Auto News 5

Valeo has announced that it is in negotiations to sell its Access Mechanisms Business to Japan-based U-Shin.

Seat is launching the five-door Toledo compact hatchback as an affordable family car as the Volkswagen Group brand seeks to win buyers hit by the economic crisis.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said a victory by Republican Mitt Romney in this year's presidential election would have only a "minor impact" on the nation's electric-car market.

The auto market is rebounding in the United States, but a new survey by AlixPartners argues that the auto industry might as well forget about "pent-up demand." The report, released today, predicts light vehicle sales of 14.

The styling of the new second-generation BMW 1 series has been altered significantly compared with the first generation of the compact car. BMW say the changes create a more sporty design. The new 1 series is 83mm longer and 14mm wider.

Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan, was paid a salary and bonus of $12.5 million for the past fiscal year, a package that makes him Japan's highest-paid executive. Nissan said the average CEO pay for global automakers was $17.

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn's pay rose to 987 million yen ($12 million) last fiscal year while bigger rival Toyota left its CEO's pay flat and Honda cut compensation.

The 2013 Ford Taurus, powered by Ford Motor's 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, has received an EPA certification of 32 mpg in highway driving and 22 mpg in city driving, for a combined city-highway rating of 26 mpg, the automaker said today.

Ford will push its use of social media further today when it kicks off Random Acts of Fusion, a prelaunch marketing effort for the mid-sized 2013 Fusion, with TV host Ryan Seacrest.

If you're one of those who think that tickets to major auto racing events are too expensive, or that cars in Formula 1, IndyCar or NASCAR are no different from one another, it may be time for you to attend a vintage car race.

Across the globe, these competitions feature some of the most beautiful automobiles of all time and attract a fair share of enthusiasts.

Whether it's in Mont-Tremblant (Quebec), Laguna Seca (California), Dijon Prenois (France), Goodwood (England) or Hockenheim (Germany), vintage cars can relight the fire of even the most jaded fans.

Photo: WRI2

There are gorgeous F1 machines from the glorious era where engineers could really express themselves, like Lotus 79s with ground effects, Tyrrell P34s with six wheels, and fabulous 12-cylinder Ferraris. You should hear the sound!

These races also star powerful beasts from the Can-Am series and endurance icons that took part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans - Porsche 962s, Ferrari 512s, and Ford GT40s.

Sometimes, you can spot old cars from Formula 2, Formula Atlantic, CART, Group 5, Trans-Am and other lower series.

If you're too young to remember these cars during their original time on the track, now's your chance to admire them from up close - and delight your ears with their intoxicating melody.

Most venues offer access to the paddocks, where classic car aficionados mingle with ordinary yet curious fans. Amateur drivers even paint their helmets to replicate the original driver's. Others wear racing suits that closely resemble their idol's. Meanwhile, mechanics sport official team shirts.

Vintage car races take place throughout the year. Check the schedule of events, and pick one that you'd like to attend. Mark my words: you won't regret it! Just make sure to bring ear plugs!

From GMM

Lewis Hamilton should have known better before going wheel-to-wheel with Pastor Maldonado in the dying stages of Sunday's European grand prix.

That is the view of the McLaren driver's boss Martin Whitmarsh, after the British team's top 2012 driver fell 23 points off the championship lead at Valencia.

He crashed almost within sight of the chequered flag in a dice with Williams' Pastor Maldonado, and it was the Venezuelan who was penalised for the crash by the FIA.

Lewis Hamilton. (Photo: McLaren)

And while Maldonado hit out at his rival afterwards, Hamilton's measured reaction was an obvious case of resisting the urge "to throw a tantrum," according to Times journalist Kevin Eason.

In the official post-race McLaren statement, Hamilton said losing the title lead to Fernando Alonso and Red Bull's Mark Webber is "not the end of the world".

But "With hindsight you have to say if you are dealing with someone like that (Maldonado) then you maybe have to take a different approach," boss Whitmarsh is quoted by British newspapers.

Triple world champion Niki Lauda, meanwhile, said in Kleine Zeitung newspaper that he hopes the top drivers are soon once again dominating F1.

"The winner in Barcelona? Who was that? Maldonado, but no one remembers. Seven winners from seven races, which for you journalists is a hoot. But now I would like to return to some normality. The people who watch formula one need their heroes," the Austrian legend said.

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ontario - It's a far cry from the original pocket rocket that has since spawned 9 generations, and over 1.6 million cars sold here in Canada alone.

Far bigger in both breadth and heft than its original predecessor, the 2012 Honda Civic has become almost Accord-ish in size and style. Although the latest generation of Civic was routinely dismissed by the automotive press for its conservative styling (whose simple lines remind of a cordless mouse), it still sold 6,000 units more than its closest competitor. With sales like that, who can blame them for not wanting to shake it up too much?


Of course, a large part of Civic's legacy is performance, and it's had a long-held place as one of the icons of the tuner crowd.

For those who want just a little bit more than what the Civic Si has to offer, Honda offers the Honda Factory Performance, or HFP edition. Only 400 units of the Civic Si HFP will be available in Canada, and of those, 260 have already been sold since it arrived in mid-May.

Honda probably foresaw that many of them will end up iridescent orange or acid lime green anyway, because the Civic Si HFP is available in only two colours, white or black.

Adding some visual interest and a touch of attitude are sculpted side skirts, and more aggressive chin and rear spoilers.

For those who want just a little bit more than what the Civic Si has to offer, Honda offers the Honda Factory Performance, or HFP edition. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

The car is lower by 15 mm than the regular Civic Si thanks to the HFP suspension package. Bespoke 18" wheels clad in low-profile Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubber hint at the promise of performance.

Inside, other than the addition of some bordello-red floor mats, it's Civic as usual. The thinly-upholstered, racing-style seats are highly bolstered and quite firm - yet really comfortable and supportive. Contrasting red stitching on the leather-wrapped wheel and shifter boot match the floor mats.

Much as been said about the swath of cheap plastics in the Civic's interior, that's a dead horse I won't bother to flog.

Suffice it to say, if your primary concern is performance, you'll sacrifice a little in aesthetic comfort.

The cockpit is truly driver-centric, which becomes really obvious from the passenger seat. Centre console, gauge pod and helm are all curved to embrace the driver. The Star-Trek-ish two-tiered information display returns. My only real beef with is that it's virtually impossible to read the odometer in bright sunlight, regardless of the angle one's head is tilted - we eventually resorted to holding our route book above it to provide some contrasting shade. A minor point that became irritating on a drive route guided by odo readings.

The cockpit is truly driver-centric, which becomes really obvious from the passenger seat. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Setting off, it doesn't take long to appreciate that the HFP is one tight car. Stiffer springs and high-performance dampers provide an ultra stiff ride that is at times noisy, but isn't at all punishing. Add to the tuned suspension a little negative wheel camber and the result is a car that turns sharply yet corners flat.

This we discovered while deep in the hilly wine country, not seeing our turns in the lush foliage until we were almost upon them and resulting in a quickly executed about-face.
There's a fair bit of droning from the low-profile Michelins, but their level of grip on-track makes them easy to forgive.

Underhood is the same 2.4L inline-4 found in the regular Civic Si, developing 201 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque. Unlike the previous 2.0L, it's a much smoother engine and without the same screaming buzziness when approaching the redline. It's still a high-revving, entertaining mill and the fatter mid-range and torque means there's a lot more power available for daily driving - without having to do as much shifting.

Stiffer springs and high-performance dampers provide an ultra stiff ride that is at times noisy, but isn't at all punishing. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

My partner complained of the light clutch feel, describing it as almost "slipping." I found it easy on take-up, sparing my leg a workout - the "slipping" probably the result of the drive-by-wire programming which smoothes out the throttle for better fuel consumption and reduced emissions.

The stubby little shifter is easy to use, with short throws. And of course, the HFP is available only with a six-speed manual. Steering feels a little light for a performance coupe, especially once we moved off the winding drive route and onto the slalom course. On the plus side, it's one hell of a lot of fun racing around cones in a car that's as nimble as a top-class barrel horse. The handling is rather neutral, and with its sharp turn-in, the HFP shines on a tight course.

According to Honda, the HFP features some $5,400 worth of upgrades. But at $28,690, it retails at only $2,700 more than the regular Civic Si's $26,990 MSRP. While some may consider the abundance of plastic offensive in a $30,000 car, those 400 buyers who take home the HFP won't be buying it for its interior anyway.

Promising class-leading luxury and capability, the new 2013 Ford F-150 Limited is reportedly the most refined F-150 ever. This one comes standard with SYNC, MyFord Touch, navigation, SiriusXM, Travel Link, rain-sensing wipers and HID headlights, among other sophisticated technologies.

Decorated with full-grain red and black leather, the cabin houses heated/cooled front seats, heated rear seats, four-way-adjustable head restraints, and a user-friendly dashboard design.

The voice-activated navigation system and rearview camera work with a centrally mounted 8'' LCD screen. Meanwhile, the media hub includes USB ports, an SD card reader and RCA video input jacks, not to mention a powerful Sony sound system.

Under the hood is a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine that produces 365 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque while posting a highway fuel consumption rating of 10.7 L/100km (4x2 model).

The 2013 Ford F-150 Limited is available exclusively with a SuperCrew four-door cab configuration and a choice of three body colours - Ruby Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, Tuxedo Black Metallic, and White Platinum Metallic Tri-Coat.

Pricing will be announced closer to the truck's fall release.

Photo: Ford

Photo: Ford

Many people of a certain age remember Mazda's catchy ads from the 1970s. "Piston engines go boing-boing," they said. "Mazda goes hummmm." The voiceover sang: "There's nothing like it on the road today; the rotary engine is here to stay."

Also in this episode, we see the new Aston Martin Vanquish, Mercedes-Benz takes a long drive and Fernando Alonso and Clint Bowyer rack up race wins over the weekend.

A group of 27 classic stock cars will get another chance at glory when they take to the track at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in August.

The redesigned 2013 Toyota Avalon will have an optional gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain when it goes on sale this fall. The 2012 Avalon offers only the standard 3.5-liter, double-overhead-cam, V-6 gasoline engine.

The Supreme Court today refused to hear an appeal of a $5.6 million verdict against Kia Motors in a class-action lawsuit over allegedly faulty brakes in Sephia sedans. The legal dispute dates back 11 years.

Apple has revolutionized the music, mobile phone, computer and tablet markets. Now, some dealers and drivers expect the company to do the same for in-car telecommunications.

GM's global manufacturing chief Diana Tremblay is one of the highest-ranking women in the automotive industry.