After Mississippi blues, Power eyes Las Vegas jackpot

West Waterford’s Seamus Power was singing the Mississippi blues on Sunday but he’s already regrouped and set his sights on a Las Vegas jackpot this week.

The 29-year old was just two shots off the lead entering Sunday’s final round of the Sanderson Farms Championship but crashed to a five over 77 to slip from sixth to tied 29th.

Most players would be devastated, but the pride of Tooraneena insisted he’s even more confident than before that he can win on the PGA Tour.

Up to 103rd in the FedEx Cup standings, $26,705 richer and five spots higher (he’s 20th) in the priority list with three events to go before the reshuffle, Power can’t wait to tee it up in this week’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas.

“If you can beat everyone for 18 holes, you can build it up to 36, 54 and then 72 holes,” said Power. “I have to look at it that way. Obviously it was a bad last round and I was disappointed. 

“But to be honest, I didn’t play my best all week. I was scrambling and doing things around the green very well. Then the putter got a little cold in the last round and that exposed the rest of my game.

“But it was a great experience obviously to be in contention in only my second start And it is still early enough in the season that if I can learn from it, it will be a good lesson for me.

“It seems weird to say that but it definitely gives me confidence, even after a poor last round — knowing that I can easily put myself in that position again and it is just a matter of finishing it off.”

Power confessed that he had a “two way miss” going with his driver all week and that made it tough to stay in contention, especially when the putts stopped falling on Sunday. 

Seamus Power at the Sanderson Farms Championship

“I  hung in there as best I could and while the last round was obviously disappointing, my game feels close and I have three more weeks to go before we wrap up for the end of the year,” he said from Las Vegas, where he spent his day off recharging and working out in the gym.

“In that sense, I certainly have something to build on for the next three weeks and if I get myself in that position again, I will be able to handle it a lot better.”

Power must remain psychologically strong if he is to finish in the top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings and keep his card and he is determined to take advantage of the three events he has remaining before the Christmas break — this week's start in Las Vegas, the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in Mexico and the RMS Classic at Sea Island in Georgia.

And he is adamant that he has more belief than ever after outshining a field featuring the likes of Jerry Kelly, Jonathan Byrd, JJ Henry, David Toms, Rory Sabbatini, Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Camilio Villegas, Seung Yul Noh and Angel Cabrera for three days.

“I know deep down I can [win a PGA Tour event], otherwise I would have no interest in playing,” Power insisted. “When you put yourself in the actual position, it definitely gives you a bit more added confidence.

“I wasn’t at my best but with 18 holes to go, I still had a chance to win a PGA Tour event. So it was very encouraging. 

“Okay, it wasn’t a full name field but there was still a lot of good players there and just to be able to play with those guys and see those guys on the range and interact with them in the last few groups, it was definitely eye opening.”

Power pipped tournament winner Cody Gribble for his maiden Web.com Tour success back in May and having seen the left-hander struggle late this year before hitting the big time on Sunday, he knows he must be patient.

“That’s the thing with golf, it’s one of the few sports where it is very difficult to peak your game when you want it,” Power said. “Sometimes it is just going your way and you get a bit of confidence. 

“Don’t get me wrong, I am very disappointed and I would prefer to have played a lot better yesterday. But that’s golf. 

“It doesn’t always go your way, otherwise it would be very boring. You have got to pull the positives out of it because it is a long season.”

Power will make just his third PGA Tour start at TPC Summerlin this week but having played the course earlier this summer, he has high hopes.

Looking ahead, Power said: “If I can learn from Sunday instead of worrying about it, it is going to be a lot more healthy for the rest of my year and my career. 

“I played the course this summer. It’s a  nice course, it should really suit my game and the weather is beautiful. If I have three good weeks between now and the end of the year, I will be in good shape.”

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BMW 3 Series is on Auto Express’ Best Executive Car list

This current generation of 3 Series, the F30, is quite likely the most disliked 3 Series generation in the model’s history. It’s become heavier, softer and less dynamic than ever before. However, there are many who can appreciate’s its wider breadth of abilities than its predecessors. Auto Express seems to be one of them.

The folks over at AE just recently name the BMW 3 Series the third best executive “saloon” (sedan in the US) on the market today. That’s impressive for what’s largely considered the worst 3 Series ever. According to AE, the 3 Series packs a fantastic blend of comfort, performance, handling and efficiency. Its small diesel engines provide excellent efficiency and help with the UK’s company car tax, which makes it very popular for executives across the pond. They also provide good performance and more than enough speed to satisfy most enthusiasts.

It can also still handle with the best of them. While its handling and dynamics have decreased from previous generations, it’s still one of the best-handling sedans on the market and can still provide the thrills enthusiasts demand. The steering could have more feel, but its weighting is good and it’s incredible accurate. It also has impressive chassis dynamics and rear-wheel drive models have the ability to be throttle-adjustable, making this the car of choice for enthusiasts who also want a comfortable daily saloon car.

There are areas where the 3 Series can improve, even in AE’s eyes. Its ride can be harsh without the adaptive dampers, as it can crash down over rough pavement. The adaptive dampers mostly fix this in Comfort mode, but you shouldn’t have to pay extra for a proper ride, whereas classic 3ers never had adjustable dampers but had perfectly tuned suspensions from the factory. We really miss the ride of those older cars. This new 3 Series could also be more quiet on the inside, where too much wind and tire noise come into the cabin.

Auto Express also commend the practicality of the 3er, where it ties the front-drive-based Audi A4 for boot (trunk) space at 480 liters. The rear seats can be split 40:20:40 and are also easy to use. This makes the 3 Series capable of hauling a decent amount of kit and also capable of carrying long items, such as a set of skis.

Overall, AE has very good things to say about the 3 Series. Putting it as the third best executive saloon is very impressive considering how fantastic all of the cars in the segment are. The only car in its class to place ahead of the 3 Series is the new Jaguar XE, which has the benefit of being much newer than the 3 Series and won because of its superb dynamics. So, the 3 Series is still up there with the best in the world, even if it has gotten a bit soft.

[Source: Auto Express]

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IND introduces the M2 and M4 projects for SEMA 2016

Chicago-based IND unveils their lineup for the upcoming SEMA show which opens this week in Las Vegas. IND partnered up with BBS and Rays Engineering/Advan to create two beautiful project cars based on the new M2 and M4 Coupe.

IND says that their M2 was designed to complement the M4, while showcasing some newly developed components, and also to be an homage to BMW’s own factory-built race program. To achieve the best setup, IND enlisted the services of Eisenmann, Eventuri, KW, Brembo, and RKP, while also creating some new and unique solutions of their own.

KW provided a prototype set of ClubSport coilovers for the M2, fresh off of their 7 post test rig and ready for real-world testing. Advan RS-DF wheels wheels were selected in an 18×9.5 width at all four corners with Falken’s 275/35/18 tires for neutral and predictable handling. Brembo’s GT kit was newly designed when installed on the car, and improved the thermal capacity of the car’s braking system with a more rigid caliper, thicker brake disc, and substantially larger swept pad area than the factory brake system.

Eventuri’s air intake cleans the airflow of the intake tract and provides the signature Eventuri intake growl which pairs perfectly with Eisenmann’s prototype M2 exhaust system. Eisenmann’s M2 exhaust was designed for a dramatic difference in sound both with the valve open and closed, and gives the M2 a more pronounced roar that is unmistakeable.

Finally, RKP stepped in to give the M2 the exterior components that the car was missing from the factory. A roof panel was designed that mimics the original M4 panel, but is sized appropriately for the M2. RKP created a trunk spoiler which is specifically proportioned to be an exact match for the roof, and aggressively protrudes from the trunk lid, giving the back of the car a more exciting appearance. RKP’s GTS style front lip spoiler completes our motorsport-derived look, when paired with the original BMW Motorsport wing found on the M235i racing model, and the later versions of the M2 MotoGP Safety Car.

A rear closeout was created and upholstered in Alcantara fabric, to separate the passenger compartment from the trunk area, and integrate nicely with BMW’s own Motorsport roll bar, finished in Alpine White. The interior was treated with the full BMW Performance catalog, with BMW’s own carbon fiber details accenting the roll bar perfectly. An M4 GTS steering wheel was retrofitted to the car, fitting perfectly with this car’s Motorsport-inspired vibe.

Finally, we finished the interior with our own shift paddles, painted Alpine White to match the roll bar.

For those of you in Vegas, stop by the IND booth to see their latest creations.

[Source: f87.bimmerpost]

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Will the Inline-Six engine be the new norm?

When Jeep stopped selling its near-ancient 4.0 liter inline-six engine, BMW was the last bastion of hope for six longitudinal cylinders. BMW has been making inline-six engines for as long as most car enthusiasts can remember and they’re still a staple of the brand’s heritage. The Bavarians have been applauded by enthusiasts for this stubbornness, especially considering the common theme of downsizing and using package-friendly “V” shaped engines. But it seems as if Mercedes-Benz, a company once known for its inline-six engines as well, will be joining BMW.

The Stuttgart-based brand has just officially announced that a series of new inline-six cylinder engines will replace the current V6s in many of its new cars. This new family of engines will be very similar to the EfficientDynamics engines BMW current develops, as they will all be modular engines with identical bore spacing and will be capable of being both petrol or diesel.

One area Mercedes is one-upping BMW’s I6 engine line is with its new engine technology. In its top-of-the-range inline-six petrol engine, Mercedes will be pumping it up with technology and power. It will use what Merc is calling an ISG, or Inline Starter Generator. It’s essentially an electric motor that acts as the starter for the engine while also being able to provide 15 kW of boost to help the car off the line more quickly and even serves as the alternator for all of the car’s 12-volt systems. Mercedes claims it can also “shift the load point” of the engine, by taking on some of the engine load and allowing the I6 to operate and a more efficient level.

This engine and ISG, which will likely first be offered in the new 2017 Mercedes S-Class, will be part of a 48-volt electrical sub-system, much like in the new Audi SQ7 and Bentley Bentayga. This 48-volt system will power an electrical water-pump for the engine, the AC compressor and any other auxiliary components that are typically belt-driven. But it also runs a small electrically-powered compressor, which is basically like a small electric turbocharger that provides a small amount of boost at low-rpm, while the exhaust gas-driven turbo is still building boost. This essentially eliminates turbo lag and is something BMW toyed with on the current M3 and something Audi already employs on the SQ7 and upcoming RS4.

This impressive sounding engine is said to develop 403 hp and 370 lb-ft of torque, which are very healthy figures indeed. Those are right in line (pun intended) with the BMW M3 and should be available in most of Mercedes AMG’s “43” models, such as the Mercedes-AMG C43.

Probably the biggest reason why I6s died was space. Being inherently long engines, they’re tough to package, especially with modern safety and crash standards. But if you can eliminate all of the belt-driven systems on the front of the engine, you can make the engine much shorter and far easier to package. The 48-volt electrical system will do this and help the I6 engine make a comeback. And that may not seem that important but, for enthusiasts at least, it certainly is. Inline engines run far more smoothly than anything in a “V” configuration, therefor the lack the need for a balance shaft. This, in-turn, reduces a bit of weight. They’re also more reliable and capable of more, smoother torque. They also make great noises (See: E36, E46 BMW M3).

We love BMW inline-six engines and are happy Mercedes is going to continue the trend because the more inline-six engines are in the world, the better place it will be. Fact. Hopefully, other premium automakers follow the trend and the inline-six engine, with its inherent silky-smoothness and delicious noise, will be making a comeback and become a new norm.

[Source: Jalopnik]

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