Auto News 5

News 28 Nov, 2012

All-electric Fiat 500 city car will go on sale in the US from next year

News 23 Nov, 2012

A high-performance, 1,000kg version of the Audi TT is under consideration

The new 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish will be showcased at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show this week.

News 7 Dec, 2012

Our images show how the next-generation Vauxhall Corsa could look when it arrives in 2014

News 23 Nov, 2012

Audi is considering a diesel-electric hypercar, using technology from its Le Mans racer, to sit above the R8 in the range

Pictures 7 Dec, 2012

News 23 Nov, 2012

Peugeot has confirmed it will continue its partnership with a new city car

BMW Group expects to sell a combined 1 million cars in China over the three years through 2014, a company spokeswoman said, confirming comments from a senior executive at the automaker's joint venture in the country.

BMW Group expects to sell a combined 1 million cars in China within three years, a company spokeswoman told Automotive News Europe, confirming comments from a senior executive at the automaker's joint venture in the country.

BMW Group aims to sell 1 million cars in China in the next three years, according to an executive at the automaker's joint venture with Brilliance China Automotive. Last month, China sales at the group rose 52 percent to 27,828.

With North American vehicle production headed toward 15 million-plus units next year, automakers are encountering a new breed of supplier: the one that says "no."

After a round of bankruptcies and buyouts, the world of roof system suppliers has narrowed to three major players: Webasto Roof Systems, Magna Car Top Systems and Valmet Automotive.

Japan's automakers are gearing up for the biggest wave of North American production expansion in a decade.

Infotainment and safety features once reserved for luxury cars are now showing up in compact and subcompact models as mass-market automakers increasingly use high-tech features as key selling tools.

Wendelin Wiedeking, whose celebrated 16-year run as Porsche's CEO came to a bad end in 2009, has gone into the pizza and pasta business.

Marcus Ericsson set the best performance in the first day of GP2 collective testing in Jerez, Spain.

Ericsson, who ranked 8th in the GP2 championship this season, set the best lap time Thursday, with a lap in 1m26''717 during the afternoon session. Felipe Nasr was fastest of the morning session.

Marcus Ericsson, DAMS. (Photo: GP2 Series)

GP3 series' champion Mitch Evans drove a Team Arden car and took 7th position on Thursday morning. Formula 3 Euroseries champion Daniel Juncadella made his GP2 debuts with team Rapax.

The collective tests will resume Friday.

Jerez - Thursday morning:
1 - Felipe Nasr - Carlin - 1'26"810
2 - Stephane Richelmi - Trident - 1'26"898
3 - Stefano Coletti - Rapax - 1'26"926
4 - Marcus Ericsson - Dams - 1'26"934
5 - Johnny Cecotto - Carlin - 1'27"110
etc.

Jerez - Thursday afternoon:
1 - Marcus Ericsson - Dams - 1'26"717
2 - Alexander Sims - Addax - 1'26"883
3 - Kevin Giovesi - Lazarus - 1'27"043
4 - Adrian Quaife Hobbs - Arden - 1'27"059
5 - Stephane Richelmi - Trident - 1'27"111
etc.

From GMM

Ron Dennis did not attend a farewell party for Lewis Hamilton last week in Austin, and he will not be in Brazil for his former protege's last race for McLaren.

The news adds to the perception that Briton Hamilton - who was nurtured through his formative years by the McLaren supremo and brought into F1 in 2007 - has fallen out badly with Dennis over the 27-year-old's Mercedes switch.

Referring to a farewell party in Austin last weekend, Daily Mail journalist Jonathan McEvoy wrote: "Dennis instead chose to attend what a team spokesman described as 'an important cocktail reception hosted by Exxon Mobil executives at which he was guest of honour'."

But after Hamilton won the US grand prix, Dennis refused to wear McLaren's customary 'rocket-red' victory t-shirt.

And the 65-year-old "has decided not to travel to Sao Paulo for Hamilton's farewell race", McEvoy revealed.

Team McLaren, except Ron Dennis, celebrating Hamilton's victory at Austin. (Photo: WRi2)

Ron Dennis said in Austin last week: "Obviously the media thinks there's some issue between Lewis and I -- there's absolutely no issue between us.

"Sometimes the circumstances in a relationship don't balance, don't match," he told the British broadcaster Sky.

But there are rumours Hamilton and Dennis fell out very badly over the negotiations for a new driving contract for 2013 and beyond.

"I do know what has happened," an unnamed 'senior figure' told the Daily Mail. "Everyone makes mistakes and Ron made a mistake. Everything went pear-shaped and I don't think it would be fair to say any more than that."

A McLaren spokesman responded: "Ron and Lewis plan to get together socially in the near future, as they've both said a number of times recently."

The Swiss Sauber F1 Team has finalised its line-up for the 2013 season: Esteban Gutiérrez is confirmed as the team's second race driver.

The 21-year old Mexican will be driving alongside Germany's Nico Hülkenberg.

Robin Frijns, from the Netherlands, who is only two days younger than Esteban, has been taken on board as the team's test and reserve driver.

Kamui Kobayashi, who spent the last three years with Sauber, is now looking for a new job.

Esteban Gutiérrez began his career in karting. He raced in the Formula BMW USA series in 2007 and then went on to win the Formula BMW Europe crown a year later. After a spell in the Formula 3 Euro Series, he switched to the GP3 Series in 2010 and stormed to the championship title with five race wins.

Esteban Gutierrez. (Photo: Sauber F1 Team)

Two seasons in GP2 followed, the second of which in 2012 saw him collect three victories and finish third in the standings. Gutiérrez was given his first chance to test for the BMW Sauber F1 Team in 2009 and further opportunities have followed since then. His most recent outing in the Sauber C31-Ferrari was at the Young Driver Days test in Abu Dhabi on 7th and 8th November.

Robin Frijns is going to be the Sauber F1 Team's new test and reserve driver. The 21-year old Dutchman also started his career in karting. In 2008 he entered single seater racing, improved constantly and went on to win the Formula BMW Europe title in 2010 by taking six race wins.

One year later he took the title in the Formula Renault Eurocup before going on to win the title in the highly competitive Formula Renault 3.5 Series in 2012.

Robin Frijns. (Photo: Sauber F1 Team)

While BMW may herald “M” as the most powerful letter in the alphabet, if I could rewrite the age-old list I'd put “S” right next to it. Why? Well, Audi's S-driven family of sedans and coupes definitely have something to do with it, as does the brand new 2013 Audi S6 powerhouse.


It might have four doors, but that doesn't mean it will be a run-of-the-mill sedan. The 2013 Audi S6 will hit the 100km/h mark from zero in less than 5 seconds. How? With i's 4.0L V8 TFSI engine that produces 420 horsepower and 405 lb-ft of torque.

Really, I could stop there. That's all you need to know. But there is more:

Althought the 2013 Audi S6 sports a rear sport differential, their renowned quattro all-wheel drive is present to monitor the wheel's performance on the road at all times to adjust grip as you need it. This will help eliminate understeer to keep you firmly planted around the corners you'll inevitably encounter in your S6.

And it's not just Audi's quattro technology that works to keep you on track: Rack and pinion steering with Servotronic Speed Sensitive Power Assist as well as 5-link front suspension, wishbone and sport air suspension are set to make driving the 2013 Audi S6 as dynamic as possible. Ventilated disc brakes all around will help bring the S6 to a halt, even if you want to try and hit the 250km/h top speed.

Making your way up to that top speed can be achieved via Audi's S tronic 7-speed autobox.

The 2013 Audi S6 will hit the 100km/h mark from zero in less than 5 seconds. (Photo: Audi)

While Audi is not the only manufacturer to offer a cylinder-management system, it's something they are quite proud of in the 2013 Audi S6. In basic, layman's terms their cylinder management system monitors throttle response and uses the right amount of cylinders based on this. For example, cruising on the highway means a 4-cylinder drive; mash the throttle and all eight will fire up.

This nifty bit of technology will help you save a bit at the pumps and allows the 2013 Audi S6 to reach fuel consumption numbers in the 12.7/8.3 city/highway range. Not bad for a car that pushes out over 400 horses.

The interior of the 2013 Audi S6 is set to be a very pleasant place, indeed. Along with the Valcona leather seats embossed with the “S6” logo, the vehicle will be outfitted with 4-zone automatic climate control; power-adjustable driver and passenger seat; heated front and rear seats; an electrically controlled blind for the rear window and manual shades for the rear passenger windows; rain and light sensors; electric tilt and telescopic steering wheel; and leather throughout, the 2013 Audi S6's list of standard features is long and plentiful -- just as it should be.

Options are few, but include Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System, adaptive cruise control, ventilated front seats, rear- and top-view cameras, Audi head-up display, night vision, adaptive cruise control, and their signature LED headlights.

The interior of the 2013 Audi S6 is set to be a very pleasant place, indeed.(Photo: Audi)

From the outside, the 2013 Audi S6 has received the same front fascia treatment seen across the Audi lineup: beefier grille, aggressive headlights and exaggerated bottom lip. With the optional LED headlights, the Audi S6 has a menacing look that is instantly recognizable on the road. Despite the four-door set-up of the 2013 Audi S6, it still manages to achieve a sporty stance sitting atop optional 20” 5-twin-spoke design alloy wheels.

The entire sporty, rather attractive 2013 Audi S6 package can be had now, starting at $82,300.

During a special demo at the Big Science Summit in California, a team from the Center for Automotive Research at Stanford (CARS) pitted its autonomous Audi TTS against a professional driver.

The latter won the race, but only a few seconds ahead of the driver-less car, proving the extraordinary advancements of the technology.

Fear not, autonomous cars won't replace race car drivers anytime soon. They're just further demonstrating how capable and safe they can be in real-world settings.