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News 30 Oct, 2012

Jaguar has confirmed that development of its 3 Series rival is still on track

News 30 Oct, 2012

Jaguar has unveiled the Concept Speedboat at the launch for the new XF Sportbrake estate

Pictures 30 Oct, 2012

Keeping up with some of Volkswagen China's products is a bit like keeping up with all the models Nissan has named Sentra, Almera and Pulsar - you need to know your cars and perhaps call on some professional help like the goldmine that is our very own Product Life Database (PLDB for short). You sure need it after you go there and encounter a Mark 2 Jetta with a different nose to the one you remember, or a Mark IV Golf with the same generation Jetta's front end...

US component manufacturer body, OESA (Original Equipment Suppliers Association), says the current shortage of skilled engineers is not sustainable as the American automotive industry enjoys prolonged recovery.

Audi aims to match last year's operating profit of 5.35 billion euros ($6.92 billion) in 2012 despite falling profit in the third quarter.

Malaysia's Proton and Japan's Honda Motor have agreed to explore opportunities to collaborate on the development of new products and technologies.

Honda may share car platforms and production facilities with Malaysian carmaker Proton Holdings, owner of the British sports car maker Lotus Group International Ltd, according to a statement from Proton's parent, DRB-Hicom.

Reynolds and Reynolds, a leading provider of business management software for auto dealers in North America and Europe, is exploring a sale to private equity that could fetch around $5 billion, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Chrysler Group's third-quarter net profit rose 80 percent to $381 million on strong sales of cars and light trucks in North America.

You can only do so much with big, heavy, super-powerful luxury SUVs. Even though Land Rover produces some of the toughest, roughest and lavishly equipped trucks for the well-heeled, trying to gain a broader (read: younger) clientele is quite a challenge.


Decisions had to be made. Some people occupying corner offices in Land Rover's headquarters probably resisted the idea to create a smaller, more environmentally friendly model, but it was all in vain. Some hardcore LR fans were probably insulted when Landr Rover introduced the LRX Concept on the auto show circuit.

However, the press and the public's reaction was unanimous: Land Rover couldn't back out now. And so, the Evoque was born.

Drop-dead gorgeous
And what a design! The 2012 Land Rover Evoque is simply stunning -- a masterpiece on wheels -- and a vehicle that pulls your attention away from anything you're doing, whether you're walking down the street, sitting on a terrace or behind the wheel of your own vehicle, which you'll instantly deem ungainly.

We award extra brownie points to LR for producing the three-door version of the Evoque. Besides our test vehicle, I saw only two other Coupés on the road, but plenty of five-door Evoques. Still, it's great that the customer gets a choice of body styles.

The production Evoque Coupé looks virtually identical to the concept, including the “bumperless” rear end, the slim greenhouse and the evil front fascia. From any angle, this crossover is simply breathtaking.

Superb interior finish
The Range Rover Evoque's cockpit design isn't as adventurous as the sheet metal's. However, it boasts a quality craftsmanship you'd expect in the bigger Range Rover models.

The two-tone leather seats in our tester are magnificent, not to mention very comfortable and supportive. Climbing into the back seat of the 2012 Range Rover Evoque is smiliar to your average compact coupe, however, once seated you'll find adequate head and legroom. The panoramic sunroof fills the cabin with light, providing rear-seat occupants with an airier environment.

In general, the 2012 Evoque's ergonomics are well thought out, but there are a couple of aspects that bug me (without being dealbreakers): The engine start button is unnaturally too high; the climate control rotary dials aren't fat enough; and I can't imagine trying to use them with gloves on; the infotainment and navigation system's touchscreen display button layout isn't very intuitive; and the slim windows obviously limit outward rear visibility.

Despite the relative smallness of the 2012 Range Rover Evoque, you get 550 litres of cargo space with the rear seat in place, and up to 1,350 litres with the seatbacks folded down. That's for the Coupé; the five-door Evoque boasts 1,445 litres of max cargo volume, so you don't lose much by choosing the version with two fewer doors.

Once seated you'll find adequate head and legroom. (Photo: Land Rover)

Quick and efficient
Unlike the other Range Rover models who rely on big, old V8s, the Evoque gets a powertrain that represents the mindset of a younger consumer base who cares (somewhat) about fuel economy and the environment.

The 2012 Range Rover Evoque's turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0L 4-cylinder engine produces 240 hp as well as 251 lb-ft of torque that peaks at just 1,750 rpm. The only transmission offered is a 6-speed automatic with wheel-mounted paddle shifters. You don't get the earth-scorching rush of a 510-hp Range Rover Supercharged, but this sensible crossover is still pretty quick, with a 0-100 km/h time of 7.6 seconds.

Land Rover's Terrain Response four-wheel drive system allows the driver to choose between several driving modes with the simple touch of a button. Our tester also featured the $1,400 Adaptive Dynamics suspension for enhanced on-road handling. The Evoque is no rock-climber, though, which is out of step with the rest of the brand's product lineup. Who really goes off-roading in their luxury trucks,(http://www.auto123.com/en/news/off-roading-in-luxury-vehicles?artid=148478) anyway?

Fuel economy is something new for Land Rover, and in that regard the 2012 Evoque performs way better than its family members. Our average over the course of the week was 11.5L/100km which is not bad at all, although a little far away from the official ratings of 10.9/6.9L/100km city/highway.

The 2012 Range Rover Evoque is powered by a turbo 2.0L engine that produces 240 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Matt St-Pierre)

An affordable Range Rover
The 2012 Range Rover Evoque is offered in three trim levels: Pure, Prestige and Dynamic. The base, five-door Evoque Pure starts out at $46,995 before tacking on options and trim upgrades. However, our Coupé Dynamic model carried an as-tested sticker of $66,400.

In the same price range, you can get yourself one of many luxury crossovers such as a Mercedes-Benz GLK or an Audi Q5; yet none are as exhilarating to look at as the Range Rover Evoque. As we see it right now, Land Rover has succeeded in its mission for recognition from a wider customer base.

From GMM

Rubens Barrichello is refusing to give up on his formula one career.

After 19 consecutive seasons on the grid, the Brazilian veteran finally bowed out at the end of last year, when Williams signed countryman Bruno Senna to replace him.

Rubens Barrichello at Indianapolis in 2012. (Photo: LAT for IndyCar)

40-year-old Barrichello rescued his open-wheeler career in the US-based Indycar series, but he has told Brazil's Arena Sportv this week that he considers F1's door to be still open.

"I had 19 years of great excitement and pure adrenaline," he said. "For me, I would have been there (in 2012). You can never say never. Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen went back."

Rubens Barrichello at his last F1 grand prix with Williams, in Brazil in 2011. (Photo: WRi2)

"I think in life you have to have the dream of wanting to improve every day, so I cannot say no. When I saw Raikkonen come back I thought he would have the same difficulties as Schumacher, but he had a sensational year. He is third in the championship. He has not fought for wins but he got six podiums. I say this because I didn't stop and go to a completely different category; I've been more active. Physically and mentally, I would be prepared (for F1)," added Barrichello.

From press release

Jack Daniel's Racing's black and white livery will feature on the Nissan Altima V8 Supercars of Todd and Rick Kelly next year's Australian V8 Supercars series.

V8 Supercars Nissan Ultima. (Photo: Nissan Motorsport)

Nissan Australia Managing Director and CEO William F Peffer Jr joined team co-owners and Bathurst-winning drivers Todd and Rick Kelly to unveil the spectacular Altima V8 Supercar.

The Nissan Altima V8 Supercar has been designed and built to the category's new ‘Car of The Future' regulations, which include 18-inch wheels, transaxle gearbox and independent rear suspension.

V8 Supercars Nissan Ultima. (Photo: Nissan Motorsport)

“The look of the Altima and sound of the VK56DE engine are second-to-none. Once V8 Supercars has homologated the aerodynamic package on the Altima, we will begin our testing to ensure it drives as fast as it looks and sounds,” said Todd Kelly, 2005 Bathurst 1000 winner and Kelly team Racing Director.

To date over 23,000 man-hours have gone into the design and building of the Nissan Altima V8 Supercar.

V8 Supercars Nissan Ultima. (Photo: Nissan Motorsport)

As continuously variable transmissions (CVT) gain popularity across North America, Hyundai plans to work on dual-clutch transmissions instead.

''Dual-clutch has a better future with us. It has better fuel economy advantages. It's better for the enthusiast driver. It matches [our product philosophy] better,'' said Mike O'Brien, vice president of product planning at Hyundai Motor America.

The Korean automaker currently offers a dual-clutch transmission in the Veloster coupe only. However, based on O'Brien's comments, expect other Hyundai models to follow suit in the next few years.

Source: Automotive News

Making its sixth appearance at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Lexus unleashed six monsters led by the LF-CC Concept, which made its American debut.

Visitors can also marvel at the LS 460 F Sport by Five Axis, the GS 350 F Sport Supercharged by VIP Auto Salon, and the 416-horsepower IS F CCS-R.

Last but not least is the LFA supercar, both in standard trim and with the Nürburgring performance package.

Lexus IS F CCS-R (Photo: Lexus)

VIP Autos Lexus GS 350 F Sport (Photo: Lexus)

Lexus LS 460 F Sport by the Five Axis design studio (Photo: Lexus)

Lexus LF-CC (Photo: Lexus)

Lexus LFA (Photo: Lexus)

From press release

Canadian race car driver Maryeve Dufault will be one of the three judges on the second season of the reality competition series GT Academy 2012.

Premiering on Spike TV on Thursday, November 1st at 11:30pm EST/ 8:30pm PST, this six-week series will follow the top 16 virtual racer finalists who emerged from a pool of over 400,000 racing hopefuls.

Dufault, along with Danny Sullivan and Boris Said will judge the 16 virtual racers on various criteria as they compete in a week long boot camp for the chance to become a part of a professional race car team.

Photo: Nissan GT Academy

Maryeve Dufault, known for making history as the first Canadian female to compete in a NASCAR Nationwide race, has competed in the ARCA stock car series in the U.S. For the past two seasons.

The GT Academy competition was to see if if video gamers have the skills to get into a real car and make it as a pro race car driver.

In July, after three months of online competition, the top 32 of 400,000 Gran Turismo 5 online gamers met in San Diego to determine the 16 finalists for GT Academy. Over two days of virtual racing competition on identical gaming sleds, the fastest 16 were invited to the legendary Silverstone Racing complex in England to begin an intense boot camp that combined physical and psychological challenges in addition to on track driving in a variety of performance vehicles.



The six-week GT Academy television series will capture every challenge and all of the human drama of a very intense week.

At the end of each episode, competitors' performances are evaluated and critiqued by pro racers Danny Sullivan, Maryeve Dufault and Boris Said. Those who don't make the cut go home. One winner emerges and remains in the U.K to undergo intensive professional racing training that will qualify them to earn their international competition license.

Brazil's Autódromo Internacional Nelson Piquet, also known as Jacarepaguá, after the neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro in which it was located will soon be demolished.

The road course welcomed the Grand Prix of Brazil 10 times between 1978 and 1990, as well as the MotoGP Brazilian Grand Prix.

It will be demolished to allow the construction of structures for the 2016 summer Olympic Games. So far, the plan for the site it to become an Olympic Training Centre.

Jacarepaguá was the scene of Michelin's first win in Formula 1 en 1978 when Carlos Reutemann won the Grand Prix of Brazil, driving a Ferrari 312T2.

The circuit was also the scene of the first victory for a semi-automatic gearbox in F1 when Nigel Mansell won the 1989 Grand Prix behind the wheel of his Ferrari 640.

Meet Leena Gade, race engineer who became last June the first female engineer to win the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans which earned Audi a 10th victory in the French sportscar endurance classic.

Auto123.com spent some time with Gade during the running of the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta last weekend.

Gade, aged 35, from South Harrow near London, masterminded the outstanding victory of the diesel-engined Audi R18 TDI driven by Benoit Treluyer, Marcel Fassler and Andre Lotterer at Le Mans, covering over 3,000 miles in 24 hours.

Gade was born in the United Kingdom, but spent a part of her childhood in India. When her family moved back to England she started to watched Formula 1 Grands Prix on television at the age of 13 with her sister. "Nigel Mansell was a big star. That's how we both got interested," she pointed.

"I've always been interested in engineering. As a kid I would take things apart and put them back together from a mechanical point of view," she added.

Photo: Audi Motorsport

She studied automotive and aerospace engineering, took a job at Jaguar and then started her motorsport career as a part time mechanic and data analyst. She joined Audi's race team in 2007 and then was promoted to race engineer.

Her job is to monitor every aspect of the race, including the pit stop strategy, the tire pressure, the fuel consumption, the various temperatures and pressures, the weather and track conditions as well as the set-up of the R18.

"I am responsible for the entire crew, mechanics, background engineers, assistant engineer. I'm in charge of that," Gade said.

"Then you've got the drivers, the set-up of the car and the strategy side of things. I'm responsible for the final decisions on the race car. If a part on the car moves, changes temperature or changes pressure, I'm logging it. The collected information is then used by me to give instructions over a radio to the driver to help him maintain tires or maximise the engine performance for example. I'm the main contact to the driver. The driver-engineer psychology has to be strong and trust plays a vital part in gaining performance," she added

Gade insists that working in such a male-dominated world has never been a problem.

"If it's something you really want to do in life, you really need to push yourself," the former University of Manchester student said.

"My sister and I really wanted to work in motorsport engineering. We never gave up. This is what we always wanted to do in life. And every time someone said 'You can't do this' or 'You haven't got the experience for that', well that's what we did. We went off and got that experience," she continued.

The victory at Le Mans did not change her.

"Two weeks after the Le Mans race, the sheer number of people who contacted me was amazing," Gade said. "For them, it was a really big deal, but I was just doing my job," she concluded.

This article was originally published on Auto-Venus.com.

Jean-Francois Caubet, a long-time Renault contributor, will step down from his position as managing director following this weekend's Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi.

Caubet arrived at Renault in the '70s and became the director of communication and marketing for the make's Formula 1 team under the orders of Flavio Briatore.

Jean-François Caubet. (Photo: Renault Sport)

In 2009, Caubet became the general manager of [link artid="149196"]Renault Sport F1[/link]. Caubet, who will turn 64 on November 5th, will retire on Sunday night.

Current Renault Sport F1 president, Jean-Michel Jalinier, will take over Caubet's responsibilites.

Caubet is the second boss for Renault Sport F1 to leave the company in just a month. September 21st it was announced that assistant director, Cyril Abiteboul, was leaving Renault to become the CEO of the Caterham F1 Team (which uses Renault engines).

In an effort to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Beetle, Volkswagen has developed a fleet of highly tuned show cars for SEMA. A very special Golf R is on display as well.

APR and VWvortex teamed up to transform a 2013 Beetle Turbo into a 500-horsepower all-wheel-drive hot rod. Meanwhile, the Beetle Beach Battle-Cruiser gets a Revo Technik turbocharger and offers everything you need for a perfect day on the beach and the waves.

The Beetle FMS Automotive pays tribute to the 1956 Beetle, and the retro-looking Beetle Rotiform harkens back to classic tuner's cars from five decades ago.

Finally, Volkswagen unveiled the Golf R H&R, which rides on 19'' BBS Super RS wheels and has been upgraded with the new Phantom series G-Stop kit from Goodridge.

Photo: Volkswagen