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February new vehicle registrations in New Zealand of 7,946 were up 10.6% (761 units) on February 2012 (7,185). Commercial vehicle registrations of 2,148 units were up a noteworthy 38.4% (596 units) on February 2012 and the highest monthly February sales since 1982. Passenger car registrations of 5,798 were up 163 units (2.9%) on February 2012.

Severe weather and government shenanigans couldn't keep Americans from visiting dealer lots last month. February light vehicle sales were up 3.7%, surpassing 1.19m and producing a SAAR of 15.38m units. This is the fourth consecutive month the SAAR has been above 15m.

Eight Southern states, organized by a Michigan research group, are forming a coalition to encourage overseas automakers and suppliers to locate randd centers in the Southeast.

Some luxury brands are giving AutoNation the OK to put the AutoNation brand name on their dealerships.

New Opel CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann is standing behind Opel's restructuring. Neumann, who took over his new post on Friday, has seen the Drive 2022 plan and wants to implement it without major changes, sources close to Opel said.

The European auto industry is in for a rough ride over the next few years. What are the solutions? Which companies will emerge as winners? The 16th Automotive News Europe Congress will explore answers to those questions on June 12 in Paris.

The Mercedes-Benz A class suffered a surprisingly decisive defeat in the 2013 European Car of the Year contest won easily by the Volkswagen Golf.

A new SRT Viper and an upcoming Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, Alfa Romeo 4C and Acura NSX. If consumers didn't know better, they might think that all is well in the sports car business. It's not.

General Motors is spending tens of millions of dollars to buff up its dealership network in metro New York, where its sales badly lag rivals.

Tim Mahoney, Chevrolet's new global marketing chief, knows something about putting spark into struggling brands and giving focus to confused marketing. He comes to General Motors after a two-year stint at high-flying Volkswagen of America.

Google is poised to expand its online car-shopping service to dealers throughout California and enter more states, sources say. By expanding the pilot, Google is signaling its intention to be a more significant force in online auto shopping.

Chrysler Group said it was going for a "polarizing design" with the 2014 Jeep Cherokee. Mission accomplished, judging from the torrent of comments that streamed into the Twitter feed of Ralph Gilles, Chrysler's head of design.

As Mercedes-Benz's U.S. marketers brainstormed in 2009 about how to attract youthful buyers with a compact sedan then being developed, it quickly became clear what they needed most -- an un-Mercedes-like sticker price.

Some luxury brands are giving AutoNation the OK to put the AutoNation brand name on their dealerships.

Renault and PSA will use the Geneva auto show as the launching pad for models that are forecast to go to the top of Europe's fast-growing small SUV segment.

New Opel CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann is standing behind Opel's restructuring. Neumann has seen the Drive 2022 plan and wants to implement it without major changes, sources close to Opel said. Opel was the major contributor to parent General Motors' $1.

The new issue of the Automotive News Europe monthly e-magazine is ready for you to view.

From GMM

As the sun set on the final day of pre-season testing late on Sunday, the words on everyone's lips were Mercedes and Red Bull.

"Everyone is saying that this Mercedes is fast. Consistently fast," said respected Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt.

Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko added: "(It is fast) at least on one lap. But at least we do have to take them really seriously."

McLaren sporting director Sam Michael agrees: "Hamilton and Rosberg have been quick in all circumstances."

On the other hand, there are now questions being asked about the pace of world champions Red Bull's new RB9, after a difficult last weekend of testing in Barcelona.

New haircut aside, Sebastian Vettel did not look entirely cool.

"It has been extremely difficult to assess some changes and find the right direction with the car, simply because the tyres have not been good enough," he is quoted by Brazil's O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper.

Teammate Mark Webber added: "We need another couple of weeks of testing, but we don't have it."

German Vettel continued: "The new parts are not working exactly the way we had hoped."

Photo: WRi2

Some paddock insiders suspect Red Bull, now less than a fortnight before Melbourne, is bluffing.

"They have hidden their game the whole time," thinks Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

Nico Rosberg added: "I am convinced some of our opponents have been bluffing."

But even Red Bull team owner Dietrich Mateschitz sounds concerned: "I think the tyres are making everyone a bit worried," said the billionaire.

Right-hand man Marko added: "Not everything has gone to plan, but now is the time to analyse the data."

Speed Week's technical expert Gary Anderson said: "I still think the best car is the Red Bull, but the Mercedes has left a great impression, and I also see Lotus at the front, even though they have had problems with reliability.

"About McLaren, I'm not so sure," he added.

What about Ferrari? As his test duties ended, Fernando Alonso said the F138 is "200 times" better than last year's red car.

Team test driver Marc Gene told Marca newspaper: "There are several teams that can win races. I know Fernando is happy with the car. I did a filming day and it has more grip. We are where we imagined, but we do not know about the others."

After recovering from apparent food poisoning, Kimi Raikkonen closed his winter by saying he doesn't expect the 2013 pecking-order to be much different to last year's.

Asked if he could have matched Rosberg's winter-best Barcelona time, he smiled to the Finnish broadcaster MTV3: "It would have been close."

Agreed McLaren's sporting director Sam Michael: "From the laptimes we've seen, the season is going to be incredibly close."

From team press release

Caterham Formula 1 Team has announced that Hari Roberts has joined the team as Head of Aerodynamics.

As Head of Aerodynamics Roberts will be working closely with Technical Director Mark Smith and Performance Director John Iley.

Roberts brings with him a wealth of aerodynamic, trackside and simulation experience from his previous roles which includes working with Jordan, Renault F1 Team and, most recently, Lotus F1 Team, giving him the perfect platform to play an important role in Caterham F1 Team's long-term plans to challenge for honours in Formula 1.

Photo: WRi2

“I am excited about the challenge that lies ahead with Caterham F1 Team and I am delighted to have renewed my working partnership with Mark, and started a new partnership with the whole team,” said Hari Roberts in the press release.

“Caterham F1 Team has the potential to grow into a serious force in Formula 1 and I am looking forward to playing an integral role in helping the team fulfil its potential.”

“I am delighted that Hari has joined our team, particularly as his appointment extends an excellent working relationship that I have had with him over many years with teams including Jordan and Renault F1 Team,” said Mark Smith.

“He gives us more senior leadership in a critical area of the team's development and it is another sign of our shareholders' ongoing commitment to our team's growth that we have appointed someone of Hari's calibre to the role of Head of Aerodynamics.

“From a starting point of zero just over four years ago Hari now joins a team of over 120 very talented people in our Technical Office. We have also invested in such core areas as our dedicated model shop at Leafield, the ongoing development of our High Performance Cluster (HPC), which powers our CFD and design functions, and our driver in the loop simulator - all of which give us the tools needed to fight with the most famous names in motorsport in years to come.”

There's this little thing in Canada we call: winter. It usually lasts about 5 months (four if we're really, really lucky) and it's absolutely brutal. From frigid temperatures to driving conditions some of the most veteran drivers would fear, we Canadians put up with a lot of sh— er, stuff throughout the hellish days of winter.

So, it always shocks me when I hear of a friend or family member looking to buy a new car who isn't considering all-wheel drive. I feel I have to remind them of where we live then check their temperature.

Here's the down-low on AWD (or 4WD/4x4; any type of drivetrain that will have all four wheels working and receiving power from the engine to keep you safely on the road an on the right course instead of suffering from understeer or a fabulous-looking fishtail as your back end flies out): It's fantastic. It's meant to keep you moving forward when you want to be (i.e., from a stop) and taking you through a corner with far more control than a typical 2WD vehicle.

After years behind the wheel of a Subaru Impreza WRX, and briefly a base Impreza as well, I know the benefits an AWD system can truly have. If nothing more than a solid, grounded feel when the conditions get sloppy, AWD offers a level of confidence that could keep you out of harm's way. My parents pilot a Nissan Rogue, and my mother has told many a story of her sturdy little crossover getting her through some tough country road condition thanks, in no small part, to its AWD.

I think the aversion comes with a few misconceptions people have about AWD. Here are a few:

An AWD vehicle is so much more expensive.
In some cases, this may be true. For example, the difference between a FWD and AWD 2013 Ford Fusion is around the $2k mark. Granted that small gap makes the price jump from the 20s to the 30s (which could scare a few buyers), the extra is well worth it. And we're comparing apples to apples: same trim, same engine, just the drivetrain is changed. And when you consider the fact that you can have a perfectly acceptable AWD vehicle in the $20k region via the likes of Subaru and Suzuki, you'll realize that you really don't have to pay that much more. And in my opinion, paying a “premium” for something like AWD is much more acceptable than paying that same extra for a brand name or look-faster exterior upgrade kit.

AWD vehicles are horrible on gas.
As the years go on and manufacturers play the “who can burn less gas” game, the number differences are quickly diminishing. Take for example the Suzuki SX4. In 2WD trim the estimated highway mileage rating is 8.2L/100km; in AWD setup that number only jumps to 9.0L/100km (as per Suzuki). Our recent crossover comparo showed a higher reading than that, but it was still in a decent zone for an AWD vehicle, and not far off from FWD vehicles we've driven in the same segment.

Sure, AWD vehicles are heavier, but not by much. Let's look at the Suzuki SX4 again. In FWD it weighs in at 1,691 kg (3,721 lbs) and the AWD version only weighs 170 lbs more. So, it's kind of like having your partner riding shotgun all the time, which isn't so bad.

Only SUVs come with AWD and I want a smaller car.
Alright, well, as soon as I wipe the shocked look off my face, I'd be able to tell you that in fact there are a plethora of sedans, hatchbacks and even compact crossovers currently on the market, all available with hard-working, well-crafted AWD systems. From the Subaru Impreza to the MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 to the Golf R, there's something for everyone and every budget.

AWD vehicles are no good in the summer months.
Again, this is a horrible misconception. With the right summer tires, piloting an AWD vehicle in the hotter summer months feels no different than any other time of the year (you'll just have more traction and control when those April showers start).

Once you've driven an all-wheel drive vehicle in the slushy, snowy months I can guarantee you'll never want to go back to a 2WD vehicle again (at least not in the winter). If you're in the market for a new ride and you live in Canada where snow blankets the ground for more than a few months, please consider your AWD options. It'll be awdsome and you won't regret it, I promise.

Photo: Philippe Champoux