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News 23 Oct, 2013

Toyota GT 86 saloon has been given the go-ahead, according to inside source

Prodrive's Brand& helps develop some of the potential in a vehicle manufacturer's brand and distribution by creating carefully-positioned non-automotive ranges (mainly clothing and lifestyle accessories) and the retailing support that make them successful. To find out more, Matthew Beecham talked with Carl Ball, managing director of Brand& about its expertise and how social media is changing the ways in which dealers and OEMs should engage with their customers and potential customers, making cross-channel communications more cost-effective as long as it is cunningly implemented.

News 23 Oct, 2013

BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe is nearing production. It'll be sharper to drive than the BMW 3 Series and rivals the Audi A5 Sportback

General Motors and PSA Peugeot Citroen are scaling back their alliance as the French carmaker pursues an investment by China's Dongfeng and the U.S. automaker seeks greater control of its destiny in Europe.

General Motors and PSA/Peugeot-Citroen are scaling back their alliance as the French carmaker pursues an investment by China's Dongfeng. A planned joint platform to replace the Peugeot 208, Citroen C3 and Opel Corsa will likely be cancelled.

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen said its alliance with General Motors may be scaled back, as the carmaker posted a 3.7 percent third-quarter revenue decline. Plans for a joint small-car program with GM are "under review," PSA said.

News 23 Oct, 2013

Kia continues sporty push with Kia GT coupe and new roadster concept

Italian supplier Sogefi posted third-quarter net profit that rose 24 percent to 7.6 million euros, boosted by its business outside Europe.

Mercedes says the new C class will be up to 220 pounds lighter than the current car, thanks to a new lightweight body structure.

Mercedes says the new C class will be up to 100 kg lighter than the current car, thanks to a new lightweight body structure.

Toyota's in-house lender is leveraging the automaker's AA- credit rating and cash to offer low rates and keep customers coming back.

As we wait for the all-new 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid and Accord Plug-in Hybrid, I got to spend quality time with a 2013 Honda Accord Touring V6. I can easily see why this sedan won the AJAC's Canadian Car of the Year Award, as well as Auto123.com's 2013 Midsize Car of the Year Award.

Despite looking all serious and business-like, the Accord won me over the second I stepped inside. As a true benchmark for midsize cars, this Japanese icon is probably as close to perfection as it gets.


What is the Honda Accord?
The Honda Accord comes in sedan and coupe body styles, along with 4- and 6-cylinder engines, which makes it one of the most versatile midsize offerings in Canada.

Fully redesigned for 2013, the 9th-generation Accord keeps building on a stellar reputation for quality and reliability. It boasts a relatively sporty character, plenty of advanced safety systems, and high levels of comfort.

Fully redesigned for 2013, the 9th-generation Accord keeps building on a stellar reputation for quality and reliability. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

2013 Honda Accord Touring V6 Price and Specs
Under the hood of my tester was a 3.5L i-VTEC V6 rated at 278 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque. The engine worked with an excellent 6-speed automatic transmission, Variable Cylinder Management, ECON mode, and the friction- and weight-reducing Earth Dreams technology to achieve great fuel economy (more on that later).

In sedan form, the 2013 Honda Accord starts at $23,990. If you want the bigger mill, your only two options are the EX-L V6 and fully equipped Touring V6. At $35,400, the latter includes keyless access, which I quickly found out I couldn't live without.

Under the hood of my tester was a 3.5L i-VTEC V6 rated at 278 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Driving the 2013 Honda Accord Touring V6
The comfort-focused 2013 Honda Accord Touring V6 is far from boring to drive. Lively acceleration, decent handling, sharp steering, and very competent brakes contribute to a safe, pleasant experience behind the wheel. On the flip side, I was a bit disappointed with the turning radius.

Visibility in the 2013 Honda Accord is good up front, but the raised trunk makes it hard to see out the rear. The multi-angle backup camera with available guidelines comes in quite handy. Moreover, thanks to Honda's LaneWatch system, a camera mounted on the passenger's side mirror displays an image on the centre screen to effectively increase the viewing angle. This helps avoid potential collisions with objects or people in the right blind spot. As for the expanded-view driver's side mirror, it merely provides a distorted view of objects on the far-left side -- I didn't like it.

There are green and white bars on either side of the 2013 Honda Accord's speedometer that track how efficiently you're driving. My goal was to keep the bars as green as possible (without going all hypermiler-crazy), and it paid off: I wound up with an impressive 8.3L/100km average (granted, I mostly drove on highways).

Thanks to Honda's LaneWatch system, a camera mounted on the passenger's side mirror displays an image on the centre screen to effectively increase the viewing angle. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Inside and Out of the 2013 Honda Accord Touring V6
The new design of the 2013 Honda Accord gives it a modern, upscale look. The LED headlights, fog lights, and 18” wheels definitely add a touch of class. Personally, the only thing that kind of compromises the sleek exterior is the boxy tail.

Build quality is fantastic on both sides of the doors. Material selection is exemplary; same for fit and finish. The 2013 Honda Accord Touring V6's heated leather seats all around are just as comfortable as they are supportive.

The modern, user-friendly dashboard comes with dual screens. The large one up top provides a lot of information on the vehicle, while the smaller touch screen below allows you to select audio input or change radio stations, for instance. While this kind of interface is sharp and trendy, I still prefer the old-fashioned array of buttons and dials to keep my eyes on the road.

Ergonomics in the 2013 Honda Accord are adequate, although the cascade of sub-menus don't help. I would have liked a button for the Front Collision Warning system to the left of the steering wheel instead of having to find it through the various settings (along with Lane Departure Warning). What's more, Honda's voice-recognition system still needs some improvements.

Finally, despite offering lots of space and split-folding rear seats, the 2013 Honda Accord's versatility is significantly reduced by the tight opening between the cabin and the trunk.

Build quality is fantastic on both sides of the doors. Material selection is exemplary; same for fit and finish. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Comparing the 2013 Honda Accord Touring V6
As you know, midsize sedans are in the midst of an all-out war, with the lovely Ford Fusion, high-value Kia Optima, and cutting-edge Mazda6 fighting the hardest for your dollar.

If the past is any indication, the 2013 Honda Accord will prove immensely reliable and satisfying. That, combined with an attractive base price, pleasant driving dynamics, great build quality, and terrific resale value, should continue to drive hordes of buyers to Honda dealers.

From GMM

This weekend's Indian grand prix could be the last, concerned motor sport chief Vicky Chandhok has admitted.

There have been conflicting explanations as to the reason India has dropped off the 2014 calendar, amid reports of scheduling difficulties, tax hurdles and financial problems.

But the New Delhi round is provisionally scheduled to return in 2015. If it does not, Indian motor sports clubs president Chandhok fears India's F1 foray will be over.

"If it doesn't come back in 2015, it may never come back at all," he told the Guardian newspaper. "That is my concern. Once you lose a race it can be gone forever."

Photo: Buddh International Circuit.

So Chandhok called on Indian locals to make the 2013 race one "to remember", but organiser Jaypee has admitted it expects its 100,000-capacity circuit to be only half full this weekend, Bloomberg reports.

Sebastian Vettel is likely to secure his fourth title in front of that crowd of 50,000, the news agency added.

"We're hoping sales will increase as the race nears. Things should be ok," chief executive Sameer Gaur said.

65,000 attended last year's Indian grand prix, down from 95,000 in 2011.

A man selling tickets close to the Buddh circuit this week told the Indian Express that business has been slow in 2013.

"Very slow," he added. "Today, the booth has been open since 8 in the morning. Nine hours later, we have sold a total of 25 tickets."

From GMM

Nico Rosberg is engaged to marry his long-term girlfriend Vivian Sibold, according to German reports.

"Yes, it's true," the Mercedes driver told Kolner Express newspaper. "We're getting married," added Rosberg, referring to Vivian, an interior designer.

"It all feels very, very nice. When and where it happens is still in the stars," added Rosberg.

The German driver lives with Vivian, who is also 28, in Monaco and Ibiza.

Vivian Sibold and Nico Rosberg. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Daniil Kvyat has denied his surprise promotion to Toro Rosso for 2014 is being powered by Russian sponsors.

"To come into formula one, especially with Toro Rosso, all that matters is the performance and the results," the 19-year-old GP3 driver told Championat.

Kvyat admitted, however, that his "door is open" to potential partners.

"We might be able to make some announcement," he told the Russian publication, "but I think we are far away from that."

It is also believed Kvyat's signing, ahead of Carlos Sainz jr and Portuguese Antonio Felix da Costa, could be related to the inaugural Russian grand prix next year.

Former Toro Rosso co-owner Gerhard Berger, however, said Kvyat's talent is obvious.

"He is a natural. He has brought strong results despite not having the best car," the grand prix winner is quoted by APA news agency.

Berger said he thinks Kvyat will cope, even though he is skipping the recognised final steps to F1 such as GP2 or the Formula Renault 3.5 series.

"Toro Rosso is a good school, and a good driver will always manage," he said.

Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso. (Photo: WRi2)

Daniil Kvyat told the Russian website f1news.ru that he felt his chances intensify as he built momentum this year with strong results in GP3 and F3.

"All of the key people at Red Bull saw that I was able to win races in two different series," he said. "I think this led to the decision."

At the same time, hot favourite Antonio Felix da Costa was struggling in Formula Renault 3.5.

"This year, he had to fight for the title," said Kvyat, "but it didn't come together, let's say, smoothly. With me, the opposite happened -- at first it was not easy, but I learned to cope with it well and I think all the right people appreciated it."

He insists he is not too young or inexperienced for F1.

"I have done about 160 races in the junior categories, and had many podiums and victories," said Daniil Kvyat. "Kimi Raikkonen did I think 32 races and then came into formula one, so I don't see any problems. Vettel debuted at about the same age."

Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko agreed: "Everyone who has been involved in the decision said Daniil, through his performance, his speed and his maturity, was the ideal candidate."

He told Spain's El Confidencial that speculation linking Kvyat's deal with the Russian grand prix is wide of the mark.

"We looked for what is best for Red Bull and what is best for Toro Rosso in the medium term," said Marko.

He said Kvyat will be given some time to get up to speed with experienced teammate Jean-Eric Vergne.

"Of course he will have to learn how it works in formula one, learn the tracks, but I would say that after six or eight races he should be in a position to stand up to Vergne," said Marko.

From GMM

Nico Rosberg is engaged to marry his long-term girlfriend Vivian Sibold, according to German reports.

"Yes, it's true," the Mercedes driver told Kolner Express newspaper. "We're getting married," added Rosberg, referring to Vivian, an interior designer.

"It all feels very, very nice. When and where it happens is still in the stars," added Rosberg.

The German driver lives with Vivian, who is also 28, in Monaco and Ibiza.

Vivian Sibold and Nico Rosberg. (Photo: WRi2)

After years of research, development, and testing your new car, truck, minivan or crossover rolls off the assembly line ready to provide long-lasting toughness, capability, and great looks. Although designers and engineers built your ride to handle a wide variety of activities and jobs, they've also created a selection of accessories and add-ons to help provide enhanced protection against the elements.

Plenty of options are available to help protect your ride's finish, interior, and overall appearance.

Factory-approved accessories from your ride's dealer are designed to fit beautifully, are guaranteed to work and perform up to the same standard as the rest of the vehicle. They are also typically covered by the new-car warranty that applies to the rest of your machine.

Unlike parts from the internet, dealer-installed accessories don't come with expensive shipping and duty fees, and can be easily returned if there's an issue.

Here's a look at some common accessories available from your dealer that focus on protecting your ride from the elements during the upcoming winter travel season, and the wear-and-tear of everyday life year-round.


Mud Flaps/Splash Guards
These affordable accessories can add a sense of ruggedness to your ride's look while also preventing long-term paint and body damage caused by salt, rocks, and sand flung from your tires. Typically made of dense rubber or plastic, mud flaps prevent thousands of tiny impacts to the paint around your ride's wheelwells and rocker panels.

Protective Film
Virtually invisible and very strong, many dealers offer a protective film treatment to help protect your ride's vulnerable painted surfaces from damage. Applied to the hood, headlights, bumpers or even rear quarter panels, the tough, clear protective film takes the abuse for your paint.

Step Bars
Ideal for families who travel in a crossover, SUV or pickup, step-bars make it easier to board and exit, and give those muddy, slushy boots a place to kick off, which means less mess tracked into your ride's cabin.

Door Sill Covers
Your ride's door sills are exposed to a lot of wear, especially if you frequently travel with a passenger or two of the four-legged variety. Protect your ride's painted door sills from claws, sand, and other damage with a set of accessory door sill covers. These add durability, while typically welcoming passengers on board your ride with its nameplate or logo proudly displayed.

Cargo Mats
Got a hatchback, wagon, crossover or minivan? Consider a cargo mat for the rear. By protecting the carpeting from wear, a cargo mat can affordably help keep your ride's interior in tip-top shape. Ideal for keeping the wear of loading and unloading gear away from the carpet, cargo mats are typically spill-proof, making them ideal for pet owners, too.

Rubberized Floor Mats
Designed to fit your ride precisely, rubberized floor mats offer fantastic, affordable protection for your carpeting and floor-pan. By trapping water, sand, salt, and other nastiness, your ride's carpet (and the metal floor beneath it) is protected from wear, mildew, rust, and staining. Rubberized floor mats are easily removed and cleaned with the garden hose or in the laundry-room sink.

Race drivers drive to the checkered flag on the track. Over at Hendrick Motorsports technicians' race to build NASCAR engines.

This year Robert Marock and Jay Wiles beat 11 other teams to win the 12th annual Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown. The late Randy Dorton was Hendrick Motorsports' master engine builder until he lost his life in a plane crash nine years ago on his way to a NASCAR race in Martinsville.

Marock, the first two-time champion for Hendrick Automotive Group, and Wiles built their final Chevrolet R07.2 engine in 24 minutes and 38 seconds.



"I get more nervous every time I participate," said the 50-year-old Marock. "Jay (Wiles) was a great partner and communication was the key to winning today. I hope I can go back to the dealership and motivate my co-workers to get to this level and be in the competition. Hendrick teaches us not to be ordinary and this competition is an example of that."

Wiles, 49, has worked at Hendrick Motorsports since 1998 and won the first Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown in 2002.

Eventual winners of the 12th annual Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown Jay Wiles of Hendrick Motorsports and Robert Marock of Honda of Concord, a Hendrick Automotive Group dealership, near the end of their championship build. (Photo: Hendrick Motorsports)

"The first year I won we built our engine in just over 17 minutes, so that tells you how much more complex these engines and the process is now," Wiles said. "This event is important to Mr. Hendrick and important to all of us ...We compete and have some fun at the same time."

"Started in 2002, the Randy Dorton Hendrick Engine Builder Showdown pairs 12 Hendrick Automotive Group (car sales) master technicians with 12 Hendrick Motorsports technicians, in a two-day competition to construct Chevrolet R07.2 engines. The overall goal of the competition is to have the fewest errors in the shortest amount of time. The teams are set in a bracket-style format, and the two teams with the best times go head-to-head in the final round at Hendrick Motorsports," said a company release.

This year, 120 technicians took the test.

"We appreciate what our technicians at Hendrick Automotive Group do every day," said Rick Hendrick, Chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group and Owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "This event was established to recognize them and our team in the Hendrick Motorsports engine department. Whether it's selling cars or competing on the racetrack, we know the organization is stronger when we're all working together. That's something we're doing now more than ever."

Hendrick Automotive Group President and Chief Executive Officer Ed Brown, Vice President of Fixed Operations Wayne Simpson, General Manager of Honda of Concord Wes Watkins, Winner Robert Marock of Honda of Concord, Winner Jay Wiles of Hendrick Motorsports, Chairman of Hendrick Automotive Group and Owner of Hendrick Motorsports Rick Hendrick, and Director of Engine Operations at Hendrick Motorsports Jeff Andrews. (Photo: Hendrick Motorsports)

Age and mileage are what do tires in. If we were all well organized, we'd probably only have to sift through our “car bill” folder and find the exact date, but we're clearly not.

What we can easily do is inspect the tires for treadwear. Nothing could be simpler than performing this check on our own. It's certainly easier than maintaining a folder full of bills in order...

Treadwear markers
The easiest and quickest way to get a sense of your tire's wear is by looking closely at the built-in treadwear indicators located between the blocks, inside the grooves. These small bumps or bars stick out above the very bottom of the groove. You can run your finger along the inside of the groove and you'll eventually find one; if you can't find them, better to dump the tires and not waste any more of your time.

A trick to remember: When the treadwear indicator is flush with the remainder of the tire's tread it's time for new rubber.


The Canadian way to test treadwear
Most of the time, old tricks no longer work in these times of iPads and wireless television. One exception to the rule is the quarter test.

Take a Canadian quarter, rotate the caribou's head until it faces down towards the inside of the groove. If you can still see the guy's nose, time to move on and get new tires. In practical terms, this means that the tread depth has fallen bellow 6/32 of an inch. Nothing prevents you from using the tires, but expect adherence and grip to drop off severely before winter's up.

In this scenario, be mindful of the distance you plan to travel. As well, not all tires wear at the same rate. We've all heard of some winter tires practically melting after only a season. We're also about helping you out with your next tire purchases. Check out our recommendations for both cars and CUV/Minivan/small SUV.


TIRE MAINTENANCE
We've touched on this in the past, but here are the most important points to remember:

Tire pressure
Keeping your tires properly inflated not only reduces wear, but may also improve fuel consumption.

If you install your tires on your own, make sure the pressure is good before the install. The garage will do the same. Ideally, a few weeks down the line, bending over and checking where the pressure's at would be an excellent idea especially as tire pressure drops with ambient temperature. Filling tires with nitrogen is one way to slow the effects of the cold weather.

If you're not sure what your vehicle's recommended tire pressure is, it can be found in the owner's manual, on a label behind the gas or driver's door.

Rotation, balancing and alignment
The next best piece of advice to stretch your tire's life is via regular rotations. Every time the wheel/tire combos are installed -- or just the tires alone -- they should be installed in a different position on the car. Depending on the type of tire, directional for example, they can only be switched front to rear and not side-to-side. This information is located on the tire's sidewall.

Tire balancing should also be done on a regular basis or roughly every 10,000 km. If you get both your winter and summer tires mounted on the same wheels, you've nothing to worry about. If the winter tires are mounted on different wheels, it would be wise to get them checked every two seasons or if you hit a curb (by accident, of course).

An alignment every few years will also help extend the life of all your tires. Every few years should do it unless you begin to feel something off in the way your vehicle drives, such as pulling from one side to the other.

From press release

Theodore Racing, the most famous team in Macau Grand Prix history, is returning to the event for its 60th Anniversary celebrations in association with Prema Powerteam.

Theodore Racing by Prema has entered two Dallara-Mercedes Formula 3 cars for young talents Alex Lynn, from Great Britain, and Lucas Auer, from Austria, marking the return of the Theodore name to the Macau Grand Prix after 21 years.

They will both compete in a retro red-and-white livery in homage to the Theodore entries of the 1980s and 1990s. This year's event also coincides with the 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna's victory for Theodore Racing in the very first Macau GP run for F3 cars, in 1983.

Keke Rosberg, Wolf Theodore, German GP, 1978 (Photo: WRI2)

Prema Powerteam won this season's FIA Formula 3 European Championship teams' title, and carried Daniel Juncadella to victory in the 2011 Macau GP.

Theodore Racing became synonymous with the Macau Grand Prix thanks to its founder Teddy Yip, who competed as a driver in 11 Macau Grands Prix between 1956 and '75. He then entered or sponsored leading Macau GP teams up to 1992, scoring five Macau victories.

Lynn and Auer join a long-line a famous Theodore alumni: as well as Senna, Theodore Racing entered future Formula 1 stars in the Macau GP such as Mika Hakkinen, Rubens Barrichello, Stefan Johansson, Alan Jones, Eddie Irvine and Martin Brundle.

The decision for Theodore Racing's return was taken by Yip's son Teddy Yip Jr, who wanted to pay tribute to his late father's Macau legacy in the event's 60th year.

Yip Jr, who is the team principal of GP3 Series and Le Mans 24 Hours team Status Grand Prix, said: “Macau is an extremely important part of the Yip family history, and my father always wanted to play his part in helping out young drivers on the way to the top. This year's event marks two important anniversaries, and it's fitting that the Theodore name is an active part of the celebrations.

“Joining up with Prema makes perfect sense. They are the champions of European Formula 3 this year, and with Alex and Lucas I know we have two guys who have the talent to continue the Theodore Racing legacy.”

Prema team manager Rene Rosin said: “My father Angelo Rosin, who founded Prema in 1983, is very aware of the great history of Theodore Racing. There were a lot of battles in that era of Formula 3 and the team was always a very important part of Macau.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to be part of Theodore's latest chapter.”