Auto News 5

Sébastien Ogier (Volkswagen) has ended the first day of Rally Sweden in first place, some 31 seconds ahead of Sébastien Loeb (Citroën).

Loeb was fastest on Thursday's special stage, but Ogier replied on Friday by moving into the lead. The VW driver was fastest on five of seven special stages Friday. Mads Ostberg (Ford) and Mikko Hirvonen (Citroën) took the other two stage wins.

Loeb, who now stands more than thirty seconds behind Ogier, admitted his countryman was out of reach. The nine-time world champion is instead focusing on the second works Polo driven by Jari-Matti Latvala, only two seconds behind Loeb before Saturday.

Both M-Sport Ford Fiesta cars run in 4th and 5th positions, with Mads Ostberg 10 seconds behind Latvala, and 20 seconds ahead of teammate Evgeny Novikov. 22-year-old local hero Pontus Tidemand (Ford Fiesta) is an impressive sixth in the standings.

Mikko Hirvonen (Citroën), who started the season on the wrong foot in Monte Carlo, had a very bad start in Rally Sweden, rolling his DS3 in SS2, and losing 15 minutes in the incident.

Day one classification:
1. Ogier-Ingrassia (VW Polo Wrc) in 1h16'00”1

2. Loeb-Elena (Citroen DS3 Wrc) + 31”4

3. Latvala-Anttila (VW Polo Wrc) + 33”1
4. Ostberg-Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 42”3

5. Novikov-Minor (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 1'11”7
6. Tidemand-Floene (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 1'22”1

7. Hanninen-Tuominen (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 1'49”5
8. Neuville-Gilsoul (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 2'00”2

9. H. Solberg-Prevot (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 3'25”9

10. Prokop-Ernst (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 4'43”3
Etc.

A Colombian driver who has been arrested multiple times for drunk driving wound up in court this week after fatally hitting an 87-year-old bystander and injuring her son.

The judge soon found out that the man's driving licence had been suspended by the Ministry of Transportation for the next nine centuries. That's right!

As he continued to drive illegally, this idiot also collected fines totalling 1.4 billion pesos, equal to more than $780,000!

Drunk driving offenders in Columbia usually have to pay 26 million pesos ($15,000), get their licence suspended, and can even be charged with aggravated homicide if they caused an accident.

Source: LaPresse

A total of 3,912 BMW X5 crossovers from 2007-2010 are being recalled in Canada due to a check valve in the brake vacuum pump that may leak a small amount of lubricating oil.

Over time, this could contaminate the brake booster and affect brake power assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

BMW dealers will therefore inspect and, if necessary, replace the brake booster and master cylinder. Additionally, the brake vacuum line (including the check valve) will be replaced to eliminate the possibility of oil reaching the brake booster.

Source: Transports Canada

From GMM

Sebastian Vettel is the best, but Mercedes can be a top-three contender in 2013.

That is the claim of Niki Lauda, the triple world champion who is also the straight-talking expert pundit for German television RTL.

But he is also now Mercedes' 10 per cent shareholder and board chairman, and despite an up-and-down Jerez debut for the new Brackley-built W04, Lauda sounded optimistic about the future.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W04 (Photo: WRi2)

"My big joy is that the Mercedes can now compete with the top three teams," he told Bild newspaper.

But Lauda acknowledged that world champion Vettel, who drives for Red Bull, is still in front.

Asked to assess the opening four test days of the 2013 pre-season, he said: "The cars are relatively close together.

"In my judgement Vettel is the fastest at the moment.  The car works well; looks reliable, and right now he is a bit faster than the rest."

Meanwhile, Lauda dismissed the plight of F1's struggling smallest teams, who are complaining that the financial situation is putting their survival at risk.

"Anyone who comes into formula one - the highest class - chooses to," said the outspoken Austrian.

"So I have no pity when a team gets into financial problems.  I don't know what everyone's getting excited about.

"The Spanish team (HRT) just did everything wrong they could do wrong.  They were poorly organised and had a bad car.

"It's right that if you do a good job, you earn more money.  Simple as that.

"Now and again, over the past 30 or 40 years, formula one has had financial problems, and just like before it will settle down again," added Lauda.

While entering a segment that values fuel economy above all, the 2013 Chevy Spark attempts to ignite new-car interest in a demographic that has little to none. Tough criteria for sure. Read on to see if we think the Chevy Spark 1LT succeeds.


Once rare microcar now a growing segment
There was a time when shrunken runabouts would raise eyebrows on our North American streets. Not anymore.

Thanks to skyrocketing fuel costs and the increasing awareness of the effects we're having on the environment, the "microcar" segment has not only become accepted, it's growing in leaps and bounds.

The smart fortwo blazed the way. And like the smart, the Chevy Spark was a familiar sight in other markets before it reached our shores. We'd spied the Spark running about the streets of Seoul on a trip to South Korea a couple of years ago, where it has sold over 600,000 units, and is still manufactured today.

Techno-Pink roller skate
I have to admit, my first look at my 2013 Chevrolet Spark 1LT tester made me laugh. It was hard not to. Its angry little face was totally at odds with its "Techno Pink" paint scheme -- a strange, diluted colour that put me in mind of '70s bathroom fixtures. Its height lends the illusion that the Spark is smaller than it is -- at 3,675 mm from tip to tail, it's actually longer than both the Scion IQ and Fiat 500. With its tiny wheels, gigantic headlights and gaping grille, the 2013 Chevy Spark's an oversized anime roller skate. I was powerless not to feel some grudging anthropomorphic affection for it.

Inside, the decor is definitely cheap and cheerful. The gauge pod that adjusts up and down with the steering wheel is a funky touch, as is the blue ambient lighting. In keeping with its lean towards youth-appeal, my 1LT model tester came equipped with Chevrolet MyLink with touchscreen, Stitcher internet radio, AM/FM Sirius XM radio, as well as Bluetooth and voice recognition for connected smartphones.

But holy-mother-of-all-upholstery, is it too much to ask for a little padding in the seats? Even my more amply endowed passengers complained of the 2013 Chevrolet Spark's unyielding seating flatness, and backseat riders were especially annoyed by the protruding headrests.

There is, however, plenty of headroom and the front feels sufficiently roomy.

Unlike the smart fortwo -- without a genuine backseat -- there's enough room for four passengers without the rear being some sort of penalty box for tiny people on a timeout. The rear seat splits and folds down, too -- expanding the cargo space from 323 to 883 litres.

The gauge pod that adjusts up and down with the steering wheel is a funky touch, as is the blue ambient lighting. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Highway passing requires plenty of forethought
By today's standards, the 2013 Chevrolet Spark's 84 hp and 4-speed automatic transmission seem downright primitive. In fact, that's exactly the configuration that drives my 21-year-old Japanese hatchback. However, for cars such as these, bred mainly as urban runabouts, it's sufficient power to move it smartly around town -- and just enough for it to keep up on the highway.

Passing, however, is best done with plenty of forethought. There are no quick bursts of speed in the 2013 Chevy Spark's repertoire.

Power sacrifices are generally made in the name of fuel efficiency. In the case of the Spark, it falls short in this oh-so-crucial aspect of this segment. During my week-long road test, I averaged 7.3L/100 km -- compared to 6.8L/100 km in the Chevy Cruze Eco, a much bigger and far more refined car.

Sparky does shine as an urban runabout
To be fair, the 2013 Chevrolet Spark 1LT really does shine as an urban microcar. It's fairly manoeuvrable, although you'd never accuse it of sportiness. It moves in and around traffic easily, slips into small parking spots with fairly minimal effort, and its steering (while on the light side) is accurate and feels suitably matched to its handling. Any hard cornering will reveal a bit of body roll, but the suspension is nicely balanced and soaks up most of the bumps you're likely to encounter in an urban environment.

It's fairly manoeuvrable, although you'd never accuse it of sportiness. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Too much is not enough
Where the 2013 Chevrolet Spark lost me is on price: For a car that's being aggressively marketed towards "millenials" my tester's $16,445 price is simply too high. Perhaps I'm wrong; it's been years since I was a 20-something scraping together spare change to buy a battered-yet-still-road-worthy relic from the want ads.

But still, over 16 big ones could score one heck of a nice used car.

The Spark is rather cute, and I really wanted to like it. Knock a few thousand off the sticker price and its unremarkable fuel economy would be forgiven.

This 2013 Chevrolet Spark 1LT review was originally published on Auto-Venus.com.

From GMM

Narain Karthikeyan has emerged as a surprise contender to fill the final spot on the 2013 grid.

Although the Indian driver and team boss Vijay Mallya have never been the best of friends, the Deccan Chronicle newspaper said Karthikeyan's sponsor Tata has opened the doors to the Silverstone based team.

However, the Ferrari-linked Frenchman Jules Bianchi appears arguably the hotter favourite to be Paul di Resta's teammate this year, particularly after going second quickest in the brand new VJM06 car as the Jerez test wrapped up on Friday.

The new Force India VJM06 at Jerez (Photo: WRi2)

Bianchi told Autosport on Friday: "Even if the plan was to stay a third driver for two years, now the plan has changed and I'm ready."

A source, however, told the Deccan Chronicle newspaper that 2012 HRT driver Karthikeyan is now also a contender, thanks to a boost to his sponsorship coffers.

"As soon as Tata increased the budget for 2013, talks with Force India began," the source said.

"Unlike the past, the negotiation has been a lot more positive.  If talks fail, he will probably go to America for (the) Indycar series".

Brazil's Nelson Piquet Jr. took another step up the NASCAR ladder when Turner Scott Motosports announced a full-time ride in the Nationwide Series, NASCAR's junior series.

The ex-Formula One, 27-year-old, will pilot the No. 30 Chevrolet Camaro, marking his first full-time NNS season and the first Brazilian to compete full time at that level.

Piquet already competed in a total of four NNS events, with a pole and win in Road America in 2012, only his third start in the series.

Nelson Piquet Jr, NCWTS (Photo: Andrew Coppley/CIA Photo)

The son of three-time Formula One champion Nelson Piquet, Piquet Jr. made his NASCAR debut in the 2010 Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) season-opener at Daytona International Speedway, where he earned an impressive sixth-place finish. After competing in five races that season, the former Renault driver added two full-time NCWTS seasons to his resume, the second of which was with Turner Scott Motorsports.

In 52 NCWTS career starts, Piquet Jr. has tallied two wins (Michigan International Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2012), 15 top-five and 28 top-10 finishes. Piquet Jr. also has one NASCAR K&N Pro Series East win at Bristol Motor Speedway, which he scored in March of 2012, making him the first foreign-born driver to win at the Tennessee short track.

"I am very happy to be returning with Turner Scott Motorsports in 2013, and incredibly excited to be making the move to the NASCAR Nationwide Series" said Piquet Jr. "I said from the very beginning of my NASCAR career that I wanted to go about it the right way and progress through the ranks when the time was right; that I wouldn't rush.

Nelson Piquet Jr, NCWTS (Photo: Rusty Jarrett MRD/CIA)

"I feel that 2012 was a really fantastic season for me and it provided me with the opportunity to go to the next level. I'm very excited about the challenge of the Nationwide Series, and I know that I'm going to be doing it running for one of the best teams in the sport. I'm very grateful to Turner Scott Motorsports and our new partners that have come on board to make this full-time Nationwide season possible."

"We are proud to continue our relationship with Nelson [Piquet Jr.] in 2013, and we are pleased to be the team where he will take his career to the next level," said team co-owner Harry Scott Jr.

"Nelson was tremendously successful last season and he has proven to be an asset to Turner Scott Motorsports. He and (crew chief) Chris Carrier are a really good match, and we're glad we can give them a chance to bring that chemistry to the Nationwide Series.

"We have what is arguably the strongest lineup our Nationwide program has ever had, and we feel very confident that Turner Scott Motorsports will be hoisting the trophy in Homestead."

American Le Mans Series (ALMS) teams just completed two days of pre-season testing in Florida, at the Sebring International Raceway.

Photo: ALMS.com

Unsurprisingly, Muscle Milk Pickett Racing clocked the fastest lap of the event. Klaus Graf was the one at the wheel of the No. 6, championship-winning, HPD ARX-03a to record the session-best 1min46.368s.

Photo: ALMS.com

Canadian Kyle Marcelli was the fastest runner in LMPC. He bagged a 1min54.803s aboard his No. 8 BAR 1 Motorsports ORECA FLM09.

In GT, Risi Competizione, the Texas-based team returning to the track in 2013 after a one-year break, came out on top. In the rival No. 01 Extreme Speed Motorsports Ferrari F458 Italia, Johannes Van Overbeek made a escaped a impressive crash.

Photo: ALMS.com

Spencer Pumpelly locked the top of the board in GTC, driving the No. 44 Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

The season kicks off March 16, with the 61st 12 Hours of Sebring.

Photo: ALMS.com

What is it?

Steve Cannon, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, said automakers must improve their customer satisfaction if they are to survive in a crowded industry, and that the effort must involve dealership employees.

American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings, helped by a large tax benefit, said fourth-quarter net profits increased tenfold to $319.9 million from $31.1 million in the same period a year ago.

The automotive economic recovery is only beginning from a retail standpoint, despite a growing seasonally adjusted annualized selling rate, according to Mike Jackson, CEO of AutoNation, the nation's largest auto retailer.

Also in this episode: Mopar slims down with the Core package, and Ford preps a Fiesta ST for the Global RallyCross Championship.

Electric vehicle technology provider

Ford wasn't expecting to sell many copies of the

Electric vehicle technology provider Better Place, saddled by rising losses and negative cash flow, will wind down operations in North America.

GM, aiming to make the mid-sized Chevrolet Malibu sedan more appealing to online car shoppers, lowered the car's price by hundreds of dollars to compete with better-selling mid-sized sedans.

If you're eager to get your hands on a real James Bond 1964 Aston Martin DB5 but couldn't make it to the 2010 RM Auction Automobiles of London sale, you're in luck:

First Drive: 2014 Kia Forte

Much improved, but not perfect.

The old Kia Forte was a decent car with terrible timing. It debuted four years ago, just ahead of a tidal wave of vastly improved small cars like the Chevrolet Cruze, the Ford Focus, and the Hyundai Elantra. To add insult to injury, the car's launch coincided almost exactly with the federal government's Cash For Clunkers initiative, forcing Kia to divert much of its advertising budget toward promoting the program. The compact never recovered, becoming a rare underperformer in Kia's lineup. Although the brand's overall sales have nearly doubled in the last five years, the Forte doesn't do any better than the Spectra it replaced.

Photo Gallery: First Drive: 2014 Kia Forte - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: First Drive: 2014 Kia Forte - Automobile Magazine

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Lear shares rose the most in more than two years after an investor group said it would nominate directors and push the auto-parts maker to return more cash to shareholders.