Automotive – Page 7

Renault Formula One 2008 Singapore Scandal

Posted on September 11, 2022

The 2008 Formula One Singapore Grand Prix was a watershed event, not just because it was the first race in the Marina Bay street circuit, but also because it was the first night race in Formula One history.

Watched by millions of viewers all over the world, Spaniard Fernando Alonso, racing in Renault colors, became the first winner of the Singapore GP. Renault had virtually no hope of winning this race, with their drivers Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jr starting in 15th and 16th place respectively. However, in a bold move, Alonso started with an unusually low fuel load and attempted to overtake as many cars ahead as possible before making an earlier than expected pit stop. His gamble that …

Portrait of a Change in Style – ING

Posted on September 8, 2022

“The right man in the right place.” That phrase is key for understanding Mr. Tilmant’s position as a CEO of the Bank-insurer ING.

Michel Tilmant brings a few changes to the management of ING. This change is — as he calls it himself — most of all a change in style with his predecessor (Kist), that is centered around three areas of interest:

Risk — he avoids more risk than his predecessor — Inline with this,
he focusses more on autonomous growth for ING – And therefore
he chose the one brand, one culture solution

Basicly all three are quite related to each other.

ONE BRAND, ONE CULTURE

A change in style is achieved by acquiring sponsorship of the Formula …

Lost Car Keys? Broken Car Keys? No Problem!

Posted on September 5, 2022

Back in mists of time when automobiles first appeared on the roads instead of horses, their keys were basic at best, or more often did not exist at all. Early vehicles were open-topped and just had an ignition switch, as theft was never thought of as an issue then. In fact, potential thieves probably could not drive those cars in the first place, and there were so few around that their presence was obvious and most people knew the ‘real’ driver! Nothing changed much right up until the end of the 20th century. By then, cars mostly were fitted with locks that were similar to those on house doors, though rather less complex.

The revolution involving car keys came a …

Carlos Ghosn, the Man Who Turned Around Nissan

Posted on September 1, 2022

The Plan

When in June 1999 he came to Nissan as chief operating officer he was accompanied by a team of thirty French Renault experts. With the aid of a Japanese interpreter (and at the same time trying to learn Japanese) he visited all the Nissan factories worldwide. At the same time Ghosn installed nine Cross Functional Teams to analyze Nissan’s problems. These teams had to present their suggestions within a space of three months.

In October 1999, after the teams had made their analyses and had presented their proposals to the executive committee, Ghosn was able to announce his strategic plan for the revival of Nissan in a public presentation. At the same time this plan was simultaneously announced …

Honda Folds F1 Team in Stunning Move

Posted on August 29, 2022

The financial crisis around the world has been touted in the news. Of course, many feel we are only really starting to see the actual effect on the ground. With the announcement that Honda will close its Formula One team, the auto industry is starting to show the effects.

Technically, Honda is going to try to sell its Formula One operation before closing it. Given the current economic environment, it seems highly unlikely that a private investor can be found to keep the team afloat. The powers that be at Honda seem to realize this, particularly since they have given only a 30 day window for the sale to occur.

Assuming the closure occurs, it raises questions throughout the motorsports …

Formula 1 Racing 2007 A Season Preview

Posted on August 26, 2022

With all testing now complete, the Formula 1 racing teams head to Australia for the season opener on 18 March at Albert Park. Who will be ready to fight for the top honor? Who will wear the crown at the end of the 2007 Formula 1 season?

Let us start by looking at the Formula 1 racing teams that performed well during winter testing. The last week of testing certainly belonged to the scarlet Ferrari at the hands of Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen. Ferrari topped the time sheets in most sessions in the last week of testing in Bahrain where most teams were in action and some comparisons can be made. Mclaren was a close second with both Fernando …

Renault Announces 2005 Challenger Launch in Monaco

Posted on August 21, 2022

Renault’s 2005 car, the R25, will be unveiled on 1 February in Monaco. Renault is the sixth team to announce the launch date of their car. Up to now, they are only the second to choose a non-testing venue. The Sauber team has chosen Kuala Lumpur to launch their new car.

The Renault team has launched new cars outside France lately because of the stringent anti-tobacco advertising legislation, as the team is sponsored by the Japanese cigarette brand Mild Seven. The launching took place in Palermo, Sicily in 2004.

The Drivers

The 2005 Renault drivers will be Giancarlo Fisichella and Fernando Alonso. Fisichella returns to the team after a three-year absence. He feels that the team is even more motivated …

Formula One – New Engine Rules, New Races, and Driver Changes

Posted on August 18, 2022

Ferrari’s Innovative KERS System

Ferrari, who are most likely to be a major title contender this year have tested an innovative KERS system.

The system is unlike any other, placing batteries in the nose of the car as opposed to placing batteries in the center. This is a fantastic idea! It improves the weight distribution tremendously giving better performance and better braking ability.

If KERS is going to work idea’s need to happen, and work. It looks as though Ferrari have had difficulty getting the system to work due to transferring power from the from of the car to the rear, but don’t write Ferrari off just yet.

I do not believe that KERS will prove to be very advantageous …

The Nissan & IBM Outsourcing Agreement

Posted on August 14, 2022

Introduction

In the year, prior to the turn of the millennium, Nissan was a company in a serious financial crisis. Debt had approached $22 billion by 1999. The company had been too complacent, and had taken its prior success, for granted [2].

Did Nissan’s decision to outsource their IT Infrastructure to IBM in 1999 make good sense? Nissan was a very troubled auto-manufacturer in the late 1990’s. Senior executives from the company were known for their conservative outlook on business, and their ‘old boy’s network,’ mentality. Profits were dropping dramatically, eventually forcing the company into the $22 Billion debt that it then faced. There were no signs indicating a change in the market that would encourage profit growth. The vehicle …

Another Spy Saga Hits Formula One

Posted on August 9, 2022

Over the past weeks new accusations have emerged involving the Renault F1 team as it has been stated the team possesses information corresponding to McLaren in what the experts called the latest episode of the Spy Saga.

On December 6th, the Renault team will face a World Motor Sport Council hearing in Monaco due to the inappropriate possession of restricted information which belongs to McLaren. Part of the dossier’s information which is in the hands of FIA we can mention: 18 statements from Renault employees’ admitting they viewed confidential technical information belonging to McLaren on a total of 11 Renault computers; 33 files of confidential technical information belonging to McLaren were copied on to 11 floppy disks, which were loaded …