Auto News 5

Citroen wants its DS cars to exude success from every fiber. That means one smell is banned from the upscale line of vehicles: plastic.

UK car production rose 17 percent last month, its fastest rate so far this year, with most of the growth destined for domestic consumption rather than export.

The Los Angeles show held its first connected car expo, attracting dozens of exhibits showing the latest automotive technology.

UK car output in October rose 17.4% year on year to 160,854 units, for the largest monthly increase so far this year.

Volvo is staking its police-car fleet ambitions in Europe and beyond on a newly upgraded chassis underpinning the

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen and Renault will end a partnership on engines and transmissions that is their last production alliance in France.

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen and Renault will end a partnership on engines and transmissions that is their last production alliance in France.

Steel makers are offering lighter, more durable products to maintain their dominance against aluminum and plastics producers as the preferred raw material used in vehicle production.

BMW's GT models are aimed at countries such as the U.S. and China, while Europe is the main market for the automaker's station wagons.

As competition in the industry becomes ever more cut-throat, partly as gaps in quality and technology narrow, automakers need bolder, edgier designs to differentiate. From a global talent pool, South Koreans stand out.

While Subaru is busy with the launch of the all-new WRX in Los Angeles, it also staged the world premiere of the Levorg Concept at the Tokyo Auto Show.

Combining the words “Legacy,” “evolution,” and “touring,” the Levorg previews the wagon variant of the 2015 Subaru Legacy, which will hit the Japanese market next spring. Subaru has no plans for Canada at the moment.

The horizontally opposed, direct injection turbo "DIT" powertrain of the Subaru Levorg Concept is available in 1.6L and 2.0L versions producing 168 and 296 horsepower, respectively. Both can be mated to a Lineartronic CVT.

Subaru Levorg Concept. (Photo: Subaru)

Outside, you'll notice Subaru's hexagonal grille, hawk-eye headlights, and aerodynamic profile. The Levorg offers two new colours including Metallic Blue Grey Steel and Pearl Crystal White. Meanwhile, the interior features piano black finishes, metallic accents, a 3.5'' LCD screen, and a D-shaped steering wheel.

New safety systems highlight the Subaru Levorg Concept. One of them prevents the vehicle from backing up too abruptly, while another assists the driver in steering the vehicle to avoid an imminent collision.

The Hyundai Elantra gets a number of updates for 2014, as seen at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The popular compact will arrive at Canadian dealerships early next year.

The 2014 Hyundai Elantra L, GL, and GLS all use a 1.8L 4-cylinder ''Nu'' engine rated at 145 horsepower, while the Limited model houses a new 2.0L engine with direct injection that produces 173 horsepower. The Elantra Coupe and Elantra GT also benefit from the larger mill.

A 6-speed manual gearbox comes standard, while a 6-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual mode is optional. All Elantras feature Hyundai's Driver Selectable Steering Mode (DSSM).

Hyundai Elantra 2014. (Photo: Hyundai)

The ''Fluidic Sculpture'' design language helps the 2014 Hyundai Elantra achieve a drag coefficient of just 0.28 in Sedan and Coupe form (GT: 0.30). L-shaped fog lights, new 16'' and 17'' wheels, and chrome exhaust tips are some of the exterior highlights of the new Elantra.

The interior boasts a redesigned dashboard, a new sound and navigation system, and a 4.3'' touchscreen with backup camera (a 7'' display is available with the Elantra GT). The trunk can swallow up to 420 litres of luggage, while the GT's cargo area expands from 651 to 1,444 litres when you fold the rear seats.

Standard safety features on the 2014 Hyundai Elantra include Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control (TC), Brake Assist, and six airbags, among others.

Prices and fuel consumption ratings for the 2014 Hyundai Elantra models will be revealed at a later date.

After eight seasons, the FIA Formula One World Championship will say goodbye to the normally aspirated 2.4 litre V8 engine formula at the end of the Brazilian Grand Prix Sunday.

This will be the ultimate race for the Renault, Mercedes, Ferrari and Cosworth V8 engines.

Renault Sport F1 has released some very interesting facts about its engine that powered Fernando Alonso to the world title in 2006, and Sebastian Vettel to the world championship four years in a row, from 2010 and 2013.

Fernando Alonso, Renault 2006. (Photo: WRi2)

A few facts from the Renault V8 engine:
8 years of competition
59 wins - 40% of wins in the V8 era
65 pole positions
55 fastest laps
3665.5 points
5 Constructors' world titles
5 Drivers' world titles
750 bhp maximum power (2013 version, typical car installation, typical temp/pressure/humidity)
18,000 rpm maximum engine speed (2013 version)
95kg weight, FIA perimeter
1,271 engines built, 683 for track use, 588 for dyno use
2,000,000 km total
5,000 components per engine
7,600,000 parts used
21,800 pistons used
43,200 inlet valves used
45,900 exhaust valves used
43,800 connecting-rod bolts fitted
22,000 spark plugs used
10,600 oil filters used

Renault V8 engine in the Red Bull. (Photo: WRi2)

Did you know?

A throttle can go from completely closed to completely open in 10 to 15 milliseconds, the duration of light for a photo flash strobe.

At full power, the engine ‘sucks' more than 500 litres of air per second.

The camshafts turn at half the engine speed, so the valves will be able to open 150 times per second.

When running at maximum speed, the force on the pistons will be more than 8,000 times its own weight (0 to 100 km/h in less than 1/2000th sec).

The connecting rod is one of the most stressed parts of any piston engine. At the Bathurst circuit in Australia there is a straight named the Conrod Straight as there are so many engine failures there!

The machining tolerance of the steel crankshaft is down to 1 micron.

Photo: Renault Sport

The oil circulates round the engine at a rate of approximately 60 litres per minute. There is about 5 litres of oil, so the oil does completes approximately 12 laps per minute of the engine and cooling circuit.

During a race, the exhausts of the RS27 will reach up to 1000 °C, an average consumer oven will only reach 240 °C. These temperatures are very close to the melting point of most metals; therefore, special lightweight materials are used.

One boost of KERS is equivalent to a shot of 80bhp for 2 to 3 seconds.

To cool this heat approximately five litres of water will be in the engine at any one time. At maximum revs the water will be circulated at 240 litres per minute (more than a fireman's hose)! The heat dissipated in the water could heat a 2,500 m2 building at 0 °C ambient temperature.

From press release

DTM's third appearance on Chinese soil will take place in Guangzhou, in September 2014.

DTM rights holder and promoter ITR e.V. and the Chinese Brilliant Culture Group agreed upon holding the race weekend from 26th to 28th September at a street circuit in the Southern Chinese metropolis - in the third biggest city in China and capital of Guangdong province, also known as Canton. This means that DTM is going to enter unknown soil, for its third race in China, as the first two races were contested in Shanghai.

The circuit that will be extra designed and built for DTM partially takes the drivers of the three premium-car manufacturers Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz racing right along the river bank. Subject to the final approval of the national and international motor sports associations, the track is expected to feature a length of 4.1 kilometres as well as four right-handers and two left-handers.

In 2004, DTM made its first appearance in China. At a street circuit in the metropolis Shanghai, the most popular international touring-car series contested an invitation race that was won by Briton Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz). Six years later, DTM was back in Shanghai but this time, the race in China was the official 2010 season finale. Once again the race was won by Gary Paffett, with his fellow Mercedes-Benz driver Paul Di Resta securing the title by finishing runner-up.

From GMM

Having given Fernando Alonso "eight out of ten" for his 2013 season, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo now insists the Spaniard is not the famous Italian team's number 1 driver.

"I don't like number 1, number 2," he told CNN.

Fernando Alonso, who has had an often fraught relationship with Montezemolo this year and flirted with moves to Red Bull and McLaren, has been controversially paired for 2014 with Ferrari's last world champion, Kimi Raikkonen.

Luca di Montezemolo and Fernando Alonso. (Photo: Ferrari)

But Brazilian Felipe Massa, who has been regarded as Ferrari's number 2 in recent years, was clearly Alonso's preferred teammate going forwards.

"Alonso knows that he drives to win for himself, but also for Ferrari," Luca di Montezemolo insisted.

"Ferrari is a team and I want drivers (who) will drive and will act and react as a team member, not only one man," he added.

Montezemolo also dismissed suggestions Alonso, who infamously clashed with Lewis Hamilton at McLaren in 2007, will not get along with Finn Raikkonen.

"I don't want to say that they are old," he smiled, "but I'm sure (they will get along), yes."

One might say that there are three seasons in NASCAR. There's the racing season. Then there's silly season - when rumors fly about where drivers are headed. Now comes crew chief musical chair season.

Early in the week Stewart-Haas Racing announced that Chad Johnston, previously at Michael Waltrip Racing, would replace Steve Addington as crew chief for the recuperating Tony Stewart.

The team also announced Daniel Knost has been promoted from race engineer on the No. 39 team to crew chief for the No. 41 Haas Automation team with Kurt Busch.

The team also announced that Matt Borland has been named vice president of engineering. “In this role, Borland will oversee all of the team's technical initiatives and various research and development projects. He will also transition from being an active crew chief (of the departed Ryan Newman) to that of a mentor,” the team said -- specifically in regard to Knost's new role.

Greg Zipadelli who was formerly Stewart's crew chief at Joe Gibbs Racing, has been named vice president of competition where he will manage all four Sprint Cup teams (Stewart, Busch, Kevin Harvick, and Danica Patrick), with each crew chief reporting to him. Previously the team announced that Rodney Childers would be Harvick's crew chief on the No. 4 car.

What happened to Addington? He's been named competition director for the Phoenix Racing and crew chief of the No. 51 Chevrolet with a driver to be named later.

Stewart, who once fired his then current crew chief, Darian Grubb, weeks before he won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship told the Associated Press why he's changing his crew chief for the third time in six years. "It's literally results. I don't think we were ever on pace to be where we needed to be," he said.

"It's a moving target and I don't think you could bring Ray Evernham back to Jeff (Gordon) and get the same results now. I think it's a constant moving target. The relationship is one aspect of it, but still the moving target is the technology side of it.

"The more pieces you add to the puzzle, the harder it is to put the puzzle together. When we had two crew chiefs and two drivers, it was at a certain level. And then the third team and now the fourth team. Now you have to make sure, instead of just getting two crew chiefs to communicate, now you have four. The equation gets more complicated."

And, over at Roush Fenway Racing, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. will be reunited with Mike Kelley who was the crew chief on Stenhouse's two Nationwide Championships (2011 and 2012).

From GMM

Felipe Massa has likened F1 pay-drivers to prostitutes.

After eight years with Ferrari, the Brazilian will switch to Williams after this weekend's 2013 season finale in his native Sao Paulo.

It was thought that Massa, 32, was bringing some Brazilian sponsorship backing to the seat currently occupied by the heavily PDVSA-backed Pastor Maldonado.

But Massa insists he will remain a "professional" racing driver in his own right at Williams.

"For all that I've gone through, and everything I've achieved, it makes no sense to pay to race," he is quoted by Brazil's Globo.

However, Massa said he would help Williams - the once-great F1 team - to find some new sponsors.

"Of course, I will do all I can. Money is good for improving the car and I have great relationships with some companies, some of them Brazilian. The crisis has hit all teams, big and small," added Massa.

Felipe Massa. (Photo: Williams F1 Team)

He said he also negotiated with "Lotus, Sahara Force India and McLaren" about 2014.

"But (Lotus team boss Eric) Boullier did not do anything as though he really wanted to do something (for 2014). Then Williams came after me. The first conversation was 'We want you'. And that was very important for me."

Felipe Massa said he was not interested in becoming a 'pay driver', in the sense that a driver's services are inextricably linked to his financial backing.

"I don't know if this is how I should describe it, because it is a very strong word," Massa said.

"But the word is 'prostitute'," he is quoted by UOL Esporte. "Not having to do that - pay to drive - is my greatest pride. It is logical to help with sponsors, but I will not be a prostitute," added Massa.

On November 21st, 1945, members of the United Automotive Workers (UAW) at the GM assembly plant in Detroit went on strike -- the first following World War II.

It lasted 113 days and involved power sharing. GM agreed to pay higher wages, but refused to give workers a greater voice in management.

The union finally settled for an 18.5 cent increase and little more.

Source: Wikipedia

There it is: the all-new 2015 Subaru WRX! Built on a stiffer chassis than its predecessor, the car houses a new 2.0L horizontally opposed direct-injection turbocharged (DIT) engine that produces 268 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. It's said to improve power delivery with an eye on efficiency, although Subaru did not provide fuel consumption numbers.

Photo: Subaru

Along with its new 6-speed manual transmission, the 2015 Subaru WRX adopts a Sport Lineartronic CVT that offers smooth shifting as well as an 8-speed manual shift mode.

The exterior of the 2015 Subaru WRX features the brand's new hexagonal front grille, hawk-eye headlights, front fender ducts, special sharp side sill spoilers, as well as a diffuser-integrated bumper and twin dual mufflers. Let's not forget the new 17'' alloy wheels and LED lighting.

The sporty, yet understated, interior of the 2015 Subaru WRX is solid black from roof to floor, save for red meter lighting and contrasting stitching. The 25-mm longer wheelbase results in more passenger room. Meanwhile, the driver benefits from a new D-shaped steering wheel with an easy-to-hold grip shape, a shift lever with a WRX-engraved silver ring (manual models), a body-hugging seat, and a multifunction display that's now equipped with a boost pressure indicator.

Photo: Subaru

Prices and on-sale dates for the 2015 Subaru WRX have yet to be announced.

Juan Pablo Montoya will be back in an IndyCar for the first time since 2000 when he'll test a Penske Dallara DW 12/Chevrolet at the short course in Sebring, Florida on November 25th.

The 38-year old Columbian had raced in NASCAR for Chip Ganassi Racing for the last eight year with victories only on the road courses of Sonoma (2007) and Watkins Glen (2010) in the Sprint Cup Series. In the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the junior series Montoya had one win in Mexico City (2007).

This year Montoya was on the 24 Hours of Daytona DP team with Charlie Kimball, Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas.

Ganassi initially brought Montoya over to the United States to run in the now defunct CART series winning the championship in his rookie year 1999.

Montoya won the famed Indy 500 in 2000 for Ganassi and then moved over to Formula 1, racing for the Williams and McLaren-Mercedes teams.

Photo: JPMontoya/Twitter