Fourth Brand in V8 Supercars in 2013?! - Wild Mass Guessing

[Rollo]

Adam Spencer was talking to Dan Thompson who is the head of Nissan Australia about their involvement in 2013 and not long after that a caller phoned up and suggested that a fourth brand was also likely. The caller only referred to himself as "Bill".

The thing is though that there is a Bill who might be able to put some truth into the rumour (if it is indeed the same guy). Bill Mott is the CEO of Opel Australia and Opel will be selling cars under their own nameplate later this year.

The only thing I can suggest (if there's any truth to this at all) is that Opel will be debranding a Commodore and whacking on the lightning badges in place of the lion. Since in the past Commodores have already been branded as Buicks and Chevrolets, this sounds like a distinct possibility.

[inimitablestoo]

I can't add anything concrete to that, but this week's Autosport reports that Chrysler were interested, but appear to have backed off for the time being.

[tintin]

It'll be Toyota.

[F1boat]

It'll be Toyota.

I think so as well.

[noahadams24]

I say it's BMW using the M3.

[Allyc85]

Id say they will be too busy with their DTM project ;)

[ShiftingGears]

Mercedes confirmed - Stone Brothers will run with E-Classes. Not a factory backed effort however.

Mercedes-Benz Fourth Make to Join V8 Supercars (http://www.theage.com.au/sport/motorsport/mercedes-adds-star-power-to-v8-supercars-20120919-265v8.html)

[Allyc85]

Great news! Come on the Gis!

The London Perfume Company sponser the young car racer Declan Jones and are offering two free tickets for the British Touring Car Championship this weekend! It's simple, just follow the link :) Free British Touring Car Championship tickets when you buy Diesel Only the Brave or Jean Paul Gaulti (http://www.thelondonperfumecompany.com/blog/september-2012/free-british-touring-car-championship-tickets-when.html)

[dcr22B]

Just a shame that Motors TV have broken their promise to show this year's 50th anniversary Bathurst 1000!

[Allyc85]

Thats a shame. Highlights only I guess then?

[6789]

Just a shame that Motors TV have broken their promise to show this year's 50th anniversary Bathurst 1000!
It will be streamed live on the V8 Supercars YouTube page for international viewers I think

[Rollo]

BUENOS ARIES, Argentina – General Motors will invest $450 million between 2013 and 2015 to expand its Rosario Automotive Complex to build an all-new global Chevrolet vehicle, Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson said Wednesday.
Akerson was joined by Argentina President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner; GM South America President Jaime Ardila; and GM Argentina President Isela Costantini.
...
“This new model to be based on a global platform will run in addition to the models we are currently manufacturing in our plant and will allow us to supply the regional and domestic market with even more high-quality, high value Chevrolet products,” Costantini said. “It is a huge vote of confidence for the entire GM Argentina team and the country.”
- GM Media Release, 24th October 2012.
GM to Invest $450 Million in Argentina (http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Oct/1024_GM_AR_Investment.html#.UI784_YhKRc.twitter)

Because "this new model" is "to be based on a global platform", we need to look at which global platform is logical and eligible The only global platform not currently tied up in 2014 is the Zeta which underpins the Holden Commodore and the Chevrolet Camaro.

I spoke to someone at Holden this morning and they said that they had heard of the release but that they still couldn't confirm what car was going to be made in Argentina.
Given that the Commodore was already suffering from flagging sales and lost its top spot quite some time ago (the Falcon isn't even in the top ten anymore), there really isn't any point renewing the model cycle when average earnings of a full-time worker in Australia are about A$69,000 a year but in Argentina it's about 78,000 Pesos or about A$15,900 a year.

You connect the dots, but V8Supercars has effectively "future-proofed" itself with the regs and so I'm wondering if in 2014 or 2015 if we'll see this:
http://file038.bebo.com/7/large/2007/11/16/10/2022503931a6124478371l.jpg

[bugeyedgomer]

http://autos.cpapi.aol.com/dl_image/download_image.php?file=http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/10/04altimav8supercar.jpg

Nissan Altima V8 Supercar Photo Gallery - Autoblog (http://www.autoblog.com/photos/nissan-altima-v8-supercar/#photo-5397102/)

Nissan reveals Altima V8 Supercar [w/video] (http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/30/nissan-reveals-altima-v8-supercar-w-video/)

[TheFamousEccles]

The Nissan is a nice looking race car, imo. I will be keen to see the Merc, too. Bring it on.

[zako85]

Very nice Altima. By the way, how close are these cars to production cars? The V8 engine is probably based on the Infiniti V8. What about the chassis?

[Rollo]

Very nice Altima. By the way, how close are these cars to production cars? The V8 engine is probably based on the Infiniti V8. What about the chassis?

The undertray is a standard Car of The Future undertray, the diff, gearbox and drivetrains are all control components. The engine is the VK56DE which has been cut down from 5.6L in the Nissan Titan, Armada, Patrol and Infiniti QX and probably the Nissan GT-R GT1 but instead of being 4-cam, will be single cam pushrod.

How close are they to production cars? So far away that the only two components that they share with the road cars are the Nissan Badges fore and aft and the light clusters.

[Rollo]

http://i945.photobucket.com/albums/ad297/rollo75/VFcomm13_zps9f55030a.jpg

Someone from one of the motoring magazines had a go at retro-fitting the front grille and lights from the Chevrolet SS NASCAR onto the Commodore and tried to guess that this will be the VF Commodore. If this is the case, then this is what we can expect this year in the V8 Supercars season, as well as possible design language across the Chev/Daewoo/Holden range (and eventually the demise of Holden as a brand).

We've already seen that brake vent thing behind the front wheels on the Chev Captiva/Opel Antara, and the rear light clusters will probably end up looking like the Malibu SS, which Holden currently have posted on their website.
Future Vehicles from Holden Australia (http://www.holden.com.au/pages/future-vehicles)


Also, I suspect that Erebus Motorsport who have taken over SBR and will run E-Classes in the V8 Supercars, will probably graft the nose as per the "2014" coupe which was slated for debut at the Detroit Motor Show:
http://static.progressivemediagroup.com/uploads/imagelibrary/ABR/2014-Mercedes-E-Class-12C1284_006-635x423.jpg
Expect to see the big star in the middle of the grille rather than the 3 slat chrome, as that's usually how M-B like to dictate these things.

[Rollo]

double post... lag

[brownjett]

I'm new to WTCC and was wondering if any of the regulars can post to say how many manufacturers - if any, and teams are going to enter WTCC 2013? bY teams I also mean what variety of cars can we expect to see on the grid.

[Rollo]

I'm new to WTCC and was wondering if any of the regulars can post to say how many manufacturers - if any, and teams are going to enter WTCC 2013? bY teams I also mean what variety of cars can we expect to see on the grid.


Presumably we'll see:
- Chevrolet Cruze
- Honda Civic
- BMW 3-Series
- Lada Granta
- SEAT Leon

Perhaps this would've been better in a WTCC thread though.

[Rollo]

http://www.v8supercars.com.au/images/dmImage/StandardImage/130211-D3-0067.jpg

VF sort of looks like the rendered pictures which people guessed at but different to the Calais which saw release over the weekend. My guess is that the race car is either supposed to mimic the SS or the Executive.

[TheFamousEccles]

Link to a gallery from the Kelly/Nissan Motorsport launch.

GALLERY: Nissan's four-car V8 Supercars assault - Speedcafe (http://www.speedcafe.com/2013/02/12/gallery-nissan-four-car-v8-supercars-assault/)

[Rollo]

http://images.thecarconnection.com/lrg/2013-mercedes-benz-e63-amg-v8-supercars-race-car--image-erebus-motorsport_100419223_l.jpg

This broke covers last night.

I'm wondering why they still persist in calling it an E63 when clearly it is not an E63. As a V8Supercar, the correct nomenclature should be an E50 by virtue of it being a 5L V8.

It still looks pretty choice though.

[Iain]

http://images.thecarconnection.com/lrg/2013-mercedes-benz-e63-amg-v8-supercars-race-car--image-erebus-motorsport_100419223_l.jpg

This broke covers last night.

I'm wondering why they still persist in calling it an E63 when clearly it is not an E63. As a V8Supercar, the correct nomenclature should be an E50 by virtue of it being a 5L V8.

It still looks pretty choice though.

Is there an E50 though? It's just like a Ford Focus ST in the BTCC when it wasn't using the ST's 2.5 engine and this year there will be a BMW 125i, except it's a 2.0. Your average Joe Bloggs isn't going to know the difference.

[TheFamousEccles]

Pics gallery of shakedown/set-up testing for the V8SC @ Eastern Creek. The new Merc looks the ****! Can't wait for Clipsal 500.

GALLERY: Set-up images from Sydney Motorsport Park - Speedcafe (http://www.speedcafe.com/2013/02/15/gallery-set-up-images-from-sydney-motorsport-park/)

[TheFamousEccles]

A brief interview with Betty Klimenko at the launch of Erebus Racing's Mercedes V8SC team.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Zg5zYa8UhdI

[MAX_THRUST]

Is she a wrestler????????????

[MAX_THRUST]

Call yourself an aussie she should be driving a Holden or a Ford, still cant get used to other brands being in the series I guess.

[Ranger]

Call yourself an aussie she should be driving a Holden or a Ford, still cant get used to other brands being in the series I guess.

I was at the test day, and I could get very used to the engine sound of the Mercedes. Incredible.

[Allyc85]

Onboard with the Merc...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6A-i_Ag0nU

[Allyc85]

And external test footage...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKGLt9RWTSo

[Wasted Talent]

I was at the test day, and I could get very used to the engine sound of the Mercedes. Incredible.

Only 12000 miles away so can't comment on how they sound live, but from Allyc85s external video below I still love the Ford and Holden sounds, with the Nissan third.....

WT

[MAX_THRUST]

I have driven the 6.3 V8 AMG on a track at speed. It sounded amazing so I don't doubt the Aussie V8 will sound great to....

[MAX_THRUST]

Having watched those clips I need to change, a little bit of wee came out....lol

[Ranger]

Only 12000 miles away so can't comment on how they sound live, but from Allyc85s external video below I still love the Ford and Holden sounds, with the Nissan third.....

WT

Those videos do not do it justice. This one is slightly better:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=jeSzorY1M7E&feature=endscreen

At the test you could hear which car was a Mercedes before you could see it.

The Holdens, Fords and Nissans were fairly indistinct.

[Rollo]

At the test you could hear which car was a Mercedes before you could see it.

The Holdens, Fords and Nissans were fairly indistinct.

The explanation that I was given was twofold:

1. The MBs are the only cars in the field from the outset with tuned length exhausts. An exhaust charge draws the next one down the flue. Neither the Commodores, Falcons or Altimas are able to exploit this as efficiently because in using the "Modification for Mufflers" rules (C6.4 of the technical regs), the modification of the shape of the floor pan on the E-Class produces a far nicer flow.

2. The other major suggesting was that in producing the 5L racing version of the M156 V8, Erebus made the engine even more undersquare (smaller bore than stroke). Relative to stroke, a longer bore for the same capacity will tend to but not always produce a larger amount of torque. Of course changing the bore-stroke ratio is like changing the length of a pipe in a trombone, which produces a different note; hence the noise.

[52Paddy]

It's great to see extra manufacturers taking to the V8 Supercars. I've never really had the chance to follow the series due to coverage issues. I don't have Motors TV. Any places online showing races live or highlights?

[Wasted Talent]

It's great to see extra manufacturers taking to the V8 Supercars. I've never really had the chance to follow the series due to coverage issues. I don't have Motors TV. Any places online showing races live or highlights?

Just google "V8SupercarsOfficial" on youtube - they have all the races complete (including an epic 5hr "clip" of last years Bathurst!!).

Just working my way through last years races now as I am getting excited about the new season.

I expect the new makes will have to give best initially to the GM machine, but will certainly add a lot of variety to the series

WT

[Wasted Talent]

Those videos do not do it justice. This one is slightly better:

At the test you could hear which car was a Mercedes before you could see it.

The Holdens, Fords and Nissans were fairly indistinct.

Thanks - agree the Merc has a definite and unique howl (similar in some ways to the F1 v8s), whereas the Holdens, Fords and Nissans are a traditional v8 roadcar sound

WT

[TheFamousEccles]

Nissan and Mercedes teams to debut with power deficit - Speedcafe (http://www.speedcafe.com/2013/02/22/nissan-mercedes-teams-to-debut-with-power-deficit/)

[Ash Smalley]

The Nissan is a nice car indeed :D

[Rollo]

Chrysler firms as fifth V8 Supercars make - motoring.com.au (http://www.motoring.com.au/news/2013/large-passenger/chrysler/300/chrysler-firms-as-fifth-v8-supercars-make-36642)
Chrysler is emerging as the hot favourite to be the fifth manufacturer to join V8 Supercars racing and Garry Rogers Motorsport is firming as the team with which the US brand is most likely to pair.
...
Speculation about the fifth manufacturer has been rising in the V8 Supercars pit lane for the last month, especially Chrysler and GRM renewing negotiations after a deal between the two was shot down late in the piece in 2012.

Sort of. If this rumour comes to fruition, Chrysler would be the new fourth manufacturer to join V8 Supercars. Why?

Ford closure sends shockwave through manufacturing industry - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-23/ford-closure-sends-shockwave-through-manufacturing-industry/4708584)
Ford Australia president Bob Graziano today announced the car-maker would shut its Broadmeadows and Geelong plants in October 2016, bringing an end to nearly 100 years of car-making history in Australia and spelling the end of the iconic Ford Falcon.

This morning when Bob Graziano was asked about the future of FPV he said that FPV didn't seem to have a future beyond 30th June of this financial year and that its operations would be scaled back.
Since Ford Performance Racing sits inside the ringfence of FPV, without FPV's existence, then Ford Performance Racing would look dubious at best in surviving into 2014. Assuming FPR falls over, then Dick Johnson Racing would have to go it alone and they'd more likely court one of the three new manufacturers (Nissan, Erebus or Chrysler) than run cars which would be at least 12 months old with no new bits coming.

2014 might very well be Holden, Nissan, Mercedes and Chrysler for all we know.

[TheFamousEccles]

Prescient timing with the COTF and inviting other manufacturers onto the grids. Ford are all but finished on a manufacturing basis in Australia, and it's been coming for quite some time. As are Holden, though I still don't think that they will lose the Holden nameplate entirely. Though should V8SC race in Europe, would they brand as Opel? Chev in US/Canada?

Getting new manufacturers in is a good thing, but I don't know how the bogans are going to like their Red or Blue teams not showing up to race?

[Rollo]

As are Holden, though I still don't think that they will lose the Holden nameplate entirely. Though should V8SC race in Europe, would they brand as Opel? Chev in US/Canada?

There is a precedent for this:
http://www.fullboost.com.au/content/news/2007/0711_kelly_01b.jpg

Actually, now that Opel sell cars in Australia, I don't really see any reason why a Holden couldn't be debranded and rebranded to race here. Maybe someone like Tekno Motorsports or that Ekol car would be a nice brand fit.

The Bogans seem to have reacted well to Nissan and MB appearing in the V8SC and the fact that beyond 2016 there won't actually be any Falcons, might mean that no Blue Oval at all is an idea that they'd have to get used to.

[TheFamousEccles]

I've been wrong before. Nameplates disappearing is not without precedent, it will be interesting to see how the rank and file re align.