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.

From press release

The new-look FIA GT Series kicks off this weekend in Nogaro, France, featuring a field of quality and diverse entries, with 26 of the best and most spectacular GT cars in the world.

A recognizable core of illustrious former GT1 World and GT3 European Championship teams has committed to the new-look FIA GT Series this season, laying solid foundations of growth for the future.

Amongst the teams to watch this weekend is last season's FIA GT World and European Championships, the newly-named HTP Gravity Charouz team (formerly HEICO), which enters three Mercedes SLS AMG GT3s.

Another title-winning team from last season is Belgian Audi Club Team WRT, which enters two Pro Cup Audi R8 LMS ultras.

Other entries of great interest include the leading Ferrari team and FIA GT Championships' regular AF Corse and their Ferrari 458 Italias, and Dörr Motorsport which enters a pair of McLaren MP4-12Cs, and Phoenix Racing with a pair of Audi R8 LMS.

Sebastien Loeb's McLaren MP4-12C. (Photo: FIA GT Series)

Not to forget Sebastien Loeb Racing - the team of the nine-time World Rally champion and motorsport legend, fielding two McLaren MP4-12C cars. Now embarking upon his first full season in circuit racing and one of the most familiar faces in world motorsport, Loeb will pair up with talented McLaren factory driver, Alvaro Parente.

The French team also fields a second McLaren for the experienced GT duo of local hero Mike Parisy from Pau and Andreas Zuber.

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."

Swiss Simona de Silvestro, the driver of the No. 78 KV Racing Technology, Chevrolet powered car in this year's IZOD IndyCar series went to Italy to test the Dallara driving simulator.

Simona qualified a promising third in the streets of St. Petersburg at the opening race last weekend, but well-worn tires at the end made her drop to 6th place at the finish.

She recently went to Italy to try the Dallara simulator. The simulator is not only used to allow the drivers to learn the new circuits, but also to have them validate the set-up of their cars prior to the actual races.

Just hours after Joe Gibbs Racing president, J.D. Gibbs, said that the NASCAR Sprint Cup team didn't have a replacement for the injured Denny Hamlin, the team announced that the 54-year old Mark Martin would be the team's replacement.

“We've been real fortunate to have never been in this situation with the need to find someone to fill in for an injured driver,” said J.D. Gibbs, president of Joe Gibbs Racing. “A lot goes into a decision like this but we are really pleased to have someone of the character and caliber of Mark Martin to fill in while Denny is out. Obviously we're not exactly sure how long that is going to take, but Mark's career speaks for itself and our team knows it will have the opportunity to compete for a win every week.”

Photo: NASCAR

Martin will make his first start for JGR at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, April 7. Martin has made one previous appearance for JGR when he started in the NASCAR Nationwide Series last March at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and finished second. Currently Martin is the primary driver of the No. 55 Toyoita at Michael Waltrip Racing sharing driver's duties with Brian Vickers.

Martin has one of the most distinguished careers in NASCAR history having made his first Sprint Cup Series start in 1981. Over his 31 years in the sport he has made 858 starts in the Sprint Cup Series and compiled 40 wins, 271 top-five and 449 top-ten finishes. He has earned 56 pole awards as well. He also has 49 career wins in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

“I'm happy to have this opportunity to help out JGR, FedEx and Denny,” said Martin. “Hopefully I can keep those guys up front and compete for wins while Denny heals up.”

In 48 career starts at Martinsville Speedway Martin has earned two wins, 12 top-five and 25 top-ten finishes along with two poles. He has a career average finish of 13.3 at the famed short track known as the paperclip.

“I just hate not being able to be in the car right now, but I really appreciate Mark being able to fill in for me,” said Hamlin. “Like everyone in NASCAR, I have a tremendous amount of respect for Mark and I know he will keep that FedEx Camry up front until I get back behind the wheel.”

Another issue, which came up during the media teleconference. was Hamlin's chances of making NASCAR's playoffs called “The Chase.” Dr. Jerry Petty stated that Hamlin will be out of action for at least five races; which would drop him out of the top-ten in points and not qualify for the Chase. On the other hand if Hamlin could win one or more races and finish in the top 20 he would make the “The Chase.”

Although Hamlin will fall out of the points top-10 because of missing races, theoretically he could qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup through the wild-card route with at least one victory.

“I think he's definitely thinking about that,” Gibbs said. “But, at the same time, your safety is more important than those points. We'll definitely keep it in the back of the mind that we still have a shot.”

Hyundai presented the all-new 2014 Equus for the first time in North America at the New York Auto Show.

Significantly enhanced both inside and out, this full-size sedan gets the Korean automaker's award-winning 5.0L GDI V8 engine, which produces 429 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque via an eight-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual mode.

Riding on a new set of 19” turbine-blade alloy wheels in a polished silver finish, the 2014 Hyundai Equus' front fascia has been redesigned with thinner chrome grille bars and new lower fascia opening strakes in place of the former chrome accents. New LED fog lights come standard, while the side mirrors have been redesigned and the taillight graphics incorporated to a more horizontal theme.

Inside, look for a restyled dashboard and improved control layout on the steering wheel. As for technologies, there's a larger, 7” TFT LCD centre display in Signature models, and a large 12.3” TFT LCD gauge cluster display in Ultimate models. A Blind Spot Detection system with rear cross-traffic alert is now standard, while the Equus Ultimate adds a multi-view camera system that provides a nearly 360-degree aerial view of the vehicle for optimized visibility and safety.

Photo: Hyundai

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."

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