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News 2 Aug, 2012

Team GB-inspired version of the MINI Rocketman is on display at the Olympic Park

Why these special stories on mobility? According the U.S. Census, nearly 10 million people age 18 to 64 have an ambulatory difficulty that could affect their ability to drive.

News 2 Aug, 2012

Abarth introduces new 595 Turismo and 595 Competizione editions, and drops the price of the standard Abarth 500, too

Despite a slow start, July came through with another increase in US light vehicle sales. Volume rose 8.9%, producing a SAAR of 14.09m, a 1.69m-unit jump from July 2011.

Pictures 2 Aug, 2012

VW finalized the purchase of the Porsche auto business, ending a seven-year saga that saw VW turn the tables on the maker of the 911 sports car. VW paid Porsche SE 4.49 billion euros and one common share for a 50.

News 2 Aug, 2012

New Vauxhall Astra-based cabriolet has been spied ahead of its Paris Motor Show debut

Pictures 2 Aug, 2012

Continental raised forecasts for revenue and profitability this year after a decline in raw-material costs and growth in sales helped second-quarter profit. Revenue will rise more than 7 percent to exceed 32.5 billion euros.

Efforts by PSA and Fiat to end losses in Europe could cost more than 500,000 people their jobs as automakers and parts suppliers grapple with the effects of the European sovereign debt crisis.

Fiat declined to give any details on its future investments because of the economic downturn and slumping car sales in Europe.

Turkish automaker Ford Otosan posted a net profit down 13 percent year-on-year to

"Since its launch in Canada in 1990, the ES has been a winner for the Lexus brand, and is among the most popular touring vehicles Lexus has sold during the last five years", according to Lexus Canada's Senior Executive Director, Larry Hutchison.

Offered at a $39,500 the 2013 Lexus ES is priced $2,650 lower than the 2012 model. Better yet, there's plenty more for the customer: a more spacious cabin, a new seating design and advanced safety systems, all at the cutting edge of technology. Four option packages are also available.

The ES 300h, the hybrid sedan from Lexus, will have an MRSP of $43,900 with three option packages to choose from. Furthermore, the 300h boasts an impressive fuel efficiency rating of 4.8L/100km.

2013 Lexus ES 350 (Photo: Lexus)

2013 Lexus 300h (Photo: Lexus)

These voluntary recalls will affect approximately 99,000 RAV4 (2006 to early 2011 model year) and 1,100 Lexus HS 250h (2010 model year only). The automaker has determined that if the nuts on the rear suspension arm are not tightened following the proper procedure and torque specification during a rear wheel alignment service, excessive play may occur at the threaded portion of the arm, followed by rust formation.  If this were to occur, the threaded portion of the rear suspension arm may wear and cause the arm to separate.

This Fall, affected owners will receive a first class mail notification letter, advising them to make an appointment with an authorized Toyota or Lexus dealership for a no charge fix.

2006 Toyota RAV4 (Photo: Toyota)

2010 Lexus HS 250H (Photo: Lexus)

At least two teams are rumoured to be using hand-operated adjusters on their Formula 1 cars.

Since the introduction of the parc fermé procedure in Formula 1 - that forbids the teams to work on the cars between the qualifying session and the race - teams have tried to find ways to easily adjust their cars to better suit the conditions.

For example, the ride height of the car should be increased in case of rain and it should be lowered when the fuel load gets lower during the race.

It emerged during the weekend of the Grand Prix of Hungary that, weeks ago in Canada, the FIA told the Red Bull Racing team to stop using a specific device because the governing body felt the effort required to make set-up alterations was too low.

Photo: WRi2

However, Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko, told Auto Motor und Sport that the matter is simple.

"We have never made adjustments by hand," he is quoted by the magazine.

"I don't know why the others get so upset - we happen to know that Ferrari used something like that for a year," Marko said.

Photo: WRi2

But the Scuderia Ferrari replied Marko's claims are incorrect and that the team has never run anything like that.

"This is completely untrue," a team spokesman told Autosport magazine in reference to Marko's comments.

Dubbed the Olympic Lanes, the City of London has reserved some lanes on its road network for Olympic athletes and dignitaries only to facilitate their access to game venues. Any unauthorized motorist caught driving on these lanes could face a penalty of 130 pounds (around $203).

The lanes have caused monster traffic in London, sometimes spanning kilometres. Transportation officials have urged citizen to travel by foot or bike, or even to work from home. The message seems to have gotten through, as subway traffic has increased 4% while road traffic has diminished by 20%, so much so that the city has re-opend some previous Olympic Lanes, now deemed superfluous, and handed them back to happy local motorists.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

From Sauber F1 Team

The FIA Formula One World Championship is taking its summer break now with four weekends free from racing, and the factories will shut down for two weeks.

With 11 Grands Prix completed and a further nine to come, the Sauber F1 Team drivers left us a few thoughts before they disappeared for their holidays.

Sergio Pérez is currently ninth in the drivers‘ championship (47 points), while Kamui Kobayashi ranks tenth (33 points). With 80 points to its tally the Sauber F1 Team is sixth in the constructors‘ championship.

Question: How would you assess the season so far?
Kamui Kobayashi: “Overall we have done a good job and achieved great things. The team built a very good car with an excellent performance. Since the beginning of the season we have been competitive on most tracks, and this means we can be confident for the remainder of the season. The downside so far has been we definitely missed some opportunities for some more great results. Too often we didn't manage the weekend perfectly. If we can improve there, a lot will be possible.”
Sergio Pérez: “I had some great moments in the first half of the season. There were the two podiums in Malaysia and Montreal, which, of course, made me very happy. Nevertheless it was also a period with ups and downs because we didn't make the most of every situation.”

Photo: Sauber F1 Team

In which way have you personally improved in 2012 compared to last year?
Sergio: “Having a lot more experience now compared to my rookie season makes me much more confident in many respects. I think I am a lot better than I was when I entered Formula One. This goes especially for when it comes to making decisions with the team.”
Kamui: “I don't think I have changed a lot personally, but I feel this year we work closer together with the engineers and on a higher level.”

What are your targets for the second half of the season?
Kamui: “On the one hand I want to get my first podium in Formula One, because this is definitely within reach with this car, while on the other we have to focus on our position in the constructors' championship and score points on a regular basis.”
Sergio: “We need to be more efficient and I want to contribute to that. It is not that our performance was not consistent, but we didn't always get the things right and also we have been unlucky sometimes. We have to get everything together and make the most out of what we have. The car is quick and for me my first victory would be a dream come true.”

What do you think about having so many different winners this season?
Sergio: “I think we are having a great season in Formula One this year. The teams are very close together, and this enables more teams and drivers than before to fight for a podium or even a win.”
Kamui: “I think the main reasons are the changes in the technical regulations with the banning of off-throttle blowing and the flexible front wings. This brought the teams much closer together. This year sometimes in qualifying there have been nearly ten cars within two tenths of a second. The smallest mistake makes a huge difference to the position you start from. The result of all this is there are many different winners, which is good for Formula One, good for the fans and good for us drivers.”

Photo: Sauber F1 Team

What are your plans for the summer break?
Kamui: “I haven't decided yet as first of all I have some events and appointments to attend in Japan. After them I will have a look to find myself a warm place with a beach.”
Sergio: “For the first two weeks in August I will go with my family to a quiet place in the US. The other two weeks I will be using to prepare myself for the second half of the season because I want to come back strong.”

Many automakers just love bringing out special editions, and Jeep is no exception. The Grand Cherokee SRT8 is now available in two totally new monochrome exteriors: a Bright White Alpine and a Brilliant Black Vapor , both outfitted with 20-inch, five-spoke gloss black wheels.

Nothing has changed under the hood - the same powerful V8 6.5-litre engine with 470 horsepower powers this model, able to go from 0-96 km/h in 4.8 seconds. And, the power liftgate is now standard.

The interior is still furnished with Nappa leather and suede seats, door panels and dashboard. The SRT logo remains embroidered on the two front seats.

Prices for Canada have yet to be released.

Photo: Jeep

Photo: Jeep

From Prodrive press release

Team MINI Prodrive has announced that it will not participate to Rally GB in September.

Dani Sordo and the Prodrive WRC team have completed a successful two-day test in the Mosel Valley this week ahead of Rally Germany and are increasingly confident that they can challenge at the head of the field for the Trier-based event in three weeks.

Photo: Prodrive

The Prodrive WRC Team will now compete on the final three tarmac rounds of the WRC in Germany, France and Spain.

The decision means the MINI team will not travel to Wales for Rally GB, but instead will concentrate on the rallies it believes Sordo has the best chance of success.

The Prodrive team took the initial findings of its UK tarmac test in July and confirmed these in the vineyards of the Mosel on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Dani Sordo having great confidence in the handling and balance of the car.

The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, leader in earth-bound, all-terrain vehicles, as well as its Martian alter-ego, NASA's Rover Curiosity, ‘face off' in a unique comparison. Each vehicle represents the highest peak of technology on Earth and on Mars. Discovery the exceptional features of both these vehicles!

Photo: NASA/JPL-CALTECH