Auto News 5

Acura will voluntarily recall approximately 4,266 model-year 2007-2008 TL sedans in Canada to replace the power steering hose. Over time, the power steering hose in affected vehicles may deteriorate and develop a fluid leak. A power steering fluid leak could lead to a loss of power steering assist. Power steering fluid leaking onto a hot catalytic convertor may generate smoke or, in the worst case, lead to an under-hood fire. No accidents, injuries or fires related to this issue have been reported.

Acura is announcing this recall to encourage owners of all affected vehicles to take their vehicles to an authorized dealer as soon as they receive notification of this recall from Acura. Mailed notification to customers will begin in June 2012. In addition to contacting customers by mail, owners of these vehicles will be able to determine if their vehicles require repair starting 17th May by going on-line to www.acura.ca/recalls or by calling Acura Canada Client Services at (888) 9ACURA9.


_{As reported by Honda Canada}

General Motors today announced the return of a V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive performance sedan to America after a 17-year absence. Named SS, it will become Chevrolet's next NASCAR Sprint Cup contender and debut in its race configuration at the 2013 Daytona 500.

Photo: General Motors

The limited production version of the Chevrolet SS is expected to arrive in dealer showrooms in late 2013 as a 2014 model. It will share its RWD architecture with the Camaro and Holden's upcoming VF Commodore from Australia.

Chevrolet sold the most sports cars in the United States last year, with the Camaro and Corvette leading the way. GM believes the addition of the SS will strengthen Chevrolet's position as a leading performance brand.

Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing's Josef Newgarden was, for the third time this week, on top of the time sheets at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Newgarden clocked his fastest run at 222.785 mph, putting him just ahead of Andretti Autosport trio Marco Andretti (222.108 mph), Ryan Hunter-Reay (221.763 mph), and James Hinchcliffe (221.638 mph).

Graham Rahal, Chip Ganassi Racing. (Photo: IMS)

But not everything went as planned for Newgarden as he lost control of his Dallara just 16 minutes before the end of the six hour session and spun through 720 degrees before glancing against the barriers.

Josef Newgarden, Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing. (Photo: IMS)

Meanwhile, neither the Simona de Silvestro (HVM Racing) and Jean Alesi (Fan Force United) were able to lap any faster than 205mph on the fifth day of practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Lotus-powered cars are currently 10mph behind the next slowest car, and more than 17 mph off the pace being set by the frontrunners.

IndyCar officials have denied that they have allowed Lotus to use a new boost setting in order to increase the power on their engines.

Tony Kanaan (KV Racing) and Alex Tagliani (Bryan Herta Autosport). (Photo: IMS)

Also, rumours abound that Dragon Racing with its drivers Sebastian Bourdais and Katherine Legge could be on track today behind the wheel of their Chevrolet-powered Dallara DW12.

Indianapolis 500 Practice Day-5

Pos Driver Team Time
1. Josef Newgarden Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing 40.3977s

2. Marco Andretti Andretti Autosport 40.5208s +0.1231

3. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Autosport 40.5839s +0.1862

4. James Hinchcliffe Andretti Autosport 40.6067s +0.2090

5. Dario Franchitti Chip Ganassi Racing 40.6095s +0.2118

6. Justin Wilson Dale Coyne Racing 40.6468s +0.2491

7. Bryan Clauson Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing 40.7182s +0.3205

8. Charlie Kimball Chip Ganassi Racing 40.7404s +0.3427
9. Takuma Sato Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing 40.7506s +0.3529
10. Sebastian Saavedra AFS Racing/Andretti Autosport 40.7605s +0.3628
11. JR Hildebrand Panther Racing 40.7761s +0.3784

12. Scott Dixon Target Chip Ganassi Racing 40.7948s +0.3971
13. Tony Kanaan KV Racing Technology 40.8525s +0.4548
14. Graham Rahal Chip Ganassi Racing 40.8648s +0.4671
15. Alex Tagliani Bryan Herta Autosport 40.8980s +0.5003

16. Wade Cunningham A.J. Foyt Enterprises 40.9192s +0.5215

17. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt/Hamilton Motorsports 40.9459s +0.5482
18. Ana Beatriz Andretti Autosport 40.9536s +0.5559
19. Townsend Bell Sam Schmidt Motorsports 40.9605s +0.5628

20. Michel Jourdain Jr. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing 41.0434s +0.6457
21. Oriol Servia Panther Dreyer & Reinbold Racing 41.0919s +0.6942
22. Ed Carpenter Ed Carpenter Racing 41.1108s +0.7131
23. Helio Castroneves Team Penske 41.3404s +0.9427

24. Will Power Team Penske 41.3596s +0.9619

25. Mike Conway A.J. Foyt Enterprises 41.4304s +1.0327
26. Rubens Barrichello KV Racing Technology 41.5243s +1.1266
27. Ryan Briscoe Team Penske 41.6175s +1.2198
28. E.J. Viso KV Racing Technology 41.7611s +1.3634
29. Jean Alesi Fan Force United 43.8193s +3.4216

30. Simona de Silvestro HVM Racing 43.9005s +3.5028

From GMM

F1's next winner could be at the wheel of a black and gold car.

"I think Kimi (Raikkonen) will be the sixth different winner in the sixth race," said Finnish commentator and former driver Mika Salo, to the MTV3 broadcaster.

Although the results in 2012 have proved impossible to predict so far, many paddock pundits expected Lotus' E20 to be the car to beat last weekend in Barcelona.

"The big surprise was when Kimi didn't win," admitted former Ferrari driver Salo, referring to Pastor Maldonado's victory for Williams.

Also confident about Lotus' potential is Raikkonen's teammate, Romain Grosjean, who finished behind the 2007 world champion last weekend.

"It's good to be a little disappointed with third and fourth," he told the French language RMC Sport. "It shows that as a team we are convinced we can win."

Romain Grosjean, Lotus E20. (Photo: WRi2)

According to the reigning world champion team Red Bull's drivers, however, there is a downside to this year's impossible-to-predict F1 landscape.

"Maybe we will see an HRT or a Marussia on pole in Monaco," world champion Sebastian Vettel said, unenthusiastically and half-seriously.

Mark Webber insists that what has been described as the Pirelli 'lottery' might not be a good thing for the sport.

"I don't know if they (the fans) will get sick of seeing so many different winners," the Australian told Fox Sports. "It's nice to have different winners but also we want rivals."

Kia has dropped its

Subaru said today it will expand its Lafayette, Ind., plant to boost production of the Outback crossover and Legacy sedan and wagon.

Also in this episode: General Motors pulls ad dollars from Facebook, Lola Cars goes into bankruptcy and we check out the

The list of manufacturers that offer launch control is getting a bit longer. Ford is joining

Britain is on the cusp of securing a deal that would see General Motors Co. build the next generation of its Astra compact model at Ellesmere Port rather than in Germany, sources said Wednesday.

Britain is on the cusp of securing a deal that would see General Motors Co. build the next generation of its Astra compact model at Ellesmere Port rather than in Germany, sources said today.

McLaren MP4-12C, Lexus LFA, Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 and Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

The death of metal.

That massive hunk of steel in your driveway is slowly corroding into obsolescence -- both figuratively and literally. About the time that rust finally eats through the floorboards of your shiny new 2012 model, you'll be able to purchase -- no, afford -- a plastic car.

Photo Gallery: The Death of Metal: McLaren MP4-12C, Lexus LFA, Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 and Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: The Death of Metal: McLaren MP4-12C, Lexus LFA, Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 and Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport - Automobile Magazine

McLaren MP4-12C, Lexus LFA, Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 and Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Ford Motor will lead the industry in introducing new or refreshed vehicles in the United States at the fastest rate for model years 2013 through 2016, according to a Bank of America Merrill Lynch report today.

We could debate the aesthetic merits of Mark Heidaker's Ford GT all afternoon, but his modified supercar's performance credentials are indisputable.

On the eve of Facebook's wildly anticipated initial public stock offering, General Motors said May 15 that it will stop buying advertisements on Facebook--about $10 million a year--but "remains committed" to the social network as part of "an...

As detailed in two previous postsand#8212;which can be found here and

Most of us who have been pulled over a couple times have known the horror of the flashing lights and the and#8220;license and registrationand#8221; protocol that John Law throws down when standing at our window.

Autoweek spotted this manufacturer-plated Fiat 500L earlier this week on the streets of suburban Detroit.

BMW reveals that Active Hybrid 3 Series will cost from £40,255 and manages almost 50mpg

BMW reveals that the ActiveHybrid 3 Series will cost from £40,255 and return almost 50mpg

The automotive-enthusiast community is still mourning the loss of racing and performance legend Carroll Shelby, who died on May 10 at the age of 89.