Auto News 5

Model: 2010 to 2013 Kia Forte

Vehicle Type: Sedan, Coupe or 5-Door

The Verdict: A healthy used model that's free of transmission issues should prove an affordable way to access a sporty, well-equipped and high-value motoring experience. The most commonly reported issues with the Kia Forte should be easily identified on a test drive, if present.

Photo: Justin Pritchard

What Owners Like: Owner-stated likes include styling -- both inside and out -- a great list of standard features, decent fuel economy, and a nice steering feel. Braking performance, especially on the Koup model, is also noted, as is performance. Forte 5 owners typically comment positively on a good price-to-space ratio and appreciate the model's flexible, ready-for-anything utility.

What Owners Dislike: On used Kia Forte models with a manual transmission, many owners complain of a fake, vague and “delayed” feeling to the electronic throttle. Other complaints include a “cheap” feeling to some interior trim and limited headroom for taller drivers. Finally, some owners complain of squeaks and rattles as the vehicle ages.

Photo: Justin Pritchard

Continue reading 2010-2013 Kia Forte Pre-Owned

From GMM

The Monza paddock began to disband late on Sunday amid the swirling rumour that Ross Brawn may be buying into the Williams team.

The story was mentioned by the British broadcaster Sky, in the wake of earlier news that Toto Wolff is moving to sell his 15 per cent share in the Grove based team.

Wolff and Brawn currently work together at Mercedes, who will supply V6 engines to Williams next year.

Brawn, team boss, has acknowledged he will eventually be replaced by Mercedes' new signing Paddy Lowe, so - if true - buying into Williams would breathe new life into his long career.

Ross Brawn, Toto Wolff (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

Briton Brawn, 58, began his career in the 70s when Sir Frank Williams gave him a job as a machinist.

Later, in the mid 90s, he worked with great success at Benetton alongside Pat Symonds, who has just started work as Williams' new technical boss.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, however, reported on Saturday that Wolff in fact seems to be selling his 15 per cent team stake to a Russian interest.

And Sky acknowledged on Sunday that Williams advisor Alex Wurz, a former team driver, had vehemently denied the rumour.

Other reports said Wolff himself also denied he is selling his stake to Brawn.

On September 8th 2000, Katsuhiko Kawasoe, Mitsubishi General Manager, resigned after having acknowledged 3 weeks earlier that he had hidden, for over 20 years, more than 64,000 complaints regarding defective vehicles. There were no recalls emitted for these vehicles.

A huge scandal broke in Japan, and the manufacturer was obliged to recall over 700,00 vehicles, carrying a 512 million franc price tag at the time, or more than 120.5 million dollars. Administrative sanctions were brought upon Mitsubishi.

Source : lapresse.ca

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

From Grand-Am.com

MONTEREY, Calif.  (Sept. 7, 2013) - Richard Westbrook hopes Spirit of Daytona's success at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will help turn around what has been a disappointing season for the team.

On Saturday, the defending winner captured his second consecutive TOTAL Pole Award at the 2.238-mile circuit in qualifying for Sunday's Continental Tire Sports Car Festival powered by Mazda.

Westbrook lapped the 2.238-mile road course in 1 minute, 21.557 seconds (98.787 mph) to give the No. 90 VisitFlorida.com/Go-Pro Corvette DP its first pole of the season, edging out Max Angelelli in the No. 10 Velocity Worldwide Corvette DP by a mere 0.021 seconds.

“I like this place,” Westbrook said after winning his fourth career pole - and second in two attempts at Mazda Raceway.

“It was not easy for us here last year, but the competition is so much stronger this year, you really have to work to get an advantage. We're not happy with the way this season has gone; it's been really tough for everyone. I'm proud of the way the team has bounced back. Tomorrow is very important for us.”

Westbrook's co-driver is Ricky Taylor, whose younger brother Jordan Taylor is teamed with Angelelli on the all-Corvette DP front row.

Richard Westbrook, Corvette DP (Photo: Grand-Am.com)

Dane Cameron qualified third in the No. 42 Team Sahlen BMW/Riley co-driven by Wayne Nonnamaker. He will be joined on the second row by Indy 500 winners Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon in the No. 02 Cessna BMW/Riley.

The top 10 contenders for the DP championship are separated by only five points with two races remaining, led by Angelelli and Jordan Taylor.

Other contenders include Christian Fittipaldi and Joao Barbosa, who start fifth in the No. 5 Action Express Corvette DP; defending champions Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas, starting seventh in the No. 01 Telcel/TELMEX BMW/Riley; Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty, starting eight in the No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Corvette DP; and Ryan Dalziel and Alex Popow, starting ninth in the No. 2 Starworks Motorsport/Soloson BMW/Riley.

In qualifying for the production-based GT class, John Edwards captured his third pole of the season with a lap of 1:27.529 seconds (92.05 mph) in the No. 57 Stevenson Auto Group Camaro. Edwards edged out road course veteran Boris Said, who will start from the outside of the front row in the No. 31 Marsh Racing Corvette.

“We've got a really good car on (new) sticker tires,” Edwards said. “Our goal for tomorrow is to get better on older tires.”

A recall has been launched for 7,261 for Toyota Highlander HV (2006 to 2010) and Lexus RX 400H (2006 to 2008) due to possible failure of a control board that is part of the hybrid system inverter assembly.

On certain vehicles, the control board could fail while the vehicle is underway, causing various warning lamps to illuminate, and possibly triggering the vehicle to enter fail-safe driving mode.

This could result in reduced engine power, possibly causing the fuse of the power supply circuit to blow. The resultant loss of vehicle propulsion may increase the risk of accidents.

Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the Intelligent Power Module.

Source: Transport Canada

Photo: Justin Pritchard

Photo: Matthieu Lambert

From GMM

Jean Todt has indicated Pirelli is staying put as F1's official tire supplier.

Although the Italian marque has inked contracts beyond its 2013 tender with all the teams and Bernie Ecclestone, rumours have indicated FIA president Todt actually wants the French marque Michelin to return next year.

F1 chief executive Ecclestone at Monza made his feelings very clear, revealing that Pirelli's new contracts are in fact for a longer-than-expected six year period.

And the 82-year-old said he would not support Michelin's desire to return to F1 and supply tires with an 18-inch low profile.

"It would look like a bicycle tire on a formula one car," Ecclestone told the British broadcaster Sky, "so I'm very much against that."

And it seems Frenchman Todt is also now ready to accept that Pirelli is staying.

"I understand that (the teams) want to stay with Pirelli," he is quoted by the Telegraph on a visit to Monza for the Italian grand prix.

"I will go with the consensus.  I am reading that I want Michelin because I am French, but I never read that (as Ferrari boss) I was the only one of the top teams to stay with Bridgestone when Michelin came into the sport.

"I was still French then," Todt smiled.

So he told Reuters that the matter of F1's tire situation beyond 2013 will probably not be put up for grabs after all.

"If everybody says we are very happy, then what is the point going to a tender?" said Todt.

NASCAR's latest controversial finish review is not over yet.

“NASCAR is reviewing Saturday night's race at Richmond International Raceway per protocol and has no plans for further statement until that process is complete.”

Whether Clint Bowyer spun intentionally or not may be one of the items being reviewed by NASCAR officials although there will likely be a review of the final restart when eventual winner, Carl Edwards, got the best of a second-place restart on Paul Menard.

Bowyer's spin caused a caution which eventually helped his teammate, Martin Truex Jr. get a finish that locked him into the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Photo: Clint Bowyer

A number of former champion crew chiefs, including Ray Evernham who worked with Jeff Gordon, said on television the spin looked intentional. 

Country and Western music star, Blake Shelton tweeted “Y'all should follow @ClintBowyer!!! The definition of team player!!! #hero — Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) September 8, 2013”

When asked if the spin was intentional “Go ahead and get creative," Bowyer said. "But don't look too much into it."

In the case of Sunday races NASCAR usually issues its' findings on Tuesday, but, since it was a Saturday night race a statement might come as early as Monday.

2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet First Look

A Sharper Entry-Level Drop-Top.

Though Americans' conception of the Audi A3 has always been that of an upscale four-door hatch, Europe has long enjoyed a much broader offering of Audi's compact model, including a cabriolet model. At the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, the wraps are coming off the 2015 A3 Cabriolet, giving Audi's entry-level drop top sharper yet still restrained styling consistent with the brand's larger offerings, as well as a healthy helping of technology.

Photo Gallery: 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet First Look - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet First Look - Automobile Magazine

2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet First Look | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet First Look

A Sharper Entry-Level Drop-Top.

Though Americans' conception of the Audi A3 has always been that of an upscale four-door hatch, Europe has long enjoyed a much broader offering of Audi's compact model, including a cabriolet model. At the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, the wraps are coming off the 2015 A3 Cabriolet, giving Audi's entry-level drop top sharper yet still restrained styling consistent with the brand's larger offerings, as well as a healthy helping of technology.

Photo Gallery: 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet First Look - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet First Look - Automobile Magazine

2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet First Look | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Daimler AG plans to build a new Mercedes factory in Brazil to benefit from growing demand for compact cars in the country, CEO Dieter Zetsche told a German newspaper.

Russia's car market passed Germany to become Europe's biggest in sales in August, according to Russia's analytical agency Autostat.

Russia's car market passed Germany to become Europe's biggest in sales in August, according to Russia's analytical agency Autostat.

Russia's car market passed Germany to become Europe's biggest in sales in August, according to Russia's analytical agency Autostat.

After four years of rapid growth for the auto industry, a top Toyota executive says sales are "starting to plateau" around a rate of 16 million units a year. Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.

The Chevrolet Malibu Eco, which uses General Motors' eAssist mild-hybrid system to boost fuel efficiency, is about to become a tough sell.

Russia's car market passed Germany to become Europe's biggest in sales in August, according to Russia's analytical agency Autostat.

Russia's car market passed Germany to become Europe's biggest in sales in August, according to Russia's analytical agency Autostat.

On September 6th and 7th 1914, over 650 Parisian cabs, Renault AG1's, were requisitioned in order to carry troops from the front to stem the German advance on Paris. 3,000 soldiers from the 7th Division boarded these vehicles (1 on the running board, 3 in the rear and 1 by the driver). Called Marne Taxis, these vehicles made history.

The Renault AG1 ran on wooden wheels and was powered by a 2-cylinder engine. Lighting consisted of a petrol-soaked wick lamp. They needed to stick close together at night so as not to lose sight of each other. This initiative can be considered as the first ‘'mechanized unit'', which proved to be so successful in WWII.

This operation constituted the first mechanized unit. For the record, the requisitioned vehicles cost the pubic treasury some 70,000 francs, as the drivers were paid the regular fees for their services...

Source : Musée Automobile Reims Champagne

Taxi de la Marne © musée de l'Armée (Dist. RMN-Grand Palais) Photo: Pascal Segrette

From GMM

Pirelli has signed supply contracts with all eleven formula one teams, motor sport director Paul Hembery told reporters at Monza.

The Italian marque also has a new deal in place with F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, giving the impression Pirelli is surely staying in the sport beyond its 2013 tenure.

"Yes, we now have an agreement with all the teams, and the promoter of the championship," Hembery is quoted by Russia f1news.ru.

But the final signature, that of F1's governing FIA, is still conspicuously missing.

Amid speculation Jean Todt favours the return of French supplier Michelin, Hembery said recently that a change now for 2014 would be "farcical".

Hembery said at Monza: "In two weeks we need to clearly define the programme for next year and give the teams the information they need.

"We have been preparing for next season for the past four months."

On September 6th and 7th 1914, over 650 Parisian cabs, Renault AG1's, were requisitioned in order to carry troops from the front to stem the German advance on Paris. 3,000 soldiers from the 7th Division boarded these vehicles (1 on the running board, 3 in the rear and 1 by the driver). Called Marne Taxis, these vehicles made history.

The Renault AG1 ran on wooden wheels and was powered by a 2-cylinder engine. Lighting consisted of a petrol-soaked wick lamp. They needed to stick close together at night so as not to lose sight of each other. This initiative can be considered as the first ‘'mechanized unit'', which proved to be so successful in WWII.

This operation constituted the first mechanized unit. For the record, the requisitioned vehicles cost the pubic treasury some 70,000 francs, as the drivers were paid the regular fees for their services...

Source : Musée Automobile Reims Champagne

Taxi de la Marne © musée de l'Armée (Dist. RMN-Grand Palais) Photo: Pascal Segrette