Auto News 5

Fiat dealers in the United States, struggling to turn a profit selling versions of just one nameplate, got great news last week.

Nissan expects sales of its Leaf electric vehicle to sag through March, until a new American assembly line can fill a near-empty dealer pipeline. The problem is purely logistical, Nissan says.

A fresh wave of enthusiasm for fuel cell vehicles among automakers is running up against an old problem. It's a Catch-22. Carmakers are reluctant to build fuel cell vehicles in significant volume without stations to refuel them.

AutoNation Inc.'s move to put its corporate name on most of its stores signals the next wave for a dealership business model that has moved from exclusively mom-and-pop stores in a short period of time.

American Honda has narrowed the list of advertising agencies competing for its $900 million account, and incumbent RPA is still in the hunt to retain both the creative and media-buying work.

Lincoln will offer its dealers cash assistance to help them keep customers who have been frustrated by delays in receiving their MKZ sedans.

To fortify his Hyundai-Kia retail business, Florida dealer Scott Dance has turned to a nontraditional franchise for daily rental cars and used-vehicles sales, under the Payless brand.

They are big and boring-looking, but light commercial vehicles are crucial to the financial health of many European volume brands.

From press release

As the new Silver Arrow, the Mercedes W04, completes its first laps this morning at the Jerez circuit, the team is delighted to announce a significant new partnership agreement with BlackBerry.

As the Official Mobile Computing Partner for the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, BlackBerry will collaborate with the team on technical and marketing opportunities.

The new partnership sees the iconic BlackBerry branding featured prominently on the chassis and headrest of the F1 W04 Silver Arrow, the racesuits of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, and on the team's racewear kit. As the Official Mobile Computing Partner, BlackBerry and MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS will be working closely together to develop the team's use of the BlackBerry 10 platform at the team's headquarters and at each Grand Prix.

BlackBerry featuring on the new Mercedes W04. (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

Ross Brawn, Team Principal at the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team commented: “On the day that our new Silver Arrow, the F1 W04, is launched, we are very pleased to announce our partnership with BlackBerry. We are looking forward to embracing the new BlackBerry 10 platform at both a technical and operational level, as well as collaborating with the team at BlackBerry to bring new mobile innovation to MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS. It is especially pleasing to be able to launch this exciting partnership today as our latest Silver Arrow takes to the track with BlackBerry branding.”

Frank Boulben, Chief Marketing Officer at BlackBerry, said: “Formula One is all about precision engineering, design and innovation - three values that mirror the approach that's gone into creating BlackBerry 10. It is a natural fit for BlackBerry to partner with the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team to deliver value through technical and marketing collaboration. We have built BlackBerry 10 to keep people moving, and we believe the essence of this will be delivered at many levels through our partnership”.

A diesel-powered version of the Chevrolet Cruze will make its debut at the Chicago Auto Show this week.

Called Cruze Eco-D, it's the first General Motors passenger car to feature a diesel engine in the U.S. for more than 20 years. It will likely serve to gauge consumer interest before other models follow suit.

Actually, GM is expected to add a diesel option to its all-new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks.

For the time being, we don't know anything about the Chevrolet Cruze Eco-D's performance, fuel economy or pricing. Look for it to arrive in U.S. showrooms this spring as a 2014 model. Canadian availability remains unknown.

Source: The Detroit Bureau

From GMM

Giorgio Ascanelli, the well-known engineer who last year left his post as Toro Rosso's technical director, has re-emerged at F1 brake supplier Brembo.

Following recent speculation, we reported last month that rumours the 53-year-old Italian is returning to the sport with Ferrari were wide of the mark.

"Ascanelli is about to return to F1; the team's name is not yet known," Autosprint correspondent Alberto Antonini said on January 15.

Giorgio Ascanelli. (Photo: Red Bull)

In fact, Ascanelli has signed on with Brembo as the brake supplier's chief technical officer.

"With the arrival of Giorgio Ascanelli, Brembo is looking to give fresh impetus into the company and bring new skills to an area of activity that has always been its main engine," the Italian company said in a statement.

He began his career at Ferrari in the mid 80s, and was Gerhard Berger's engineer. He moved to Benetton and McLaren, at the latter team working alongside the great Ayrton Senna.

Ascanelli returned to Ferrari in 1995, staying until 2001. Autosprint said he left Toro Rosso, who replaced him with James Key, "after an argument" with team boss Franz Tost.

The new Ferrari F138 is equipped with Brembo brakes. (Photo: Ferrari)

Bentley posted a sketch and a short video on its website that give fans a sneak peek at the new Flying Spur. The British automaker claims that it will redefine the standards of the luxury performance sedan.

Further details will be released on February 20th, 2013.

Photo: Bentley

Just days after the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray made its global debut at the NAIAS in Detroit, an Italian tuner by the name of Corvette Italia is offering future owners to replace the new squared taillights with round ones -- in true Corvette fashion.

The ''Nostalgic Tail Light Kit'' makes the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray look nearly identical to the previous generation (C6), at least from behind. And it all costs just $2,800!

Source: Caradisiac.com

Photo: Corvette Italia

The 2014 Nissan GT-R, which is now on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide, starts at $106,930. Two higher trim levels are available including a Premium Interior Package and Black Edition.

Look for the same 3.8L twin-turbo V6 engine that produces 545 horsepower and 463 lb-ft of torque.

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) for the 2014 Nissan GT-R:

Photo: Nissan

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone on Monday was on the spot at Sochi, the scene of next year's inaugural Russian grand prix.

There had been some doubt about whether the resort city would host its first ever formula one race on schedule, following reports construction had stopped.

"It's a fantastic track," Ecclestone, F1's chief executive, was quoted on Monday by the local R-Sport news agency.

"I was here before the building work started on the track and I was already impressed then," he added. "Now I'm super-impressed with what's going on here."

Sochi track in Russia.

Bernie Ecclestone, 82, met on Monday with Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Kozak.

Kozak acknowledged that Sochi's concurrent preparations for the 2014 winter olympics had presented challenges to the scheduling of the grand prix.

"But we've solved all those problems and entered, in my view, the final straight," he said.

A study by CAA-Quebec confirms that pump prices, as well as retail margins and crude oil prices, all rose in 2012.

Across the province, a litre of gasoline sold on average for 5% more last year than in 2011. In the Montreal area, the average price of a litre of gasoline rose to 137.3 cents, compared with 134.7 cents in the Quebec City area and 135.6 cents in Sherbrooke. Meanwhile, in Calgary, the average was 112.7 cents; so far in 2013, a litre of gasoline costs under a dollar.

Sherbrooke is where the retail margin grew the most (19%), from 5.7 cents for each litre of gasoline sold in 2011 to 6.8 cents per litre in 2012.

CAA-Quebec also noted 12 price increases at the pump on Fridays and just before holiday periods in Montreal, compared with only one in Quebec City and two in Sherbrooke.

Montreal currently has the highest rate of taxation (36%) on the average price of a litre of regular gasoline among large Canadian cities (national average of 31%). And on April 1st, 2013, the provincial fuel tax will rise by one cent per litre for the fourth year in a row.

From GMM

Tongue in cheek, a German specialist publication has wondered if there is a Sauber spy in the house at world champions Red Bull.

After Swiss team Sauber surprised the world with its ultra-slim sidepods and a half-'stepped' nose for its newly launched C32, Auto Motor und Sport's Michael Schmidt noticed that Red Bull's new RB9 - which broke cover on Sunday - "has the same characteristics".

Sauber C32. (Photo: Sauber F1 Team)

Actually, Red Bull insisted the RB9 is a simple "evolution" of its title-winning predecessor, while Adrian Newey argued the whole concept of a 'new' car is now outdated.

"It's a car in transition, as are all the cars -- development is key," he said.

The team insisted one of the biggest changes is the new purple hue to the livery, marking the official beginning of the Infiniti title sponsorship.

In essence, it was difficult for observers at the Milton Keynes launch to make a real assessment -- photography was banned, and those in the audience squinted to make out the RB9's details in the clever lighting before the car was covered up once again.

Red Bull RB9. (Photo: Red Bull Racing)

Newey did reveal that the change in the 'step' nose for 2013 is a compromise between the unseemly 2012 rules and the FIA's allowance of a so-called 'vanity panel' this year.

"We have a vanity panel," he confirmed, "but it doesn't extend very far forward otherwise it becomes unjustifiable in weight."

Shortly after the launch, the RB9 was loaded into a transporter bound for Jerez, where Mark Webber will be at the wheel for the opening action on Tuesday.

Fuels that derive from petroleum, such as gasoline and diesel, are called hydrocarbons and are composed of hydrogen and carbon. Petroleum oil's composition depends largely on its place of origin. Its sulphur and other mineral content can vary from one oil field to the next. This crude oil has to undergo a series of transformations before becoming the final fuel products that we so greatly depend on today.

Refining Stages

Diesel fuel
As an end product, diesel fuel is the result of a simpler processing of the crude oil than that required for gasoline. Elimination of the impurities and distillation are indispensable in both cases. Then, sulphur content is reduced thanks to hydrodesulfurization (HDS), followed by hydrotreating. Since 2006 (for environmental reasons) only diesel with very low sulphur content is sold in North America and Europe.

Diesel fuel quality is measured according to its cetane number. The lowest legally allowable cetane number is 51. The more this figure increases, the better the diesel fuel quality, so cleaning agents are often added to it. Good quality diesel fuel will have properties which favour ignition and combustion.

Given that the diesel engine has no spark plugs, the air-diesel fuel mixture has to ignite and combust, because of simple compression alone.

This low heat resistance is the contrary to what qualifies gasoline. To produce gasoline, refining must be continued. It's during catalytic reforming that the octane rating of the gasoline is determined.

The octane rating measures the thermal resistance of a fuel. The higher the rating, the less easily the substance will ignite.

At the pump, you'll find gasoline types with various octane ratings, which could range from 87 to 94. ‘Regular' gas has the lowest octane rate, i.e. ‘87', and has poorer heat resistance.


‘Super' gasoline is recommended for engines equipped with turbo or superchargers, or those with high compression ratios. These types of engines produce increased heat.

In a gas engine, combustion of the mixture compressed in the piston chamber has to take place when ignited by the spark plug, not before. If the gas type used is of poorer quality, heat created by the compression will sometimes be enough to produce combustion, resulting in a detonation. This premature explosion must be avoided because it can cause considerable damage to engine components.

You should ensure that the quality of the particular gas type you choose keeps pace with the advanced technologies that are showcased by the vehicle you drive.

Alternate energy sources
Clean fuels like diesel (very low in sulphur), as well as technologies developed to decrease gas consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, puts us all on the right road when it comes to protecting our planet.

Besides hybrid and electric cars (with a big bet on lithium-ion technology), there are other potential energy sources that could free us from our dependence on oil.

Cars running on hydrogen, ethanol, biodiesel or natural gas open up many avenues to be explored.

Mercedes AMG uncovered its new 2013 Formula 1 race car, this afternoon, after a first shakedown by Nico Rosberg in the morning.

Nico Rosberg driving the new Mercedes W04. (Photo: WRi2)

Alongside Toto Wolff and Ross Brawn, the two drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg presented the new W04 and the new partner BlackBerry.

Toto Wolff, Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Ross Brawn present the W04. (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

Mercedes booked the Spanish track for a filming day, and Nico Rosberg was at the wheel of the new single-seater.

Nico Rosberg aboard the Mercedes W04. (Photo: WRi2)

Mercedes W04. (Photo: WRi2)

Lewis Hamilton driving the new Mercedes W04. (Photo: WRi2)

Mitsubishi is investing heavily in electric vehicle technology, and their new Outlander is one model that'll soon offer shoppers a fuel-saving alternative to a conventional gas-powered model. With the all-electric Mitsubishi i MiEV already on the road, the upcoming Outlander PHEV will further the Japanese automaker's electric vehicle offerings, while giving competitors like the plug-in powered Toyota RAV-4 EV a run for its money.


Set to debut initially in Japan, the Outlander PHEV hits their dealer lots next week. Officials say the unique model combines EV technologies developed by Mitsubishi with proven four-wheel drive technology and expertise gleaned from decades of building utility vehicles. The resulting model will give owners the environmental friendliness of an electric vehicle, the confidence of a 4x4, and the practicality of a sport ute.

At Outlaner PHEV's core is a two-motor drive system, which features a high-capacity battery delivering up to 1,500 watts of juice. That juice can be sourced from a plug, or the PHEV's unique Battery Charge Mode, which uses the gas engine to charge the batteries while stationary or on the go.

All-electric operation is possible in everyday use, while the gas engine provides extended range and propulsion for highway driving—making Outlander PHEV a real-world friendly, partially-electric machine. On electric power alone, Mitsubishi promises a cruising range of about 60 kilometres. Voyages exceeding the electric-only range are facilitated by the gas engine, extending overall range to around 900 kilometres. A sophisticated computer system constantly optimizes power usage, and regenerative braking captures waste energy for recharging of the battery. At high speeds, the gas engine does most of the work, but recharges the batteries in the process.

That gas engine is a variant of the 4B11—namely, a two-litre unit equipped with a slick MIVEC variable valve timing system for maximum efficiency. In effect, this system actively regulates engine breathing requirements to turn in optimal fuel efficiency in all situations while it's running.

All said, drivers travelling less than 60 kilometres before recharging can expect to use virtually no fuel—and those planning longer voyages can set out without range anxiety. Oh, and if your Outlander PHEV's battery is full when you get to your destination, the Japanese press release says you can even use the stored electricity to “power appliances”.

The Outlander PHEV's twin-motor drive system is a natural fit with Mitsubishi's S-AWC technology, mainly because of the electric motor's ability to generate instant torque output. The result, say Mitsubishi officials, is acceleration comparable to a high-displacement gas engine alongside superior environmental performance.

Additionally, using two motors (one at each axle) to propel the four-wheel drive system, Mitsubishi says the PHEV Twin Motor 4WD system delivers better response and finer control than standard four-wheel drive, alongside reduced gas-sucking friction. The system even offers a ‘LOCK' mode, which drivers can select ahead of driving over slippery terrain for more sure-footed traction.

The Outlander PHEV can be charged in 4 hours on a 200-volt AC plug, while an optional factory quick-charging device can bring an empty battery back up to 80 percent in about half an hour.

Of course, the latest safety, connectivity and driver-assist systems will be on board, too. Keep your eyes on Mitsubishi for more details.

Photo: Mitsubishi