Auto News 5

New vehicle sales in the Philippines increased 12.1% to 15,081 units in October, from 13,456 units in the same month of last year, according to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CAMPI).

News 14 Nov, 2012

The electric Chevrolet Spark is set to make its debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show later this month

Barely a month after calling back 7.4m vehicles to check for a potentially faulty power window switch, Toyota has announced a 2.77m vehicle worldwide recall, including second generation Prius models, due to potential problems with the steering and the hybrid system water pump.

News 14 Nov, 2012

Latest round of recalls affects 2.7m cars, including 75,000 UK Corolla, Prius and Avensis models

Renault said it may miss its target of selling 1 million low-cost vehicles this year, according to a report.

Toyota Motor Corp. said it will recall about 2.8 million vehicles worldwide due to problems with the steering and water pumps in some models. It is the automaker's second multimillion-car recall in two months.

Toyota Motor Corp. will recall 2.77 million vehicles worldwide -- including 670,000 Prius hybrids in the United States -- to fix a possible water pump problem and steering defect.

Toyota Motor Corp. said it will recall about 2.77 million vehicles worldwide due to problems with the steering and the water pumps in some models. It is the automaker's second multi-million car recall in two months.

ZF Friedrichshafen and Tenneco make significant contributions to the ride and handling of the new Mercedes C-class coupe. ZF, of Germany, supplies the car's standard McPherson spring struts on the front and the rear dampers.

A rebound in U.S. auto sales has been buoyed by the return of easy lending, even to borrowers with flawed credit histories. But some economists question whether the gains can be sustained without a boost in hiring.

Audi, the world's second-largest maker of luxury cars, said it's on track to reach a goal of selling a record 1.4 million vehicles in 2012 and expects the momentum to continue into next year.

Visteon has opened a design center in Pune, India. The facility, part of a Visteon engineering center, will house experts in human-machine interface, plus engineers, program managers and market researchers.

Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann said global demand for ultraluxury sports cars will probably not increase next year as the European debt crisis drags on and China's economy slows.

ZF Friedrichshafen and Tenneco make significant contributions to the ride and handling of the new Mercedes C-class coupe. ZF of Germany supplies the car's standard McPherson spring struts on the front and the rear dampers.

While struggling European carmakers reduce production and consider plant closures, Hyundai and affiliate Kia are reporting record sales. The Korean brands attribute buoyant sales to their lean organizations and modestly priced, desirable new cars.

Delphi Automotive has completed the $982 million acquisition of FCI Group's Motorized Vehicles Division, which supplies connectors.

Many of the best Formula 3 driver in the world will contest the prestigious Grand Prix of Macau this weekend - a tough and gruelling race held on the 6.120km Guia street circuit where there's not room for errors.

Famous Macau GP winners include Riccardo Patrese, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard, Ralf Schumacher and Takuma Sato.

Schedule*:
Thursday November 15: Formula 3 free practice session
Friday November 16: Formula 3 qualifying
Saturday November 17: Formula 3 qualification race, 10 laps
Sunday November 18: Formula 3 Grand Prix, 15 laps
* Schedule and entry list are subject to changes.

From Groupe de course Octane inc.

The Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada Wednesday announced that it has put on sale for the first time in its history, special ticket packages that are offering the holder a reserved seat in a different grandstand for each of the three-day event.

This brand new product was requested by a growing number of fans and is now offered in limited quantities, in three combinations; Gold, Silver and Bronze trio packages. These trio packages are respectively priced at $485, $449 and $267.50.

"A good number of fans have been telling us over the last few years that they would appreciate being able to occupy a different grandstand each day of the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada weekend. This is a formula increasingly popular elsewhere and we are happy to be able to offer to our fans these new exciting trio packages as of today,” said François Dumontier, President and CEO of Octane Racing Group Inc. and President of the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada.

The Gold Trio Package
Offered at $485, the Gold trio package has for main characteristic to offer a reserved seating at the starting line (Grandstand #1) for the running of the 2013 edition of the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada, Sunday June 9. It is also a unique opportunity to experience the exciting moments preceding the start of the race, when the drivers are taking place in their cars. It also offers the opportunity to witness all the action in the pits during the race. A day before, for the Saturday qualifying session, the trio package holder has a reserved seat in the Hairpin (Grandstand #15) and previously for the Friday program, facing the Concorde Bridge chicane (Grandstand #31).

The Silver Trio Package
Offered at $449, the Silver trio package has for main characteristic to offer reserved seating at both ends of the circuit, in the Hairpin and in the Senna corner. Friday and Saturday, June 7 and 8, the trio package holder will have two different views of the action in the Hairpin, having a seat respectively in Grandstand #15 and Grandstand #24. On Sunday, for the running of the Grand Prix du Canada 2013, the trio package holder will be entitled to take his reserved seat in the Senna corner (Grandstand #12).

The Bronze Trio Package
Offered at the very affordable price of $267.50, the Bronze trio package offers its holder seats in areas of the track known for being some of the best passing zones around the circuit. Friday June 7, the trio package holder will have a reserved seat in Grandstand #22, at the Hairpin exit. For the Saturday program, his seat is located in Grandstand #31 at the Concorde Bridge chicane. Finally on Sunday, the trio package holder will benefit from a great view in the middle of the Canada Pavilion's chicane (Grandstand #33).

The fans who wish to order a Gold, Silver or Bronze trio package and receive their tickets before the Holiday season must call the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada ticket office at 514 350-0000 or 1-855-790-1245, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

They can also order safely at any moment through  www.circuitgillesvilleneuve.ca or www.admission.com.

From GMM

Felipe Massa has confirmed he had talks with some other teams before Ferrari re-signed him for 2013.

Earlier this year, as the Brazilian's form slumped to a low, it was an open secret that the Maranello based team was seeking a new teammate for Fernando Alonso.

"There seemed to be a black cloud above me. Nothing was going right," Massa was quoted this week by Italy's Tuttosport.

Ultimately, as the F2012 got better, so too did the 31-year-old's confidence, form and results. He will spend an eighth consecutive season wearing red overalls in 2013.

Felipe Massa on the podium in Japan. (Photo: WRi2)

But during his "black" period, he truly feared for his career.

"I was doing a job that is a dream for millions of people, but I was not happy," said Massa, "because in many races I knew that the main culprit was me."

When asked what his plans were had Ferrari decided to pull the plug, Massa admitted there had been some talks, without "naming names".

"But what I really wanted was to continue with Ferrari," he insisted.

Meanwhile, while some suggest Massa's teammate Alonso is the more 'deserving' champion of 2012, the Brazilian thinks Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel would also be a worthy winner.

"I think Fernando did an incredible job up to now, Sebastian as well, especially in the second part of the championship," said Massa. "So I think we are not talking about one guy who has many victories and the other one not. I think we are talking about two drivers, one of which will win and who we will say deserved it."

Several months after his codriver Gareth Roberts was killed in a tragic accident that happened during a round of the IRC series, Craig Breen secured the world title in the S2000 category of the World Rally Championship.

Breen, who drove a Ford Fiesta S2000 this season captured victory in S2000 at the recent Rally of Spain to take a second world title.

Last year, the Irish driver took the title in WRC Academy class alongside codriver Gareth Roberts.

But Gareth Roberts lost his life in a rally crash at the Targa Florio, a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Roberts was replaced by Paul Nagle alongside Breen several months later.

Next season, Breen is set to drive a Ford Fiesta WRC.