Auto News 5

PSA's China joint venture with Changan Automobile plans to produce three Citroen DS models -- the DS5, a three-box sedan and an SUV -- in the country by 2014, according to a Chinese newspaper report.

The news that private equity firm InvestIndustrial will buy a 37.5 percent stake in Aston Martin won't be well received by fans of the brand.

Fiat Group plans to launch Jeep vehicles in India next year in a bid to grab sales in the country's fast-growing SUV segment.

Brian Scott will take over the No. 2 Nationwide Series Chevy Camaro, previously driven by Elliott Sadler, at Richard Childress Racing in a multi-year deal announced on Thursday.

The 24 year-old driver has finished twice in the top 10 in the Nationwide Series driver championship point standings in three full seasons of competition. He finished eighth in 2011 and ninth this past year. He finished 14th and was runner-up in the series' rookie of the year standings in 2010.

Phil Gould, car chief for the No. 2 team in 2012 and with previous experience at RCR as a car chief in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been promoted to crew chief for the team.

The RCR No.2 Chevrolet is a strong contender in NASCAR's junior circuit with Sadler finishing second in both 2011 and this year.


The Chevrolet No. 2 of Richard Childress Racing. (Photo: NASCAR)

"I am thrilled to have this opportunity to drive the No. 2 Shore Lodge Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing in the Nationwide Series," said Scott. "RCR has proven over the past 13 years that it can build and prepare winning cars in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and has for a variety of drivers. I just want to be the next name on that list. RCR has a rich tradition of winning races and championships at the highest level of our sport and I am excited about being a part of an organization, like theirs, that is committed to winning. 


"Our goals for 2013 are going to be set at a high level and we are going to do everything within our power to achieve those goals. On a personal level I think I am going to fit in really well. Richard Childress and a lot of the people affiliated with RCR are avid outdoorsmen and that matches my background as well."


"Brian is a strong young talent and we look forward to him, Phil and the entire No. 2 Shore Lodge team adding their part to RCR's history of success in the NASCAR Nationwide Series," said Richard Childress, president and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. "The fact that Brian is an avid outdoorsman only makes it an even better fit. We're also proud to welcome Shore Lodge to our family of partners. The Scott family knows what it takes to create a tradition of excellence so we look forward to making our program a success both on the track and off."

Formula 2 press release

MotorSport Vision (MSV), the operators of the FIA Formula 2 Championship, have agreed with the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) not to continue to run the series in 2013 for what would have been the fifth and final year of its contract with the FIA.


MSV Chief Executive Jonathan Palmer explained the reasons: "Despite launching the FIA Formula 2 Championship in 2009 at the start of this major global recession it has performed well with good grids and very competitive racing over the past four years.

"As the FIA intended, F2 has always provided outstanding value and equality for its competitors. However, it has become progressively clear that the single operating team concept that enables these benefits has compromises that have, overall, reduced its appeal to drivers. We and the FIA are in agreement that any future F2 should operate on a more conventional, multi team basis.


"Other championships at F2's level have also increased their appeal through recent performance upgrades, and it is logical to conclude that in F2's final year grid numbers would reduce, perhaps significantly. I believe we have a responsibility to competitors planning their 2013 seasons and careers not to operate F2 if we are not confident of another strong season, and have therefore discussed this matter with the FIA who understand and accept our recommendation not to continue."

Photo: FormulaTwo

The governing body said: "The Federation has been pleased to support F2 throughout these four competitive years. This is a racing series which has introduced many young drivers to motor racing and prepared them for higher challenges. The FIA is determined to develop a clear path for young drivers from karting to F1 and therefore reiterates our commitment to single seater racing series."

British driver Lucian Bacheta captured the 2012 Formula 2 championship.

For the first year of his F1 comeback, the Finn finished third in the world championship and succeed to see the checkered flag of every Grands Prix, scoring points in 19 races on 20.

Turun Sanomat newspaper suggested his impressive record, having finished almost every single grand prix in the points this year.

"It's better than having a reputation for crashing every race," the Lotus driver smiled. Was he referring to his team mate, Romain Grosjean?

Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus-Renault, in Monza. (Photo: WRi2)

Then, this could give rise to a reputation for not fighting in the race.

"You don't get past me easily, but I also don't fight like crazy if there is no possibility to hold them behind, because you just end up losing time and they'll eventually get past anyway," added Kimi Raikkonen.

I know what you're all thinking, but this is a compliment; a good thing, as Martha Stewart would say. This is, in fact, a perfect car for the 71-year-old business magnate-cum-cook. Her demanding personality demands perfection, excellence and, I can imagine, perfect silence when she's thinking/planning/doing illegal trades. Lexus embodies the same pursuit of flawlessness.


The Lexus ES has been Toyota's luxury brand bread-and-butter car since its 2nd generation which started up in 1992. From the onset, it was never a secret that the Lexus ES was a gussied-up Toyota Camry¸ so it was a surprise to note the absence of an ES hybrid when the Toyota Camry hybrid was introduced in 2007.

New face
For the 2013 model year, Lexus revamped their FWD big seller with the brand's new face, first introduced on the very sleek and dynamic 2013 GS350. To some, the new grille looks as though it was inspired by the Predator and this is certainly another good thing; this new-found “attitude” does wonders for Lexus' appeal, which has long been far too conservative -- bland even.

The 2013 Lexus ES300h on its own is a very typical-looking, Japanese sedan with little fuss and no muss in most of its physical aspects. Elegant though it is, it has no “wow” factor nor does it have the necessary appeal to make neighbours jealous. As superficial as this may sound, the luxury car market is all about showing off, at least for those who are into that type of thing.

Odds are, if a high-end car buyer finds him or herself in a Lexus showroom, they are looking for substance more than “check-me-out” styling. Lexus has substance.

Regal comfort
The cabin, and not the sheetmetal, got the most attention as far as I'm concerned. The dashboard is simple enough, functional and easy to read. The most difficult accessory to grasp is Lexus' Remote Touch user-interface system (available with the navigation system). This is my third or fourth encounter with the device that “functions similarly to a mouse,” according to Lexus, but I still have a difficult time taming the remote that activates the on-screen cursor.

Perhaps it can be disciplined through more interaction, but I fail to see how Remote Touch is better than anything else similar on the market today. Thankfully, the seats, materials, gauges, and everything else that interacts with passengers are all superb.

The sense of well-being, comfort and luxury permeate through and through while on a drive. It's difficult to put into words; but rarely do cars under the $100k feel as downy and salubrious as the 2013 Lexus ES300h.

The most difficult accessory to grasp is Lexus' Remote Touch user-interface system. (Photo: Olivier Croteau)

Hybrid power à la Lexus
What also amazes is how well this 2013 Lexus ES300h drives. The Atkinson-cycle 2.5L 4-cylinder and electric motor make up what is Lexus' Hybrid Drive system. With it is a CVT transmission and altogether combines into what may be the smoothest 4-cylinder powertrain on the planet.

The 2013 Lexus ES300h has 200 hp and 156 lb-ft of torque. As you may know, electric motors generate all their torque from the onset; so again, don't be thinking that 156 is a lowly number. Seriously, this car boogies.

ES300h-R
Because of this, I must confess I spent 50% of my time at the wheel in Sport mode. The Drive Mode Select allows three ways of exploiting the Lexus Hybrid Drive system. The ECO mode maximizes every function and accessory and is presented by a blue hew in the cluster. Normal is a mixture of ECO and the final mode, Sport. Here, the hew switches to red, the Power-ECO-Charge gauges becomes a tachometer and be prepared to not believe.

The 2013 Lexus ES300h shoots forward in a linear and sustained manner that is both surprising and smile-inducing. This explains why I averaged 7.0L/100 km over the week. Realistically, a normal driver should average between 5.5L and 6L. Equally strong are the 300's brakes which, regenerating or not, are powerful and easy to modulate.

What Lexus' are clearly about is comfort, and on the road the ES300h delivers like few cars. The uber-tight chassis, along with a fully independent suspension hell-bent on isolating the road for occupants, translate into a cosseting ride that everyone -- and I do mean everyone -- will appreciate.

The Atkinson-cycle 2.5L 4-cylinder and electric motor make up what is Lexus' Hybrid Drive system. (Photo: Olivier Croteau)

For the old at heart
As a daily driver, the 2013 Lexus ES300h is possibly the most refined ride out there. And, at $43,900, it's quite nearly affordable. As tested, my car only included the optional Navigation Package which brought the price up to $45,700.

At $34,990, the Acura ILX hybrid is the only current challenger in the luxury segment, but it's closer to the CT200h. The only other consideration will be the 2013 Lincoln MKZ hybrid, however, as I write these lines, pricing has yet to be announced.

The 2013 Lexus ES300h is good, but because it is so velvety and underwhelming aesthetically, I would feel “old” purchasing one. For the time being, I want to show off and have my senses tingled on occasion. When I get old, I know I'm gonna end up in one of these.

Seeing clearly and being seen clearly by other motorists is key to proactive safety on the road in any season -- especially in wintertime.

When warm weather and daylight hours diminish in advance of the cold weather, visibility diminishes, too. Drivers spend more time travelling after the sun's gone down, as well as in rapidly changing weather conditions that can surround them with blowing snow, rain or fog.

During the winter, the high-visibility driving most motorists take for granted in the summer months can quickly disappear. Here are a few tips to maximize visibility on the go this winter to enhance safety for you, your passengers, and your fellow motorists.

Have your Lights Checked
If your headlight aim is out of whack, even a new set of bulbs won't help improve lighting quality. Check with your dealership or owner's manual for proper aiming procedures which can typically be carried out in a few minutes with a screwdriver. Note that headlight bulbs wear out and dim over time, so sometimes a simple bulb change is all that's needed to improve visibility.

Photo: Matthieu Lambert

Upgrade your Illumination
Some drivers may wish to consider upgrading their factory bulbs, which are typically selected for cost, not quality.

John Todorovic, Senior Application Engineer for SYLVANIA explains: “There is a relationship between lamp life, light output and colour temperature. In addition to meeting regulatory requirements, automakers are concerned with having lamps last the length of the car's warranty which may override their concerns to optimize both light output and colour temperature.”

Looking for the ultimate in headlight performance for your ride? Consider a xenon HID retrofit kit from your favourite custom car shop. A quality HID kit for your ride will turn the dial up on illumination in a big way.

Winter Wipers
Many windsheild wipers have hinges and moving parts that can collect water, ice and snow in the winter months that cause them to freeze up and become ineffective. Solution? Winter wiper blades. These have a rubber or plastic cover to keep ice out of the hinges. Hinge-less, reflex-style blades are great in the winter, too.

Look for Premium Lighting
Shopping for a new ride? More automakers than ever offer premium lighting technologies in affordable models. If available, features like xenon HID headlamps, adaptive headlights, LED taillights and a headlight washer system all work to provide optimal visibility in bad weather. Some models from companies like Subaru, Hyundai and Toyota even have heated wipers, ensuring you won't suffer from a dangerous ice-up that impedes windshield-wiper performance all together.

Keep it Clear
Remember: In most provinces, driving a car covered in snow and ice can get you a ticket. It's common sense, but don't forget to clear snow and ice from your ride before you set off. Salt film should be cleared from your headlights and taillights whenever it starts impeding visibility, too.

Use the Good Washer Fluid
You've probably seen that yellow “De-Icer” washer fluid from RainX at your local retailer. It's a buck or two more than the cheap, blue stuff, but it's money well spent since it doesn't freeze and smear when it's cold outside (not even at 30 below).

At extreme temperatures that see cheaper washer fluids icing up on the windshield and blocking visibility, Rain-X only “freezes” for a fraction of a second. In a pinch, you can even mix it with the cheap stuff to improve its effectiveness and make the bottle of Rain-X last longer. Drivers benefit from a faster clearing action, built-in water repellency, and less ice buildup on the wipers.

Rachel Agnew, the Car Care Brand Manager at Shell Lubricants, explains what goes into Rain-X to make it different.

“Rain-X De-Icer windshield washer fluid is infused with water-repelling technology that seals the microscopic pores of glass with a super-slick, invisible barrier that repels rain, sleet and snow on contact. It resists freezing and streaking when it's very cold, thanks to the -40°C rated anti-freeze built into the formula”.

Don't Forget the Housings
When it comes to illumination, headlight bulbs tend to get the most attention. However, even with high-performance bulbs and proper aiming, a damaged, cracked or faded headlight housing may impede proper light transmission. Have a close look at your headlights and check for condensation inside, as well as cracks or a frosted, faded look.

Headlights should be clear and clean, not covered in years of tiny rock chips and weather damage. If your bulb housings are yellowed or appear cloudy, you'll want to consider repairing or replacing them. An application of plastic polish, which you'll find near the car wax at your local retailer, may help. Retailers offer “headlight restoration” kits, too.

From GMM

As Turkey's hopes fade, it looks increasingly possible that Austria will return to the F1 calendar in 2013.

This week, at Bernie Ecclestone's request, the FIA reserved a date for an unidentified additional European race next year.

Istanbul Park's new operator Vural Ak then announced he had reached an agreement "in principle" with the F1 chief executive, pending the Turkish government's support.

Turkey, however, has said no.

"There is nothing on the government's agenda about the return of formula one to Turkey," sports minister Suat Kilic told the Anatolia news agency. "This is an issue that entirely concerns the private sector."

Earlier, Austria was suggested as a possible alternative to Turkey for the extra 2013 race date.

The A1-Ring, owned and recently refurbished and re-launched by the energy drinks company, is now called the Red Bull Ring.

And writing in Eurosport, leading F1 business journalist Christian Sylt said Formula One Licensing in 2012 registered a trademark to the name Austrian Grand Prix.

Audi is reportedly working on a 1.0L car that could achieve 282 mpg, equal to 0.83L/100km. Seriously.

The frugal four-seater is related to the Volkswagen L1 concept from 2009, which weighed a mere 380 kilograms and used a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain. In Audi's case, however, we're talking about a gasoline-electric hybrid.

Audi A1. (Photo: Audi)

The company says that the A1-inspired hypermiling hero offers all the creature comforts of typical cars, including air conditioning.

Sounds too good to be true? We'll see...

Set to arrive at Canadian dealers in the first quarter of 2013, the new 2013 Buick Encore will offer three trim levels: Convenience, Leather, and Premium.

The base Convenience Group will start at $26,895 and include 18'' alloy wheels, ten airbags, fog lights, and a 7'' high-resolution display radio with IntelliLink connectivity, among other features.

At $30,190, the mid-level Leather Group adds leather upholstery, heated front seats and steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, remote start, a power adjustable passenger's seat, and driver's seat memory functions.

Finally, the top-of-the-line Premium Group will retail for $32,505. Noteworthy items here include front and rear park assist, Forward Collision Alert with Lane Departure Warning, a seven-speaker Bose premium audio system, rain-sensing wipers, XM satellite radio, and chrome wheels.

The 2013 Buick Encore's estimated fuel consumption is 8.2L/100km (city) and 6.0L/100km (highway) for FWD models. AWD is optional.

Photo: Buick

The Italian Formula 3 championship, that has been a fixture since 1964, will not be held from 2013, the Italian federation announced.

The field got smaller year after year, with only ten cars at the start of this year's final rounds. The championship ran mainly Dallara cars built in 2008, but also few Mygale chassis.

The Italian federation will now focus on its Formula Abarth series, which runs Tatuus chassis powered by 1.4 litre Fiat engines.

Photo: Acisportitalia.it/F3

From GMM

Red Bull designer Adrian Newey has confirmed reports the successor to his title-winning RB8 single seater will be launched slightly late.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner admitted this week that progress with the Renault-powered RB9 is running "a little late".

"We will be ready later than we would like," Newey is now quoted by Spain's El Mundo Deportivo. "We had to focus until the last moment on development of the RB8 in order to retain the two titles. But it's not a serious problem, because the RB9 is an evolution of the current (RB8) car."

Despite of the delay, team Red Bull remains confident for 2013. (Photo: WRi2)

The small Spanish Formula 1 team, HRT, may well have contested its third and final season in Formula 1 as it has not been sold in time to register for the 2013 World Championship.

In 2012, HRT ranked 12th, and last in the Constructors' Championship after it failed to score a single point.

Pedro De la Rosa. (Photo: HRT F1 Team)

Pedro de la Rosa
Best place in qualifications: 20th
Best race result: 17th (4 times)
Retired 4 times

Narain Karthikeyan
Best place in qualifications: 21st (once)
Best race result: 15th Monaco
Retired 7 times

In 2009, HRT F1 Team -- founded by former driver, Adrián Campos -- became the first Spanish team in history to obtain the license to compete in the Formula 1 World Championship for 2010. Unfortunately, the decision was taken when Spain had just entered a very serious economic crisis. No local company could affort to sponsor the new team.

It was sold to José Ramón Carabante before its debut in 2010, and then to investment group, Thesan Capital in July 2011.

Colin Kolles (ex-Force India) was team principal, however, the Romanian quit HRT last summer along with his mechanics and equipment, leaving the small team without a base.

HRT F112. (Photo: HRT F1 Team)

Despite the fact that the F112 cars were powered by Cosworth engines, they were terribly slow and aerodynamically inefficient. Indian, Narain Karthikeyan, scored the team's best result this year at Monaco (after nine cars retired...), but the vastly experienced Pedro de la Rosa was far more consistent.

The history of HRT can be summarised as a complete disaster. Yes, the Formula 1 circus needs the smaller teams to put on a good show, but HRT never had the budget, the technical expertise nor the infrastructure to compete at this level.

Go back four years and picture yourself as the proud owner of a new 4-cylinder 2009 Toyota Venza. After having painstakingly shopped and meticulously measured every aspect of each member in the midsize crossover segment, you made your choice.

Fast forward four years and the time has come to the replace your summer tires. The purchase of 17” winter tire and wheels was a big enough shock shortly after the purchase, but now the real trauma comes. The replacement cost of your P245/55R19 summer tires that slide over those gorgeous wheels that caught your attention four years ago is pricey as hell.

As a careful consumer, you are conscientious of the price/quality quotient and are not prepared to sacrifice performance and safety to save a few dollars. Time spent searching for pricing on the internet and on the phone reveals that a midrange tire costs between $250 and $275. Multiplied by four, plus taxes and installation, the grand total hovers in the vicinity of $1,250. Ouch.

Never saw that coming, did you? It's a good thing you did not spring for the V6 as its standard wheels are 20” in diameter; they retail for roughly $30 more a piece.

What's one to do to avoid this? Nothing really except bend down in the showroom and take a close look at the wheels and tires to see the sizes. Alternatively, pick up and carefully study the car's specifications. Even so, you'll find that 18” are a very common sight these days.

In the past, vehicles that were shod with 17” or 18” were all about performance and styling, and tire costs (back then) were astronomical. Today, 17” wheels are standard on most midsize vehicles and because of this volume, tires these sizes have become “affordable.”

The story will most likely play out in much the same way for those, like yours truly, with 19” tires on their vehicles. 18” tires are a dime a dozen or there about so 19” will become more attainable. If you've got 22s on your ride, better luck in the next decade.

One thing to always consider is that the cost of making tires is constantly on the rise. We may never get away with inexpensive tires again...

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

As far as extreme makeovers go, this one probably takes the cake. A Fiat Panda 4x4 has just been turned into a Monster Truck for a TV spot that will air in early 2013 with the slogan '''New Panda, extremely Panda.''

Standing 3.9 metres high and riding on 150cm x 50cm (59'' x 20'') road tractor wheels with "High Speed" tires, not to mention a Jeep Wrangler floor panel, the monstrous Panda looks totally out of proportion.

Fiat Panda 4x4 Monster Truck. (Photo: Fiat)

It took the Italian automaker two full weeks to make it operational, in collaboration with Mercurio Cinematografica, set designer Andrea Faini and the Fabio Gementi Workshop.

The commercial shows four friends setting off for a weekend in the mountains. The Panda 4x4 Monster Truck climbs up to a hostel and stuns everyone with its performance. And when the driver, thinking that he's on a normal Panda 4x4, gets down from the car, he ends up falling two metres onto a cushion of snow, to the laughter of his friends.

So, do you prefer the Fiat Panda 4x4 Monster Truck or the 2006 smart forfun?

Adapted from GMM

Mark Webber is making plans to beat his teammate in 2013.

But Webber's teammate is none other than Sebastian Vettel, the triple consecutive and reigning world champion who can now be mentioned in the same breath as greats including Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna and Jackie Stewart.

Australian Webber, however, who has shared the Red Bull garage with the 11-years-younger Vettel throughout the German's title dominance, is not ready to admit defeat.

He recently denied he is sliding into a "supporting role" for Vettel, and in a new interview with Fox Sports News insisted he can match the 25-year-old for sheer pace.

"Sebastian's strength is qualifying, and it was 10-11 this year in his favour," Mark Webber said. "Two races he had me over one lap on sheer pace. You don't get anything for that, but the team know that's also a measure of if you can put it out there over one lap."

Mark Webber, winner in Monaco. (Photo: Red Bull Racing)

Former Formula One racer Rubens Barrichello would like to get another shot at IndyCar but the Brazilian has still got a long way to go before being able to secure a seat for 2013.

Barrichello had been linked with the Schmidt Hamilton squad, since leaving KV Racing at the end of the last season, to partner Simon Pagenaud but the a large part of the budget needed to seal the deal is still missing.

Rubens Barrichello, KV Racing. (Photo: LAT for IndyCar)

The veteran is working hard at trying to make things happen but he still has to knock on doors to try and find sponsors that would be willing to support him for a second season in IndyCar.

But, even though Barrichello would be keen to return to the North American open wheel scene, he is also aware of the lucrative offers he has received to race stock cars in Brazil and the chance he would have to stay home with his family.

It is now up to numbers. A seat at Schmidt Hamilton cost about $3 million for a year and the former Ferrari ace has secured only half of this amount. One thing for sure, Barrichello says, unless he has the budget to run a full season he won't be back to run a partial calendar for sure.

Ambient Auto Centre in Oklahoma is reportedly scamming Canadian car buyers looking for great deals. Other than a website, the dealership doesn't appear to exist anywhere, according to Canadian and American regulators.

"It's just a complete scam," said John Cobb, an investigator with the Oklahoma Used Motor Vehicle and Parts Commission. "They're trying to get a victim on the hook to wire them the money for a vehicle."



Ambient Auto Centre advertises high-end, late-model vehicles at prices well below normal on Canadian websites such as AutoTrader, Wheels, eBay, Craigslist, Kijiji, and Autocatch. It also promises to ship them all the way to Canada. None of that is true, however. Cobb said that buyers would be out of any money sent.

There are no known victims of the scam at this point, but potential buyers should remain alert.

Terry O'Keefe, from the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council, warns consumers to take extra precautions when buying a vehicle online: You may have no recourse if a dream deal turns into a nightmare.

Source: Winniped Free Press

As Auto123.com revealed a few weeks ago, an agreement between Lotus and the IndyCar series officials has been reached and the engine manufacturer is officially leaving the North American open wheel series.

With the introduction of the new IndyCar chassis/engine regulations, Lotus joined Honda and Chevrolet to supply engines to different teams for the 2012 season.

Photo: Lotus

On the outset, the Lotus V6 was plagued by numerous problems that eventually led to its downfall. The development program started late and that cause Lotus to lag behind both Honda and Chevrolet.

Lotus was first linked with teams Dreyer & Reinbold, Dragon, Bryan Herta Autosport and HVM but when the time came for the Indy 500; all the teams had left but HVM.

Lotus was never able to supply an up-to-par engine and, although Sebastien Bourdais was able to show good form on the road courses, the engine was well under power on the ovals. This lack of power forced the officials at the Indy 500 to black flag the Lotus cars due to their lack of speed.

IndyCar officials announced on Friday that Lotus had been released from its contract to supply engines to teams in the series, meaning that Chevrolet and Honda must now each be able to supply a minimum 60 per cent of the grid next season.