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Opel aims to boost its sales volumes in China sixfold as it seeks to counter its shrinking home market, CEO Karl-Friedrich Stracke told a German newspaper.

General Motors Thailand's factory in Rayong has begun production of the Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV, a derivative of the Colorado pickup truck line it began building in 2011.

Ford is revamping its internal five-year business plan to take into account the marked deterioration in the European economy over the last year, Chief Financial Officer Bob Shanks said.

Renault is cutting back on shifts at its plant in Cordoba, Argentina, after a drop in sales prompted by slowing demand in neighboring Brazil.

Hyundai will build its i10 minicar for European markets in Turkey instead of India. The automaker expects the move to boost its overall sales in Europe.

Thanks to its EV P001, Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) holds the electric lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Now, with the EV P002, it's taking on one of the world's most worthy adversary.

The famous Colorado Pikes Peak.

The EV P002 is based on a Radical chassis, and powered by a high performance electric power-train, developed in TMG's advanced electric and electronic department. The two axial flux motors develop 350 kW - almost 470 horsepower.

Toyota EV P002. (Photo: TMG)

The advantage the EV P002 has over normal cars on the Pikes Peak course - which reaches 4,300 m high - is the fact it doesn't need air. Therefore, it will still produce maximum power despite the thin atmosphere at high altitude.

The predicted top speed on the climb is 240 km/h.



"Electric power-train technology in motorsport is still in its development phase," Ludwig Zeller, TMG's Electric & Electronics general manager points out.

"But through projects like this one, TMG is laying the foundations for the future of high-performance and motorsport cars."

The EV P002 has already successfully completed a three-day test at the Paul Ricard circuit in Southern France, in preparation for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, which is held in Colorado, on July 8.

Toyota EV P002. (Photo: TMG)

Source: TMG Press release

Former Peugeot Sport driver Franck Montagny will replace injured Guillaume Moreau in the OAK Pescarolo LMP1 in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Montagny, who remained without any seat after Peugeot Sport's withdrawal from endurance, only raced the ALMS round at Laguna Seca this season, taking LMP2 victory with the Level 5's HPD car.

The Frenchman, who will run his 12th Le Mans 24 Hours this year, will join Bertrand Baguette and Dominik Kraihamer.

Photo: OAK Racing

Did you know your insurance costs could go up if you are caught with too much alcohol in your blood? Your insurance premiums could also go up if your child is pulled over, except your limit is .08 and his is .00! All over the country, drivers convicted of impaired driving, or who have refused to give blood or breath samples, are subject to major insurance restrictions.

Noteworthy: in many areas of the country, insurance companies have the right to claim back, from a driver at fault, any amount paid by virtue of the client's liability insurance.


This means impaired drivers are on their own, because they lose the financial protection of their civil liability insurance. The insurer has the right to sue you to get its money back. In other words, no matter who was driving when the accident happened, the owner of the vehicle must assume the consequences.

When you lend your vehicle, even to your kids, you are expected to make sure it is to someone with a valid driving license who promises to stay sober. Many people are not aware of the risks they take when they let an irresponsible person drive their car.

Parents should know the law, and make their kids understand it. Not just the law, but the consequences of overlooking it, too. However redundant it may seem to be, when you see how aggressive some kids are on the road - or how many accidents happen - around this time of the year, you wonder. Parents must remember they have responsibilities towards their children.

43% of young drivers involved in fatal crashes had alcohol in their blood and 50% of them were driving too fast. So make sure your kids know the rules and their consequences. By all means, talk them into promising not doing anything they might regret. The memory of your kids' prom day should be one to treasure, not a crippled car shell containing your kid's and his best friends' corpses.

Source: R. Solomon « Alcohol, Teens And Catastrophe: What Every Parent Needs To Know About Avoiding Alcohol Liability » (Mississauga : MADD Canada, 2004).

From GMM

Lots of new and shiny upgrades could be seen in the Montreal paddock on Thursday.

Spanish sports daily Marca said the new exhaust on Ferrari's car is a refined version of what the Italian team intended to debut on the F2012 at the start of the season.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said it is similar to McLaren's solution.

"How much better (it is) is difficult to say, we just need to try it," said Felipe Massa, who will back-to-back test the configuration alongside Fernando Alonso on Friday.

Photo: Ferrari

Over at Barcelona winner Williams' garage, a reportedly radical rear wing is ready to run.

"Especially in the activated DRS position," said Auto Motor und Sport, "it will bring more top speed."

McLaren's Montreal upgrade is comparatively minor, but it is designed to cut out troublesome pitstop errors.

It is the Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari-style 'nut-in-the-wheel' solution, which made its debut in the McLaren pit area only on the rear wheels in Monaco.

Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel said on Thursday he thinks F1's top teams will soon stop the 'lottery' that has been seen so far in 2012.

"Perhaps Lewis Hamilton or even Michael Schumacher will win a race now," said the Red Bull driver, admitting an unprecedented seventh different winner could win the seventh race of 2012.

But he added: "I think the 'lottery' will stop here, or at the latest in Valencia. I don't think we are going to see 20 different winners," smiled Vettel.

Injured in a crash at Spa last Sunday, Richie Stanaway will miss the remaining races of this season.

After his car was launched over the back of Carlos Huertas' machine in race 2, the Kiwi suffers two broken vertebrae.

"I will need three-to-six months to recover from my back injury," Stanaway said. "Unfortunately that means I will miss the rest of the race season. Disappointing obviously, but at times like these I'm just happy that with the type of injury I sustained that I will make a full recovery".

From GMM

Mark Webber has admitted his return to form in 2012 has triggered the interest of rival F1 teams.

The Australian struggled alongside reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel last year, but two weeks ago in Monaco he returned to the top step of the podium.

Webber, 35, is now equal on points with his younger teammate, and just three points from Fernando Alonso's title lead.

Mark Webber won the Monaco Grand Prix. (Photo: Red Bull Racing)

"It was a long season last year," he told French Canadian newspaper La Presse in Montreal. "But this year is very similar to 2010 for me: I started strong and I fought for the championship until the end."

It is a timely boost of Webber's form amid rumours of talks with Ferrari, as his Red Bull contract runs out at the end of the season.

"This is a results-based industry," said Webber. "This season is going well for me.

"To see that some other teams are interested in my services is nice," he admitted in Montreal.

"But I am very, very happy at Red Bull. We've done a lot together. It's just rumours for now, but it makes me a bit more comfortable, that I am having good results makes the other teams realise that I am doing better than an average job," he insisted.

Group Lotus confirmed on Thursday that Mr Dany Bahar is replaced by Mr Aslam Farikullah as CEO of Lotus with immediate effect.

The press release says: "The decision was made by the Board of Group Lotus plc following the results of an investigation into a complaint made against him by the company's penultimate holding company, DRB-HICOM Berhad."

Group Lotus headquarter. (Photo: Group Lotus plc)

Dato' Sri Haji Mohd Khamil Jamil, Group Managing Director of DRB-HICOM Berhad and also Chairman of Lotus said: “I would like to assure you that we remain committed to ensure the ongoing and future business operations of the Lotus Group as we take the Lotus Group to the next level to remain relevant in the global automotive industry. I look forward to bringing mutual benefits to not only DRB-HICOM and PROTON Holdings Berhad but also the Lotus Group and its employees as well as contribute to the growth of the British automotive industry.”

Buying a performance luxury car or a full-tilt luxury SUV obviously means high monthly payments. It also means you get to drive a thrilling, sumptuously crafted machine that's an object of desire for the many people who can't afford one.

Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Jaguar Land Rover Canada

There are other perks to being a loyal client of certain manufacturers besides receiving a Christmas card every year.

The Jaguar & Land Rover Experience Tour is one shining example. I've attended such events before, as several luxury car brands are into this type of promotional tour. However, this one was quite particular because it involved simultaneous high-speed and low-speed action.

The Montreal event I was invited to was held at the Circuit ICAR in Mirabel. Next to the racetrack, an off-road course was set up, consisting of steep up- and downgrades, uneven surfaces and even a basin with a water depth of about three feet.

Besides a handful of journalists, attendees included existing Jaguar and/or Land Rover owners, potential customers or guests through a partnership with American Express.

Each participant gets to drive a few laps around the track in a handful of Jaguar models including, among others, an XJ Supercharged, an XFR, and XKR and a mighty XKR-S. Not bad. They also get to tackle the off-road course aboard a Range Rover, a Range Rover Sport and an LR4. The less capable Evoque could also be driven on a mild and muddy course, not on the real rough stuff.

Those who are hungry for a bigger off-road challenge can pick up a pamphlet on Land Rover's driving schools, including one in Canada located in Montebello, Quebec.

Obviously, this event is a small yet rousing sample of what these cars and trucks can do in their respective elements. It was actually quite a challenge slicing through an apex aboard an XKR, while trying to keep your concentration as a Range Rover's underbody was in full view near the side of the track, perched at the top of a mound.

We journalists have had higher levels of track and off-road experience before, but for most in attendance, it was their first time trying out both. Maybe, just maybe, the Jaguar owner has just been convinced to buy a Land Rover for next winter, or to buy the most recent Jag.

And that's the whole idea behind such an event; sitting potential clients in cars and trucks and letting them drive in the best of situations is the most effective way of getting them hooked. It worked for me, anyway; too bad I can't afford any of them. For now, a Jaguar & Land Rover Christmas card is a good start.

Photo: Michel Deslauriers

From GMM

Protesters attempted to disrupt 'Le Grand Soir' event attended by Bernie Ecclestone on Thursday.

The F1 chief executive - as well as other F1 dignitaries including 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve - was at a cocktail gala for this weekend's formula one race in Montreal when riot police moved in on a group of masked protesters.

About 20 were arrested, the Canadian Press reported.

Asked what message he had for protesting university students, former Williams and Sauber driver Villeneuve answered: "Go back to school.

"It's time for people to wake up and stop loafing about. It's lasted long enough," he blasted. "They spoke, we heard, and now it's time to go back to school."

Bernie Ecclestone said he hoped the protesters would not attempt to disrupt the actual track action this weekend.

"It would be terrible if somebody got killed like that, you know, running across the track," said the 81-year-old.

Usually the most vocal driver on political matters is the plain-speaking Australian Mark Webber.

"I'm not completely up to speed with what's going on," the Monaco winner said on Thursday.

"I'm not saying it's a minority, but sometimes when there's a little bit of tension then some other people can lose out. I'm sure the weekend will go well," Webber added.

Dr. R. Andrew Hicks, a math professor at Drexel University's College of Arts and Sciences, received a US patent for a new side mirror that eliminates blind spots. The slightly curved glass has a field of view of about 45 degrees, compared to 15-17 degrees of view in a flat mirror.

Photo: R. Andrew Hicks, Drexel

Traditional mirrors give the driver an accurate sense of the distance of cars behind them but have a very narrow field of view. The curved design created by Hicks, however, provides a ''wide, but not-too-distorted, picture of the scene behind him.''

Problem is, US regulations dictate that production cars must have a flat mirror on the driver's side. Curved mirrors are allowed on the passenger's side only if they include the mention "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear."

A number of countries in Europe and Asia do allow slightly curved mirrors on new cars, and it appears that Hicks has already generated interest among foreign investors and manufacturers.


_{Source: Phys.org}

From GMM

Lewis Hamilton has admitted he has thought about leaving McLaren at the end of the season.

But the 2008 world champion also indicated he is likely to stay put.

27-year-old Hamilton's contract expires at the end of 2012, but speculation about his plans have lingered for some time.

McLaren's managing director Jonathan Neale said this week the Woking based team wants to retain the Briton.

But when asked in Montreal on Thursday if he could wait until the season is over before making a decision, Hamilton answered: "Possibly.

"I am not in any rush, no rush at all, so there is no need to do it now," he added.

It has been rumoured the hold-up is not just about money, but also Hamilton's time off and freedom to separately exploit his image commercially.

"I've thought of a move," Hamilton told London's Evening Standard newspaper, while indicating he will probably extend his long McLaren tenure.

"At some stage my management will have to sit down and start planning. I'm very happy where I am so I think it may be fairly simple," he added.

Lewis Hamilton. (Photo: McLaren)

McLaren's top team rivals all have theoretical vacancies for 2013, as Michael Schumacher (Mercedes), Mark Webber (Red Bull) and Felipe Massa (Ferrari) have expiring contracts.

"I know Sebastian Vettel has said he wants to drive for Ferrari and Mercedes, teams with a big tradition," said Hamilton.

"I don't feel like it's a dream to drive for Ferrari. I already drive for another great brand that makes beautiful cars. The McLaren is the best car out there, I believe, and the team has a great history."

Quickest in this morning's first free practice session at the Grand Prix of Canada, Briton Lewis Hamilton repeated his feat this afternoon, beating the two Ferraris.

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren (Photo: WRI2)

Fernando Alonso proved that the Ferrari F2012 was fast on Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, setting the fastest time early in the session. But the Spaniard had a few off-course excursions during the session, spinning out of control once.

The session was red flagged when Bruno Senna planted his Williams-Renault in the “Bonjour Québec” wall, damaging the car.

Several drivers short cut the last chicane and missed apexes during this one hour an a half session.

Flow-viz paint on the brake ducts of the Ferrari. (Photo: WRI2)

At the restart, Hamilton ran the quickest lap of the day. With 20 minutes to go, Felipe Massa (Ferrari) took second place but minutes later his teammate Alonso beat him.

Hamilton's teammate, Jenson Button exited the garage with only 15 minutes to go in the session. The team had to change the seal of the gearbox after the first practice session. However, after the work was done, the mechanics found another problem. Button ended up in 9th place, having run only 14 laps compared to 43 for Hamilton.

At the chequered, Hamilton was still quickest with a time of 1m15.259, The two Ferraris of Alonso and Massa ended the day in second and third places, respectively.

Vettel's Red Bull was fitted with this impressive rack of Pitot tubes. (Photo: WRI2)

Fourth was reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel in the Red Bull, followed by Paul Di Resta (Force India), Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber), Michael Schumacher (Mercedes), Nico Hulkenberg in the other Force India, Button and Nico Rosberg in 10th place in the second Mercedes.

The Lotuses were disappointing. Romain Grosjean was classified 14th, in front of his famed teammate, Kimi Raikkonen.

Heikki Kovalainen put his Caterham in 16th place ahead of the two Toro Rossos.

Grand Prix of Canada, Montreal, free practice 2*:

1 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'15"259
2 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1'15"313
3 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1'15"410
4 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'15"531
5 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'15"544
6 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'15"651
7 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'15"697
8 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'15"799
9 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'15"812
10 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'15"878
11 - Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'15"898
12 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'15"907
13 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'15"987
14 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'16"360
15 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'16"562
16 - Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'16"981
17 - Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'17"022
18 - Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'17"075
19 - Jean Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'17"124
20 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'17"716
21 - Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'18"908
22 - Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'19"084
23 - Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'19"378
24 - Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'19"902
*Unofficial timing

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton clinched the best time in the first free practice session of the Grand Prix of Canada in Montreal.

The morning session started in relatively cool temperatures and under grey skies.

The two Lotuses were the first cars in action with Romain Grosjean setting the pace early. Then, Mercedes' Nico Rosberg and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton led the field.

There was a bit of rain after half an hour of running, causing a few drivers to skid off the track with no harm.

However, Heikki Kovalainen crashed his Caterham against the wall when exiting the first chicane, causing the session to be red flagged.

The green was given after the track was cleared and Rosberg then Hamilton again battled to set the fastest time. The McLaren driver was the fastest in the second and third sectors. Interestingly, Fernando Alonso of Ferrari was fastest in the first sector.

His Red Bull shod in super soft tires, Sebastian Vettel moved up the grid, setting the third time, and then the second fastest time in his last lap.

At the end, Hamilton emerged quickest overall with a 1m15.564, beating Vettel and Rosberg.

Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, driving a Ferrari F2012 fitted with a brand new exhaust system.

Red Bull's Mark Webber was fifth ahead of Nico Hulkenberg (Force India), Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber), his teammate Sergio Pérez, Michael Schumacher (Mercedes) and Jenson Button in the second McLaren.

Grand Prix of Canada, Montreal
Friday, June 8, 2012 - Free practice 1 results*

1 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'15"564 - 30 laps
2 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'15"682 - 29
3 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'15"782 - 30
4 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1'15"842 - 34
5 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'15"897 - 28
6 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'15"986 - 29
7 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'16"000 - 31
8 - Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'16"249 - 32
9 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'16"264 - 28
10 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'16"347 - 12
11 - Paul di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'16"460 - 32
12 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1'16"619 - 17
13 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'16"859 - 25
14 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'16"890 - 36
15 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'17"014 - 41
16 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'17"352 - 28
17 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'17"580 - 31
18 - Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'17"935 - 23
19 - Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'18"177 - 16
20 - Pedro de La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'18"182 - 26
21 - Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'18"762 - 36
22 - Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'19"354 - 23
23 - Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'20"004 - 21
24 - Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'20"067 - 23

* Unofficial results

As a racing driver, as the car builder who brought us Mustangs and Cobras, as the

Yoshihiko Kanamori, the chief engineer for the new Lexus GS, has revealed to just-auto that Toyota is developing a new, smaller capacity hybrid powertrain.