Auto News 5

Chryslers are going back on sale in Japan for the first time in more than four years.

Britain's iconic black cab maker could be rescued within weeks.

Volvo has started production of the world's first diesel plug-in hybrid powertrain which has gone into its V60 model.

Former heated discussions between Ford's Belgian unions and management appear to have thrown any new date for negotiations into disarray as both sides attempt to meet to discuss the planned Genk plant closure.

News 19 Nov, 2012

This year's Los Angeles Motor Show sees 25 world debuts, including the Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series

Daimler has taken full control of the Mercedes Formula One motor racing team after buying a 40 percent stake from a Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund for an undisclosed sum.

Daimler has taken full control of the Mercedes Formula One motor racing team after buying a 40 percent stake from a Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund for an undisclosed sum.

News 19 Nov, 2012

JLR and Chery will invest £1.1billion in a Chinese factory to open in 2014

A month after receiving government approval for the joint venture, Tata Motors' Jaguar Land Rover and Chery Automobile have laid the foundation stone for a new manufacturing facility in China.

German supplier Schaeffler Group has named Dharmesh Arora, a former General Motors executive, as head of its operations in India.

The issue for dealers: Many marketers view social media as a good way for salespeople to engage customers, establish a following and build sales. But salespeople need to behave within limits to protect dealerships' reputations.

Carroll Shelby, the wild-spirited 89-year-old racing icon and king of thundering garage hot rods, lay on his deathbed last May struggling to talk. He urged his younger friend and business partner John Luft to lean closer.

With North American vehicle production headed toward 15 million-plus units next year, automakers are encountering a new breed of supplier: the one that says "no."

Turkey's auto industry is one of the great growth stories of the past decade. The nation's government aims to triple vehicle production over the next decade.

Too often when I attend a press event for the launch of a vehicle that has more than two doors, the manufacturer proudly says their amazing new vehicle is purposefully developed for people with an “active lifestyle.”

What is an “active lifestyle,” exactly? It basically means people who are always on the go, seeking entertainment every weeknight, and extracurricular activities on the weekend such as kayaking, horseback riding, cycling, snowboarding, bungee jumping, and being shot out of a cannon. Remember to always wear a helmet.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

That's definitely not me. My “active lifestyle” consists of getting up in the morning, pulling the kids out of bed, feeding them breakfast, making their lunches, throwing them on the bus, rushing through traffic get to work on time, and rushing back home to pick up the kids from school in the evening; followed by homework, dinner and bedtime stories.

By 8 pm, my brain is fried. I try to relax over the weekend, so rock climbing or parachuting is out of the question.

It's probably not the type of “active lifestyle” the manufacturers have in mind.

Then again, I don't think a manufacturer will ever tell us “this bold and breathtaking new vehicle was developed with couch potatoes in mind.” Or how about this enticing tag line: “We painstakingly crafted our new model for those who don't care about driving pleasure.”

Yes, some people buy a specific model hoping to find happiness behind thewheel. I always thought of a sports car as a less-expensive alternative to a psychologist, provided you use it wisely and legally. Hey, wouldn't that make a great sales pitch? OK, maybe not.

Some will buy a quiet and comfortable vehicle for the relaxing driving experience. There are some great cars and trucks to control the road rager that lurks inside you.

Some just want a low monthly payment, no matter what the car looks like or how it drives. And I've got no problem with that.

However, I don't think many people buy these “active lifestyle” marketing tag lines. On the other hand, if you do have this type of lifestyle, pretty much every manufacturer has a car or truck that's right for you. You're in luck.

Volvo Car Corporation is increasing production of the new Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid, the world's first diesel plug-in hybrid, which provides a range of up to 50 kilometres on pure electric power and 900 kilometres overall thanks to a remarkable consumption rating of 1.8L/100km.

From 1,000 units for 2013 (already sold out), Volvo will build 4,000-6,000 cars as of model year 2014. The assembly has been successfully integrated to the same line as the company's other models at the Torslanda plant in Gothenburg, Sweden.

"We are first in the industry to integrate a plug-in hybrid in an established production flow together with other car models," said Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development at Volvo Car Corporation. "The integration in the standard production flow gives the plug-in hybrid buyer the possibility to choose in principle all options available for the standard V60."

Mertens added that the order books for next year's cars are already filling up. Unfortunately, there are no current plans to sell the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid this side of the Atlantic.

Photo: Volvo

“Why the heck would I want a Porsche with room for the wife and kids?!”

The guy filling his Honda Accord Coupe next to me at the gas station was perturbed at the existence of a four-door Porsche. It was his first time seeing a Panamera.

“Well, what about a road-trip to Vegas with your buddies?” I replied.

“Hmm, suppose so, yea.”


The Panamera GTS
Porsches with room for the wife and kids sell. The Cayenne, for example, is the controversial sport-ute from the sports car brand, but it's also the best selling Porsche on the road.

The Panamera came after it. And the Panamera GTS, launched this year, is the most youthful and athletic naturally aspirated Panamera available.

Despite living in the shadows of its 500-plus horsepower turbocharged brothers, it's no slouch. Panamera GTS is engineered and styled to put on a show in a really big way -- and that's whether you're alone, with the spouse and offspring, or on a weekend road trip with your bros.

The hooligan
The looks start pulling anyone near the Panamera GTS into its experience. Even stock, the Panamera looks like it could be on the cover of a custom Porsche magazine. Where other Panamera models look mature and stately, the GTS is raucous and exciting. It's the family hooligan, probably.

Big black wheels, scoops, vents, and giant red brakes communicate serious sportiness. The linebacker stance, meaty body and LED headlight clusters that look like Ironman's Arc Reactor chest piece are equally as attention-grabbing. Hell, the spoiler even deploys and unfolds in stages like something out of Transformers that's about to decapitate a piece of military equipment.

The linebacker stance, meaty body and LED headlight clusters that look like Ironman's Arc Reactor chest piece are equally as attention-grabbing. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Snarling power
The engine sucks drivers and all within earshot into the Panamera GTS experience, too. Displayed like high-tech art under the hood, the 4.8L V8 makes 430 horsepower in this application while spinning to beyond 7,000 rpm.

For GTS duty, engineers specified several modifications to the standard engine -- including cast aluminum pistons, a high-flow intake, meatier cams, and a new computer to turn in 30 more horsepower and a higher redline. It performs best when spinning fast, and makes sound effects like your favourite automatic weapon.

And more so when you push the little button with the picture of a tailpipe on it.

This opens a trap door in the exhaust, ramping the GTS' soundtrack up from an aggressive hum to a full-out mechanical symphony that burbles and barks, farts, crackles and pops. There are even special pipes that blast the engine's sound into the cabin at full throttle.

Hammer down and the sounds will play in your head while you try to sleep. If money were no object, I'd buy this machine for the sound effects alone.

Under the hood, the 4.8L V8 makes 430 horsepower while spinning to beyond 7,000 rpm. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Robo-tranny
Further involvement comes from the dual-clutch transmission. Driven hard, it'll call your favourite racing simulation game to mind with shift paddles summoning instantaneous and startlingly quick gear changes. Recalibrated transmission electronics allow for faster shifting than the standard Panamera, too.

Perfect rev-matching in both directions? Check. Millisecond reaction to your commands? Check. Call for a downshift, and it's like having thunder at your fingertips. This is paddle shifting the way it should be: entertaining as all heck. A proper manual is unavailable here. Which sort of sucks. However, truth is that no human being is changing gears this fast.

The tester also came equipped with a computer-assisted launch control function that pre-revs the engine, hammers the clutch into action, and sends power to all four wheels as quickly as they can put it to the road.

I tried it out once when no law-enforcement officials were looking, and the off-the-line kick sent the sunglasses I keep on my ball cap into the rear seat. It's like being kicked in the junk by a velvet slipper. Passing and merging power are equally as aggressive, and unlike the Panamera Turbo and Turbo S, the GTS' sound effects actually tell you it's working hard when your boot drops.

Further involvement comes from the dual-clutch transmission. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Size-defying handling
And though it's got four doors and a footprint approaching minivan territory, the Panamera GTS steers, brakes and handles with all the flattering precision and stability promised by that badge on its hood. Apparently, nobody told this machine how big and heavy it was. It's an easy car to enjoy a comfortable cruise in, or to use for ripping winding roadways to bits.

Real-life ready
Drivers take in the experience from a cabin that's richly trimmed with leather, suede, chrome, and aluminum. All the tech-y, high-dollar staples are on board, as are a dash-mounted lap timer, a fighter-jet style centre console, reconfigurable instrument cluster display, and supportive racing-style bucket seats for four.

It's gorgeous in here. And there's room for tall people, the ride quality is excellent, and it's easy to board and exit. There's even room in the trunk for an IKEA shelf.

Drivers take in the experience from a cabin that's richly trimmed with leather, suede, chrome, and aluminum. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

So, Panamera GTS pulls off all that important real-world, four-door stuff while looking like it's about to powerslide through a shopping mall with Skrillex blasting on the stereo. Its mature, sporty Porsche-ness with a refreshingly youthful dose of visual and aural adrenaline dialed in. A great split personality.

Complaints include limited visibility while reversing and a less-than-user-friendly infotainment system. Panamera is also wide and low and somewhat difficult to park. Price of admission to the Panamera GTS show? High-luxury, high-tech, high-performance for four starts around 127 grand.

McLaren-Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, the winner of the last United States Grand Prix held in Indianapolis in 2008 has won Sunday the first Formula 1 race at the Circuit of the Americas.

Second place for Sebastian Vettel has put the Red Bull Racing driver on the verge of a third consecutive title at the championship decider in Brazil next weekend.

Crucially, third place in America for Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso - the German's only championship rival - has also kept his title hopes alive.

Photos: WRi2

Hamilton claimed the lead from Vettel - who had been quickest in every session - in the closing stages of the race, with both the drivers having fought each other hard from start to finish.

Hamilton and Vettel used the same strategy, stopping just once to change from the Pirelli medium tires to the hard tires. Alonso opted for an identical strategy to keep his title hopes alive, having started from seventh on the grid to move up to third.

From GMM

Mario Andretti says Michael Schumacher's three-year return to F1 was a success because he enjoyed it.

"He never lost the love and joy of racing," Andretti, the naturalised American who won his F1 title in 1978, said at the US grand prix on Sunday.

"That's the thing I most admire," added the 72-year-old, who at the brand new Circuit of the Americas interviewed podium champions Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso.

A long way down the results sheet, in an abysmal sixteenth place, was the seven time world champion Schumacher, whose failed comeback with Mercedes will finally end in Brazil next weekend.

"Of course his comeback was not a great success," Andretti is quoted by SID news agency, "but the important thing is that he enjoyed it."

"And if he does retire for good, we will miss him. He's still the best of all time," he added.

As for the 2012 title head-to-head between Vettel and Alonso, Andretti admitted he probably admires the achievements of Ferrari's Spaniard a little more.

"Alonso has no weaknesses," the Italian-born former Ferrari driver is quoted by El Pais, a Spanish newspaper.

Mario Andretti interviewing Fernando Alonso at Austin. (Photo: WRi2)

"His car was always outpaced but he has taken full advantage of every opportunity. Vettel's talent is unquestioned, but clearly he has the best car. Fernando deserves the title more because he has had the most personal influence on the results. Early on, Vettel was not happy with his car; he only began to dominate in the last third of the championship, when Red Bull found a way to improve the RB8. Now, Webber is also very fast, and when both drivers in a team are ahead it means the car is very competitive. Fernando thinks he deserves it more because he is at a disadvantage compared to Vettel, and I agree with him," added Andretti.

Fellow F1 legend Niki Lauda, however, warned the sport to brace for more and more Vettel success.

"It's not only that Seb can break all of Michael's records -- he will break them!" he told Bild newspaper. "Red Bull can give him the best car again and again."

The one millionth Fiat 500 just came out of the Italian automaker's Bielsko-Biala assembly plant in Poland. The milestone car was a Lounge model painted in Bianco Perla (white pearl).

Since re-launching in 2007, the iconic 500 has spread to more than 100 countries around the world.

In North America, where the car debuted in 2011, sales are already exceeding 73,000 units. So far in 2012, 36,462 Fiat 500s have been sold in the U.S., an impressive 130% jump from last year.

With more than 500,000 different combinations of exterior and interior colours, engines and accessories, you'll be hard-pressed two find two identical copies.