Auto News 5

Plastic Omnium has posted helathy revenue and net profit increases despite challenges in Europe.

News 19 Jul, 2012

Lotus has announced it will not attend the 2012 Paris Motor Show

Russian car sales will likely rise 4 percent to around 2.6 million in 2012, PricewaterhouseCoopers said. In the first six months, deliveries in the country rose 15 percent by volume to 1.33 million, according to PwC data.

Nissan will outsource production of some vehicles to Renault's struggling South Korean unit to meet strong demand and ease the effect of a strong yen, a report says.

Faced with collapsing domestic sales at Korea's Renault Samsung Motors, Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn plans to use a factory in the southern coastal city of Busan, Korea, to build Nissan's Rogue model for U.S. consumers.

Chinese automakers are exporting a variety of cars, SUVs and commercial trucks to Russia, and now they are starting to consolidate their niche with local production.

Audi opened a London showroom featuring giant LED screens that let customers design their own vehicles as part of the carmaker's effort to bring in younger, media-oriented buyers.

From GMM

It is no secret that Fernando Alonso's Ferrari contract is the most lucrative in formula one.

But the German media and marketing magazine 'WundV' claims that the Spaniard also commands the most income from external sponsors.

The report said that, in the past year, the 30-year-old made between EUR 7 and 8 million just from his personal backers, including Puma, Tag-Heuer and Santander.

In second place is Michael Schumacher, the seven time world champion.

Despite winning only a single podium in the two and a half seasons since returning to F1 in 2010, 43-year-old Schumacher made between 5 and 6 million in personal sponsorship in the past year, said the report.

The current world champion, Sebastian Vettel, reportedly makes only 3-4 million in estimated personal sponsorship; about the same as Jenson Button, but less than McLaren's Lewis Hamilton (5m).

Photo: WRi2

"The combination of powerful V6, smooth-shifting transmission and tight suspension accounts for the XLS's more lively and engaging character"

"Handsome is as handsome does."


I believe it was J.R.R. Tolkien who uttered that sage observation? If so, the famous author of The Lord Of The Rings could very well have been talking about the 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander. A good-looking crossover that often goes unnoticed in a segment dominated by the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, the Outlander flies well under the radar. Which is unfortunate, because the Outlander has a lot going for it.

Looking for all the world like an oversized Lancer, the Outlander breaks rank with its ilk by boasting chiselled lines and sharp planes rather than the de-rigueur curves in the crossover segment. But unlike its smaller sedan sibling, the Outlander boasts seven-passenger practicality, and a much more refined interior.

Just like the Lancer, the Outlander features the distinctive shark-nosed snout. It's sharp, aggressive and masculine with a sloping roofline that adds a rakish air. It may not be conventionally pretty, but it's a handsome vehicle that inserts itself very nicely into a variety of lifestyles with its adaptable practicality.

My tester, a gunmetal gray Outlander XLS S-AWC is the range-topping model in the lineup. Although its colour scheme is a bit on the subdued side, the Outlander's clean lines are nicely accented by LED taillights in clear lenses.

The Outlander breaks rank with its ilk by boasting chiselled lines and sharp planes rather than the de-rigueur curves in the crossover segment. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Inside, the cabin is well-designed with good quality materials and a variety of features. While Audi won't lose any sleep over the Outlander's level of craftsmanship, the quality is a big step up from the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer we reviewed last December. Although there are the requisite hard plastics, they're pleasantly moulded and there's plenty of soft-touch material, including a leather hood over the gauge binnacle and leather-trimmed dash finished with contrasting stitching.

The centre console's large round control knobs are easily operated. They're nestled under the graphics screen that displays navigation and back-up camera. It's all very simply laid out, yet aesthetically pleasing. The XLS comes loaded with premium options like automatic xenon headlights, sunroof, leather upholstery, nine-speaker Rockford Fosgate sound system, back up camera and navigation system.

The leather-wrapped steering wheel is fat and grippy, and there are large, magnesium-alloy flappy paddles on either side of it. Unfortunately, they're mounted on the column and not the wheel itself, which would be more ergonomically intuitive, but they're large enough to be within reach at full lock-up.

Leather seats are plump and cushy with plenty of room for four adults in the first and second rows - even five in a crunch. The tiny third row should be saved for small children, or adults whom you don't really like.

While Audi won't lose any sleep over the Outlander's level of craftsmanship, the quality is a big step up from the 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer we reviewed last December. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Folding all four seats flat increases the available cargo space to 2,056 litres, slightly less than competitors RAV4 and CR-V thanks to the intrusion of its multi-link rear suspension. However, the load floor is level and flat with the seats down and easily reached without bending.

Flip down the tailgate, and it's strong enough to support up to 181 kg of cargo while loading.

Detracting from the overall impression of quality is the insubstantial, tinny way the doors slam, instead of a heavy, reassuringly well-insulated thud.

Underhood, there's a 3.0L V6 that puts out 230 hp and 215 lb-ft of torque matched to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Lesser models are powered by a 2.4L 4 cylinder mated to a continuously variable transmission.

The combination of the powerful V6 and smooth-shifting transmission account for the XLS's more lively and engaging character, it's as sprightly around town as it is performing passing manoeuvres on the highway. The suspension tuning is firm enough to deliver a modicum of sportiness without sacrificing comfort and the steering is nicely weighted.

Canadians enduring harsh climate and hazardous road conditions should take note of Mitsubishi's rally-proven S-AWC system. Outlanders with all-wheel-drive or S-AWC (for super-all-wheel control) have an active, locking front differential and a driver-selectable rotary knob on the centre console marked Tarmac, Snow and Lock.

At a turn of the dial, so-equipped Outlanders can go from 2WD pavement commuter, to automatic 4WD (applying traction and torque distribution as warranted). Selecting 4WD Lock turns the crossover into a fairly capable off-roader - rare in a segment populated by urban people haulers. And, it also features handy Hill Start Assist for added security.

Canadians enduring harsh climate and hazardous road conditions should take note of Mitsubishi's rally-proven S-AWC system. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

On the downside, the S-AWC Outlanders with the larger mill can be thirsty beasts. Rated at 7.9L/100km on the highway and 11 in the city, my tester rarely dipped below 12.3 overall. And that's premium fuel to boot.

But for buyers who can overlook the less than stellar fuel economy in return for genuine 4WD performance - and the ability to carry up to seven passengers - the Mitsubishi Outlander S-AWC looks like a handsome choice indeed.

From SRO press release

SRO Motorsports Group has announced that it will no longer be the promoter of the FIA GT1 World Championship and the FIA GT3 European Championship in 2013.

"In view of the worsening economic climate, which has hit not only the grids of the FIA GT Championships but of many other series in the context of an overcrowded sportscar scene, Stephane Ratel, founder and CEO of SRO Motorsports Group, informed the GT Commission, sitting in Paris on July 17th, that SRO did not intend to continue as promoter of the FIA GT1 World Championship and the FIA GT3 European Championship in 2013," statement said.

Start of the race at Portimao. (Photo: FIA GT1)

"The Commission, while noting SRO's reasons for this, underlined their support for promoter and teams to bring the 2012 season to a successful finish, in recognition of the investment made by the teams competing this year. A revised calendar for the second half of the season will be issued later this week."

"Although this marks the end of SRO's support to the GT1 World Championship, Ratel has been clear that he hopes that this will not mean the end of a long and fruitful collaboration with the FIA, with various possibilities being studied at the current time."

"In the shorter term, SRO Motorsports Group will hold its traditional annual press conference during the company's flagship event, the Total 24 Hours of Spa.  This event, planned for Friday July 27th at 13:00, will see some exciting announcements concerning the new structure of SRO's GT and F3 series, as well as the provisional 2013 calendars."

From GMM

Sir Stirling Moss thinks it is "a shame" formula one is so safe today.

"The concept, the whole idea, has changed," the British legend, who started winning grands prix in the middle of the 50s, said on Austrian Servus TV.

"That's a shame, because we had fun risking life and limb and that's gone now, really," added Moss, 82.

Stirling Moss admits that the danger was a key factor in his enjoyment of racing.

"In my opinion, if you don't want to take risks, play tennis," he added.

According to a study released by consulting firm McKinsey & Company, the price of EV lithium batteries used in electric cars will drop 70% by 2025.

Photo: Toyota

On average, these batteries cost $600/kWh. McKinsey predicts that the price will drop to $200/kWh by 2020 and even lower to $160/kWh by 2025. Today, a Nissan LEAF 24 kWh battery retails at $14,400; its price will be less than $3,480 in 2025 - a significant markdown of $10,560.

The study indicates that, although mass manufacturing processes have certainly contributed to cost reduction, new players in the industry (like Apple) have also been instrumental in lowering battery prices.

Source: www.plugincars.com

A few weeks ago, news of an accident suffered by Spanish driver, Maria de Villota, stunned the auto racing world.

At the beginning of the year, Marussia, a small Formula 1 team, announced that Maria, daughter of Emilio de Villota, himself a former independent Formula 1 driver, would be their test driver for the 2012 season.

While the young woman was quite experienced in competitive auto racing, she had never raced in a major series such as the GP2 or the Formula 3. Maria de Villota was surely not chosen based on her driving qualifications, but rather for her celebrity status and the media attention it would draw. Still, there is no doubt that she possessed all the necessary skills to get the job done.

Photo: WRI2

The accident occurred at the Duxford Aerodrome in the UK during aerodynamic testing. While returning to the team service area after the high-speed test, the Marussia MR01 suddenly accelerated and, at a speed of around 60 km/h, collided with the back of one of the support trucks.

Poor Maria hit the truck's ramp helmet-first. She suffered serious head injuries and lost her right eye.

On Monday, July 16, the team released a carefully-worded statement declaring that Marussia's own detailed analysis shows that the accident was not caused by a technical malfunction.

In effect, this means that the Spanish driver must have made a mistake.

What happened? It's hard to know. Most probably, Maria forgot to put the car into neutral as she drove back to the pits at low speed. The F1's very complex electronic control unit has an anti-stall feature that electronically prevents the engine from stalling if the engine speed is too low.

And so, since the car was engaged, most probably in first gear, it accelerated abruptly. Having little time to react to a car that she barely knew, Maria had already collided with the truck before she could regain control. Don't forget, when the steering wheel is covered in buttons, switches and knobs, finding and pressing on the ‘N' button is not an easy thing to do in a tenth of a second, especially when you are manually controlling the clutch at the steering wheel and not with your foot...

We might also suspect that Marussia's in-depth search for a technical issue served to protect them against legal action by the driver's family and insurer, since legal action could ensue if the car was found at fault. But now, all responsibility rests on poor Maria's shoulders, who, after fighting for survival, is now slowly recovering from two major facial reconstruction surgeries.

Her short career is already over. Good luck, Maria.

From September 5 to 7, visitors to London's world-renowned Salon Privé will get a first glimpse of the EV supercar from Rimac Automobili, a Croatian company.

Limited to only 88 units, the million dollar sportscar boasts 1,088 hp, with a 92-kWh battery powering all four of its engines, one for each wheel. In fact, each engine runs independently, thanks to Rimac's own All-Wheel Torque Vectoring (AWTV) system. Performance-wise, this rare gem car can reach a top speed of 305.8 km/h, zipping from 0 to 96 km/h in as little as 2.8 seconds.
David Bagley, Salon Privé's Sales Director, believes that the Salon, a hotspot for collectors, is the ideal showcase for Concept_One's British debut.

Photo: Rimac

Photo: Rimac

The French manufacturer announced today that Patrick Pelata, 56, will leave the Renault-Nissan alliance group next month.

"Patrick Pelata is leaving the company. He has decided to pursue his career outside the alliance", a Renault spokeswoman told Reuters, confirming industry rumours.

Mr. Pelata, who joined Renault in 1984 stepped down as COO in April, 2011. As the former right-hand man of Renault-Nissan CEO, Carlos Ghosn, Pelata paid the price of a botched espionage investigation, first revealed in January, 2011.

Source: Automotive News Europe

With a restyled look and upgraded safety, the 2013 Subaru Forester lineup, available in six different versions, has been improved on several fronts. This year, Bluetooth will come standard throughout the series, as well as a MediaHub, featuring both iPod and USB ports.

Inside, along with a cargo volume of 1,934 liters, (without the sun roof), the Forester now has a larger rear window, allowing the average driver to see a one-metre high object or person positioned just a metre away from the vehicle.

Under the hood, the Forester comes with one of two 2.5 L engines (170 hp or 224 hp), and an automatic or manual transmission, depending on the model. Prices range from $25,995 (2.5X) to $35,895  (2.5XT Limited).

Photo: Subaru

Photo: Subaru

How about 56,778? That's the ping-pong ball count you'll need to fill up a Ford Escape. Ford knows this because the company uses ping-pong balls to measure odd-shaped spaces like console compartments and glove boxes in its vehicles.

Photo: Ford

According to Ford engineers, this method more effectively measures the volume of interior storage spaces than by using a measuring tape. Often, two people who measure the same console with a measuring tape come up with quite different figures. But by using ping-pong balls, the two will get similar results.

The engineers developed a cubic measurement for each ping-pong ball that accounts for the open space between a stack of balls. They then use that measurement and the number of ping-pong balls in a particular storage space to determine the total volume.

From nascar.com and indycar.com

A proposal to end military sponsorship of major sporting events was defeated in a vote of the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday night, ensuring that service branches can continue to use leagues such as NASCAR and IndyCar as a recruiting tool.

In a bipartisan vote of 216-202, the U.S. House of Representatives defeated the amendment.

JR Hildebrand, IZOD IndyCar Series. (Photo: indycar.com)

The amendment was introduced by Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) and Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) attempted to prohibit the military from spending public funds on sports sponsorships, such as the No. 88 car driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and No. 4 National Guard Panther Racing IndyCar driven by JR Hildebrand that are backed by the National Guard.

Earlier Wednesday, House members vigorously debated the merits of military sponsorships in sports. Kingston, whose district includes Savannah, quoted published figures stating that the National Guard spent $26.5 million to back Earnhardt's car at Hendrick Motorsports in 2010, but that the money produced no actual recruits.

He also claimed that NASCAR audiences aren't an ideal target of military recruitment, because 69 percent of the sport's fan base is over the maximum age for enlistment.

On the other hand, IndyCar joined other professional sports leaders in sending letters to Congress citing the exposure the U.S. Military receives through sports.

Similarities between the military and IndyCar are striking - valor, technology, training, equipping, camaraderie - and the tie between the Indianapolis Motor Speedway-IndyCar and the U.S. Military dates almost as long as the racetrack's inaugural event in 1911.

2012 Nissan Cube 1.8 S

The Cube's style and virtues don't exactly intersect with my personal tastes, but I admire Nissan for taking such a different tact with this car.

The Cube's style and virtues don't exactly intersect with my personal tastes, but I admire Nissan for taking such a different tact with this car. Unlike a Scion xB or Kia Soul, which drive like very conventional compacts, the Cube reflects its quirky, asymmetrical styling in an offbeat driving experience. The strained buzz of the 1.8-liter saddled to the continuously variable transmission is reason enough to avoid exceeding 3500 rpm, but doing so also makes you feel like you're driving the Cube "correctly." This is a surprisingly spacious, comfortable, and relaxed car that entices you to drive at a slower pace, leave the windows down on the highway, and wave to the jerk that just cut you off. The front seats are seriously wide and flat but also well cushioned, and the rear bench is more usable than in most mid-size cars. There's also an unusually soft ride for such a small car. The Cube leans through corners more than most cars, but again, if you're squealing the tires and causing your passengers to reach for something to keep themselves in their seats, you're doing it wrong.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Nissan Cube 1.8 S - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Nissan Cube 1.8 S - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

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FordDirect, a joint venture between Ford Motor and its dealers, launched a new service to help dealers manage their reputation and social media presence online this week. FordDirect has contracted with Digital Air Strike, a Sunnyvale, Calif.