Auto News 5

This week's Los Angeles Auto Show will mark the return of the legendary Dodge Charger Daytona. Available in R/T and R/T Road & Track trim levels, it will become the most affordable V8-powered car in the U.S.

The Daytona package features a Satin Black front grille, custom vinyl hood graphic, roof wrap, rear R/T spoiler and ''DAYTONA'' graphic on the rear quarter panels, as well as exclusive 20'' five-spoke polished aluminum wheels with Gloss Black painted pockets. Paint options include Daytona Blue, Bright White, Billet Silver, and Pitch Black.

Inside, buyers will find heated and ventilated seats in unique black performance Nappa leather and suede with Daytona Blue stitching and piping along with an 8.4'' Uconnect touchscreen interface and Mopar pedals.

''With its 370 horsepower HEMI V8, rear-wheel drive and iconic design, the 2013 Dodge Charger is a modern day muscle car, and the new Charger Daytona takes it to a new level by paying homage to the historic Daytona nameplate,'' said Dodge president and CEO Reid Bigland.

The 2013 Dodge Charger Daytona is set to arrive in U.S. showrooms in the first quarter of 2013 at $32,990 US for the R/T model and $36,495 US for the R/T Road & Track model. Only 2,500 units will be produced, each one sporting a serialized plaque.

Canadian availability has yet to be determined.

Photo: Dodge

Back in 1992, the McLaren F1 road car was launched and changed the course of automotive history. At the time, it was the fastest production car on the planet.

Once again, McLaren has saught to produce a groundbreaking supercar, but not to repeat history. While the F1 still stands as the world's fastest car with a normally aspirated engine (a 618-hp, BMW 6.1L V12), the P1 aims to be the best all-around road and track car.

That means a McLaren P1 owner could drive the car to the track, race it and drive the car back home.

Launched at the Paris Auto Show last September, McLaren hasn't officially announced what engine will equip the P1. The only detail mentioned is that the car will boast a power-to-weight ratio of 3.8 lbs/hp. That should translate into a very quick supercar.

To be a star on the track, the McLaren P1 will rely on heavy amounts of downforce. It starts with svelte bodywork that seems moulded around the cockpit and mechanicals; while every body panel, air intake and air exhaust was designed to maximize cooling efficiency as well as airflow to the rear wing. The flat undertray also helps generate suction to the ground.

Photo: Mclaren

That rear wing plays a critical role; it features an adjustable pitch to increase drag and push the car's body downwards. In addition, two active underbody flaps just ahead of the front wheels contribute to increasing downforce and aerodynamics. According to McLaren, the P1 will benefit from five times as much downforce compared to the 12C. The rear wing can also act as an airbrake.

The mid-engine McLaren P1 uses a carbon fibre monocoque, like the famed F1 of the '90s. It also features what the company calls the MonoCage, a roof safety cage structure that's similar in concept to the McLaren 12C's MonoCell roof.

“Everything is there for a reason -- true form improves function. Every duct, every surface, does a job, either in aero or in cooling,” says Chief Design Engineer, Dan Parry-Williams.

The McLaren P1 -- whose name means “first place” to reflect the company's 180 GP victories -- is a design study, for now. A production version will be introduced in 2013, and further details about the car, including its powertrain, should be announced in a few months. The first deliveries of the McLaren P1 will coincide with the company's 50th anniversary.

The partnership between team M-Sport and Qatar has been announced on Monday, as Mads Ostberg has been named as number one driver in the British team, which will run three Ford Fiesta WRC next season.

As expected, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Qatar will back Malcolm Wilson's team, which had to deal with Ford's departure at the end of this season.

Mads Ostberg, Ford, winner of Rally Portugal in 2012. (Photo: WRC)

Three Ford Fiesta that will run under Qatar's colours will be ran by team M-Sport in 2013. Rally Portugal winner Mads Ostberg has been promoted as number one driver with a full program next year. Al-Attiyah will take part to seven events, starting in rally Sweden, second round of the 2013 season.

Mads Ostberg's team mate has not been announced yet. Petter Solberg, who drove a work Ford Fiesta this year, said he was ready to drive for free next season. The 2003 world champion had the disadvantage to be Norwegian like Mads Ostberg, which is not a good thing for searching sponsors. Petter Solberg is prepared to retire from rallying, though.

That could left room to several young guns: Evgueny Novikov, from Russia, Ott Tanak, from Estonia, and British driver Craig Breen are the favorite to get a full program with M-Sport next year.

From GMM

Jaime Alguersuari is continuing to wait on his future, admitting it might be January before he knows what he will be doing in 2013.

"Not yet," the former Toro Rosso driver, and 2012 Pirelli tester, told the AS newspaper when asked if he is now ready to announce the news. "We may not be able to communicate about 2013 until January. It's also possible that it will be in the coming days."

Jaime Alguersuari testing for Pirelli with the Renault R30. (Photo: Pirelli)

Alguersuari admitted to a certain frustration about the current situation in F1, with many talented and experienced drivers fighting against so-called 'pay drivers' for seats.

"Fortunately or unfortunately, F1 is not Motogp. If Stoner is injured, there is no substitute who can match Pedrosa or Lorenzo. But in F1 there are ten applicants for a single seat. Merit, talent, past performance and experience are only part of what is needed," he said.

Subaru of America, Inc. recently sold its six millionth vehicle on U.S. soil in Georgetown, Texas. It happened to be a 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek.

"Subaru has a rich heritage in the U.S. and we are excited to celebrate the six million vehicle milestone," said Thomas J. Doll, executive vice president and COO, Subaru of America, Inc. "Not only have we sold six million vehicles in the U.S., but we are selling them at a faster rate than ever. It took us 16 years to reach our first million, but at our current sales rate we will hit our next million in under three years."

Incidentally, Subaru of America is the only automaker to increase its sales five years in a row, from 2008 to 2012.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

From GMM

Pedro de la Rosa has admitted he left Brazil after Sunday's 2012 finale with a real sadness.

HRT's owner Thesan Capital is no longer prepared to fund the Spanish backmarkers, making it likely Interlagos was the last race in the team's three-year history.

"We have finished the season with so much uncertainty about what will happen now," lead driver de la Rosa told Antena 3 television.

"Are we going to continue, are we changing the name ... it makes me feel bad because when I talk to the mechanics I don't know if it is the last time we work together. We started the project thinking it would be long term," he said.

The two HRT single-seaters at Interlagos, Brazil. (Photo: HRT F1 Team)

At the very least, de la Rosa acknowledged that formula one will no longer have a Spanish team.

"Whatever happens, for many reasons, the team will not be Spanish and that's the biggest sadness I have," he said.

"We will probably never see a Spanish team in formula one again."

The past 20 years saw an interesting change in Formula 1; sponsorship laws in most countries banned all forms of tobacco advertising.

In the '80s, tobacco sponsorship was a common sight in F1. Philip Morris, thank to the Marlboro brand, was seen everywhere sponsoring teams and individual drivers, as well as Grand Prix events.

Several other tobacco companies were also involved, such as Gitanes with the Ligier team, JPS with Lotus, Camel with Tyrrell, West with Zakspeed, Barclay with Arrows, Skoal Bandit with RAM, and Player's Ltd. as the title sponsor of the Canadian Grand Prix.

Photo: Ferrari

In early 2000, the non-tobacco laws forbade all types of advertising, and all but Philip Morris disappeared. Interestingly, Philip Morris is still a sponsor of Scuderia Ferrari, although the team has removed all forms of identification on its cars, including the controversial, infamous bar code.

Nowadays, energy drinks have taken over the F1 world. Alcoholic beverages also sponsors some teams since very few countries have laws to ban their advertisement.

This season, all teams (with the exception of Williams) were associated with an energy drink or an alcoholic brevrage.

Team  Drink
Red Bull  Red Bull
Toro Rosso  Red Bull
McLaren  Lucozade
Ferrari   TNT
Mercedes AMG  Monster
Lotus  Fire (from 2013)
Sauber  Cuervo Tequila
Caterham  EQ8
Marussia  Monster
Sahara Force India  Vladivar Vodka, Whyte & Mackay, Kingfisher*

Cheers!

*Kingfisher is firstly the beer company owned by Dr. Vijay Mallya. He then give his airline company the same name to benefit from the free exposure.

Young Canadian kart racer Lance Stroll won the Las Vegas XVI SuperNationals in the TaG Junior category held on a temporary circuit in the parking of the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas this past weekend.

The member of the Ferrari driver development programme was second after qualifying and in the following heats he finished first, second and third, allowing him to take the start of the main event from the front row.

Because he had to start on the dirty side of the track, Stroll ended-up fourth early in the race.

Soon enough, he battled his way up front. After a few laps he was third, then second. He began closing the gap with the leader and eventually was able to pass him for the lead.

European karting champion George Russell finished second, just 0.920 of a second down to Stroll.

From GMM

McLaren will allow Lewis Hamilton to speak to engineers at his new team Mercedes even before his 2012 contract expires.

It is believed Hamilton's deal with McLaren actually runs until December 31.

But British newspapers including the Sun and Express say the 27-year-old will actually talk with Mercedes engineers before the new year begins.

"I won't be doing much technical work with them but Martin (Whitmarsh) says I'm allowed to talk to people," Hamilton confirmed. "I'm expecting to see a great group of people who are determined as anything to win because they've not been winning."

Photo: McLaren

Lewis Hamilton insisted he has "a lot of work to do" before actually arriving in Melbourne to race next March, but one reporter suggested a driver's actual role is really confined to the cockpit.

"I guarantee you that is not the case," he said. "I don't need to blow smoke up my own arse. I know what I am capable of, although it won't take a major effect until halfway through next season, although more so with the car for 2014."

Lewis Hamilton admitted, however, that he will immediately enjoy the contractual terms of his new Mercedes deal.

"I look forward to having, like, a third of the PR events that I have here (at McLaren)," he said. "Maybe even a quarter. (I'm looking forward) to having a bit more time in my life to be able to train and prepare."

A huge part of earning your driver's license has to do with learning to read and respect signage on the road. From stop signs to construction warnings and speed limit signs, if you don't know and understand road signage, you're not going to get your license. And I know this, because my then-boyfriend-now-husband failed the signage portion of his driver's exam and had to redo the entire thing before he got his license (he'll be so happy I told that story).

And it's about more than looking at the sign ahead, it's about looking ahead, period. I'm reminded on a daily basis of the lack of driving skills we North Americans actually have compared to other countries. I think of my time driving in Germany and how well-behaved and controlled their drivers were. Traffic flowed smoothly in the city, in the country and on the open Autobahn (where brake lights were rarely seen and everyone had the utmost respect for everyone else, no matter how fast they were going).

I feel like we have a serious lack of driver education here. We're absentminded drivers - and I'm not just talking about cell phones and text messages and music. We don't pay attention. We don't anticipate. We don't look ahead. We drive in a 2ft bubble around our cars. That's it. And it's a problem.

Case in point: My drive in to work one recent morning proved the uselessness of signage on today's roads when I came across an accident where a driver had failed to see the hundreds of orange striped cones and large digital arrow telling her to turn the wheel slightly instead of going straight. Instead, said driver chose to keep a straight line, plow through some cones and hit the large, digital lit-up arrow sign telling her to deviate slightly to the right.

Clearly not looking ahead.

And I've seen it time and time again, signs either mean nothing or are misread and an accident and/or traffic jam is caused because of it. From arrows to speed limits to U-turns, signs mean nothing to drivers. We just do what we want, when we want.

And that's just not right. We need to not only respect other drivers on the road, but we need to respect signs, markings on the road and we need to look further than our bumpers to assess what's on the road with us and how to handle it.

Had the driver who hit the arrowed sign this morning taken a moment to look ahead, she would have realized that the lane was simply inching to the right slowly, not ending (as most seem to think it is when they see the arrow, slamming on their brakes immediately).

How do we solve this signage issue? Well, for starters we need to beef up our driver schooling programs. In my opinion, North American testing standards are too relaxed. Sure, we don't have limitless stretches of roads like they do in Germany, but that shouldn't matter. We have extreme weather conditions (read: winter) and that alone should mean more attentive drivers with better skills than most.

Most of us think we're stellar drivers and it's everyone else that's the problem. I'm sorry to say, but there's more to safe driving than understanding that red means stop, green means go and yellow means speed up.

Yeah, I thought so.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

Unless you spot the quad exhausts, fender vents and massive blue brake calipers hovering over cross-drilled rotors the size of trash-can lids, you mightn't give the new 2012 BMW M5 a second glance. The enormous wheels and front bumper with more air intakes and heat exchangers than a commercial air conditioner are discreet, too.


The result of a group of calculator-wielding German engineers hell-bent on performance superiority, the 2012 BMW M5 (with a $116k price tag, as tested) is a clean and tidy super-sedan.

On one hand, the 2012 BMW M5 is a peaceful, tranquil thing to drive. On the other, there's no need whatsoever for this level of performance in a sedan. And that's exactly why BMW's going to sell a lot of them.

Luxury-car cabin
Inside, this family-ready rocket-thruster is strangely quiet, comfortable and lovely, too. The red leather, chrome, metal, suede and stitching all say “cross-continental comfort” more than “melt-your-face-off acceleration.” There's an adult-friendly backseat, heaps of room and world-class build quality.

For something developed to be absolutely track ready, you'd hardly know it from a mere glance.

The 2012 BMW M5 slips down the road without making a fuss. It's quiet in traffic. It's not scary, not attention-grabbing, and the fire-up noise doesn't send nearby creatures scurrying for cover. You can, however, spot clues inside. The speedometer reaches over the 300 km/hr mark. There are shift paddles behind the steering wheel and BMW's colourful little M-badge is applied throughout, too.

There are numerous performance gizmos in the 2012 BMW M5, as well. Buttons change things like sequential gear-shift speed, shock stiffness, steering feel and overall system response. You can alter these settings in the central computer, assign them to the “M” buttons on the steering wheel and call up maximum, totally customized performance at the touch of a button.

Inside, this family-ready rocket-thruster is strangely quiet, comfortable and lovely, too. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Twin turbo: two personalities
With the M button off in the 2012 BMW M5, it's all calm, quiet and long-haul tranquility. This is a car capable of decimating a track, then whisking its lucky owner home in the lap of luxury.

And that's remarkable, since the 2012 BMW M5 can do 0-100 clicks in 4.4 seconds and run a sub 8-minute lap of the Nurburgring. That's faster than some Ferraris. It'll get past an 18-wheeler almost as fast as you can roll your foot to the floor, too.

A new 4.4L V8 powers it all up. Twin turbochargers mounted between the cylinder banks cram up to 22 pounds of boost into the cylinders, helping generate 560 horsepower. That's nearly as much as two Mitsubishi Evolutions.

The new, boosted V8 lacks the pure, high-RPM snarl generated by the screamer V10 that powered the last-generation M5, and fans will miss the highly mechanical noise.

However, the new 2012 BMW M5 is faster and easier on fuel, which is just what M5 owners signing the cheques want. And it still growls up a storm while squeezing eyeballs flat at full throttle.

Even a slight press on the rightmost pedal causes the M5 to gush ahead with no downshift. Punch it, and you'd best be holding the heck on -- sort of like driving your own bullet train.

Speed piles on dangerously fast in the 2012 BMW M5 if you're on a road with a speed limit. Thanks to the giant brakes, it disappears quickly, too.

The 2012 BMW M5 can do 0-100 clicks in 4.4 seconds and run a sub 8-minute lap of the Nurburgring. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Putting on a show
Driven hard, the 2012 BMW M5 is tight and responsive with an underlying feeling of mass and weight that's perfect for making drivers appreciate both its size and capabilities. Steering is stiff and heavy, and direct in any mode.

Translation? You exert some effort when driving the 2012 BMW M5 hard, and that pulls you further into its experience. No part of the M5's performance overwhelms any other, meaning you can take advantage of its engaging, race-sedan personality with confidence.

Paddle-activated gearchanges from the dual-clutch box are remarkably fast and perfectly rev matched in both directions. In its hardest shift setting (three are available), drivers enjoy a feeling of connectedness to, and control over, the drivetrain.

The BMW M5 might be refined and smooth, and perhaps even disappointingly quiet inside, but the unleashed M5's powertrain is extremely obedient and makes you very aware of what it's up to.

Complaints? I wished for a louder and more exciting sound from under the hood. There are a few too many safety beepers, and if you drive it hard, the M5's fuel tank will quickly wind up emptier than Lance Armstrong's trophy rack. I averaged 15L/100km overall, which is respectable.

Luxurious excessiveness
At the end of the day, an unmatched balance between power and luxury have sold countless copies of the M5, generated millions of loyal fans, and made it one of the most lusted after four-door machines on the road.

French car manufacturer Renault is rumoured to enter a works team in the 2014 World Touring Car Championship, the WTCC.

Several experts believed that the future of the WTCC was in doubt following Chevrolet's withdrawal at the end of 2012, but now many constructors are entering the series of testing the waters.

Honda is about to run a full programme in 2013 after having competed in the last three rounds of 2012. Russia's Lada seems on his way to making a WTCC return with Lukoil's backing. Meanwhile, Citroën announced its intention to enter the championship with rally ace Sebastien Loeb as number one driver.

Another french constructor is now apparently linked to a WTCC project: Renault.

Race start of a WTCC race. (Photo: FIA WTCC)

The French car manufacturer -- which is an engine supplier in Formula 1 -- is said to be in talks with RML, the team that ran the works Chevrolet cars for almost a decade. The British team would run two private Chevrolet Cruzes while developing the Renault WTCC if the project is confirmed.

Alain Menu, who contested the WTCC with Chevrolet RML for years, is linked to Renault as he drove a Williams Clio in the British Touring Car championship in the 90's.

The Swiss driver recently said that he would accept the role of a test driver next season if he can't secure a race seat. Frenchman Yvan Muller, who drove for RML since 2010, would be the perfect driver for Renault in a WTCC programme.

Subaru is also rumoured to enter the WTCC in the near future.

Fisker Automotive has hired ousted General Motors' global marketing boss Joel Ewanick to be interim chief of global sales and marketing for the maker of luxury plug-in hybrids.

2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas

Though the 2012 Honda Civic is a decent car overall, we don't think the natural gas version is a worthwhile purchase because it forces too many compromises.

Though the 2012 Honda Civic is a decent car overall, I don't think the natural gas version is a worthwhile purchase because it forces too many compromises. For one, the gas tank uses up nearly all the trunk space -- just six cubic feet of space remain, compared to 12.5 cubic feet in a regular Civic sedan. In addition, the Civic Natural Gas is very slow because it weighs between 53 and 247 pounds more than other Civic sedans, yet the 1.8-liter engine produces only 110 hp, compared to 140 hp in gasoline-fed models.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Also in this episode: Bernie Ecclestone wants a bigger Formula One presence in the United States, and Mopar fans can do some racing of their own with the

General Motors is partnering with researchers at the new National Tire Research Center in Virginia to improve fuel economy through the development of new tire technology.

The Hennessey Venom GT2 will debut in late 2013 from Texas tuner Hennessey Performance Engineering. The already-bonkers Corvette-powered Lotus will now house a twin-turbocharged 7.

German tuner Wheels and More has come up with a tuning package for the new Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. It squeezes out 45 more hp for a total of 785 Italo-German ponies.

Ford's new Fiesta subcompact, due in 2013, will introduce a smaller screen on the MyFord Touch infotainment system and Sync voice activation that's easier to use.

News 28 Nov, 2012

Private parking firm recorded our reader on CCTV, got his details from the DVLA and is now chasing him for money