Auto News 5

Low-priced minicars are regaining market share in Japan as the end of government subsidies for eco-friendly vehicles approaches.

Daimler lowered its 2012 profit target for Mercedes, saying earnings had been hit by a deteriorating auto market in Europe and China.

Car safety equipment maker Autoliv said its sales and profit results in Europe have so far been worse than anticipated in the third quarter, while the U.S. market has been better than expected.

A major French union is emphasising this morning's (19 September) announcement by Russian Railways (RZD) it is to enter into sole talks to acquire 75% of PSA Peugeot Citroen logistics division Gefco, is further example of the automaker selling the "family silver."

General Motors underscored its support for troubled European brand Opel when the new management board of Adam Opel hosted several hundred business partners from trade and finance at its Ruesselsheim headquarters.

Volkswagen has started production of the Porsche Boxster sports car at the former factory of the coachbuilder Karmann. VW is integrating Karmann's plant in Osnabrueck, northern Germany, into its production operations.

UK car production fell 8.9% in August, but remains up 12.7% over the year-to-date, according to data released by SMMT.

Mahindra & Mahindra plans to export its first mini-SUV, the Quanto, to Europe and South Africa.

Audi has asked a Chinese dealer to remove a banner advocating the murder of Japanese people after a photograph of the sign went viral on the Internet amid escalating tensions between the two countries.

China's Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) has appointed former Nissan designer Martin Uhlarik as head of its European design center. SAIC is investing $2.42 million to double the size of the studio in Longbridge, central England.

Pictures 26 Sep, 2012

News 26 Sep, 2012

Audi has unveiled the practical new A3 Sportback on the eve of the Paris Motor Show

PSA is in exclusive talks to sell 75 percent of its Gefco trucking unit to OAO Russian Railways for about 800 million euros ($1.04 billion), the carmaker said on Thursday.

Mercedes-Benz has revealed a new plug-in electric version of the second-generation B class ahead of its public unveiling alongside other battery-powered models at the Paris motor show later this month.

Germany's premium brands are defying Europe's economic crisis and increasing their vehicle sales in the region to such an extent that they are catching -- or passing -- sales of struggling volume brands.

Adapted from GMM

A lot of things are said in the paddock of the Marina Bay street circuit of Singapore, home of this weekend's Formula 1 Grand Prix. And several rumours concern the driver changes.

Jaime Alguersuari
Thursday, Jaime Alguersuari hinted he is set to return to F1 in 2013. He told his over 100,000 Twitter followers on Thursday: "Soon you'll all know where I will be driving next year. Thank you all again."
It is rumoured Alguersuari has found sponsorship that could take him to Sauber.

Jaime Alguersuari, Pirelli test driver in 2012. (Photo: Pirelli)

Max Chilton
The new Marussia Reserve Driver is surely now the favourite to replace Charles Pic, should the well-funded Frenchman move as is strongly rumoured to Caterham next year.
Max Chilton is also well funded, with his father Grahame being the vice-chairman of the Aon insurance group and a big motor racing fan.

Sergio Pérez
The Mexican driver is said to be going to McLaren, should Lewis Hamilton leaves the British team at the end of the season.

Kimi Raikkonen
The Finn is another fancied contender for Hamilton's seat - should the Briton jump ship to Mercedes.
"You never know," Raikkonen smiled. "There are a lot of other nice things to do than F1. Right now we have options and we'll see what happens."

Nico Hulkenberg
Some think Force India's Nico Hulkenberg is the favourite to replace Felipe Massa at Ferrari.
"There is a good chance I will be with Force India next year," said Hulkenberg, "but nothing has been announced yet."

Nico Hulkenberg, still with Sahara Force India in 2013? (Photo: WRi2)

Michael Schumacher
Whether Michael Schumacher stays at Mercedes AMG or goes somewhere else is regarded as a key to the entire 2013 driver market.

So what if there is no room for the seven time world champion at Mercedes AMG?
"I would take him immediately," Peter Sauber, whose Mercedes-backed sports car team provided the springboard for Schumacher's F1 career more than two decades ago, smiled to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Audi has decided to contest the remaining races of the World Endurance Championship with two Audi R18 e-tron quattro hybrids, starting with the Six Hours of Bahrain.

The duo made of Tom Kristensen/Alan McNish will leave its R18 Ultra Diesel for a R18 e-tron. Their teammates and championship rivals Andre Lotterer, Benoit Treluyer and Marcel Fassler have driven a R18 e-tron since the beinning of the season.

Lotterer, Treluyer and Fassler are currently leading the provisional standings with a 7.5-point advantage over Kristensen and McNish, with three races remaining in the WEC.

The Six Hours of Bahrain will be held Sunday September 29.

Audi already entered a pair of R18 e-tron quattros at Spa and at Le Mans. (Photo: Audi Motorsport)

From GMM

The specific design of Red Bull's RB8 could be the reason behind its Magneti Marelli/Renault alternator failures, according to a report.

With team owner Dietrich Mateschitz calling on engine supplier Renault to dump its alternator partner Magneti Marelli, the Kolner Express tabloid said Adrian Newey's chassis design could be the real problem.

Although Renault also supplies engines to Lotus, Williams and Caterham, the lion's share of the alternator problems have been suffered by Red Bull.

Photo: WRi2

'Express' said the problem could be the narrow construction at the back of the RB8.

A source is quoted as saying: "In other Renault cars, the alternator works perfectly. For the problems encountered by Red Bull, something is failing due to an external influence, which leads to overheating."

Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko said: "Unfortunately we don't know the exact reasons for the defects. But we are unable to influence it from the chassis side."

From Marussia

The Marussia F1 Team Thursday announced that Max Chilton has been elevated from the team's Young Driver Programme to the position of Formula 1 Reserve Driver with effect from the Grand Prix of Japan next month for the balance of the current F1 season.

The 21-year-old Briton from Surrey is having a third season in the GP2 Series this year, competing for the Marussia Carlin GP2 Team.

Max Chilton at Silverstone, during the Rookie days. (Photo: Marussia F1 Team)

As the Reserve Driver, Chilton will attend all of the remaining Grands Prix of the 2012 season, taking part in the engineering commitments and preparing to deputise for either race driver in the event that they are unable to race.

“In the role of our Reserve Driver for the rest of the 2012 season, Max will be exposed to the demands of competing in Formula 1 to the extent that he will be fully prepared to step into the MR01 should it be required,” said John Booth, Team Principal in a press release.

“Max has already driven the car at our Young Driver Test, so this is an opportunity for him to build on his experience of working with the engineers as well as the other demands placed on our drivers, including marketing activity. We look forward to having him on board as part of the Marussia F1 Team,” he added.

Spanish Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso, already a two-time World Champion, said during a promotional event for Shell in Singapore that McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton is probably is main rival in the title chase.

Ferrari's Alonso is currently first in the point standings with 179 points with Hamilton in second place with 142.

“There are many teams that are strong and are still contenders, with maybe five or six drivers that can fight for the title,” Alonso said in an interview posted on the Ferrari web site.

“Lewis (Hamilton) is second at the moment and since February, we have said that he is the one that probably I respect the most, because we know what he can do in good cars or bad cars,” he added.

Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) chasing Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) at Montreal. (Photo: WRi2)

“McLaren has won the last three races and so they are the favourites here as well. Hopefully we can stop their dominance: we have brought some new parts for the car and are optimistic that we can do well here and at the next two or three Grands Prix. We need to see how we perform on Friday, but our aim is to fight for pole and the win in this race. We were competitive in Monaco and Canada, which are similar circuits and so we are optimistic. We know how important is pole position here,” Alonso indicated.

Robert Kubica, a close friend of Alonso, recently made a winning return to competition, driving a Subaru Impreza WRC in an Italian rally. Could the Pole be back in F1 one day?

“I have known Robert since he was 12 years old and he is a nice guy and a very talented driver,” said Alonso.

“It was good that he has been able to drive in a rally, but if he wants to be back in Formula 1, he can't just leave hospital and start. You need practice and you need to “wake-up” your driving skills and start a training routine physically and also mentally, as you need to become again a professional driver in your head. Driving in that rally was part of this process,” the Ferrari driver explained.