Auto News 5

President Barack Obama's second term likely will include a return to an agenda of support for electric vehicles and also could clear the way for new rules on tailpipe emissions and auto safety.

Opel has stopped development of a planned electric version of its new Adam minicar, citing high costs.

Hyundai and Kia have been hit with a second civil suit seeking class-action status after the companies admitted to making bogus fuel-economy claims. The latest was in a federal Central District Court in Los Angeles on behalf of 23 plaintiffs.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally said that the first thing he did after agreeing to be a keynote speaker at the International Consumer Electronics Show was pick up the phone.

From GMM

Red Bull has distanced itself from the blame, following Sebastian Vettel's disastrous qualifying session in Abu Dhabi last weekend.

Disqualified from the session after scrutineers could not extract the necessary litre of fuel for sampling, the championship leader had been asked to stop the car urgently following advice from engine supplier Renault.

Renault asked to stop the RB8. (Photo: WRi2)

It emerges that Renault feared damage to the engine and other systems if Vettel's RB8 had been left to run completely out of fuel.

"We saw some numbers going down," said Vettel, "and in order to save the engine, save the pumps in between et caetera, we decided to stop the car, convinced that we had enough fuel in the car to provide a sample."

So why wasn't enough fuel put in the car for the decisive qualifying session?

"It's difficult," team boss Christian Horner is quoted by Germany's RTL, "because Renault was sure there was enough fuel in the car."

"What happens is the engineers for the engine side calculate the amount of fuel to be put into the car. As a team, we (Red Bull) are not involved in it," he insisted.

From GMM

Kimi Raikkonen has admitted it was a "relief" when his lucrative deal with Ferrari ended in 2009.

The premature termination of the Finn's contract, making room for the arrival of Fernando Alonso and major sponsor Santander, pushed Raikkonen out of F1 completely and off to a two-year foray in world rallying and Nascar.

But the now 33-year-old returned to the grid this year with Lotus, performing impressively to now sit a comfortable third in the drivers' standings, and having notched up his 19th career grand prix last weekend in Abu Dhabi.

He is also signed up for 2013.

Asked by the Spanish sports newspaper Marca to recall his memories of racing for F1's most famous team Ferrari, Raikkonen answered: "Neither good nor bad."

Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari F2007. (Photo: Ferrari)

"I won a title with them and had some good times. I am satisfied with the three years I spent there. I don't miss anyone," he admitted. "To me, leaving there was a relief."

"The situation could have been better, but it's the past and what is done cannot be reversed," said Raikkonen. "Things don't last long if you're working somewhere and the relations are not good."

He explained that, in contrast, he enjoys working with Lotus.

"I felt good from the start," said Kimi Raikkonen. "People work hard and calmly, but they want to win and the sport and the technical sides come before the politics."

After the two rounds held in Shanghai, where his teammate Yvan Muller had s string or problems, Rob Huff (Chevrolet) moved one step closer to his first WTCC title.

After Suzuka, Muller and Huff were tied in popints on top of the standings. But the Frenchman lost everything when he was forced to retire with a suspension failure following a contact at the start of race 1.

Huff finished second behind his teammate Alain Menu, and took the championship lead.

The Chevrolet Cruze in Shanghai. (Photo: FIAWTCC)

Three-time WTCC champion Yvan Muller had another bad moment in race 2, as he hit race leader Alain Menu.

As a result, both went off the road, allowing Rob Huff to grab the lead. Muller finally took second position behind the Brit, but he was later penalized and dropped down in order, out of points zone.

Rob Huff is now really close from winning his maiden WTCC title, as the British driver now leads Alain Menu by 35 points, while Muller dropped down to third, 41 points behind Huff.

Caterham F1 Team has confirmed Thursday that Cyril Abiteboul has been promoted to the role of Team Principal with immediate effect.

Abiteboul will combine that role with his current responsibilities as CEO, a position he took up in September 2012.

“Having launched our partnership with Renault in Paris on Monday the plan Kamarudin and I formed over three years ago for our automotive interests has come to fruition,” said Tony Fernandes, Caterham Group Chairman.

Photo: Caterham F1 Team

“The strategy for the establishment and growth of Caterham Group has now reached the stage where we can step back from the day to day running of the F1 team in favour of Cyril who will be able to dedicate himself full time to the role and work closely with Riad to help take our automotive interests into the next stage of their growth.

“Cyril is going to be an excellent Team Principal. He has extensive experience in F1, he is extremely well respected and he shares our vision for what we want our team to achieve. He takes over during a season when we have not yet fulfilled our potential, but at a time when we have everything in place to help us do so. One day we will earn our seat at the top table of Formula 1 and he is the right person to take us there. This decision allows Kamarudin and I to focus on AirAsia and gives Riad the structure he needs to allow the various Caterham Group businesses to flourish under his leadership,” Fernandes added.

With business going as well as it is for Mercedes-Benz in Canada, smart expansion is the ideal way to maintain and increase momentum.

On Wednesday, Tim A. Reuss, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada and other high ranking company officials were participants in the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new massive dealership in Vancouver, BC.

This new and modern building, situated on a 7-acre site off of Lougheed Highway, will house enhanced sales and after-sales capabilities, a huge parking lot and more than enough room for large new and pre-owned inventories.

The capacious building will feature a 36,700 sq-ft showroom, a 26,960 sq-ft service area including 3 larger bays to accommodate Sprinter vans.

As well, the new facility will serve as the Western Headquarters for Mercedes-Benz' regional office and as a training center.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2014

From GMM

Caterham's latest recruit, Cyril Abiteboul, is tipped to succeed founder Tony Fernandes' as the team's new principal.

Having announced a major new sports car venture with Renault, Malaysian entrepreneur Fernandes this week confirmed reports he is stepping down as Caterham's F1 boss.

Initial rumours suggested his successor could be Jean-Francois Caubet, whose last race as engine supplier Renault's F1 chief was in Abu Dhabi last weekend.

But another prominent Renault member also left the French engine supplier recently: Cyril Abiteboul.

Cyril Abiteboul in the middle. (Photo: Caterham F1 Team)

Indeed, Renault's former deputy managing director was in September signed up as Caterham F1's new chief executive.

Asked recently if Abiteboul will soon be Caterham principal, Fernandes answered: "Not at the moment, no. Eventually, maybe."

The Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat on Wednesday reported that Abiteboul will indeed take over Fernandes' role.

The report also tipped Caterham to announce Dutchman Giedo van der Garde as part of the team's 2013 race lineup, amid suggestions the other seat will be filled by the similarly well-backed Frenchman Charles Pic, who would move from Marussia.

That would leave the highly rated - but unsponsored - Heikki Kovalainen out in the cold for 2013.

Giedo Van der Garde, Caterham CT01. (Photo: WRi2)

Van der Garde is this week testing the green CT01 in Abu Dhabi, but he will not be reprising his recent Friday driving duties next weekend in Austin.

"It's a new track and so the race drivers need the maximum time in the car," he is quoted by De Telegraaf newspaper.

The report said van der Garde will, however, be practicing on the Friday before the 2012 finale, in Brazil.

Once more shooting itself in the foot, IndyCar took a big step back by driving away the only person who managed to inject some life into a constantly fading series.

Randy Bernard wasn't perfect, obviously, but his unique philosophy and vision of auto racing helped make the 2012 IndyCar season one of the most exciting in ages -- F1, NASCAR and others included.

When Bernard was appointed CEO of IndyCar in March 2010, he inherited a moribund program that was still suffering from the decisions of the previous administration. The ongoing crisis with the U.S. economy certainly didn't make things easier.

Even worse, IndyCar continues to have a hard time finding new sponsors due to an obsolete TV deal that was negotiated by Bernard's predecessor, Tony George.

At the onset, the former CEO of Professional Bull Riders was vocal about increasing IndyCar's visibility among general audiences and restoring its former glory. Developing a new car and a new engine, as well as hiring quality assistants such as Tony Cotman and Beaux Barfield, have helped boost credibility on the track.

Photo: IndyCar

More recently, Bernard announced new events on the 2013 calendar, the return of the Triple Crown, and select double-headers that would make the most of ABC's coverage.

Granted, there were some failures. The high cost of replacement parts for the DW12 has infuriated team owners, while the Lotus saga and the loss of the (expensive) China race have somewhat compromised Bernard's leadership and management skills.

None of this, however, will eclipse the big breath of fresh air that Bernard has given to Indycar over the last two years and three seasons. The unspeakable treatment by the board of directors is a real shame to say the least.

Journalists covering the series have lost a premier interlocutor, and now fans are venting their displeasure and even anger on social media. They feel cheated and betrayed. After all, Bernard had brought hope of a renaissance in American open-wheel racing.

The news will likely make many people happy at GRAND-AM and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), which are currently finalizing a merger for 2014. They will enjoy a broader spotlight and increase their chances of signing interesting deals with a top network.

As the saying goes: One man's loss is another man's gain...

Thursday was the last of a three-day Formula 1 young driver test, and effectively brought to a close the busiest three-week stint on the calendar, with two Grand Prix races in India and Abu Dhabi, followed by this test.

Today was also the final day of F1 testing in 2012.

New GP2 series' champion, Davide Valsecchi, topped the time sheets in the Lotus E20 today.

Davide Valsecchi, Lotus. (Photo: WRi2)

Valsecchi completed a total of 86 laps, running a comprehensive testing program and showcasing his talent by quickly getting up to speed with the car and team.

The morning program consisted of aerodynamic testing and DDRS iterations, followed by front drum testing and tire assessment in the afternoon.

Dane Kevin Magnussen ranked second in the Mercedes-powered McLaren. It was his second run in the MP4-27. He concluded his day by running through a series of mechanical balance changes aimed at unlocking tire performance. Magnussen covered sufficient mileage this week to be able to apply for an F1 Superlicence.

Kevin Magnussen, McLaren. (Photo: WRi2)

Mexican Esteban Gutierrez finished the day in third place. He started with more aerodynamic evaluations. The team was running on high fuel, and he did some set-up work and brake tests. Sauber tested some new items after lunch, and gave Gutierrez some fresh tires, including a set of softs.

Esteban Gutiérrez, Sauber. (Photo: WRi2)

New Formula Renault 3.5 champion Robin Frijns was fourth in the Red Bull-Renault, followed by McLaren's Oliver Turvey who continued the evaluation of a new front wing during the morning's session.

Robin Frijns, Red Bull. (Photo: WRi2)

Sixth was Luiz Razia in the Toro Rosso. Chief engineer, Laurent Mekies, said that the job list was very full, testing many items, the majority of which were aimed at next year's car.

Alexander Rossi was seventh and last in the Caterham-Renault. However, the American lost a great deal of time when the CT-01 was stuck in the garage so the team could fix an oil leak.

Alexander Rossi, Caterham. (Photo: WRi2)

Young driver test, Yas Marina circuit, Abu Dhabi, Day 3:

Pos  Driver  Constructor  Best time*  Laps
1 Davide Valsecchi  Lotus  1m42.677  86
2 Kevin Magnussen  McLaren  1m42.827  51
3 Esteban Gutierrez  Sauber  1m43.093  80
4 Robin Frijns  Red Bull Racing  1m43.233  53
5 Oliver Turvey  McLaren  1m43.604  44
6 Luiz Razia  Scuderia Toro Rosso  1m45.286  68
7 Alexander Rossi  Caterham  1m46.485  86

Recap of fastest drivers each day:
Tuesday Day 1: Kevin Magnussen  McLaren  1m42.651
Wednesday Day 3: Antonio Felix da Costa  Red Bull-Renault  1m42.679
Thursday Day 3: Davide Valsecchi  Lotus  1m42.677

*All timing unofficial

From wrc.com

Finland's Kimi Raikkonen proved just how sharp driving in the FIA World Rally Championship keeps you when he got back to winning ways in Formula 1 with victory in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last weekend.

In between tributes to his Lotus team and his car, the Iceman explained how the WRC had helped him return to the top of the podium in F1. Raikkonen's victory in Abu Dhabi was the first one of his Grand Prix return, and the 19th of his career.

“It's good to be back, but nothing's really changed for me,” Raikkonen said.

“In rallying it was a very different type of driving though: you can learn all the corners on a circuit pretty quickly but you will never learn them all on a rally. When I came back to Formula 1 I found the feeling again pretty quickly.”

Photo: Citroen Racing

“I have one word first of all: Great. Then there are many words such as ‘relief' and ‘deserved'. It's obviously a very well deserved result for the team. I'm pleased for Kimi and he did a very good job,” said Lotus team principal Eric Boullier.

Raikkonen, who currently lies third in the F1 standings, drove for Citroen on the WRC with Red Bull backing from 2010-2011. And rallying is still unfinished business for the Finn: he requested permission from his team to contest his home round of the WRC this year, but sadly it was refused.

It mist be said that Lotus, which was known as the Renault team a few years ago, had losr the services of their No. 1 driver, Robert Kubica, in a nasty rally crash.

From NASCAR

For the fifth consecutive year, fans can vote online for the Most Popular Driver of the Year Award in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.

The link to the 2012 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Most Popular Driver ballot is hosted on www.nascarhometracks.com. Fans may vote once per day and are encouraged to vote throughout the season. Voting continues through November 18.


Last year, Jason White was voted by the fans as the Most Popular Driver in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series.

The winner will be honored at the NASCAR Night of Champions Awards on Saturday, December 8 at the Charlotte Convention Center's Crown Ballroom in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

From BMW Motorsport

Former CART series' champion and Formula 1 driver Alex Zanardi completed Thursday the historic drive in golden BMW M3 DTM car.

Zanardi and the BMW DTM teams were at the Nürburgring to celebrate “40 Years of BMW M”. Within just a few laps the 46-year-old had slotted seamlessly back into racing driver mode and looked more at home in the car with each of his 32 laps.

(Photo: BMW Motorsport)

This unique opportunity was BMW Motorsport's way of acknowledging the outstanding sporting achievements of Zanardi, who won two gold and one silver medal on his handbike at the Paralympic Games in London.

In keeping with the occasion, the BMW M3 DTM sported a gold livery, specially designed for Zanardi. As well as the Italian's image on the bonnet, the roof of the car also featured the three medals, which Zanardi won at this summer's Paralympic Games having lost both legs in an accident in 2001.

(Photo: BMW Motorsport)

The BMW Motorsport engineers worked hard to prepare the M3 for this very special drive. While the modifications made to the BMW M3 DTM would not be suitable to be used under race conditions, they did allow Zanardi to complete this unique demonstration drive at the Nürburgring.

(Photo: BMW Motorsport)

Accelerator and clutch pedals were removed and the brake pedal was shifted to the right in order to allow Zanardi to brake with his prosthetic right leg. He operated the accelerator with his left hand on the steering wheel, while he was able to change gear by pushing and pulling the shift paddle. The pneumatic-hydraulic clutch was located on the shift panel.

Zanardi's outing in the M3 DTM was one of the highlights of the three-day celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of BMW M.

(Photo: BMW Motorsport)

Adapted from GMM

The seemingly never-ending saga about bendy formula one cars is back in the media spotlight, and as ever championship leader Red Bull is right in the middle.

Multiple videos depicting the front nose of the world champions' 2012 RB8 car have emerged in the wake of last weekend's Abu Dhabi grand prix, showing the extreme tip of the front nose section to be apparently made of some sort of 'rubbery' material.

"Is this legal?" wondered a report by Italian magazine Autosprint, with Tuttosport adding: "Should it (the nose) not be a rigid part?"

Red Bull RB8's nose of Sebastian Vettel at Abu Dhabi. (Caption: FOM)

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport journalist Tobias Gruner, however, thinks the controversy is a "false alarm", because the front 150mm of the nose extremities are "always made a little softer" for the purposes of the FIA's mandatory crash tests.

But Gruner also acknowledged that engineers from rival teams are similarly analysing the images, with "at least one team" thought to have already contacted the governing body.

As ever, right at the heart of the latest technical controversy is Red Bull's designer Adrian Newey, who was recently labelled a "genius" by McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton.

"His cars are veritable works of art," agreed British broadcaster Damon Hill, who in 1996 won the championship at the wheel of a Newey-penned Williams.

"I don't want to go too far, but he is the Michelangelo of formula one," he added.

From GMM

If Sauber's biggest sponsor has its way, Esteban Gutierrez will next year line up on the grid alongside confirmed 2013 driver Nico Hulkenberg.

Gutierrez's fellow Mexican Sergio Perez, who is heading to McLaren, was until now the cream of Sauber backer Telmex's F1 programme for the last two years.

But waiting in the wings all the time has been the one-year-younger Mexican reserve driver Gutierrez, who is this week testing Sauber's C31 in Abu Dhabi, as is another 2013 candidate, the highly-rated Robin Frijns.

Esteban Gutierrez at Abu Dhabi. (Photo: Sauber F1 Team)

Telmex chief and Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, however, could have a substantial influence on the final decision.

"We are talking with Sauber for next season," he told the Mexican newspaper Reforma, "and we intend to continue together.

"Obviously that will be with the participation of a Mexican driver, which is Esteban Gutierrez," Slim Domit insisted.

Esteban Gutierrez, 21, got his first taste of official F1 action recently in India, when Perez was suffering from a heavy cold and sat out a practice session.

"It would not be that the team gives him a practice event in formula one if they have no long-term plan for him," Slim continued. "And for us, we would not have our participation in formula one without a Mexican driver, so I think it is quite sure that for the first time next year, we will have two Mexican drivers in formula one for a full season."

Sometimes I think we've got it all wrong here in North America. While we focus on larger vehicles that are more fuel efficient with EcoBoosts, PZEVs and hybrid engines, Europe is lapping up all the microminis and clean diesels. I think our priorities are a bit skewed.


Here's the thing: Saving the planet is all fine and dandy, but what everyone really cares about is saving dollars in their pockets. And when it comes to saving dollars, nothing beats diesel for long hauls and highway drives. Even city drivers will see the benefits of diesel. So, why aren't there more around? I wish I knew the answer. Granted, diesels aren't for everyone, nor are they suitable for every model of vehicle, yet I still believe we should have more on offer on this side of the pond.

Thankfully though, companies like Porsche understand the allure of diesel, and so they have released their 2013 Cayenne Diesel in North America -- rejoice!

More than a tractor
Ask anyone what they think about diesel and most will say things like; stinky, loud, dirty. However, those were the old diesel days. Today's diesels are much cleaner and much quieter. While you'll still hear the occasional clanking of the engine and you might be a bit embarrassed idling next to EVs and regular engines in traffic, but you'll quickly feel better once you push your foot on the throttle.

That's the thing about diesels -- all diesels, not just Porsche diesels - is that they have fabulous amounts of torque.

The 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel does not disappoint in the area of torque with 406 lb-ft available, coupled with 240 hp. You might be thinking: "Yeah, but in a vehicle that large and heavy it must still feel like a slug on the road." Well, you'd be mistaken. This chunky Porsche SUV (which some people still have a hard time accepting), makes it to 100km/h in just under 8 seconds. That's mighty fast for a beefy, all-wheel drive family hauler.

And I'd say that has a great deal to do with the amount of torque (read: lift off) available as low as 2,000 rpm.

The Porsche Cayenne Diesel's turbocharged 3.0L V6 not only performs well on the road, going from a smooth highway cruiser to a sporty SUV round the bends (and my tester did not have the fancy and expensive air suspension option), but it keeps your gas mileage low and your kilometre range high.

The 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel does not disappoint in the area of torque with 406 lb-ft available, coupled with 240 hp.(Photo: Philippe Champoux)

It can go the distance
Let's get all the mileage numbers out of the way while we're ahead. Here's one of the reasons I covet the diesel: tank range.

You've all heard the commercials: "Drive 1,000km on one tank!" And surely you've all thought: "Yeah, OK, sure. And my cat can speak Greek." While you kitty might not have grasped the phonetics of the ancient Latin language just yet, diesels truly can go the distance they claim. And that's what makes them so good.

I drove the 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel as I would any other car. I made no effort to conserve gas, or drive carefully. In fact, I had a little fun behind the wheel on more than one occassion, popping the Cayenne into sport and using the Tiptronic S automatic transmission to its full extent with manual-mode button shifters on the steering wheel. And yet, after a week of driving I managed to avoid the pumps.

I drove over 700km without having to fill up, and the onboard computer (PCM) system informed me I could have done nearly 300km more with the 1/3 tank that was left. I averaged about 10.3L/100km throughout the week, as well. My best reading was after a leisurely country drive in which I managed to score a 9.5L/100km reading. In a Porsche. Cayenne. SUV. You all understand what this means, right?

The 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel is more fuel efficient than my 2004 Subaru WRX.

Granted, it cost me over $100 to fill up the 2/3 I used throughout the week. But when I consider the fact that it generally costs me in the $80 range to fill my Subaru, again it's rather impressive for the Cayenne.

I had a little fun behind the wheel on more than one occassion, popping the Cayenne into sport and using the Tiptronic S automatic transmission(Photo: Philippe Champoux)

It's a Porsche SUV, get over it
Since it appeared nearly 10 years ago, the Cayenne has had naysayers and haters. Well, it's time we all got over it and accepted the Cayenne for the gloriously practical Porsche that it is.

Compared to most SUVs on the road, the Porsche Cayenne is leaps and bounds ahead in the looks department. With Porsche breeding and lines that could just as easily be found on the 911, the Cayenne Diesel is fantastic to look at, from any angle.

And the sumptuousness that Porsche is known for continues on the inside too. With large, comfortable seats for all passengers and driver, as well as a traditional Porsche interior (functional, aesthetically pleasing, full of gadgets), no matter where you're sitting you'll enjoy the ride.

And another great thing about the Porsche SUV is that despite its size, the price tag is rather small. With a starting price of just under $65,000, my 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel came in at just under $75,000 which, in all honesty, is a bloody good deal for an SUV of its calibre.

This 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel review was originally published on Auto-Venus.com.

Hyundai and Kia have been hit with a second civil suit seeking class-action status after the companies admitted to making bogus fuel-economy claims. The latest was Tuesday in federal Central District Court in Los Angeles on behalf of 23 plaintiffs.

American Suzuki won interim court approval to borrow as much as $45 million as it shuts auto dealerships and revamps motorcycle and boat sales under bankruptcy protection. Suzuki hopes to avoid long court battles with 216 U.S.