Auto News 5

Google sees self-driving cars being available to consumers in three to five years. Regulators and the insurance industry aren't so sure it can happen that quickly. States may have to decide how to license machines rather than people.

Global sales at Mercedes-Benz Cars unit rose 8.1 percent to 102,180 in January as the United States and China helped lift demand.

Mazda and Subaru are in the best position to benefit from the weakening yen, raising their earnings forecasts today as exported goods generate more cash.

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: A turbo four-cylinder with 259-hp? The notion one could get 30 mpg on the highway from what is a good-looking, well-built, semi large sedan is impressive.

New-car registrations in the UK rose 11.5 percent to 143,643 in January as the market continued to buck the downward trend in other key European markets.

News 6 Feb, 2013

Suzuki has released a teaser of the production version of its S-Cross concept

News 6 Feb, 2013

The Citroen C4 Picasso has been spotted with a Juke-inspired new look

News 6 Feb, 2013

It's a bumper 132-page special, featuring our pick of the top 100 new cars and first ride in the new Jaguar F-Type

Pininfarina has created a concept car named Sergio to pay tribute to the company's longtime CEO Sergio Pininfarina. The car will be unveiled at next month's Geneva auto show.

Delphi has posted a US$1.1bn profit for 2012 despite a slump in the fourth quarter caused by restructuring costs. The company has also forecast an increase in 2013 results.

Mercedes-Benz has started the new year with record sales, boosted by strong demand in North America, Asia and Russia.

Nissan intends to double the number of engineers at its Chennai R&D centre to about 4,000, and produce its first "made-in-India" car in the next five to six years.Nissan intends to double the number of engineers at its Chennai R&D centre to about 4,000, and produce its first "made-in-India" car in the next five to six years.Nissan intends to double the number of engineers at its Chennai R&D centre to about 4,000, and produce its first "made-in-India" car in the next five to six years.

News 5 Mar, 2013

Vauxhall has shown its new crossover-convertible Adam Rocks concept

Tata Motors is reportedly working on a premium small car likely to be built on the refurbished Indica platform. The company will launch the hatchback, dubbed "X0", in 2015 to compete with Ford and Maruti Suzuki models.

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

German automakers expect to partially offset Europe's sales slump with another year of double-digit volume gains in the hot U.S. market.

From GMM

Paul Hembery, Pirelli's F1 boss, has revealed the Italian tire supplier is pushing for a longer-term contract beyond 2013.

Recently, the FIA has been tendering is contracts with F1's sole tire suppliers on a three-year basis, and Pirelli is now approaching the end of its first run.

Paul Hembery said Pirelli wants to stay on the grid beyond 2013, but is pushing for an even longer contract than three years.

"We will know soon if we get a new contract as the sole supplier in formula one," he is quoted by the German-language Speed Week.

"We would prefer a long term contract, say five years," he added, referring to the world of Nascar racing, where Goodyear's latest contract is for five years.

Asked when Pirelli needs an answer from F1 about the future, Hembery smiled: "Yesterday, ideally. Seriously, we have 600 professionals at work, and so if we're no longer in F1, then we have to see how we can use them elsewhere. Unlike last time, we don't want the decision in June or July -- it's just too late."

Photo: Pirelli

Complicating the matter further, added Hembery, is the switch to turbo V6 power for 2014.

"It is expected that the turbos will develop more torque, which influences the traction of the corners," he said. "More traction means more temperature, and we also need to know what to expect in terms of top speed so that we don't have problems with the integrity."

After a sneak peak of Pirelli's 2013 tires in Brazil late last season, the F1 field got their first real taste of this year's rubber at Jerez on Tuesday, as the official pre-season test period began.

Red Bull's Mark Webber - and many other drivers - complained about high wear, according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

"You could see it with the naked eye, so sudden was the loss of grip," said the Australian. "The difference between a new and an old tire was very big. After a few laps, the times were falling off dramatically."

Webber added: "But Jerez is a bit different. You can have problems here that you don't have somewhere else."

Romain Grosjean agreed: "The asphalt here is very rough and the layout is hard on the tires, and the temperatures are also low."

Lotus driver Romain Grosjean managed the best lap of day two in Jerez, Spain, as pre-season testing ahead of the 2013 season continues.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus E21 (Photo: WRi2)

Grosjean had the fastest pace of everyone both in the morning and in the afternoon, alternating short and long runs. A the end of the day however, his Lotus came to a stop between turns 3 and 4, which interrupted the session.

Lewis Hamilton post-crash (Photo: WRi2)

The biggest story of Wednesday still, was Lewis Hamilton's morning crash, after just 15 laps with his new team. The 2008 world champion's W04 suffered from brake problems.

The team opted not to let him back out in the afternoon, just as it did with Nico Rosberg the day before when the German was stopped by electrical problems.

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber (Photo: Sauber F1 Team)

Nico Hulkenberg clocked the fifth fastest lap. Sergio Perez, the man he replaced at Sauber, went seventh fastest in his first outing as a McLaren driver.

Sergio Perez, McLaren MP4-28 (Photo: WRi2)

Marussia's Luiz Razia made his debut aboard the MR02, having been confirmed as Max Chilton's teammate for the upcoming season.

Luiz Razia, Marussia MR02 (Photo: Marussia F1 Team)

Meanwhile James Rossiter, the former Honda test driver who is now Force India's simulator driver, returned to the track in a Formula One car for the first time since 2008, completing 19 laps in Paul di Resta's VJM06.

Felipe Massa, Ferrari (Photo: WRi2)

Winter test session 1, Jerez, Spain, Day 2*
1 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'18"218
2 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'19"003
3 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'19"134
4 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'19"338
5 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'19"502
6 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'19"519
7 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4-28-Mercedes) - 1'19"572
8 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'19"914
9 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'20"693
10 - James Rossiter (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'21"273
11 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'21"311
12 - Luiz Razia (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'23"537

*Unofficial timing

McLaren MP4-28 (Photo: WRi2)

Volkswagen AG has approved plans to put a Bentley SUV into production. Code-named ''Falcon,'' it will be based on the EXP 9F concept unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show last year.

Bentley CEO Wolfgang Schreiber said that the SUV is expected to hit the market within three years at around €200,000 (approx. $270,000). The company projects annual sales of 5,000 units.

Look for a standard eight-cylinder engine, and possibly an optional 6.0L W12.

Source: Automotive News Europe

Photo: Bentley

Hot on the heels of the all-new Mercedes-Benz CLA, which starred in two Super Bowl ads last Sunday, the German automaker will unveil the CLA 45 AMG at the 2013 New York International Auto Show.

The announcement came from the Mercedes-Benz Facebook page, where an online contest has been launched to give two people an opportunity to attend the event.

No other details have been provided, but we know that the Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG will exploit a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder with direct injection to produce close to 350 horsepower. Using a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, it will reportedly sprint from 0-60 mph (96 km/h) in five seconds or less.

Source: Motorauthority.com