Auto News 5

Chrysler Group's Ram Rumble Bee concept truck could be the first vehicle in the history of the auto industry that comes with a genuine insect as standard equipment.

Spyker, renowned in the Aughts for their unique sense of Netherlandian zaniness, has been treading the comeback trail this year after founder and CEO Victor Muller's ill-fated adventure in Saab ownership.

Twenty years after Isuzu's VehiCross debuted as a concept at the Tokyo motor show, two men who helped design the influential little SUV have been reunited.

Twenty years after Isuzu's VehiCross debuted as a concept at the Tokyo motor show, two men who helped design the influential little SUV have been reunited.

Twenty years after Isuzu's VehiCross debuted as a concept at the Tokyo motor show, two men who helped design the influential little SUV have been reunited.

Twenty years after Isuzu's VehiCross debuted as a concept at the Tokyo motor show, two men who helped design the influential little SUV have been reunited.

Twenty years after Isuzu's VehiCross debuted as a concept at the Tokyo motor show, two men who helped design the influential little SUV have been reunited.

Twenty years after Isuzu's VehiCross debuted as a concept at the Tokyo motor show, two men who helped design the influential little SUV have been reunited.

In car-crazy Detroit, a booming auto industry means more than a paycheck and benefits. For thousands of people who make their living off of cars, it also means again having the cash to baby their vintage Mustangs and Corvettes.

Car companies are competing fiercely to fill showrooms with the most fuel-efficient vehicles possible, knowing that a mile or two per gallon could make or break a new model.

Twenty years after Isuzu's VehiCross debuted as a concept at the Tokyo motor show, two men who helped design the influential little SUV have been reunited.

Twenty years after Isuzu's VehiCross debuted as a concept at the Tokyo motor show, two men who helped design the influential little SUV have been reunited.

Twenty years after Isuzu's VehiCross debuted as a concept at the Tokyo motor show, two men who helped design the influential little SUV have been reunited.

Car companies are competing fiercely to fill showrooms with the most fuel-efficient vehicles possible, knowing that a mile or two per gallon could make or break a new model.

In car-crazy Detroit, a booming auto industry means more than a paycheck and benefits. For thousands of people who make their living off of cars, it also means again having the cash to baby their vintage Mustangs and Corvettes.

Hyundai Motor, ending distribution ties with Chrysler Group, plans to establish its own new-car dealer network in Mexico, signaling the big Korean auto group plans to broaden its presence in Latin America.

Hyundai Motor, ending distribution ties with Chrysler Group, plans to establish its own new-car dealer network in Mexico, signaling the big Korean auto group plans to broaden its presence in Latin America.

From Formula1.com

The 2014 season will bring its load of changes to the F1 grid, the most famous one being the switch from V8 power to turbocharged V6 units. Other things will change to, like the amount of allowed in a race, or the height of the nose. Formula1.com summarized all the changes for you.

Engine - it's out with 2.4-litre normally-aspirated V8 engines and in with 1.6-litre V6 turbo engines, revving to a maximum of 15,000rpm.



Photo: Renault F1 Sport

Gearbox - gearboxes are to have eight forward ratios - rather than the current seven - which each team must nominate ahead of the season.



Energy Recovery Systems (ERS) - in 2014, a larger proportion of each car's power will come from ERS which, together with the engine, make up the powertrain or power unit. As well as generating energy under braking, ERS units will also generate power using waste heat from the engine's turbocharger.

Unlike the current KERS - which give drivers an extra 80bhp for six seconds per lap - the 2014 ERS will give drivers around 160bhp for 33 seconds per lap. To compensate for the extra power being generated under braking by ERS, teams will be allowed to use an electronic rear brake control system.



Fuel - to promote fuel efficiency, fuel will be limited to 100kg per race.



Minimum weight - to compensate for the increased weight of the 2014 powertrain, minimum weight has been increased from the current 642kg to 690kg.



Exhaust - unlike today where two exhaust tailpipes are used, the 2014 regulations mandate the use of a single tailpipe which must be angled upwards to prevent the exhaust flow being used for aerodynamic effect. Additionally, bodywork is not allowed to be placed behind the tailpipe.



Nose height - for safety reasons the height of noses will be reduced in 2014. The maximum height is currently 550mm, whereas next year it's 185mm.



Front wing - front wings will be a little narrower next year with the width reduced from 1800mm to 1650mm.



Rear wing - the rear wing will also look a little different in 2014 compared to this year's models. The lower beam wing is being outlawed and the main flap will be slightly shallower in profile.

Memo Rojas and Alex Tagliani both stormed to pole position, Friday night during their respective qualifying run at the Kansas Speedway road course.

Reigning Daytona Prototype (DP) champion Memo Roja, aboard his BMW/Riley, beat Gustavo Yacaman, in a Ford/Riley. The second row is all Corvette's, with Action Express's Christian Fittipaldi lining up beside Burt Frisselle.

DP points leaders Alex Popow and Ryan Dalziel had to settle for eighth place in their BMW/Riley.

In GT, IndyCar veteran Alex Tagliani replaced Max Papis, off competing in Nationwide, as Jeff Segal's co-driver in the AIM Motorsports Ferrari 458. The Canadian, in his first race aboard a Ferrari, recorded a second pole position in as many weekends.

Alex Tagliani, Ferrari 458 (Photo: Grand-Am)

Tagliani was on pole of the NASCAR Canadian Tire race last weekend at Trois-Rivières.

Leh Keen made it an all-Ferrari front row when he recorded the second fastest lap, aboard his Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458. Emil Assentato went further, making it a top three lockout, in the AIM Autosport Ferrari.

Tom Long (Mazda 6) recorded a fifth pole in GX.

Qualifying results - Kansas Speedway (Grand-Am)

1. Pruett-Rojas (Riley-BMW) - Ganassi - 1'09"883
2. Wilson-Yacaman (Riley-Ford) - Shank - 1'09"950
3. Barbosa-Fittipaldi (Corvette DP/Coyote) - ActionEx - 1'10"055
4. Frisselle-Frisselle (Corvette DP/Coyote) - ActionEx - 1'10"081
5. Angelelli-Taylor (Corvette DP/Dallara) - Taylor - 1'10"184
6. Taylor-Westbrook (Corvette DP) - SpiritOfDaytona - 1'10"461
7. Fogarty-Gurney (Corvette DP/Riley) - Stallings - 1'10"481
8. Dalziel-Popow (Riley-Ford) - Starworks - 1'10"511
9. Cameron-Nonnamaker (Riley-BMW) - Sahlen - 1'10"957
10. Negri-Pew (Riley-Ford) - Shank - 1'11"308
11. Potolicchio--Valiante-Sarrazin (Corvette DP/Coyote) - 8Star - 1'11"323
12. Di Guida-Bourdais (Corvette DP/Coyote) - 8Star - 1'12"653
13. Hartley-Kaffer-Mayer (Riley-BMW) - Starworks - 1'12"939
14. Nonnamaker-Nonnamaker (Riley-BMW) - Sahlen - 1'14"221
15. Tagliani-Segal (Ferrari GTS3 458) - AIM - 1'14"956
16. Balzan-Keen (Ferrari GTS3 458) - Corsa - 1'15"216
17. Assentato-Lazzaro (Ferrari GTS3 458) - AIM - 1'15"498
18. Edwards-Liddell (Chevy Camaro) - Stevenson - 1'15"528
19. Lindsey-Long (Porsche 997) - Park Place - 1'15"776
20. Curran-Said (Corvette Z06) - Marsh - 1'15"982
21. Auberlen-Della Lana (BMW M3) - Turner - 1'16"118
22. Lally-Potter (Porsche 997) - Magnus - 1'16"498
23. Marsal-Johnson (BMW M3) - Turner - 1'16"636
24. Boden-Sellers (Audi R8) - FallLine - 1'18"549
25. (...)

BMW's Augusto Farfus, who claimed pole position ahead of this weekend's DTM race at the Nürburgring, has decided to start on the option tire, which is the softest alternative.

His second-place starting teammate Marco Wittmann picked the option as well. So did Audi's Miguel Molina, who qualified third. Canadian Bruno Spenger (BMW) selected the hard slick.

Wittmann, Farfus, Molina (Photo: DTM.com)

Here is the list of which tire every driver picked:

Bruno Spengler (BMW) - Option
Dirk Werner (BMW) - Standard
Gary Paffett (Mercedes) - Standard
Roberto Merhi (Mercedes) - Standard
Edoardo Mortara (Audi) Standard
Filipe Albuquerque (Audi) - Standard
Augusto Farfus (BMW) - Option
Joey Hand (BMW) - Standard
Christian Vietoris (Mercedes) - Standard
Robert Wickens Mercedes) - Option
Mattias Ekström (Audi) - Option
Jamie Green (Audi) - Standard
Martin Tomczyk (BMW) - Option
Andy Priaulx (BMW) - Option
Daniel Juncadella (Mercedes) - Option
Pascal Wehrlein (Mercedes) - Option
Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) - Standard
Miguel Molina (Audi) - Option
Marco Wittmann (BMW) - Option
Timo Glock (BMW) - Option
Timo Scheider (Audi) - Standard
Adrien Tambay (Audi) - Option