Auto News 5

The combination of gas at an all-time high of $1.50 per litre last week in Vancouver and a consumption rate of 20L/100km encountered in this week's Ford F-150 Harley Davidson tester really hammered home the financial penalty one is subjected to for driving inefficient vehicles.

For many owners of pickup trucks and SUVs, there's a demonstrable need to be addressed with such a vehicle, and that may justify - or in fact, require - owning a gas-guzzling behemoth; in many other cases though, ownership may not be so much needs based as desire based.

Regardless of the reasons for ownership, simple math begins to paint an ominous picture, especially if long commutes are involved.

It's not unheard of these days to achieve fuel economy in the 5L/100km range with comfortable spacious vehicles such as the Toyota Prius and the Volkswagen Jetta TDI.

Assuming such vehicles consume 25% of the fuel that 4x4 crew cab pickups burn, a $100 fill-up becomes $25. Extrapolate the savings over a year of driving (averaged out to be 20,000km), and the annual savings could easily return $4,500 to the wallet.

Over a five year term, that's $22,500.

Maybe it's time to rethink what our automotive needs truly are and how they can be more efficiently addressed. If a pickup truck is only needed once a month, maybe renting would be the way to go. The same when a large SUV is needed for a family road trip.

For most everything else, a highly fuel-efficient vehicle may be a wiser choice. I don't see wage increases in today's financial environment keeping pace with the projected increases in fuel over the coming years, making the penalty for over-consumption hurt that much more.

2012 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson (Photo: Rob Rothwell)

On May 31^st, 2012, Bombardier announced that Primove, an innovative contactless charging solution for urban vehicles, will be put to the test as part of an electric bus project in the city of Braunschweig, Germany.

Based on the principle of inductive power transfer, Primove allows electric vehicles to be recharged either in motion or at idle without requiring a plug and cord. Incidentally, a smaller on-board battery pack can be used.

''As a global leader in rail technology, we have a bright vision for the cities of tomorrow. We imagine cities where all vehicles are electric - where mass transit vehicles do not alter the landscape but seamlessly integrate to provide quiet and emission-free urban mobility,'' said André Navarri, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bombardier Transportation.

Successful tests could one day lead to the system being applied to several types of vehicles including taxi cabs and delivery trucks.

Desmeules Fiat, the Italian automaker's largest retailer in Canada, offers a unique opportunity to win a Fiat 500 Gucci as part of the festivities surrounding the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.

Last year, the Laval-based dealership, in collaboration with the Fiat Alfa Romeo Club, did the same with a Fiat 500 Prima Edizione. The goal is now to raise $75,000 for the Shriners Hospital.

Tickets will be limited to 600 and sold at $100 apiece at Garage de Rêve Desmeules, located on St. Laurent Boulevard, on June 9-10. Gift cards will also be awarded to visitors. The draw will take place in October.

Desmeules Fiat is the main dealer sponsor for the 2012 Little Italy Racing Weekend. This popular area of Montreal has attracted legions of tourists and F1 enthusiasts over the years with its many trendy restaurants and boutiques. And with Desmeules on board, the atmosphere promises to be hot, hot hot!

Source: Desmeules Fiat

From Circuit of the Americas

Circuit of The Americas announced the date when members of the public can purchase three-day reserved grandstand bleacher seats and general admission tickets to the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, scheduled for Nov. 16-18, 2012.

Three-day reserved grandstand bleacher seats and general admission tickets to the highly anticipated event go on sale Sunday, June 10, at 10 a.m. EDT, at www.CircuitofTheAmericas.com/tickets.

Three-day general admission tickets are priced at an affordable $159 per person and allow fans to choose their views of the action from several grassy berms and spacious public areas surrounding the 375-acre facility.

Prices for reserved grandstand bleacher seats depend on location and are detailed in the table that follows:

Seating Areas Three-Day Price Per Person
General Admission $159
Grandstand - Turn 11 $269
Grandstand - Turns 2, 3, 4 and 5 $299
Grandstand - Turn 12 (lower rows) $399
Grandstand - Turn 12 (upper rows) $499

Illustration: Circuit of the Americas

All three-day reserved grandstand bleacher seats and general admission tickets include round-trip shuttle bus transportation from three designated park-and-ride locations in the greater Austin area.

Shuttle bus pick-up/drop-off locations include the corner of 15th Street and Trinity Street in downtown Austin, the Travis County Fair and Expo Center at 7311 Decker Lane, and at a location in southeast Travis County that will be announced this summer.

Race organisers provided a comparison of comparable tickets at various Grands Prix around the world.

2012 Formula 1 Grand Prix Three-Day Grandstand Reserved Seat Pricing Comparison*:

Monaco $520
Brazil $394
Britain $351
Australia $324
United States $269
Canada $264
Europe $247
Spain $234
Belgium $208
Singapore $195
Germany $194
Malaysia $179
Italy $169

*Prices listed are the lowest-priced grandstand seating options for the Grands Prix specified in the table.

The 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is capable, very capable. In fact, we set out to determine if the Raptor was all show and no go, but we quickly realized that it is nothing short of unstoppable.

We set our sights on Mecaglisse, a veritable playground for all things motorized. Here, we discovered that the Raptor can fly, swim and climb mountains. As we said, the 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is virtually unstoppable. We also found out that it can drift as well as be driven normally on the highway.

The perfect all-around vehicle? Check out the video and let us know what you think.

Next up
What the law says

It's that time of the year: graduation. Your teenager is anxiously waiting for his big moment; as a parent, your feel the pride of your little one growing up.

Growing up. The key word is "growing". Never forget your kid is not yet an adult, and that he is still under your responsibility - until he turns 18. Responsibilities include civil liability. Here are a few pointers before the graduation party season kicks off.

You decide to lend your car to your teenager, so he (or she) can drive himself to prom, like a adult would - or you let him take his own car, if he has one. Most of the time everything goes like clockwork, but you are better off setting some clear ground rules before anything bad happens.

Alcohol. We're reminded all the time on the TV and on the radio - alcohol and other illegal substances don't mix with driving. Still, it seems the message is not clear enough. Since it's prom night we're talking about, even if your kid is usually an angel, all it takes to lose control are a few friends riding along. Good habits go out the window very quickly.


Speed. Who never exceeded the speed limit during his youth? We all know, teenagers included, how badly it can end. But again, on an evening like prom night, especially with friends looking at you, it's easy to forget racing on the highway is a bad, bad idea.

Carpooling. Taking a ride with a friend doesn't makes the risks disappear. Would you get in a car driven by somebody who's had too much to drink, or is behaving aggressively? Don't force him to. Tell him to call you if he is about to get a ride with someone who shouldn't be driving.

With a combined adjusted miles-per-gallon equivalency rating of 118 MPGe (or 1.9L/100km), the 2013 Honda Fit EV trumps the Mitsubishi i-MiEV (112 MPGe or 2.1L/100km), Ford Focus Electric (105 MPGe or 2.2L/100km), and Nissan LEAF (99 MPGe or 2.4L/100km). That means the Fit EV's annual fuel cost amounts to just $500, which is remarkable.

Photo: Honda

Under the hood is a 92 kilowatt (123 horsepower) coaxial electric motor that generates 189 pounds-feet of torque as well as a battery that can be recharged in less than three hours from a low charge indicator illumination point when connected to a 240-volt circuit. A driver-selectable 3-mode electric drive system adapted from the CR-Z sport hybrid is also part of the equation.

Honda announced plans to begin leasing the Fit EV to customers in select California and Oregon markets this summer, followed by an East Coast rollout in 2013.

From GMM

Formula one's circuits have created a union designed to give them a greater say on the future of the sport, according to business journalist Christian Sylt.

He revealed in the Independent newspaper that the Formula One Promoters Association, created in May, is chaired by Australian grand prix chief Ron Walker.

Last year, it emerged that - led by Walker - F1's race promoters were threatening to switch to Indycar because the new six cylinder engines in 2014 will not be loud enough.

Now, Silverstone chairman Neil England has confirmed the founding of the F1 circuits' union.

"We have historically lacked a coordinated voice and the formula one promoters association gives us the opportunity to have that. There are a number of matters of common interest and I think it is important that those are voiced," he said.

The formation of the circuits' union coincides with the negotiations over the next Concorde Agreement.

Start of the 2012 Spanish Grand prix, Circuit de Catalunya. (Photo: Pirelli)

"The circuits' desire to have a say in (the technical regulations) is the driving force behind their decision to unite," said journalist Sylt.

Union chairman Ron Walker confirmed: "The circuits are concerned by the constant changing of rules by the FIA which is confusing the fans and affecting ticket sales."

He revealed that a survey in March showed that 92 per cent of the spectators at Albert Park this year did not understand F1's latest rules.

Certain cars and trucks, at the mere sight of them, tell stories, much like humans. Yet unlike humans, a car's cover can often be judged correctly.

A tall, dark and handsome man may turn out to be lousy in bed whereas a sculpted, low to the ground, growling and snarling Porsche 911 Turbo S will mess with your sense of equilibrium and make you question the laws of gravity.

There are numerous cars that send loud and clear messages and the same can be said about trucks. A Ram 2500 Laramie Longhorn 4x4 with a Cummins Diesel is clearly a workhorse. A Cadillac Escalade is about hard pimpin'. A 2012 Ford F-150 Raptor SVT sends perhaps the loudest and clearest message in the truck business: I'm the boss of you.


W I D E
Everything about the Raptor is on a different scale. The flared wheel arches are the biggest giveaway that the SVT-tuned F-150 is purpose-built. The Corolla-length-wide FORD script on the front grille is not a decorative feature either.

The 35-inch BF Goodrich All Terrain tires (LT315/70R17 BSW A/T) are not for show, nor are the FOX Racing shocks looming behind the Raptor's unique 17" wheels. In fact, the only decorative aspect of this truck is the $2,400 worth of graphics which, on this thing, fit.

As I've said, the Raptor is a purpose-built machine that can do nothing less than get passers-by to stare. Skid plates, twin rear side tailpipes and a ride height creeping into Freightliner territory, the 2012 Ford Raptor is as badass and dedicated to its business as any.

I guess I'm trying to dispel the fact that the Raptor is not a pretending poser-mobile, a type of vehicle that is becoming quite popular. You CAN take this vehicle off the beaten path and beat the path into submission.

The Raptor is a purpose-built machine that can do nothing less than get passers-by to stare. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

F-150 livery
The cabin receives a fair number of minor upgrades. The most obvious are the SVT tagged gauges, some branded auxiliary switches and, in the case of our tester, some specific blue moon vinyl and plastic accents.

With the navigation system, the Raptor features a front-mounted camera that displays the goings-on ahead of the truck's massive hood. The image is projected on the 4.2" screen, perfect for negotiating tight off-road courses or a shopping mall parking lot...

As with the regular F-150, the seats are large and comfortable and, in the case of the SuperCrew, rear passengers are treated to limo-like room. This is manifestly not the reason why you're reading this review. Let's get on with it.



Sharper claws
The 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is capable, very capable. In fact, we set out to find out if the Raptor was all show and no go but we quickly realized that it is nothing short of unstoppable.

All Raptors are powered by a 6.2L V8, the same found in the Harley-Davidson edition. When it launched in 2010, the truck was motivated by a 5.4L V8 and although it performed well, it could not cut the mustard as the most badass F-150's V8. At 411 hp and 434 lb-ft of torque, the 6.2L's massive power gets all 6,200+ lbs (2,820 kg) going with a bellowed roar to make a Ford Mustang GT look over its shoulder.

It's not that the 2012 Raptor is fast, it's just that it seems impossible that such a large mastodon of a behemoth can move so quickly about town and better yet, in the rough untamed stuff.

As the ultimate test, we set our sights on Mecaglisse, a veritable playground for all things motorized. Here we discovered that the Raptor can fly, swim and climb mountains. Check out our Ford F-150 SVT Raptor video; as we said, it is virtually unstoppable. We also found out that it can drift as well as be driven normally on highways.



SVT Raptor: The Conqueror
What makes the 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor such a menace on any surface is the combination of its 4x4 system with a trick Torsen front differential capable of pulling as much as the rear diff pushes, huge tires and, most of all, its crazy suspension.

The latter consists of independent coil-on-shock, double-wishbone FOX Racing Shox on aluminum and forged-steel arms. The rear is all about the live axle with leafs, Hotchkiss-type setup also with FOX Racing Shox.

By the way, FOX shox also equip the Local Motors Rally Fighter I recently tested. These shocks provide a perfect blend of control, comfort and confidence. You can clearly see how the truck is unruffled by the jumps and drifting in the video. Factor in 11.2" and 12.1" of suspension travel, front and rear, and you have the perfect all-terrain conquering vehicle.

It's simple: this is what the Raptor was designed to do.

With great power comes the need for great big brakes. Measuring nearly 14 inches front and back, the massive ventilated discs are seemingly indestructible. The amount of brake boost makes the pedal heavy but response and performance are excellent. Steering has little feedback but precision is surprising given the huge knobby tires.

At the mere sight of the 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, you can correctly guess that the thing sucks on gas like the Jersey Shore downs bottles of Vodka. My returned average was of 19.5L/100 km. In off-road conditions, that number can easily jump by 25%.

What makes the 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor such a menace on any surface is the combination of its 4x4 system, huge tires and, most of all, its crazy suspension. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

The Rapture comes...
...at a price. Other than needing a mortgage to keep the gas tank full, the $55,999 starting price is not in everyone's reach. Our tester wrung in at a whopping $64,749, which is a deal in fact as building your own uber-capable-off-road-baja-ninja-super-truck would cost considerably more. And don't forget that the Raptor carries a full warranty.

The Raptor is simply awesome, not for the faint of heart or wallet. When Armageddon comes, if you own one of these, your only worry will be filling up with fuel. As options, if the Raptor isn't your cup of tea, you may want to consider the Ram PowerWagon or a Chevy Silverado HD, but neither will cover ground with the same efficiency and admiring glares.

Toyota Tundra 4x4 CrewMax

Chevrolet Silverado HD LTZ

Ram Powerwagon

IZOD IndyCar series' officials said that the Lotus-powered Dallara of Swiss driver Simona de Silvestro is very likely to be back flagged if found ti be running too slow in this weekend's race at Texas Motor Speedway.

At the Indy 500 two weeks ago, the two Lotus entries of Jean Alesi and De Silvestro were black flagged during the race as they were unable to run within 105 per cent of the leader's pace. Since Fan Force United's Indianapolis entry for former F1 driver Alesi was a one-race effort, Simona de Silvestro remains the lone Lotus entry in the entire field.

Jean Alesi and Simona de Silvestro (Photo: IMS)

IndyCar race director Beaux Barfield told Autosport that the HVM car will not remain on the 1.5-mile, high banked oval if it is too slow.

Barfield declared: "Yes, it will (be black flagged), We're working with Lotus to try to find some solutions to keep them on track. We're trying to be patient about it, but the reality is that Texas is a difficult place, with the way they race there, to leave somebody out on the track who is off the pace. I'd like to be sympathetic and work with them, but safety is paramount."

Autosport added that Lotus IndyCar project manager Olivier Picquenot said developments are in the pipeline, but pointed out that having Texas just two weeks after Indy had not allowed enough time for them to be introduced.

Deltawing Nissan press release

The revolutionary Nissan DeltaWing completed its first running on the famous 8.5-mile Circuit de la Sarthe today - the home of the upcoming 80th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Invited to compete under the Automobile Club de l'Ouest's “Garage 56” classification that showcases new and innovative technology, the Nissan DeltaWing completed 54 laps with drivers Michael Krumm, Satoshi Motoyama and Marino Franchitti at the wheel.

Photo: DeltaWing

The team enjoyed a virtually trouble-free day and completed every lap but one on a single set of Michelin slick tires. A sole lap on wet tires during a brief rain shower was the only time the team switched tires all day.

Motoyama completed the fastest lap of the day at 3 minutes, 47.980 seconds. The Nissan DeltaWing technical, team led by concept originator Ben Bowlby, believe they are comfortably within reach of their target pace of 3 minutes, 45 seconds as requested by race officials.

With Motoyama not having raced at Le Mans since 1999 and Krumm since 2005, both drivers had to complete a mandatory 10 laps to qualify for the race.

Photo: DeltaWing

Both easily achieved that goal, Motoyama completing 19 laps and Krumm, 24. With Marino Franchitti handling most of the pre-event testing and development, the Scottish racer only handled 11 laps today - the team taking the opportunity to get his Japanese and German teammates more accustomed with the car.



The unique Nissan DeltaWing features half the weight, half the horsepower and half the aerodynamic drag of a typical prototype and is expected to enjoy significantly lower tire and fuel consumption.

"We've certainly had a very productive day and it has been great to get so many laps under our belt," said Marino Franchitti. "Other than the one lap I did on wets, we spent the entire day on a single set of Michelin tires which is quite amazing. The important thing for us today was to get Michael and Satoshi qualified for the race and we achieved that quite easily."

Photo: DeltaWing

"I'm really pleased for everyone involved in putting the Nissan DeltaWing program together. There has been an enormous amount of work and it is very gratifying that today has gone well. I've really been looking forward to driving the car and it didn't disappoint. We gathered a lot of data which we'll examine over the next week and work on making the car even better."

Photo: DeltaWing

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

There's a lot to discuss with the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco.

There's a lot to discuss with the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco, but the only thing on my mind is the ECO gauge. Did Chevy have a contest to see how useless and uninformative this seemingly simple gauge could be? There's a green zone in the middle and some white zones on the ends. Not a single number in sight. Since the needle is almost always in the green zone, I don't think it's adding any information for the driver. Why not an instantaneous mpg gauge here? Why not a fancier dash like Ford offers with the Fusion Hybrid?

Photo Gallery: 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

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Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, plans to quickly dispose of the federal government's remaining stake in GM, even at a loss, if he wins the November election. Romney, a frequent critic of the U.S.

May 2012 Auto Sales

The post-tsunami big bounce arrives.

May of 2011 was the month that saw new-car sales collapse at many of the Japanese automakers, as inventories dried up due to supply interruptions caused by the disaster in Japan. Today, the Japanese auto industry is back to full strength, which means some wild year-over-year sales increases for May.

Photo Gallery: May 2012 Auto Sales - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: May 2012 Auto Sales - Automobile Magazine

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Enterprise Holdings is making a move into hourly car rentals this year, joining Hertz Global Holdings in going after the growing niche created by Zipcar.

2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring - The Little Engine That Could

Low power and displacement had us fooled.

After being smitten with the clean looks of our Four Seasons 2013 Mazda CX-5, we are finding out that the beauty is more than skin deep. The CX-5 is the second car in Mazda's U.S. lineup to gain the automaker's new Skyactiv suite of powertrain engineering, after the 2012 Mazda3. Rather than opting for forced induction and higher final-drive ratios to find efficiency gains without losing performance, Skyactiv works to optimize a known quantity -the internal combustion engine. To up the engine's efficiency by a claimed 15 percent, Mazda increased the little four-banger's compression ratio to an incredibly high 13:1, added direct injection and electronically variable valve timing, lengthened piston stroke by 8.1 millimeters, and reduced internal friction.

Photo Gallery: 2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring - The Little Engine That Could - Four Seasons Update - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring - The Little Engine That Could - Four Seasons Update - Automobile Magazine

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2012 Fiat 500 Sport - Hitting the Highway

A surprisingly capable highway cruiser.

The Fiat 500 is the archetypal city car, but can it double as a comfortable highway cruiser? If spaciousness isn't a main concern, the Fiat is actually pretty good after going down an on-ramp.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Fiat 500 Sport - May Update - Four Seasons Update - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Fiat 500 Sport - May Update - Four Seasons Update - Automobile Magazine

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Nissan took another step toward competing in this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans on Monday.

Volkswagen is mulling a crossover version of the future Jetta SportWagen along the lines of the recently introduced Alltrack concept.

The gorgeous, over-restored 1948 Chrysler Town and Country pictured above did not sell at Mecum's Indianapolis sale last month.