Audi recruit adds fuel to F1 rumors

Audi appears to be taking more steps towards a potential F1 entrance in the near future.

Now, it emerges that former Honda, Brawn, BMW and Williams technical chief Jorg Zander will start work as Audi Sport's new head of technology on Jan. 1.

Volkswagen's brands, however, have consistently played down speculation of a F1 project, and Bernie Ecclestone said earlier this month that he thinks a foray is unlikely.

Rumours of a project were fuelled recently when ousted Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali resurfaced at the German carmaker, where the Italian is reportedly conducting a feasibility study into a turbo V6 design for the VW-owned brand.

The former Ferrari Formula One team principal Stefano Domenicali has no experience of Le Mans-style sports cars, has no experience of touring car racing and does not even speak German. The sources are insistent that Formula One is only possible reason why Audi, which is the successor of the legendary pre-war Auto Union brand and carries its four-ringed badge, would have just hired the Italian, even under the temporary pretense of a non-racing role. 

2016 Toyota Mirai FCV

The race for the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle is really heating up.

Within the past few days, Honda has unveiled its FCV Concept in Japan, BMW is reportedly planning a hydrogen-powered i5, and now, Toyota has officially announced its hydrogen fuel cell vehicle for the 2016 model year.

Called as 'Mirai', which means 'Future' in Japanese, is a midsize sedan which will go on sale in Japan by the end of the year.

The Mirai will go on sale in the U.S as early as next year as Toyota has announced a joint venture with industrial gas supplier Air Liquide to build 12 hydrogen fueling stations in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. There are currently 10 stations in California, but the state has committed to 20 by 2015 and 40 by 2016.

Some features you would definitely like about the 'Mirai' :

• The hydrogen powertrain takes just five minutes to fill.

• Emits no exhaust besides water vapor. 

• Can even siphon energy into an owner’s home with the Optional Power Take-Off device.

• Maximum power output of 153 horsepower.
  
  
• Maximum torque of 247 lb-ft.

• It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in around 9 seconds.

•  Maximum of 5.0 kilograms of compressed hydrogen in two 10,000-psi carbon-fiber-reinforced high-pressure tanks.
• Despite being an FCV, it will have a top speed of 111 mph.
• It will have a nickel-metal-hydride battery similar to that in the Prius and will be fed by a fuel-cell stack tucked under the front seats.
• The solid-polymer electrolyte fuel cell was completely developed in-house by Toyota and consists of 370 cells.
  
  

Power Take-off:

On a full charge, the car provides up to 60 kWh of power to one’s home (or perhaps even one’s depleted Tesla battery) in case of an emergency or a power outage. Toyota claims that’s enough to power an average household for about six days.