Auto News 5

Fiat aims to avoid plant closures in Italy by putting factories on short-time work through the autumn as Europe's auto industry struggles with weak demand and excess production, according to union sources.

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said he expects Europe's auto industry to take many years to recover from shrinking demand and excess capacity. But while Europe faces overcapacity, the region "will not see any kind of Armageddon," he said.

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said he expects Europe's auto industry to take many years to recover from shrinking demand and excess capacity. But while Europe faces overcapacity, the region "will not see any kind of Armageddon," he said.

According to Finland's MTV3, the management of the Scuderia Ferrari has invited the representatives of F1 driver Heikki Kovalainen to a meeting in Maranello in the next few days.

It is believed that the topic of the meeting will be the extension of Felipe Massa's contract with Ferrari.

Following two strong drives in the recent Grands Prix, Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has apparently agreed to extend Massa's contract for one year, closing the door on Kovalainen.

According to MTV3, Kovalainen's manager Martin Anayi is also in contact with Lotus F1 Team's boss Eric Boullier. But it is very likely that the team will retain Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean next year.

The likeable Kovalainen will most likely continue with Caterham next season. It is not sure however if Russian driver Vitaly Petrov will again be his teammate.

Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham) holding off Jenson Button (McLaren) in the streets of Monaco. (Photo: Caterham F1 Team)

According to Alex Wurz (Williams) and Mark Webber (Red Bull), to improve safety standards in F1, the FIA needs to put a stop to any dangerous behaviour in the development series such as GP2.

Romain Grosjean will be back behind the wheel of his Lotus next week in Singapore. The French driver  said he learned a lesson by watching the Italian Grand Prix from the garage.

The Lotus driver received a one-race ban following his manoeuvre at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix. Since this sanction, the debate is on regarding aggressive driving.

Former F1 driver and now driver coach at Williams, Alex Wurz told Reuters: "Things like the start collision with Romain can and will always happen."

Wurz suggested that the FIA has to make sure the same rules and penalties are applied the same way in lesser categories.

"But especially looking at GP2 races, which is the feeder series, the driver standards there are appalling - bad, very bad - and they are coming in to F1. It's something we clearly must work on that the feeder series are very strict and of the same standard as F1. And we have to achieve this and address it very quickly," the Austrian added.

Crash at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix. (Photo: WRi2)

Red Bull driver Mark Webber agrees, the newcomers need to be educated about the dangers and drive correctly.

Pastor Maldonado is another driver who has received several penalties this season. Both Grosjean and Maldonado are, interestingly, two former GP2 champions.

A new "Playstation generation" has arrived. These kids have become used to see racers walk away and escape from massive crashes.

“In the last 10 years, the level of aggressiveness has ramped up a bit just because guys know that usually they'll be able to walk away from a crash,” Mark Webber, wrote in a BBC column on Wednesday.

“But you can be aggressive and safe or aggressive and unsafe. I've always said F1 is not a finishing school when it comes to racing.”

With the new Pirelli tires and DRS system, it has become much easier to overtake in F1. According to Webber, drivers do not have to be so "desperate" to pass rivals at the start of a race.

"You do need to get involved but some guys are having more incidents than the others and they need to take that on board. We should be the best at what we do, racing in all conditions on all kinds of tracks, and driver etiquette has to match that," said the Red Bull driver.

Auto123.com Racing started its third contest of the year! This time you have the chance to win a stunning TW Steel watch, Lotus F1 Team edition!

As you probably know, TW Steel watches are a partner of the Lotus Formula 1 Team which runs Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

TW Steel has recently launched this Lotus special edition of its TW 678R model. It is highlightened by the use of black and gold in reflection of the team's sporting livery. The Pilot editions stand out with the bold black dial and white numbering.

Photo: Lotus F1 Team

The watch features a 48mm case sandblasted PVD black coated steel case, precision chronometric movement, hardened mineral crystal, leather strap and is 5 ATM water resistant. The watch will be delivered to the winner in a superb metal casing.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

To enter the contest, simply visit our Facebook fan page by clicking here.

Good luck to all! And hurry up, because the contest will end on October 1st!

This wasn't ''major'' news in the world of professional auto racing since it didn't involve Formula 1, NASCAR or IndyCar. I'm talking about the merger between GRAND-AM and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), the two endurance racing series in North America.

GRAND-AM cars make the annual trip to Montreal during the NASCAR weekend, while those in ALMS stop by the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (aka Mosport) about an hour from Toronto.

These two series feature Le Mans-type machines with two or three drivers taking turns behind the wheel. Still, before the merger, ALMS and GRAND-AM were worlds apart. The former allowed factory teams like Audi to compete, while the latter exclusively fielded private teams and production cars.

Photo: Grand-Am Series

The costs to run a program over a full season have skyrocketed in recent years. The cars have become more and more sophisticated, not to mention expensive to buy, race and repair. As a result, the starting grids have melted like tires in a burnout. When you can't even field 15 cars, things are pretty bad.

Much like IRL and ChampCar before them, GRAND-AM and ALMS were inevitably heading towards a merger. Of course, if you remember correctly, IRL swallowed ChampCar whole and imposed its own set of rules.

Expect the same to happen with GRAND-AM and ALMS. After all, the former is owned by the almighty NASCAR. The LMP1 cars that ALMS kept bragging about will return to Europe and the newly created series will feature advanced Daytona Prototypes.

Every merger has a winner and a loser; in this case, ALMS has clearly lost.

Officials claim that American fans will be thrilled with the action and the household names on the track including Corvette, Camaro and Mustang. That was actually part of the problem with ALMS: nothing but Audis, Peugeots, Hondas and the like.

We'll have to wait until 2014 to see how it all plays out.

From HRT F1 Team

After a positive debut at the Grand Prix of Italy Ma Qing Hua will step into the F112 once again for the first free practice session, replacing Narain Karthikeyan and joining Pedro de la Rosa.

With the European part of the season completed the Formula 1 World Championship heads East for a swing of five Asian races that begins with the Grand Prix of Singapore the weekend of next week.

After a special weekend in Italy, the objective of HRT Formula 1 Team is to maintain the reliability that led both cars to cross the finish line in Monza and progress with the upgrades which will be introduced to the car in Singapore.

Ma Qing Hua, HRT F112. (Photo: HRT F1 Team)

“I'm very happy to drive the F112 for a second time in a row and I really appreciate the opportunity HRT is giving me. It will be very exciting to drive a F1 around the streets of Singapore,” said Chinese driver Ma Qing Hua.

“It's a very demanding track for all of us, but it will be even more of a challenge for me as this is only the second time I will be driving the car at a race weekend. But I am looking forward to it and the laps that I added to my tally at the last Grand Prix in Monza have given me plenty of confidence. I have prepared myself in the simulator as well as doing some specific exercises to be used to driving at night,” he added.

Well, we must admit that when we're shopping for something, we like brands. We have the impression that some are of better quality than others -- true in some cases -- and we want to be seen flaunting specific brands as to express our good taste (and amount of money, in some cases).

Photo: Michel Deslauriers

The MINI brand is a strong example of this. Up until last year, when Fiat arrived in Canada and the US, when someone wanted a fashionable subcompact car, there was MINI and nothing else. And this is no accident.

When BMW rejuvenated the MINI brand in 2001, it worked hard with creative agencies to promote not just the car but the brand itself, and to make it fashionably desirable. They succeeded. On the other hand, the car didn't need any brand recognition to make a case for itself; the Cooper is a brilliant, fun-to-drive and economical little runabout.

The hottest versions of the MINI models are the John Cooper Works editions. Back in the '50s, racing engineer John Cooper cofounded the Cooper Car Company with his father and built a number of successful race cars. Their trophy case includes 16 Formula One GP victories over a 9-year span, and two World Championships in 1959 and 1960 with Jack Brabham behind the wheel.

In the early '60s, the Cooper Car Company decided to take on a new project and they created the Mini Cooper in 1961 -- basically the British Motor Corporation's Mini, but with a more powerful engine, new brakes and new duds. The Mini Cooper dominated the rally race series, winning several championships.

Fittingly, the John Cooper Works (JCW) editions of today's MINI product lineup boast more powerful engines, performance upgrades and distinctive trimmings. Every version of the JCW Cooper -- hatchback, Clubman, Convertible, Coupe and Roadster -- get a turbocharged and intercooled 1.6L engine, good for 208 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque. The engine also benefits from an overboost function that provides a torque peak of up to 207 lb-ft. A slick 6-speed manual is the only way to go; at least for now.

Any modern-day MINI Cooper is a nimble, fun-to-drive machine, but the John Cooper Works models are just more so, and are excellent track beasts.

MINI invited a handful of journalists to the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (formerly, Mosport) in order to sample their current JCW lineup.

Photo: Michel Deslauriers

Continue reading MINI John Cooper Works

IZOD IndyCar series' driver James Hinchcliffe will make his V8 Supercars Championship debut in October's Armor All Gold Coast 600 in Surfers Paradise, Australia.

The Toronto native, who took over the GoDaddy.com Indy car from Danica Patrick this season has signed with Fujitsu Racing/GRM for the twin 300-kilometre races, where 28 international co-drivers from various racing backgrounds team with regular drivers from the V8 Supercars Championship.

James Hinchcliff aboard the GoDaddy.com Dallara. (Photo: LAT for IndyCar)

GoDaddy.com will also become a supporting sponsor on the Fujitsu Racing/GRM Commodore for the Armor All Gold Coast 600 as well as a partner of the Queensland Government-backed event.

For Hinchcliffe, 25, this will mark his first time in a V8 Supercar.

However, Hinchcliffe is no newcomer to Australia, having competed for Team Canada in the A1 Grand Prix series at Eastern Creek in Sydney in 2007. He also has another Aussie link given his girlfriend, Kristen Dee is originally from Sydney.

'' Whether choosing a 4Runner SR5 or a 4Runner, which have both benefited from the addition of one of four different available option packages, Canadian drivers know that they can count on Toyota to deliver an authentic and powerful SUV that will prove its quality and reliability day in and day out,'' explains Toyota Canada Inc. Senior Managing Director Tony Wearing.

Equipped with a 270 hp 4.0L V6, the 4Runner offers an electronic 4RM mode selector on almost every model, a new eight speaker audio system, eight airbags, a 40/20/40 rear seat, innovative storage options including a unique storage bin located in the center console, protector plates designed to shield the underside during off-road use, and a rear-step bumper among others. Fuel consumption is rated at 11.2L/100 km.

MSRP starts at $37,990, and the 2013 4Runner offers four distinct option packages for buyers to select.

Photo: Toyota

One week after havng made his winning return to competition last week in Italy, F1 driver Robert Kubica will be back behind the wheel of the Subaru Impreza at the rally Internazionale San Martino.

Kubica was seriously injured in a rally crash early 2011 which put a hold on his Formula 1 career. He made his return to competition last week at Rally Ronde Gomitolo, as local Italian rally that he won in a Subaru Impreza WRC.

The Impreza was prepared by team First Motorsport, fitted with a paddle shift mechanism. His co-driver was Giuliano Manfredi.



This weekend, the former F1 driver will drive the Subaru again, competing in the Rally Internazionale San Martino, a round of the Italian rally championship.

His co-driver will be his fellow countryman Jakub Gerber, who will also make his return alongisde Kubica since their 2011 crash.

Commonly known as "Professor Sid" or "Prof" within the Formula One world, Sidney Watkins has died at the age of 84, on September 12, 2012.

He served 26 years as the FIA Safety and Medical Delegate. Head of the Formula One on-track medical team, he was the first responder on the scene of a crash.

Dr. Sid Watkins (Photo: WRI2)

Dr. Watkins helped to save the lives of many drivers, including Mika Hakkinen, Martin Donnelly, Erik Comas, Didier Pironi, Gerhard Berger, Rubens Barrichello and Karl Wendlinger.

With the support of Bernie Ecclestone, Watkins revolutionized Formula One by improving the safety measures in the category.

Having experienced the death of Ronnie Peterson in Italy in 1978, he slowly started his revolution. Against the resistance from circuit owners, he succeed in making the safety changes, such as fully equipped medical units, medical cars and helicopter on site at each race.

After the deaths of Gilles Villeneuve and Riccardo Paletti in 1982, he led the Safety Commission of the FIA.

Following the tragic weekend of Imola 1994, on which Roland Ratzenberger and his personal friend Ayrton Senna were killed, he became the FIA Motor Sport Safety expert and improved once again the standards of safety and medical intervention in Formule One.

On 2005, Watkins announced his retirement from various medical positions at the FIA. The governing body appointed his longtime deputy, Gary Hartstein, as his successor.

On December 2011, Sid Watkins stepped down from this FIA Institute President role and received the FIA Academy Gold Medal, during the FIA Gala.

Frenchman Jules Bianchi was back behind the wheel of the Ferrari F2012 Thursday and again set the fastest time in Day 3 of the young drivers test at the circuit of Magny-Cours, France.

Light rain made conditions tricky at the start of the day, with conditions improving as the sun came out, gradually drying the track.

Rodolfo Gonzalez, Sahara Force India (Photo: Sahara Force India)

Bianchi, who had already driven the Ferrari on Tuesday completed 138 laps, making a total of 992.47 over his two days in the F2012, while today his best time was 1m16.985.

The Scuderia sent Bianchi out for a few laps in the wet in the morning and then focused on aerodynamic measurement and set-up evaluation on a dry track.

Rodolfo Gonzalez planted the Mercedes-powered Sahara Force India VJM05 in second place.

The team evaluated different aero settings, tested the three types of tires and also carried out pit stop simulations and launches.

Brendon Hartley, Mercedes AMG (Photo: WRI2)

Former Red Bull test driver Brendon Hartley was behind the wheel of the Mercedes AMG W03. He set the third fastest time. The team took an early lunch and were then able to use the hard compound tire for set-up work over longer runs

Pos. Driver Team Time* Laps
1 Jules Bianchi Ferrari 1:16.985 138
2 Rodolfo Gonzalez Force India 1:18.018 79
3 Brendon Hartley Mercedes AMG 1:18.671 87
*Unofficial timing

Twenty-two IZOD IndyCar series' drivers and their respective teams gathered at the Fontana Speedway to complete their preparation for the upcoming season's finale that will be presented this Saturday night.

Scott Dixon (Target Chip Ganassi) ended-up the fastest driver on the track despite having experienced an engine failure just seven laps into his initial run; forcing him in the garage for his crew to install a new Honda engine.

Once back, after losing quite a few hours, Dixon was able to set a top speed of 215.86 mph lap around the 2.0-mile oval finishing in front of Andretti Autosport's Marco Andretti's 215.77 mph lap.

Series' leader Will Power (Team Penske) finished third followed by his teammate Ryan Briscoe and Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing's Josef Newgarden who completed the top 5.

Speaking of Briscoe, he was the third and final driver to hit the wall during the testing session after KV Racing's E.J. Viso, who had the back of his car step out at the apex of Turn 1 and 2.

Ryan Hunter-Reay (Andretti Autosport) was the first to hit the wall hard while spinning in Turn 2. He only suffered a bump on his knee but his crew had to replace his left side suspension and his damaged Chevy engine.

Just yesterday, the brand new Lauzon Audi Terminal in Laval was inaugurated, in the presence of star Olympic athletes, Joannie Rochette and Alexandre Bilodeau, both sponsored by Laval Lauzon. It's only the second Terminal of this kind in the entire country, after Park Avenue Audi, but this is unquestionably the largest Audi Terminal in North America.

Without a doubt, the main difference between this complex and a conventional dealer showroom is its sheer size: covering more than 130,000 sq. ft. - more than two soccer fields - the three-storeyed facility was designed so that customers could enjoy the ultimate buying experience. The Terminal offers an expansive main showroom featuring more than twenty vehicles, with a huge second showroom in the basement which can accommodate more than 200 cars. It also includes an automated car wash, a separate vehicle reception area and a full service department where mechanics go to work in no less than 33 service bays.

Just yesterday, the brand new Lauzon Audi Terminal in Laval was inaugurated, in the presence of star Olympic athletes, Joannie Rochette and Alexandre Bilodeau, both sponsored by Laval Lauzon. (Photo: Audi Lauzon)

But it doesn't stop there: to keep its clientele fully satisfied, the Audi Lauzon Terminal also comes equipped with a spiffy waiting area that offers a café and à la carte restaurant, a wi-fi business centre, a workout gym complete with showers, plus a slew of other conveniences! The construction of this ‘megashowroom' cost $19 million and it's estimated within a year that 50 more job will also be created.

"The Terminal is based on a very uncluttered architectural concept with a meticulous eye for detail, like you would find in Europe", according to the Terminal's proprietor Michel Lauzon. "There are no mouldings and windows go from floor to ceiling, offering an extraordinary sight, both from the interior as well as the exterior viewpoint. "

And there's even more good news - Audi decided to proceed with the first Canadian look at its new S6, S7 and S8 models, unveiling them right on the spot, during the inauguration of this new Terminal, the perfect backdrop for Audi Lauzon's new image. "The fact that Audi pushed forward the launch date of these new models by a few weeks to coincide with the official opening of our Terminal will give the new Audis even more visibility." (They are now available for pre-order with deliveries planned next month, at $82,300, $89,300 and $130,000 respectively.)

"I can't imagine a better place for launching the latest Audi S6, S7 and S8 models than this spectacularly new Audi Lauzon Terminal", declared Wolfgang Hoffmann, President, Audi Canada. "The leading luxury of these vehicles perfectly fits the Audi Lauzon Terminal."

The idea for this type of Terminal could spread quickly, because about twenty Audi of Canada dealers have already expressed interest in the concept. And when questioned about this, Michel Lauzon confirmed that this concept could indeed become the industry standard, whatever the dealership brand.

"I can't imagine a better place for launching the latest Audi S6, S7 and S8 models than this spectacularly new Audi Lauzon Terminal", declared Wolfgang Hoffmann, President, Audi Canada. (Photo: Audi Lauzon)

Way back in 1984, the Chrysler minivan was born as an efficient and family-friendly box on wheels. Five generations later it has evolved into... Well, consider this picture of our family (and one cousin) on a recent vacation, travelling in a 2012 Chrysler Town & Country Limited:

Two kids are in captain chairs in the second row watching a movie on the second-row screen. A third kid is sprawled in the third row watching the same movie on the third-row screen. The rear cargo area is packed to the hilt. Two parental units are up front listening to satellite radio and oblivious to the younger passengers. The driver is utilizing cruise control, on-screen navigation, and one of the many cupholders to hold his extra-large, double-double.

In other words, what family life has become in 2012.


Price As Tested: $48,395
The base price of our 2012 Chrysler Town & Country Limited is $45,995. It came standard with the 283 hp 3.6L V6 VVT Pentastar engine, 6-speed automatic transmission, front-wheel drive, and four leather-trimmed and heated captain seats with armrests, as well as a 60/40 split third-row bench seat.

Other standard equipment highlights include: Blind Spot and Cross Path Detection; back-up camera; power side doors and liftgate; Stow N' Go rear seats; heated steering wheel; Uconnect voice command; and Bluetooth enabled streaming audio.

The extra cha-ching over the base price was the result of a $700 tow prep group, the $1,750 dual screen entertainment system, $650 power-folding third row seat, and a $950 “hard drive” media centre.

The 2012 Chrysler Town & Country Limited came standard with the 283 hp 3.6L V6 VVT Pentastar engine. (Photo: Mike Goetz)

What We Like
Light Graystone coloured seats combined with grey/black faux wood trim created a very classy looking interior. We also liked the understated old-school dash, with chrome and round gauges.

The front captain chair in the 2012 Chrysler Town & Country actually makes the driver feel like they're the captain of a ship, especially with access to all the power doors and liftgate switches.

Captain chairs in the second row are one of the absolute best things about the minivan genre -- no sibling seat border disputes and great comfort. These chairs are also easy to flip forward for third-row access.

The new Pentastar V6 in the 2012 Chrysler Town & Country is refined and quiet. The engine revs quickly and willingly for effortless passing manoeuvres, yet also offers predictable, comfortable handling.

Even with three rows of seating up, the rear cargo area is still huge. The ability to move the third row out of the way with the push of a button is an effortless way to open up even more space. And the DVD system and 500-Watt audio system are definite crowd pleasers on long trips.

The styling of the 2012 Chrysler Town & Country is really growing on me. It doesn't pretend to be anything but a minivan. That squared-off look tells me the inside is going to be huge, and it is. Town & Country also benefits from Chrysler's glossier and upscale styling language, which I prefer over the plainer Dodge Grand Caravan. The Town & Country also features nice looking wheels.

Even with three rows of seating up, the rear cargo area is still huge. (Photo: Mike Goetz)

What We Like Not As Much
Chrysler's current touchscreen is smaller and more difficult to use than newer designs currently on the market.

While our test vehicle seemed sturdy enough, the interior didn't exactly exude a feeling of continued durability. Every inch of the interior features something -- a cubbyhole, a Stow N' Go flap, a seat mechanism, switchgear, trim pieces, electronic paraphernalia, etc. So, will everything hold up?

The power side doors and tailgate on the 2012 Chrysler Town & Country are way too slow. We spent many a time in parking lots, waiting for various family members to get in and out, and back in and out again when they forgot something. And when you're in a hurry and just want to throw something in the back, it seems like it takes forever for the power tailgate to do its thing.

When fully loaded and cruising on the highway, the powertrain shifts down whenever you squeeze the throttle a bit. I would prefer to surf a bit more on torque, and not get into downshifts that often.

This generation of Town & Country has been around since model year 2008, so it's not going to send a “Hey I just got a new ride” signal like a Toyota Sienna or Honda Odyssey, both of which were reborn for the 2011 model year.

Chrysler's current touchscreen is smaller and more difficult to use than newer designs currently on the market. (Photo: Mike Goetz)

Final Verdict
The new Pentastar drivetrain and new Bluetooth technologies keep the 2012 Chrysler Town & Country relevant. And at its core, it still remains a classy, noble beast, even in the face of more current rivals. It continues to offer a lot of family values and stature for the money.

However, its stiffest competition right now might be from its platform cousin, the Dodge Grand Caravan. Currently, the Dodge Grand Caravan SE with the Canada Value Package and the Pentastar V6 can be had for under $20,000!

French driver Jean-Eric Vergne had a scary moment during the Grand Prix of Italy when his Toro Rosso STR7 suddenly went sideways and was launched in the air after it hit a kerb.

Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso. (Photo: WRi2)

In his blog posted on the team's official web site, Vergne explained what happened:

“I felt something wasn't quite right from the start. I was struggling with it quite early on and it just felt strange,” Vergne wrote.

“I entered the braking phase for the corner and totally lost it. The car just snapped out from underneath me. I could feel the rear wheel was the wrong way under braking and from that point on I was pretty much a passenger.

“The kerbs are quite high at Monza, so when the car hit the kerb I was thrown in the air. I was a little worried that the car might flip, so the fact that it didn't is something to be grateful for. It could have been a lot worse than it was.

“After the race, we established it had been a failure with the rear suspension. In the end you just have to put it down as one of those things that happen when you go racing. I do feel pretty stiff across my back and neck but I think that will go away over the next day or so and I'll get on with what is going to be a pretty busy schedule until Singapore,” Vergne explained.

2012 Scion iQ

Upon being handed the keys to the itty-bitty Scion iQ, we immediately thought about the brand's viral series of "PARK!"

Upon being handed the keys to the itty-bitty Scion iQ, I immediately thought about the brand's viral series of "PARK!" videos involving funny parking situations for the iQ. My quest was to find the smallest spots that I could squeeze the city car into, but discovered that small parking spots are hard to come by in the Midwest.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Scion iQ - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Scion iQ - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

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While the Hoffman X-8 may have been unfairly left out of the winnerand#8217;s circle at