Auto News 5

General Motors took a big step toward shedding its 'Government Motors' stigma today by disclosing plans to buy 200 million GM shares from the U.S. Treasury for $5.5 billion. After GM's sale, which should close by Dec.

News 29 Dec, 2012

Latest spy pictures give us our best look yet at the all-new BMW 2 Series Coupe and Cabriolet

Wanxiang says it expects a regulatory decision concerning its bid to purchase A123 systems early in the new year.

News 19 Dec, 2012

Motorists spend 18 per cent of their journey not looking at the road, according to a study by Direct Line

A report in the China Daily newspaper says that BYD is planning to set up a facility in California to make electric buses.

News 22 Dec, 2012

The DfT has relaunched its drink-drive campaign for the festive season

France's Economic Redevelopment Ministry has welcomed the nomination of former European Aerospace and Defence company chief executive, Louis Gallois, to its supervisory board.

News 26 Dec, 2012

Alfa Romeo-based Maserati has been given the go-ahead for production

News 22 Dec, 2012

Technology from the axed Jaguar C-X75 hybrid supercar is set to power future models

The Sunderland plant in England will no longer manufacture a C-segment hatchback which Nissan had planned to make there in 2014. Instead, the plant will be the sole build location of a new Infiniti model.

Its getting a bit late in the holiday season to add new items to your wish list, but there's no shortage of tempting options thanks to scale model-makers like Autoart and Automodello.

Tesla Motors said Daimler AG's Herbert Kohler resigned from its board and was replaced by another executive at the German automaker.

Private equity firm Carlyle Group LP today completed the sale of Metaldyne LLC for about $820 million to another buyout firm, its second divestment of an American auto parts supplier it picked up from bankruptcy in as many years.

Infiniti will build its new premium compact hatchback in the UK. Production of the entry-level model will begin in 2015 for global markets at parent Nissan's plant in Sunderland, England, Infiniti said.

From GMM

Pirelli's new tires for the 2013 season could shake up the pecking order in formula one.

That is the view of the Italian marque's British head of motor racing, Paul Hembery, who this week was in Sao Paulo to announce Pirelli's new foray in the Brazilian stock car series.

It has been said that, because the technical regulations are not significantly changing over the winter, next year's pecking order could be a continuation of the 2012 season.

But Hembery is quoted by O Estado de S.Paulo: "The tires next year will be different from those used this year. The walls flex a little more, which will have a significant influence on the aerodynamic performance."

"I don't think the next championship will necessarily be anything like how it finished this year," added Hembery.

"I think there will be teams who will look deeply into this feature of our new tires," he said.

"I am sure they are racking their brains as to how it affects, for example, the suspension. We saw in testing how the tires changed the behaviour of the cars. The designers will be looking at that," said Hembery.

Renault R30 Pirelli. (Photo: Pirelli)

From GMM

Jean Alesi has decided to retire from motor racing.

At the wheel of a highly uncompetitive Lotus-powered Dallara, the F1 veteran made his Indy 500 debut this year and vowed to return in 2013 with a better performance.

But the 48-year-old Frenchman, who won just one grand prix for Ferrari during his 202-grand prix career between 1989 and 2001, announced this week he is in fact quitting.

"I do not feel like hunting for sponsors," Jean Alesi told the French sports daily L'Équipe.

Jean Alesi at the Indy 500, in 2012. (Photo: IMS)

Louisville, KY - Touching down in Louisville (and make sure you say it right: Loo-uh-vul), Kentucky seemed, at first, to be like arriving in any American city. It wasn't until I left the airport and entered the city that I realized Louisville had something different on offer, something I immediately fell in love with.


Louisville is very much a college town and while it is a bustling city at its center with over 700,000 citizens, where Louisville shines is on the outskirts, in the rolling country hills where I drove the brand new 2013 Buick Enclave.

I'll be honest here: I'm not a Buick fan, follower or lover. I, obviously, know of the brand and what it stands for but that's about as far as my interests went. However, upon seeing photos of the up-and-coming 2013 Buick Enclave, I was intrigued.

Meeting modern needs
From the outside, it's clear Buick has taken in the automotive world around them and picked out all the best bits and pieces of similar models in its segment to put together the final exterior package on the 2013 Buick Enclave -- and that's not a bad thing at all. The end result is a luxury crossover that manages to stand out from the crowd without losing the brand's design philosophy, one that makes a Buick instantly recognizable.

From the new front grille to the blacked out rear pillars that give the 2013 Buick Enclave a much more sophisticated presence, the overall look is one that will appeal to buyers both young and old -- which is something I'm sure the Buick designers had in mind.

Inside, the same future-driven design continues with ice blue LED ambient lighting featured throughout the dash and doors (both front and back). Old-school wood panelling has been replaced with leather stitching and chrome accents (although, wood is still available as an option for those who really want it). In all, the interior of the 2013 Buick Enclave is what you'd expect to see in a modern-day luxury CUV.

Old-school wood panelling has been replaced with leather stitching and chrome accents (Photo: Buick)

On the long and winding road
The country roads around Louisville, Kentucky are something else. Narrow, winding, shoulderless and hilly, they are a joy to drive -- even in a 7-passenger CUV.

While there were multiple complaints about the Buick Enclave's previous transmission, the issues seem to have been sorted in this latest iteration. Equipped with a 3.6L V6, the 2013 Buick Enclave's 6-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission is responsive and well sorted. Despite the vehicle's near 2,270 kg (5,000lb) weight (with AWD), the 288 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque are adequate and do the job extremely well.

I expected the ride to be a bit plushier (thanks to the Buick stereotype), but was met with a much harsher feeling thanks to the 20” optional wheels my particuarl vehicle was sporting. Had my 2013 Buick Enclave been equipped with the standard 18” or even the 19” wheels, my experience would have been much “smoother.” Regardless, handling on the 2013 Buick Enclave is impressive for a vehicle its size and shape.

The 288 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque are adequate and do the job extremely well. (Photo: Buick)

A Buick is still a Buick...
Despite their best efforts, I have a feeling Buick will still face the issue of concurring their stereotype and branching out in a new market of vibrant, affluent buyers. Although the 2013 Buick Enclave is clearly designed to compete with the likes of the Audi Q7 and Infiniti JX I'm just not sure those buyers will think to look towards Buick as an option.

Priced in the $40,000-range for base FWD and AWD models, the Buick Enclave offers luxury for seven at a decent price-point, however, I'm not completely sold on their hopes of appealing to a new consumer with a futuristic design and improved driving dynamics.

Although it's no longer Colin Chapman's original team, Gerard Lopez's Lotus F1 Team scored a victory this year in Formula 1, 25 years after Ayrton Senna won the U.S. Grand Prix in Detroit in 1987.

The near-fatal rally accident of their star driver, Robert Kubica, prior to the start of the 2011 season turned out to be a real disaster for the team led by Frenchman, Eric Boullier. The team needed a genuine leader and eventually found one in rally refugee, Kimi Raikkonen. The 2007 F1 World Champion adapted very well to his new home and proved to be a great source of motivation despite his reluctance to talk.

The team name was officially changed from Renault to Lotus for this year. Lotus finished the season in fourth place in the Constructor's championship with 303 points.

Photo: Lotus F1 Team

Kimi Raikkonen
3rd in the Driver's Championship with 207 points
Best place in qualifications: 2nd (once, Belgium)
Best race result: 1st (once, Abu Dhabi), 7 podiums
Never retired (scored points in 19 races)

Romain Grosjean
8th in the Driver's Championship with 96 points
Best place in qualifications: 2nd (once, Hungary)
Best race result: 2nd (once, Canada), 3 podiums
Retired 7 times

The Renault-powered Lotus E20 was a brillant race car, but a not-so-good qualifier. It seems the Lotus had difficulties getting its tires up to the correct temperature during the qualifying effort. But on a full tank in race trim, it was a totally different story and the car was really fast and consistent

Kimi Raikkonen finished five times on the podium -- including three second-place finishes -- in the opening 11 Grands Prix. However, a win remained elusive until the 18th round in Abu Dhabi. Despite having been away from F1 for two full years, Raikkonen was brilliantly consistent.

The Finn scored points in 19 races out of 20 (China was his only off), and earned thousands of new fans when he told his team on the radio, “Leave me alone. I know that to do,” when he was en route to victory in Abu Dhabi, demonstrating his (very) strong character.

Kimi Raikkonen won at Abu Dhabi ahead of Fernando Alonso (Ferrari). (Photo: WRi2)

Romain Grosjean made his return to F1 after clinching the GP2 serie's title. Inexperience showed in an erratic early form, but he then scored three impressive podiums. The second half of the season was characterised by a number of high-profile accidents, including one at Spa that earned him a one-race ban, but he managed to retain his seat for 2013.

Grosjean scored 76 points in the opening 12 races of the season, then got his race ban and drove very carefully afterwards, collecting just 20 points in the final seven races.

From GMM

Norbert Haug has admitted he is stepping down due to Mercedes' lack of success as a works team since 2010.

But in an interview with Germany's Bild daily, he denied reports he is being made a scapegoat.

"No, I'm not," said Haug, who served as the German marque's motor sport vice president for more than two decades.

"If I had nothing to do with our failures in the last three years, then I would have nothing to do with our victory in China this year," said the 60-year-old, "and I wouldn't like that."

But why has Haug been axed, and not the Brackley based team's British principal, Ross Brawn?

"Because over 22 years I have borne the overall responsibility for motor sport at Mercedes, not Ross Brawn. I am ultimately his superior," he insisted.

Haug said he accepts that he must take the responsibility.

"The basis of our car was good, but the development was poor to very poor," he admitted.

Michael Schumacher, Mercedes AMG. (Photo: WRi2)

Norbert Haug denied rumours he is actually quitting for health reasons.

"Thank god not," the German insisted. "Almost three years ago to the day I had thyroid surgery, but since then I'm doing very well. I'm totally healthy," he added.

He said he doesn't know if his job will now be split into two roles -- DTM and F1.

"I have no information. Maybe there is a very capable professional who can do much more than I can," said Haug.

He played down suggestions ex-drivers like Michael and Ralf Schumacher, or Mika Hakkinen, can fill his shoes.

"Honestly, I don't think they were born to be in the office," laughed Haug.

From GP3

GP3 series' organisers have unveiled the provisional 2013 calendar which will be made of eight rounds in total.

Seven rounds have been confirmed for the season which will run alongside the Formula 1 World Championship, with an eighth standalone race weekend mid-June (venue to be announced at a later date). The calendar features an exciting new venue for GP3 with Abu Dhabi hosting the final race of the season.

The Series will kick off its fourth season in Barcelona, Spain on 10-12 May with the brand new GP3/13 car. The eagerly anticipated second-generation machine will make its debut as the Formula 1 season commences its European campaign. The GP3 standalone event (TBA) will follow on 15-16 June before the paddock then travels to Silverstone, Nurburg and Budapest before the annual summer break.

Mitch Evans, 2012 Champion, in Valencia. (Photo: GP3 Series)

GP3 will return to action on 23-25 August at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit with Monza the setting for the penultimate race weekend. The magnificent Abu Dhabi will set the scene for the season finale on 01-03 November.

A total of nine pre-season test days will be held: firstly in Estoril on February 20-22, followed by Barcelona on March 12-13 and finally Silverstone on April 3-4. There will also be one mid-season test at the Hungaroring in Budapest on June 5-6.

Date    Venue
20-22 Feb   Estoril, Portugal   Test
12-13 Mar   Barcelona, Spain   Test
03-04 Apr   Silverstone, Great Britain   Test
10-12 May   Barcelona, Spain   Race
05-06 June   Budapest, Hungary   Test
14-16 June   TBA   Race
28-30 June   Silverstone, Great Britain   Race
05-07 July   Nurburg, Germany   Race
26-28 July   Budapest, Hungary   Race
23-25 Aug   Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium   Race
06-08 Sep   Monza, Italy   Race
01-03 Nov   Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates   Race