Auto News 5

Volkswagen Group Malaysia is confident of topping its record sales of 13,000 cars this year, according to managing director Zeno Kerschbaumer.

Suzuki Motor is shortening the introduction time for derivative models to around three months after new vehicles are released, starting with its Spacia minicar.

Toyota Motor will exempt factory workers with preschool children from the night shift, beginning in September, to help them balance work and child rearing, media reports said.

General Motors has told its South Korean labor union it has no plans to produce the next-generation Aveo small car in the country for the time being, prompting the union to threaten strike action.

General Motors has told its South Korean labor union it has no plans to produce the next-generation Aveo small car in the country for the time being, prompting the union to threaten strike action.

Volkswagen has written to car owners in Australia offering free inspections of its vehicles in response to growing worries about potential gearbox problems that have already triggered recalls in China and Japan.

Volkswagen has written to Australian car owners offering free inspections of its vehicles in response to growing worries about potential gearbox problems that have already triggered recalls in China and Japan.

Porsche has resumed production of its Cayenne SUV in Leipzig, Germany, after floods in the region brought the assembly line to a standstill after water levels prevented the delivery of components manufactured in Slovakia.

Suppliers' responsibilities in vehicle development are growing. Schaeffler Chief Technology Officer Peter Gutzmer aims to expand the company's value creation across a wider range of functions.

Porsche has resumed production of its Cayenne SUV in Leipzig, Germany, after floods in the region brought the assembly line to a standstill after water levels prevented the delivery of components manufactured in Slovakia.

Suppliers and carmakers are trying out competing energy-storage systems to power the fuel-saving engine stop-start systems that are increasingly common on vehicles.

Suppliers' responsibilities in vehicle development are growing. Schaeffler Chief Technology Officer Peter Gutzmer aims to expand the company's value creation across a wider range of functions.

Aston Martin revealed the 2015 V-12 Vantage S, powered by a new version of the British automaker's 6.0-liter V-12. Aston Martin has begun taking orders, and deliveries are scheduled to start early next year.

Automotive News Europe salutes the winners of the 2013 Rising Stars awards. Every day until June 12 one of the 18 winners will be featured. Today's Rising Star is John Stech, president of Volvo Cars Russia.

Infiniti's new boss is calling for new priorities. Less than a year into his job as president of Nissan Motor Co.'s premium marque, Johan de Nysschen is tempering expectations that Infiniti will nearly triple sales in four years.

The top 10 assembly plants, ranked by production volume, in North America for April were Volkswagen -- Puebla, Mexico, 54,083 units; Toyota -- Georgetown, Kentucky, 48,746; Honda -- Marysville, Ohio, 43,591; Nissan -- Aguascalientes, Mexico, 41,993;...

Toyota is tossing aside a reliable but aging compact recipe by adding room, refinement, and bolder styling to the redesigned Corolla for 2014.

Fernando Alonso of the Scuderia Ferrari set the fastest time of the first two free practice sessions of the Grand Prix of Canada on the Gilles Villeneuve circuit in Montreal.

Rain in the morning left the temporary road course wet enough for Pirelli's intermediate tires right up until the closing minutes of the morning session.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari (Photo: WRI2)

Paul di Resta made the most of his slick tires and set the fastest time in his Sahara Force India, beating Jenson Button in a McLaren and Romain Grosjean in a Lotus. Fernando Alonso was fourth in his Ferrari.

In the sole major incident of the session, Pastor Maldonado spun his Williams and damaged the nose of his FW35 in Turn 3.

The 90-minute afternoon session was run throughout on a dry track after this morning's wet-dry conditions.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG (Photo: WRI2)

Several teams made runs on Pirelli's all-black prototype tires, which should be race ready from Silverstone at the British Grand Prix.

Kimi Raikkonen was quick early on, but Mark Webber, Felipe Massa, Paul di Resta and Nico Rosberg all appeared on top of the timing sheets at one point.

Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus (Photo: WRI2)

Alonso set the fastest time before everybody began to do long runs in preparation for Sunday's race. Alonso set a 1m14.818 to beat Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes AMG and Grosjean who ranked third once again.

Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber was fourth ahead of Monaco winner, Nico Rosberg in his Mercedes and Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus (Photo: WRI2)

World championship leader, Sebastian Vettel ranked 7th in his Red Bull, finishing ahead of Adrian Sutil of Sahara Force India, Jenson Button in the fastest McLaren and Daniel Ricciardo in his Toro Rosso, who was 6th this morning.

Grand Prix of Canada, free practice 1*, Friday:
1 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'21"020 - 10 laps
2 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'21"108 - 20
3 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'21"258 - 21
4 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'21"308 - 16
5 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'21"608 - 22
6 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'22"068 - 18
7 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'22"402 - 22
8 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'22"587 - 17
9 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'23"047 - 26
10 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'23"131 - 16
11 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'23"341 - 13
12 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'23"352 - 17
13 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'23"366 - 19
14 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'23"417 - 19
15 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'23"957 - 33
16 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'25"054 - 21
17 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'25"354 - 22
18 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'25"753 - 21
19 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'25"821 - 19
20 - Alexander Rossi (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'27"143 - 20
21 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'27"522 - 11
22 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'29"306 - 8

Grand Prix of Canada, free practice 2*, Friday:
1 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'14"818 - 48 laps
2 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'14"830 - 45
3 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'15"083 - 40
4 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'15"212 - 46
5 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'15"249 - 46
6 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'15"254 - 43
7 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'15"280 - 41
8 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'15"396 - 43
9 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'15"422 - 29
10 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'15"566 - 38
11 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'15"599 - 35
12 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'15"661 - 39
13 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'15"855 - 22
14 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'16"319 - 46
15 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'16"351 - 38
16 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'16"374 - 40
17 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'16"475 - 45
18 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'16"929 - 35
19 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'17"070 - 41
20 - Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'17"236 - 35
21 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'17"888 - 45
22 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'18"392 - 39

*Unofficial timing

From GMM

Mercedes is expected to face the FIA's international tribunal before the British grand prix at the end of the month, Germany's Auto Motor und Sport is reporting.

Correspondent Michael Schmidt cited sources in saying the sport's governing body is speeding up the process, which in theory could be pushed out as far as 45 days.

But "The process should take place before the British grand prix," said Schmidt from Montreal early on Friday.

Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team

Schmidt also reported on Friday that many in the paddock are surprised that former Ferrari team boss Jean Todt, now the FIA president, excused Ferrari from the proceedings.

Todt ruled that Pedro de la Rosa's Barcelona running with a 2011 car conformed to the rules, but it is believed that the Spaniard was running 2013-specification Pirelli tires.

"And apparently it wasn't Pirelli who paid for that test, but Ferrari," said Schmidt.

And engineers reportedly believe that a 2011 car, with a blown diffuser, is highly comparable to the downforce levels of this year's single seaters.

A rival voice in the paddock said: "Was it really a coincidence that Ferrari then won the Spanish grand prix on the same circuit?"

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk intends to drive the Model S from Los Angeles to New York using the company's network of Supercharger quick-charging stations to charge the battery along the way.

While Musk claims it's nothing more than a “personal road trip,” we know better: This will serve as a formidable marketing coup for Tesla as it works to convince buyers of the car's generous range (anywhere between 335 and 427 kilometres, depending on road conditions and driving styles).

Right now, there are less than a dozen Supercharger stations across the U.S. They will charge a Tesla Model S battery to 80% capacity in about 30 minutes -- barely more than a standard highway stop, Musk says.

Tesla's goal is to have hundreds of Supercharger locations totaling 2,000 to 3,000 individual charging ports by 2015.

Source: Green Car Reports

Photo: Tesla Motors