Auto News 5

A third consecutive victory for Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel, following on from his success in Singapore and Japan, has made the drivers' championship even closer heading into the final four rounds of the season.

Vettel, driving a Red Bull-Renault RB7, started the race from second on the grid using the Pirelli P Zero red supersoft tires, and then carried out two stints on the yellow soft tire to win from his teammate Mark Webber, having taken the lead at the start.

Photos: WRi2

The German's fourth victory of the year has given him the drivers' championship lead, while third and fourth places for Ferrari, thanks to Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa respectively, moves the Italian squad up to second in the constructors' championship.

A soon as the words “electric vehicle” are uttered, inevitably the question arises: “What's the range?” Undoubtedly, this question plagues every manufacturer boardroom once an EV release is planned. No one wants to be stranded on the side of the road while their gas brethren zoom by.

Photo: Michel Deslauriers

While manufacturers have devised a way to prevent this from happening through customer screening (stringent background checks of where you live, how far you travel to work, that sort of thing) before the purchase of an EV even happens, it seems the question still arises.

The thing is, it's not just about range anymore, but about overall liveability. And that's where we decided to come into the whole EV debate.

With three EVs lined up and ready to go, Matt, Mike and Miranda set out to live a day in the life of an EV owner. Granola-chewing, hemp-using, planet-saving, greenie jokes aside, we wanted to see whose electric vehicle could stand up to the onslaught of a typical day of running errands, going out for lunch and doing a little sight-seeing later in the afternoon. You didn't think we'd do this without a little bit of friendly competition, did you?

With Mike behind the wheel of the Nissan LEAF, Matt piloting the brand new Ford Focus Electric and Miranda bringing up the rear in the Chevrolet Volt, we began our test... a week before we got the cars.

You see, we discovered that a major part of owning an electric vehicle isn't just thumbing your nose at gas-guzzlers, it's planning. From calling various malls and restaurants to enquire about charging stations to calculating distances throughout the city, we needed to ensure our cars really could do what we wanted them to do. And we wouldn't be remiss to do the same if we actually owned the vehicles we were driving.

Owning an electric vehicle isn't just about changing your driving habits, it's often about changing your routine as well. Always shopped at a specific mall? Well, what if they don't have charging stations, but another a town over does? Chances are, you're going to change your routine and go to the other mall from now on so you can charge while you shop.

So, from city driving (which included a bit of highway) to plenty of stop-and-go routes, as well as hill climbs galore, and a final stop in the park to feed the squirrels (read: sea gulls) we took our EVs a total of 80 km (free of A/C, sans radio tunes and with the windows up for optimal drag reduction) throughout the day with only two charging station stops: one for approximately 1.5 hours at lunch, and another for 25 minutes in the afternoon.

Whose car rose to the position of top EV? Read on to find out.

Continue reading Electric Vehicle Comparison Test

Volkswagen allocated 500 copies of the limited-edition Golf R to the Canadian market in 2012. For 2013, only 250 will be available.

Based on the five-door GTI, this ''Super Golf'' with all-wheel drive boasts a 256-horsepower, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and a 6-speed manual gearbox. It stands out with exclusive 18" Talladega wheels, high-performance brakes, a lowered sport suspension, and a full body kit (aggressive front fascia, side skirts and rear diffuser).

Inside, look for leather-wrapped sport seats, colour-keyed trim items, and a RNS 510 touchscreen navigation system.

The 2013 Volkswagen Golf R is priced at $39,675, just like the outgoing model. Stay tuned for a release date because it will sell out in no time!

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

Honda introduced the first Insight in November 1999. Twelve years and 11 months later, the Japanese automaker has sold one million hybrid vehicles worldwide.

At the time, the Insight became the industry's most fuel-efficient production car with a consumption of under 3L/100km. Honda has kept improving its Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) technology, adding seven new models in the process, and claims that hybrid powertrains will play an increasingly important role in the future.

Honda currently sells eight hybrid models in approximately 50 countries around the globe. A new two-motor hybrid system will soon be introduced for midsize vehicles, while a high-output, three-motor hybrid system (known as Sport Hybrid SH-AWD) will be applied to the future Acura NSX.

By the way, Toyota has sold more than four million hybrids since launching the Prius in 1997.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

From GMM

Michael Schumacher has ruled out falling back on two wheels as he prepares once again for F1 retirement.

The great German raced in the German superbike series at times during his three-year 'sabbatical' in the wake of his Ferrari career, and narrowly escaped serious injury in one particular spill.

Schumacher told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper that racing motorbikes is "great fun", but he also acknowledged that it is "definitely" more dangerous than F1.

"I am very willing to learn," he smiled. "What that means is that I will not do any more motorcycle racing."

NOTE:
Wild rumors circulating on the web suggest that Michael Schumacher could end up racing in the Australian V8 Supercar champonship (now that Mercedes has decided to enter cars in that series), or even in the DTM, joining (or replacing!) his brother Ralf at Mercedes-Benz. Stay tuned!

Total Car Score recently surveyed more than 900 car and movie enthusiasts on Facebook to find out which James Bond car is the most popular of all. Answer: the Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger (1964).

Second is the Aston Martin DBS from Quantum of Solace (2008), followed by the Aston Martin Vanquish from Die Another Day (2002).

For the complete Top 10, visit Total Car Score.

Photo: RM Auction

Juha Hanninen had a particularly impressive crash in his Skoda Fabia S2000 during Rally San Remo.

The 2010 champion of the Intercontinanteal Rally Championship, Hanninen went off the road during the first day of the Italian round of the IRC, his car rolling down the road before its ended up on top of a house.

Giandomineco Basso (Ford Fiesta) secured the victory. Andreas Mikkelsen (Skoda Fabia) remains however on top of the point standings.

The brand new Peugeot 208, which made its racing debuts at San Remo, took victory in the R2 class with Bryan Bouffier.

2013 Ford Mustang GT Review

2012 BMW Z4 sDrive28i Review

2012 Toyota RAV4 Sport 4WD Review

Other very interesting topics:

• Blog: Diesel dealbreaker
• 2012 Mazda MX-5 SV Review
• Mercedes-Benz gets down and dirty
• Top 10 safe driving tips
• Beware of counterfeit airbags

From GMM

There are rumours in the paddock that Porsche is considering a formula one foray, according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

The VW-brand Porsche is returning to Le Mans, but the magazine said rumours are swirling that the project is merely "a warm-up" for F1.

Auto Motor und Sport said Porsche is busily signing-up personnel with F1 experience, including Fritz Enzinger, Alex Hitzinger, Mike Krack and recent Sauber engineer Urs Kuratle.

And the report said Porsche is also expressing interest in people from teams up and down pitlane.

Alain Prost, McLaren Tag Porsche turbo, 1984. (Photo: WRi2)

Porsche is establishing its Weissach facility as a state of the art motor sport factory complete with wind tunnel, while the marque's drivers are reportedly having hours booked in the McLaren simulator.

"The formula one paddock wonders whether the expense is really intended only for Le Mans," said Auto Motor und Sport.

Car names are about to become extinct. You know, names that mean something; names that provoke fear, that exhibit raw power, that bathe us in soothing elegance and that remind us of one of God's graceful creatures roaming the earth.

Today, we get 1, 2, 200, 3, 300, 370Z, 5, 500, 6, 7, 911, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, B, BRZ, C, C30, C70, CL, CLS, CR-V, CR-Z, CT, CTS, CX-5, CX-9, E, ES, EX, F-150, F-250, F-350, FJ, FR-S, FX, G, GL, GLK, GS, GTI, GT-R, GX, i, ILX, iQ, IS, JX, LFA, LR2, LR4, LS, LX, M, M3, M5, M6, MDX, MKS, MKT, MKZ, MKX, MX-5, NV, Q5, Q7, QX, R, R8, RAV4, RDX, RLX, RX, S, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, S60, S80, SL, SLK, SLS, SRX, SX4, tC, TL, TSX, TT, X1, X3, X5, X6, xB, XC60, XC70, XC90, xD, XF, XJ, XK, XTS, XV, Z4 and ZDX.


I'm probably forgetting another hundred or so, but I think you get the picture.

Some now-discontinued model designations were worse. Try telling your brother-in-law “hey, I just bought me a two point five tee ell.” That name couldn't get any clumsier tripping off your tongue. “Uh, I bought an Acura.”

Or a Lincoln. Or a Mercedes and/or Benz. Or an Audi. Or a Mazda. Or a Suzuki. I know that MKS and MKZ are sedans and that MKT and MKX are crossovers, but does the average consumer know that? Who cares, really, as long as you know which brand of vehicle you have purchased.

Very few manufacturers still use real car names, although some are just kind of made up and don't really mean anything, like Passat, Altima, Elantra or Impreza. But Mustang, Challenger and Viper, those are names you'd want to flaunt. Hell yeah.

Bottom line is that manufacturers now prefer that their customers name the brand instead of the model. For certain brands, especially luxury brands, that marketing strategy's been working for decades; I never hear anybody say “I got a bee two hundred” or a “see three fifty four matic.” Nah, they'll say “I got a Mercedes.”

Then again, a name doesn't successfully define the automobile in every case. An impala is a fast, light and agile animal that lives in the savannah; the Chevy Impala is a big, boring sedan with a front bench seat.

Good thing some brands haven't given up on real names that actually evoke something other than a craving for alphabet soup. Keep ‘em coming.

From GMM

Eric Boullier has ended the uncertainty about Romain Grosjean's future in formula one.

Amid the Frenchman's first-lap troubles this year, culminating in him being branded a "nutcase" by Mark Webber at Suzuka, Lotus boss Boullier and team owner Gerard Lopez had refused to guarantee Grosjean will stay put in 2013.

But, even after admitting he was "nervous" before Sunday's Korean grand prix, the 26-year-old managed to avoid the first corner chaos and finish the race seventh.

"It was good to see Romain drive very sensibly despite all the pressure that is on his shoulders," said Boullier.

He told the BBC: "He (Grosjean) has been reassured about his future and that he is going to stay with us, but I cannot commit today. Everything is ready, the contract is ready and has been approved by the board. It is just a question of finding the possibility to do it."

Romain Grosjean. (Photo: Lotus F1 Team)

Eric Boullier, who doubles as the head of the group - Gravity - that manages Grosjean, said Lotus continues to believe in the 2011 GP2 champion.

"He deserves to be in formula one, we brought him back because we believe he has a future in formula one. I would be a bit foolish to bring him back and then get rid of him," he said.

The Toyota TS030 Hybrid driven by Wurz, Lapierre and Nakajima defeated both Audi R18 e-trons at Six Hours of Fuji.

The Japanese prototype, which started the race the pole position, took its second victory of the season after a thrilling finish during this Japanese round of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The leading cars ran in close formation during the early part of the race, until the Audi driven by Benoît Treluyer had a contact with a GT car.

As a result, the R18 had to stop to get a new nose, and then was forced to pit again for a drive through penalty. When Treluyer took over the Audi, he was 50 seconds behind the TS030.

Start of the 2012 6 Hours of Fuji. (Photo: Audi Motorsport)

But, in the last hour, Audi thought to be able to take the lead back, considering that the Toyota had to stop for a last splash and dash.

The German team even decided not to change the tires of the R18 in order to gain time, but the Toyota managed to stop and get back onthe  track still in the lead, by just five seconds.

Eventually, the gap between the Toyota and the Audi was around 11 seconds at the finish.

The best private LMP1 car was the Rebellion's Lola-Toyota driven by Neel Jani and Nicolas Prost, as the LMP2 victory went to ADR Delta's Oreca-Nissan driven by Martin, Graves and Nakano.

Felbermayr Proton's Porsche 997 GT3 RSR took GTE Pro win, while the best GTE Am car was the Larbre's Corvette C6-ZR1.

Six Hours of Fuji - Classification:
1 - Wurz-Nakajima (Toyota TS030 Hybrid) - Toyota - 233 laps in 6h00'42''920 (1st LMP1)

2 - Fassler-Lotterer-Treluyer (Audi R18 e-tron) - Audi - 11"223
3 - Kristensen-McNish (Audi R18 e-tron) - Audi - 1'32"565

4 - Prost-Jani (Lola B12/60-Toyota) - Rebellion - 6 laps
5 - Brabham-Chandhok-Dumbreck (HPD ARX3a-Honda) - JRM - 7 laps
6 - Leventis-Watts-Kane (HPD ARX3a-Honda) - Strakka - 7 laps
7 - Belicchi-Primat (Lola B12/80-Toyota) - Rebellion - 8 laps
8 - Martin-Graves-Nakano (Oreca 03-Nissan) - ADR Delta - 13 laps (1st LMP2)

9 - Potolicchio- Dalziel-Sarrazin (HPD ARX3a-Honda) - Starworks - 14 laps
10 - Nicolet-Lahaye-Pla (Morgan-Nissan) - Oak - 14 laps
(...)
18 - Lieb-Lietz (Porsche 997) - Felbermayr Proton - 26 laps (1st GTE Pro)

(...)
22 - Bornhauser-Canal-Lamy (Chevrolet Corvette C6) - Larbre - 29 laps (1st GTE Am)
Etc.

A soon as the words “electric vehicle” are uttered, inevitably the question arises: “What's the range?” Undoubtedly, this question plagues every manufacturer boardroom once an EV release is planned. No one wants to be stranded on the side of the road while their gas brethren zoom by.

Photo: Michel Deslauriers

While manufacturers have devised a way to prevent this from happening through customer screening (stringent background checks of where you live, how far you travel to work, that sort of thing) before the purchase of an EV even happens, it seems the question still arises.

The thing is, it's not just about range anymore, but about overall liveability. And that's where we decided to come into the whole EV debate.

With three EVs lined up and ready to go, Matt, Mike and I set out to live a day in the life of an EV owner. Granola-chewing, hemp-using, planet-saving, greenie jokes aside, we wanted to see whose electric vehicle could stand up to the onslaught of a typical day of running errands, going out for lunch and doing a little sight-seeing later in the afternoon. You didn't think we'd do this without a little bit of friendly competition, did you?

With Mike behind the wheel of the Nissan LEAF, Matt piloting the brand new Ford Focus Electric and yours truly bringing up the rear in the Chevrolet Volt, we began our test... a week before we got the cars.

You see, we discovered that a major part of owning an electric vehicle isn't just thumbing your nose at gas-guzzlers, it's planning. From calling various malls and restaurants to enquire about charging stations to calculating distances throughout the city, we needed to ensure our cars really could do what we wanted them to do. And we wouldn't be remiss to do the same if we actually owned the vehicles we were driving.

Owning an electric vehicle isn't just about changing your driving habits, it's often about changing your routine as well. Always shopped at a specific mall? Well, what if they don't have charging stations, but another a town over does? Chances are, you're going to change your routine and go to the other mall from now on so you can charge while you shop.

So, from city driving (which included a bit of highway) to plenty of stop-and-go routes, as well as hill climbs galore, and a final stop in the park to feed the squirrels (read: sea gulls) we took our EVs a total of 80 km (free of A/C, sans radio tunes and with the windows up for optimal drag reduction) throughout the day with only two charging station stops: one for approximately 1.5 hours at lunch, and another for 25 minutes in the afternoon.

Whose car rose to the position of top EV? Read on to find out.

Continue reading Electric Vehicle Comparison TestBack to the future?

From GMM

Bob Fernley has played down his boss Vijay Mallya's latest problems.

Already grappling with his ailing airline Kingfisher, Force India chief Mallya now faces arrest in his native India, two weeks ahead of the team's all-important home race in the country.

The non-bailable arrest warrant was issued by a Hyderabad court last week over bounced cheques relating to the cash-strapped and grounded Kingfisher. But deputy team boss Fernley has played down his boss's problems.

"It will be resolved and I expect Vijay to be in India," he is quoted by the south Asian news agency ANI.

"It's not a big amount of money so he would have no idea a cheque would have been issued. For me, there are no issues with the team. It is just one thing that has gone wrong and I have to deal with it," he added.

GM CEO Dan Akerson was not a fan of GM's model lineup and thought the automaker was one of the most poorly managed companies when he became a director in 2009, his predecessor, Ed Whitacre, says in a new book.

News 14 Oct, 2012

Sebastian Vettel takes the lead in the drivers' championship with a dominant win in Korea

Fiat has agreed to build a factory in Russia to build Jeep models and will finalize the deal for the $1 billion plant by the end of the year, sources said.

There's a certain cachet about Jags that isn't captured elsewhere in the premium market. Many have tried to replicate the refined wood/leather ambience but, I dare say, with little success.

This week's tester is the XJL, which is the elongated version of Jaguar's iconic sedan, spoiling its rear-seat occupants with five additional inches of legroom.


A lower, sleeker cat
The XJ was reborn in 2011. The pens in the Jaguar den abandoned all they knew of the old cat and created a new, leaner, sleeker and thoroughly more modern feline without sacrificing the essence of the brand through genetic mutation.

While white would not be my finish of choice, I admire the degree of “daring” that the new generation XJ exhibits. It's far more seductive and aggressive than any of the former XJ iterations, and that's precisely what was needed to soften its stiff upper lip.

The car now draws admiring glances that become stares as people sort through their mental Rolodex to identify the cat. It's too bad there's no longer a leaper on the hood to define the car's identity and heritage the way it once did. But forget nostalgia; this XJ's at the cutting-edge of technology and performance, not to mention luxury and elegance.

This XJ's at the cutting-edge of technology and performance, not to mention luxury and elegance. (Photo: Rob Rothwell)

Powerful V8s purr
A choice of three powerplants confronts the XJ buyer, all of which are based on the latest generation 5.0L Jaguar V8. My tester was fortified by the base engine beneath its long bonnet. This mill generates 385 hp @ 6,500 rpm and 380 lb-ft at just 3,500 rpm.

Both optional mills are supercharged versions of the base engine, developing 470 and 510 horsepower respectively.

Jaguar literature assigns a 0-100km/h time of 5.7 seconds to the base engine and 5.2 and 4.9 seconds respectively to the supercharged versions. While my cat didn't benefit from forced inhalation, it supplied more than enough stalking power to satisfy my hunting.

All powerplants are fused to a 6-speed automatic transmission featuring paddle-shifting. Power is, of course, directed to the rear wheels. The transmission shifts smoothly and efficiently. When the vehicle's Dynamic Mode is activated, the driver assumes full control of gear changes. This means no “second guessing” by the car's electronics.

The Dynamic Mode in the Jaguar XJL also revises throttle and shift mapping to create a more assertive driving experience when the mood to pounce strikes.

Jaguar literature assigns a 0-100km/h time of 5.7 seconds to the base engine and 5.2 and 4.9 seconds (Photo: Rob Rothwell)

Taming the cat
Taking a seat in my tester immersed my senses in the classic “leather and wood” ambience of Jaguar; that was expected. Not so expected was the virtual gauge cluster. Starting the vehicle brings to life a 12.3” TFT (Thin Film Transistor) screen depicting images of classic-looking jewelled gauges.

While I don't find the virtual gauges of the Jaguar XJL to be as appealing as the real thing, they are smarter, enabling the delivery of increased information. Interestingly, the gauges adopt a red background when the Dynamic Mode is selected.

The remainder of the cabin is fairly conventional -- except perhaps for the gear selector that rises from the centre console -- yet slightly flamboyant, architecturally. Overall, I could live in the XJL's leather-lined airy abundance. It's one of the best executed and most alluring living spaces in the premium market.

It's one of the best executed and most alluring living spaces in the premium market. (Photo: Rob Rothwell)

Feline fancy
A suitable period of seat-time in the XJ is necessary to fully appreciate its composite of performance, prowess and luxury. The car delivers a highly composed, absorbent ride that doesn't undermine its agility. The adaptive underpinnings continuously adjust suspension settings through electronic dampers.

This keeps the Jaguar XJL on its toes, with its claws at the ready. The car remains flat and tenacious when cornered hard. The ability of such a large sled to exercise this degree of dexterity is beguiling. One would not expect it from such a commodious vehicle.

What one would expect though is serenity, and that's what they'll receive. I found myself stopped next to a Harley-Davidson with straight pipes. I looked at the chrome tubes and figured the Harley had stalled -- not an uncommon HD event -- because I couldn't hear the typical pop-pop-pop of its V-Twin mill.

I dropped the window to confirm my assumption, but was blown away by the degree of sound insulation provided by the Jag; the Harley was indeed exerting its auditory vexation on all the world, but me. The light turned green and I easily left the two-wheel torment far behind.

The final meow
In many ways, Jaguar is amidst a renaissance of sorts in which its heritage and longstanding tradition must embrace modernism and cutting-edge technology. The 2012 XJL is a prime example of Jag's ability to seamlessly do this.

There's tremendous old-world charm subtly reflected in the large saloon, yet the car benefits from the latest in performance technology and information/entertainment electronics; the latter achieved without a labyrinth of menus accessed through a mouse-like controller.

More important than these tangential attributes is the manner in which the big car performs and how genteel it is with occupants. These are perhaps the most compelling and notable characteristics of this week's tester.

From a driver's perspective, the big cat effortlessly stalks and overcomes its prey while its soft furry side spoils all who flirt with her.

Clint Bowyer kept his title hopes alive with a win in a fuel mileage run at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday night.

Bowyer took his third victory of the year because Denny Hamlin, who finished second, and Jimmie Johnson, who finished third, both, had to conserve fuel in the 500 mile race. 

“I mean realistically we're still in the things,” a smiling Bowyer said. “After Talladega what a way to bounce back.” Looking ahead to next week he called his home track, Kansas, “maybe a wild card,” due to the recent repave.  Bowyer is now fourth, 28 points behind Brad Keselowski who finished 11th after making a late race pit stop to top off with fuel.

This was Bowyer's first win at the 1.5 mile track and eighth career victory in 248 starts in NASCAR's premier series.

Jimmie Johnson, who finished third, is now in second place seven points behind Keselowski; Hamlin is third 15 points back.

“It was good to have a fuel-mileage race somewhat go our way, and Darian made the gutsy call to bring us in and lose all of our track position in the middle of the race, which I was kind of frustrated with,” said Hamlin who finished .417 seconds behind Bowyer.

“But obviously he knew what he was doing and we saved the fuel that we needed, and we slowed down just enough to finish second. We just needed one more lap. We'll take second and move on.”

Five-time Champion Johnson should have been pleased that he halved the points he needed to catch Keselowski, but, he jokingly showed his annoyance when asked about his race.

“Went in a bunch of circles, and we're done, and I made it on fuel,” Johnson said. Then he explained “Well, it's just weird running so long, saving fuel like we had to at the end, and the two segments' worth.  But there's some tracks and some conditions where that's just the game you have to play.”

It was Keselowski's first setback in the ten-race Chase. Typically his crew chief Paul Wolfe gambled on a fuel strategy and won. On Saturday night an attempt to stretch fuel backfired. “It was like playing blackjack,” Keselowski said “you can't win them all. I led a bunch of laps (he led a race high 139-laps).”

Bowyer's crew chief, Brian Pattie acknowledged that the only way to championship was with wins at this points. “We're going for trophies that's the only way you'll beat the 2 (Keselowski), 48 (Johnson) and 11 (Hamlin).”

Greg Biffle, the pole sitter finished fourth in a Ford and is sixth in the standings 43 points
behind. He said “It's amazing that those guys can go that far on a tank of gas.”

Kasey who now is fifth in the points, 35 down to Keselowski finished eighth.

The Sprint Cup series moves on to Kansas where the drivers are being given extra track time because of the recent repave.

Adapted from GMM

Leaving McLaren is not a 'risk' because the British team he grew up with has not been that successful in recent years, Lewis Hamilton has told the Spanish sports daily AS.

"There is no risk," the McLaren protege told the newspaper, when asked about his impending move for 2013 to Mercedes.

"At McLaren we haven't won the championship since 2008 and I haven't won too many races recently," he insisted.

"Every team has its ups and downs, but 2014 will be a pivotal year with the rule changes."

Meanwhile Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali agreed the moving from McLaren to Mercedes was the right things to do for the 27-year-old.

Told by an interviewer it might not be the wisest choice for the 2008 world champion, Domenicali answered: "Mercedes has enormous potential.

"It has invested heavily in the past three years and has not achieved the results it expected.  But it is doing everything in its power to win," he told El Pais newspaper.

"Hamilton has seen this potential that has not yet materialised.

"What is clear," added the Italian, "is that McLaren has lost a tremendous asset.

"After Fernando (Alonso), Vettel and him are the fastest ones."