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News 25 Jul, 2012

Official pictures of the production-ready Mazda 6 have been released, ahead of its Moscow Motor Show debut

Pictures 25 Jul, 2012

Pictures 29 Aug, 2012

Daimler reported a 13 percent decline in second-quarter profit as spending to expand the lineup of Mercedes-Benz compact cars offset higher deliveries. Earnings before interest and taxes fell to 2.24 billion euros ($2.7 billion) from 2.

Bulging front fenders, a sharply creased hood and wide-mouth grille give the next Mazda6 a more dynamic look than the current generation's hum drum styling.

Any hope that this year's robust first-quarter recovery in shareholder value for Europe's automakers and parts suppliers would be extended evaporated in the second quarter.

BMW is investing in Coulomb Technologies, a California-based provider of electric-vehicle charging stations and software.

The British government is aiming to speed up the commercialization of low-CO2 vehicle technologies with public and private sector investment totaling 56 million pounds (72 million euros), the UK's innovation agency said.

Scosche launched the bacSTAGE pro II at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas last January. This handy device is a mount for the iPad (and iPad 2 or 3) that can be fixed to headrests for backseat viewing.

Scosche says that the product can be installed quickly and easily using just an Allen key, though I was sceptical about this claim when I first saw pictures of the backSTAGE pro II online.

I was wrong. In less than 5 minutes, I had no trouble setting it up, and I really did use just an Allen key. I didn't even have to take the headrest out - I just lifted it up as far as it goes, slipped on the mount and fastened two screws using the Allen key. Ta-dah!



After installing the mount, you just have to slide your iPad into the bracket, and then tighten it at the base. Once secured, you can tilt the backSTAGE pro II for the best viewing angle. When we tested it, this sturdy mount stayed put - the iPad hardly moved, if at all, so no car sickness or headaches.

With a built-in 12V car battery socket, you can power your iPad on the Scosche backSTAGE pro II as long as you want without worrying about running out of juice. Plus, with an integrated USB port and outlet for headphones or wireless (infrared) headphones, you can connect accessories directly to the mount - pretty nifty. And, if headphones aren't for you, the bracket mount also has a small built-in speaker.

Although, at $150, it's one of the most expensive iPad car mounts on the market, it's still a great product and a solid substitute for an automaker's own car entertainment system or portable DVD device. Moreover, it's safe for passengers - the Scosche backSTAGE pro II has successfully passed all crash tests, a major bonus.

From GMM

Formula one teams are gearing up to shut down their factories.

At some point between midnight after Sunday's Hungarian grand prix, and the resumption of action at of September's race at Spa five weeks later, all the teams will lock their doors for a full 14-day period.

The cost-cutting measure has been in place for the past few seasons.

Photo: Sahara Force India

"As it happens we're also shutting down our automotive production at the same time, even though we don't need to do it," McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh is quoted by Press Association.

"And we're not doing it to avoid any aspersions being cast by other teams. It is a separate company."

Martin Whitmarsh said he is not sure if rival Ferrari is also closing its separate road car plant.

Though circumstances sometimes necessitate making practical choices, the Mazda6 is proof we don't have to sacrifice all the fun to be sensible.


The Mazda6 doesn't seem to resonate with a lot of buyers in their quest for a reasonably priced midsize car. Which is funny, given that there's much to like about this oft-overlooked sedan.

In a segment dominated by the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata, the Mazda6 offers something a little different: a touch of driver engagement. The well-known purveyors of "Zoom-Zoom" haven't neglected to imbue their sensible four-door with some of the lively character that makes Mazda's sports cars such a joy to drive. Though circumstances sometimes necessitate making practical choices, the Mazda6 is proof we don't have to sacrifice all the fun to be sensible.

Redesigned in 2009, the Mazda6 is a larger, more sculpted car than its previous incarnation, yet it still manages to look lean and a touch racier than most in this segment. There's a hint of RX-8 in the muscular wheel arches and grinning front fascia flanked by swooping foglights. The sloping roofline tapering off to a pert rump lends it a sporting air and it's finished off nicely with a sharp set of taillights.

While far more stylish and youthfully aggressive than the Camry or four-door Accord, the Mazda6 still faces some serious design challenges from the Korean entries. Hyundai's Sonata with its Fluidic Sculpture is a carved head-turner, as is the sharply modern Kia Optima, penned by ex-Audi designer Peter Schreyer.

Redesigned in 2009, the Mazda6 is a larger, more sculpted car than its previous incarnation, yet it still manages to look lean and a touch racier than most in this segment. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

The cabin too, is sportier than most of its competitors, which tend towards the conservative. Those who've driven Mazdas will recognize the curved gauge binnacle hood, round air vents - and of course the familiar red display.

Compared with some of the ultra-modern interiors offered by Korean, and even domestic, competitors these days, the design is a bit long in the tooth perhaps, but it's fairly user-friendly and by no means unattractive. Silver finish on the gauge rings and dark faux-wood trim on dash and centre console are nice touches, but there are some hard plastics that detract from the overall sense of quality.

This week's tester, a GT-I4 (denoting inline 4-cylinder) offersleather seating surfaces, heated up front, that remain comfortable on long road trips, while providing support for more spirited driving. There's plenty of head and legroom up front, and the sunroof adds to the overall sense of airiness. Passengers in back have generous legroom, although the sloping roofline does cut slightly into their headroom.

The trunk offers 470 litres of cargo space - among the largest in the segment - and that's expandable by dropping the 60/40-split rear seatbacks.

Compared with some of the ultra-modern interiors offered by Korean competitors these days, the design is a bit long in the tooth perhaps, but it's fairly user-friendly and by no means unattractive. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

As well as the leather upholstery, standard equipment on the GT-I4 includes traction control, Dynamic Stability Control, keyless entry, HID headlamps and heated mirrors. Our GT-I4 tester wasn't equipped with navigation or backup camera, but they are available as options.

The leather-wrapped wheel feels good in the hands, features tilt/telescope and, like most Mazdas, is connected to sharp and accurate steering. It's a little on the light side though, and minus the chatty feedback so loved by owners of the MX-5 or RX-8.

Underhood, the 2.5 litre, 4-cylinder engine puts out 170 hp and 167 lb-ft of torque. While those are hardly extraordinary numbers, it's well matched to a quick-shifting five-speed automatic (a $1,200 option) and the Mazda6 moves briskly enough in town and on the highway. The 4-cylinder does tend to get buzzy when pressed, however.

The Mazda6's taut suspension provides surprisingly good handling for this segment. Well-balanced and composed, there's very little body roll in the curves. The ride might be a bit firm for some, but just right for those who value the fun-to-drive factor. We're not saying that it's a serious sports sedan, but the Mazda6 does a really nice job of blending comfort and athletic handling.

Underhood, the 2.5 litre, 4-cylinder engine puts out 170 hp and 167 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

As far as fuel economy goes, the Mazda6 rates 9.4L/100 km in the city and 6.5 on the highway, which puts it about mid-pack. The GT-I4 averaged about 9.7L/100km overall during the test week, which isn't stellar but a lot depends on how you much you can resist dipping into the throttle. The consolation is that it takes regular fuel.

The Mazda6 is a dark horse in the tough mid-size segment, but for those who want a mainstream car with a bit of pizazz, it's well worth a second look.

Despite the fact that Peugeot Sport has withdrawn for endurance racing and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, life goes on in Velizy near Paris.

The turbo diesel and hybrid 908s have been parked in the museum, unfortunately, weeks prior to the start of the 2012 World Endurance Championship.

But several other motorsport project keep most Peugeot Sport employees busy. They are especially geared towards customer cars for rallying and road racing.

Peugeot has appointed Bruno Famin to oversee all these projects.

An engineer, Famin, 50, was the technical director since 2005. He replaces Olivier Quesnel who has left the company yo join OAK Racing, another endurance team based in France.

In order to rise funds to perpetuate the memory of the late Gilles Villeneuve, the Gilles Villeneuve museum located in Berthierville is now offering for sale a very special item.

The museum has produced a 100-piece, certified and numbered edition of the first Formula 1 contract Gilles Villeneuve signed with team McLaren in 1977.


Each copy is numbered and has been stamped by the museum. The original contract was signed by Villeneuve and Teddy Mayer, the general manager of McLaren in 1977.

Each copy is sold $100 plus taxes, and includes a membership card of the museum and the special commemorative DVD that carries three exclusive interviews as well as rarely seen footage of Gilles Villeneuve at home and competing in F1.

To get your copy, drop by the museum in Berthierville, or call 1 800 639-0103 or send an email at museegillesvilleneuve@bellnet.ca.

In recent weeks, the Russian Mazda branch has released a few video teasers along with a full front-view photo, but the Mazda6 will officially see the light of the day in its world debut at the Moscow Motor Show, from August 29 to September 9.

Although there aren't a lot of specs available at the moment, we do know that it's the second model of the new Mazda generation to incorporate SkyActiv technology. With its latest design theme dubbed ‘Kodo - Soul of Motion,' the 2014 Mazda6 is also the first car to feature the i-ELOOP, a new brake energy regeneration system. It will also be equipped with a 2.0-litre, 160-hp engine coupled with a 6-speed transmission.

The model, totally redesigned for the first time since 2007, will be one of the most anticipated vehicles to be unveiled at the Show.

Photo: Mazda

From GMM

As expected, the FIA on Wednesday issued a rule clarification in the wake of the Red Bull 'engine maps' controversy at Hockenheim.

The governing body's technical boss Jo Bauer shocked the paddock last Sunday morning by asking the stewards to look into what Red Bull is doing, amid suggestions the team had gone too far with a complex form of legal traction control and engine exhaust blowing.

"None of us really know what it is that antagonised the FIA so much to provoke Jo Bauer to send the note that he did on Sunday morning," McLaren's managing director Jonathan Neale told reporters on Wednesday.

"It was a quite unusual step," he said during the regular Vodafone teleconference. "I hope we don't get involved in rewriting regulations in the mid-season ... (because) in terms of the sport consistency in regulations is good."

Photo: WRi2

The stewards, however, had essentially admitted at Hockenheim that the current wording of the regulations prevented them from enforcing the so-called spirit or intention of the rules.

Technical directors met in London on Monday and the feeling afterwards was that the FIA would move to close the Red Bull loophole.

The clarification was issued on Wednesday, says that teams will be required to nominate one engine map - as a reference, which must then be approved by the FIA.

Once passed by the FIA, the engine torque curves above 6,000 rpm must not vary by more than plus or minus two per cent from that reference map.

Mark Hughes, Sky Sport's technical boss, insists Red Bull was not caught cheating, but had simply "thought of a way around a regulation" -- yet again.

"In the last few seasons it (Red Bull) has more often figured out a way past the intent of the wording than others. Red Bull has been surrounded in technical controversy more often because it has had more ideas," he explained.

From GMM

Romain Grosjean has admitted he hopes to keep his Lotus seat in 2013.

Despite a few too many incidents, the Swiss-born rookie Frenchman has been a revelation of this season, especially in light of his mediocre and abortive 2009 debut.

Lotus boss Eric Boullier and owner Gerard Lopez have indicated they are happy with both Grosjean, 26, and the team's other new driver Kimi Raikkonen.

Romain Grosjean (Lotus) impressive at Valencia. (Photo: WRi2)

Still, Romain Grosjean is hoping he definitely stays in 2013.

"Hopefully, if all goes well, I will be with the team next season," he is quoted as saying by the French language website f1i.com.

"This will allow me to build up this year and compete in 2013 on a better footing," added Grosjean, who has been on the podium twice this year but failed to finish five of the 10 races so far.

He said: "We already know what has worked and what has not, so this will give us more time to do things perfectly.

"I hope I will be retained. If I continue in this way, I think I have a good chance."

The website said Grosjean sponsor Total's contract with the Enstone based team expires at the end of the season.

From Williams

Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) announces that it has signed an agreement with British racing driver Dean Stoneman to work together to fine-tune the advanced simulator technology being developed at the Williams Technology Centre in Qatar (WTCQ).

WAE and Stoneman are currently perfecting the simulator at WTCQ in time for the launch of the WAE High Performance Driver Training Programme at the end of this year.

This comprehensive five day winter training programme is open to a wide range of racing drivers and gives participants the unique opportunity to experience the training methods and technologies developed in Formula One. It combines simulator work with the kind of expert physical and nutritional training needed to reach the top.

Dean Stoneman, the day he tested the Williams F1 car. (Photo: Williams F1)

Dean Stoneman won the FIA Formula Two Championship in 2010 and was due to compete in the Formula Renault 3.5 series in 2011 before being diagnosed with cancer. Dean is now fully fit and is using his association with WAE to become race-fit ahead of next season and share his experience in Formula 2 to make the WAE simulator the leading option for drivers.

From GMM

German journalist Michael Schmidt has expressed concern about the half-empty grandstands at Hockenheim last weekend.

In Auto Motor und Sport, he said he was "surprised" by the "lack of interest" in the German grand prix amid the fascinating 2012 season.

Indeed, Germans have seldom had more to cheer about in F1, with the grid boasting legend Michael Schumacher, the reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel, three other race drivers and the Stuttgart marque Mercedes.

But only 38,000 spectators attended on Friday, 50,000 for qualifying and 62,000 for Sunday's race.

In 2005 there were 110,000 spectators on the Sunday, declining to 78,000 in 2008 and 65,000 two years ago.

"Certainly, the ticket prices are extremely high and the financial crisis has an effect, but isn't this also true in England and Spain?" wrote Schmidt.

Indeed, in crisis-gripped Spain, 82,000 spectators turned out to watch Fernando Alonso in May.

Hockenheim boss Georg Seiler said the attendance figures for this year's race has allowed the circuit to break even.

From GMM

Martin Whitmarsh has urged Mercedes to finally sign the new Concorde Agreement.

Despite Bernie Ecclestone's earlier intimations to the contrary, it emerged at Hockenheim that Mercedes is in fact still yet to agree to the terms of the new deal.

It is believed a major sticking point is that top rivals McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull have all been offered places on F1's post-floatation board, but not Mercedes.

Indeed, in an interview with McLaren boss Whitmarsh posted on F1's official website, the transcript quotes the questioner as saying that only "three team members from Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren" will be on the board.

"I don't think that it is a secret anymore that nine teams have signed the contract -- and I really hope that the silver team next door (Mercedes) will sign very shortly and it will be then that we will take up our board position," said Whitmarsh.

Mercedes AMG team. (Photo: WRi2)

Another major hurdle to the finalisation of the 2013 Concorde is the fact that the FIA is also yet to sign up.

When asked about that, Whitmarsh answered: "Well, my fear is that at the moment the deal hasn't been done and therefore it adds some volatility to the situation. At times formula one has lost opportunities because of inner frictions."

The Briton did, however, admit that it would be "possible" for formula one to live without its current governing body.

"But I don't think it is a productive thing," added Whitmarsh.

Interestingly, Whitmarsh - the head of the now-fractured teams alliance FOTA - also revealed that teams are in fact not signing a single Concorde Agreement, but a swathe of "individual contracts".

"If we (McLaren) were not happy with our contract we wouldn't have signed it, so I am not complaining, but the danger is that if we all have individual contracts that is probably not aligning us and bringing us together," he said. "It (the Concorde Agreement) has never been perfect, but it's a model that before we abandon it we should be very cautious. Why reinvent something if it functions?"

The R8 lineup was treated to some slight restyling for 2013 - new contours to the front bumper and grille as well as redesigned LED headlights and taillights (standard), amongst others.

Buyers can opt for the 4.2-litre V8 FSI, the 5.2-litre V10 or the brand-new 5.2-litre, 550-hp V10, powering the vehicle to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds, and reaching a maximum speed of 319 km/h. What's more, Audi is also offering a new 7-speed, dual clutch transmission, though the 6-speed remains available as well.

If you're looking to drive your own R8, expect to shell out 113,500 Euros ($140,100) for the 4.2-litre V8 up to 173,500 Euros ($214, 207) for the V10 Plus.

Photo: Audi