which is quite amazing, considering Hamilton was down with Covid-19 and even missed the Sakhir GP. This seventh title of his led to him matching the record of Michael Schumacher. His dominance, however, prompted questions as to whether Hamilton’s success was down more to his car and the team than pure driver talent, which is something that most people assume, or so it seems.

During a talk with Motorsport.com about Hamilton’s role in Mercedes’ achievement, Wolff said neither team nor driver could be singled out as the most important factor. However, he did make it clear that being a top-line driver was about far more than just being quick out on the track.

“It’s not one dimensional,” “Formula 1 has always been about best man in best machine wins. “The best man means the quickest driver and the most intelligent driver. [He is] the one that understands how the dynamics in a team works, its technical ability, and on the other side seeing himself in the right context within the organisation and not like a solar system where everything revolves around the sun.

“Equally, the organisation around the driver needs to be on its absolute A-game in order to deliver performance in the various areas. This means on the engineering side, on the commercial side, on the political side, and on the communication side, in order to keep the wheels rolling. “This is a business without a silver bullet, contrary to what most people think – even within the industry. It’s a business around marginal gains where everything needs to be in the right place for a team to be successful.”

Also Read: Famous British Racing Company Lola up for Grabs, Priced at 7 Million Pounds

For those unaware, as of the time of writing this article, Hamilton is still out of contract and does not have a seat. Speaking about the possibility of Lewis sitting this season out, or more importantly leaving F1 at the time of his prime, as Nico Rosberg had done back in 2016, Toto added: “It doesn’t worry me at all, because I will always respect Lewis’s decisions,”

“Whether this is staying with us for a long time, or whether that means leaving the sport and pursuing different interests. I think we need to be ready for all kinds of curveballs being thrown at us. “But at the same time, we talk a lot, and we are very transparent with each other. I think there is more to achieve together.”

What are your thoughts on what Toto said? Do you think Hamilton will agree to the deal set by Mercedes? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Jack Aitkens aims to bring South Korea back on the F1 Map.

British-Korean Racer Jack Aitken Aims to Bring South Korea Back into the World of F1 #JackAitken

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News Desk

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January 10, 2021

PORTIMAO, PORTUGAL - OCTOBER 25: Jack Aitken of Great Britain and Williams walks in the Paddock before the F1 Grand Prix of Portugal at Autodromo Internacional do Algarve on October 25, 2020 in Portimao, Portugal. (Photo by Joe Portlock/Getty Images)

British-Korean driver Jack Aitken, who grew to fame during the 2020 F1 season, was overwhelmed by the response he received from fans in South Korea after his Formula One debut. He hopes to use his newfound support to catch the attention of teams hoping to enter the South Asian side. For those unaware, Aitken made his F1 debut for team Williams at the Sakhir Grand Prix as a replacement for George Russell, who stood in for Hamilton after he tested positive for COVID-19.

Aitken, who was born in London, said he made waves in Korea despite a 16th-place finish in Bahrain. “There was a big response – more than I expected, which was amazing because traditionally Formula One hasn’t been as popular in Korea,” he was heard telling the South China Morning Post.

“Interest in motorsport is still young. We do have a lot of Korean fans getting in touch and many who follow the races because of my heritage. I’ve had a lot of questions asking about how to get involved.” he added.

Also Read: Lewis Hamilton’s Salary Demands have Baffled Ola Kallenius

Formula One has long expanded from its European origins, with Japan added as the first Asian venue in 1976, followed by Malaysia, which later departed. China too joined the list in 2004, Singapore later in 2008, and there are now also races in the Middle East. South Korea hosted four races between 2010 and 2013.

Aitken said his focus would be to help increase motorsport’s popularity in the region. “It’s well documented that motorsport is not cheap and you need to be able to be marketable,” “If they (manufacturers) can utilise me to make themselves more marketable, that’s a real plus.”

What are your thoughts in regards to this update? Do you think the South Asian market will be tapped soon? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Toto Wolff has Supposedly Impressed by George Russell’s PowerPoint.

Ford Ranger Raptor to Launch in India Soon, Here’s What we Know So Far. #RangerRaptor

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January 10, 2021

As was previously reported about Ford India Pvt Ltd’s plans to take the market by a surprise by the decision of bringing its high-performance Ranger Raptor pickup truck in India. According to speculations, Ford is planning on importing a few of the Ranger Raptor pickup to India, with a launch expected towards the latter half of the year.

We do know some stuff about the pickup since it is on sale in international markets. The Ranger Raptor is the high-performance version of the Ranger pickup truck, built for off-roading. In comparison to the regular Ranger, the Ranger Raptor features a slightly more aggressive design, with wider fenders to accommodate its massive 285 mm tyres. In addition to this, the front bumper gets an integrated skid plate as well as tow hooks for towing cars in case of emergencies.

Apart from the ‘Raptor’ logo on the rear fenders, the car also gets a completely redesigned front grille, with the large ‘FORD’ branding in tow. In addition to the visual enhancements, there are some solid performance upgrades over the standard Ranger too. These include an upgraded suspension with Fox 2.5-inch off-road racing coil-overs, which offer 30 per cent more wheel travel, as well as a Watt’s linkage at the rear.

Simple Energy, A Bengaluru Start-Up to raise Rs 75 crore for it’s e-scooter launch in May 2021 #SimpleEnergy

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January 10, 2021

Bangalore based electric vehicle start-up company Simple Energy announced on Saturday that they had raised some funds. The local company raised an undisclosed amount from angel investors UiPath’s VP Global Business and Finance Operations, Vel Kanniappan and four other investors as pre-series funding.

Additionally, the start-up is looking to raise $8-10 million (Rs 51-74 crore) in Series A funding in the second quarter of this year, so as to get higher amounts of money for product portfolio expansion. Simple Energy aims to launch its flagship scooter in May 2021 starting with Bangalore, Delhi, followed by Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad.

Simple Energy’s electric scooter, which was dubbed Mark 2 is claimed to have a 240km range in eco mode with a top speed of 100kph, which is pretty good. The scooter can also supposedly accelerate from 0-50kph in 3.6 seconds through a mid-drive motor along with a removable battery and futuristic design. The e-scooter will also come with smart features for the modern consumer like a touch-screen onboard navigation and Bluetooth connectivity among others.

Also Read: Lewis Hamilton’s Salary Demands Baffled Ola Kallenius

The founder of Simple Energy, Suhas Rajkumar said: “Closing the pre-series round has given the year a great start. We’re glad to have investors like Vel Kanniappan and the other four investors believe in the idea of Simple Energy. This pre-series has come in at the right time as we are launching the product Mark-2 in the mid of 2021. We look forward to a long-term association with them.”

For some context, in November, the company had announced its prototype Mark 1 achieved an ARAI-approved range of more than 230km with a 4-kilowatt hour battery pack, which has been developed locally and in-house. The Mark 2 will be offered with a 4.8 kWh battery, which should allow for the 280 km range that we expect out of the scooter.

What are your thoughts about the company? Do you think they will succeed? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Famous Racing Company Lola up for Grabs

Lola, Famous British Racing Company is Up for Grabs, priced at £7m #LolaF1

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News Desk

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January 9, 2021

Famous British Motorsport company Lola has been put up for sale, for a price of £7million. This gives rise to the hopes of the brand coming back into the racing spectrum, with the chances of the team racing as readily as during their halcyon days when successful in a variety of different categories.

The team, which first became associated with Formula 1 in 1962 maintained an involvement through to 1997 but, seized operations and stopped building racing cars in 2012.

The company, which was founded in the late 1950s by Eric Broadley and based in Huntingdon, still retains a Technical Centre which has continued to provide wind-tunnel testing and associated services to a small number of race teams as well as consumer vehicle manufacturers. The Technical Centre and wind-tunnel facility are reported to have been open to offers since 2018 but now the brand itself, trademarks and technical archive are also up for grabs.

Broadley, who died aged 88 in 2017, ran Lola until 1997 when the company was sold to Martin Birrane and he invested in new facilities. A statement by the company was released, with the following points and comments being made. Martin Birrane cherished ‘everything Lola’ and his family’s goal is now to find a buyer with the necessary ambition, tenacity and drive to write the next chapter in Lola’s illustrious 62-year history.

Toto Wolff Was Charmed by George Russell, The Reason, A PowerPoint Presentation #GeorgeRussell

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News Desk

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January 9, 2021

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff on Saturday talked about how he was impressed by Rookie driver George Russell, back when he walked into his office at the young age of 15, all because of a PowerPoint presentation that the racer made for the Team Principal.

The 22-year-old British Racer is likely to become a full-time Formula One Mercedes driver as, although he remains ‘on loan’ at Williams for 2021, he has a lengthy legal contract under the management of the German manufacturer’s team principal and co-owner Wolff, which means he is as much a part of Mercedes as he is of Williams.

Toto recalled the day he was first impressed by Russell when he was wearing a sharp business suit rather than a race suit. He told Sky Germany, “I’ve had his contract since he was 15 years old,”

“He notified me via e-mail that he was in need of advice, told me he had previously won the British karting championship and just become British Formula 4 champion. “He came to my office, all alone in a black suit with a black tie – it must have been his communion suit because it was a bit tight – and a PowerPoint presentation. In this presentation, he listed every reason why he could be a successful Mercedes driver in the future. Toto Wolff added.

Also Read: Seidl says Porsche Return Off the Table

“Russell also had a question. He wanted to race with Carlin in Formula 3 and asked if it was a no-go for me because they used Volkswagen engines. I told him ‘no, that’s fine if you want to race with Carlin, go ahead’. And he has been under contract with Mercedes ever since.”

As for the presentation, Wolf was quick to say the following: “It was well made, although he was a bit nervous.” “He also looked a little more like an accountant than a racing driver.

“First was his resume along with his previous experiences. Then a page with his strengths, followed by one with his weaknesses, followed by how he wants to continue working on his weaknesses. “He also had a career road-map laid out, with his end goal being to drive for the Mercedes Formula 1 team. So he had it all planned out in his head back then already.”

What are your thoughts regarding this peculiar fact? Do you hope to see Russell as part of Mercedes soon? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Frank Arthofer to step down in Late January

Honda Reveals 2021 Gold Wing #GoldWing2021

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January 9, 2021

The huge Honda GL1800 Gold Wing, which is currently in its fifth generation, was revealed back in 2018. Today, Honda revealed the 2021 version, but, due to the close period of updates, the 2021 iteration doesn’t get a substantial update. Key aspects such as it’s 1,883cc flat-six engine, chassis components and design all remain unchanged. The Wing does, however, get a new grey colour scheme that Honda has dubbed Deep Pearl Grey.

The biggest update is the addition of added storage space. The top-box on the flagship Tour model gets 11 added litres of storage, giving it a total of 61 litres. This should be ample room to hold two large helmets, addressing the issues that Gold Wing owners have reported in the past. The tour model also comes with a redesigned pillion seat. with the seat getting a more relaxed angle, thicker foam and a taller profile

Additionally, the seats on the Tour now have a suede-like cover, while the standard Gold Wing and Gold Wing Automatic DCT receive coloured seat piping for better contrast. The base models get a few more subtle tweaks with red taillights and new paint jobs.

The 2018 version has been in the Indian market for some time and, we expect the 2021 version to debut in India soon

Seidl Says Porsche’s Return to F1 Not to Occur for a Long Time #Porsche

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January 9, 2021

Andreas Seidl does not expect his previous employers, Porsche, or another engine manufacturer to be part of the Formula 1 grid for the foreseeable future.

For some additional information, the number of engine makers will be cut to three when Honda withdraw from F1 at the end of this year, leaving just Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault. This would mean Red Bull and AlphaTauri will have to find a new source of power.

At present, it seems as if those two teams will acquire the intellectual property to Honda’s programme and do something locally, although Red Bull has supposedly called for a freeze on engine development to help them with the costs of doing so.

There was inevitable speculation that a fresh name could enter the table and one of those touted was Porsche, who have not been part of F1 since 1991 when they briefly supplied the Footwork team until they dropped off after six unsuccessful races in favour of Cosworth engines prepared by Hart. The team has now moved on to E-GP.

McLaren team principal Seidl, who had the same role with Porsche’s sportscar operation before his switch in 2019, does not, however, see it happening in the foreseeable future under the current regulations, which are due to change in 2025 or maybe even 2026.

“Of course I can’t speak for Porsche. But if you look at the overall picture, from my point of view it is not realistic at the moment that a new manufacturer joins Formula 1 in the next few years,” said Seidl

“The investments you have to make, plus the time you need to have a competitive package available, are simply too big and take too long.

“The key, from my point of view, will be that Formula 1, together with the FIA, the teams, the engine manufacturers and potential new manufacturers, has to work out a clear plan of what the next evolution of the engine regulations – evolution or revolution – will look like, of which there are two possible directions.”

hose options are to either continue with the current type of power unit or change to a less complex and consequently cheaper engine format.

“I think that is the key question that has to be answered first before you can then deal with the schedules of potential newcomers to Formula 1,” added Seidl in an exclusive with Motorsport-Total.com

“Especially with the budget constraint that comes into play, it clearly means it is possible to use the Formula 1 platform in a very sustainable way with a good return on investment. The next step to follow now is to take this step on the side of the power units too.”

Do you agree with what he has to say? Or do you beg to differ and feel the team might return sooner or later? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read: Formula One Timings Set to Change.

General Motors Unveils New Logo, Aimed at Electrification of Vehicles #GMLogo

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News Desk

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January 9, 2021

For the first time in a long decade and for only the fifth time in its history, General Motors is shifting to a new logo, one which features lowercase lettering. This change comes at a time when the automaker is on the brink of introducing a large number of electric vehicles and is seeking to make its image reflect that long-expected change.

GM has revealed three different versions of the new logo, one of which is black, the other being the traditional GM blue, and another which fades from a light blue to a darker blue through the lettering. According to the automaker, the latter of the three evokes “the clean skies of a zero-emissions future and the energy of the Ultium platform.” Much like the GM logos of the past, the look is clean, simple and minimal.

The name assigned to the auto maker’s electric platform is Ultium and the batteries going into said vehicles will sport the same name. The platform was revealed for the first time in March 2020. The company is gearing up for the launch of the GMC Hummer EV, which was unveiled in October. The branding will then be seen on the Cadillac Lyriq and other electric vehicles in GM’s lineup.