Auto News 5

The all-new, third-generation 2014 Toyota Highlander made its first public appearance today at the New York Auto Show.

The sophisticated, dynamic exterior design includes a progressive silhouette, a lower roofline for improved aerodynamics, and sculptured side panels, not to mention a redesigned front grille and rear liftgate. The latter offers one-touch power open/close and driver-selectable memory height settings.

Seating up to eight passengers, the new interior of the 2014 Toyota Highlander is quieter and features a soft-touch instrument panel, as well as a multimedia system with 6.1'' touchscreen. Elsewhere, access to the third row is now easier.

Buyers will have a choice of a 3.5L V6 engine with a new six-speed automatic transmission, or a V6-based hybrid powertrain that uses a high-torque electric motor for superior output and efficiency.

The 2014 Toyota Highlander will reach dealer showrooms early next year.

Photo: Toyota

NASCAR officials answered some questions relating to Sunday's Auto Club 400.

The most pressing question involves the lack of a SAFER barrier where Denny Hamlin's car impacted the wall after a collision with Joey Logano.

Although race tracks have been adopting these “soft walls;” there is not total coverage as was the case with Jeff Gordon hitting an unprotected inside wall at Las Vegas in 2008.

“The part of the wall that Denny his in California, obviously that wall has been there since the racetrack was built,” explained John Darby, Managing Director of Competition and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Director. "But one of the points that they look at is frequency of impacts are, and where the more prevalent points of impact are, and those are addressed first.

"Now, as we go to each racetrack and that same evaluation happens, there's a constant growth of SAFER barriers and closing gates and redesigning gates and wheel fences and the whole project.

"But it's, like I said, it's an evolution. In light of Denny's accident, I'm sure that there will be more investigations done in that area of the racetrack. I also feel very positive about the fact that if a recommendation is made, that the Speedway will be very proactive in helping getting that resolved.”

Photo: NASCAR

Next up why was the incident on the last lap, between Logano and Hamlin, viewed as just a racing incident in light of the trouble between the drivers the previous week in Bristol?

“Probably the simple fact that it was the last lap of the race and the last time they were both going to see turns three and four. They were side‑by‑side. And everything that great competitors do; if somebody was of the mind‑set to retaliate, they probably would have been lined up nose to tail to start with and somebody would have drove into the other car and spun them around.  But in this case, that is so far from the opposite that it never even crossed anybody's mind that I'm aware of that paid attention to the race, that that was part of it."

Explaining why there was no penalty against Tony Stewart for confronting Logano after the race due to Stewart's claim of blocking Darby said "Yeah, all of the post‑race incidents, a few years ago, we backed away from micromanaging drivers' emotions. You would hope in today's world that if somebody didn't win a race, they would be upset about it for whatever reason. That's what our drivers do is they try to win races.

"So the emotions that follow a race sometime, as long as stuff ‑‑ and keep in mind, there's the checks and the balances, but a couple of drivers at the end of the race arguing a little bit doesn't create a foul in our world today.  The crews did a great job of managing their drivers to make sure that it didn't cross the line to where there was physical violence or anything likethat, and that's what you would hope.

"That's just another example of the state of competition in NASCAR racing, and the disappointments that come sometimes when you don't win the race.  I don't see any foul there at all."

And Darby also confirmed that there is no plan for NASCAR to make a rule against blocking.

From Williams F1 Team

Williams Grand Prix Holdings PLC has announced today that Claire Williams is to become the Deputy Team Principal of the Williams F1 Team.

This newly created position will see Claire work alongside Founder and Team Principal Sir Frank Williams to play a pivotal role in the day to day running and long term development of the race team.

Claire and Frank Williams. (Photo: WRI2)

The position will strengthen the future of the team and create a clear succession path for Williams. The team had planned to announce this new appointment before the start of the 2013 season, but following the death of Lady Virginia Williams earlier this month, it was decided by Frank and Claire to delay this announcement to afford the family privacy.

Claire Williams will take up her new position with immediate effect, whilst also retaining her Commercial Director role leading the marketing, communications and sponsorship functions of the business.

She will continue to be part of the Company's Board of Directors and will be supported by and work in collaboration with the full Board.

Audi said Tuesday that it will bring a range of A3 models to the United States, including gasoline and diesel versions of the new A3 sedan, as well as a high-performance S3 sedan and a plug-in hybrid version of the five-door A3.

Audi said Tuesday that it will bring a range of A3 models to the United States, including gasoline and diesel versions of the new A3 sedan, as well as a high-performance S3 sedan and a plug-in hybrid version of the five-door A3.

The 2014

The Range Rover Sport, redesigned for 2014 and slimming down like the rest of the brand's lineup, is shifting to an aluminum architecture and gaining a third row of seats. It is being unveiled at the New York auto show this week.

Audi released the first images of its A3 sedan, a new variant of its A3 compact line that will compete for young luxury buyers with the Mercedes-Benz CLA.

The redesigned Cadillac CTS sedan shows that the brand is sticking with performance in its bid to get onto the shopping lists of import-minded buyers.

Audi is set to broaden its market reach in North America with the addition of a new price-leading sedan to its third-generation

Honda has help for messy minivans -- the 2014 Honda Odyssey revealed at the

In the wake of bad publicity from inaccurate fuel-mileage ratings and other misleading marketing claims, the automotive industry has a trust problem with American consumers a top Toyota official said today.

Faurecia North America is planning to build a new North American headquarters and technical center north of Detroit in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Faurecia North America is planning to build a new North American headquarters and technical center north of Detroit in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Also in this episode: We break down the upcoming New York auto show debut schedule.

AutoNation, the largest U.S. dealership group, slightly increased pay packages for its top two executives in 2012. CEO Mike Jackson received total pay and compensation of $6.6 million, up from $6.4 million in 2011. Jackson's salary of $1.

Jaguar is revealing a top-shelf sports car at the New York auto show that promises to be nearly as rare as its feline namesake in North America -- only 25 for U.S. buyers and five more for Canadians.

An Indian unit of advertising group WPP has sacked employees over a series of ads, including one showing women tied up in the trunk of a Ford driven by ex-Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

An Indian unit of advertising group WPP has sacked employees over a series of ads, including one showing women tied up in the trunk of a Ford driven by ex-Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Viewers of the "Live with Kelly and Michael" daytime TV show on Tuesday got a good look at the restyled 2014