Lotus back on track in Suzuka

Lotus ambassador Jean Alesi was up at the crack of dawn to watch the Japanese Grand Prix

Lotus Renault GP got both cars in the top ten in qualifying, which must have come as a relief after all the head-scratching in Singapore?

It was uncomfortable to watch the pace in Singapore. They weren’t as competitive as they should have been, but things were back on track in Suzuka. Qualifying was impressive, and this is at one of the most demanding circuits ever built. So that’s encouraging but based on where they started I was disappointed with the result. Ninth and 16th: I expected a little better.

What did you make of the fact that neither driver drove a Q3 lap in order to save tyres?

Samsung OK SM7 for August

Sure you know Samsung for their super HD TV and the nice OLED screens on iPads and Galaxy smartphones and Tab but do you know that they partnered with Nissan in the 1990s to clone the Japanese brand for Korean consumption?

Yes they did and with the marriage of Renault Nissan, Samsung has continued to build cars under the group for Korean consumption and also for export, under different names of course. There is one crossover/SUV that started life as a Samsung engineering project but now wears Renault and Nissan badges....

This is the the Samsung flagship car, the SM7, a Nissan Maxima based sedan that has been given a thorough Samsung makeover.

It is ready for the market this month and from the pictures it looks quite luxurious and definitely spacious.

More photos and full PRESS RELEASE after the jump