Auto News 5

Billed as “non-conformist, provocative and masculine,” the Concept Style Coupé is making a statement at the Mercedes stand at Auto China 2012.

Featuring “innovative” indicators, a new 4-cylinder turbocharged, 211-hp engine and 4Matic AWD, the four-door coupé (wait. what?) is near production standard and, according to the legendary Dieter Zetsche, “the model against which sporty vehicles in the executive segment will have to measure themselves in future.”

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

Or, as Gorden Wagener, head of design for M-B, hyperbolically put it, “It's breathtaking proportions, sinewy fluid surfaces and sculptural lines are the physical expression of our dynamic design idiom.” Uh huh.

Its predatory headlamps shine red in standby mode, while individual lights on the indicators come on in succession. A lack of B-pillar and frameless side windows help the fluid look.

A panoramic sunroof brightens the interior, which features a carbon fibre trim panel spanning the width of the instrument panel. A light grey and anthracite colour palette is spruced up with neon green trim.

From GMM

Another television broadcaster has pulled out of this weekend's Bahrain grand prix.

It had already emerged that Sky Deutschland, MTV3 Finland and Japan's Fuji TV would not be reporting from the scene of the race in the troubled island Kingdom.

Now, it emerges that the travelling regulars for France's TF1 are not in Bahrain either.

The French-language RMC Sport reported that, like the other broadcasters, the decision was taken "because of the unstable situation" in Bahrain.

It has also emerged that Stefano Mancini, the regular F1 correspondent for Italy's La Stampa newspaper, had trouble entering Bahrain this week.

He reported that he encountered the trouble, which ended when the FIA intervened directly, due to an interview he conducted last week with a Bahraini activist.

"You work for a newspaper?" Mancini said, recalling what he was asked by the polite uniformed official. "Write the name," the official said.

"My name?" enquired Mancini. "No, the newspaper," the official clarified.

Debuting in August, the 2013 G63 AMG will get its giddy-up from an AMG 5.5-litre V8 biturbo producing 544 hp, mated to a 7-speed automatic. Zero to 60 acceleration takes a scant 5.3 seconds, and top speed is 209 km/h.

Fuel economy has been prioritized alongside performance, leading to the inclusion of an ECO start/stop feature and alternator management system; fuel consumption is down 13% over the prior model.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

Adjusted suspension/damper settings offer more dynamic handling, while optimized bearings in the 7-speed gearbox, transfer case and engine have cut NVH levels.

Wheels and brakes are completely new. A new AMG split 5-spoke light alloy wheel is standard. The front axle's 6-piston fixed-caliper system is taken from the ML63 AMG; the rear axle uses a single-piston, floating-caliper system. Red-painted calipers are standard.

Safety features include an updated version of Benz's ESP, with automatic control system including start-up assist and hill hold function. Brakes pre-charge with the sudden release of the accelerator.

The exterior features high-gloss black twin-blade radiator grille with chrome inserts, the new face of the AMG brand; the AMG bumper is also new.

From GMM

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello has revealed he feels partly responsible for Williams Formula 1 team's surge in form so far in 2012.

For the veteran Brazilian's final season in F1 last year, the famous British team had its worst performance, scoring just five points and slumping to ninth in the constructors' standings.

Rubens Barrichello, Williams F1 Team, 2011 Korean Grand Prix (Photo: Williams)

But already in 2012, just three races into the new season and with Barrichello's departure one of many changes, drivers Bruno Senna and Pastor Maldonado have already scored 18 points.

"When I turn on the TV and see Formula 1 and I'm not there, it is a very strange feeling," he is quoted by Brazil's Globo.

"But I'm not feeling it as a loss," said Barrichello, who has moved to IndyCar series.

"Williams is doing very well and they deserve to be ahead. But I have no doubt, as well, that with a little more experience in that group, their cars would be even further forwards.

"All the work carried out for this (2012) car is a result of what we fought hard for last year," Barrichello insisted.

"Bruno is already reaping a lot from being with an engineer who was mine, as I was an experienced driver who likes the technical side and we exchanged a lot of information.

"For Bruno's future it is very good," insisted the winner of 11 grands prix.

Barrichello also hailed F1's newest winner, Nico Rosberg, who like the Brazilian toiled in the sport for years before breaking through with his first victory.

"Nico is one of those great talents who takes a long time to win a race," said Barrichello.

"You know in your head what you could do in another situation, but anyway the lack of a win does become a mental setback.

"Afterwards you don't improve as a driver, but it does take an elephant off your back," he laughed.

You know a car's expensive when the rebate incentive is six figures.

In an effort to move some Maybach Type 57 and Type 62 sedans, dealers are offering up to $100,000 in cash back. The Type 57 normally retails for $376,300-$416,200 and the 62 $427,700-$467,600.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

The Maybach brand is due for extinction at the end of the model year, so Daimler is holding the upscale version of a liquidation sale. According to Forbes, Daimler hasn't turned a profit on Maybach since 2002, the year it was introduced.

Daimler will likely fill any void left by the brand's departure with special edition long-wheelbase versions of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The sedans feature V12 engine, hand-fitted leather seats, hand-polished wood accents, 21-speaker Bose sound, rear AV system with dual video monitors and DVD player.


_{Site: AOL Autos.}

MISSISSAUGA, ON - Subaru Canada, Inc. (SCI) today announced pricing for its long-awaited 2013 Subaru BRZ rear-wheel-drive sports coupe. The well-equipped entry model with six-speed manual transmission starts at $27,295, and $28,495 for the six-speed automatic version, as Subaru's tradition of outstanding value is evident in the entry model's long list of standard amenities. Key among these are standard HID headlights as well as a comprehensive assortment of user-friendly technologies anchored by a touchscreen navigation system that includes Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, Bluetooth audio streaming and smartphone integration. The Subaru BRZ Sport-tech Package offers additional comfort and amenities such as fog lights, a body-colour trunk spoiler and dual-zone automatic climate control. In addition to adding heated front seats, interior seats are upholstered with Alcantara inserts and leather bolsters. The push-start ignition with smart key also adds to the convenience of the Subaru BRZ Sport-tech Package, which has an MSRP of $29,295 when equipped with a manual transmission and $30,495 for automatic versions.

Photo: Subaru

Trim	MT	AT
BRZ	$27,295	$28,495
Sport-tech Package	$29,295	$30,295

The Subaru BRZ arrives in Subaru dealerships this June. The 2.0-litre naturally aspirated BRZ delivers pinpoint handling precision and an unmatched driving experience for sports car enthusiasts of all skill levels.

Utilizing Subaru's naturally aspirated 200-hp horizontally opposed SUBARU BOXER engine layout, Subaru developed the BRZ with three fundamentals of sports car design: low vehicle weight, an ultra-low centre of gravity and precision steering.

The Subaru BRZ is manufactured at Subaru's Gunma, Japan, assembly plant. Adding the stylish rear-wheel-drive BRZ two-door sports coupe to Subaru's portfolio of all-wheel-drive sedans, crossovers and SUVs showcases the brand's penchant for engineering vehicles that deliver pure driving pleasure. This offering is intended to appeal to a new group of buyers and attract even more Canadians to the Subaru brand.

_{As reported by Subaru Canada}

Bryan Herta Autosport, one of Lotus-powered teams, has decided to skip the next round of the IZOD IndyCar series held in Sao Paulo before returning to the fray at the Indianapolis 500.

Since the beginning of the current season, Barracuda Herta Autosport has struggled at each even because of techncial problems with its Lotus-Judd V-6 engines.

"After not finishing the last two races and falling out of the top 22 in points, Team Barracuda-BHA has elected not to send our cars to Brazil next weekend," the team stated in a press release.

"Instead, we will re-focus on the Indy 500 and coming back stronger than ever."

Canadian Alex Tagliani finished 15th in the season-opener in St Petersburg, before retiring with mechanical issues in the following two races held at Barber and Long Beach.

After he broke his collarbone in a cross country skiing accident, Ford driver Jari-Matti Latvala spoke about the incident that forced him to withdraw from Rally Argentina.

Last week, Latvala fell heavily during a physical training in Finland, and broke his collarbone. He will be replaced by Spaniard Dani Sordo in his Ford Fiesta WRC in Argentina this week end.

« I was just returning from training,” he told to wrc.com.

“I had been skiing for 18 kilometres and I just had to make one downhill section of 300 metres to get to the road when I fell. When I landed I felt all the weight on my left shoulder and I was quickly in really, really a lot of pain. I was struggling to get to the road but I phoned my mother who was at our winter cottage. Within 20 minutes she had got me to a small hospital where they took the x-rays. But the pain was enormous, really, really bad,” Latvala said.

Despite his injury, Latvala explained that he could almost run Rally Argentina this week end.

« Actually Argentina would almost have been possible,” he added.

“The problem was the recce. I needed two weeks between the operation and the recce starting to have tried to be there but I was three days too late. But actually there would have been a lot of stress for the arm over three long days and I couldn't risk it. It's a big, big disappointment I can't drive in Argentina but on the other hand when I return in Greece I will be more motivated than ever'' he explained.

Jari-Matti Latvala (Photo: Ford)

Our friends at Hooniverse.com passed along some very sad news on Wednesday.

We love it when a company ditches the cryptic teasers and press releases and shows us the goods. That's basically what Lamborghini did with its Beijing motor show invitation.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is widening an investigation into the rollaway crashes of the BMW 7-series that the agency opened in August.

2012 Kia Soul

The Kia Soul was the first glimpse at what the brand was capable of.

Even though the Kia Soul isn't the best-driving Kia, it was the first glimpse at what the brand was capable of. It's true, Peter Schreyer arrived at Kia so late into the Soul's development process that he could only influence the design of the grille, but the fact that Kia planned a vehicle as interesting and funky as the Soul before it had someone as creative as Schreyer on staff certainly drove home the point that the brand wasn't content merely to create cheap cars.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Kia Soul - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Kia Soul - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

2012 Kia Soul | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

The makers of Stainmaster carpet may help prevent a shutdown of automotive production resulting from a recent shortage of resin. Wichita, Kan.

Also in this episode: Audi hands over a check for Ducati,

Automotive mirror supplier Gentex Corp. reported a 9 percent increase in first-quarter earnings, citing higher demand from North American and European customers.

Small doesn't have to be dull and boxy. That's the message Mercedes-Benz plans to pitch as it prepares to unveil the CLA Concept Style Coupe at the Beijing auto show.

Last week, we gave you the opportunity to shackle yourself to a coachbuilt luxo abomination for eternity.

This 1960 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk1, posted by Bring A Trailer, has been gathering dust in a storage facility in Houston for the last 40 years.

Ten Trends That Are Steering The Auto Industry's Future

European bureau chief Georg Kacher identifies the forces driving what we drive.

200. That's the number of new and updated cars that are scheduled to debut over the next twenty-four months. You don't really want to read about every reskin or 5-hp bump, so we've filtered that list down to the twenty-five cars you most need to know about. Much of our information is hard fact, while some of it is educated guesswork or pure conjecture. We have included a "speculation meter" for each car to indicate what's what. Here, then, is the scoop on the cars you will be hearing a lot about over the next two years.

Photo Gallery: Ten Trends That Are Steering The Auto Industry's Future - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: Ten Trends That Are Steering The Auto Industry's Future - Automobile Magazine

Ten Trends That Are Steering The Auto Industry's Future | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Hyundai Motor CIS plans to increase its sales in Russia by 20% this year, Alexei Kalitsev, the company's sales director, said.