Auto News 5

DTM champion, Canadian Bruno Spengler Monday received the key of a very special car: a BMW M3 DTM Champion Edition.

In honour of the 2012 DTM champion, BMW M GmbH designed this special edition of the BMW M3 in the matte black livery of the BMW Bank M3 DTM, with which Spengler won the title last year with four victories.

Photo: BMW Motorsport

In total, BMW M GmbH will make only 54 of this exclusive model available to its racing aficionados, which will be sold solely in Germany. Customers can also look forward to a driving lesson with Spengler on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. They will take part in the “BMW M Fascination Nordschleife” training course -- one of the most coveted driver training courses in the BMW Driving Experience.

Photo: BMW Motorsport

“I was presented with my own M3 DTM Champion Edition today. It's a gorgeous car, really nice, especially in that colour,” Spengler told Auto123.com.

“However, I could not keep it as it will be put on display this weekend at the opening round of the new DTM season in the paddock of the Hockenheimring. They'll give it to me after the race weekend. I just love it. It looks stunning and the performance is just breathtaking. I hope it will bring me luck for the new season,” Spengler added.

Photo: BMW Motorsport

Tesla Motors Club and Tesla Motors have joined forces to create Teslive, an action-packed conference event that will take place July 12-14, 2013 in San Jose, California, near the electric car company's headquarters. Participants will be limited to 300.

The program will include a tour of the assembly plant in Fremont, interaction with members of the Tesla team, discussion panels, meetings with experts, group drives, and much more.

Teslive organizers also hope to break the world record for the largest gathering of electric vehicles. Last November, Nissan lined up 225 LEAFs during a special event in the U.K.

Obviously, charging stations will be available at the plant and hotel.

Toyota has developed a new In-car Traffic Signal Alert system that monitors upcoming traffic lights to warn drivers of red lights. By knowing in advance the colour of the light at the next intersection, drivers can better prepare for what's ahead and reduce their speed earlier.

The Japanese automaker is currently testing the system on one of the roads in Toyota City.

The traffic information gets to the car through a 700 MHz bandwidth on the radio. It can also appear on the navigation display or be read out loud.

Toyota said the 700MHz band would be effective for vehicle-to-vehicle communication, as well.

Source: Autoguide

Chrysler-Fiat President and CEO Sergio Marchionne announced that the Italian automaker is negotiating with representatives of the UAW's VEBA health benefits organization to buy the 41.5% share in Chrysler it doesn't already own.

Apparently, Chrysler-Fiat has all the necessary funds, which financial experts estimate at $3.5-$4 billion.

Marchionne would like to merge the two manufacturers in hopes of becoming the world's seventh-largest automaker in terms of sales. This would also allow Fiat to use Chrysler's capital to compensate for losses in the European market.

Source: The Detroit Bureau

Sebastien Loeb, who is about to make his WRC return with Citroen this weekend at Rally Argentina, fears his lack of running will cost him dearly.

The Frenchman is back in world rallying after a three-month break. Argentina will be his first rally since Sweden. The nine-time World Rally Champion did not remain inactive as he made his debut in the FIA GT Series, running for his own team.

But Loeb, who missed the Rally Mexico and Rally Portugal (all won by Sebastien Ogier in his Volkswagen Polo), fears he will be disadvantaged due to his lack of running in world rallying.

Sebastien Loeb. (Photo Citroen Racing)

"Apart from one day of testing, I haven't driven on gravel since the 2012 Rally de Espana," he explained to WRC.com.

"So I don't know what sort of feeling I'll have on the first few stages in Argentina. I think that you can lose your rhythm pretty quickly, and that's why I'm cautious about my chances."

"There's no denying the fact that I have pretty much moved on from rallying and am now focused on the future. This reduced programme is a good way to continue to compete for Citroen in 2013, but I'm not as well prepared as Mikko (Hirvonen), Dani (Sordo) and the other guys. We'll see what happens when we'll put our helmets on..."

From GMM

Valencia's mooted return to the formula one calendar next year is now under a dark cloud.

We reported earlier this month that the Spanish port city - absent from this year's schedule - could be back in 2014, after its president Alberto Fabra met with Bernie Ecclestone in February.

"The agreement is (now) awaiting the signature of the Catalan president Artur Mas," wrote journalist Pedro Blasco, referring to a deal that would see Valencia annually alternate with Barcelona.

Photo: WRi2

But, whilst not completely ruling out an alternation, Mas said the Circuit de Catalunya is willing to continue to organise the Spanish grand prix each year.

"We are able to fulfil the contract that we signed," he is quoted by El Mundo Deportivo newspaper.

"Since more than a year ago, when I spoke of an alternation, we have worked very hard and we are able to take on the challenge of organising the race every year."

Mas said the issue is likely to be discussed further next weekend, when Barcelona hosts the 2013 Spanish grand prix.

It seems hardly a month goes by when there isn't one new form or another of the new Audi A3 being announced. Glenn Brooks, who attended the UK launch of the Sportback, looks at what's ahead for the local importer's best selling model.

Mercedes-Benz USA appointed a new general manager of the Smart brand and is transferring the head of the company-owned Mercedes-Benz Manhattan dealership in New York to a corporate position in Montvale, N.J.

Aston Martin drove the first lapand#8212;of many, we assumeand#8212;of its hydrogen-fueled racecar at the 13-mile Nürburgring circuit in Germany on Saturday. Aston CEO Dr.

President Barack Obama said Charlotte, North Carolina, Mayor Anthony Foxx will press ahead as transportation secretary with the administration's goals to rebuild and expand the nation's infrastructure.

"Everyone else was doing it," and "I had to go to the bathroom" extend beyond excuses used in a kindergarten classroom -- they actually top the most common excuses drivers use to get out of a ticket.

Successful car auctions are hardly surprising these days; it seems like there's a mad rush to throw money at every halfway desirable bit of steel, aluminum or fiberglass and not even a still-precarious global economy can cool buyers down.

Motorsports editor Mike Larson goes over this weekend's racing news and results.

Tenneco, the supplier of emission-control and ride-control systems, today reported higher first-quarter profits.

Tenneco, the supplier of emission-control and ride-control systems, today reported sharply higher first-quarter profits.

We recently brought you road test editor Jonathan Wong whipping the Ford SVT Raptor through an intense off-road course. Now we talk with two top

Daimler China sales chief Nicholas Speeks accused independent Mercedes dealers in China of laziness. In the first three months, Mercedes sales in China dropped 12 percent.

As Daimler AG struggles to keep pace in China with rivals BMW and Audi, the company is picking a fight with its own dealers.

Mazda Motor Corporation posted a profit for the 2013 fiscal year (FY) ending on 31 March.

The Toyota 4Runner is getting a mid-cycle refresh for 2014. The Japanese giant gave the SUV a new exterior treatment, interior refinements and added some comfort and convenience options. The 270-hp, 4.0-liter V6 is the only engine available.