Auto News 5

Lenders are increasingly saying yes to credit-challenged customers. During the first quarter of 2012, vehicle loans to subprime borrowers increased by 11 percent, according to Experian Automotive.

For Hyundai's U.S. dealers wrestling with tight new-car inventories, help is on the way from U.S. plants. But next spring, a new labor pact in South Korea could crimp Hyundai Motor Co.'s exports to North America.

Even after Hyundai's best August ever, its dealers are painfully aware that they could sell many more vehicles if the automaker could provide them. Aside from that annoying reality, Hyundai dealers and the factory are thriving with lean inventories.

Volkswagen Group is expanding the product range of all its brands at a ferocious pace as it fights to become the world's top-selling automaker.

So how do Volkswagen and Audi figure to hit their much talked-about U.S. volume target of a combined 1 million sales by 2018? One key is a big push into fast-growing crossover segments that the two brands largely have shunned.

After thriving for decades with an evolutionary model for product development, a struggling Honda has made the risky move of a clean-sheet redesign of its 2013 Accord sedan.

From GMM

Jean-Eric Vergne is unhurt after Sunday's incident at Monza.

Toro Rosso is investigating why the French rookie's Ferrari-powered car suddenly veered out of control at the end of Monza's front straight during the Italian grand prix.

The high-speed incident launched Vergne's car over a kerb, "And I count myself lucky that the car did not flip over", he said.

He did, however, land with a bump, and immediately complained on the radio of a sore back.

"I was taken from the accident to the medical centre," explained the 22-year-old, "but apart from a bit of pain in my back and my head, I am fine."

Jean-Eric Vergne aboard the flying Toro Rosso. (Photo: WRi2)

Alex Fontana and Markus Pommer won the two rounds of the Formula 2 Championship held in Hungary last weekend, while Luciano Bacheta maintains the lead in the point standings before the final two rounds of the season in Monza.

After he started from second position on the grid for race 1, Alex Fontana overtook polesitter Kevin Mirocha on lap 4, and then cruised to his maiden Formula 2 victory ahead of Mirocha and championship leader Luciano Bacheta.

Alex Fontana won Race 1. (Photo: James Bearne - Formula Two)

In race 2, Markus Pommer had no rivals. The German driver started from pole position, and took a lights-to-flag victory ahead of Matheo Tuscher and Dino Zamparelli.

Luciano Bacheta remains in first position in the point standings before the last two rounds in Monza. The Brit leads by 33,5 points over Tuscher, and 43,5 points over Markus Pommer.

Luciano Bacheta. (Photo: James Bearne - Formula Two)

Hungaroring - Race 1:
1 - Alex Fontana - 22 laps in 36'11”949
2 - Kevin Mirocha - 2”774
3 - Luciano Bacheta - 9”111
4 - Daniel McKenzie - 9”922
5 - Christopher Zanella - 17”442
etc.

Hungaroring - Race 2:
1 - Markus Pommer - 22 laps in 35'53”761
2 - Matheo Tuscher - 16”227
3 - Dino Zamparelli - 18”811
4 - Kevin Mirocha - 28”927
5 - Alex Fontana - 31”243
etc.

Championship:
1. Bacheta 208,5 points ; 2. Tuscher 175; 3. Pommer 165; 4. Zanella 161; 5. Marinescu 141, etc.

Davide Valsecchi wins race 2 at Monza, and pulls away in front of provisional classification, following his main rivals' troubles in Italy.

Valsecchi, who started from 3rd position on the grid, had a clean start and quickly moved in first position. He takes a brilliant win ahead of Fabio Leimer and Jolyon Palmer.

Valsecchi extends his lead in provisional championship classification, as Luis Razia, his main rival, took 16th position after he started 25th following a grid penalty after a collision with Fabio Leimer in race 1. Esteban Gutierrez went off the track in lap 3, while James Calado was only 14th.

The final rounds will be presented in Singapour on 22 and 23 September.

Davide Valsecchi, DAMS. (Photo: GP2 Series)

Monza - Race 2:
1 - Davide Valsecchi - Dams - 21 laps in 33'06"731
2 - Fabio Leimer - Racing Engineering - 0"444

3 - Jolyon Palmer - iSport - 7"873

4 - Stefano Coletti - Rapax - 10"787

5 - Johnny Cecotto - Addax - 10"953
6 - Max Chilton - Carlin - 11"418
7 - Marcus Ericsson - iSport - 11"606

8 - Julian Leal - Trident - 12"661
Etc.

Championship:
1. Valsecchi 229; 2. Razia 204; 3. Calado 160; 4. Gutierrez 152; 5. Chilton 144, etc.

Jeff Segal and Emil Assentato (Ferrari 458 No. 69) had the opportunity to clinch Grand-Am's GT title at Laguna Seca, and ceased it.

On top of their drivers' title, the pair brought home, thanks to their second place finish, the manufacturers title to AIM Autosport.

“As of right now the championship is clinched, but it certainly hasn't hit me yet,” Segal said. “It's certainly a tremendous accomplishment for our team AIM Autosport in their first year back in GT. With Ferrari in its first year back, it's just a tremendous day.”

Photo: Grand-Am Rolex

In front of Segal and Assentato, the race was won by Dane Cameron and Wayne Nonnmaker (Mazda RX-8 No. 43). Third place went to John Potter and Andy Lally (Porsche 911 GT3 No. 44).

In the Daytona Prototype category, Richard Westbrook and Antonio Garcia won, aboard their No. 90 Spirit of Daytona Corvette, from Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty, in the No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Corvette. It was strategy that put Westbrook and Garcia ahead when it mattered.

Photo: Grand-Am Rolex

As of right now, Ryan Dalziel and Alex Tagliani stand as third place finishers, but their No. 8 Ford/Riley, supposedly to wide, failed a post-race inspection. An announcement regarding a penalty is pending.

Photo: Grand-Am Rolex

From GMM

Mark Webber's alternator survived the Italian grand prix because it was an "older" specification.

That is the claim of Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko, after reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel on Sunday suffered a repeat of his Saturday morning failure and failed to finish at Monza.

Sebastian Vettel, back to the Red Bull's garage, without his RB8. (Photo: WRi2)

"The part was from the latest specification (of alternator) that came after the similar failure in Valencia," Marko is quoted by Salzburger Nachrichten. "Webber had an alternator from an older specification that had no problem."

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said engine supplier Renault, whose supply partner for the alternator is Magneti Marelli, is treating the problem as a priority.

"Since 2011 we have changed virtually nothing," said Renault's baffled Remi Taffin.

One glimmer of hope is that the Renault alternator used by Lotus' Jerome d'Ambrosio at Monza was showing early signs of failure, which could be useful for getting to the bottom of the mystery.

Arguably the bigger problem for Red Bull, however, is the recent lack of pace.

Former Toro Rosso driver Jaime Alguersuari said Monza was "the (team's) worst performance since 2008".

And yet another problem on Sunday was Vettel's penalty for driving Fernando Alonso off the track, even though a similar incident at Curva Grande a year ago was ignored by the stewards.

Was the FIA giving Ferrari a helping-hand at Monza on Sunday?

"I think not," Vettel, dismissing the conspiracy, told Bild newspaper.

Italian electronic company Magneti Marelli used the paddock of Autodromo di Monza last weekend to reveal some of their new hardware destined to run the new 1600cm3, V6 turbo engines in 2014.

Photo: WRI2

Magneti Marelli engineers started by showing their new ERS system -- an engine boost coming from the recovery of kinetic energy during braking associated with the energy coming from exhaust gases, both aimed at feeding the electrical motor-generators hooked up to the engine shaft).

Heat exhaust recovery system (Photo: WRI2)

Then, they unviled their new fuel systems (injectors and pumps for GDI engines with fuel pressure of up to 500 bar) as well as their two-way WI-FI systems for data transmission from vehicle to infrastructure (i.e., exchange of a much larger set of data and of different types of signals between machine and pit).

Different KERS components (Photo: WRI2)

In their press release, Magneti Marelli writes that the technology and methods used in developing the KERS system are a source of solutions and technological spin-offs for systems and components aimed at mass-produced hybrid and electric engines (moto-generators, electronic control systems, inverters, battery control, etc.).

Pete Shepherd III earned his third NASCAR Canadian Tire Series win in the Wahta Springs 300 Sunday at Barrie Speedway in Ontario last weekend.

Shepherd was running third at the start of a green-white-checkered finish on the tight .333-mile oval when race leader Steve Matthews and second-place J.R. Fitzpatrick got together. The contact allowed Shepherd to slip by into the lead.

Pete Shepherd celebrates winning the Wahta Springs 300 Sunday at Barrie Speedway for his first NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 win of the season. (Photo: Matthew Manor/NASCAR)

Two-time series' champion Andrew Ranger took second, followed by Noel Dowler.

Steve Mathews, who won the pole position in qualifying earlier Sunday afternoon, dropped back to fourth. Dexter Stacey rounded out the top five.

Points leader D.J. Kennington, who encountered mechanical issues now has a 14-point advantage over Ranger and 18 over Fitzpatrick with two races remaining.

Martin Roy (90) gets loose and spins while leading the Wahta Springs 300 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 race at Barrie Speedway. (Photo: Matthew Manor/NASCAR)

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series returns to the track Saturday, September 15 in the penultimate race of the season for the Wilson Equipment 300 at Riverside International Speedway in Nova Scotia.

Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner has made it clear that engine supplier Renault had to solve the problem of the faulty alternators before the next Grand Prix in Singapore.

The alternator on Sebastian Vettel's car failed with just a handful of laps to run in Sunday's Grand Prix of Italy in Monza.

A lonely Sebastian Vettel walks back to his garage in Monza... (Photo: WRI2)

“A hugely disappointing race -- our first non-points scoring race since Korea 2010,” said Horner in a team press release.

“It was a repeat failure on Sebastian's car with the alternator and we need to look into it and work with Renault to ensure it doesn't happen again. It's already cost us a victory in Valencia and now a points-finish again here in Monza,” he said.

“We changed the alternator on Sebastian's car yesterday during FP3, but unfortunately we had the same failure in today's race,” said Cyril Dumonyt of Renault.

Remi Taffin, Renault Sport F1 head of track operations said in both cased, the alternator failed.

“We introduced a new spec' of alternator following the problems in Valencia and believed this would overcome the issues,” Taffin explained.

“We are still looking into why the part failed again here but we do know that even though the alternator was being operated entirely within the prescribed range, the part itself overheated and shut off the power supply. This is a priority between ourselves and our suppliers and we have to ensure we are fully on top of the problem before Singapore,” the engineer added.

Remi Taffin also explained that the failure is caused when the alternator's internal temperature gets too hot for it to be able to produce the electrical energy that the car requires.

EURO-RACECAR's reigning champion, Frenchman Eric Helary will contest the Loudon, New Hampshire round of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series as part of a new team from Europe!

Helary will contest this race race on September 22 as his grand prize for having secured the 2011 Racecar Euro Series championship.

Éric Hélary (Photo: EURO-RACECAR)

Since ir created the Racecar Series in 2009, Team FJ has made clear its desire to prepare European drivers for NASCAR competition and create a path to the USA.

Every year since the championship's inception, the title winner has been rewarded with a race seat for a NASCAR event on the other side of the Atlantic. Wilfried Boucenna and Lucas Lasserre were the pioneers, entering the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale near Los Angeles, and now Hélary is preparing to make his American bow.

EURO-RACECAR creators and promoters Team FJ recently acquired Fadden Racing, a vastly experienced K&N Pro Series East outfit for whom formerowner Mike Olsen won two titles. The team has three cars: one for road courses, the second for fast ovals and a third for short tracks.

Now aged 46, Helary won the 1988 French Formula Ford title, French Formula 3 title in 1990 and has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1993 for Peugeot.

2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEV Review

2013 Honda Accord Preview

2012 Ford F-250 Super Duty Lariat Crew Cab Review

Other very interesting topics:

• Blog: This is how you sell a car?
• Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV to make history in Paris
• 2013 Nissan Sentra preview
• More details about the all-new Volkswagen Golf VII
• 2012 Toyota Corolla LE review

From GMM

Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez has moved to silence the persistent rumours about Kimi Raikkonen's future.

Recently, the impressive F1 returnee and Finn was linked with a switch next year to his former title-winning team Ferrari.

And now amid the Lewis Hamilton rumours, some have mentioned 32-year-old Raikkonen as the ideal successor, reprising his five-year McLaren career of 2002-2006.

Lotus team figures have, however, revealed that Raikkonen is on a two-year contract.

But, in F1, contractual situations are usually complicated, with drivers and teams often only obligated in the event of certain performance-related criteria.

Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) fifth at Monza. (Photo: WRi2)

Lopez told Finland's Turun Sanomat that Raikkonen is staying in 2013.

"At least in the short term, Kimi is with us. We have an agreement that is based on performance, and it has been fulfilled," he revealed.

Gerard Lopez acknowledged, however, that a team should not "force anyone" to race its cars "if they don't want to be with us".

In that case, "Kimi wants to be here, as does Romain Grosjean," the Luxembourgian entrepreneur insisted, "and we are happy with them too."

Lopez said he has not been surprised by the McLaren and Ferrari rumours.

"No," he answered. "This is F1. Sometimes the rumours are true, sometimes someone has just come up with it, based on nothing."

What sells a car? What makes one person pick one product over another? What is one of the most important considerations taken into account when one shops for a new vehicle? After price, it's all about brand.


I've not gone and surveyed everyone I know or put together an investigation of any type; I'm basing this on experience, both professional and personal. I still hear comments like, Kia makes cheap cars and GM doesn't know how to build cars. However untrue, these thoughts still shape decisions.

Many things are said about Range Rover, most of which are positive. The negative remarks typically harp over reliability, and while they may be mostly true, the point on which all will agree is that nothing beats a real Range Rover when it comes to social standing.

Unapologetic
The Range Rover -- the big one -- is unmistakenly exactly that. And because of that, it stands alone on top of the pile of all luxury SUVs as the ultimate symbol of “I know what I'm worth.” It is this sense of worth, as opposed to wealth, that draws buyers to the Rover instead of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Lexus LX or Cadillac Escalade. Think of it as old money versus new money.

In fact, the Range Rover revels at being what it is. Their trucks, minus the ultra-cool and sophisticated Evoque, are brash and presumptuous. Theirs is a single-minded way of delivering authority; their trucks are large and in charge on the road. It is this kind of self-assurance that perfectly reflects the attitudes and feelings of their owners.

The Range Rover's straight slab-sided body panels also mimic the state of mind of its owner; everything must be clear and straightforward. Then again, it's a Range Rover and it could look like a 2001 Ford Escape, yet would probably still sell given what it is...

The Range Rover stands alone on top of the pile of all luxury SUVs as the ultimate symbol of “I know what I'm worth.” (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

The word on the cabin
Exceptional. The big Rover's interior styling is exceptional by its design, fit, finish, and its sumptuous materials. “Custom” is a word that applies to all Range Rovers, especially to this one. There are nearly countless combinations to choose from where interior leather and wood choices are concerned.

The richness of the woods, leathers and plastics is overshadowed only by how all the elements come together. The 2012 Range Rover Autobiography has an original and intricate dash layout, unlike any car in any price range.

The controls are large and intuitive and far more user-friendly than they might appear. The same goes for the numerous buttons on the wheel. The gauges, which are nothing more than digital images on a screen, are clear and customizable.

Finally, we get to the seats. These princely perches are supremely comfortable, offering up no pressure points. Should that not be the case, the nearly endless number of adjustments is sure to make the driving experience regal.

The 2012 Range Rover Autobiography has an original and intricate dash layout, unlike any car in any price range. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

The power to go with the stature
All big Range Rovers are powered by a 5.0L V8, as they should be. Of the five available trims, the first two, HSE and HSE Luxury, get a normally aspirated version which is good for 375 hp and equal torque. The other three, Supercharged, Autobiography and Autobiography Ultimate Edition, are boosted and produce 510 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque.

With its 6-speed autobox, the 2012 Range Rover Autobiography will tap 100 km/h in as little as 6.2 seconds. There are few near-2,675 kg (5,900 lb) vehicles out there that will reach the buck in so little time. The feats performed by this engine are tremendous; there are no other words.

What is also tremendous is the 2012 Range Rover Autobiography's thirst for fuel. My average of 18L per 100 km will not be an unusual result. As a note of interest, the low-fuel warning light comes on when the 104.5L tank's reserves are down to 8L. At 18L/100km, this does not leave much range for a fill-up. Best to travel with plenty of fuel at all times.

All big Range Rovers are powered by a 5.0L V8, as they should be. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

All conditions
The Range Rover knows no real boundaries. The combination of its standard air suspension and sophisticated Terrain Response system enable it to cross deserts, climb mountains, traverse jungles, and survive urban situations without shedding a single bead of sweat.

The Terrain Response systems features more modes and settings than 99% of owners will ever know what to do with. The same goes for the height-adjustable suspension and high/low range selector. All the owner/driver will ever know or realize is that this truck is supremely comfortable and stable.

The 2012 Range Rover Autobiography is truly at home in all conditions. I've done some mild off-roading on a few occasions with these vehicles and the limiting factor has always been the tires. Even so, this was how I was able to experience how the Terrain Response system masterfully manages each wheel.

On the beaten path, the Range Rover serves as a cushy layer of scented Semi aniline leather. Most of the road surface unpleasantries are filtered out before they reach the driver, which the typical owner will appreciate.

The Terrain Response system enable it to cross deserts, climb mountains, traverse jungles, and survive urban situations without shedding a single bead of sweat. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

If you have to ask
Neighbours and curious passersby alike could not help but do a double-take when catching a glimpse of the Range Rover Autobiography, especially as I always set the suspension to the lowest setting to ease the already difficult ingress and egress. Nearly all of them would ask about the truck's price.

My answer would be: “Base price, just shy of $95,000; as is, nearly $140,000.” To be fair, no one was ever surprised.

This is proof that the Range Rover need not explain itself, its reputation is forged.

British driver Lewis Hamilton dominated Sunday's Grand Prix of Italy for McLaren, to score his first-ever win at motorsport's cathedral of speed and the team's third victory on the trot.

Behind him, however, Ferrari suffered the indignity of being beaten by a customer team on their home ground as Sergio Pérez got some payback for Malaysia with a superb drive which made the maximum of some excellent strategy by Sauber.

Photos: WRi2

A damage-limiting drive from Fernando Alonso saw the Spaniard survive an uncomfortable off-course moment in the Curva Grande which was deemed by the stewards to have been caused by Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, whom Alonso was attacking at the time.

The Ferraris of Alonso and Felipe Massa finished third and fourth, garnering Ferrari 27 points to move them back to third place in the constructors' points table behind Red Bull and McLaren.

Jenson Button looked set for second until he lost drive on the back straight on the 33rd lap, the McLaren team diagnosing a fuel pick-up problem.

In the automotive industry, the term “badge engineering” means multiplying versions of the same vehicle by simply changing a few appearance elements and slapping another badge on it.

When General Motors had up to nine divisions to feed simultaneously, it embraced badge engineering more than any other carmaker. Ten years ago, the GM group included Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saab, and Saturn. They also had Geo and -- briefly in Canada -- Asuna.

Photo: General Motors

How can you sell products from nine divisions all at once? That's a lot of marketing efforts, advertising budgets, parts production, and dealer support. Quite a few divisions inevitably overlapped each other in regards to target audience.

Back in the '80s, I remember the Chevrolet Cavalier, the Pontiac J2000 and Sunbird, the Oldsmobile Firenza, the Cadillac Cimarron and the Buick Skyhawk as being more or less the same car ,but with different trim, equipment and logos on the grilles.

More recently, the Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac Montana, Buick Terraza, Oldsmobile Silhouette, and Saturn Relay were easily identifiable as being near copycat minivans with distinct badging.

Today, the Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and (now retired) Saturn Outlook differ only by unique front and rear fascias, however, their powertrains and equipment levels are virtually comparable.

In Canada, all GM products are now sold under the same roof. Would you choose a Chevy Silverado or a GMC Sierra? A GMC Yukon Denali or a Cadillac Escalade? A Chevrolet Equinox or a GMC Terrain? What's the difference?

Wait. All these examples include a GMC product. If there's a division that still overlaps the others, it's GMC. Either scrap it, or make it the exclusive truck division.

In fact, when you look at the product lineup, the distinction between models that share similar platforms and powertrains, such as the upcoming 2013 Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore mini-crossovers, boast a different look and feel. The buying public may never notice the similarities, and we can't really call that badge engineering. That's good.

The problem is still the number of models offered on one showroom floor. GM's 2013 model range will be composed of no less than 31 nameplates, and I'm not counting the various body styles. Many of them compete against each other. That's bad, not as much for the buying public, but for GM and its shareholders.