>> ASIAONE / MOTORING / NEWS / ARCHIVE 2008 Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 2007 Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Kubica fears BMW losing ground on big two Robert Kubica finished second in Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix and then said he fears his BMW Sauber team are losing ground to rivals Ferrari and McLaren Mercedes Sato, Davidson vow to stay Raikkonen happy with battling third for Ferrari Defending drivers world champion Kimi Raikkonen of Finland said he was happy to collect six points for finishing a battling third in Sunday's incident-filled Turkish Grand Prix. RTD drives 'P' licence into review lane A major overhaul of rules governing motorists is under way, starting with a review of the probationary driver's licence. 'P' for 'poor' attitude of road users The problem with road safety is lax enforcement and poor attitude of road users. No more cheap fuel in Malaysia for Singaporeans? Malaysia may use chip-based identity card to stop S'poreans and Thais from filling up tanks Fastlane: A Passat with power Even as it is making small, efficient twin-charged engines, Volkswagen reckons there is still a market for big, bad, naturally aspirated power plants. Fastlane: Peugeot-Citroen's green engines PSA Peugeot-Citroen will build a new family of 1-litre, three-cylinder petrol engines with powers ranging from 70 to 100hp. Fastlane: BMW hit by credit crunch BMW, the world's largest maker of luxury cars, has become the first major European industrial victim of the credit crunch as it took a 236 million euro (S$500 million) charge. LTA: Rise in errors traced to a batch of CashCards RESPONSE from the Land Transport Authority: 'Based on our records, in recent months, the number of CashCard error cases stands at about 300 per month, compared to about 250 per month last year. "It's not my fault" Man causes crash after slamming brakes to insert CashCard. Woman biker rushed to ICU, suffers memory loss. Mistaken for a foreigner, cabby takes him for a ride Upon reaching the airport, the meter showed about $22. I wanted to pay the fare and demanded a receipt. However, the cabby cancelled the reading on the meter and insisted on taking only $15 from me. F1's Super Aguri quits over funding The Japanese team are pulling out of F1 racing after prolonged financial difficulties. Super Aguri was the first all-Japanese team in the Western-dominated sport, achieving a long-held ambition of 47-year-old Aguri Suzuki. -AFP Shrinking Singapore Motorshow will go on Only five car brands have signed up for this year's event - less than half the number in the 2006 show. -ST On-the-spot action against errant M'sian cabbies Round-the-clock checks against errant metered cabbies in Selangor, KL, Johor and Penang. -NST A1 boss scraps plan to buy F1 team A1 GP chairman Tony Teixeira had wanted to buy a Formula One team to promote winners of his series. Davidson says his future still lies in Formula One British driver refused to give up on his F1 career after Super Aguri withdrew from the championship. Failed Formula One teams The following is a list of teams that have folded or changed ownership in recent years. FIA appoint expert to assess Mosley allegations Independent expert to look into sexual allegations that threaten to cost president Max Mosley his job. India can win with us, says A1 boss Force India sending wrong message to India's millions of motor racing fans: A1 GP chairman India will find a home-grown Hamilton, says Mallya Flamboyant billionaire team owner simply wants the best regardless of nationality. Kovalainen has no doubts about returning to racing 26-year-old was knocked unconscious in the crash at the Circuit de Catalunya last Sunday. COE premiums tumble to lowest level in a year Motor traders said inflationary worries are keeping buyers away from showrooms. -ST Force India's Mallya dismisses A1 chief's remarks Vijay Mallya accused A1 Grand Prix chairman Tony Teixeira of "promoting mediocrity". NETS: Possible compatibility issue with some IUs 'To date, about 60 per cent of the 20 million monthly Nets CashCard transactions are generated from the 800 carpark systems and 35,000 non-motoring-related applications like food and retail outlets. ERP woes: CashCard or car's IU at fault? CashCards of some 300 motorists go undetected at gantries despite having enough value. -ST He offered $50 for punching me He lodged a police report more than six months ago but had no idea the man who punched him had been charged and fined. Kah Motor rolling out car-sharing scheme It aims to start in July with a fleet of more than 50 cars. New Audi A4 makes a splash with $2m launch Month-long event involves 1,500 prospective customers, owners. Proton Stingray chopper-bike a big hit The prototype bike runs on a car engine. -The Star Dennis denies any involvement in Mosley affair McLaren boss denied any involvement in bringing to light Max Mosley's sex scandal. Nissan CEO US market to stabilise at best in 09-10 Carlos Ghosn said industry would rely mostly on emerging markets to expand. Aguri failure is a sign of the times Commercial uncertainty, doubts about future rules and the credit crunch are a deterrent to potential newcomers. Toro Rosso F1 team delay new car debut Debut of new car delayed until after Turkish Grand Prix due to a lack of spare parts. Kicking and screaming, US capital's cabbies meet the meter New law forces cabbies to install meters and foresake quirky fare system that left some clients confused. Three-Peat Massa, who won his first Grand Prix race here in 2006, took pole position for the third successive year yesterday. -ST More Delhi motorists driven by road rage Apart from traffic congestion, drivers in Delhi now have to worry about being attacked by other motorists for getting in their way. Brazillian Felipe Massa wins Turkish Grand Prix for Ferrari The Ferrari driver won from pole position for the third year in a row after an enthralling tactical battle with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton. -Reuters Five new ERP gantries to go up in S'pore River area Ministry says retailers should not worry. -ST Tuas race track 'good to go' Circuit@Tuas open for practice after 2-month delay. Honda will try to help Sato and Davidson Honda will try to help Japan's Takuma Sato and Briton Anthony Davidson after the demise of the Super Aguri Formula One team, according to Honda F1 chief executive Nick Fry. Taxi passenger records terror ride on handphone video MPV follows taxi after getting honked at. Then driver flashes 'V' sign and drives off. F1 qualifying to change after Super Aguri exit Formula One's governing body said on Thursday that qualifying procedures would change after the Super Aguri team's withdrawal from the championship. Audi to offer electric cars in 5-10 years-paper Audi, the luxury unit of Volkswagen , sees will offer automobiles with no exhaust emissions within ten years, its top executive told a German weekly. Barrichello still going strong at 257 Jenson Button led the compliments for Honda team mate Rubens Barrichello at the Turkish Grand Prix on Thursday. Smart CEO says strong demand for ForTwo model-paper Daimler 's minicar division Smart has increased sales by 80 percent since the launch of its second generation ForTwo model in April 2007, its division head told a German daily. Hamilton wants to start winning again The 23-year-old Briton said he hopes to end Ferrari's run of success with a McLaren win at the Istanbul Park circuit. Kovalainen passed fit to race in Turkey McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen thanked his lucky stars and paid tribute to Formula One's safety standards. Kubica wants best form on bogey track in Turkey The BMW driver has had two disappointing races at the track and wants to grab at least another podium finish to banish the blues at one of his bogey circuits. Toyota warns of first profit drop in nine years The gloomy forecast came as Japan's largest automaker reported another record performance for the financial year to March on the back of brisk demand in fast-growing emerging economies. Trulli says some F1 drivers uninterested in safety Italian Jarno Trulli has criticised Formula One rivals who refuse to join the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) for being uncaring about safety. Team by team analysis of Turkish Grand Prix It is Massa's third Turkish Grand Prix win in a row from pole position, second victory of the season and seventh of his career. Record-breaking Barrichello suffers for lack of pace Brazilian Barrichello had to endure a disappointing race at Instabul Park as he started his 257th Grand Prix and ended up finishing in 14th position. Call made to beef up safety after PIE crash Safety council wants more care taken by heavy vehicle operators. 7 in 10 back-seat passengers don't belt up The survey found that a large number of drivers and passengers, including young children, went without seat belts. Drink, drive, kill in India - and be jailed for life? A parliamentary panel has recommended that death caused by drink driving be made "culpable homicide not amounting to murder". 'The exhaust fumes smell like falafel' Petrol shortage in Gaza Strip, so taxi drivers fill tanks with used cooking oil. Hamilton raves over runner-up spot Hamilton's runner-up place allowed him to close the gap to championship leader Kimi Raikkonen to seven points, although the Briton is now tied with Massa in second place. Hamilton recognises his 'Apollo' was the pits McLaren's Lewis Hamilton has recognised that acting may not be his forte after a Turkish Grand Prix promotional stunt turned into an embarrassment for the Formula One driver. Woman parks car, finds it missing four days later When an IT consultant went to get her car on Thursday morning from the carpark near her home, she was greeted by the sight of an empty lot. Market Street Car Park set to stay - at least for now CCT defers decision on redeveloping site into office building. NUS team in eco-car marathon Students from the National University of Singapore (NUS) will be flying the region's banner when they take part in the Shell Eco-Marathon, a race for fuel-efficient cars. Senna retires after hitting dog during GP2 race Brazilian Bruno Senna retired from a GP2 support race at the Turkish Grand Prix on Sunday after hitting a stray dog that ran onto the track. I tried to swerve but... Trees and a lamp post on the centre divider were felled like nine pins by an overturned trailer. They came crashing down on on the opposite side of the expressway. If he had been sitting upright... A metal barricade narrowly misses piercing the passenger because he lowered his seat to take a nap. Volvo's target: Injury-proof car by 2020 Volvo has already made itself a household name in automotive safety. But it doesn't plan to rest on its laurels. Webber negotiating to stay with Red Bull Australian Mark Webber said on Saturday he had opened contract talks to stay with his Red Bull Formula One team next season. Driver first out of wreck, but... He does not offer help and even tries to hide in crowd, say reports. No Super Aguri, but Raikkonen confident in Istanbul Defending drivers' world champion Finn Kimi Raikkonen is confident that he and Ferrari will be competitive again in this weekend's Turkish Grand Prix despite not having tested at the circuit. Grand Prix season so far Story of Formula One season so far ahead of Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix here: I'm not Superman, says Hamilton Lewis Hamilton has told his critics to be patient with him and not expect him to achieve too much at an early stage of his career. Cement mixer overturns on AYE Mishap caused a morning rush-hour traffic jam on the AYE towards Changi Airport. -ST Rolling out Nissan's luxury brand is on course for a worldwide expansion after a considerably successful outing in the United States. Road skill Roads that will turn F1 racetrack in September being specially resurfaced at night. -TNP Caltex pump prices up Petrol prices up by $0.02, with diesel up by $0.10. Cameras to catch drivers cutting into bus lane Ninety buses on 12 services will have cameras fitted on the front to help the authorities catch errant driver violating the bus lane rule, which is to ensure buses get an uninteruppted run down their lanes. -ST Car accident was bad, but now this... For one motorist, getting into an accident became a case of adding insult to injury. Pricey parts vanish from accident car left at Idac, which says it's investigating. Win tickets daily to world's first night race Shell's grand prize winner gets once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet Ferrari drivers in September. Husband asks: "Why so heartless?" It was a minor collision between a BMW and a Mercedes-Benz. But it led to a car chase, screaming rage from one driver and the death of the other after a stroke. A taxi ride of hope To help relief efforts in Sichuan Province, transport operator ComfortDelGro has contributed a bus, three mini-buses and 35 taxis. Fastlane: Motor Image wins THE Motor Image Rally Team tasted victory at its first outing at this year's Asia Pacific Rally Championship. Fastlane: Jazz-matazz Honda's official distributor Kah Motors is launching its Honda Jazz today. Fastlane: New Aveo in town Another compact hatchback hitting town this week is the updated Chevrolet Aveo 5. Fastlane: YHI celebrates its 60th YHI Group marked its 60th anniversary in grand style this week with a banquet attended by more than 500 guests from around the region. Mercedes leads luxury segment Honda remains top seller after first four months this year followed by Toyota. S'pore firm wins US$43m Mid-East deal InfoTrack tie-up to provide UAE with taxi despatch system. Kah Motor set to launch new Jazz Authorised Honda distributor Kah Motor will launch the new Jazz hatchback this weekend. Driving notes: Take the Saab challenge Next month's Saab City Duathlon will allow participants onto part of the upcoming Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix route for the first time. Driving notes: New cat in town Malayan Motors is launching the Jaguar XF at its showroom this weekend but you'll have to get in line if you want to buy one. Driving notes: Clio III in Singapore Wearnes Automotive is now offering the Renault Clio five-door hatchback. More motorists plagued by errors at ERP gantries Faulty CashCards or faulty in-vehicle units (IUs) which fail to register at the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries are continuing to bother motorists. Barrichello aims for 300 F1 starts after record 257 Brazilian Rubens Barrichello has set his sights on competing in 300 Formula One races after chalking up a record 257th start in Turkey on Sunday. Ferrari to unveil new car at Paris autoshow in Oct The car has a V8 engine like the F430 Scuderia, but it is placed in the front rather than the back. And it is strong enough to propel the two-seater from zero to 100 km/h in less than four seconds. Mosley says FIA fighting for control of Formula One The 68-year-old Briton, who is fighting to keep his job after a sex scandal, suggested in a letter seen by Reuters that the media were also being manipulated by those same interests to 'undermine' his position. FIA member apologises to McLaren for Mosley remarks A Czech ally of Max Mosley has apologised to McLaren for suggesting that the team might have helped expose the sex scandal that threatens the Briton's position at the helm of Formula One's governing body. Fiat to launch new versions of 500 The move would take place in light of the strong sales of the madeover 500, relaunched in July 2007. No 2009 French GP at Magny-Cours, says Ecclestone The French Grand Prix will be held at Magny-Cours for the last time this year but Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone said he hoped it could return to a new circuit in Paris in 2010. Fire at French villa of former F1 champion Hakkinen Hakkinen's partner and another woman escaped from the building when the fire broke out overnight Friday at the villa, in the village of Callian, in the Provence region. Hamilton leads McLaren with confident battle cry Lewis Hamilton led a chorus of upbeat McLaren comments here Monday as the Anglo-German team made the most of their close scrap with dominant Ferrari in Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix. Hamilton sure to sparkle in Monaco A week after making a leaden stage appearance as a Greek god, Lewis Hamilton cradled a diamond-studded helmet on Thursday and recast himself as Formula One's 'King of Bling'. Karthikeyan hoping to take A1 route back to F1 Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan said on Friday that he will stay with the A1 Grand Prix series next year but had not given up on a Formula One comeback. Monaco GP organisers deny Mosley sidelined Max Mosley will not attend official functions at next week's Monaco Grand Prix. Motor racing-Mosley says Formula One needs him to stay Embattled motor racing chief Max Mosley has urged FIA club presidents to let him stay at the helm of Formula One's governing body until October next year in the interest of the sport. Nissan says moving into higher gear on electric cars The push into advanced lithium-ion batteries comes as Japanese automakers invest in an array of new environmentally friendly car technologies amid soaring prices at the pump. Piquet confident points will come After five Formula One races without so much as a point or a top-10 finish, Brazilian rookie Nelson Piquet did his best to sound upbeat about his prospects. Schumacher happy despite slow superbike ride Michael Schumacher finished way down the field in practice for a German superbike race on Saturday. British spy agency link to Mosley sex scandal The sex scandal surrounding motor racing chief Max Mosley took a new twist on Sunday when newspapers reported that one of the prostitutes involved was married to a British secret service agent. Istanbul circuit defends actions after dog incident Istanbul circuit authorities defended their safety measures on Wednesday after a stray dog was run over on the track during a Turkish Grand Prix support race at the weekend. Americans leery of bicycles despite gas price jump It's U.S. National Bike to Work Day on Friday and Americans are facing record high gasoline prices, but most commuters will stick to their cars. Most Americans telephone while driving More than 80 percent of mobile phone owners said they talk on the phone while driving, the survey, conducted last month by the Nationwide insurance company, said. New car brings five-place penalty for Vettel Vettel's Ferrari-powered team confirmed on Monday they would debut their new STR3 car in the Mediterranean principality, meaning a different gearbox for the 20-year-old German. Lower ERP rates for June holidays Electronic road-pricing rates at several gantries will be reduced by 50 cents per pass per car. -ST How DJs undermine traffic cops Updates on road traffic conditions via radio stations provide useful and timely information to motorists, who can plan their route better and avoid the unexpected, such as traffic jams. Serial car thief nabbed 36-year-old suspect believed to be involved in thefts from vehicles in Woodlands, Sembawang and Admiralty. -ST COE premiums rebound strongly Strong rebound at the latest tender following dramatic fall two weeks ago. -ST F1: Raikkonen fastest in opening practice Finn showed he is in good shape to maintain his lead in this years drivers championship. -AFP Two pre-dawn hit-and-run accidents across S'pore One accident along Jalan Buroh, the other on the Pan-Island Expressway left three men dead. -ST CashCard glitch: One-stop relief from next week Drivers who are plagued every month by CashCard problems will soon find some relief. -ST Penalised by a glitch that's not of his making IT IS unfortunate the authorities have not resolved the ongoing problem relating to Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries and the failure to detect CashCards as motorists pass under them. M'sian crackdown on dark windscreens Nationwide crackdown starts July 1, with owners of these vehicles will be slapped with $84 fine. -NST Toll review to encourage travel at off-peak hours Countries like S'pore that have congestion pricing scheme offering peak, off-peak toll charges to be studied. -NST LTA to roll out 4 new road safety initiatives The trial will last for six months before LTA decides whether to use these safety initiatives islandwide. -ST Fatal crash: Editor accused of running red light Lim, 55, a Shin Min Daily News executive editor, is alleged to have run a red light, according to the charges against her. Sales of electric toy cars accelerate More parents are buying hand-made replicas of real-life models for their children. SMRT buys 300 limo taxis, including US-made cab SMRT Taxis could be spending more than $20 million on 300 new limousine taxis, 100 of which will be Singapore's first American-made cab.