Auto News 5

Every little boy's dream is finally coming true with the launch of the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels Edition -- the first time a full-size production Hot Wheels car has been offered for sale by any manufacturer.



''Millions of us grew up playing with Hot Wheels,'' said Chris Perry, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. ''Offering a special production model of the Camaro Hot Wheels is an opportunity to bring those memories to life, for kids of all ages.''

Unveiled today at the 2012 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels Edition will make fans drool with striking metallic paint, 21'' black wheels featuring a red outline stripe, two-tone matte graphic on the hood, ''blackout'' graphic on the rear taillight panel, ''flame'' graphics on the fenders, and Hot Wheels logos on the front grille and rear decklid.

The base LT model uses a 3.6L V6 engine that produces 323 horsepower, while the higher-end SS comes with a 6.2L V8 that cranks out either 400 or 426 horsepower depending on the transmission.

In the U.S., the 2013 Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels Edition will require a premium of $6,995 over the regular Camaro when it arrives in showrooms early next year -- stunt track sold separately.

Canadian availability remains unknown.

Photo: Chevrolet

From GMM

Romain Grosjean's future is secure, after a good race in India on Sunday.

That is the claim of Lotus team boss Eric Boullier, following a tumultuous period for fellow Frenchman Grosjean, whose career has been in doubt due to his multitude of early-race incidents on his return to the sport in 2012.

Eric Boullier told RMC Sport after the Indian grand prix: "Romain did a great race, doing what was expected of him. He did a good start. He was able to fight and win places. He drove well with no errors."

"I think he has really showed his potential and that he has his place. His confidence has taken a big leap forwards, he is more calm now and he will build on it," he added.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus E20, on Buddh International Circuit. (Photo: WRi2)

The circle of life dictates that death follows life and vice versa. The current 5th generation Ford Mustang has been around since 2005, and was therefore called upon to pass.

The 6th gen car promises to be quite the departure from what we've come to love as the retro-cool ‘Stang that harks back to a time when life was simpler -- those days are over.

The coming of the next Mustang signifies that special editions (such as our favourite Boss 302 and the most awesome Shelby GT500) will shortly be no more. If you recall, the past held many wild Mustangs like the Bullitt, the GT-H, the GT-500 KR, and a few others. As you know, they're all gone.

As the saying goes: “The king is dead; long live the king.” The next Ford Mustang, expected for the 2015 model year (this could mean that the car will be around in as little as a year) will also be offered in various special trims. This we can guarantee.

Given the direction that Ford seems to be taking with the next Mustang, you and I should expect it to be all killer, no filler.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

Jimmie Johnson did what he had to do; winning from the pole at Martinsville he took the Sprint Cup points lead.

"I'm ecstatic about the win today. I'm ecstatic about the points lead," Johnson said. "But this is no cakewalk.”

Jimmie Johnson, winner. (Photo: NASCAR)

While Johnson was celebrating his 59th career win, fourth of the year, Brad Keselowski's comeback from 32nd to sixth may have been performance of the race if not the saving grace in his hopes for his first Cup title.

“Today was a tough day,” said Johnson. “Our car came to life right on time.”

It was Johnson's seventh win at the .526 mile paper-clip-shaped track putting him two points ahead of Keselowski with three races to go in the championship. Johnson held off Kyle Busch by .479 seconds in a five-lap shoot out at the end.

Hendrick Motorsports at work on Jimmie Johnson's Chevrolet. (Photo: NASCAR)

Johnson is aware of Keselowski being his primary rival. “I felt like it was going to be a problem for him. I mean, we've been there before and have stayed out and gotten beaten. I expected him to drop a little further back, so with only a 2-point margin, he must have stayed up in the top five somewhere. You just can't count out good race teams. When you're in the playoffs, it doesn't matter what sport it is, teams step up to show what they're made of. We've seen a lot of teams do it this Chase. Out team came out on top today, and a few more racing doing that, we should be in good shape.”

Knowing that this track was one of his worst kept Keselowski optimistic about his title hopes. "You can't count this team out," said Keselowski. “This team has a tremendous amount of heart. Just proud of 'em. I know this championship is going to come down to Homestead (the series finale). You've just got to be in a position to where you've got a shot at it.
"We'll keep fighting the good fight."

Photo: NASCAR

Denny Hamlin, another pre-race favorite to win, had a disastrous day with two pit lane speeding penalties and electrical problem finishing 33rd, is eliminated as a challenger for the Cup.

Last week's winner, Clint Bowyer, is hanging on, third 26 points after finishing fifth behind Kasey Kahne (third) and Aric Almirola (fourth) respectively. Kahne is 29 points out of the lead.

Chevrolet grabbed its' tenth straight manufacturers' championship with the win.

Although the championship is likely down to Johnson and Keselowski the five-time champion was not over confident when putting Hamlin's problem into the context of the bigger picture.

Jimmie Johnson leading Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch. (Photo: NASCAR)

“What it does to my mind is say that anything can happen,” Johnson said. "I think it was an electrical problem, what we've heard so far. That can happen to anybody. I'm not smiling. I'm not anything. It can happen to me. It can happen to the 2 (Keselowski). It's just one of those Voodoo things you don't do in this sport. With three races left, anything can happen.

You're looking for somebody to call a shot. But you got to play the game, you got to run the race. We could have some mechanical issue, an electrical issue, an accident on the track. With three races left, there's a lot of laps to be run."

Adapted from GMM

Sebastien Buemi on Sunday had a meeting with Sahara Force India officials, but Vijay Mallya on Monday suggested Adrian Sutil is a possible contender to replace Nico Hulkenberg in 2013.

Vijay Mallya, the Silverstone based team's co-owner and boss, said he is not certain German Hulkenberg is switching to Sauber.

"I hear from the media that Nico has signed with Sauber. He hasn't sat down with me and told me that," Vijay Mallya is quoted by the Indian Express.

But if Nico Hulkenberg does go, Mallya is confident he will not be difficult to replace.

Adrian Sutil, former Force India driver. (Photo: WRi2)

"Yes absolutely, why not? Never forget I always have the potential of considering Sutil again. Sutil is always quick. So there are many options," he said.

On his end, Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko seemed to confirm the possibility Sebastien Buemi is in with a shot of the Sahara Force India cockpit.

Sebastien Buemi, Toyota Racing driver. (Photo: WRi2)

"If Buemi doesn't go to Force India," he is quoted by the Swiss newspaper Blick, "then we want to keep him. He might also do the (sports car) endurance world championship with Toyota."

Who to believe? We should know more in the coming weeks.

In India last weekend, Lotus F1 Team principal Eric Boullier made it clear that the team was not up for sale, despite recent rumeurs of the arrival of potential investors.

The team is currently owned by Gerard Lopez's Genii Capital Investment Management and Financial Advisory company based in Luxembourg.

Last week some rumours indicated that the team was about to be sold of Proton, the Malaysian car manufacturer and former owner of the Lotus Cars company. But British magazine Autosport wrote Monday that this was wide off the mark.

Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus E20. (Photo: Lotus F1 Team)

However, it seems that talks with several potential new partners about a minority stake in the team have taken place over recent months. However, none of these discussions came to a conclusion.

"Obviously a lot of discussions happen in the background, and I can just say for us the team is not for sale, the team has not been sold, the team will not be sold,” said Lotus team principal Eric Boullier.

The Frenchman added that the team is fully committed on the long term, and is now focussed on 2013 to provide their No. 1 driver Kimi Raikkonen with a car capable of winning races and the World Championship.

Opel may need between two and three more months to reach a deal with German unions on a restructuring plan that could see thousands of job cuts and the closure of a factory.

Opel may need between two and three more months to reach a deal with German unions on a restructuring plan that could see thousands of job cuts and the closure of a factory.

News 28 Oct, 2012

Sebastian Vettel extends his lead in the championship, with a dominant win in the Indian Grand Prix

The Canadian Auto Workers launched strikes this weekend at two parts suppliers in Canada, including a key exhaust manifold producer and a seating plant.

Licence plate duplicates are pretty new in Quebec, but they're a widespread phenomenon in France where photo radars have been operating for a number of years.

Speeding drivers can use a false licence plate (often made with two plate halves) to avoid getting tickets. Unfortunately, the owner of the actual licence plate is the one who receives them.

With the photo evidence, good luck proving your innocence, as a team at SRC's La Facture found out.

Only six cases of plate duplicates have been reported over the past three years. Police and the SAAQ are now actively looking at this issue, however.

Source: Radio-Canada

Photo: Matthieu Lambert

When it launched a few years back amidst a barrage of Super Bowl commercials starring Rhys Millen and a set of smoking rear tires, the Hyundai Genesis coupe effectively tossed a hand grenade into the Canadian sport compact scene. By breaking the 300-horsepower barrier with a rear-drive two-door, Hyundai effectively recalled many great Japanese sports cars of the '90s to mind. Never mind that they're Korean and new to creating performance vehicles.

Genesis Coupe had the added benefit of being sexy, too. It quickly became the first Hyundai anyone probably put a poster of on their wall.


2013
For 2013, Hyundai's put their hooligan-ready model under the knife. Like your favourite Desperate Housewives character, it's undergone some modifications to its face and headlights. Fans will notice the new bumpers, new wheels and new accenting all over. Pre-facelift Genesis owners will likely be jealous. Inside, the centre stack, instruments and trim materials have all been updated, too.

Function
The tester featured the latest in Bluetooth-powered and USB-linked infotainment connectivity, as well as an Infiniti stereo with enough wattage to upset your elderly neighbors.

There's a three-gauge “pod” on the centre stack, too. The “Oil Temp” readout is useful. The “Fuel Consumption” and “Torque” gauges are not. But they look neat-o.

Two proper cupholders and fairly generous at-hand storage facilities were joined by brown heated leather seats for a cabin that functions well and looks touring-ready and upscale. And the 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe cabin is large enough for two grownups up front, even if heftily proportioned.

At the end of the day, where styling and functionality are concerned, the new 2013 Genesis Coupe is still instantly a Genesis Coupe -- just a bit more modern, bright, sophisticated, and dialed up. And, thankfully, the dialing up of this car didn't stop on the surface.

At the end of the day, the new 2013 Genesis Coupe is still instantly a Genesis Coupe -- just a bit more modern, bright, sophisticated, and dialed up.(Photo: Justin Pritchard)

New Power
There's more power all around. First-generation Genesis Coupes got a 2L 4-cylinder turbo engine with 210 horsepower, or a 3.8L V6 with 306. For 2013, the standard turbo four-banger makes 274 horsepower -- which approaches the output ballpark of the old V6. Accordingly, the new V6 maintains its gap by gaining direct injection and a higher compression ratio, good for 348 horses.

Hehehe.

Said V6 motivated the tester, and came with a special pipe that transmit the full brunt of the engine's sound into the cabin at full throttle. Hammer down, and the high-rpm wail sounds like the Genesis is trying to take over the world. Revs slip past 6,500 with plenty of forward thrust reserved for the upper limits of the tachometer. There's plenty of low-end response, and a peaky, high-rpm pull that'll make your passengers say bad words.

Best of all, the traction control system in the 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe can be completely dismissed in a jiff should drivers wish to experience an amount of wheel spin. This beats having the “fun police” report your attempts at vigorous driving to the electronic throttle, which subsequently crosses its arms and little else.

the standard turbo four-banger makes 274 horsepower -- which approaches the output ballpark of the old V6.(Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Ride and Handling
And whether you're interested in a great-looking cruiser or something to drive the pants off when nobody's looking, the Genesis Coupe offers up a stable, locked-down and dense feel somewhere between sporty Japanese precision and muscular American heaviness. Maybe slightly towards the latter.

That's not a bad thing.

Add in a set of high-performance Brembo brakes and quick but heavy steering, and you've got the building blocks of a driving experience that's manly as heck. The shifter and clutch even feel like they're attached to something more substantial than a pudding cup, which helps.

By demanding driver involvement, the 2013 Genesis Coupe makes you a part of its performance. The weight, feel and sound demand your attention and effort, and the reward takes the form of tidy handling, flattering grip, a slippery but predictable tail, and all the fast and furious sound effects you'd care to blast into your face.

And that's all while being refined and smooth and quiet during highway cruising, too. A Lexus it is not, but the Genesis Coupe could get away with being much less comfortable.

By demanding driver involvement, the 2013 Genesis Coupe makes you a part of its performance.(Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Minor Gripes
Occasional noises make their way through the driveline and the Genesis sometimes lurches into gear, but even if it's not the most refined powertrain on the road, the performance bang for the buck excuses it.

Some complaints still remain. Entry and exit can be fairly tight, the rear seats are useless for human beings of the adult variety, the trunk opening is hopelessly thin, and gas consumption can get hefty if you can't keep off the throttle. Good luck with that.

At the end of the day, for affordable access to the world of seriously capable, high-performance motoring, the 2013 Hyunda Genesis Coupe is a must-drive. Consider it alongside the Mustang,Challenger, Camaro, 370Z, G37, and friends; and the extra power this year means its left lesser performance cars like the Mazda RX8 and Honda Accord V6 Coupe even farther in the dust.

You'll find now, more than ever, that the combination of style, speed, and sound effects is very appealing. Pricing with the new 348 horsepower V6 is $37 grand. If you're after a true performance car in this ballpark, opting for the 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe is a virtual no-brainer.

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone has admitted he is pushing to introduce a 'budget cap' in formula one.

Reports indicate the F1 supremo envisages a team's maximum spending at US $250 million per year.

"We are definitely looking at a budget cap," the Briton, who turns 82 on Sunday, told the Times of India.

"The cap will include everything, even driver retainers," said Ecclestone.  "But at the moment it's my idea.  Only about 50 per cent of the people support me on this."

The smaller teams are undoubtedly among those who favour the idea of spending limits, but McLaren's Martin Whitmarsh thinks the $250m idea will not be too helpful to them.

"It sounds like quite a lot of money, so I don't know how much it's going to help too many teams," he told the BBC.

Whitmarsh does not, however, think Ecclestone's figure should therefore be lower, as he thinks the idea is too simplistic.

"It (a total cap) has the elegance that you can describe it very quickly but it is very difficult then to find out where that money is and (how) to control it," he said.

Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) completed a perfect weekend with a fourth consecutive win, at the Buddh circuit near New Delhi in India.

Title rival Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) made it through from fifth on the grid to pick up second position in the race, therefore limiting the extent of Vettel's lead. The German's teammate Mark Webber lost second position to Alonso because of KERS problems during his last stint.

McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button made the most of their machines, coming in fourth and fifth positions respectively. The two Brits each experienced tire problems which hindered their race speed. Nonetheless, Button did well in raw pace, posting the fastest lap of the race.

Felipe Massa (Ferrari) finished where he started, in sixth position. He had to race pretty much the entire time with Kimi Raikkonen's Lotus stuck to his gearbox. The Finn crossed the finish line not even a second behind his former Ferrari teammate.

Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) had another strong performance that allowed him to pick up some more points, in eighth. Romain Grosjean (Lotus), ninth, too finished in a points scoring position. He did well to avoid his usual first lap drama. Bruno Senna (Williams) capped off an impressive weekend by coming in tenth. Racing with his head, the Brazilian made some nifty passes.

HRT's Pedro de la Rosa (brakes issues), Sauber's Sergio Pérez (puncture) and Mercedes' Michael Schumacher (puncture) were the only non-classified drivers.



Race results* - Indian Grand Prix (Buddh circuit)
1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 60 laps 1.31'10"744
2 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 9"437
3 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 13"217
4 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 13"909
5 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 26"266
6 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 44"647
7 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 45"227
8 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 54"998
9 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 56"103
10 - Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'14"975
11 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'21"694
12 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'22"815
13 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'26"064
14 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'26"495
15 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1 lap
16 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1 lap
17 - Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1 lap
18 - Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1 lap
19 - Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1 lap
20 - Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 2 laps
21 - Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 2 laps

Fastest lap of the race: Jenson Button (1'28"203)

Retirements
Lap 21 - Sergio Perez
Lap 41 - Pedro De La Rosa
Lap 55 - Michael Schumacher

Drivers' championship
1.Vettel 240; 2.Alonso 227; 3.Raikkonen 173; 4.Webber 167; 5.Hamilton 165; 6.Button 141; 7.Rosberg 93; 8.Grosjean 90; 9.Massa 89; 10.Perez 66; 11.Kobayashi 50; 12.Hulkenberg 49; 13.Di Resta 44; 14.Schumacher 43; 15.Maldonado 33; 16.Senna 26; 17.Vergne 12; 18.Ricciardo 9.

Constructors' championship
1.Red Bull-Renault 407; 2.Ferrari 316; 3.McLaren-Mercedes 306; 4.Lotus-Renault 263; 5.Mercedes 136; 6.Sauber-Ferrari 116; 7.Force India-Mercedes 93; 8.Williams-Renault 59; 9.Toro Rosso-Ferrari 21.

*Unofficial results

From GMM

Dr Helmut Marko has fended off the team order issue by backing the "intelligence" and "team-player qualities" of his drivers.

The issue is pertinent ahead of Sunday's Indian grand prix, with Mark Webber effectively out of the fight for the world championship, but insisting he will not move over for Sebastian Vettel if he is running ahead of the German.

German Vettel's title fight is really with Fernando Alonso, whose Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa is fully supportive of the Spaniard.

The same is not true at Red Bull, with Marko insisting Webber - second on the grid behind the dominant sister RB8 in India - will not be ordered to play a subordinate role to Vettel.

"We have never had team orders," Marko told F1's official website, "but we bank on the intelligence of our drivers.

"As long as Mark has a theoretical, mathematical chance of winning the title it is understandable when he says that he is first and foremost driving for himself."

Asked however if Red Bull is counting on the 'team player qualities' of its drivers on Sunday, he admitted: "Yes."

Toyota earned a third victory this season in the final World Endurance Championship round presented in Shanghai, but that didn't stop Audi drivers Andre Lotterer, Marcel Fassler and Benoit Treluyer from taking the title.

The Japanese prototype driven by Alexander Wurz and Nicolas Lapierre, who started from pole position, controlled the race from start to finish, and concluded the event almost one minute ahead of Kristensen and McNish's Audi R18 e-tron.

Third position was enough for Treluyer, Lotterer and Fassler, aboard the second Audi R18 e-tron, to retain the drivers' championship lead in the inaugural year of the World Endurance Championship.

The best private LMP1 car of the year was the Rebellion's Lola Toyota driven by Prost and Jani, although both men were forced to retire in Shanghai... seven minutes from the finish.

LMP2 win went to the Oreca Nissan driven by Martin, Graves and Beche, but the Starworks' HPD got the class title.

The works Aston Martin confirmed its form by winning the last round of the season, but the title went to AF Corse Ferrari F458.

Bornhauser, Canal and Lamy take GTE Am win and title by winning in Shanghai aboard their Larbre's Corvette.

Shanghai Six Hours - Final classification:
1 - Lapierre-Wurz (Toyota TS030 Hybrid) - Toyota in 6h01'29''292 (1er LMP1)

2 - Kristensen-McNish (Audi R18 e-tron) - Audi + 58”570
3 - Treluyer-Lottere-Fassler (Audi R18 e-tron) - Audi + 1'42”814
4 - Belicchi-Primat-Chen (Lola B12/60-Toyota) - Rebellion + 6 laps

5 - Brabham-Chandhock-Dumbreck (HPD ARX 03a - Honda) - JRM + 6 laps
6 - Letenti-Watts-Kane (HPD ARX 03a-Honda) - Strakka + 9 laps

7 - Martin-Graves-Beche (Oreca03-Nissan) - ADR-Delta + 11 laps (1er LMP2)

8 - Potolicchio-Dalziel-Sarrazin (HPD ARX03b-Honda) - Starworks + 11 laps
9 - Nicolet-Lahaye-Pla (Morgan-Nissan) - Oak + 12 tours
10 - Perez Companc-Minassian-Kaffer (Oreca 03-Nissan) - Pecom + 12 laps
(...)
16 - Mucke-Turner (Aston Martin Vantage) - Aston Martin - 22 laps (1er GTE Pro)
(...)
19 - Bornhauser-Canal-Lamy (Chevrolet Corvet C6) - Larbre - 25 laps (1er GTE Am)
etc.

As Autosport.com revealed, talks of a French Grand Prix replacing the New Jersey venue on the 2013 Formula One calendar are hotting up.

"We have a pen and are ready to sign," Bernie Ecclestone declared, referring to the likelihood of the rumour.

The match certainly looks very promising.

On the one hand, French officials have been trying everything in their power to get an event back on the calendar, for some time now. The project always came short only because of the abundance of potential grand prix venues.

On the other hand, New Jersey officials, who were granted a spot on the 2013 calendar, wasted the chance given to them to host an F1 race, admitting themselves they would not be ready in time.

"Which circuit they are going to use is another thing," Ecclestone pointed out.

The 2013 French Grand Prix could be staged either in Magny-Cours, where F1 last raced in 2008, or at the Paul Ricard, a high end testing facility.

"If they are ready we can slot it in the calendar," the big boss of the sport confirmed.

From GMM

After contesting his 309th and final grand prix in Brazil late next month, Michael Schumacher will keep his 'Silberpfeil'.

Bild am Sonntag newspaper said Mercedes will give the W03 'Silver Arrow' to the great seven time world champion as a parting gift, before he makes room at the team for Lewis Hamilton in 2013.

The German newspaper said the 'step nose' single seater is worth about EUR 1 million.

Michael Schumacher at the wheel of his last F1 car (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

Asked which Mercedes he would choose for his private collection, Schumacher answered: "Definitely the one for Monaco."

He is referring to the car in which he topped qualifying earlier this year, even though he did not actually start the race from pole due to a grid penalty.

But doesn't he think Mercedes' 2012 car is too ugly for his prized and priceless collection?

Schumacher admits: "Visually, because of the bend in the nose, it does take some getting used to!"

From GMM

There are paddock rumours that F1 team Lotus' owner Genii may soon be sold.

The German language Speed Week said it has heard that the likely buyer is from Malaysia.

In 2010 and 2011, Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes' Caterham team was called Lotus, until a resolution was found to the F1 naming dispute with Group Lotus.

Romain Grosjean at the wheel of Lotus' most recent F1 single seater, the E20 (Photo: WRi2)

And Group Lotus, no longer a sponsor of the Genii-owned Lotus team but still lending its name to the F1 squad, is owned by Malaysia's Proton and DRB-Hicom.

Also having heard the rumours in India, British Sky television commentator Martin Brundle mentioned the carmaker Proton as a possible buyer for Lotus F1.

But a team spokesman was quoted by skiddmark.com: "Yes, they (Genii) have been looking for minority investors like other teams, and they were close to doing a deal recently, however the deal could not be found in the end."

He insisted that Proton "has never been in the loop".

We donand#8217;t do much complaining here at Autoweekand#8212;unless youand#8217;re clogging up the left laneand#8212;and overall we know weand#8217;re very lucky to be in our position.