Auto News 5

Four leading Japanese automakers -- Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Mitsubishi -- have entered a partnership to develop a flexible charging infrastructure for plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles in Japan.

There are currently about 1,700 quick chargers and just over 3,000 normal chargers in Japan, which is generally recognized to be insufficient. The quartet therefore wants to increase the number of normal chargers by 8,000 and quick chargers by 4,000, with the former being installed in commercial facilities (e.g. large shopping malls, do-it-yourself stores, and family restaurants), while the latter could be installed at en-route charging spots for shorter stops (e.g. highway parking areas, convenience stores, and gas stations).

The Japanese government announced subsidies for installation of charging stations totalling 100.5 billion yen (a little over $1 million) to quickly develop the charging infrastructure and expand the use of electrically powered vehicles across the country.

Photo: Lesley Wimbush

Washington Redskins running back Alfred Morris loves his 1991 Mazda 626. And luckily for him, the automaker offered to restore it like new.

Affectionately called “Bentley” by Morris, the old Japanese sedan has ran into its fair share of troubles over the years, yet their bond remains strong.

Mazda representatives contacted his agent and said they could have the 626 refurbished and fitted with modern extras like a navigation system and CD player, but “nothing too lavish,” Morris apparently said.

The restoration process will take 6-8 weeks, and the young star hopes the car can run for about 20 more years.

Who ever said that football players don't have a soft side?

Source : washingtonpost.com

Photo: Wikipedia

Ever since Kurt Busch successfully tested an Andretti Autosport Dallara Chevrolet at Indianapolis this May he's been intrigued in attempting “The Double;” the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race, at Charlotte Motor Speedway, on the same day.

The Indy 500 is run in the afternoon and Charlotte is a night race.

Now Busch, 34, says it's a “good possibility” that he be entered in the IndyCar finale at Auto Club Speedway in October.

The 2004 Sprint Cup champion added “we're working on it. We just have to keep our fingers crossed." He didn't name any possible teams, but, it would likely be a Chevrolet powered team because of his Furniture Row Chevy SS affiliation in NASCAR.

That would represent a double of sorts because IndyCar races on Saturday night, October 19th and the Sprint Cup Series runs at Talladega Superspeedway back east on Sunday afternoon. "Now that it has settled in, and I was able to find some speed and feel comfortable, I'd like to do another oval before I race Indy next year," Busch told reporters at the Watkins Glen test.


He was referring to the fact that he passed the IndyCar rookie test and turned his fastest lap of 218.210 at the 2.5 mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway.


Kurt Busch. (Photo: Indianapolis Motor Speedway)

Busch, a versatile driver had tested Michel Jourdain's Rahal Lola-Ford at Sebring in 2003, but that was a different type of Indy car on a road course.

Auto Club Speedway is the only 500 mile IndyCar race between now and the 2014 Indy 500. As a full time stock car driver Busch feels it's necessary to get an entire oval IndyCar race under his belt before making any attempt at Indy.

If sufficient funding isn't found for Busch to run at Auto Club Speedway this season, he says he would feel "blind" at Indianapolis next May "and that's just going to be too much to make up."


Another issue for October for Busch would be to consider his NASCAR standing. At the present time he's 14th, and would need to advance to the top ten to make the stock car series playoffs call the Chase. With the one-car Furniture Row team it's a bit of long shot, but, still a possibility and a one-off IndyCar race would be in conflict with a shot at a second NASCAR title.

If the stars and the moon align and he does attempt the Double he'd be the fourth driver to do so after Robby Gordon (2004) who was the last driver to make the attempt, John Andretti, and Tony Stewart (who finished sixth at Indianapolis and third in Charlotte in 2001).

Big everything
The glory days of the large SUV seem to be passing us by. As the crossover craze takes over and family sedans start offering up just as much room and comfort (and a boat-load better fuel economy), the SUV seems to be going the way of flip-phone; replace by smaller, sleeker, more efficient models.

However, all is not lost. The likes of the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport is proof that the SUV breed is still alive and kicking. Since its '11 redesign, the Ford Explorer has forged an SUV-sized path in the marketplace, and with good reason. And if anyone is going to forge ahead in the big-vehicle market it's going to be Ford, a leader in the segment for decades now.


What is the Ford Explorer?
First introduced in 1990, the Ford Explorer paved the way for the popularity of the SUV. For the first 20 years, Ford's Explorer sported a traditional body-on-frame structure. It wasn't until the fifth generation (2011 model year) that the crossover unibody construction emerged.

First introduced in 1990, the Ford Explorer paved the way for the popularity of the SUV. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

2013 Ford Explorer Sport Price and Specs
Four models are available across the Ford Explorer lineup. In base trim, the starting price sits at $29,999. At the top of the spectrum sits my tester, the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport for $48,499.

There are also three engines available across the lineup: a 3.5L V6, a 2.0L inline-4 EcoBoost and a 3.5L V6 EcoBoost. We'll focus on the last since that was the one nestled in my Sport tester.

This fabulous engine features twin turbochargers and direct injection good for 365 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque that is coupled to Ford's 6-speed SelectShift Automatic transmission.

The Ford Explorer can also tow up to 2,268 kg, which means this can also be an ideal weekend country or camping warrior.

I was more than impressed with the amount of powered offered up from the EcoBoost V6 powerplant. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Driving the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport
If nothing else, the new Ford Explorer is big, and it drives just as large. However, despite that, I was more than impressed with the amount of powered offered up from the EcoBoost V6 powerplant. Truly, this thing's got some kick. Fast off the line, the transmission is happy to play and quick to shift, the Sport is just that: sporty.

I have to mention the interior space in the drive section for a moment because it was just that cavernous. After finding my ideal driving position, I found I actually had to lean to one side or the other to place my elbow on either rest, so large was the space. Comfortable to say the least, it was almost too big.

The V6 sounds great, and the ride is comfortable. This is a great road-trip vehicle, or short-trip-to-the-store ride.

Comfortable to say the least, it was almost too big. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Inside and Out of the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport
As I said above, this thing is huge. Outside and in, it's big-boned. From the massive, blacked-out front grille to the 20” machined aluminum wheels to the overall beefy look of the vehicle; the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport means business and has some serious presence on the road.

Here's a vehicle that's damn proud of being an SUV, and it's showing it off. With three rows of seating, the Ford Explorer Sport is an ideal vehicle for multiple-child families. Space in the third row is limited, but not horrible. And the cargo space in the back (with the third row up) is a satisfactory 594 litres. Without the third row that number jumps to 1,240 litres.

Of note; it seems the second-row folding seats have caused some issues in the Ford Explorer. After trying to fold them forward myself to get into the third row without success (instead opting to crawl over the half-folded seat), I went online to search. There are forums where owners have complained about a stuck latch and/or inability to fold the seats forward at all. We suggest you visit your local Ford dealer to sort out the issue should you come across this problem.

Amenities abound in the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport, as does MyFord Touch and SYNC. While I'm still not a huge fan of the system (too many commands and way too many touch-sensitive buttons), the steering-wheel controls help sort out most of the issues and let you control a great deal.

The cargo space in the back (with the third row up) is a satisfactory 594 litres. Without the third row that number jumps to 1,240 litres. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Comparing the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport
As the Sport version of the 2013 Ford Explorer is at the top of the price bracket in the lineup, its competition lies in the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 and even the Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG. Some may find the Sport pricey (the near $55k final price on my tester had some raising their eyebrows), but if you consider what you're getting (which is quite a lot), I think it's well worth the dollars.

From press release

The appeal court of the German Motor Racing Association, DMSB, confirmed the disqualification of Audi driver Mattias Ekström after the DTM race held on 14th July at the Norisring.

In addition, the court decided that the fifth round of the season won't have a winner. On Tuesday in Frankfurt/Main, the court dismissed the appeal of Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline against the decision of the stewards but also decided that no other driver will move up in the rankings.

So, Canadian Robert Wickens (Mercedes-Benz) in second position will be the best-placed driver of the Norisring race. The reason for letting no other driver move up: Ekström didn't enjoy an advantage in the race as his car met the regulations and he secured his race win in sports-wise impeccable conditions. This was announced by DMSB on Tuesday evening.

Caption: DTM TV

Ekström's team had been accused to have violated the parc-fermé rules that are defined in paragraph 44 of DTM's sporting regulations. This regulation passage regulates - inter alia - that no materials or substances may be added or removed prior to the vehicle's after-race scrutineering. TV pictures, however, showed that water had been poured into the pocket of the driver's race overall prior to the weighing.

The all-new 2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel can tow up to 9,200 lbs, approaching large V8 capability while delivering superior fuel economy.

In fact, the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel's 3.0L diesel V6 makes it the most fuel-efficient light-duty truck in its class, although the automaker has yet to announce official ratings.

The standard 305-horsepower Pentastar V6 can still tow 7,450 lbs.

Photo: RAM

Big everything
The glory days of the large SUV seem to be passing us by. As the crossover craze takes over and family sedans start offering up just as much room and comfort (and a boat-load better fuel economy), the SUV seems to be going the way of flip-phone; replace by smaller, sleeker, more efficient models.

However, all is not lost. The likes of the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport is proof that the SUV breed is still alive and kicking. Since its '11 redesign, the Ford Explorer has forged an SUV-sized path in the marketplace, and with good reason. And if anyone is going to forge ahead in the big-vehicle market it's going to be Ford, a leader in the segment for decades now.


What is the Ford Explorer?
First introduced in 1990, the Ford Explorer paved the way for the popularity of the SUV. For the first 20 years, Ford's Explorer sported a traditional body-on-frame structure. It wasn't until the fifth generation (2011 model year) that the crossover unibody construction emerged.

First introduced in 1990, the Ford Explorer paved the way for the popularity of the SUV. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

2013 Ford Explorer Sport Price and Specs
Four models are available across the Ford Explorer lineup. In base trim, the starting price sits at $29,999. At the top of the spectrum sits my tester, the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport for $48,499.

There are also three engines available across the lineup: a 3.5L V6, a 2.0L inline-4 EcoBoost and a 3.5L V6 EcoBoost. We'll focus on the last since that was the one nestled in my Sport tester.

This fabulous engine features twin turbochargers and direct injection good for 365 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque that is coupled to Ford's 6-speed SelectShift Automatic transmission.

The Ford Explorer can also tow up to 2,268 kg, which means this can also be an ideal weekend country or camping warrior.

I was more than impressed with the amount of powered offered up from the EcoBoost V6 powerplant. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Driving the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport
If nothing else, the new Ford Explorer is big, and it drives just as large. However, despite that, I was more than impressed with the amount of powered offered up from the EcoBoost V6 powerplant. Truly, this thing's got some kick. Fast off the line, the transmission is happy to play and quick to shift, the Sport is just that: sporty.

I have to mention the interior space in the drive section for a moment because it was just that cavernous. After finding my ideal driving position, I found I actually had to lean to one side or the other to place my elbow on either rest, so large was the space. Comfortable to say the least, it was almost too big.

The V6 sounds great, and the ride is comfortable. This is a great road-trip vehicle, or short-trip-to-the-store ride.

Comfortable to say the least, it was almost too big. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Inside and Out of the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport
As I said above, this thing is huge. Outside and in, it's big-boned. From the massive, blacked-out front grille to the 20” machined aluminum wheels to the overall beefy look of the vehicle; the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport means business and has some serious presence on the road.

Here's a vehicle that's damn proud of being an SUV, and it's showing it off. With three rows of seating, the Ford Explorer Sport is an ideal vehicle for multiple-child families. Space in the third row is limited, but not horrible. And the cargo space in the back (with the third row up) is a satisfactory 594 litres. Without the third row that number jumps to 1,240 litres.

Of note; it seems the second-row folding seats have caused some issues in the Ford Explorer. After trying to fold them forward myself to get into the third row without success (instead opting to crawl over the half-folded seat), I went online to search. There are forums where owners have complained about a stuck latch and/or inability to fold the seats forward at all. We suggest you visit your local Ford dealer to sort out the issue should you come across this problem.

Amenities abound in the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport, as does MyFord Touch and SYNC. While I'm still not a huge fan of the system (too many commands and way too many touch-sensitive buttons), the steering-wheel controls help sort out most of the issues and let you control a great deal.

The cargo space in the back (with the third row up) is a satisfactory 594 litres. Without the third row that number jumps to 1,240 litres. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Comparing the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport
As the Sport version of the 2013 Ford Explorer is at the top of the price bracket in the lineup, its competition lies in the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 and even the Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG. Some may find the Sport pricey (the near $55k final price on my tester had some raising their eyebrows), but if you consider what you're getting (which is quite a lot), I think it's well worth the dollars.

From GMM

The 2014 driver 'silly season' has taken yet another shock twist.

Germany's Bild newspaper claims Kimi Raikkonen, already wanted by Lotus next year and also in the running to switch to Red Bull, is now a contender to drive a Ferrari in 2014.

Raikkonen, who drove for the great Italian marque for three years and even won the title in 2007, left Ferrari one year early at the end of 2009 when the team replaced him with Fernando Alonso.

Kimi Raikkonen, world champion 2007. (Photo: Ferrari)

Fernando Alonso, however, although under contract through 2016, has been linked with a shock move to Red Bull, while Brazilian Felipe Massa's deal ends at the end of the current season.

Bild correspondents Nicola Pohl and Helmut Uhl report that Ferrari "has made the Finn an offer".

They claim the offer, "more lucrative" than what is being promised by Red Bull, was made to the 33-year-old on the Thursday before the Hungarian grand prix.

Bild says Red Bull's offer is a $15 million retainer, performance bonuses, and sponsorship of his motocross team.

The Raikkonen rumour could tie in with reports of a developing rift between Alonso and Ferrari, after president Luca di Montezemolo "tweaked his ear" after the Spaniard made disparaging comments in Hungary.

But a spokesman denied talk of a rift.

"The president is 100 per cent with Alonso," a Ferrari spokesman told Manuel Franco, the correspondent for Spanish sports newspaper AS. "Montezemolo is the first one to support the call of our driver to improve, as soon as possible, the competitiveness of the car."

July 30th, 2013 marked the 150th anniversary of Henry Ford's birth. Celebrations were held in Dearborn, Michigan, on what is now known as Henry Ford Day, while in Washington D.C., hundreds of people enjoyed commemorative cupcakes delivered by a food truck.

Elsewhere around the world, dealers in 21 Asia Pacific markets have launched Ford Heritage month, transforming showrooms into exhibitions on Ford's rich history. In the U.K., celebrations were capped by the reveal of a restored statue of Henry Ford at the company's Tech Centre. Ford of Germany held a series of 5 road rallies that celebrated Ford's numerous automotive breakthroughs, while more than 4,000 people attended community events held by Ford in Romania.

Festivities will continue with additional events across the United States, Europe, and South America in the coming months.

Henry Ford, who died on April 7th, 1947 at 83 years old, was named “Businessman of the Century” by Forbes in 1999. Last year, a History Channel documentary highlighted him as one of “The Men Who Built America.”

Photo: Ford

Enter our contest and have a chance to win an official team shirt of the Caterham F1 Team signed by the 2013 drivers, Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde!

The official team shirt was kindly provided to us by Caterham F1 Team.


To enter the contest: Visit our Facebook fan page by clicking here and follow the instructions.

BLITZ: Hurry up!! The contest ends in just 48 hours, at noon (Montreal time) this Friday, August 2nd.

Note: Shirt size is XS.

Having recently crossed over into the realm of parenthood, I've begun to look at the automotive industry and its extensive lineup of vehicles in a totally new light. Oh, sure I'm still obsessed with horsepower, how many gears it has, and if my press car comes equipped with satellite radio, but there's a new element I've now got to consider: Will a baby seat fit in the back?

My now 1 ½ year old son is my unofficial backseat driver in every test vehicle I bring home. From the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S to the Honda Odyssey, he's seen them all. Over the months I've come to realize something: You can make any car your family vehicle.

Men, women, rejoice: Having children doesn't relegate you to the realm of minivans and boring sedans. I promise you that. I'm here to lay a comforting hand on your shoulder and tell you it's all going to be OK, that yes you can still enjoy your daily commute while Junior throws Cheerios at the back of your head.

Now, of course, this dream fades a little farther away the more offspring you produce, but in the 1-2 child range the automotive world really is your oyster. So, let's get shucking.

I make it a point to put a baby seat in every single car I bring home. From the Scion iQ to the Ford Explorer, my son has been in them all. Some more comfortably than others, but he's been in them nonetheless. Why? Because I want to prove that its possible, that while I understand there are some limits, you don't have to sell your soul to be a parent and have a family.

I once spotted a 911 on the highway with two baby seats in the back. Two! I tried to give the guy a thumbs up, but never got the chance.

Sure, there are some great family haulers out there (the Mazda5 and Dodge Caravan come to mind), but if owning a three-rowed people carrier is your absolute nightmare, fear not!

The beauty of today's vehicle market -- and by association baby-seat market -- is that there's something to fit every need and every family. You can, essentially, purchase a baby seat to fit your vehicle needs. Have a smaller back seat? No problem, companies like Evenflo and Safety 1st manufacture baby seats made for small, compact cars. Have a huge SUV and want the biggest baby seat there is? You won't have a problem finding one! Have a Porsche and want something specially designed for your vehicle? Porsche Design manufactures baby seats specifically to fit in their 911 models (they even have a stroller that fits in the “boot”).

What I'm trying to get at here is that your automotive desires and needs do not have to be put on hold the moment you decide to start a family. Plus, there are some pretty hot wagons out there if you really do want/need more space. Just check out Matt's Top 10 Station Wagon list to see what I'm on about.

2013 Porsche Carrera 911 4S (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Many of you certainly recall National Lampoon's Vacation, the classic comedy from 1983 starring Chevy Chase, and the Griswold family's green Ford LTD Country Squire wagon with wood panels, 8 square headlamps, and a hood-mounted fuel door.

Well, it's back!

And ironically, the so-called “Wagon Queen Family Truckster” was recreated by none other than a Griswold family from Georgia. Only instead of visiting the fictional Walley World, they headed to Walt Disney World for their first trip.

Source : www.visualnews.com

From IMSA

The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and Continental Tire have reached a multi-year partnership agreement that will make Continental Tire the exclusive tire supplier in three classes during next year's inaugural United SportsCar Racing season.

Starting with next January's Rolex 24 At Daytona - the season-opening United SportsCar Racing event - Continental's exclusivity will extend to the new series' Prototype (P), Prototype Challenge (PC) and GT Daytona (GTD) classes.

The GT Le Mans (GTLM) category will be open to multiple tire manufacturers.

Continental Tire also will return as title sponsor and exclusive tire supplier of the IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (CTSCC), a developmental series currently sanctioned by Grand-Am Road Racing.

Photo: United SportsCar

Ferrari president, Luca di Montezemolo attended the technical meeting of the Scuderia following a quite disappointing Grand Prix of Hungary for drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa.

“The Ferrari I saw in yesterday's race doesn't sit well with me,” said Montezemolo during the meeting held Monday with Stefano Domenicali and the Ferrari engineers.

The President asked for an immediate upping of the beat, right from the Belgian race, to start being a contender for victory again, as had been the case up to the Grand Prix of Canada in Montreal.

Photo: Pirelli

According to a Ferrari statement, Montezemolo also criticized Pirelli, the official tire supplier. After several teams suffered from tire delamination problems, Pirelli opted to produce updated tires that incorporate last year's structure to the compound of the 2013 tires. That updated tire was tested at Silverstone and raced in Hungary.

The introduction of this new tire is a variable that definitely did not suit the Ferrari F138.

“Pirelli's choice contributed to artificially altering the hierarchy in the field, something that has not pleased the President or the men of the Scuderia. This topic will be the subject of further debate in the near future,” said the Ferrari press release.

Fiat failed to persuade a judge to set the value of some Chrysler Group shares now owned by a union health-care fund, probably delaying a push to complete the combination of the two companies.

Toyota will this year become the first automaker to make more than 10 million vehicles a year, boosted by a weaker yen and strong demand for hybrids in Japan, a newspaper reported today.

Volkswagen has launched an in-car assistance system which will offer a number of convenience and diagnostic features.

After enduring fender-benders and heat, Darrell Waltrip took home the Nashville 420 trophy in the

Ford has noticed quite a few interesting things by researching how owners use their Ford plug-in hybrids.

Auto dealers ranked BMW Group Financial Services tops for leasing and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services best for floorplanning in JD Power's annual financing satisfaction study released today.