Auto News 5

Nissan says it will upgrade its all-electric Leaf by year's end, adding leather seats, a darker interior, and a more efficient heating sytem.

Mark Perry, director of product and advanced planning for Nissan Americas, told the Detroit News that the company had considered leather when the vehicle was first introduced, but decided to go with “clean, green” recycled materials. Consumers have now spoken, and they want leather.

About three-quarters of Chevy Volt buyers go for the leather trim option, according to a GM spokesman.

Nissan will unveil the upgraded 2013 Leaf in December when it begins production in Smyrna, Tenn. The model was only recently available in all 50 states, and Perry predicts sales of 2,000 or more Leafs each month by summer. A prototype of an electric Infiniti is due at the New York Auto Show next month.


_{Source: Detroit News}

Chevy unveiled its all-new Trailblazer this week at the Bangkok International Motor Show. Dubbed by the manufacturer as “Chevy's most significant play in the competitive body-on-frame SUV segment,” the Trailblazer comes in two and four-wheel-drive configurations and three-row, tumble and fold-flat seating.

Photo: General Motors

Power comes from GM's new 4-cylinder Duramax turbo-diesel engines, with 2.5L and 2.8L displacements for 150 and 180 hp respectively, which the brand says are designed to last 240,000 km. Additional powertrains for other markets are TBA.

Chevy says the Trailblazer his the sweet spot between off-roader and urban commuter, with independent five-link rear suspension, and coil springs that provide better suspension articulation. It was developed in tandem with the Colorado mid-size pick-up.

The Trailblazer features exterior styling developed at GM's South American Design Centre in São Caetano do Sul, Brazil, and such standard features as electronic stability control, hydraulic brake assist, traction control, electronic brakeforce distribution, panic brake assist, engine drag control, hill descent control, and dynamic rear brake proportioning.

Audi Motorsport press release

At the first official DTM track tests at Valencia, four new Audi A5 DTM cars will be on track sporting their final outfits for the first time.

The designs of the other four race cars plus `the partners for the "title defense" project have been determined as well.

To be seen at Valencia will be the race cars driven by Mattias Ekström, Mike Rockenfeller, Timo Scheider and Edoardo Mortara. The A5 DTM vehicles sporting the liveries of Filipe Albuquerque, Rahel Frey, Miguel Molina and Adrien Tambay will be used for the first time two weeks later, in tracks tests at Hockenheim from April 2 to 5.

The two vehicles of the two-time DTM Champion Mattias Ekström (S) and the Spaniard Miguel Molina are sporting the same graphics as before. Their blue Audi A5 DTM cars are emblazoned with the striking red bull of the Austrian energy drink producer Red Bull.

Mattias Ekström. (Photo: Audi Motorsport)

Timo Scheider (D), the 2009 and 2010 DTM Champion, is advertising the AUTO TEST monthly magazine. After a season with a completely white vehicle, his A5 DTM is now receiving a large portion of yellow, which stands for the E-POSTBRIEF (secure electronic mail) product from Deutsche Post AG.

Timo Scheider. (Photo: Audi Motorsport)

Starting into the new season with white-yellow graphics as well, albeit with the colors in reverse order compared to Scheider's car, is Rahel Frey, as the young Swiss is spurred on by the postal service as well. The second partner featured on her A5 is the Computer Bild Spiele magazine published by Axel Springer Verlag.

The yellow with which Mike Rockenfeller (D) will start from the grid has a different color tone. The 2010 Le Mans winner is driving the A5 DTM sporting the conspicuously brilliant yellow-green livery with which Martin Tomczyk won the DTM title for Audi last year. The Schaeffler Group with its LuK, INA and FAG product brands is the sponsor.

Mike Rockenfeller. (Photo: Audi Motorsport)

The race car driven by Edoardo Mortara (I/F), the 2011 rookie of the year, has acquired a more colorful look as well. The black base color continues to stand for the men's magazine Playboy. The red on the vehicle flanks of his new A5 DTM is reserved for Audi Sport performance cars.

Filipe Albuquerque's Audi continues to be blue. As before, the Portuguese is advertising the TV Movie magazine published by Bauer Media Group.

The silver-white eighth Audi A5 DTM to be driven by newcomer Adrien Tambay (F) bears the "Audi ultra" inscription. Under this nameplate, the brand with the four rings has consolidated its ultra-lightweight technology which Audi aims to communicate to a large audience in the DTM for the first time as well.

Hyundai will unveil a revamped Sonata in 2014, according to Reuters. The most recent iteration came to North America in 2010.

With the Sonata as its best-seller, South Korea's Hyundai brand achieved record sales and marketshare in the U.S. last year; the Sonata was Hyundai's third-best selling model in South Korea. The Elantra is its best-seller here in Canada.

Chief executive Kim Choon-ho told Reuters that a revamped Genesis would be introduced late in 2013.


_{Source: Automotive News}

From GMM

Hot on the heels of the new F-duct controversy, Mercedes has turned the heat back onto Red Bull.

Amid complaints from rival teams including Red Bull about its innovative aerodynamic concept aboard the W03, Mercedes' Ross Brawn admitted he sensed a diversionary tactic.

"The discussion about our system has diverted the focus from the exhaust issue," he said in Australia.

The FIA has clamped down hard on the exhaust-blown diffusers seen throughout the grid last year, but much pre-season chatter focused on some teams' post-ban 2012 solutions that reportedly fly close to the boundaries of the new rules.

But now Germany's Bild newspaper reports that Mercedes suspects Red Bull is also bending the rules in another area.

The report said Mercedes' sound analysis indicated Renault-powered Red Bull is deploying an "illegal engine trick", apparently involving the turning on and off of individual cylinders.

Red Bull RB8. (Photo: Red Bull Racing)

Mercedes' competition vice-president Norbert Haug commented: "There is no official protest by us. But there are some questions that we are asking the FIA."

Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko hit back: "No one will find anything. We comply with the rules."

German specialist magazine Auto Motor und Sport, meanwhile, reports that Melbourne winner McLaren currently has the most sophisticated exhaust solution on the 2012 grid.

"I wouldn't say that it's illegal," said Peter Sauber, "but it's borderline."

Teams including Mercedes, Lotus, Toro Rosso and Williams reportedly used much more conservative solutions in Australia.

"First we wanted to see what is allowed and what is not," said Williams engineer Mark Gillan.

Renault family hatchback is updated for 2012, with more equipment, including Bluetooth and iPod connectivity for entry-level cars

Updated family hatchback now comes with more equipment, including Bluetooth and iPod connectivity for entry-level cars, priced from £16,275

Mercedes SL65 AMG revealed with 621bhp twin-turbo V12 and an expected price tag of £150,000

What is it?

General Motors chief executive Dan Akerson has said GM and PSA Peugeot Citroen aim to begin joint development of at least two passenger cars by this autumn and described the new alliance between the companies as a changed way of doing business for the Detroit-based automaker.

General Motors' European employee forum has asked GME/Opel/Vauxhall management to begin talks on a business plan for the years leading to 2016.

How could we let that happen?" was the frustrated response from Scandinavian supplier body FKG managing director Fredrik Sidahl to me earlier today (19 March) in his Gothenburg office.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: It's interesting in how the Sport model here is basically the entry-level trim package. I guess "sport" means different things to different people and manufacturers.

Nissan Motor and Dongfeng Motor Group will sell off the heavy truck segment of their Chinese joint venture to Dongfeng's state-owned parent, paving the way for local production of Renault and Infiniti cars as well as a possible new Dongfeng-Volvo truck tie-up, media reported on Monday (19 March).

Mazda joint venture partner, FAW Car, a listed subsidy of FAW Group, booked an 88% fall in 2011 net profit to only CNY217m due to slow sales and the high value of the Japanese yen.

Another large investment in Indonesia's automaking industry has been announced by a government minister.

Citroen UK has slashed the price of its rebadged Mitsubishi i-MiEV C-Zero electric car from GBP33,155 to GBP26,216. The GBP5,000 government plug-in car grant further reduces the 'on-the-road' price to qualified applicants to GBP21,216, GBP4,700 less than Nissan's larger Leaf which costs GBP25,990 after the grant.

Teaser shot appears to show a range-topping DS model based on the Citroen Metropolis concept

Nissan boss confirms Datsun brand will return in 2014 to increase sales in developing markets

A second General Motors plant in Joinville, in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, will start producing gearboxes (transaxles) from 2014. The new factory will be located beside a new engine factory due to start production by the end of this year.