Auto News 5

German trade union IG Metall wants GM to guarantee no Opel employee at the Bochum car plant will join the ranks of the unemployed once production ends.

On press day at the 2013 Montreal Internaional Auto Show, I was reminded of a fact that I've been well aware of for a while: Although a full-fledged certifiable petrol-sexual, gearhead, dye-in-the-wool carguy, my days are numbered. I'm a dinosaur.

It becomes all the more real when, at a medium-size auto show such as Montreal's gig, all manner of anti-me technology-ladden cars oozing with futuristic bits are assembled under one roof.

As I perused the show floor, demo and real EV charging stations, displays on EV technology, numerous electric cars, hybrids and the like were everywhere. From the very small (like the smart fortwo electric drive) to the Nissan LEAF and others, it's nearly impossible for consumers (the buying public) to ignore their existence.

As the years and months roll by, what was once considered the near future, is clearly now the present. Electric car charging stations are no longer a foreign idea as they can be found on a regular basis in the midst of our daily routines. We found out firsthand while completing our EV comparo test.

As well and as with most major auto shows in the World, sections or entire pavilions are dedicated to the technology, to this not-so-new way of life. Beyond that, save for an exception or two, most of those who will have wandered the halls of the Palais des Congres for the Montreal International Auto Show, or any other North American show, are likely to have noticed that small cars are taking bigger chunks of real estate in manufacturer booths.

Photo: Colin Styker

EV technology is evolving at a rate of speed on par with all forms of electronics. A year ago, I would tell those who would listen to stall their EV purchases for a few years as supply and demand would bring initial costs down to a more affordable level. No need to wait anymore as the U.S.-built Nissan LEAF challenges the notion of overly priced and electric. As far as reliability is concerned, I wouldn't be too worried...

We've also found out firsthand, on a number of occasions, that electric does not equal boring, either. And if electric is not your bag, know that a new study of the global auto industry's patent activity has revealed a 182% increase in patents related to alternative power and technologies since 2006. No need to fret then; that is, unless you're me.

As for me, I'll either have to keep my old Volkswagen Jetta until I croak or learn to live without doing oil changes...

Veteran crew chief, Pete Rondeau, who has been promoted to competition director at Furniture Row Racing.

Rondeau initially joined the Denver-based Furniture Row Racing as the team's car chief. He assumed the crew chief role in May 2010 and served in that capacity until July 2012.

In his new position as competition director, Rondeau will be based at the Denver race shop with the building and preparation of the team's No. 78 Chevrolets driven by Kurt Busch.

Rondeau will report to Mark McArdle, Furniture Row Racing's executive director of competition, who also serves as director of racing operations at Richard Childress Racing (RCR). Furniture Row Racing and RCR are partners with a technical and engineering alliance.

Pete Rondeau. (Photo: Furniture Row Racing)

“Since joining Furniture Row Racing Pete has played a significant role with team development,” said team general manager Joe Garone. “His transition to the competition director position is having a positive impact in our continuing effort to strengthen our overall program.”

Rondeau is also upbeat about the direction of Furniture Row Racing.

“With the tremendous gains Furniture Row Racing has made in recent years and the solid foundation that it has built, the opportunity has never been better to reach a higher level of competition,” said Rondeau. “That is why I am enthusiastically looking forward to this new challenge and working with Mark (McArdle) and also with my counterparts at RCR.”

A native of New England, Rondeau grew up in Saco, Maine, approximately 90-miles north from New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon.

Prior to joining Furniture Row Racing, Rondeau worked at Evernham Motorsports where he served as the team's director of research and development from July 2005 to the end of the 2009 season.

He also worked at Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) from 2001 to May 2005 and Jasper Motorsports from 1998-2001. During his three-plus years at DEI, Rondeau's positions included the crew chief role for both Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Rondeau has also had experience behind the wheel of a race car. Before he traveled south to North Carolina in 1998 to work in NASCAR, he raced for many years on the New England short tracks, including super late model cars in the American Canadian Tour. He also drove in NASCAR's Pro Series East and the Whelen Modified Tour Series.

From GMM

The Nurburgring has not given up on hosting this July's German grand prix.

Amid the circuit's financial troubles, F1 chief executive was quoted on Sunday in the German press: "We do not accept it (the Nurburgring's proposal) as financially feasible and therefore end the negotiations".

But Nurburgring Automotive GmbH chief Jorg Lindner is not giving up.

He told the Rhein Zeitung newspaper on Tuesday: "We have the exclusive rights to formula one at the Nurburgring, and we insist on it."

Bernie Ecclestone said on Tuesday: "I am doing my best to make sure we have an event in Germany.

"At the moment I can't say whether it will be Hockenheim or Nurburgring," he told the Associated Press.

Start of the 2011 German Grand Prix, at the Nurburgring. (Photo: WRi2)

Chevrolet will launch the convertible variant of its hot new 2014 Corvette Stingray at the Geneva Motor Show on March 5th, according to various sources.

You may remember that the previous generation (C6) also made its debut there in 2004.

The only information we have so far is that the topless Corvette will feature a soft top and use the coupe's 450-horsepower V8 engine.

Look for the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible to go on sale by the end of this year.

Source: Automotive News

One of the leading causes of range anxiety among electric car drivers -- and a big reason why these green vehicles have yet to become mainstream -- is the limited charging infrastructure. However, one Ontario company is currently working on that, and wants to electrify Canada from coast to coast.

Below is my recent chat with Christopher Misch, Vice President of Sun Country Highway.


Josée Paquet (JP): Where did the idea for a nationwide EV infrastructure come from?

Christopher Misch (CM): The idea to establish a national infrastructure stemmed from years of research and our president, Kent Rathwell's, vision to solve the ''chicken or the egg'' dilemma by setting a goal for Sun Country Highway to build the ''World's Longest Greenest Highway.'' This project would focus on a national infrastructure of high-powered EV Chargers (60-90 amps) that would promote EV adoption and drive economic and environmental sustainability for Canadians. As EVs evolve, they will be able to charge more quickly on the powerful chargers that our partners have installed.

JP: So far, how many charging stations have you set up? How many more will come in 2013?

CM: We have set up close to 200 EV Chargers across Canada, and our plan is to install hundreds more this coming year.

JP: Your network stands out by offering 100% free charging. Do drivers have to subscribe to any kind of membership to use your charging stations? In other words, how do you manage to offer this type of service at no cost?

CM: Yes, in order to create an incentive to go green, our partners (leading Canadian businesses) have agreed to provide the charging at no cost to EV owners -- at least until EVs become a mainstream form of transportation. This is happening. The cost to provide this service to EV owners is minimal compared to the benefits of going green, driving traffic to your business and making Canada more sustainable.

JP: Are these charging stations compatible with any and all electric vehicles?

CM: Yes, Sun Country Highway EV Chargers are J1772 compliant, meaning they can charge any EV sold in North America. They are certified in Canada, cUL (CSA) approved.

JP: What's the average distance between charging stations?

CM: Currently the average distance is about 150 kilometres. We have stations every 1 to 230 kilometres across the entire country. Our next goal is to shorten that distance by creating a more dense infrastructure that will allow all EVs to travel coast to coast!

JP: How long does it take to charge a battery using a Sun Country Highway charging station?

CM: It really depends on the EV itself and the capability of its onboard charger. In our flagship EV, the Tesla Roadster, a CS-90 EV Charger (90 amp charger/70 amps continuous) can charge at a rate of close to 100 kilometres per hour of charging. This means very fast charge times. Now owners can top up their vehicle to commute to and from work each day in less than one hour. As other EV manufacturers increase their onboard charger's capability, we will see significantly reduced charge times for cars such as the Chevy Volt, Nissan LEAF, Mitsubishi i-MiEV and other fantastic vehicles on the road today!

JP: After electrifying the Trans-Canada Highway, do you plan to do the same with other major highways in the country?

CM: Absolutely! My team is working right now at expanding the infrastructure into all of the major highways throughout Canada. In fact, we plan to launch several of these regions in the early spring of 2013.

JP: A number of charging stations are ready to be implemented, especially in the Prairies. Will they become operational soon?

CM: Indeed, many sites are awaiting installation or commissioning. We should see most of these sites go live in the next 2-3 weeks.

JP: Ultimately, how many charging stations do you plan to have across Canada?

CM: We plan to have tens of thousands of chargers across Canada. Now that we have solved the chicken or the egg dilemma and the national infrastructure grows, EV sales are beginning to climb as well. Canadians are turning to more sustainable transportation options, and the EV is it! We can look forward to a much more economically and environmentally sustainable future. By driving an EV, Canadian families will save money each and every month that they can now redirect into debt reduction, their children's future, or starting a business. Sun Country Highway is proud to be a part of a greener future for everyone.

JP: Are you considering expanding into the U.S.?

CM: We are focused on Canada primarily right now, but who knows what the future will hold?

I've recently purchased a new-ish car, and am now forced to deal with dealerships, once more. Back in my early days of car ownership, I was a loyal dealership-goer.

My first cars were Mazdas and, at the time, I thought I had a good thing going with a well-established local garage. In fact, my first car, a 1985 626 coupe, was purchased new by my parents at that very establishment and subsequent used Mazda acquisitions were all serviced there, including my beloved grey 1989 MX-6 GT coupe, aka the “Whore.” Long story...

The bottom line is, that from 1985 to 1999, my father and I spent serious amounts of money at this garage. In 1998, I signed up for Automotive Technician classes and by mid-1999 was doing all the work on our Mazda cars (dad had a white 1991 MX-6 GT coupe). My MX was promptly traded for my first of many MKII Volkswagen Jettas. There are very good reasons for this...

By the time I graduated, I realized how we'd been taken for many a ride by the Service Department of this dealership, and could scarcely begin to imagine the value of the countless unnecessary repairs that were performed on our cars.

Needless to say that from that point on, I developed a serious disdain and distrust for dealerships. In the following years, while working at the APA, I actually participated in a few undercover probes and I hated them all the more. Never did I go to “that” dealer, but I had suggested it as a candidate.

And then, in late 2012, I purchased a “gently” used car, and am am already a few trips deep to the dealer for maintenance and a warranty issue. Admittedly, every time the service advisor makes a comment or a suggestion, I immediately want to jump down their throats and argue whatever it is they've said, including asking me if I want the car washed.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

I've calmed down since I've taken delivery of my 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan as, so far, they've managed to not get me to climb up on my high horse. I'm not yet convinced that they're looking out for me and my Tigger's best interests, and I can pretty much surmise that they'll never fully win me over.

“Once bitten; twice shy,” as they say. I've been bitten way too often when I knew no better...

For the average consumer, though, it's best to keep a level head when dealing with dealership. They are clearly out to make money, but they're not all crooks. Don't quote me on that...

Ten years after unveiling the Kamal concept, Alfa Romeo is reportedly close to launching a production model. It will go on sale around 2015, sources claim.

The crossover is said to borrow its front-wheel-drive Compact U.S. Wide (CUSW) platform from the Jeep Liberty's successor, which will be introduced at the New York Auto Show in late March, as well as the Alfa Romeo Giuletta and Dodge Dart sedans.

This model will play an instrumental role in Alfa Romeo's future return to the U.S., given the popularity of crossovers in the world's second-largest car market.

Production will take place at the Mirafiori plant in Italy, near the Fiat headquarters in Turin.

Source: Motorauthority.com

2003 Concept Kamal (Photo Alfa Romeo)

From press release

Dekra will be an official partner of the Sauber F1 Team and pursues its longstanding relationship with Nico Hulkenberg.

The partnership between Dekra Group and the German driver goes back to the beginnings of his racing career. The Dekra logo will appear on the side of Nico Hülkenberg's cap.

Dekra partner with Nico Hulkenberg. (Photo: Sahara Force India F1 Team)

Monisha Kaltenborn, CEO of the Sauber F1 Team, says: "It's gratifying to be able to combine the interests of all three parties in this way. In DEKRA the Sauber F1 Team welcomes a partner that has been a firm fixture of the Formula One scene for many years. We keenly anticipate this new partnership and look forward to a successful season."

Member of the Executive Board at Dekra SE, responsible of the Automotive Business Unit, Clemens Klinke comments: "We are delighted to have entered into partnership with the Sauber F1 Team for the coming Formula One season and thus build on our longstanding association with Nico Hülkenberg as well. A long shared history already unites us and we are fully committed to continuing this from 2013. Nico's success has already been followed with great enthusiasm by DEKRA management and staff all over the world since his rookie season in 2010. And we are convinced that he will cause even more of a sensation having switched to the Sauber F1 team."

Iconic symbol for the London 2012 Paralympics, the former car racing champion came to Maranello to see his friend Stefano Domenicali.

Along with the Scuderia Ferrari team principal, Alex Zanardi visited the departments where the car that will take part in this year's Formula 1 World Championship is taking shape.

The mechanics, busy with the final, delicate stages of assembling the car, gave him a very warm welcome, before posing together for photos.

Photo: Ferrari

"It was a very exciting evening for me!" said Alex, talking to www.ferrari.com. "The thing that struck me the most when I went into the department where the new car was being built, was the smell, the same I used to smell when I went to the Chip Ganassi team headquarters in America. There too the car was red, but it definitely wasn't a Ferrari! I know many of the guys who work at the Scuderia from a long time ago, but this was my first time in Maranello and it was a great experience. Finally, I can claim to have got my hands on a Red car!"

Straight up: I had more or less written Mitsubishi off as a viable and competitive player in the North American car business. That was before I got to spend a week with two 2013 RVRs.

Although the Mitsubishi RVR has been available since 2010, I had not yet been acquainted with the compact crossover. It's crazy what expectations can do to one's perceptions; I wasn't anticipating much, and here I am writing the review still in disbelief over how much I enjoyed the vehicle.


The sum of its parts and size are what make the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR attractive and pleasant to drive. Nothing about it stands out as being overly good or bad. I am partial to the styling (especially in GT guise), the cabin is well appointed, the engine's got enough where it counts, and I actually did not bitch about the CVT for the entire week. That is revealing.

The 2013 Mitsubishi RVR is the current shining star in the Japanese maker's shrinking lineup and deserves far more attention than it's getting. Couple the product to an enticing price and its value grows exponentially. I like the RVR far more than I ever expected I would.

Youthfully yours
As far as looks are concerned, the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR is one of the most) youthfully designed compact crossovers in North America. Where some manufacturers seek out sophistication or all-out class, the RVR is a dash of cool.

SE and GT trims add fogs and alloy wheels which complement the RVR's miniature bulldog stance and snub-nosed look. The overall effect is that of an attractive vehicle that tells its owner, like a good dog, that it'll play along as commanded, and always be by your side.

The cabin switches it up quite a bit from the playful exterior. Just about as German as a Japanese interior can get, the level or seriousness displayed by the diminutive number of switches and buttons is quite contradictory.

The functionality and simple presentation are what I found to be most pleasing. The 2013 Mitsubishi RVR's dash has a little more definition than the Outlander's which furthers its general appeal. The seats provide ample comfort and the rear bench accommodates three passengers with relative ease; however, two will enjoy the ride much more.

The trunk is fair in size, but a weekend's worth of camping gear for four will not fit. With the $28,998 GT 4WD roof rails are included, and with the addition of a storage box it could be possible. As well, in this trim, the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR lacks nothing to please technophiles and those searching for luxuries such as navigation, a back-up camera and a rocking 710-Watt Rockford-Fosgate audio system.

The 2013 RVR's dash has a little more definition than the Outlander's which furthers its general appeal. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Another 2.0L
The engine displacement of the moment is 2.0L. Nearly every manufacturer has one, and the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR's is a fine one. With 148 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque, the CUV's no speed demon, but gets the job done far better than, once again, I expected.

Could it be that the CVT box has something to do with it? I also got some wheel time in an SE FWD with a 5-speed manual transmission ($22,098) and was thoroughly amused with the gearbox's shifter and clutch action, and it too moved about with relative zest.

The CVT's programming is somewhat aggressive, which allows the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR GT 4WD to take off with surprising gusto. Never loud or completely raucous, the CVT and 2.0L combo is well matched. Through the use of the steering-column-mounted magnesium-alloy paddle shifters driving can actually be entertaining. The RVR's All-Wheel Control (AWC) AWD system is well versed at tackling Canadian winters.

With 148 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque, the CUV's no speed demon, but gets the job done far better than, once again, I expected. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Size matters
And in this case, the smaller, more compact dimensions of the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR allow it to be agile, nimble even.

Steering is light but sharp, and the suspension is sporty enough that the RVR can hold its own on the road. The stiff chassis works in conjunction with the suspension and provides the 2013 Mitsubishi RVR with a ride that is pliable and capable of limiting pitch and roll. Once more, I was not expecting the RVR to be as poised on the road as it was.

The brakes were also up to the task: All in all, the RVR provides plenty of road-surface-to-driver communication which increases confidence and entices the person behind the wheel to push a little harder. It is obviously completely happy cruising about town, as well.

The 2013 Mitsubishi RVR is manoeuvrable and plenty of fun to drive. If Mitsubishi can reproduce the pint-sized CUV's character in its future products, I'll be more than happy to completely reverse my thinking of the brand. The RVR is Mitsubishi's current beacon of hope.

Toyota Canada will voluntarily recall approximately 140,553 Corolla and Matrix vehicles from the 2003-2004 model years because the airbag control module may have been manufactured with application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) that are susceptible to internal shorting.

If this occurs, there is a possibility that the ASICs could become damaged. In some instances, the front airbag(s) and/or seatbelt pretensioners could inadvertently deploy.

Meanwhile, 16,756 Lexus IS sedans from 2006-2012 will be recalled due to a windshield wiper arm nut that may not be tight enough. Should wiper movement be restricted by an external load, such as snow buildup, one or both of the wipers could become inoperative.

Affected owners will receive a notification letter via first class mail starting next month. Any authorized Toyota or Lexus dealership will fix the problem at no charge.

From GMM

The 30-year-old German has had to leave formula one for the DTM touring car series for 2013, because Marussia need to replace him with a pay-driver.

"I learned the hard way," said Glock, "that it is extremely difficult for a small team to come out of the cellar."

"The top teams get a lot of money from Bernie Ecclestone, starving the small teams a little bit. Finding partners to improve the budget is increasingly difficult," he insisted.

Indeed, the smaller teams are apparently becoming increasingly reliant on 'pay drivers' to boost their coffers, and it is expected that - like Glock - the next victim of this trend will be Caterham's Heikki Kovalainen.

Timo Glock. (Photo: Marussia F1 Team)

"There have always been pay drivers," Glock admitted. "I won't say that they have no talent. Pastor Maldonado and Sergio Perez have proved that you can have good partners behind you and drive fast as well. It's perfectly legitimate. But it's too bad that formula one is increasingly developing in this direction."

He said Marussia in particular was caught out by the political wranglings of a few years ago, when small teams' interest was sparked by former FIA president Max Mosley's plans for a budget cap.

"The approach of building a car only with CFD could have worked if the budget cap had come in," said Timo Glock. "But it didn't. We then determined early on that you can't do it just with CFD, you also need the wind tunnel, and by then the collaboration with McLaren had come too late. Last year, we showed that we can make a step forward, and found more than 1.5 seconds (per lap). But in order to make the big step, you need double the budget."

Der Spiegel reported last week that Marussia only managed to vacate Glock's cockpit for 2013 after paying him his retainer.

He responded: "Then they know quite a lot, or more than I do. On contractual things I can't say much. It's mine and Marussia's business only."

Timo Glock testing in DTM. (Photo: BMW Motorsport)

As for whether he has closed the chapter on F1, having reportedly signed a three-year contract with BMW, Glock insisted: "Let's wait. At the moment I'm focusing on what lies ahead. What happens in the next few years, we wait and see."

From GMM

Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko has hit back at rumours team boss Christian Horner could be defecting to Ferrari.

It recently emerged that Briton Horner, the 39-year-old who has sat at the helm of the Milton Keynes based team as Sebastian Vettel raced to triple consecutive titles, visited Maranello.

Now, it subsequently became clear that Horner was not the only F1 figure at Ferrari's headquarters, as Bernie Ecclestone, Martin Whitmarsh and Niki Lauda met to discuss the Concorde Agreement with Luca di Montezemolo.

But that didn't silence every rumour about Horner's future.

Photo: WRi2

Marko, however - Red Bull team owner Dietrich Mateschitz's right hand man on F1 matters - insists Christian Horner is firmly under contract.

He told Sport Bild: "How could Christian be negotiating in Maranello if we've just extended his contract until 2017?"

That is bad news for Ferrari - and every other team - for another reason, given that Horner and F1's lauded designer Adrian Newey traditionally renew their contracts in unison.

The new Ferrari Formula 1 car will be launched on Friday at Maranello, its name is now known, it will be called F138.

The name has been chosen to combine the current year (13) and the number of cylinders (8), due to the fact this will be the last year a V8 engine configuration will be used in F1.

Starting 2014, the Formula 1 will be powered by a V6-turbo engine.

This season, Ferrari will run its 59e single-seater. The team recalls that it is the only one who have taken part in every year of the championship and holds all the records in terms of titles won (31, 15 Drivers' and 16 Constructors'), Grand Prix wins (219), pole positions (207) and fastest race laps (228).

2013 Acura ILX - As Good As It Gets

But is that good enough?

We know we have a ringer. Our ILX, with its top-spec 2.4-liter engine and six-speed manual transmission, is definitely the pick of the litter where Acura's smallest sedan is concerned. And indeed, we have roundly praised its smooth-revving four-cylinder, and even more so, its sweet-shifting manual gearbox. But that's not the whole story of this car.

Photo Gallery: 2013 Acura ILX - Four Seasons Update - December 2012 - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2013 Acura ILX - Four Seasons Update - December 2012 - Automobile Magazine

2013 Acura ILX - As Good As It Gets | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Fisker Automotive, the plug-in hybrid sports car maker that's seeking a partner or a buyer, hired Huron Consulting Group to help manage day-to-day operations during negotiations.

Publicly traded auto retailer Penske Automotive Group today announced that its board approved a cash dividend of 14 cents per share for the fourth quarter of 2012 -- a boost of 7.7 percent over the previous dividend.

Chrysler is bringing a 1,015 sq.-ft. garage to the Chicago auto show.

Also in this episode: VW will shift Golf production to Mexico, and is the