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F1 2014: All aboard the 'power train' - new rules explained

bbc.co.uk

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Re: F1 2014: All aboard the 'power train' - new rules explained

#121
post #115
post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, there are less gas stations that sell Diesel. Most are located around common routes used by the shipping industry. Also, the requirements for Diesel fuel in the USA is different than in Europe. Plus the price of diesel is actually higher than gasoline. There is another phenomena around diesels in the USA. Which is the perception of the general population towards them. People often think of them as noisy, smelly,…

Ah, I see. I believe there was a time here (England) when diesel was cheaper than petrol, but it's now a few pence/litre more. Presumably that's made up for with improved efficiency though. Funny how the perception of a technology can be tainted by poor implementation. I'm not sure how European diesels were in the past, but as long as I've bothered to pay attention (~10 years), diesel has been more popular here since…

Diesel also has 1.17 times the energy density (by volume) of petrol/gasoline.

Re: F1 2014: All aboard the 'power train' - new rules explained

#122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No it isn't! Racing has always been the source of innovation in automotive- safety harness for example.. ABS, etc Its exactly the fact that racing became "about best car + drive" that innovation slumped and we still drive cars that are pretty much no different than when Fuel Injection was introduced in the 70's! I welcome these challenges. I have been slowly developing my own diesel/electric hybrid using similar tech…

Respectfully disagree. Your post suggests that motor industry innovation is driven (pardon the pun) by F1. Some of it is, but typically for super cars. Certainly not all of it, or even most of it. Besides, constraining the car specs in and of itself stifles innovation. How much F1 tech is there in Tesla, for example?

I know very little about Tesla, but quick search tells that its made from carbon fiber, probably has a tyres yes?

Tyres very much evolved because of formula 1. Carbon fiber and a few more. No need to underestimate development in F1, especially when manufacturers itself are involved. Prove of that is that Honda announced coming back to F1 as an engine manufacturer straight after new rules was confirmed.

Link gives more details about some F1 innovations in the road cars. http://www.gocompare.com/covered/2013/03/eight-driving-innov...

Re: F1 2014: All aboard the 'power train' - new rules explained

#123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most of europe, especially VAG[π] cars are turbocharged, either TDI for basically all Diesels and more and more (T)FSI gasoline powered cars. Also look at the Audi R10 TDI [φ] [π] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Group [φ] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audi_R10_TDI

VAG have a rather nice twin-charged 1.4L engine - with a supercharger and a turbocharger - the former being used at low revs and the latter at high revs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Volkswagen_Group_petrol...

Indeed, although almost unheard of in the US, these twincharged engines have been available over the years in the Japan and Europe. The "special" edition cars haven't sold in large numbers but were readily available at the time of release from dealerships.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twincharger http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4AGE#4A-GZE http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_MA_MA09ERT

Re: F1 2014: All aboard the 'power train' - new rules explained

#124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

NASCAR has road tracks so stop the stupid and tell the truth. I like NASCAR because F1 feels too teched up and NASCAR doesn't even give the driver a fuel gauge or speedometer. Plus all that weight and those small breaks. And just to stop another stereotype, I hate wrecks and cautions and I haven't met anyone who does. NASCAR is also the most fan friendly sport with a huge amount of fan interaction with the drivers an…

> stop the stupid and tell the truth Be nice.

I'm just sick of folks repeating that same tired argument, much like most Linux / BSD people being told that neither can be used as a desktop machine. It gets old and you just know the person saying it is much smarter than that.

Re: F1 2014: All aboard the 'power train' - new rules explained

#125
post #85
post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This is an area that has been slow to change over the years, due to the small amount of turbocharged vehicles available new. Most turbos are used in heavy machinery (garbage trucks, big rigs, etc.), a slowly changing industry. I'm not sure this is true in England - most diesel cars on the road have a turbocharger.

You are right. My point was that there not many petrol or gasoline powered turbocharged autos. Diesels powered autos are commonly turbocharged. In the USA, diesel autos are not common. Thus, turbos are mostly seen in high-performance vehicles (like the 911, WRX, etc.).

Splitting semantic hairs, but I'd say that turbocharged cars are quite common in the USA, although still greatly outnumbered by normally-aspirated ones.

I've been driving various turbocharged cars for 20 years, and both cars in the garage right now have turbos. I'd be surprised if you could drive on a highway more than a couple of miles without seeing one.

So, based on my own observation, I'd says that gas-powered turbocharged passenger cars are common yet still greatly outnumbered.

Re: F1 2014: All aboard the 'power train' - new rules explained

#127
I just want to mention the great safety advances in car (and race) security in the last 20 years; since 1994 and the deaths of Ratzenberger and Senna there has been no driver fatalities in F1 racing.

edit "Following Senna's death in 1994, no driver had died from injuries sustained in a World Championship-related accident until María de Villota died in 2013 from complications of injuries she sustained in a testing accident the previous year"

Re: F1 2014: All aboard the 'power train' - new rules explained

#128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most of europe, especially VAG[π] cars are turbocharged, either TDI for basically all Diesels and more and more (T)FSI gasoline powered cars. Also look at the Audi R10 TDI [φ] [π] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Group [φ] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audi_R10_TDI

VAG have a rather nice twin-charged 1.4L engine - with a supercharger and a turbocharger - the former being used at low revs and the latter at high revs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Volkswagen_Group_petrol...

Nice but AFAIK unreliable.

Re: F1 2014: All aboard the 'power train' - new rules explained

#129
post #127

I just want to mention the great safety advances in car (and race) security in the last 20 years; since 1994 and the deaths of Ratzenberger and Senna there has been no driver fatalities in F1 racing. edit "Following Senna's death in 1994, no driver had died from injuries sustained in a World Championship-related accident until María de Villota died in 2013 from complications of injuries she sustained in a testing acc…

It is quite remarkable. For example, the Kubica crash in 2007 looked absolutely horrific, but he walked away with only minor injuries.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=685_1181547684

Re: F1 2014: All aboard the 'power train' - new rules explained

#130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's no longer about best car + best driver. It already wasn't about best car 15 years ago, or in the 90s for that matter. Turbos were banned in 1989 for instance.

You're right, but up until 10 years ago the best driver still had a chance. Schumacher turned Ferrari around, proving it. And that's when they really started changing the rules to promote random outsider wins.

You're posting as fact about something which you've admitted being out of touch with for a decade.

Do you not think Vettel is the best driver in F1? How is the fact that he has now won 4 consecutive championships aligned with your statement that the rules promote random outsider wins?

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