Auto News 5

BMW is expanding the numbering system it uses to identify its models. The 4 series will launch next year but we can expect another new number.

BMW said its vehicle sales will probably reach a third consecutive annual record next year, when the automaker will introduce the 4-series coupe.

Daimler is selling half its remaining stake in the European Aeronautic, Defence and Space Co. (EADS) to focus on cars and trucks. The sale will raise about 1.66 billion euros ($2.17 billion).

Alco Prevention Canada, a Laval-based company that specializes in instruments that measure blood alcohol content, developed a special headset with drowsiness detection called ''SOS Fatigue.''

Helping drivers realize they're about to fall asleep behind the wheel, the earpiece monitors head movements and produces a sound alert when the head tilts forward by more than 15 degrees.

Driver drowsiness is the third leading cause of road casualties in Quebec after drunk driving and speeding, according to the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).

Photo: SOS Fatigue

In the early days of motorsport, aerodynamic studies were performed by sticking wool tufts on the race cars to show surface aerodynamic flows at speed. Nowadays, a special paint is applied on certain components of the car to visualise the flow of air.

Photo: WRi2

Aerodynamicists are fully aware that work in wind tunnel and CFD programs can provide great virtual results, but it is safer to double check the behaviour of air at speed on the race track.

Flow visualisation paint -- better known as “flow viz” -- is a fluorescent powder suspended in a light oil, often paraffin. This paint is liberally applied by a spray gun to bodywork up-stream of the area engineers want to investigate.

Photo: WRi2

Before the paint has a chance to dry, the car runs at high speed around the circuit. As it does so, the air flow across the car moves the paint around, where it subsequently dries and shows detailed air flow patterns across the car.

Comparison of the relative movements of the dye particles provides an indication of the relative strengths of the air flow acting on the surfaces of the component under test. Intense stripes of coloured paint indicate the zones in which the velocity is higher.

Photo: WRi2

Nine-time FIA World Rally Champion, Frenchman Sebastien Loeb will contest the 2013 GT Sprint series behind the wheel of a McLaren.

Loeb will be driving an MP4-12C of the GT3 category, the supercar produced by the McLaren Group.

McLaren MP4-12C GT3. (Photo: McLaren Group)

The Frenchman already drove one alongside Gilles Vannelet at the circuit of Paul Ricard Le Castellet in Framce last October in the last round of the French GT-Tour. The MP4-12 was run by Von Ryan Racing but entered under the Sebasien Loeb Racing banner.

The GT Sprint series will replace the World GT Championship from 2013. The series features two one-hour races over a weekend, with two drivers per teams and pit stops of tires.

Following on from the announcement at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, the title partnership agreed between Citroën Racing and Abu Dhabi now takes real shape with the presentation of the World Rally Championship programme for the 2013 season.

The Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team's line-up for next year's FIA World Rally Championship will feature three crews: Mikko Hirvonen/Jarmo Lehtinen, Dani Sordo/Carlos del Barrio and Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena.

(Photo: Citroen Racing)

Khalid Al-Qassimi will also be taking part in the majority of the WRC events, but will be competing first and foremost in the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC).

The eight-time World Rally Championship-winning works team -- including five consecutive titles between 2008 and 2012 -- will now be known as the Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team. Three cars will compete at each of the thirteen rounds on the WRC calendar.

(Photo: Citroen Racing)

Lining up in all of the events in the No.2 DS3 WRC, Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen will be looking to win the Drivers' title.

The second DS3 WRC nominated to score points towards the Manufacturers' World Championship will be driven by Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena at four rallies.

Back in the Citroën team, Dani Sordo and Carlos del Barrio will compete in at least eleven rounds and will be nominated to score points for the Manufacturers' standings when Loeb/Elena are not competing.

From GMM

Turkey is set to return to the Formula 1 Grand Prix calendar, the government-linked Turkish news agency Anadolu Ajansi reported on Thursday.

The report said "everything except the price" has been agreed between Turkish officials and F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone.

The news follows the FIA's announcement on Wednesday that a 20th race date for an unidentified additional European event has been set aside for mid 2013.

"We have agreed in principle the matter of the contract with me as the operator," businessman Vural Ak, who has taken over the management of 2005-2011 Turkish grand prix venue Istanbul Park, is quoted as saying.

Ak said the matter should be resolved on Friday, when Istanbul hosts the official FIA prize-giving gala.

"The prime minister is invited," he revealed. "He will discuss it there, because the state has a contribution to make.

"We have agreed in principle, but the government will make the final decision."

The FIA World Council of Motor Sport announced a technical regulations for the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) from 2014.

The FIA aims to "provide for more spectacular cars with bigger aerodynamic devices and greater performance through weight reduction and power increase, while maintaining similar costs," the statement says.

Photo: FIA WTCC

The WTCC will begin a new chapter in 2014, which could help new constructors to enter the series, especially Citroen (with rally star Sebastien Loeb) and Renault that are set to make their debuts in the WTCC in 2014.

From 2013, diesel cars will no longer be accepted in the championship. The Brazilian event in Curitiba has been deleted from the 2013 calendar.

From GMM

McLaren fielded the consistently fastest car in 2012, an analysis has shown.

According to the German language Speed Week, although Red Bull and Ferrari ended up fighting for the title, it was McLaren with the consistently faster car, based on an averaging of race laps throughout the 20-grand prix season.

Based on all the fastest race laps this year, McLaren was just 1.8 tenths from perfection, the report claimed.

Champions Red Bull came in second with an average of 3.8 tenths off the best, followed by Lotus, at seven tenths.

Ferrari was just fourth, with an average deficit of 7.5 tenths.

"It means Fernando Alonso almost became champion with the fourth fastest car," the report read.

2012's fastest team McLaren won seven grands prix this year, compared to seven for Red Bull and three for Ferrari's Alonso.

McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, meanwhile, respectively won the last two grands prix of the season in Austin and Brazil.

Lewis Hamilton, winner in Austin with McLaren. (Photo: WRi2)

"We have to make the normal gains over a winter and Red Bull and Ferrari will be flat out doing that, as will the other teams trying to catch up -- Lotus and Mercedes," McLaren's sporting director Sam Michael is quoted by the Sun.

"But we're pretty confident we can do the right things over the winter and start off strong. We're going to Melbourne to win," he insisted.

Another analysis, by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, shows that if the 2012 championship was in fact divided in two, a McLaren driver would not have been the champion or even the runner-up of either half.

Based on the first ten races, Alonso would have beaten Red Bull's Mark Webber to the title by 40 points, while the second-half champion was Vettel, with a 45-point margin over Spaniard Alonso.

Remember about the new Test Track Presented by Chevrolet at Walt Disney World Resort? Well, it just opened to the public this week.

With this one-of-a-kind attraction, visitors can create their own concept vehicle and board a "SimCar" ride vehicle to race through a series of performance tests.

Amidst all of the bundling up, holiday travel plans, and snow shoveling this winter, one mustn't forget that the family car, truck or SUV has needs, too. Maintenance is key for the longevity of your family's ride, and for the safety of everyone using it. With the challenges and stresses this cold season puts on vehicles and drivers alike, a little winter maintenance can go a long way towards confidence and peace of mind.

Winter maintenance has the added affect of potentially reducing the negative impact cold weather has on your vehicle's fuel mileage. Cold air is more dense, meaning your vehicle needs more fuel to move through it. Plus, you'll use electrical accessories (the heater and the remote start system) more often.

Add in the extra weight of snow carried beneath your vehicle, and the added friction of using winter tires, and it's easy to see why fuel consumption increases when the temperature drops.

Thankfully, some easy winter maintenance tips can help combat these negative consequences.

Winter maintenance Tip No. 1
Cooling System: Your car's cooling system is particularly important this time of year. In addition to containing a fluid that works to prevent your engine block from freezing and cracking, it also transfers heat into the vehicle cabin to keep occupants warm.

Your favourite mechanic can inspect the condition of your cooling system in an hour or so to ensure the fluid, pipes and hoses, pump, and all-important thermostat are all up to par.

Remember: A properly functioning cooling system allows your engine to reach its operating temperature and achieve optimal fuel mileage more quickly.

Photo: Matthieu Lambert

Winter Maintenance Tip No. 2
Tire Pressure: Checking and adjusting tire pressures is one of the easiest winter maintenance tasks required of your ride. An improperly inflated tire is not only a safety risk, but will cause the tire to wear down more quickly and cause your vehicle to drink more gas.

Check the pressure of your winter tires regularly to maintain good fuel mileage and the life of your tire. This is especially important when temperatures fluctuate wildly in transition months like December and March.

Winter Maintenance Tip No. 3
Air Filter: Don't forget your air filter during your winter maintenance check. Chances are, it's sucked up a lot of pollen, dust and dirt, as well as assorted insect life over the spring, summer and fall. A clogged air filter can cause your engine to use a whopping 50% more fuel than it needs to. Thankfully, most air filters can be changed for under $40 in a matter of minutes.

Winter Maintenance Tip No. 4
Fluids: Fluids all in top shape? If you don't remember when the last transmission fluid change, differential fluid change or coolant flush was performed on your vehicle then it's probably overdue.

Fluids should be kept topped up and fresh. If left too long they become old, ineffective and may even start to leak onto your driveway. A fresh oil change (possibly with synthetic oil), as well as new transmission and differential fluids all ensure internal components are lubricated optimally and protected from gas-sucking friction in the cooler months. Fresh fluids also reach their operating viscosity more quickly, helping further reduce fuel use.

Winter Maintenance Tip No. 5
Ignition System: Your engine's proper operation in the winter depends on a tiny and precise spark to ignite a precisely mixed blend of air and gasoline droplets. In the winter, especially at engine start-up, that ignition process is put to the test as the engine utilizes a richer and harder-to-burn fuel mixture. Installing a fresh set of spark plugs ensures your engine gets the best mileage possible, with added reliability in cold-start situations.

Following a meeting of its World Motor Sport Council in Istanbul, the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, the Paris-based FIA has revealed revisions to the 2013 Formula 1 calendar.

The German Grand Prix has been moved forward a week to July 7, and an additional date of July 21 has been reserved for another F1 European event, subject to the approval of the relevant national sporting authorities (ASNs). That spot is likely to be taken by Turkey. The final decision is said to be taken this Friday.

Revised 2013 Formula 1 calendar:

17/03 Australia
24/03 Malaysia
14/04 China
21/04 Bahrain
12/05 Spain
26/05 Monaco
09/06 Canada
30/06 Great Britain
07/07 Germany
21/07 Reserved for another European event*
28/07 Hungary
25/08 Belgium
08/09 Italy
22/09 Singapore
06/10 Korea
13/10 Japan
27/10 India
03/11 Abu Dhabi
17/11 USA
24/11 Brazil

*subject to the approval of the relevant ASNs

The BMW Concept 4 Series Coupe, which adds a new dimension to the 3 Series Coupe in terms of aesthetics, dynamics and elegance, will make its global debut in January at the NAIAS in Detroit.

Sporting hexagon-shaped, full LED headlights, L-shaped taillights, 20'' wheels, and new ''Air Breather'' side intakes on the front fenders, the BMW Concept 4 Series Coupe is a racier version of the 3 Series Coupe. It also has a longer wheelbase (2.8 m), lower profile (1.362 m), and wider stance (1.826 m).

BMW Concept 4 Series Coupe (Photo: BMW)

BMW chose a silver exterior/maroon and black interior combination with premium wood inlays that enhance the car's refined looks.

No word on powertrains or intended markets. Look for more details on Media Day at the NAIAS.

From GMM

Plans to stage a grand prix in and around London's Olympic stadium have all but collapsed.

Earlier this year, a company called Intelligent Transport Services launched a bid to take over the venue in the wake of the British capital's Games.

But rival bids were also launched, including by the premier league football club West Ham United.

And the AFP news agency says the club has been named "first bidder", which is reportedly a "major step" towards West Ham becoming the permanent tenant of the stadium.

"We had four good bids, as everybody knows," said London mayor Boris Johnson. "The bid that has been ranked top is West Ham United. I am very pleased about that. It will, if it goes through, mean a football legacy for the stadium but there is still a lot of negotiation to go on ... about the terms of the deal."

Chrysler is recalling 3,000 Ram 1500 trucks in Canada (all from the 2013 model year) due to an error in the configuration of the vehicle which disabled the Daytime Running Light (DRL) system.

Dodge RAM 1500. (Photo: Dodge)

This could make the Ram 1500 less visible to other motorists and pedestrians during daylight hours, increasing the risk of a collision.

Chrysler Canada dealers will therefore update the DRL configuration on all affected vehicles.

Source: Transports Canada

During the launch of the Citroen Racing motorsport programme in Abu Dhabi, Sebastien Loeb revealed the four events he will take part to in next year's World Rally Championship.

The nine-time world rally champion will compete in the Rallye Monte Carlo, Sweden, Argentina, before running his very last WRC round on his home soil in France in October.

Loeb also said that he will race in a GT championship, yet to be announced, in order to prepare his new career in road racing, and the arrival of Citroen in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) for 2014.

Sebastien Loeb, Citroen Racing. (Photo: WRC)

It was also announced that Citroen will enter two separate teams next seasons : the Citroen Abu Dhabi WRT, that will run Mikko Hirvonen, Dani Sordo and Sebastien Loeb, and the the Abu Dhabi Citroen Total WRT will run Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi on eight events.

The name of the driver(s) who will drive the DS3 of the second team in the remaining rounds has not be revealed. Thierry Neuville could drive the car at selected WRC events, or for a full season, depending on his budget.

From GMM

Red Bull is "well on the way" to achieving the same sort of "mythical status" as fellow grandee F1 teams like Ferrari.

That is the claim of Sebastian Vettel, who after winning his third consecutive drivers' championship with the energy drink-owned team played down persistent rumours he could soon make the move to fabled Ferrari.

"Clearly Ferrari and Mercedes have a great history and a kind of mythical status," the German told Sport Bild. "But we're well on the way to achieving the same with Red Bull. Realizing it needs to be our goal."

Red Bull, triple world champion in a row. (Photo: WRi2)

F1 legend Niki Lauda, however, can imagine Vettel eventually hanging up his Red Bull helmet and making the switch to another top team.

"He will eventually move somewhere else," fellow triple world champion Lauda, who won his titles with Ferrari and McLaren, told CNN. "It's normal. Any skier changes his skis every year -- so you have to change your cars at least once in your history."

Former Renault boss Flavio Briatore, however, ruled out the concept of Vettel joining Fernando Alonso at Ferrari.

"It only works in a dream. It would be a disaster," he told Italian radio Rai.

I've been covering auto racing for a really long time now. Over the years, I've done some freelance work, press releases, project supervision, print magazine editing, as well as colour commentary on TV and radio.

Of course, I've driven my fair share of cars, including all levels of karting, road and ice courses, and in various other settings. This allowed me to race against several current and future stars.

The thing I love the most about my job is the unique opportunity to test drive some of the most advanced and expensive race cars in the world. In the upcoming year, I'll tell you all about these memorable experiences.

Larrousse Ford HB V8 (photo: René Fagnan)

Without a doubt, the most exhilarating time I had was behind the wheel of an actual F1 car (not a mere F1 chassis with a Formula 3000 engine). Believe it or not, I drove a Larrousse Ford HB V8 at Magny-Cours in France. Five laps that defied all logic with breathtaking acceleration and impossibly forceful braking manoeuvres.

The most stressful test drive was that of a Tattus from Formula Renault V6. It happened in Barcelona, right in the midst of an official practice session! Imagine driving a car you don't know on a track you're barely familiar with, having to brake with your left foot while getting passed by a number of mad drivers - and in the rain to boot!

I've also driven an authentic, rally-winning Peugeot 206T16 on an ice track in Sherbrooke, Quebec, surrounded by walls of ice as hard as concrete. It was a tremendous honour and feeling to drive such a legendary car. You wouldn't believe the power its small turbocharged engine produced.

From a technical standpoint, I fondly remember the Van Diemen Formula 2000 car from Key Motorsport, which is normally assigned to Marc-Antoine Camirand. This was an actual aerodynamic test at high speeds on the huge PMG speedway north of Montreal. We had to assess the car's behaviour and top speed without any aerodynamic aid. I managed to reach a commendable 229 km/h... without a front wing.

What else? Oh yeah, I had the privilege of driving Marcus Grönholm's race-spec Peugeot 307 WRC. That car was so easy to spin, yet so difficult to exploit. The flexibility of the engine left me speechless.

If you want to learn more about these cars and others, including my savoury anecdotes, come back here regularly over the next few months.

From GMM

Flavio Briatore has joined Luca di Montezemolo in criticising the way Michael Schumacher ended his formula one career recently in Brazil.

Despite winning five consecutive titles for Ferrari in his ultra-successful first career, Schumacher - now driving for Mercedes - openly let his friend Sebastian Vettel overtake during the Interlagos finale.

Schumacher's fellow German Vettel was fighting for the title against Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, who ultimately lost the battle by 3 points.

"I was expecting a slightly different final race on the part of Michael Schumacher", Ferrari president Montezemolo admitted last weekend.

Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher at the end of the Brazilian Grand Prixl. (Photo: WRi2)

Italian Briatore, who was team boss when Schumacher won his first two titles with Benetton in the mid-90s, agrees with his fellow Italian Montezemolo.

"The way he (Schumacher) behaved in Brazil was not good. His preference was that Red Bull beats Ferrari," said Briatore.

"The only one who helped Ferrari was Webber," he added, referring to Vettel's Red Bull teammate Mark Webber, who is in Briatore's management stable.