Auto News 5

Jari-Matti Latvala's VW Polo R WRC collided with another car on a road section when the team was testing in Mexico.

Latvala, who recently left the Ford team, was testing the Polo R WRC alongside his new teammate Sebastien Ogier.

The Finn had the accident on an open road as he was reaching his test base.

The other car, which arrived from the other side of the road, hit the Polo R and rolled down. The Mexican family that was inside the car, a man, his wife and son, sufferd from light injuries. Latvala and codriver Mikka Antilla escaped unhurt from the accident.

Polo R WRC. (Photo: Volkswagen Motorsport)

I love window-shopping for used cars. Many of us at the office actually scrupulously enjoy sifting through online classified ads for cool, older cars like the Acura Integra, Volkswagen GTI, Dodge Omni GLH or Saab 9-3 Viggen.

What I enjoy the most is clicking from one picture to another trying to pick out clues that the car has been repainted or even involved in an accident.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

Some are very obvious. The best examples or clues that a car's been resprayed, at least in part, are when fender and door colors do not match. It is most obvious when the car is a light shade such as silver or beige. I can't tell how often I've pointed out that an “original paint” silver Acura Integra was nothing less than 50 shades of grey, and not silver. Just look for shadows.

Obviously, a hood with a red underbelly while the remainder of the car is silver tells its own tale...

Another clue is fender gaps. If they're not even then the car's been hit, period. Nobody replaces a door for fun; the gap is uneven because the door or pillar has moved. Same goes for bumper-fender, trunk-lid and quarter-panel gaps. Cars built in the last 20 to 25 years were generally well aligned out of the box.

A further clue is overspray. Some body shops are especially lazy when it comes to fixing smashed cars. All that needs to be done is to open doors, hoods, boot lids and fuel-filler doors to closely inspect rubber seals and also look for paint ridges around the seals or paint flakes that should not be present.

Occasionally, the real slobs don't even bother covering up the back box or the struts when painting. If they show signs of overspray, say thanks but no thanks.

About hits: Consider carefully checking out door hinges and latches. If there are signs of rubbing or scratches, the door is misaligned which is often a sign of some kind of impact. Same goes for a hood latch that requires an enormous amount of top pressure to catch. Again, unless damaged or thoroughly rusted, these latches should not be so bad.

Another trick is lifting the trunk's carpeting. Most modern cars are lined with some form of insulation to prevent road noise. If this material is severely cracked or the floor is buckled, this car was once rear-ended. Also inspect the cardboard or plastic insert that sits atop the spare tire. If it is bent or cracked, same thing.

Looking under the hood can be very revealing, however, one needs to know what they are looking for. Essentially, harsh kinks, unusual bends and folds are typically not found under the bonnet of an accident-free car.

Another fun clue is license plate numbers. In most provinces, plates are issued in sequence. With a little time, one can get a clue as to when a plate was issued. This typically helps when a seller uses the old, “I've owned this for years, and have babied it from the beginning” line and you can tell that the plate is barely a few months old.

There are a number of other things to look for; however, nothing replaces a thorough inspection performed by a professional. Check out our Used Car Buying Guide for more details.

From GMM

Charles Pic has entered F1's history books by breaking an unenviable record.

Finland's Turun Sanomat newspaper reports that the young Frenchman, who made his debut this year with Marussia and for 2013 will switch to Caterham, broke a record held for more than 20 years by Italian Stefano Modena.

In 1989, Modena's Brabham was overtaken no fewer than 68 times.

But this season, 22-year-old Pic broke the record by losing position to another driver 70 times.

Indeed, Marussia's 2012 car - also raced by Timo Glock - was overtaken 134 times this year, compared to 119 for fellow backmarkers Caterham, and 114 for HRT.

Charles Pic, Marussia MR01. (Photo: WRi2)

After teasing fans with a short video a few days ago, the Japanese automaker today unveiled the all-new, fourth-generation 2013 Toyota RAV4 at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Available in three trim levels (LE, XLE and Limited), the fully redesigned RAV4 offers bold new styling and a single powertrain option: a 2.5L four-cylinder engine rated at 176 horsepower. The V6 is no more.

The base model gets 17'' steel wheels, while the XLE stands out with 17'' alloy wheels. The top-of-the-line Limited model proudly rides on a set of 18s.

The interior of the 2013 Toyota RAV4 is all new as well. Highlights include soft-touch accents, driver-centric controls, and class-leading 73.4 cu. ft. of cargo room with the rear seats folded. In Limited trim, buyers can specify a Blind Spot Monitor system with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Pricing has yet to be announced for the 2013 Toyota RAV4, which will go on sale early next year.

Photo: Toyota

After months of testing in plain sight, but, in a camouflage paint job Chevrolet revealed its' 2013 SS in Las Vegas on Thursday.

Under the new NASCAR mandate OEM manufacturers such as GM, Ford and Toyota now are permitted to race cars which actually resemble the cars which names they bear.

Thus when General Motors unveils an all-new rear wheel drive V-8 Chevrolet SS performance sedan that will debut early next year it will look like the race car shown on Thursday.

“As a passionate race fan, the debut of the SS NASCAR race car is a genuinely exciting moment for me,” said GM North America President Mark Reuss. “With the SS, Chevrolet is delivering a true rear-wheel-drive NASCAR race car that is very closely linked to the performance sedan that will be available for sale, ensuring that our most loyal enthusiasts will have the opportunity to experience the same thrill every day on the open road that our race car drivers enjoy on the track on race day.”

Photo: Getty for NASCAR

The profile clearly shows the large wheel arches and the dramatic cove behind the front wheel here just like the production car. The exterior similarities between the SS race car and the production car are very, very car. There's a little bit of math representation of that. The blue line here on the slide is the race car; the green line is the production car. The cars match up extremely well.

The Chevrolet SS was actually derived from the Australian-built Holden Commodore.

Here's what selected drivers and crew chiefs are saying about the new Chevy:

Jimmie Johnson - No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports:
“It's been a huge effort, and the times that I have driven the 2013 Chevrolet SS race car, I've been very impressed. I'm excited for Chevrolet, and really for all the manufacturers to have such a cool looking race car. The cars look sharp; they look good; I think the fans are going to be excited to go to the showrooms and buy these vehicles. We have been able to work on them from an aero balance. I know that my friends at GM are awfully smart, and are going to give me a great car to go race with.”

Kevin Harvick - No. 29 Richard Childress Racing:
“I think it's one of the most important moves that NASCAR and the manufacturers have made in a very long time.  Just for the fact that the cars on the race track will be very significant in looking like the cars on the showroom floor.  I think from a manufacturer's standpoint it's probably the most important move that has happened in I don't even know how long, but a really long time.  For the fans to have that relevance from the race track to the showroom is important.” 

Tony Stewart - No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing:
“The new SS looks awesome. That's the great thing - it's back to looking like a production car again. It's a design that I really like. It's got the perfect blend of having a race car look, but a street car look at the same time; and that's hard to do. No matter what you're a fan of, you're going to be able to pick out your favorite brand of car and see it from the stands.”

Juan-Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing:
“I think it looks amazing.  From what I've seen, I did the photo shoot already with the car, the race car looks amazing.  It looks great.  I think it has a lot of personality.  It looks like a proper Chevy that I think is great.  Knowing that the street car is going to be close to that, I can't even wait for it.” 

Chad Knaus, Crew Chief, No. 48 Chevrolet SS:
"We are very excited about the new ‘13 Chevy SS race car, and can't wait to get it on-track full-time next year. At Hendrick Motorsports, we have been involved in the development process and have worked closely with the Chevy engineers. There will be some challenges, but I enjoy a good challenge.  I do think it will create good racing on the track.  In typical Chevrolet fashion, it has high-qualify parts and is definitely a great looking car!”

Kenny Francis, Crew Chief, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports:
“I think the new race car will be an interesting new challenge. The rules are quite a bit different than what we have been working with lately. The aerodynamics are going to be a lot different. It's a lot cooler looking car compared to what we have now. Everybody is excited about that. It's going to present a unique opportunity and some challenges for everyone. We are just looking forward to it.”

Mitsubishi introduced the next-generation 2014 Outlander today at the Los Angeles Auto Show, offering a fresh new design, both inside and out, as well as high-quality cabin materials, superior ergonomics, comfort and quality.

Lighter than its predecessor by nearly 200 pounds, the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander is also more fuel-efficient, the company promises (fuel consumption ratings have yet to be posted). The base model gets a 2.4L four-cylinder engine with a CVT, while the up-level GT uses a 3.0L V6 mated to an automatic transmission.

Alongside the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander at the Los Angeles Auto Show is the 2013 Outlander Sport (RVR) Limited Edition that commemorates the 30th anniversary of Mitsubishi Motors entering the North American marketplace.

Pricing will be announced at a later date.

Photo: Mitsubishi

The Bavarian automaker is recalling 5,542 BMW X5 xDrive35d sport utility vehicles in Canada due to a problem with the steering. The recall applies to model years 2009 to 2012.

In some cases, the engine belt idler pulley bolt could loosen and/or break. As such, the belt may become detached, resulting in a sudden loss of power steering assist. The system would then revert to a manual steering mode, which would require greater effort from the driver, especially at low vehicle speeds.

As a result, BMW Canada dealers will replace the idler pulley bolt and tighten with a revised torque procedure. A thread locking compound will be applied to the replacement bolt.

Source: Transports Canada

Volkswagen unveiled the North American production version of the Jetta Hybrid at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Available in SE, SL1, and SL2 trim, the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid uses a 1.4L turbocharged gasoline engine along with a 1.1 kWh lithium-ion battery and a seven-speed DSG. It can run in full electric mode at the touch of a button for up to two kilometres.

Fuel economy in the U.S. is announced at 45 mpg. Canadian ratings are not known yet.

Stay tuned for further information including prices and release dates.

Photo: Volkswagen

Using the data contained in the “Black Book Formula One,” we guesstimated the money Caterham will receive this winter in preparation for the 2013 season.

“Black Book Formula One” is a 300-page softbound book published in the UK by SportsPro Media Ltd.

Big battle this season between Caterham and Marussia for the 10th place in the constructor's championship. (Photo: Charles Coates/LAT Photographic)

However, can we rely on the figures it contains? During a dinner held during the week of a previous Canadian GP, I sat beside the account manager of a top Formula 1 team who told me: “Well... For people who do not have access to the contracts and the legal documents, I have to admit that their numbers are pretty close to reality...”

The 2010 edition of the Black Book disclose the approximate money each team receives, based on the 2009 constructor's championship. Only the top 10 teams receive payments.

1: Mercedes GP (from Brawn): $52M
2: Red Bull Racing: $48M
3: McLaren: $46M
4: Ferrari: $45M
(5: Toyota, but withdrew from the sport at the end of the 2009 season)
6: Sauber: $38M
7: Williams: $38M
8: Renault: $37M
9: Force India: $35M
10: Toro Rosso: $33M

This year, there was a huge battle between Caterham and Marussia for the 10th place in the constructor's championship. In the end, Tony Fernandes' Caterham clinched that magical 10th place when Vitaly Petrov crossed the line in 11th place at the end of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Cyril Abitboul, Caterham Team boss, happy with the 11th place of Vitaly Petrov after the Brazilian Grand Prix. (Photo: Charles Coates/LAT Photographic)

Best placings per team:
Caterham, Vitaly Petrov: 11th place in Brazil
Marussia, Charles Pic: 12th place in Brazil
Marussia, Timo Glock: 12th place in Singapore
Caterham, Heikki Kovalainen: 13th place in Monaco and Abu Dhabi
HRT, Narain Karthikeyan: 15th place in Monaco
HRT, Pedro de la Rosa: 17th place in Valencia, Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Brazil

So, according to the figures published in the Black Book, we can assume that Caterham should receive at least $30M in bonus from the holder of the commercial rights, in addition to the money they get from their sponsorship contacts.

As the latest expression of the brand's ''KODO - Soul of Motion'' design language, the hot new 2014 Mazda6 made a splash today at the Los Angeles Auto Show ahead of its arrival in North American showrooms early next year.

Offering six-speed manual and automatic transmissions, the 2014 Mazda6 comes with a new 2.5L SKYACTIV-G gasoline engine. A 2.2L SKYACTIV-D diesel engine will also be available at a later date, making Mazda the first Asian manufacturer to offer a modern clean-diesel engine in a non-commercial vehicle.

The 2014 Mazda6 also features the innovative i-ELOOP brake energy regeneration system.

Final specifications and fuel economy numbers for all trim levels will be revealed closer to the on-sale date, as will standard features, optional packages and pricing.

Photo: Mazda

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone has slammed as a "complete joke" Ferrari's efforts to question the outcome of the 2012 world championship.

The controversy erupted when video footage emerged - and was circulated widely by "Fernando Alonso's management" according to Sport Bild - of Sebastian Vettel purportedly overtaking illegally under yellow flag conditions at Interlagos.

Ferrari confirmed that it asked the governing body for "clarification", and spokesman Luca Colajanni insists the Maranello team has "until tomorrow (Friday) to file an appeal".

British newspapers quote F1 chief executive Ecclestone as blasting the affair "a complete joke".

"It was a super race, a super championship. Now everyone is talking about this," he said.

Ecclestone said the subsequent furore is a "joke" because of the "fact" that Vettel overtook only once he had passed a waving green flag.

"I don't think there needs to be any action taken. It's completely and utterly wrong," he added. "It's a very silly, bad thing for anyone to do to push this because there is nothing in it. Ferrari had a great season but this was a mistake."

And he told Germany's Der Spiegel: "Vettel will suffer no consequence and will remain the 2012 world champion."

Sebastian Vettel, triple world champion with Red Bull, 2010-2011-2012. (Photo: WRi2)

Indeed, FIA spokesman Norman Howell indicated that the Paris federation will now spell out the news to Ferrari in a formal letter of response.

"Now that Ferrari has sent us a letter asking for an explanation we will give it to them," he said.

F1 race director Charlie Whiting added: "We never had any doubt that Vettel's overtaking was compliant.

"There were conflicting flags and lights," he acknowledged to Germany's Sport Bild. "It was investigated during the race, with the result that there should be no punishment."

An FIA spokesman added: "Vettel's title is not in danger. A further investigation will not happen."

However, Bernie Ecclestone acknowledged that another route open to Ferrari is civil action.

"But the case is flawed before it starts," he told the Telegraph. "Nothing is going to happen."

But what has happened already is the criticism of Ferrari and Spaniard Alonso. Germany's Berliner Kurier accused them of being "sore losers".

And the Bild-Zeitung daily said the efforts to have Vettel's championship overturned are "Unfair. Un-ferrari".

China's government has approved a plan by Wanxiang Group, a major Chinese auto parts maker, to acquire bankrupt U.S. battery maker A123 Systems, although a deal still hinges on the outcome of an auction next month and U.S. government approval.

Hyundai's admission that it overstated fuel economy claims on several of its top-selling cars has the industry worried, with speculation rife among executives and analysts at the Los Angeles Auto Show that more automakers may have to do the same.

News 30 Nov, 2012

Our web reporter, Tom Phillips, on the arrival of ‘CleanDiesel’ in the US

Pictures 30 Nov, 2012

Episode five of Nissan GT Academy premieres at 11:30 p.m. Thursday night on Spike TV. If you missed

Pictures 29 Nov, 2012

News 29 Nov, 2012

Market to determine whether the new Toyota RAV4 gets a hybrid model

Pictures 29 Nov, 2012

and#8220;Holy one of one, Batman! They're selling your car at Barrett-Jackson!and#8221;