Auto News 5

Run-flat tires are far more likely than conventional tires to need replacement because of a flat or blowout, according to a new study by J.D. Power and Associates.

Also in this episode: The Scion tC gets facelift; Kia Sportage and#8220;sportsand#8221; a Wonder Woman theme.

Three major advertising agencies are vying to handle Cadillac's creative account.

The Germans don't have a lock on the high-performance luxury sedan marketand#8212;it just feels that way. Barely a month passes anymore without a pronouncement from Munich, Frankfurt or Ingolstadt about the latest

The EPA proposed a package of rules Friday that includes cleaner gasoline and stricter limits on pollution from the tailpipes of cars, despite objections from the oil industry.

Mitsubishi Motors has suspended production of its Outlander plug-in hybrid crossover and a variant of its i electric car after one lithium ion battery melted at a dealership and another caught fire in an assembly plant.

2014 Chevrolet Impala First Drive

What puts GM’s latest, greatest big car in the quality penthouse?

We're looking out over the San Diego cityscape from a penthouse high above the street. It's dusk, and the lights wink on among the thicket of tall buildings silhouetted against the sky. It's one of those vertigo moments ... not because of the view but because of the 2014 Chevrolet Impala a few feet behind us. How did this car get up here?

Photo Gallery: 2014 Chevrolet Impala First Drive - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2014 Chevrolet Impala First Drive - Automobile Magazine

2014 Chevrolet Impala First Drive | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

The New York auto show spans more than 90,000 square feet on four floors of the Jacob Javits convention center.

Dash cams are all the rage these days, providing us with an endless stream of clips showing meteors over Mother Russia or racing feats from the driver's perspective.

DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: Call me old fashioned, but I expect a lot out of a Mercedes, particularly if it's a five-passenger SUV that stickers for around $63,000.

Ford vehicles are subject to unintentionally accelerating and lack fail-safe measures to prevent crashes in such incidents, according to a lawsuit seeking class-action status on behalf of owners in 14 states.

Daimler forecast first-quarter operating profit to be significantly lower than in the last three months of 2012 after premium car and commercial truck markets were weaker than it expected.

Kia has given its Sportage SUV a flashy new design influenced by the heroine Wonder Woman and it even comes with the superhero's tiara.

Check out our team's photo gallery of the 2013 New York International Auto Show press days. The show takes place at the Jacob Javits Center from March 29th to April 7th.

After Mercedes set the best performances on Tuesday and Wednesday with Robert Wickens and Gary Paffet, Jamie Green was fastest on the third day of collective testing in Barcelona.

Jamie Green. (Photo: Audi Motorsport)

The Brit, who joined Audi after eight seasons under Mercedes' colors, set his best lap time in 1'07'171, with 180 laps cumulated on the day. Second fastest was 18-year-old Pascal Wehrlein, who is about to make his DTM debuts with Mercedes, and who was only 0,065 seconds slower than Green.

The first BMW driver was Dirk Werner, who was 7th quickest, 0,242 seconds slower than Green.

Cyril Abiteboul, Team Principal, Caterham F1 Team said the Anglo-Malaysian team is disappointed but not beaten after the first two Grands Prix of the 2013 season.

“We knew these two back-to-back races would be difficult, but we managed to do the best we could,” said Abiteboul in a Caterham video interview.

“We managed to get two race finishes for our two drivers, Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde. They both learned a lot and are fitting well in the team. Charles was also new to the Renault engine and to the KERS. We are also still in the process of learning the new CT03,” Abiteboul added.

Photo: Caterham F1 Team

The Frenchman explained that all teams faced rough conditions in these two races.

“Those two races took place in very different conditions. It was colder than expected in Australia and very hot in Malaysia. The team was really down after FP1 in Melbourne. We expected to be fighting against Marussia, but they were in front of us. Maybe the cold conditions were fitting their car better. In the heat of Malaysia, we were not that far. We noticed that other teams are not that far from us, which is encouraging,” Abiteboul continued.

Photo: Caterham F1 Team

“It's good to have a big break right now. It gives us the chance to repair the damages. We broke quite a few parts. We came back with four front wins less than when we left. So we have to do the repairs and fabricate new components. We will bring new parts in Bahrain, and then some other new ones in Barcelona. So it is encouraging and we are going in the right direction,” Abiteboul said.

Photo: Caterham F1 Team

The all-new, third-generation 2014 Acura MDX finally made its debut at the New York Auto Show on Wednesday, March 27th. Built on a completely new platform, this seven-passenger luxury crossover offers improved ride comfort, a more versatile and upscale cabin, increased fuel economy, and enhanced dynamic performance.

The 2014 Acura MDX is motivated by a highly efficient 3.5L i-VTEC “Earth Dreams” V6 engine that produces 290 horsepower through a 6-speed automatic transmission with Sport mode and sequential SportShift paddle shifters. It has an estimated Transport Canada fuel economy rating of 11.2/7.7/9.6L/100km (city/highway/combined).

The roomier interior boasts a spacious new centre console that can accommodate a purse, laptop case, or a pair of iPads. It's flanked by a 10-way power adjustable and heated driver's seat, and an 8-way power adjustable and heated passenger seat.

AcuraLink, ABS, Brake Assist, and Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control come standard to enhance safety, while Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning are available.

The 2014 Acura MDX will go on sale at Canadian dealers nationwide this summer.

Photo: Acura

The livery of the brand new Porsche 911 RSR, that will take on the World Endurance Championship and the Le Mans 24 Hours, has been unveiled by the german constructor.

Photo: Porsche

Two works cars will be ran by Team Manthey, driven by Bergmeister-Pilet-Bernhard and Lieb-Lietz-Dumans. The new 911 is 10 cm longer, and will be powered by a 4 liters, 6 cylinders engin that delivers 460 hp. An effort has been made on the balanced weight distribution, and the car's weight, with carbon fibre playing a crucial role in the new design.

Photo: Porsche

From GMM

Marussia chief executive Andy Webb has admitted the team will be powered either by Ferrari or Mercedes engines in 2014.

Cosworth, whose only customer in F1 this year is the Banbury-based team, is expected to leave the sport before the start of the new turbo V6 era.

So with Renault saying recently it is in talks with Toro Rosso but does not want any more customers, Marussia's choice appears to be between Ferrari and Mercedes.

"It's obvious that with the departure of Cosworth then we can choose between Ferrari and Mercedes. We'll talk with both," Andy Webb told Russia's Championat.

"It is clear that the price will be an important factor, because the cost will be significantly higher than the current engines," added Webb. "And we need to make sure we choose the right partner. I hope to be able to announce our decision in the next four weeks."

Jules Bianchi, Marussia MR02-Cosworth. (Photo: WRi2)

It is believed that 2013 Marussia driver Jules Bianchi's connections with Ferrari make the Italian marque the favourite for the deal.

Webb admitted that the final decision should be made as soon as possible.

"The 2014 car is already in the wind tunnel. We have already seen a lot of data on the requirements for the engines in 2014," Webb explained. "We have not chosen a partner yet, but we have a lot of information. Of course, a quick decision on the engine would help. Preferably by the end of April."

From GMM

1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve is not sure Sebastian Vettel's apologies should be so readily accepted.

Vettel repeatedly said sorry to Mark Webber after Sunday's Malaysian grand prix, where he passed the Australian for victory against Red Bull's orders.

And he apologised to the Milton-Keynes based team's entire staff on Thursday, team boss Christian Horner revealed.

"He recognises the team is vitally important and being part of the team is a crucial aspect to being able to challenge for the championships," said Horner.

But outspoken Villeneuve, now a television pundit, told Germany's Auto Bild: "It's easy to make excuses. In the end he's got the win and the points. Mark has nothing. It was a deliberate decision by Vettel."

Sebastian Vettel ahead Mark Webber, Red Bull RB9-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

French Canadian Villeneuve said it is obvious the 25-year-old triple world champion did the wrong thing.

"The team give you the contract and pay you money and so you do what they want you to do. It's very simple," he said.

Jacques Villeneuve compared the Sepang saga with 1982, when Didier Pironi similarly ignored a 'do not pass' agreement to beat his father, Gilles Villeneuve, to the chequered flag at Imola.

Didier Pironi leads Gilles Villeneuve at the end of the 1982 San Marno Grand Prix. (Photo: WRI2)

"Ignoring is just plain wrong," said Villeneuve. "The best example is my father and Didier Pironi. Just look at the problems that caused."

Indeed, Gilles Villeneuvewas so enraged by Pironi's actions that many believe it contributed to his crash and death at Zolder shortly afterwards.

Whatever the case, the general consensus in the paddock is that the affair has terminally damaged the teammates' relationship at Red Bull.

"They will simply have to try to survive the rest of the season somehow," former driver Mika Salo told Finland's MTV3 broadcaster. "For next season, they (Red Bull) will probably look for another driver to put in Webber's place."