Auto News 5

If at first you don't succeed, try again - having failed once in Brazil with an ambitious A-class production programme that never achieved expected volume, Daimler is coming back with a new car assembly plant - in Iracemápolis near São Paulo - to build the next-generation C-Class and the GLA.

News 2 Oct, 2013

External airbags will debut on a premium German saloon in a bid to reduce injuries from side crashes

Delphi's Thermal Systems business is responsible for the group's HVAC activities. Based in the US this division designs and produces HVAC modules and systems as well as components and engine cooling for passenger cars, other automotive and industrial applications. While at this year's IAA show, Matthew Beecham talked with Dr Thomas Heckenberger, Vice President Engineering, Delphi Thermal Systems about technology trends in the HVAC sector.

Thanks to a quirk in the reporting calendar, US light vehicle sales in September missed their year ago mark for the first time since May 2011.

Next year Lexus turns 25 -- as old as the Autumn of Nations, and even "Steel Magnolias."

Chrysler Group has cut output of the SRT Viper by a third and will reassign scores of workers to other plants because of slow sales, growing inventories, and the onset of colder weather.

Ford Chairman Bill Ford emphasized the abilities of his company's top executives while reiterating that Alan Mulally will continue leading Ford Motor Co. for now.

A hike in VAT helped to limit Italy's decline in car sales in September to 3 percent by artificially inflating demand.

Mercedes widened its annual lead over rival BMW in U.S. sales last month with a 7 percent rise in deliveries. Demand was particularly strong for the CLA compact and new E class, the automaker said.

From GMM

Red Bull has slammed reports it is flouting the rules as Sebastian Vettel stamps his dominance on the 2013 season.

After Singapore, former F1 team owner Giancarlo Minardi raised doubts about the German's RB9, saying its handling and engine tone reminded him of traction control.

"Utter nonsense!" Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko told the German newspaper Bild.

Reports have suggested Red Bull might actually be mimicking the banned 'blown exhaust' era with a clever engine mapping solution.

Bild said F1's governing FIA would not comment.

Sebastian Vettel, Infiniti Red Bull Racing. (Photo: WRi2)

The upcoming new road race that will be presented at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be named The "Grand Prix of Indianapolis" and it will be run May 8-10, 2014.

ABC will televise the Grand Prix of Indianapolis live, building toward its 50th consecutive telecast of the Indianapolis 500. The race will feature a standing start and will run clockwise, the opposite of the Indianapolis 500, creating even more diverse competition during the month.

Photo: IMS

The month will begin with IndyCar Series practice for the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis Thursday, May 8 on the new-look, 14-turn, and 2.434-mile IMS road course. Practice and qualifying are scheduled for Friday, May 9, with the race Saturday, May 10.

All series in the Mazda Road to Indy will compete during the event, placing a singular spotlight on all levels of North American open-wheel racing. The first day of practice for the 98th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for Sunday, May 11 on the 2.5-mile IMS oval.

A $5-million reconfiguration project is underway on the existing IMS road course that will transform the layout with more speed and more hard braking zones to create more passing and competitive racing.

From GMM

Mark Webber, who is preparing to leave F1 after more than a decade-long career, has warned the sport to insist upon "quality".

Hitting out at pay-drivers locking more talented drivers off the grid, Australian Webber also criticised unpopular yet lucrative races like this weekend's Korean grand prix.

Mark Webber, Red Bull RB9. (Photo: WRi2)

Telling British broadcaster Sky the pay-driver situation is "not right", Webber said: "We've got to be careful we don't have a bit of a vacuum not having those top boys come through."

Another problem, he said, is races like Korea.

"I think keeping the quality is important, keeping the quality events," said Webber, as F1 congregates for the fourth but perhaps last time in Mokpo, an odd and eerie place for a grand prix, where journalists and mechanics stay in 'love motels'.

"Korea, there's no one there," Webber complained. "We need to have quality events, quality drivers, quality teams and keep that going."

Korea has been given only a provisional date on the bustling 22-race 2014 calendar, with promoter Won-Hwa Park admitting he is trying to negotiate a better deal with Bernie Ecclestone.

Asked what chance there is of a race next year, he admitted: "I would say 50-50, but we are very much firm in continuously holding this event."

Start of the 2011 Korean Grand Prix. (Photo: Pirelli)

The newly unveiled Bentley Home collection is inspired by the renowned craftsmanship and exquisite materials that characterize the interiors of all Bentley automobiles.

The elegant and sophisticated Richmond line of seating includes sofas, long chairs, and armchairs. The Madeley & Kendal line consists of a large oval or round meeting table with leather chairs (the Bentley logo can be embroidered on the back, on request). The Sherbourne & Kingsbridge line includes tall and short leather-coated cabinets, while a Harlow coffee table and Canterbury bed complete the collection.

These furniture items are all meticulously handcrafted, and although prices have yet to be announced, prepare to have a long, hard talk with your resident finance minister.

Photo: Bentley

From GMM

Daniil Kvyat has admitted the vacancy at Toro Rosso for 2014 may have come too soon for him.

It is believed the Red Bull-owned team is on the cusp of confirming Portuguese Antonio Felix da Costa as Daniel Ricciardo's successor for next year.

But Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost said last month: "We (Red Bull) have some young drivers with extraordinary talent. One of them is Carlos Sainz jr but we also have (Daniil) Kvyat. And Felix da Costa."

But Franz Tost admitted that the young age of Russian 19-year-old Kvyat is a factor playing against him.

Asked what he sees as his next step beyond 2013, Kvyat told the Italian magazine Italiaracing: "Definitely I will not stay in GP3, so we are in the period where we are deciding what will be my future.

"The logical passage for the Red Bull (development) drivers would seem to be to the Formula Renault 3.5 series. To go to formula one, the others (sponsored by Red Bull) have passed through there. But it's not for me to decide, so I am waiting for Red Bull and will be ready to do anything they decide," he added.

Daniil Kvyat aboard the Toro Rosso, last Summer. (Photo: WRi2)

Daniil Kvyat drove the Toro Rosso at the young driver test at Silverstone earlier this year; an experience he admits was "unforgettable".

"But right now I am concentrated on the (junior) championships so that I can arrive in formula one as soon as possible," he insisted.

Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot, a French engineer who invented the world's first self-propelled vehicle, died in Paris on October 2nd, 1804. His 2-cylinder fardier à vapeur ("steam dray") was built from 1769-1771. It's now preserved at the Musée des arts et métiers in Paris.

Cugnot got the idea while serving in the army and watching horses pulling heavy pieces of artillery. He wanted an alternative solution to animal traction.

With an overall length of 7.25 metres and a dry weight of 2.8 tonnes (up to 8 tonnes when full), the vehicle used a 1.5-metre wide water tank. Nicknamed the chariot à feu (fire cart), it is known by many as the first-ever passenger car.

A copy of Cugnot's invention built by students at Ecole des Arts et Métiers ParisTech and shown at the 2010 Paris Auto Show revealed that his calculations were all accurate.

Photo: Wikipedia

Nelson Piquet Jr.'s transition to United States' culture got an immediate yellow flag from NASCAR officials for an anti-gay remark on Instagram.

According to numerous reports it was a comment about another Nationwide Series' driver's own tweet. And it could have been read as typical driver versus driver humor except taken in black and while on its' own, in the absence of any other facts, it is taken as offensive.

NASCAR fined the Brazilian son of the three-time World Champion, Nelson Piquet, $10,000, required sensitivity training and placed on indefinite probation.

Photo: Nelson Piquet Jr / Facebook

Nelson Piquet Jr. recently communicated an offensive and derogatory term that cannot be tolerated in our sport,” said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. “NASCAR's Code of Conduct explicitly spells out in the 2013 rule book our position regarding the use of disparaging terms. We expect our entire industry to abide by this Code.”

"I sincerely apologize to everyone for my poor choice of words last week. I did not mean to hurt or offend anyone. This has been a cultural learning experience that will make me a more sensitive person moving forward," Piquet reacted in a written statement.

His Turner Scott Motorsports team also issued this statement “We have spoken to Nelson about his insensitive comment and he understands that such remarks will not be tolerated at Turner Scott Motorsports. TSM expects those associated with the team to uphold professional standards that we can all be proud of. Nelson has assured the team that he has learned his lesson and he knows what it means to represent TSM.”

General Motors has revealed the first official picture of the all-new 2015 Cadillac Escalade. We see an 8-passenger interior that combines luxury, technology, and safety. True wood trim graces the dashboard and door panels, along with luxurious handcrafted elements.

The unveiling of the 2015 Cadillac Escalade will take place on October 7th in New York. Indie rock photographer and director Autumn de Wilde will show a series of portraits and a film highlighting the Escalade design process.

Photo: Cadillac

Press release

The principles of the convergence between the current GTE cars (Le Mans) and the FIA GT3 have been commonly defined by the FIA and ACO and agreed by all the GT manufacturers.

The aim is to present the new GT Technical Regulations, based on new categories (GT+ and GT), at the WMSC in June 2014 for implementation in 2016.

Photo: FIAGT

It's a tough job, but someone at Infiniti had to do it: we're glad it's this new all-new Q50. This luxury sports sedan makes a unique luxury sports sedan statement by combining two intriguing personalities; smooth and graceful operator, and technological geek.


What is the Infiniti Q50 AWD?
The Q50 replaces the G37 Sedan in Infiniti's lineup and essentially utilizes the same powertrain as the “G”: 328-hp 3.7L V6, and the 7-speed automatic transmission. While the new sedan is available in RWD and AWD, unlike the G37, the Q50 is not available with a 6-speed manual transmission but is available in a hybrid version (the 2014 Infiniti Q50 Hybrid Sport AWD).

2014 Infiniti Q50 AWD Price and Specs
Our tester was an AWD Premium model with the Navigation Package, Deluxe Touring and Technology Package. With freight and PDI, you end up with a $50,000-plus vehicle.

The 2014 Infiniti Q50 is slightly lighter than the G37 in spite of all the new tech and safety content, and slightly more fuel-efficient as well (6.7L/100km highway; 10.6L city; 8.8L combined).

The Q50 replaces the G37 Sedan in Infiniti's lineup and essentially utilizes the same powertrain as the “G”: 328-hp 3.7L V6. (Photo: Michael Goetz)

Driving the 2014 Infiniti Q50 AWD
The 2014 Q50 is the world's first production vehicle with “drive by wire” steering. Infiniti calls it Direct Adaptive Steering, and it's the centrepiece of the Deluxe Touring and Technology Package.

You might imagine it to feel like you're steering a video-game controller, but it actually feels like a conventional system where the steering wheel is mechanically linked to the steering rack.

Our first blush with this system was entirely entertaining. Maybe it's the novelty, but we found ourselves experimenting and having a blast switching between various paired settings for steering effort and steering ratio: Sport, Standard, Touring.

Direct Adaptive Steering is not new, but the 2014 Q50 advances the concept to another level.

The 2014 Infiniti Q50 is an excellent ride, with power to spare. Even with its handling and performance prowess, the quietness of the cabin and lack of any exciting powertrain music skews the vibe toward the luxury side rather than the sporty side.

The 2014 Infiniti Q50 is an excellent ride, with power to spare. (Photo: Michael Goetz)

Inside and Out the 2014 Infiniti Q50 AWD
Gaze over the Q50's new curvaceous and extremely aerodynamic sheetmetal stretched taught over a new and stronger platform. The Q50 is a little shorter than the G37, but wider and lower.

A new twin-screen nerve centre dominates the new interior. Infiniti moved to this idea after hearing from drivers, who disliked having to exit the navigation maps display when they needed to use the touchscreen for other stuff. The top 8” screen is primarily for driving-related information, operated by touch and steering-wheel switches or the big Infiniti Controller. The lower 7” touchscreen is primarily for the infotainment system.

Infiniti has always been generous with the conventional hard switches, so finding your way never gets frustrating.

The front seating area is open and elegant in the 2014 Infiniti Q50. Materials and craftsmanship measure up to its class standing.

Headroom is a bit tight in the back, but otherwise the rear area is inviting with lots of room for feet. Seats can fold down to open up the cargo area.

A few electronic aid highlights in the 2014 Infiniti Q50 include:

Predictive Forward Collision Warning (touted as a world first) warns drivers of risks, which lay beyond their field of view, such as a dramatically slowing car two cars ahead. Radar goes underneath the first car to make the determination and warns drivers with a gauge display, a sound warning, and the tightening of the seat belt.

There are lots of apps coming to give drivers real-time connectivity to their digital life.

A new twin-screen nerve centre dominates the new interior. (Photo: Michael Goetz)

Comparing the 2014 Infiniti Q50
The 2014 Infiniti Q50 is a great and intriguing contender. It won't upset the current pecking order in the compact-ish, luxury sports sedan class, which is chalk full of worthy and famous nameplates - all with loyal followings - such as the BMW 3 Series, Cadillac ATS, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C Class, Lexus IS350, and a few others.

However, it has an open and individual style, and a suite of technologies, that set it apart from the rest. The 2014 Q50 will surely resonate with similar open and individual buyers.

From GMM

Caterham's current race drivers have admitted they are not sure if they will stay with the team beyond 2013.

Team figures have hinted throughout Caterham's difficult season so far that signing two sponsored drivers might have been a mistake, even though supremo Tony Fernandes insists both Giedo van der Garde and Charles Pic have improved.

Photo: Caterham F1 Team

The Malaysian entrepreneur has also admitted, however, that bringing the highly-rated Heikki Kovalainen back into the lineup for 2014 is a possibility.

It was believed Frenchman Pic's form and contract made him the more likely to stay next year, but he has now told Italiaracing magazine: "Honestly, I still don't know what I will do (in 2014).

"I think it is logical to suppose that I will have a second year at Caterham, but in F1 situations can change so quickly that it's difficult to say right now where I will be," added Pic.

Dutchman van der Garde, meanwhile, is quoted by the Dutch website autosport.nu: "My management is in talks with several teams, including Caterham."