Auto News 5

From GMM

The second half of 2013 looks set to be a head-to-head between championship leader and favourite Sebastian Vettel, and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton.

Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton wearing sunglasses (Photo: WRi2)

Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso still have more points than Hamilton, but many are tipping Mercedes to keep improving from track to track until the November finale.

High-speed Spa and Monza, for a start, look set to favour the powerful W04.

But Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko told Sport Bild: "We won in Montreal, even though the circuit is more of a Mercedes track.

"Will bring new parts to each of the last nine races."

Sebastien Vettel, Red Bull RB9 (Photo: WRi2)

It is on the Austrian's final point that many see the rest of 2013 as a likely Red Bull-versus-Mercedes battle -- most of their rivals might see focusing on the all-new challenge of 2014 as a wiser choice, given recent form.

Sport Bild claims that, in contrast, Mercedes' Paddy Lowe has been tasked exclusively with continuing to develop the German team's 2013 car right until the end.

Nonetheless, team director Toto Wolff is playing down the chances.

"We cannot be confident," he is quoted by the Mirror, "it would be the wrong approach to say we have found the golden key now."

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W04 (Photo: WRi2)

Red Bull's Vettel, with a 48-point lead over Hamilton, is also playing things down, despite others predicting him to wear a fourth consecutive drivers' crown.

"There is still half a season ahead of us, Mercedes has been developing well so we cannot say anything.

"Things change fast in formula one," he is quoted by Brazil's O Estado de S.Paulo.

Nissan is certainly planning well ahead. While manufacturers are falling all over themselves to announce the models to be launched at the upcoming Frankfurt Auto Show next September 10th, Nissan announced its plans this week for the launch of a concept vehicle... at the Detroit Auto Show, in January 2014!

At a recent Los Angeles event, Shiro Nakamura, senior vice president and chief creative officer, design and brand management for Nissan Motor Company, confirmed that the unnamed concept vehicle will showcase the future trend of Nissan style and design.

Whatever it turns out to be, we need sit tight and wait for more info regarding this new sports sedan, which certain pundits claim will be the future Maxima.

Source : autoblog.com

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

The Frankfurt Auto Show is getting set to receive the first diesel hybrid and Sport hybrid Range Rover vehicles, which will be sold as of 2014 by Land Rover.

Powered by a SDV6 3.0 litre diesel engine connected to a 35 kW electric motor, the total combined output is 335 hp, which is delivered through an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission. The hybrid model zooms from 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds, for a top speed of 218 km/h, while the Sport version is clocked at 6.7 seconds, with a 225 km/h top speed.

In order to demonstrate their ruggedness and reliability, 3 hybrid Range Rovers will start a 16,000 km trek on August 22nd from Solihull, home of Land Rover England, to Mumbai, India, home of Tata Motors Headquarters.

To achieve this feat, the journey will be broken into 10 separate steps, through 12 countries, riding the world's most treacherous roads and mountain passes, including the legendary Silk Road, that connects the Mediterranean to Asia.

Photo: Land Rover

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the electric-car maker intends to add factories in Europe and Asia, anticipating volume gains from a planned mass-market battery car.

The outlook for auto finance growth is encouraging, the latest TransUnion report on auto loan volume and delinquencies shows.

Lexus plans to open luxury stores offering consumers goods including coffee cups glazed with volcanic ash and Italian leather bags to help boost the premium marque's brand image worldwide.

Callaway has just announced the debut of supercharged versions of the 2014

Callaway has just announced the debut of supercharged versions of the 2014

Callaway has just announced the debut of supercharged versions of the 2014

Callaway has just announced the debut of supercharged versions of the 2014

Ford is teaming up with researchers at the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University in Russia to study communication between robots at the International Space Station and Earth in the hope of developing better systems for connected cars.

Day two of our cross-country Corvette run is in the books and the new

Day two of our cross-country Corvette run is in the books and the new

The world's first plug-in hybrid luxury sedan will be exhibited at the Frankfurt motor show in September. Production will follow from 2014.

German auto supplier Continental is close to agreeing on alliances with Google and IBM to develop autonomous driving systems for cars, a German newspaper reported.

German auto supplier Continental is close to agreeing on alliances with Google and IBM to develop autonomous driving systems for cars, a German newspaper reported.

German auto supplier Continental is close to agreeing on alliances with Google and IBM to develop autonomous driving systems for cars, a German newspaper reported.

German auto supplier Continental AG is close to agreeing alliances with Google and IBM to develop autonomous driving systems for cars, a German newspaper reported today.

German auto supplier Continental is close to agreeing alliances with Google and IBM to develop autonomous driving systems for cars, a German newspaper reported.

German auto supplier Continental AG is close to agreeing alliances with Google and IBM to develop autonomous driving systems for cars, a German newspaper reported today.