Auto News 5

From press release

Volkswagen team principal Jost Capito has given Sebastien Ogier permission for a flat-out fight for victory when he goes head-to-head with Sebastien Loeb on next month's Rallye de France-Alsace.

Capito said he was happy to give Ogier free rein because Volkswagen now has a healthy lead over Citroen in the FIA WRC manufacturers' championship. 

It is also some payback for Ogier, who missed out on securing the drivers' crown by a single point in Australia despite winning the rally and taking a maximum three bonus points on the Power Stage. 

Sebastien Ogier, Polo R WRC. (Photo: Volkswagen Motorsport)

“The result was good for the manufacturers' championship and now he's got the opportunity to seize the title once and for all at his home rally,” said Capito. 

“To get the manufacturers' lead by more than 40 points, this allows Seb to really fight in France. The whole team will support him unconditionally. If the gap was smaller, we might have had some tough words [with Ogier], but now he can really go for it. I'm sure he's happy for this.” 

Ogier will head to France 83 points ahead of his closest rival, Thierry Neuville, and will seal the title if he finishes tenth or better on the all-asphalt rally.

“Of course I am happy to be told I can fight,” said Ogier. “The competition will be interesting with Dani [Sordo] and Thierry - they are both quick, and, of course, Seb [Loeb] will be coming back and we know he will be on the pace.” 

“I'm looking forward to my home rally and the fans in France. I want to clinch the title there by winning and take my team a big step closer to winning the Manufacturers' Championship.”

Experience and history breeds confidence. We trust those who “know,” those who have been around the block a few times. We're content in knowing they know their way around and believe their expertise. So, what happens when a newbie shows up claiming to know it all and proves to actually be quite good? Do you let them play with the old experienced farts? Apparently we do.

Analogies aside, I'm talking about the Audi R8.

I had the esteemed pleasure of driving one recently, and not just any R8 but the V10 Plus version. It wasn't until I stepped back from the beast of a car that I realized, quite suddenly, that in the near-7 years since its launch it has barely changed an ounce. Park a 2014 Audi R8 V10 next to a 2008 Audi R8 V10 and you'd not spot a difference, besides the headlights ... which you'd really have to scrutinize to spot.

What am I getting at here? That the Audi R8 is an ugly car in desperate need of a redesign? Hardly. While I do think it's going to have to step it up and offer up a new look sooner rather than later, what I'm getting at is the fact that it arrived to the game late and still garnered quite a following, despite a hefty price tag and barely any “supercar” history to speak of.

I know, I know; Audi and Le Mans. However, their Audi R8 race car wasn't introduced until 2000. That wasn't terribly long ago.

On the flip side: Porsche has been building the 911 for 50 years. Fifty. Years. The Porsche 911 isn't just a historical masterpiece it's a lesson in supercar evolution and development. For those 50 years Porsche has perfected the art of a balanced, fun-to-drive, rear-wheel drive apex-killer.

So, if Porsche want to ask me to pay $206,600 for their Turbo S variant, I'll happily write the cheque (in my wildest, richest dreams, of course). However, when Audi comes along and asks the same price for a vehicle that's been on the road less than a decade, I can't help but feel a little hesitation.

It's not that the Audi R8 is a bad car, and I can't stress that enough. What makes it able to “play ball” with the big boys (i.e., Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Jaguar); the stalwarts who've been in the business for decades and truly know the fine art of a sports car?

There's the whole subject of quality, of course; Audi charges what it does because of the quality of materials used, craftsmanship, technology, etc. Is that really a good enough justification, though? A bare-bones Porsche Cayman (a quarter of the cost of the R8) might actually offer more thrills on and off the track and is just as well-built. And why? Because that's what Porsche does; builds track-ready street-cars.

Audi is in the business of all-wheel drive luxury vehicles. Not supercars. Again, the R8 is a fabulous car to drive, and I enjoyed every moment behind the wheel, but as ballsy as it is to throw a V10 in the back of a 1,635kg vehicle it's just as brash to ask the public to pay over $200k for it.

Like the nouveau riche, the Audi R8 is trying to fit into the social club and often ends up sticking out like a sore thumb for a vulgar word or two or an inappropriately used utensil and elbows on table during high tea.

Photo: Lesley Wimbush

From GMM

Davide Valsecchi insists he is "ready" to make his formula one debut this weekend.

Lotus regular Kimi Raikkonen struggled through the recent Singapore grand prix with a back injury.

So ahead of the Korean grand prix this weekend, the Finn said: "We will have to see how it is when I get out on track on Friday."

Meanwhile, Raikkonen suggested in Singapore that because he has not yet been paid by Lotus, he is technically entitled to sit out races.

Asked if he might sue the Enstone based team, he admitted: "I don't know. Obviously there is a reason why we make up contracts."

Davide Valsecchi testing the Lotus E21 this season. (Photo: WRi2)

With that uncertainty lingering, it is no surprise Valsecchi - Lotus' reserve driver - is being asked if he is preparing to make his debut in Korea.

"My role requires me to be ready," the reigning GP2 champion told Italy's Autosprint.

"The rest are situations and decisions that are taken by the team alone," added Valsecchi, 26.

From GMM

Fernando Alonso has hit back at suggestions he could up his game in the discipline of qualifying.

When it was announced that Kimi Raikkonen is heading back to Ferrari in 2014, Alonso's friend Mark Webber said that is good news for the Spaniard.

"Fernando needs to be pushed more on Saturday afternoons," said the Australian.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

Indeed, in Alonso's four seasons wearing red, he has been on pole only four times, compared to 36 in the same period for Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel.

Alonso told Brazil's Totalrace: "It's on Sunday that the points are given.

"But even if Saturday is not the priority, I have been the best in terms of qualifying that Felipe has had as a teammate. My advantage compared to him is 82 per cent," he insisted.

"So even if Saturday is not my strongest point, in eight out of ten weekends, I'm in front of him. So I don't think this is a problem for me," Alonso added.

Kia will introduce an EV version of its 2014 boxy Soul subcompact next year. The Soul EV will be Kia's first U.S. vehicle to be powered solely by an electric powertrain.

Chrysler Group is recalling about 10,800 Ram pickups and 132,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees to repair software that controls warning lights and instrument cluster illumination.

Fall is upon us, and as we all know, autumn marks the beginning of new-car season.

General Motors is rolling out fresh incentives on its redesigned 2014 pickups, after demand for the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra declined in September amid heavy discounts by rivals Ford and Ram.

Mercedes-Benz sold more than 2,300 of its $29,900 CLA coupe in its first week of availability, helping the brand post a 6.7 percent September gain and widen its luxury-vehicle lead in the United States.

Cadillac released an interior photo of the 2015 Escalade. The SUV will offer the latest features in luxury, connectivity and safety, the automaker said today.

Ford Canada said today its sales rose 10 percent 25,596 vehicles in September -- the unit's second-best September ever.

Dealers would be wise to reach into their customer satisfaction surveys for consumer comments to post as reviews on their Web sites, says an analyst for Maritz Research.

Ford Motor Executive Chairman Bill Ford emphasized the abilities of the company's next generation of executives while reiterating the automaker's plan for Alan Mulally to remain CEO.

News 1 Oct, 2013

Rolls-Royce CEO confims designers are already working on SUV - and our exclusive image shows how car could look

General Motors and PSA Peugeot Citroën said on Tuesday (1 October) they will build B-MPVs for both companies' brands at the GM España plant in Zaragoza, Spain. The plant currently builds the five-door Opel Corsa line and variants and will soon add the Mokka small SUV currently imported from Korea.

General Motors' Opel factory in Spain will build subcompact minivans for Opel and PSA/Peugeot-Citroen. The minivans will be based on a PSA platform.

General Motors' Opel factory in Spain will build subcompact minivans for Opel and PSA/Peugeot-Citroen. The minivans will be based on a PSA platform.

Hemmings has this look back at the wonderful Cadillac Allante and its hilarious Transatlantic assembly process.

On 30 September, Martin Sander ended his tenure as head of Audi's UK operations. He spoke to Glenn Brooks about his time in Britain, and his promotion to senior director of Sales for the Americas.