#Japan Used Cars BMW|BMW Used Cars

[thissying]

FORMULE 1 Magazine, 2017, number 6

former go-kart opponents about Max

Dave Blom karted against Verstappen in 2011 and 2012

"I used to defeat Max sometimes: on the Playstation. I wasn't in school, he wasn't in school so we'd be racing against each other four, five hours in a day. We were both incredibly competitive. Still are actually. When Max has time we play a game of FIFA against each other online. And he'll be laughing again when he wins and when I win it's the same. Because we're two years apart in age, I used to kart in a higher class than him but we did hang out together.

"In 2011 we truly met on track for the first time. At a high level: the European and World Championships. During practice I was sometimes faster but in the races Max always finished ahead of me. He was so immediately focused and fast after the start. After the first corner we already couldn't overtake him any more. Max and Jos also did everything to be able to win. Their engines and chassis were always very good. If, after practices before a race, they felt it didn't go quite well, they'd go to a different track in the evening to keep testing. There was so much passion behind it.

"I remember a race in Japan. I was fifth, Max third. Suddenly I see him overtaking those two before him in one turn just like that. Incredible move, is what you think then. That's what you see in F1 now as well. He plans his moves where you don't expect them, puts the car alongside, you lose your concentration for a second and he's gone already. Unfortunately for me it was financially impossible to make the move to racecars. Sometimes I still visit the track, as a driver's coach. I now work as a salesman at a BMW-dealership. Max and I have always kept in touch; he's a good friend of mine. I talk to him regularly and celebrated New Year's at his place in Monaco. In May I'll see him again at the Monaco GP."

📷🎥: instagram 🎤: andré hazes - kleine jongen

[skitskatdacat63]

Vettonso x Similar Helmets

SV Germany 2012 x FA Monaco 2013: Gold & Dark Red

I think a lot about Vettonso and their mutual relationship witn gold. They're both golden boys, they're both seen lit gold by the sunshine on many podiums throughout the years, both have worn golden boots, and as you can see here: both have worn golden helmets. The parallels in these particular helmets makes me feel insane. Both are: gold with dark red accents, both have their birthplace's coat of arms(Bergstraße and Asturias), both have team animal motifs, and both have symbols to represent their two championships(You by now know the signifigance of the ones on Fernando's helmet, but I think the ones on Seb's are actually a callback to his Formula BMW days when he used to put the smiley stickers on his car for every win.)

And did you know both of these helmets were designed by the same helmet design company? Yep, both of these are JMD helmets. I know JMD helmets are/were pretty popular, but still, there's something to me about Fernando commissioning the same designer that Seb has been using since he was a literal child. Parallels, am I right?

SV Japan 2010 x FA Japan 2023: White with Black & Red

Haha I remember @protocolseben and I discussing this a bit back in September when Fernando's helmet dropped. I honestly think Seb is such an innovator and trailblazer in terms of helmet design, and you can see his influence in helmet design as recently as this past season. I'm not sure if he was the first ever driver to don a matte white helmet with red accents as a representation of the Japanese flag, but it certainly envoked him in my mind when I saw Fernando's!!

I think Fernando's is pretty similar to all of Seb's 2010-2012 Japan helmets but I like this one the most so! I think if Seb wasn't restrained by the Red Bull logo, he def wouldv'e put the red circle where Nando put his so I think Fernando did a really good job, even if unintentionally, at emulating Seb's sense of design.

SV Singapore 2012 x FA Singapore 2012: Sparkly!

Like I said in the one above, it's crazy how much Seb influenced helmet design. He was pretty much the pioneer of sparkly helmets for Singapore, right? It drives me absolutely insane that there's actually pictures of them together in such similar designed helmets. It's kinda funny actually that even though they're pretty deep in the championship fight at this point, and Seb just got one up on Fernando; Fernando is wearing a helmet that is a direct influence from Seb!!! Is that not insane???

Also, Fernando trying to be camp with trying the now in vogue sparkly Singapore helmet, and Seb accidentally completely blew him out of the water with his outrageous light up LED constellation helmet. But god yeah....to have pics of them in matching helmets from this era particuarly makes me emotional ;;;

SV Hungary 2021 x FA 2022: Pink with Dark Blue

I really could've picked any of Seb's 2021 helmets, but I thought this one matched the best with Fernando's main 2021 helmet(with the color pallet.) Also one thing, it's crazy how much control BWT has as a sponsor, I don't think I've ever seen another sponsor go so hard at having a chokehold on individuality. I like that we got pink liveries and pink helmets, but I don't think they should have that much control.

I'm almost kinda sad there wasn't any Miami GP in 2021, because I think that was the only unique helmet Fernando had in 2022. But these match pretty well! Pretty in pink!! It's crazy that their parallels in the 2020s are ongoing even before Fernando actually takes over Seb's seat. Thanks BWT I guess?

SV Abu Dhabi 2022 x FA Abu Dhabi 2022: Fernando's Seb Tribute Helmet

AND HERE WE HAVE THE PIÈCE DE RÉSISTANCE!!! The ultimate conclusion, it literally couldn't get better than this!! This is still unbelievable, like how is this an actual thing that happened!? Fernando intentionally branding his helmet, the only symbol of individuality in F1, with his rival's flag colors, HIS FLAG!!!!! Not to mention the literal "Vettono Best Moments" collage he posted alongside it....and the hand-holding....and everything that happened with them at Abu Dhabi 2022....

But god, after years of incidentally making parallel helmet designs, Fernando decided to officially tie the knot of the red string of fate, and make a helmet directly referencing Seb's. I think it's funny because as I said with two of the previously mentioned ones, those Fernando designs are pretty much inspired by Seb's, and here he is openly making one directly inspired by Seb. I don't really have words for how this actually makes me feel because it's just. Yeah. The most open and clear declaration of love and respect and admiration one could ever make. TO ME.

[sweveniv]

MAYOR ━━ h. ran. | chapter two. | masterlist.

Tokyo, Japan.

Izana and I arrived at the airport in Japan without talking much, the flight being so silent that it was deafening. During the flight, I couldn't stop thinking about an issue that had been bugging me for a while: the sudden appearance of information about an "ex-boyfriend" on the internet.

I mean, I understood the interest that the paparazzi and others had in my personal life, but where in the world had this information come from?

Kakucho arrives at the airport in a car and makes his way to where Izana and I are standing. It seems like he knows everything about Izana's schedule, even though he's not his secretary. As he approaches, I roll my eyes and scratch the bridge of my nose, feeling the exhaustion from the flight.

I want to interrupt Izana and Kakucho's conversation so much, but I know that if I do, it would just lead to a fight between me and Izana. Despite my exhaustion, I have to remain patient and endure it for now. I let Izana finish his conversation before finally speaking up, interrupting that they will drop me off first at my house.

We three head to the car, fifteen minutes had passed. I am near to falling asleep, but Izana speaks up and makes me roll my eyes even more. "We have a birthday party to attend, dinner time," he says. I nod in response, putting on my headphones to drown out the world around me.

As the car makes its way through the crowded streets of Tokyo, I notice that traffic is especially heavy today. I sigh and take off my headphones to ask Kakucho, "What's wrong? Is there an accident?" We're surrounded by a sea of people, and their faces are all contorted with annoyance. I can only imagine how miserable they must feel, stuck in this gridlock for hours on end.

"I think that BMW crashed into the Ferrari on purpose, judging by the damage done to the Ferrari. It's crazy." Izana observed the crowded area.

The three of us didn't let the accident faze us, and Kakucho drove us to Shoto. It was where all my siblings lived, each with their own property.

The Haitani brothers from Roppongi also had a property in Shoto - a magnificent mansion that was so luxurious, I couldn't even put it into words. The interior was breathtakingly beautiful, with marble floors, gold-trimmed ceilings, and plush furnishings everywhere I looked.

Apparently, it was Ran's idea to design the house this way. Haitani Rindou, Ran's younger brother, was kind enough to show us around the place. All I could think was that Ran has a good taste for luxury.

After a short drive, Kakucho parked his car in front of my house. As soon as we arrived, I immediately kissed Izana on the cheek as a gesture of respect and farewell. Izana acknowledged my affection with a small nod, his full attention still focused on his phone as he continued to play Candy Crush.

Curious, I spoke up, "How far have you made it in Candy Crush?"

Izana shrugged, "1,569. So shut up," he responded casually, still focused on his phone game.

I chuckled and closed the car door before walking to my house. When I looked in through the window, I saw Kakucho arranging my luggage on the living room floor. I felt a twinge of embarrassment and turned away, not wanting him to see me. Then he caught a glimpse of me and smiled slightly. He then bowed his head in a traditional Japanese gesture of respect and gratitude. I returned his greeting, and then he left.

As evening approached, I prepared for dinner wearing a suede tube dress in hot pink--a gift from Mikey last year. It was the first time I had worn it, and it looked stunning with a rose-shade lipstick to complete the outfit. The soft fabric of the dress hugged my curves, while the bold color gave me a confident and sassy look.

As I was putting on the final touches to my makeup, my phone chimed with a notification from Shinichiro. "I'm on my way there," the text read. "Izana and Kakucho have been at auntie's house for almost 20 minutes." I quickly grabbed my phone and replied, "I'll meet you outside in a minute." I put my phone down on the dresser and admired the stunning roses on my lipstick one last time before leaving the room to meet Shinichiro outside.

I walked out of my house and closed the door behind me, unaware that I had slammed it shut a little too forcefully. Mikey and Shinichiro, my two older brothers, watched me, and I gave them an awkward smile.

As I got into the car and sat down in the backseat, Mikey offered me a dorayaki, a popular Japanese pastry made with bean paste and cake batter.

"Really? Dorayaki before dinner?" I said, raising an eyebrow.

Shinichiro chuckled, and Mikey rolled his eyes upward before replying, "Just say if you don't want to eat it, Y/n."

Grateful for the food, I took the dorayaki and began to eat it while Mikey and Shinichiro chatted about their day. Despite the awkward mood, it was nice to be with my family.

As we drove through the bustling streets of Tokyo, I began to grow impatient. The drive seemed to be taking much longer than I had anticipated, and I let out a heavy sigh as we pulled up to our aunt's house.

The moment I stepped out of the car, I couldn't help but smile at the sight of my older sister, who was two years my senior. She greeted me with a warm smile and a big hug as I made my way over to her.

"It's great to see you, Sis," I said, returning her embrace. She gave me a playful poke on the shoulder and laughed. "It's only been a few weeks, Y/n. You're acting like I've been gone for years!"

I hugged Emma tight, taking a moment to appreciate the feeling of her warm embrace. I tried to hold back my tears as I thought about the memories we had shared while growing up together, how we went through every stage of our lives as sisters.

"Well, you know how lonely I can get sometimes when I think of the moments where we used to share a room and do girly things all day," I said, my voice choking up.

"But now you have your own family, and I wish you the best. Don't worry if I say this too many times, Emma, but I really, really want what's best for my big sister."

Emma hugged me back, wiping away my tears with a gentle smile. "I know, Y/n. You've always been there for me, and I have no doubt that you'll always be there for us as a family, no matter what. I love you so much."

As I pulled away from her embrace, I waved to her husband, Draken, who stood nearby. "Take care of her, Draken," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "She's the best sister anyone could ask for."

Draken smiled warmly at me. "I know, Y/n. I'm a lucky man to have Emma in my life, and I'll do everything in my power to make her happy."

As Izana took a sip of his light beer, he let out an exasperated sigh and rolled his eyes.

"You girls are acting as if you two aren't neighbors," he said, directing his attention to me and my sister.

I raised an eyebrow and replied, "We may be neighbors, but don't forget that they're only in Japan for special occasions or if Draken has a business trip."

I raised my hand to flag down the waiter, eager to boost myself. "I'll have a champagne rosé," I said, flashing Kakucho a soft smile. He smiled back at me and leaned in, clearly eager to hear what I had to say.

Kakucho and I studied at the same university in the Philippines - the University of Santo Tomas.

Izana was the one who was paying for our tuition and the one who was sponsoring our allowance, especially for Kakucho, since I had other backup sources like Shinichiro, Mikey, and Emma.

It's funny how we both graduated with a bachelor of science in nursing, yet we both ended up pursuing completely different paths. I smiled as I thought about the memories with Kakucho, especially that reunion we attended last year.

There was one time that someone came up to us at the reunion - I think it was a friend from our Chemistry class - and asked Kakucho and me if we had become registered nurses yet. We both chuckled awkwardly and explained that we had chosen different paths after graduating.

After a few moments of us greeting our relatives and having some friendly chit chat, two luxurious sports cars pulled up in front of the house. One was a stunning purple Ferrari 458 Italia, while the other was a gleaming white Audi R8. I was surprised to see who got out of the cars as soon as they were parked. It was none other than the Haitani brothers.

Ran Haitani's lips curled into a mischievous smirk upon seeing me standing inside the house alongside the Le Rêve art by Pablo Picasso, which was hanging under an 18-light imperial neoclassical chandelier, as my hot pink suede tube dress glimmered under the light. I couldn't resist smiling innocently in response, and soon both Ran and his younger brother, Rindou, made their way inside the massive mansion, a home belonging to my aunt.

After the Haitani brothers made their grand entrance and chatted with our relatives, I couldn't help but chuckle softly at the realization that Ran, who is a well-known businessman with 28 branches of his clubs worldwide, is indeed famous, possibly even before my birth.

He's not only made a name for himself, but he's clearly quite adept at making women swoon over him, as evident in the way he sported a stunning dark violet three-piece suit with such elegance. Despite my amusingly flirtatious interest in him, I knew he was no match for my wit and charm.

Ran made his way over to me, holding a glass of Martini in one hand and a Fabiola cocktail in the other, a small, contented smile playing on his lips. When he offered me the cocktail, it was impossible to ignore the fact that he was much taller than I, causing me to feel slightly dwarfed in his presence. However, I took a sip from my drink and managed to muster the courage to utter the first words of a conversation.

With a mischievous smile, I turned my attention to Ran, fixing my gaze on his captivating lavender eyes. "So, Mayor, how's business going?" I asked playfully. Ran was renowned for keeping his business matters private, and generally speaking, he wasn't inclined to discuss such matters in a casual manner, but I knew I was an exception to this rule. Every time we met, I couldn't resist asking him about his various businesses, along with his work as a politician.

As he took a small sip of his Martini, Ran let out a delighted laugh, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "The usual," he replied lightly, continuing with his casual demeanor.

"My schedule is always full, but I'm happy to make time for you whenever you desire." His playful words resonated with me, and even though I knew he was trying to woo me, I couldn't help but chuckle in response, caught in the moment of our playful banter.

As Ran playfully stared at me, a twinkle of teasing humor in his eyes, I was momentarily caught off guard. He asked, "You're off to Paris next week, right?" His delivery was nonchalant, but his voice carried a hint of interest. Then, he swiftly pulled his phone out of his suit's pocket.

"Looks like Veronica, the friend I met in Italy, extended an invitation for my fashion show in Paris. If you have free time, you can come," I said nonchalantly, raising my eyebrow as I turned to his phone, which caught my attention as I wondered what he was reading.

My eyes widened in disbelief when he pressed the "Purchase" button for two Paris plane tickets.

"What the heck, Ran?" I exclaimed, my confusion mounting.

He shrugged and replied in his usual nonchalant manner. "The tickets are on me. We'll go together," he said with a smile. "I can't believe you!" I added before looking away from embarrassment.

The sound of tapping glass filled the air, immediately capturing our attention, signifying that it was time for dinner. Without saying a word to each other, Ran and I made our way casually to the dining hall.

As we walked, some new guests arrived, causing us to smile and nod in acknowledgement. However, I couldn't help but roll my eyes, as lateness was considered highly disrespectful in my family.

I leaned towards Ran and whispered, "I'll sit next to Shinichiro." Then, I proceeded to walk to the other side of the table, while Ran walked in the opposite direction.

A few minutes after dinner started, the conversation immediately shifted to politics and business, and the room was filled with the sound of discussion. Ran seemed particularly engaged in the topic, as he completely ignored the woman beside him who was trying to capture his attention.

Instead, he focused entirely on his steak, which he stabbed with his fork and began to consume, while the rest of the group discussed the state of the country and that of their neighboring regions.

I listened intently as my uncles, aunties, siblings, and other businessmen here discussed topics ranging from real estate investments to political unrest. One of my uncles, in particular, seemed interested in purchasing the Siargao Island in the Philippines.

My eyebrows rose up when the woman beside Ran called me, "Kurokawa Y/n? As in the Supermodel?" She said excitedly as I smiled to her in response; and surprisingly she smiled back to me, the innocent one.

She then took a sip on her champagne and said, "How are you, Kurokawa? Is it true that you and your ex-boyfriend went out in Barcelona? Damn, Barcelona is one of my dream place to go." She paused, then added with a hint of mischief, Ran's lavender eyes were fixed on me with a bit of jealousy.

He didn't say anything, but I could read his body language. I looked over at Ran, who appeared to be listening carefully to the conversation, his eyes shifting from the woman to me and back again. It was hard to tell what he was thinking, but I had a feeling this conversation was far from over.

My brothers gave me questioning looks, as if they were waiting for me to speak up about the purported boyfriend that had recently made an appearance on my social media accounts.

Taking a deep breath, I set down my utensils and said, "Don't believe everything you see on social media. Most of it is fake."

"My niece is correct," my aunt interjected smoothly, a glint in her eye. "Let's not pay the rumors any mind and continue our meal." A small smile spread across my face as I chuckled appreciatively. I finished my food without allowing myself to be further distracted by the whispers and stares of those around me.

Despite the air of tension that had settled over the table after the woman's prying questioning, the dinner had continued on as planned, albeit with a distinct undercurrent of unease. I had no idea who this woman was, and yet she seemed to be fascinated by every aspect of my life, demanding to know everything from my likes and dislikes to my relationship status.

It made me uncomfortable, to say the least, but I did my best to maintain my composure, understanding that as a public figure, I had to be mindful of my appearance. Still, I found myself wishing for a moment of respite and decided to excuse myself and head out to the balcony for some fresh air.

As I brought my white Sancerre wine with me, I needed some time to clear my head and collect my thoughts. I couldn't afford to snap at anyone, least of all that nosy woman who seemed determined to get in my business.

As a supermodel, my reputation was everything, and any hint of impropriety could damage it irreparably. If I were to lose my temper, the consequences could be dire. I must not let that happen.

I sighed, realizing that I had a full week of fashion shows coming up in Paris, and after that, my email inbox would be bombarded with people wanting to collaborate with me. It seemed like I couldn't even have a day off here in Japan.

Even though I'm not a workaholic by nature, I need the income to support my luxurious lifestyle. My needs and wants are so expensive that I don't think I can afford them in my next life. The thought of not being able to have the things I want and need is overwhelming, but I have to keep pushing forward. I can't let the drama of life get the better of me.

My eyes widened in surprise as I felt a pair of slender hands snake their way around my waist, followed closely by the warmth of lips on my ear. As soon as I caught a whiff of his familiar scent, I knew it was the one and only Haitani Ran. The unexpected touch sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn't help but shiver at the unexpected intimacy.

When I tilted my head to look back at him, he placed his chin on top of my shoulder and leaned his head against me. I could feel his warm breath on my skin. As he reached for the old fashioned whiskey that he had placed beside my glass, I couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. The way he moved was like a cat, all fluid and graceful, and I found it endearing. I couldn't believe that he was already a bit tipsy, but I had to admit it was kind of cute.

"How was New York, Miss Y/n?" Ran asked in a soft, sensual tone, making my body turn around to face him. I trailed my fingertips along his jawline and answered, "Tiring." A soft blush rose in Ran's cheeks, and he leaned in to give me a soft, gentle kiss on the center of my nose.

I chuckled in response, feeling a warm, tingly sensation spread throughout my body. Ran's touch was so soft and gentle, yet there was an intensity behind it that sent shivers down my spine. Despite the exhausting day, I couldn't help but feel a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins.

"How about you? How was work, exactly?" I asked him, my neutral expression returning after I realized what I was about to say. I didn't want to get involved in politics at all, but my family and friends were mostly politicians, and I knew how dangerous the world of politics could be. Just as I was about to drop the subject, Ran's eyes darkened for a moment, and his expression grew more serious.

"I heard from Kakucho that Izana wants you to move on top," I said, hesitating for a moment before finishing my sentence. The tension in the air was palpable, and I hoped I hadn't overstepped my boundary.

Ran as the President of Japan? It seemed like an impossible feat, especially when he was already busy as the mayor of Roppongi. How would he even find the time and energy to take on such a demanding role? I couldn't help but feel worried for him, knowing the kind of pressure he would face in a position like that. Ran's eyes seemed dark as he thought about the news and I could feel the tension rising between us.

"It's an insane request, Ran. Izana should know better than to ask that of you," I said, letting my concern bleed into my voice. Ran's expression grew darker, his anger and frustration clear on his face.

"Akashi Takeomi may be able to handle being the President since he's already Japan's current President and he's on his last term. However, that doesn't change the fact that being the President is a challenging job. All the commands, the money, the lives of the people - everything and everyone are in your hands after that," I stated, feeling a deep sense of unease in my stomach at the thought of Ran having to handle such a huge responsibility. It was a lot of pressure for any person, let alone someone like Ran who had such a large role in the underworld.

Ran's expression grew darker as he listened to my words, and I could see the weight of the responsibility weighing on him. He was always so calm and collected, but even he would be tested by such a difficult job. I couldn't help but pity him, knowing that he would have to deal with the stress of running a country in addition to his duties as the Mayor of Roppongi.

I sighed, feeling a sense of unease at the thought of Takeomi's presidency possibly being part of the Bonten's plan. For years, no one knew that the politicians were behind the running of the Bonten, one of Japan's biggest criminal syndicates. It was a sickening thought, and I felt my tummy churn at the reality of how deep the corruption ran in the Japanese government.

"It's making me wonder if Takeomi running for President six years ago was part of the Bonten's plan," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Since Bonten is the number criminal syndicate organization in Japan, and no one knows that these politicians are behind running the Bonten."

Every word I said felt like a lead weight in my stomach. I couldn't believe that the criminals were able to run so much of the Japanese government without anyone realizing. It was a scary thought, and I couldn't help but wonder what other secrets were being kept from the general public.

I looked at Ran, waiting for his response. Takeomi's last term as President meant that he needed to find someone to take his place, and from what Ran was saying, it seemed like he was the chosen one. I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease at the thought of Ran taking on such a huge responsibility.

"It's Takeomi's last term, isn't it?" I asked, wanting to see Ran's reaction. As he took a sip of his whiskey, Ran's expression softened, and he smiled at me.

"Yes, it's his last term," he answered, his voice low and serious. "But Rindou doesn't want me to run for President, because you know how hectic the job is in the Bonten right now. I'm afraid Koko won't be able to handle any of it once I become the President-" he took a deep breathe before speaking up again.

"Darling, you know I play a huge role in the Bonten. Ever since Roppongi has been under my and my brother's rule, I can summon hundreds of delinquents at a time. That makes us a great alliance or support to any gangs that are taking us in, and that's one of the reasons why we always have the highest positions. We're not just random delinquents, we are commanders, and our men are devoted to the Haitani brothers," he explained, feeling a sense of pride at the power he held over the criminal world.

"And the shipment of weapons from other countries, me and Mochi are the ones in charge of that. Some triads want to negotiate something by giving us, the Yakuza, their weapons - guns, rifles, bombs, grenades - in exchange for our top mad dogs in Bonten," he explained, his tone turning serious. "Of course, it's a ridiculous idea. Recruiting mad dogs is very hard, and we can't just let them trade for weapons. Kakucho's the one in command with those mad dogs from the underground because he himself is a mad dog."

The idea of exchanging weapons for mad dogs was ludicrous. Mad dogs were not expendable, and giving them away to another gang was a recipe for disaster. It was clear that the triads didn't understand the value of the men in Bonten.

"I didn't notice that I was captivated when Ran was talking, and he was getting more and more enthusiastic the more he talked about gang stuff. It made me think that this is really what he wants - the gang life," I realized out loud, my voice tinged with a hint of worry.

As I spoke, Ran's eyes fixed on mine, and I felt a sudden frisson of anticipation as he leaned in closer. Before I knew it, his lavender eyes were the only thing I could see, and his face was inches from mine. The wine kicked in, and I could feel my body heating up as he cupped my chin and pressed his lips against mine slowly, sending shivers down my spine.

As we kissed, I felt a sense of longing and desire wash over me. It was clear that Ran was heavily invested in the gang life, and I couldn't help but wonder how that would affect our relationship. But for now, all I could focus on was the warmth of his lips and the feel of his hands on my face. It was a moment I would never forget.

As he planted a passionate kiss on me, my mouth slightly parted. I brushed the bitter taste of the whiskey from my tongue and placed mine to his slowly, even though I could still feel it on his lips. The heat inside was so intense that I could feel the sensation of our actions and feelings scorching our bodies.

Ran responded, "I would do anything for you, Mi'lady," as he planted another passionate kiss on my lips.

"Even if it means sacrificing certain things or people, I'd do anything for you to be the happiest, I'll let you stand on top of the world," ran whispered to my ear as he kissed my jawline with his eyes closed.

He then trailed kisses on her bare shoulder while snaking his hands up and down to her waist and hips, feeling the curve of y/n. Suddenly, they were interrupted, causing ran haitani's eyes to widen in shock.

"Mommy what are you doing?"

thank you for reading! a heart and reblog will gladly be appreciated.

don't repost my work to any platform. thank you!

© sweveniv-niikosia.

[estellamiraiauthor]

Not sure why I felt like writing this now, but just in case anyone isn’t clear on how “tariffs” are (not) going to help you, the average person:

Why you don’t see American cars in Japan

All imported cars in Japan are subject to an import tax that is… quite hefty. This is, understandably, to encourage people to buy Japanese cars and to bring in some extra tax money… win/win for the government and big corporations? It also means you see a comparatively lower percentage of Mercedes, BMWs etc. than in the US, but rich people are still gonna rich. Those cars, that have “luxury” name value and that are also of a higher quality than your average Corolla, still sell to a certain demographic.

But the most interesting side effect of this is possibly that… you just don’t see American cars here. I mean, you OCCASIONALLY do. But it’s NOTHING like the number of Toyotas and Nissans you see in the US, because in the US, a similar-sized Ford and Toyota are both good cars, of similar quality and similar price. In Japan, they’re still similar quality, but the Ford costs a LOT more. (There are other reasons as well, namely that Toyota makes cars with the steering wheel on the left for the American market and US makers don’t do the opposite for Japan… that’s an issue with the manufacturer though)

Note that the US government is not paying the difference in cost between a Ford and a Toyota sold in Japan. The Japanese government leverages the tax, the importer (Ford’s Japanese subsidiary or a licensed vendor, I guess?) pays the tax, and the importer PASSES THE COST DIFFERENCE ON TO THE CONSUMER.

So what would happen if the reverse applied in the US? The exact same thing would happen (except that Toyota would still make left-hand drive cars)… Toyotas would still be in the same general quality class as Fords, but would cost twice as much. Great for Ford, I suppose, but for the average consumer? It just means you have fewer options for a vehicle within your price range. And people who work at the US branches of non-luxury foreign car companies (because again, rich people are still gonna rich) are going to suffer. There’s really no upside for the average person. Even if you work for Ford, remember that “trickle-down” is not a thing. You’re not going to see a cent of any extra income the CEO brings in.

As a random aside, the other interesting side effect of the high import tax on cars in Japan is that Volkswagens, as they’re now slightly more expensive than Toyotas but still not as unattainable as a BMW or something, are seen as kinda “entry-level” luxury cars by a certain breed of upper middle class “not really Rich-rich but want people to think they are” people, who basically act like BMW owners in the States… do NOT park next to a Volkswagen in Japan.

TL/DR, tariffs only help the government and maybe CEOs. For you as the consumer, it just means fewer buying options.

[youjustwaitsunshine]

Very Long 2010 pre-season Seb Post

Under the cut you will find posts from the sebsite which include:

The RB6 car launch + RB6 specs

Seb's test days in Jerez

Test days in Barcelona (original in german + my english translation)

a short blurb on the name of the car

some pictures

masterpost // pre-season 2010

10 | 02 | 10

2010 Car Launch

Sebastian Vettel | Driver – Car 5

Sebastian Vettel’s first foray into Formula One saw him fined for speeding in the pitlane during the first ten seconds of his debut. It’s fair to say he hasn’t slowed down much since.

Fame and fortune hasn’t made any discernable impact on Seb (“What fortune?” he asks, bewildered). He still gives his cars girl’s names, argues that there are more exciting things in life than driving Formula One cars (but not many) and is proud of being taller than Rubens Barrichello. He loathes being referred as ‘the new Schumacher,’ and so is relieved to see his Race of Champions team-mate returning to F1.

Born 3 July 1987 in the town of Heppenheim, Germany, Sebastian enjoyed a successful career in karting before making an immediate impression the moment he came into open-wheel racing. Starting the 2003 season aged 15, he won five of 19 races in his debut Formula BMW year, finishing second in the German Championship. The next year he took the title, winning 18 of the 20 races (he finished on the podium in the other two but doesn’t like to talk about them).

It marked Vettel as one to watch and he duly tested F1 cars for Williams and BMW-Sauber, while moving up through the junior ranks, impressing in Formula 3 and the World Series by Renault. Vettel’s chance in F1 came when he replaced Robert Kubica as BMW-Sauber’s third driver in the second half of the 2006 season. In addition to incurring the Stewards’ wrath, Vettel’s debut during Friday practice for the Turkish Grand Prix also saw him finish the day top of the timesheets.

While the performance on track was impressive, everyone was equally knocked out by the confidence and effervescence with which the teenage Seb dealt with the garage and Paddock. The authority with which he spoke and the evident self-deprecating wit stood him out as much as the blistering pace.

Sebastian finally got his chance to race a year later, standing in for the injured Kubica at the United States Grand Prix. Still only 19, he qualified seventh and finished eighth, becoming the youngest man to score a Championship point. Later in the 2007 season he moved to a permanent seat at Scuderia Toro Rosso. He made a lasting impression on future team-mate Mark Webber (and the rear of his car) during the monsoon-hit Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji before bouncing back a week later to secure fourth place at an equally waterlogged Chinese Grand Prix.

Confirmed for 2008, Vettel didn’t have the best start to his first full season and crashed out of the first four races, mostly as a result of being dragged into other drivers’ accidents. Fortunately the crash-magnet curse was soon lifted and Vettel scored points at Monaco, Montreal, Hockenheim, Valencia, Spa, Singapore, Fuji and Interlagos – though the only race anyone properly remembers is the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

On the back of a strong fifth place in Belgium, Vettel and Scuderia Toro Rosso went to Italy in good form. Torrential rain over the weekend failed to dampen their pace and Vettel duly became, first, the youngest driver to take pole position in Formula One history, and then the youngest race winner, having utterly dominated the race in which a rudder may have been of more use than a steering wheel.

Elevated to the senior Red Bull team for 2009, Vettel won his second, and Red Bull Racing’s first, victory at the third race of the year. He followed it with a string of podium and solid points-scoring finishes and established himself as a firm championship contender with a second, commanding victory in the British Grand Prix. He finished the season strongly with further victories in Japan and Abu Dhabi that, together with four other podium finishes, took him to second place in the Drivers’ Championship.

Definitely a follower of the ‘second is first of the losers’ philosophy, Sebastian has loftier ambitions for 2010. He lists his lifetime ambitions as winning the Formula One World Championship and beating Kimi Räikkönen at badminton.

RB6 – TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

Chassis: Composite monocoque structure, designed and built in-house, carrying the Renault V8 engine as fully stressed member

Transmission: Seven-speed gearbox, longitudinally mounted with hydraulic system for power shift and clutch operation. AP Racing clutch

Wheels: OZ Racing, Front: 12.0in x 13in diam., Rear: 13.7in x 13in diam.

Tyres: Bridgestone

Suspension: Front: Aluminium alloy uprights, carbon-composite double wishbone with springs and anti-roll bar, Multimatic dampers

Rear: Aluminium alloy uprights, carbon-composite double wishbone with springs and anti-roll bar, Multimatic dampers

Brakes: Brembo calipers, Brembo carbon discs and pads

Electronics: FIA (MESL) standard control unit

Fuel: Total Group

Renault Engine RS27 – 2010

Number of cylinders: 8

Capacity: 2400cc

Max rpm: 18,000rpm

Number of valves: 32

Vee angle: 90 degrees

Power output: Not disclosed

Engine construction: Cylinder block in cast aluminium

Engine management: FIA (MESL) standard control unit TAG310B

Oil: Total Group

Weight: FIA minimum weight of 95kg

important: the picture on the left is - on the sebsite - called 'sebi-vettel'

10 | 02 | 10

Sebastian and the RB6

It was windy, it was cold - rain was just a matter of time. Sebastian‘s face was nearly covered by his Beanie cap, but despite the dark clouds he was in really good mood. The reason why? It was the moment when his new car was unveiled. Sebastian laughs: „Finally we are back on the track - the winter break was far too long."

Sebastian stands in front of his car and proudly he gives a short version explanation: „We were lucky to have the best of all cars during the second half of the season. That means we had a very good base right from the beginning, so we just had to develop the car. In contrast some of the opponents had to develop completely new designed cars."

The only real new part: „I got a new seat, it‘s like having a new chair. Beside that in general all the more than thousand parts of a Formula One car have been optimised. "I have a feeling I can reach my target"… So far I have not made a decision regarding the car‘s name. So ideas are welcomed.More next Friday: Today and tomorrow my team mate Mark will do the shake down and the first laps.

On Friday it will be my turn and so on Friday evening I will able to give you further information, about how the RB6´s handling qualities.

------------

Jerez Test

12 | 02 | 10

JEREZ TEST – Day Three

Driver: Sebastian Vettel

Car: RB6 – 01

Laps: 59

Best time: 1.21.783

Circuit length: 4.423 km

Fastest lap: J. Alguersuari – 1:19.919

Sebastian Vettel drove Red Bull Racing’s 2010 championship challenger, the RB6, for the first time today, as he took over from Mark Webber on day three of the current four-day test in Jerez.

After an initial run on dry tyres, Sebastian was forced to use intermediate and extremes for the rest of the day as wet weather set in from 0945hrs. The team’s plan was to focus on aero-testing, but progress was hampered by deteriorating weather. By 1615hrs, conditions were so wet on track that Red Bull Racing, in line with the other Formula One teams testing in Jerez, decided to end the session early. Despite the weather, the car ran without any problems today.

Sebastian Vettel commented; “After three months, it was good to come back and drive the car – it felt okay and we didn’t have any big issues. Obviously the weather is not ideal for us to find out more about the car, but we knew the rain was coming so we didn’t mess around this morning and went straight out to do some laps. It then rained all day, but you could face these conditions in a grand prix, so it’s important to do laps in the wet. Overall, we didn’t do enough because of the weather, but I’m pretty happy.”

Sebastian will be driving the RB6 again tomorrow for the last day of this current preseason F1 test at the Jerez Circuit.

2010 Rider on the Storm

Sebastian Vettel | Driver – Car 5

"You can't influence the weather, we have seen that today. After a three month break, I was finally able to sit in the car today and it was good fun, I am still able to drive and the car feels good. This morning I did some (a few) laps in the dry the car went well straight away, but then it started raining and I had to park the car for some time in the garage. For sure it's a shame that it wasn't dry all day but also its possible to have rain in a race and so you have to learn to keep up with diffrent weather conditions. At the moment its still very difficult to give an idea of where everybody stands due to the new rules and the big tanks. The teams are driving with diffrent fuel levels and this also keeps changing. I hope it continues raining over night so that nothing is left for tomorrow and I can speed though all day, but as I said we have to see as we can't tell mother nature what to do..."

13 | 02 | 10

JEREZ TEST – Day Four

Driver: Sebastian Vettel

Car: RB6 – 01

Laps: 90

Best time: 1.21.203

Circuit length: 4.423 km

Fastest lap: L. Hamilton – 1.19.583

Sebastian Vettel was at the wheel of Red Bull Racing’s RB6 today for the final day of the current Jerez test. It was his second day of testing, as Mark Webber had driven on days one and two.

The team’s plan was to focus on set-up work and aero testing, although the weather once again played a part and damp conditions in the morning meant Sebastian began the day on intermediate tyres.

Conditions dried by lunchtime, but a fuel pump failure in the afternoon cost the team around three hours of dry running time. Sebastian ended the day with a final long run on dry tyres.

At the end of the RB6’s first test, Ian Morgan, Head of Race Engineering said: “It’s been a productive first week with the RB6, despite the weather and lack of dry conditions. We’re pleased with the car overall, it’s showing a lot of promise.” The next test will take place at the Jerez Circuit, starting on Wednesday 17 February.

-------

Barcelona Test

26 | 02 | 10

Barcelona Test - Tag 2 (english version below)

Sebastian Vettel | Fahrer – RB6-01

Auto: RB6-01

Runden: 125

Bestzeit: 1.21,258 Min.

Streckenlänge: 4,655 km

Tagesschnellster: N. Hülkenberg (1.20,614 Min.)

Das Team fuhr seine zweite Rennwochenend-Simulation, und am Ende des Tages hatte Sebastian 125 Runden zurückgelegt.

Ian Morgan, Head of Race Engineering, sagte: „Heute erlebten wir in etwa eine Wiederholung der Renn-Simulation, die Mark gestern gefahren war. Alles lief mehr oder weniger nach Plan. Erneut stoppten wir das Auto während der Renn-Simulation. Dabei handelte es sich um eine Vorsichtsmaßnahme, um einige Dinge kontrollieren zu können. Es ging um ein kleines Problem, und wir konnten schon wenig später weiterfahren. Sebastian konnte die Simulation vor Ende des Testtages in voller Länge beenden. Wir drehten viele Runden und sind recht happy, was das Auto angeht."

Sebastian Vettel meinte: „Das war ein guter Tag - größere Probleme traten nicht auf. Im Verlauf des Nachmittags mussten wir wegen einer Kleinigkeit unterbrechen, aber bei Testfahrten ist das ziemlich normal. Während der Tests will man keine Schäden riskieren. Aus diesem Grund ist es am besten, das Auto abzustellen, sobald es im Hintergrund Alarmsignale gibt. Weil es in Jerez oft regnete, haben wir an den beiden kommenden Tagen noch viel Arbeit vor uns. Beispielsweise müssen wir mehr über die Reifen herausfinden und einige Abstimmungsarbeiten erledigen."

Sebastian Vettel wird morgen erneut zum Einsatz kommen, bevor Mark das Cockpit am Sonntag, dem letzten Testtag, wieder übernehmen wird.

Barcelona Test - Day 2

Driver: Sebastian Vettel

Car: RB6 – 01

Laps: 125

Best time: 1.21.285

Circuit length: 4.655 km

Fastest lap: N. Hülkenberg – 1:20.614

The team drove its second race simulation, and at the end of the day Sebastian had completed 125 laps.

Ian Morgen, Head of Race Engineering said; “Today we experienced about a repeat of the race simulation that Mark drove yesterday. Everything went more or less according to plan. We again stopped the car during the simulation. This was a safety measure to control a few things. It was a small problem and we could continue soon after. Sebastian could finish the race simulation in full length before end of the test day. We ran many laps and are quite happy about the car.”

Sebastian Vettel said: “This was a good day – no large problems showed up. During the course of the afternoon we had to take a break due to a small thing, but that’s pretty normal with testing drives. On test days you don’t want to risk damage. For that reason it’s best to stop the car once there’s alarms in the background. Because it rained a lot in Jerez, we have a lot of work to do in the coming few days. For example we have to find out more about the tires and do a bit of coordination work.”

Sebastian Vettel will take the wheel again tomorrow before passing it back again to Mark on Sunday, the last test day.

Barcelona Test - Tag 3 (english below)

Sebastian Vettel | Fahrer – RB6-02

Auto: RB6-02

Runden: 44

Bestzeit: 1.23,123 Min.

Streckenlänge: 4,655 km

Tagesschnellster: N. Rosberg (1.20,686 km)

Sebastian Vettel absolvierte in Barcelona beim letzten Test vor Saisonbeginn seinen zweiten Testtag. Der Tag wurde durch Regen beeinträchtigt. Morgens wurden wegen eines Mix aus Regenschauern und technischen Problemen nur wenige Runden gefahren. Der Nachmittag erwies sich als wertvoller, denn das Team arbeitete an der Abstimmung für das erste Rennen der Saison in Bahrain. Seine Bestzeit erreichte Sebastian während seiner letzten Runde des Tages. Ian Morgan, Head of Race Engineering, sagte: „Nach den nächtlichen Umbauarbeiten mit Blick auf das für heute geplante Programm waren wir morgens wegen einiger technischer Probleme spät dran. Nachdem wir nachmittags richtig zum Fahren kamen, gelangen uns drei, vier Tests bezüglich der Abstimmungsrichtung für das Rennen in Bahrain. Sie brachten uns klare Resultate. Entsprechend beendeten wir den Tag in deutlich besserer Form." Am morgigen letzten Testtag werden sich Sebastian und Mark Webber das Auto teilen.

Barcelona Test - Day 3

Driver: Sebastian Vettel

Car: RB6 – 01

Laps: 44

Best time: 1:23.123

Circuit length: 4.655 km

Fastest lap: N. Rosberg – 1:20.686

Sebastian Vettel finished his second test day in Barcelona at the last test before the start of the season. The day was affected by rain. In the morning only few laps were run due to a mix of rain showers and technical problems. The afternoon showed to be more useful because the team worked on the race setup for the first race of the season in Bahrain. Sebastian reached his best time during the last lap of the day. Ian Morgan, Head of Race Engineering said; “After the nightly work in view of the program planned for the day we were late due to a few technical problems in the morning. After we got to driving in the afternoon, we managed to do three, four setup tests for the race in Bahrain. Those brought us clear results. Accordingly we finished the day in much better form.“ Tomorrow, on the last test day, Sebastian and Mark Webber will be sharing the car.

28 | 02 | 10

Barcelona Test - Tag 4 (english below)

Sebastian Vettel | Fahrer – RB6-02

Eigentlich wären meine Tests am Samstag abgeschlossen gewesen, aber durch die schlechten Wetterverhältnisse bin ich nicht auf meine gewünschten Kilometer gekommen.

Deswegen haben wir uns darauf geeinigt, dass ich am Sonntagvormittag nochmal ins Auto steige.

Am Freitag haben wir eine Rennsimulation gemacht, das verlief mehr oder weniger alles nach Plan. Jetzt muessen wir das erste Rennen in Bahrain abwarten, heute in 14 Tagen, wo alle die Hosen runterlassen... Wir müssen bis Bahrain noch etwas an unserem Topspeed arbeiten, aber insgesamt bin ich ganz zufrieden mit meinem Auto. Übrigens: Einen Namen habe ich auch schon, aber den werde ich erst am Montag vor dem GP in Bahrain auf meiner Website bekanntgeben...

Fahrer: Sebastian Vettel/Mark Webber

Auto: RB6-02

Runden: 137 (Vettel – 76; Webber – 61)

Bestzeit: Vettel: 1.20,667 Min.

Streckenlänge: 4,655 km

Tagesschnellster: L. Hamilton (1.20,472 Min.)

Nachdem er gestern auf der Piste weniger Zeit als erwartet verbracht hatte, kam Sebastian vormittags zum Einsatz, während Mark unsere Vorbereitungen auf die neue Saison nachmittags beendete. Die beiden Fahrer standen vor ähnlichen Programmen, die das Team erfolgreich bewältigte. Die vorläufig endgültigen Abstimmungen für unterschiedliche Tankfüllungen beim Saisonbeginn wurden gefunden.

Ian Morgan, Head of Race Engineering, sagte: „Weil wir gestern etwas Zeit verloren hatten, konnten wir mit Seb nicht alles abhaken, was wir uns vorgenommen hatten. Aus diesem Grund erledigten wir heute mehr oder weniger das Pensum von eineinhalb Testtagen, weshalb wir auf insgesamt 137 Runden kamen. Das war ein ziemlicher Wirbel, aber wir haben viel geschafft.

Der letzte Test verlief gut für uns. Nach eingeschränkten Testmöglichkeiten auf trockenem Asphalt während der beiden Tests in Jerez, hatten hier die fast komplett trockenen vier Testtage zur Folge, dass wir wieder auf Kurs kamen. Im Verlauf der Woche machten wir große Fortschritte. Das waren sehr gute Testfahrten."

Zwei Wochen trennen uns nun noch vom ersten WM-Lauf der Saison, dem Grand Prix von Bahrain.

Barcelona Test - Day 4

Usually, my Tests would have concluded on Saturday, but due to the bad weather conditions I did not get to the distance I wanted. Because of that we agreed that I’d get back into the car Sunday morning. On Friday we did a race simulation where everything went more or less according to plan. Now we need to wait for the first race in Bahrain, today in two weeks, where everyone will drop their pants… We’ll have to work on our top speed until then, but all in all I’m rather happy with the car. By the way: I have a name already, but I’ll only share that one on my website the Monday before the GP…

Drivers: Sebastian Vettel/Mark Webber

Car: RB6-02

Laps: 137 (Vettel – 76; Webber – 61)

Best time: Vettel: 1:20.667

Circuit length: 4,655 km

Fastest lap: L. Hamilton – 1:20.472

After he spent less time on the track than expected, Sebastian was in the car in the morning, while Mark finished our preparations for the new season in the afternoon. Both drivers followed similar programs that the team successfully completed. The provisionally final setups for different tank fillings were found.

Ian Morgan, Head of Race Engineering, said; ”Because we lost some time yesterday, we couldn’t finish everything we set out to do with Seb. For that reason we went over more or less one and a half test days worth of work, which got us to 137 laps. That was a lot of turmoil but we managed to do a lot.

The last test went well for us. After limited testing opportunities on dry track during the tests in Jerez, the almost fully dry four days of testing here let us get back on course. During the course of the week we took great steps. These were very good test drives.”

Two weeks still separate us from the first World Championship race, the Bahrain GP.

05 | 03 | 10

In diesem Jahr nenne ich sie Luscious Liz

Einige von Ihnen wissen vermutlich schon, dass ich meinen Formel 1-Rennwagen Namen gebe.

In der vorigen Saison fuhr ich zwei Autos, die ich auf die Namen Kate und Kates dirty Sister taufte.

In diesem Jahr nenne ich sie Luscious Liz!

This year I’m calling her Luscious Liz

A few of you probably already know that I give names to my F1 cars. In the last season I drove two cars who I christened Kate and Kates dirty Sister.

This year I’m calling her Luscious Liz!

back to the masterpost

the pre-season in general

[hirocimacruiser]

MITSUBISHI STARION

Technology that is inextricably linked to the Lancer EX Turbo

Leading early Group A races with advanced supercharging technology

The Japanese car that fought best against Eggenberger's Volvo at the Inter TEC. Starion may have such an image. In the All Japan Touring Car Championship, he showed a perfect run from an early stage.

Stability and reliability are the keys to good results A-car that makes it to the ground safely

In the lineup of Mitsubishi Motors, the model developed in 1982 was the Starion, positioned as a high-end sports coupe that was the successor to the Galant (Lambda) and Lancer Celeste.

This model was introduced in the All Japan Touring Car Championship that began in 1985, but Mitsubishi's motorsports activities were originally focused on rally fields rather than circuit races.

This is clearly evidenced by the A53/55 Galant, the Southern Cross Rally with the AR73 Lancer, and even participation in the WRC, which began in the 1970s. Participation in the long-distance rally raid from Paris to Dakar was also seen as part of these rally activities.

However, for other manufacturers, for similar reasons, the most convincing PR activity for a market that was hungry for performance while surviving emissions regulations was motorsport. It was a result of making a decision and stepping into the circuit race at hand.

In this sense, the Mirage Cup, which started the one-make race, is probably the best example. As a category that conveys the glamorous atmosphere of racing, it was one of the races that attracted attention at the time.

On the other hand, in the touring car race of Group A vehicles, the Starion Turbo, which had a proven track record in the North American continent, was brought in. One of the reasons for this was that until then, Mitsubishi had had little to do with domestic races, and that they could not find a suitable car to participate in the newly-started Group A race.

This is also the case with Nissan's Group C cars, which used the proven mechanics of the IMSA series in the form of "reverse imports."

Well, that Stallion is equipped with a G63B type 3-valve SOHC + turbocharger engine. Mitsubishi had accumulated turbocharging technology with the Lancer EX2000 for WRC. The engine type of the Lancer EX2000 Turbo is the 4G63 type (different from the 4G63 type of 4-valve DOHC used in the Lancer Evolution series later. It is the SOHC 2-valve engine that became the prototype of this), and the basic part is Stallion's

Common with the G63B type. Looking back on these circumstances, Mitsubishi had a certain amount of experience and confidence in the basic mechanisms and content that make up the vehicle.

The first Stallion that appeared in such a background was InterTEC in 1985. After that, Akihiko Nakatani, who became the main driver of the Stallion, was combined with M. Liu and Fumio Mutoh to finish 4th overall. Considering that the 1st and 2nd place was the Volvo 240 Turbo and the 3rd place was the BMW 635CS, it was a good result, what happened to the other Japanese cars?

Then, from 1986, Kunimitsu Takahashi and Akihiko Nakatani teamed up to participate in the All Japan Touring Car Championship series on a regular basis. He finished 5th in Round 1 and 3rd in Round 2, and in Round 3 at Tsukuba, he finally won his long-awaited first victory.

At this time, the opponent was Takao Wada/Aguri Suzuki's Skyline RS Turbo, and although they conceded the series championship, they were always on even terms and won the 2nd place in the series. He had become a presence respected by other entrants.

The following year, 1987, they maintained their first-class competitiveness and got off to a great start with two consecutive wins at the opening of West Japan and West Sendai. After that, he continued to lose races due to trouble, but he managed to win the series ranking 3rd place thanks to his savings in the early stages. He has proven that he is still a first class contender.

In 1988, the Skyline fleet changed to the HR31 type, the Sierra RS500 increased, and the Supra entered the war. The SOHC system engine was already severe, and the chassis performance had reached the stage of review.

In terms of results, the 2nd place in the match against Nishi-Sendai was conspicuous, and the number of cases where other division 1 cars fell behind was increasing.

On the other hand, the wide-body GSR-VR (1987) was launched on the market during this period, and the basic performance was slightly improved, but compared to the trend of rival cars, the progress of evolution was not good. He took small strides and eventually withdrew from Group A racing in 1988.

After that, Mitsubishi's motorsports activities shifted to Group A rally cars with turbo 4WD starting with the Galant VR-4, and after the release of the Lancer Evolution series, it became a WRC top contender until it captured the world title.

Even so, in 1986, when the race began in earnest, the Stallion, whose basic design was already outdated, was able to achieve such a good track record. It's nothing but Taka.

At the 1986 Inter TEC, which was the debut race, it was exciting to see the Stallion running fast and make the Volvo team say, "What is that car?"

[things-about-cars-in-posts]

In celebration of me just picking up a Toyota Altezza Gita/Lexus IS300 Sportcross what are some of your favourite wagons or shooting brakes

yOOOOOO!!!!

Okay now I have to ask, is it actually an imported Toyota or did you add that just for potential clarification?

I should give context for folx out there (apparently folx is a 'more friendly' spelling to some? oh the wild wonders of language): y'all know how Lexus is a brand Toyota founded to move upmarket? Yeah, they didn't need to do that at home because Japan is much better protected from too-good-for-Toyotas-itis: I mean, if the emperor can drive (well, be driven in) Toyotas I am pretty sure you can afford to be seen in one. As a result, until 2005 Japan got Lexus models but not the Lexus brand, receiving them with Toyota branding instead (and different model names too, since the two letter acronyms were a Lexus thing).

To get to your question, though:

SEDANS I LIKE THE WAGON VERSION OF TOO

Toyota Altezza Gita/Lexus IS300 Sportcross (:D)

Indeed, I love your car! The JZ (for the folx: a six cylinder inline engine series widely regarded to be Toyota's best, capable of truly monstrous power with the right hands fiddling under the hood), the sporty, timeless styling, Toyota reliability and Lexus build quality, how no matter the market they refused to use a normal word for wagon, the chrome taillights so iconic they spawned an entire trend in 2000s car styling (especially aftermarket - hell, they still call them Altezza taillights!)... and that gauge cluster oh my GAWD

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII Wagon

I don't think the street equivalent of one of the most legendary rally cars (and certainly, with the Subaru Impreza WRX STI, part of the most legendary rally war) needs any introduction. I just wanted to make sure you knew that between '05 and '07 the closest thing to a rally car a dealer would sell you also came in wagon form. In Japan only, of course. Because if Japan can't keep a cool thing to themselves, they'll make a cooler version to keep to themselves. Always.

Morris Mini Traveller/Austin Mini Countryman/Mini Clubman Estate

How do Mini fans do it, man

Who doesn't love the Mini? Who doesn't love the wagon's funky rear doors?

And who doesn't hate the time they tried to modernize its front end for the 70s? Me.

Like come on guys. You need to find within yourselves the intellectual honesty to admit that this fucks.

I rest my case. Let's move on.

Citroën DS Break/Familiale/Safari/Estate/Station Wagon

How do Citroën fans do it, man

Yes, the steering wheel had a single spoke - and by the way, that's it straight. It was angled like that so that, in a crash, it would guide your your body to the right - because there weren't seatbelts yet in 1955. Yeah. This is a 1955 design. The French are always been and likely always will be hellbent on being weird - and the Citroën DS is a distillation of the good that can come from that. It had pillarless windows! variable height suspension so effective you could only tell you had a flat by sound - and could change that flat by just having the suspension lift it for you! It had rear fenders held on by one bolt! Hell, in 1967, it got directional lights that turned with the wheels!!!!

IN 1967!!!! Few cars have them right now today!!!

Oh, and also, most interesting to us right now, it has the greatest vibe gap between sedan and wagon I have ever seen. Allow me to illustrate (and slightly exacerbate by cherry picking examples).

You get out of this with suit and tie and a watch you change the time of with felt tweezers.

You get out of this with a lab coat, plane goggles, a propeller tophat and a concoction that violates a semester's worth of laws of physics. And, potentially, seven of the biggest freaks the planet could muster, because yes, this could seat up to eight, thanks to a front bench, a middle bench, and trunk seats. "You mean a third row?" HAHA. NO.

Honorable mentions:

Mazda 6, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla KE70, Audi RS4, BMW E30, Fiat 500 Giardinetta, most '60s yankee landyachts that got a wagon, and all the ones that escape me at this moment

WAGONS I LIKE MORE THAN THE SEDAN VERSION

Audi RS6 (second generation)

Here's what happened (presumably): Audi had bought Lamborghini. Great! Now Lamborghinis could use Audi interior bits, a very welcome change because Lamborghini were not exactly the interior controls GOATs. (To stick to a representative example and not be here all day, when set to Fahrenheit the Diablo's digital climate controls changed the temperature by two degree increments except between 63F and 64F and 72F and 73F. And at the extremes it said LOF and HIF because the F did not go away. So yeah.) But this also gave Audi access to Lamborghini parts - and, a couple years in, one of the engineers told the others "Jo [German for "Yo"], there's gotta be something cool we can do with Lamborghini parts!" And the other was like "Maybe we can make the new RS6 [Audian for Real Sporty version of the A6 executive sedan] with a Lambo V10! That'd be a fast fucking sedan." And the first one replied "And a fast fucking wagon too!" And their eyes locked, lighting up with villainous thrill.

I mean, I could wax lyrical about the all wheel drive and super expensy carbon ceramic brakes and the flared fenders et al but if this garbage 5 second clip does not convince you that this busts ass how could I.

Toyota Corolla E110

Well that's quite the jump. How could I possibly be interested in a car like this? If cars were meals this would be a plate of warm water. There is only one way to possibly get excited about a car this boring: personal significance. And sure enough, my Yaris-pursuing father was instead upsold a Corolla exactly like this, discounted to empty the lot in preparation for its facelift - and one day he used it to drive my momma to a hospital, they got out of it in two, and some tribulations later they got back in it in three - third being a hot-off-the-press me. This, then, was the car that was in the driveway through my stumbling infancy - and never hinted at letting us down. We then traded it for an Opel that gave us loads of trouble, the recipient traded it for an Audi that gave him loads of trouble, and on the Corolla kept getting passed on right to wherever it rests today, never letting anyone down - loyalty likely rewarded by a crusher turning it to mush. And I want another shot at doing this car right.

Okay, actually, there's another way to get excited about such a car: find out about the inevitable sick-ass Japan-only version. In this case Toyota figured they'd fit the Sprinter Carib (because Corolla wasn't near a silly enough name for the Japanese market) with a 20V 4A-GE Blacktop and a 6 speed manual, or in less technical terms "one of the greatest non-turbo powertrains of its size to ever graze a production car". Presumably just for the sake of keeping it Japan-only for the sake of annoying me personally.

Well, joke's on them, because my idea goes even harder: replicating the powertrain the hatchback version competed in World Rally Championship with - 4WD and all.

This but wagon, essentially. And then bin it in a tree in 15 seconds like I always do on the rally sim.

Honorable mentions:

1970 Dodge Coronet SW, Nissan Stagea, Volvo 940/960 wagon (which I talked about in another post!), and again all the others that I forgot.

The shooting brakes are gonna need their separate post because otherwise it hits the image limit :/

Links in blue are posts of mine explaining the words in question - if you liked this post, you might like those!

[andmaybegayer]

Last Monday of the Week 2024-05-27

Sometimes things are not your problem! The hard part is you have to prove it.

Listening: I realized I had not listened to Lemon Demon in a while. Truly unbelievable how good Spirit Phone is:

Reading: Picked up the Nona reread again, also Virtual Light by Gibson. I like Gibson a lot, I have thoughts about the way that he knows very little about technology but thinks that the most important thing about it is how humans interact through it.

Gibson's style is delightful but also so, so very dated. I love the position Japan had in the minds of sci-fi writers of this era, you can't fault them too much, you'd have to be looking at much more subtle information to predict the simultaneous rise of China and fall of Japan.

Watching: Nothing really.

Playing: Forza Horizon is doing a Synthwave event which means some interesting retro cars, most important to me being the BMW 850CSi, which is easily one of my favourite BMW's. Huge GT car with a relatively small naturally aspirated 5.6 liter V12 and long, long gearing, absolutely gorgeous slimmed down design with a front edge like a razor blade, the BMW kidneys are trimmed down to the barest hint

That V12 is hilarious too, basically two BMW I6's mated down the middle, complete with two ECU's, two throttle bodies, two fuel pumps, two of everything. Truly one of the long distance highway cruisers of all time. It's only up next week but I usually do a full month season when the theme catches my eye, they have some cool ones in this.

Making: More programing on the LuaLED project, I rewrote a bunch of the design to move more of the code into Lua and I have been rewarded with much simpler and lower footprint memory management, since I don't have to keep copying between Lua and C state, instead keeping most of the state on one side or the other. I think the technically hard part is done and now comes the part that's hard because I don't understand websites.

Tools and Equipment: I was making guacamole and I realized you can totally use a pastry cutter as a vegetable masher, and it's honestly better in a lot of ways if your goal is big chunky pieces instead of a smooth paste. Pastry cutters really are worth it, they're much nicer than cutting butter with a fork and they cost almost nothing.

[rokhal]

Untranslatable cultural content in Initial-D: When a stranger comes to town and taps the bumper of a local street-racer, the other racer chases him and the stranger challenges him to a gimmick race. The prize: he will apologize for tapping the local's bumper.

In real life USAmerica, a family was driving down the road in a minivan and happened to turn on their windshield sprayer just as a BMW came up behind them. The driver of the BMW chased them down and shot them.

I assume in Japan Initial-D is supposed to be an edgy anime/manga about car hoodlums but to US audiences sometimes it reads like a Sunday School story.

[herohimbowhore]

On This Day in F1: April 5

Present: Japan Day 1

History: 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix

I'm going to be honest, the time zone differences from Australia to China are screwing with my perception of when things are happening (and my sleep schedule). Especially since FP1 happened on Thursday night (before midnight) for me and FP3 will be on Friday night. So I've been all over the place since the Australian GP.

But in Japan on April 5th, 2024, FP1 and FP2 occurred. There wasn't much to talk about in FP1 except for Logan Sargeant crashing toward the latter half of the session and Will Buxton revealing that there were other teams that only had two chassis for the weekend. Alpine has confirmed that they are one of those teams.

(Sidenote: the plural of chassis is chassis but it's pronounced with a "z" at the end. So the singular is pronounced like "CHASS-ee" and the plural is pronounced like "CHASS-eez." The more you know, I guess.)

FP2 had even less to talk about. It was raining and more than half of the drivers didn't set a lap time. Briefly, Yuki Tsunoda was at the top of the timing charts with Daniel Ricciardo in second. But then Oscar Piastri set a faster lap with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finishing out the top 3.

2024 marks 10 years since Jules Bianchi crashed during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix and lost his life due to the injuries from his crash. In honor of Jules, Charles - Jules' godson - has a special helmet in Jules' colors and with his number 17 on it.

We tend to talk about Jules in relation to his crash, Charles, Daniel, or any other drivers he was friends with. While they are a piece of his story and he is a piece of their stories, we should also remember Jules for himself - for the things he did and loved. He scored his first points in Monaco and that was the first GP he'd attended as a child, he liked dark chocolate, the first meal he cooked wasn't good, his hero was Michael Schumacher because he was winning, etc.

Looking back to another rain-filled day, the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix took place on April 5th.

Malaysia was the second race of the historic 2009 season - which does go to show how early we start the season now in comparison to the previous seasons.

It should have been 56 laps of racing, but due to torrential rain, drivers were only able to complete 31 classified laps. This did not meet the 75% minimum distance completed for full points to be awarded. Therefore, half points were awarded to drivers. The race had been stopped on lap 33 and was not later resumed due to the darkness. Lap 31 was the penultimate full lap and was the one used to determine classifications per sporting regulations.

Half points are very rarely awarded. Malaysia 2009 was the fifth time in F1 history that it had happened (the 4th time had been the 1991 Australian GP). And it didn't happen again until the 2021 Belgian GP.

Jenson Button, driving for Brawn GP, was declared the winner of the Grand Prix as he started the race on pole position and was the race leader for lap 31.

Nick Heidfeld driving for BMW Sauber finished second and Timo Glock driving for Toyota finished third. Heidfeld was the first driver with a KERS-equipped car to take a podium position.

Since Jenson had won the 2009 Australian Grand Prix as well, Brawn GP became the first team since Alfa Romeo in 1950 to win the first two World Championship Grands Prix of the season.

_____________

Previous: Mar. 24 - 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix

Next: Apr. 6 - Japan Day 2

On This Day in F1 Masterlist

[lollytruecrimeworld]

The Bedminster Murder Mystery

The unsolved murder of Shelley Morgan

33-year-old Shelley’s body was found in October 1984 in a wooded copse off Long Lane, on Backwell Hill, she had been brutally stabbed on the day that she disappeared.

Background

Shelley Cameron Brian Morgan was born in 1951 in Iowa, United States. Her father was an art teacher. Her parents were delighted to find that their daughter was gifted.

She learned to talk at an earlier than average age — and kept on talking! Shelley wanted to travel & explore the world. She loved books and music and excelled at school. One of the major talents Shelley had was that she was good with her hands — drawing, making things and sculpting and, as she got older she learned sewing, making all kinds of things out of fabrics and fibres, including amazing stuffed dolls and animals, as well as making her own clothes.

When she was 17, Shelley was accepted into the American Field Service foreign student exchange program and spent that summer away from home, staying with a family in Japan.

She eventually decided to pursue a career in textiles and costume design and went to college & university to get qualifications in theatre arts.

During her years working at the Playhouse, Shelley met her first love, they got married, had a son and went to live in a small village in South Wales, UK. Shelley became a committed wife and mother. Shelley became pregnant again with a daughter.

A little later in time, it was discovered that their son had been born with a disability and he was diagnosed as autistic. In order for him to lead a full life he would need special education facilities and therapy that were not available in Wales, so Shelley and her family relocated to Bristol. Shelley started to think about returning to work as a designer. She was keen to complete her art degree so she started building a portfolio of artwork and photography to help her secure a university place.

On the day that Shelley disappeared Monday, June 11th 1984, she and her children, Charlotte & Liam left their home in Dunkerry Road, Bristol at around 8.30 am and walked to the school bus stop. She told the children that she intended to spend some time taking photographs and drawing in the Avon Gorge area and would meet them after school as always.

The main area that Shelley was interested in visiting that day was Leigh Woods, a National Trust nature reserve. She particularly wanted to get photographs of the Clifton Suspension Bridge in order to paint from them later.

Back in 1984, the bus route was probably somewhat different from today but it would certainly be the best bus route to reach Avon Gorge where she said she was going. Unfortunately, no one was able to confirm that Shelley actually used a bus on the day in question. One witness did say they believed that they saw Shelley talking to someone in a blue van near the entrance to Ashton Court Estates.

This intelligence has never been confirmed but if it was Shelley then she had gone in the opposite direction of the Bristol Bus Station. She may have got a lift from someone and taken a completely different route to the gorge. She could have been able to follow the Ashton Court Estate road to Bridge Road onto the Clifton Suspension Bridge. It does seem like a long way around to get to her desired destination.

There were also reported sightings of a woman sitting in a yellow lorry on Backwell Hill Road and of a woman in a BMW car parked on the Portishead-to-Bristol road. These women all apparently matched Shelley’s description but despite thorough investigation, the sightings were never confirmed and came to nothing.

There was also a report of a woman matching Shelley’s description being seen boarding a Weymouth to Channel Islands ferry but of course, these sightings were unsubstantiated and eventually, some four months later on Sunday, October 14th 1984 her body was found in a wooded copse.

Her skeletal remains were discovered with a pair of torn and twisted tights around her ankle bones and her pair of sandals were found discarded in bramble bushes close by. Dental records were used to identify the remains as being Shelley's and a forensic examination revealed that she had been stabbed in the back some 14 times.

The police say that there was evidence the brutal attack had been sexually motivated and I have to draw your attention to the ‘Batman rapist’ investigation in which the unknown assailant had a fetish for tights and in fact ripped them before he raped his victims.

You can read a recent blog on the Batman rapist by the Cold case Detective HERE

Shelley’s camera, bag, red-framed spectacles and clothing that she had been wearing have never been found. Did the killer take them as trophies or more likely in order to speed up the decomposition process and make identification much more difficult?

Thirty-five years on from Shelley Morgan’s disappearance and the discovery of her remains the police thought that they had a breakthrough in June 2019 in the form of a new lead

Cold case detectives at Avon and Somerset Police discovered two ageing postcards which could hold vital evidence in their bid to solve the murder of Shelley Morgan.

As we know Shelley had been heading towards Leigh Woods to spend the day sketching and taking photographs with a 35mm Olympus OM20. The tear-off postcards discovered are from a calendar sold by the local Bristol Hospice charity in the 1980s or 1990s.

I am sure it is possible to establish the year the tear-off postcards were in the Bristol Hospice charity calendar. If anyone reading this has one of them or indeed the relevant postcards we would love to hear from you.

It has not been made clear where the postcards were found but the question has to be asked, did the killer keep these postcards as souvenirs or trophies? Ultimately it seems likely he had the camera, what happened to it? Do you know the whereabouts of the Olympus OM20 camera, serial number 1032853?

Avon and Somerset police say they cannot reveal how they gained possession of the postcards or exactly how they may fit in with the investigation, but I strongly suspect that they are believed to have been taken with the missing Olympus OM20 camera.

DS Sarah Barnston of the major crime review team said: “Both locations are significant as they are linked to the areas where Shelley was heading for on the day she disappeared, and where her body was found four months later.”

My team and I have several suspects that we are hopeful of ruling out in this interesting case as well as at least two possible linked murders. Those are:

Ann Myring — Bristol, 1997.

Ann was abducted from her home in Bristol and has never been seen since. She lived in Great Stoke, which is midway between Bedminster and Thornbury (where the remains of Melanie Hall were dumped).

Sharon Hoare — London 1991.

Sharon was working in London as an escort when she was killed. She was from Bedminster, just like Shelley Morgan. The Metropolitan Police suspected a Bristol connection to her death and my team are inclined to agree.

I will leave this one there and hope that you will bring me lots of feedback on this one as we head toward an investigative documentary production of the case later in the year,

If you can BUY ME A COFFEE to help with the ever-growing costs of living and research then I would very much appreciate it. I will be back with another case in the coming days, the more you help and support me, the more content I can bring you without putting a paywall in place.

If you would like to discuss this case with me and share any information then you know I love to hear from you. Leave me a comment, email me or catch me on social media, the links are below.

Email:

Lolly-truecrime@protonmail.com

or

UCMPTUK@protonmail.com

Follow me on:

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[strictstandards]

BMW Z4 SMG Shuts down Fenderist, Japan, 2024 ⚡️

BMW Z4 SMG on Work Meister M1 3P Wheels & KW Coilover Suspension

Sunday's are for the Community 🌐

You already know that Japan threw down hard throughout car shows and auto events to wrap up the 2024 season 🤙🏻

Another event we have yet to highlight is @fenderist_jp and how they threw down this year 👐🏻

Bringing you the excursions with two who have been outside, all while holding it down for us here at Strict Standards 🥂

Car photographer @Yuuya_ohmi never fails to bring the fire for fellow boundary-breaker Shingo and his modified BMW Z4 SMG on Work Meister M1 Wheels & KW Coilover Suspension ⚡️

@yuuya_ohmi •@shingo_kakiuchi • @fenderist_jp • @portmessenagoya_official • #STRICTSTANDARDS 🇯🇵

[industrynewsupdates]

Permanent Magnets Market Opportunities, Segmentation and Forecast Report 2024 - 2030

The global permanent magnets market size was valued at USD 22.18 billion in 2023 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7% from 2024 to 2030. 

The rising prominence of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, is anticipated to positively aid the market growth over the forecast period. At present, permanent magnets are used in wind turbine generators for increasing their efficiency. Rare earth magnets, such as Neodymium Ferrite Boron (NdFeB), are being predominantly used in wind turbines owing to benefits, such as increased reliability and reduction in maintenance costs.

The permanent magnet market in U.S. is expected to grow at a higher rate than its ferrite counterpart over the forecast period owing to its wide usage in high-end applications like robotics, wearable devices, electric vehicles, and wind power. Since the economic meltdown of 2008-09, the automotive industry in the U.S. has grown steadily. The country has been witnessing a significant rise in the adoption of plug-in electric cars, primarily driven by the advanced products offered by key players, such as Tesla, Chevy, Nissan, Ford, Audi, and BMW, among others. In early 2018, Tesla became one of several electric carmakers to use motors with neodymium magnets.

Gather more insights about the market drivers, restrains and growth of the Permanent Magnets Market

Permanent Magnets Market Report Highlights

• The ferrite material segment dominated the market in 2023 mainly due to the wide usage of ferrite magnets in medical devices

• The NdFeB material segment is likely to witness the fastest CAGR, in terms of revenue, over the predicted timeline

• The rising popularity of anti-lock braking system sensors in vehicles is anticipated to aid the segment growth over the coming years

• The medical segment is estimated to be among the key application fields over the forecast period owing to the increased spending in healthcare infrastructure across the globe post-pandemic

• Asia Pacific is estimated to emerge as the largest as well as the fastest-growing regional market, in terms of revenue, from 2024 to 2030. China is projected to remain the key contributor to the regional market of Asia Pacific

Browse through Grand View Research's Advanced Interior Materials Industry Research Reports.

• The global chemical mechanical planarization market size was estimated at USD 6.01 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% from 2024 to 2030.

• The global aluminum wire market size was estimated at USD 31.95 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2024 to 2030.

Permanent Magnets Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global permanent magnets market based on material, application, and region:

Permanent Magnets Material Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million; 2018 - 2030)

• Ferrite

• Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB)

• Aluminum Nickel Cobalt (Alnico)

• Samarium Cobalt (SmCo)

Permanent Magnets Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million; 2018 - 2030)

• Automotive

• Consumer goods & electronics

• Industrial

• Aerospace & Defense

• Energy

• Medical

• Others

Permanent Magnets Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million; 2018 - 2030)

• North America

o U.S.

o Canada

o Mexico

• Europe

o Germany

o Russia

o UK

o France

o Italy

• Asia Pacific

o China

o India

o Japan

o South Korea

o Indonesia

• Central & South America

o Brazil

o Argentina

• Middle East & Africa

o KSA

Order a free sample PDF of the Permanent Magnets Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

[head-post]

Germany slowly distances from China

A year after Chancellor Olaf Scholz backed the G7’s call for reducing risks associated with China, Berlin is gradually distancing itself from Beijing, according to Politico.

The biggest changes are likely to take place in the security and defence sector. However, Germany’s powerful car industry is resisting amid pressure from the Chinese market.

Scholz will have to decide within weeks whether two warships currently on a mission in the Indo-Pacific will pass through the Taiwan Strait. Meanwhile, warships from the US, Britain, France, the Netherlands, and Canada have passed through the strait to quell China’s ambitions.

Germany also intensified military exercises with Japan, with the commander of the German Air Force being in Japan last month to conduct drills with Japanese counterparts who are increasingly concerned about the Chinese-Russian presence in the area.

Scholz has also joined forces with Taiwan’s best-known corporate giant. Accompanied by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, he was in Dresden last week to launch a major technology project led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC).

TSMC is the world’s leading player in advanced microchips, and a vulnerability in the supply chain could deal a serious blow to Germany’s manufacturing capability.

Growth of German economy

Germany’s trade performance has shown a surprising trend over the past six months. Exports to Poland overtook exports to China amid a weakening Chinese economy suffering from the financial consequences of the collapse in the property market.

However, the automotive industry, the backbone of Germany’s export-led economy, remains very wary of worsening relations with China. Despite the rise of local competitors in electric vehicles, Beijing remains the most important market in the sector.

Both Volkswagen and BMW are facing declining sales in China, their largest market. Some 97 per cent of respondents to a recent AlixPartners survey in China said their next vehicle would be electric.

Not only have Chinese consumers completely switched to EVs, but their spending power is also weaker than before. Nevertheless, China, as the most lucrative market, remains a critical component of the bottom line of European champions and their EV adoption strategies.

The auto industry has vehemently opposed the European Commission’s decision to impose duties on imported Chinese EVs, fearing that Beijing will retaliate sooner or later. It also makes senior officials, including Scholz, even more reluctant to impose tougher measures on China due to Germany’s fragile economy.

Noah Barkin, a senior adviser and expert on EU-China relations at Rhodium Group, a research group, stated:

Despite all the talk from the government about protecting critical infrastructure, it was ultimately the operators that dictated the terms of this deal, and Huawei emerged as the big winner. At the top levels of the German government there is a reluctance to impose economic costs on companies in pursuit of greater security.

Read more HERE

[rajanreddy]

Automotive Electronics Market Worth USD 249.653 Billion in 2023 Grows at 4.6% CAGR

The Automotive Electronics Market is anticipated to reach USD 249.653 Billion in 2023 and then increase at a CAGR of 4.6% to USD 391.43 Billion between 2023 and 2033. The automotive electronics demand to increase due to the increased integration and implementation of modern safety systems, including automated airbags, parking assistance systems, emergency braking, and lane departure warning to reduce traffic accidents.

In-vehicle passenger safety features such as alcohol ignition interlocks, emergency call systems, and accident data recorder systems are being quickly implemented, and they are anticipated to propel market expansion for automotive electronics over the projection period.

The Role of IoT and AI in the Evolution of Automobile

The growth of IoT and AI has changed how car functionalities operate, according to market trends for automotive electronics. It has improved the ride assistance systems and boosted driver communication with the vehicle during the last year. The rise of the automotive electronics business is fueled by the inclusion of cameras and sensors in automobiles, which aid drivers in parking their cars or using other nearby features. 

The Increasing Need for In-Vehicle Safety Technology

Automobile electronic components are necessary because car safety regulations are becoming more stringent in different parts of the world, and consumers are becoming more aware of car safety features.

Airbags are standard equipment on all but the most affordable models of vehicles. In contrast, the most expensive models have cutting-edge safety technologies like autonomous emergency braking and sleep recognition. This should present a profitable automotive electronics market opportunity.

Discover the quality firsthand -Request your sample now: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1726

A Sharp Rise in Vehicles Embracing Automated Driving

Artificial intelligence has improved autos thanks to its development. These self-driving cars recognize danger and gauge the tension of the driver. Radars and other sensors are used by self-driving autonomous vehicles to sense their environment. Advanced control systems use sensory data to determine the best routes to take, obstacles, and pertinent signage. 

Insights into Regional Developments

The automotive electronics market in Europe is witnessing significant growth. Europe is experiencing a market boom due to the increasing concern for safety and security in the automotive industry. This region benefits from reputable automakers like Volkswagen, Skoda, Audi, BMW, and Daimler.

The ADAS industry has thrived due to regulations implemented by the European Union to reduce traffic accidents and promote vehicle safety equipment. These factors are collectively surging the market growth of automotive electronics.

The automotive electronics business in Asia-Pacific is experiencing substantial growth. Through their robust electronic component manufacturing activity, nations like Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand have made a substantial contribution to the automotive electronics industry. China and Japan are the primary automotive electronics suppliers in the Asia-Pacific region.

With few automotive electronics manufacturers, local providers have a great opportunity to meet domestic demand and attract investors. India has shown impressive growth in the automotive electronics industry, while China has the leading market share.

Navigate your industry with confidence. Purchase our detailed report now: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/1726

Key Takeaways

During the forecast period, Chinese automotive electronics business to expand at a CAGR of 5.5%. From 2023 to 2033, the United Kingdom automotive electronics industry to register at a 3.3% CAGR. Through 2033, the Indian automotive electronics market to record a CAGR of 6%. Between 2023 and 2033, the United States might increase its market share by 21.8%. Germany may control 7.6% of the automotive electronics industry between 2023 and 2033. Between 2023 and 2033, Japan's share of the automotive electronics industry might reach 8.3%. From 2023 to 2033, Australia to hold a 0.2% share of the automotive electronics industry. The body electronics segment to acquire a substantial market share of 22.4% in the type category between 2023 and 2033. The passenger cars sector to grab a significant market share of 68.9% in the vehicle type category between 2023 and 2033.

Competitive Landscape

Major automotive electronics manufacturers spend much on research and development to diversify their product lines, propelling the automotive electronics market even higher.

The automotive electronics manufacturers are engaging in various strategic measures to extend their worldwide footprint. These measures include important industry changes such as new product releases, contractual agreements, mergers and acquisitions, higher investments, and collaboration with other organizations.

[robjackson616-blog]

Electronic Vehicle Market Growth Now and Beyond

According to HTF Market Intelligence, theGlobal Electronic Vehicle market to witness a CAGR of 22.1% during forecast period of 2024-2030. Global Electronic Vehicle Market Breakdown by Component (Battery Cells & Packs, On-Board Charge, Motor, Reducer, Fuel Stack, Others) by Vehicle Type (Passenger Cars, Commercial Vehicles, Two-Wheelers, E-Scooters & Bikes, Light Commercial Vehicles, Others) by Propulsion Type (Hybrid Vehicles, Battery Electric Vehicles, Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles) and by Geography (North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific, MEA). The Electronic Vehicle market size is estimated to increase by USD      Billion at a CAGR of 22.1% from 2024 to 2030.. Currently, market value is pegged at USD 438.7 Billion.

Get Detailed TOC and Overview of Report @

An electronic car, commonly known as an electric car or EV (Electric Vehicle), is a type of automobile that uses electric motors for propulsion, relying on energy stored in rechargeable batteries or another energy storage device. Unlike traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, electronic cars produce zero tailpipe emissions.

Some of the key players profiled in the study are Tesla (United States), BYD (China), BMW (Germany), Volkswagen (Germany), Nissan (Japan), Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellchaft (Germany), Daimler AG (Germany), Energica Motor Company S.p.A. (Italy), Ford Motor Company (United States), General Motor Company (United States)..    

Book Latest Edition of Global Electronic Vehicle Market Study @ https://www.htfmarketintelligence.com/buy-now?format=1&report=908

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