Auto News 5

Toyota wants to replace older workers in the US with younger ones and is seeking voluntary retirement of 2,000 employees, about 10% of its total headcount in the country.

Hong Kong-based DCH Holdings plans to invest about NT$1bn (US$33.3m) to set up a plant in Taiwan to assemble Isuzu trucks through its local subsidiary, Taipei Triangle Motors, the local importer.

News 5 Dec, 2012

New BMW 3 Series-sized Jaguar could be its first to offer AWD in the UK

Fuji Heavy Industries' Subaru is considering expanding its Lafayette, Indiana, car factory to meet rising demand and to increase US output to offset losses caused by the high yen.

News 5 Dec, 2012

The Chancellor has scrapped the planned 3p per litre tax rise for January

What is it?

The Mercedes-Benz Vito and Nissan NV200 could become London's taxis of choice as the maker of the city's famous black cabs fights bankruptcy.

Nissan has hit back at Fiat for its recent criticism of the looks of the Japanese automaker's Leaf EV.

Volkswagen Group has named Renault's former chief of Europe, Jacques Rivoal, as president of the German automaker's French operations.

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.'s Subaru unit is studying expanding its Indiana assembly plant as the Toyota affiliate seeks to boost U.S. output to curb currency losses and meet growing demand for its models.

Back in September, Chrysler issued a recall on more than 15,000 Dodge Dakota and Ram 1500 pickup trucks from the 2009-2010 model years due to a rear axle pinion nut that may have been incorrectly manufactured and could loosen.

Dodge Dakota. (Photo: Dodge)

Some owners across the country have since reported a noise which could be heard just prior to the failure. Transport Canada is therefore seeking information from the public concerning possible safety issues or incidents.

Dodge RAM 1500. (Photo: Dodge)

The government will continue to examine the possible relevance of this issue for vehicles manufactured outside the aforementioned time period. For specific information about this road safety recall, please visit Transport Canada recall 2012-327 or call 1-800-333-0510.

It's a simple, common-sense ideology when it comes to enhancing safety on the go. When drivers keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel, they're afforded plenty of warning about upcoming hazards and able to react quickly to avoid them. This is especially important throughout the winter when icy roads and cold tires mean more time is needed to stop for or steer clear of a situation.

If you haven't been in the new car market for a few years, you'll be delighted at the availability of once-expensive features meant to keep your attention on the road ahead. A variety of hi-tech, fully automatic and voice-commanded systems once reserved for high-dollar luxury cars are now available on most models. They all allow drivers to manipulate vehicle systems and functions without breaking their attention.

Here are a few of the most important top features that keep drivers focused.

Rain-Sensing Wipers: At any sign of precipitation on the vehicle's windshield, rain-sensing wipers kick into action and adjust their speed constantly in response to the level of precipitation and how fast the vehicle is moving. Whether it's snow, ice or freezing rain, rain-sensing wipers leave drivers with one less thing to think about when the weather turns nasty. Look for rain-sensing wipers in the Mazda3, Mitsubishi RVR and many others.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

Steering-Wheel Mounted Controls: More cars than ever offer steering-wheel mounted controls as standard equipment. By putting controls for phone, cruise control, audio systems and even climate control on the face of the steering wheel, drivers can control many functions without having to look down or move their hands -- definitely a top feature that keeps drivers focused.

Bluetooth: This wireless communication system is now standard (or available as an option) in virtually every vehicle sold in Canada. Bluetooth puts the kibosh on driver distraction related to using a cell phone on the move. After a brief pairing procedure, hands-free phone calls can be placed, accepted or dismissed via voice command and/or a single steering-wheel mounted button. If you're delayed by a snowstorm, Bluetooth allows you to safely call ahead and tell the family you'll be late without pulling over or handling your handset.

Automatic Climate Control: This top feature that keeps drivers focused s all about staying comfortable, which is a good way to avoid the stress caused by driving in lousy weather. Automatic climate control makes it easy. The system uses a sensor to constantly watch cabin temperatures and make adjustments in real time to maintain a preset temperature. Your comfort is maintained for you automatically as you keep both hands on the wheel.

Automatic Lights: Simple concept, this one: When it gets dark, the headlights turn on, all by themselves. Forget accidentally driving around with just the running lamps, which is dangerous. Set the controls to AUTO, and you'll have optimal visibility at all times. Best of all, since automatic lights turn off when you leave the car you'll never come back to a dead battery in the middle of winter, either. Some models, like the Chrysler 300 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class, even have automatic high-beams, definitely a top feature that keeps drivers focused.

Voice Command: Not long ago, voice command was the stuff of sci-fi movies. Today, you can find this top feature that keeps drivers focused in cars like the Honda Civic, Kia Rio and Dodge Dart. In most applications, voice command allows drivers to simply touch a button and say, for instance, “Radio, 92.4 FM,” “Navigate Home” or “Call Mom.” Hundreds of vehicle functions can be controlled with your voice, furhter enhancing the driver's focus on the road and, therefore, his safety.

The year was 1966: The international performance rally scene, long dominated by powerful European sports cars, experienced a shocking upset when a tiny little 4-cylinder with scarcely more power than a scooter took the top three spots in the legendary Monte Carlo Rally. Desperate for a loophole, French officials finally disqualified all three on account of their headlights -- but Mini fans know who the real winners were.


Paying homage to original Minis
Fifty years later, I consider it appropriate that I'm participating in an event honouring that celebrated road rally in a car that's descended from the original Mini.

It's only when parked beside a regular Cooper that you realize the MINI Countryman is actually a small crossover -- so seamlessly has its characteristic design been enlarged. Ours, a Cooper S ALL4 in bright blue with racy white rally stripes and matching roof, looks completely in its element and ready to tackle the stages.

The Mini Monte Rally, that loosely pays homage to the historic world class race, is based in Southern Ontario and incorporates roughly 100 km of winding pastoral roads in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

However, instead of a wild and woolly, all-out race, the "Mini Monte" (my suggestion that we wear "not the Full Monte" T-shirts met with polite smiles) is a "TSD" event, --which stands for Time, Speed, Distance -- and entails ruthless accuracy rather than speed.

Logic not being my strongpoint, the wisest decision I made was to ask good friend James Mewett, an aerospace engineer and driving instructor with Apex and ILR racing schools, to handle the navigational duties. Most drivers are loath to admit that it's actually the navigator who's responsible for winning a TSD rally, but usually don't hesitate to blame them when they lose. Personally, I just hoped we made it to the BBQ at the end.

Surmising that my "navi" would look after all the boring details, I tuned out during the driver's meeting and took in the MINI's competition. Alongside the expected Subaru brigade bristling with snout-mounted Hella Lamps and rally stickers, was a Lotus Evora and a lovely '80s Audi Quattro.

It's only when parked beside a regular Cooper that you realize the MINI Countryman is actually a small crossover. (Photo: MINI Cooper)

Countryman familiar to anyone who's driven a MINI
The Countryman is surprisingly roomy inside, with three times the cargo space of a regular Cooper: more than Nissan's Juke, but less than the Honda CR-V or Kia Soul. Despite its larger size, it handles the mixture of rural pavement and winding gravel roads like a typical MINI -- if slightly less nimble.

An electrohydraulic differential with limited slip varies the amount of torque to the rears from 50 to as much as 100% if needed. The ride is somewhat firm, which makes the Countryman very stable when we flung it around the gravel roads, but some might find it a bit jarring.

Underhood is a turbocharged 1.6L engine producing 181 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. Steering is quite sharp with good ratios. Anyone who has driven a MINI embraces its lovely 6-speed gearbox with short throws and crisp clutch take-up. Enthusiasts will probably want to avoid the automatic such as the one in our Countryman. Although it's perfectly adequate, its slower response and lagging in cruise control lacks the joyfulness of the stick shift.

Our 2012 MINI Cooper Countryman proved comfortable and capable over long distances, although it sorely lacked in noise insulation and exhibited plenty of rattles and squeaks from the cabin. A torrential downpour turned the roads to soup -- no problem for the AWD MINI -- but the loud drumming on the steel roof made conversation difficult.

An electrohydraulic differential with limited slip varies the amount of torque to the rears from 50 to as much as 100% if needed. (Photo: MINI Cooper)

Maybe not a winner, but definitely a contender
No thanks to me, we managed to hit all of our checkpoints without any time penalties. Although the MINI featured the typical gigantic round gauge set-up, complete with online connectivity and navigation, we were unable to use the route guidance since the checkpoints ensured that you adhered to the routebook.

I'm not averse to a little "help," but my straight-as-a-slide-rule navi would have frowned upon such unethical practice. Too bad, because we might not have missed the "Cheese Factory Road" turn, causing us to lose valuable time during the final stage.

However, we managed to achieve our goal of making it to the BBQ in the 2012 MINI Countryman ALL4 while there was still plenty of food. In sixth place, Team MINI may not have been winners, but we did go the full Monte.

This 2012 MINI Cooper S Countryman review was originally published on Auto-Venus.com.

From GMM

Valtteri Bottas is not like other 'pay drivers' on the F1 grid, his main backer insists.

The young Finn, set to debut for Williams next year, is backed by Antti Aarnio-Wihuri, whose company Wirhuri is a global industry and trade conglomerate.

Aarnio-Wihuri is quoted by Turun Sanomat: "I have a personal acquaintance with Frank Williams, which played a role. On next year's car we will have big ads. We are talking about substantial sums, but not tens of millions, as has been mentioned for some of the other (F1) drivers. We hope to get back the money we have invested through the advertising."

Valtteri Bottas, Williams. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Three well-known F1 names are being linked with the premier German touring car championship DTM.

When former F1 and Champ Car driver Alex Zanardi recently tested a modified hand-controlled BMW, the 46-year-old played down suggestions his next project could be a DTM race seat.

But Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said there is a chance the popular Italian will soon be chosen by BMW.

Alex Zanardi à bord de sa BMW M3 DTM modifiée. (Photo: BMW Motorsport)

"Who will drive the eighth BMW M3 DTM in the coming season will be announced at a later date," a spokesman is quoted as saying.

Former Toro Rosso driver and 2012 Pirelli tester Jaime Alguersuari has also been linked with the seat.

And Portuguese reports say 2012 Williams driver Bruno Senna, who has been replaced for 2013 by Valtteri Bottas, did some test laps at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz DTM car at the Estoril circuit at the beginning of this week.

As we had anticipated some weeks ago, veteran driver Oriol Servia will be returning to the Panther DRR team for the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series season driving once again the No. 12 Chevrolet/DW-12.

For the Spaniard, it will be a second season with the Indianapolis-based squad as the strategic alliance between Panther DRR and Panther Racing is also continuing, allowing Servia to work with the no. 4 team and driver JR Hildebrand.

The partnership was formed in May and created a competitive advantage that provided more resources to each team's effort.

Servia and Panther DRR will return to the track for a test at Sebring International Raceway on December 12-13, 2012.

Oriol Servia, Panther DRR. (Photo: IndyCar)

On January 15th, 2013, the all-new 2014 Lexus IS will make its global debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The third generation of this premium compact sedan is said to draw inspiration from the LFA supercar and LF-CC concept.

Lexus provided no further information in its press release, so we'll have to wait until the NAIAS to find out how the Lexus IS plans to compete with the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 in the near future.

Lexus LF-CC (Photo: Lexus)

From GMM

When the mere survival of HRT looked bleak, the Spanish team's Chinese development driver Ma Qing Hua started to look elsewhere.

That is the claim of the Diario AS newspaper, reporting that the 24-year-old Shanghai-born driver entered talks with other F1 backmarkers Caterham and Marussia.

Each of those teams are yet to confirm their second race drivers for the 2013 season.

Photo: HRT F1 Team

AS said Qing Hua's management, China Sport Management, opened talks with Caterham and Marussia around the time of the recent Austin and Brazil double-header.

The news is a real blow to HRT's chances of remaining in formula one, as rumours had suggested China Sport Management was involved in talks to rescue the ailing Spanish team.

From GMM

Marussia is the only team on the official 2013 entry list that is yet to be offered a new Concorde Agreement deal.

The German website motorsport-total.com reports that the news could be particularly bad for the Russian-owned British backmarker, as Bernie Ecclestone is apparently considering scrapping the so-called 'column 3' benefits for the sport's new teams that debuted in 2010.

Presumably, Ecclestone wants to scrap the column-3 entitlements because Caterham has moved into a higher status due to regularly finishing tenth in the constructors' world championship.

And HRT has not applied to compete in 2013.

Photo: Marussia F1 Team

Marussia is therefore the only active team that has not even been offered a new Concorde Agreement deal by Ecclestone.

"The last thing we were told was that the columns 1, 2 and 3 will still be there. But to be honest, as long as there is no agreement, who knows?" said the team's sporting director Graeme Lowdon.

He insisted: "It has no effect on us in terms of us being here. We will be here, no question."

But the situation has raised the question of whether Marussia will ever be offered a Concorde Agreement deal.

"I don't know, it's up to Bernie," Lowdon explained. "It is strange that some teams have one while others don't. You would have to ask the owner of the commercial rights or the FIA."

Mercedes-Benz Canada has just issued a recall on 10,242 smart fortwos from the 2005-2006 model years.

On certain vehicles, corrosion and/or dust accumulation may affect the driver and passenger door latches and cause the latch pawl to stick. If this occurs, the door will not latch when shut and will remain unsecured.

Photo: Smart

Mercedes-Benz Canada dealers will therefore replace the door latches with a modified version.

Source: Transports Canada