Auto News 5

Although circumspect about the health of the overall market, Toyota Motor Corp. is forging ahead with plans to rapidly expand North American production and sourcing and possibly shift assembly of at least one vehicle from Japan to North America.

Not only have Hyundai and Kia been piling up market share in recent years, they have moved steadily into higher-priced segments.

Chrysler Group dealers are replacing malfunctioning cylinder heads on a small percentage of 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engines. And a recent shortage of replacement heads means some customers have been without their vehicles for weeks, some dealers say.

When General Motors' then-marketing chief Joel Ewanick approached Manchester United in the spring about a sponsorship deal, he had an authorized annual budget of about $70 million to play with.

When Akio Toyoda and Elon Musk shook hands during dinner at Musk's Bel Air, Calif., mansion in May 2010, there were big grins all around. The two had just agreed that their companies would co-develop an electric vehicle ...

Ford launched a nationwide iPad program on Aug. 1. About 140 of the automaker's roughly 3,300 dealerships have signed up so far. Ford says the optional application is linked to Ford's ordering and sales reporting systems.

The Volkswagen brand's U.S. operations seeks to accomplish what few other mass-market brands have achieved here: nearly quadruple U.S. annual sales from 2008 to 2018.

As government support for electrification has waned in the United States, EV and battery makers increasingly are turning to China for investment and manufacturing sites.

The Volkswagen brand's U.S. operations seeks to accomplish what few other mass-market brands have achieved: nearly quadruple annual sales from 2008 to 2018.

2013 Chevrolet Spark First Impressions

2013 Subaru Outback First Impressions

2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class First Impressions

Other very interesting topics:

• Subaru's new EyeSight driver assistance system
• Blog: Your insurance
• 2013 Subaru Legacy First Impressions
• 2013 Honda Accord: first images revealed
• Blog: A dinner with racing legends

With the cool new X-Ray app unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show, iPad and iPhone users can view the inner components and features of a Volvo model.

They can also learn about them by scanning a number of markers around the vehicle (through what is called ''augmented reality'').

Given the extremely positive response, Volvo is considering the X-Ray app for other auto shows as well as its own dealerships.

Source: lacomunidad.com

At this year's Pebble Beach weekend, Mercedes-Benz will pay homage to their legendary SL Roadster by displaying a trio of vintage cars. Next to a brand-new 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG, visitors will be able to gaze at three 1952 W194 300SL cars: chassis no. 2, no. 7 and no. 11.

Also on display at the Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge will be the Concept Style Coupé, the brand's future vision of a four-door coupe. It's reportedly powered by a turbo four-cylinder gas engine, which sends its 211 hp through all four wheels via its 4MATIC drivetrain.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to purchase as few vintage cars, as the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center will be offering a 1936 540K Cabriolet B, two 1955 300SL Coupes, a 1963 190SL, a 1968 280SL and a 1969 280SL.

2013 Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG (Photo: Mercedes-Benz)

From GMM

Vitaly Petrov says it is too soon to determine what he will be doing in 2013.

The Russian made his debut for Renault (now Lotus) in 2010, moving across to the back-of-the-grid Caterham team at the beginning of this season.

And his manager Oksana Kosachenko said recently she is in talks with three teams about 2013.

"Before autumn we have to be ready to take some decisions. I don't want to be in the situation which we faced last year," she said.

Oksana Kosachenko said the priority is to keep Petrov, 27, at Caterham.

Vitaly Petrov, Caterham CT01. (Photo: Caterham F1 Team)

So when will they be in a position to know more?

"I think after August," Petrov is quoted by the Russian website f1news.ru.

"Right now, all the talk about (drivers) moving around is just starting. The main thing is that the (Caterham) team is happy with me, they've said it in the press and to me personally," he revealed.

Petrov said he is not feeling "nervous" about the future.

"Maybe in another situation I would be, but because I have good results and we work well together as a team, I see no reason for that."

Last week, Transport Canada published a safety recall on certain Dodge Durango vehicles with seven passenger seating.

An incorrect Occupant Restraint Control (ORC) module may have been installed during the assembly. As a result, third-row seat occupants may not benefit from the added protection provided by the side airbags during a crash, which could increase the risk of personal injury.

The recall targets 130 units from the 2013 model year. Chrysler dealers will replace the ORC module.

Source: Transports Canada

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

Emotion, quality, aerodynamics. Those are the main attributes of Suzuki's new crossover, which will make its first appearance next month.

A direct threat to the Nissan Juke, the Suzuki S-Cross will reportedly replace the SX4 by 2014.

Few details are available right now, save for a sketch and a picture of the car's aggressive front end that features some cool-looking LED headlights and daytime running lights.

Technical specs will be revealed at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, where Suzuki is also expected to unveil its new Grand Vitara, Swift and Swift Sport, among others.

Photo: Suzuki

Photo: Suzuki

From TMG

Cologne's TOYOTA Motorsport GmbH (TMG) set a new electric record at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, United States.

Using the TMG EV P002 race car, powered by a high-performance TMG electric powertrain, Japanese driver Fumio Nutahara set a time of 10m15.380 to set a new record for electric vehicles on the 19.99km newly asphalted road.

TMG EV P002. (Photo: TMG)

Nutahara's time not only broke the previous electric record (12mins 20.084secs) by more than two minutes, it gave him sixth place overall to cap an impressive debut at Pikes Peak.

TMG EV P002. (Photo: TMG)

Based on a Radical chassis, the TMG EV P002 has a top speed of 240km/h in Pikes Peak configuration, with combined maximum power of 350kW from its two axial flux motors.

TMG EV P002. (Photo: TMG)

The TMG crew on-site spent three practice days finetuning the TMG EV P002 and its electric powertrain set-up for the difficult climb from 2,800m to the 4,300m summit.

TMG EV P002. (Photo: TMG)

Montreal, Quebec -- As I sit looking at the 2013 Dodge Dart sitting in the middle of a cavernous art gallery surrounded by modern sculptures, I feel intrigued if a little confused.

For starters, the 2013 Dodge Dart is actually quite good looking. Kudos to the exterior and interior design team for launching a vehicle that's eye-catching for all the right reasons (not because it looks like a box, bulldog or some other strange creature). The Dart's front facade is just the right blend of aggressive and pretty, with a hint of modern thrown in there for good measure. Add to that the Challenger-bred taillights and you've got an entry-level vehicle that looks like it's actually a class above that.

Where my confusion stems is in the presentation of the vehicle. From what I can gather, over the years Dodge, Chrysler and the rest of the American brands (save for Ford, perhaps), have taken a “We are American, and we are damn proud of it” stance -- and why shouldn't they? They went through an extremely rough patch during the recent recession, and they deserve to be proud of their climb back up since then. Take for example the launch of the new Chrysler line and their tagline “Imported from Detroit.”

Photo: Miranda Lightstone

Barn Dart
Over the years, we've seen the likes of the Neon and Caliber take to the streets. Both, in my oh-so-honest opinion, unfortunate happenings. While they met the needs of many buyers, they weren't quite what we auto journalists would call good vehicles.

Now enter attempt No. 3 on Dodge's part, and I think they've hit their barn dart on this one.

Well priced (starting at $15,995 MSRP) and well-equipped, the 2013 Dodge Dart is a welcome option to the norm (Civic, Cruze, Corolla... you get to move up a letter in the alphabet, finally!). Thanks to that, there's no worry of Dodge landing a woody on this one. The Dodge Dart will do well (my crystal ball tells me so) and here's why:

Dodge did their homework on this one. Everything from the interior design (where you can customize your gauge cluster as you would your computer desktop) to the exterior look (bred from the same stable as the new 2013 Viper) to their TV commercial (that's engaging, real and funny) was crafted to appeal to the Millenial group -- a group I just recently learned I am a part of. Even their design team was full of Millenial babies (those born to the Boomers in the '80s and early '90s).

The 2013 Dodge Dart isn't the best car in the world to drive: I found the travel long on the clutch and the distance between gears eons apart; and I hated how I felt like the seats were trying to throw me out because they were so poof-y. The 1.4L MultiAir turbo is good fun (and makes a great “I just started working out” muscle car gurgle out the rear), while the 2.0L Tigershark engine feels a bit dead in the water, for me.

And yet, it will do well; there'll be no point mongering, it'll all be legit.

Pastor Maldonado's demonstration of a Formula 1 car turned short on Sunday when he crashed the damaged the year-old Williams FW33.

The Venezuelan Grand Prix winner was due to complete a 12-lap run on the Fuerte Tiunas military parade ground in front of 20,000 fans and numerous political and military VIPs, with team owner Sir Frank Williams and shareholder Christian "Toto" Wolff also present.

However, on his second "lap" on this extremely bumpy and slippery surface downtown Caracas, Maldonado spun the F1 car under braking and damaged its suspension on the roadside kerbing.

In the early '90s, I was an aspiring preteen car fanatic. I was nine years into a Hot Wheels collection, could talk at length about turbocharging to anyone who'd listen, and read Motor Trend on a near-daily basis.

I also had a poster of the 1993 Mazda RX-7 pinned to the wall in my bedroom -- just behind where I often sat and listened to “Whoop There It Is” on my Sony Walkman while playing Mortal Kombat on my Sega Genesis.

Elsewhere, the RX-7 was being sold as Mazda's $45,000-plus flagship sports car. Largely regarded as the highest-performing street legal Mazda ever made, it's the source of that “Zoom-Zoom” DNA present in Mazda's products to this day.

In the early '90s, the RX-7 was being sold as Mazda's $45,000-plus flagship sports car. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

This was a special car for the Japanese automaker, and largely the reason that Mazda stashed one brand new, bright yellow, unmodified unit away at their head office for two decades.

For a time, it was even parked in the front lobby -- the same front lobby I walked into to pick up my first ever test car (a Mazda MX-5) seven years ago. So, effectively, this particular yellow RX-7 watched from a few feet away as I started my career reviewing cars.

Recently, I had the rare chance to realize a childhood dream and spend a week driving that exact RX-7.

Sentimental value? Very much. Picking up the “brand new,” 20-year-old RX-7 brought more of a nervous, excited pang to my stomach than any car in recent memory. But, that's what happens when a great big kid gets to play with one of the coolest toys he could never have as a child.

A supercomputer-designed suspension, lightweight hollow sway bars and four-wheel ABS brakes were advanced for their time. Ditto for the sophisticated, sequential twin-turbo setup -- which helped the Mazda RX-7's 1.3L rotary engine generate 255 hp and 217 lb-ft of torque.

Two turbochargers meant two boosts of power smoothly merging with one another -- perceived by the driver as virtually lag-free torque from just beyond idle to just shy of the 7,500 rpm redline. This is the sort of technical, mechanical wizardry that makes excited, aspiring car fanatics salivate.

Rear-wheel drive and a 5-speed manual were standard in the 1993 Mazda RX-7. All said, it was fast by the standards of its day, and is still quick and potent 20 years later. At full rip, torsos are pressed into seatbacks as the persistent whistling of the turbochargers enters the cabin -- which is sweet.

The Mazda RX-7's 1.3L rotary engine generated 255 hp and 217 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Continue reading 1993 Mazda RX-7

From GMM

F1's three engine manufacturers for 2014 are hard at work on their new turbo V6 designs, Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reported.

The publication said Craig Pollock's new venture Pure is no longer operating, while it is now common knowledge in the F1 paddock that HRT and Marussia supplier Cosworth is unlikely to still be on the grid for the radical new rules.

That leaves just Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault, with Auto Motor und Sport saying the manufacturers are now "in phase two" of the development process for 2014.

It means they are no longer working only with mere prototypes.

Photo: Renault Sport F1

"We have now run a V6 and the programme is more or less in line with our planning," Renault Sport's Rob White said recently. "Our intent is to be 'race intent' in the course of 2013."

Toto Wolff, a Williams shareholder and the Grove team's new executive director, told motorline.cc the British squad will "definitely" still be powered by Renault's existing V8 engine next year.

And then into the V6 rules and beyond?

"That is what we would wish," he said. "Renault has decided to remain in formula one for the long term and talks (between Williams and Renault) are in progress," he added.