Auto News 5

PSA will continue negotiating job cuts with unions despite a court ruling that ordered a temporary suspension of restructuring until the group completes worker consultations at two sites belonging to parts division Faurecia.

French unions are starting to ratchet up the industrial relations temperature, partially destroying the entrance to Renault's Flins factory and ahead of today's crunch meeting between both France's major automakers and their labour bodies in Paris.

Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen, a 50-50 joint venture between PSA and Dongfeng in China, expects to increase sales 14 percent this year to 500,000 units as the company's third assembly plant launches production.

General Motors has announced a US$600m spend at its Fairfax, Kansas, assembly and stamping plant to build a new 450,000 sq ft paint shop, install a new stamping press and other upgrades.

Toyota sold 1,537,371 new passenger cars in Japan in 2012, up 42.4% year on year. Total sales rose 40.9% to 1,692,228.

On his 1995 album, Ball-Hog or Tugboat?, punk-rock journeyman Mike Watt enlisted Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder to

Enthusiasts may most remember the reveal of the twin turbo Toyota Supra at the 1993 Chicago Auto Show.

TPCA, the Czech car assembly plant jointly owned by Toyota and PSA said production fell by a fifth to 215,000 vehicles in 2012 due to weak European demand.

The EU needs a leap in the number of electric and hybrid cars on the road over the next decade to succeed in cutting auto carbon emissions significantly by 2025, a British consulting firm found.

Fiat is said to plan the introduction of the first Alfa Romeo SUV in an effort to help transform the brand into a global luxury marque to challenge Audi and meet a target of tripling sales by 2016 to 300,000.

Audi sales chief Luca de Meo has reshuffled top executives in the three regions where the brand has its biggest unit sales.

Here is a selection of photos of the Lotus E21 Formula 1 launched yesterday, Monday at the team base in Enstone, UK.

The E21 is powered by a Renault Sport RS27-2013, 2.4 litre V8 engine.

Photo: Lotus F1 Team

Chassis
Moulded carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque, manufactured by Lotus F1 Team and designed for maximum strength with minimum weight. RS27-2012 V8 engine installed as a fully-stressed member.

Front Suspension
Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones operate an inboard rocker via a pushrod system. This is connected to a torsion bar and damper units which are mounted inside the front of the monocoque. Aluminium uprights and OZ machined magnesium wheels.

Rear Suspension
Carbon fibre top and bottom wishbones with pull rod operated torsion springs and transverse-mounted damper units mounted in the top of the gearbox casing. Aluminium uprights and OZ machined magnesium wheels.

Photo: Lotus F1 Team

Transmission
Seven-speed semi-automatic titanium gearbox with reverse gear. “Quickshift” system in operation to maximise speed of gearshifts.

Fuel System
Kevlar-reinforced rubber fuel cell by ATL.

Cooling System
Separate oil and water radiators located in the car's sidepods and cooled using airflow from the car's forward motion.

Photo: Lotus F1 Team

Electrical
MES-Microsoft Standard Electronic Control Unit.

Braking System
Carbon discs and pads. Calipers by AP Racing. Master cylinders by AP racing and Brembo.

Cockpit
Removable driver's seat made of anatomically formed carbon composite, with six-point or eight-point harness seat belt. Steering wheel integrates gear change, clutch paddles, and rear wing adjuster.

Photo: Lotus F1 Team

KERS
Motor generator unit driving into front of engine with batteries as an energy store. Motor Generator supplied by Renault Sport F1. Electronic control unit by Magneti-Marelli.

Dimensions:
Front Track: 1450 mm
Rear Track: 1400 mm
Overall Length: 5088 mm
Overall Height: 950 mm
Overall Width: 1800 mm
Overall Weight: 642kg, with driver, cameras and ballast

Photo: Lotus F1 Team

Photo: Lotus F1 Team

From GMM

Robin Frijns has admitted he is disappointed with his schedule for 2013.

The new Formula Renault 3.5 champion, 21-year-old Frijns was signed up for this year by the Swiss team Sauber, replacing 2012 reserve Esteban Gutierrez.

Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn said late last year: "We will now carefully guide him to formula one."

But the Dutch magazine Formule1 reports that Frijns was disappointed ten days ago when Sauber called to inform the young Dutchman that his services will not be required for the forthcoming winter test period.

"I think this year I will not have much to do. On January 30 I am going to the factory and I hope I will get more clarity," he is quoted as saying.

"It's not only the winter tests I will not be doing, it also looks unlikely I will be used during the Friday practice sessions," he lamented.

Robin Frijns continued: "And Sauber has no simulator so I can't gain experience in that way."

Robin Frijns driving the Sauber C32 in Abu Dhabi. (Photo: WRi2)

Moreover, Frijns revealed he had "heard nothing" from Mercedes following his DTM test late last year.

"I have few other possibilities," he said. "I fear it is going to be a difficult year."

A Sauber spokesman commented: "Robin will get the opportunity to be present at the technical meetings, to engage with the engineers, and participate in our fitness programmes. It will provide a good basis for the future."

I was tempted to make this the shortest review I've ever written by simply saying: There is very little wrong with the 2013 Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDI to the point where my husband and I agreed that; yes, this would be our next car.

End of story.

Seems my boss wasn't too pleased with that idea, so I'll stretch it out a little.

If I'm willing to give a car a permanent spot in my driveway (and in the real world, not the fantasty world of Miranda-has-so-much-money-she-doesn't-know-what-to-do-with-it-except-buy-lots-of-crazy-cars), I think that says a great deal about the car.


With a starting price just over the $30k mark, the 2013 Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDI (in Highline trim) is no econobox car, but that's fine because it's not meant to be. This is a solid piece of kit that's both practical and a blast to drive.

You'll make excuses to go for a drive as often as possible if you hand over a coveted spot in your driveway for this V-dub.

Bangin' wagon
There's something alluring about a station wagon, especially the 2013 Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDI. It's not aggressive or intimidating in any way, shape or form, but it's purposeful. It has a look about it that says, “Yup, I'll get that done. Don't you worry.” And I adore that. Smooth edges and simple lines ensure the VW Golf Wagon maintains a straightforward, classic look from nose to elongated tail.

In Highline trim, the 2013 VW Golf Wagon TDI sports 17” alloy wheels and stylishly functional fogs. In Candy White paint, I particularly like the look of the black roof rails and chrome-accented black front grille as they give the vehicle a black-tie appeal.

Despite all the sophistication, the 2013 Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDI isn't without a bit of personality with slightly angled headlights that give the wagon an “I dare you” look that lets you know this family-hauler means business.

It has a look about it that says, “Yup, I'll get that done. Don't you worry.” (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

High-class Highline
In Highline trim, the 2013 VW Golf Wagon TDI is decked out in leather duds with all the fixings. Comfortable seats, ideal for long road trips, are housed up front and in the back. I particularly like the feel and look of the steering wheel in this Volks; it's just fat enough to be comfy with the right amount of buttons in just the right places. Driving position is comfortable and visibility is great all around.

As for onboard entertainment, I've never been a big fan of Volkswagen's touchscreen setup, it can be laggy and not so user-friendly at times. However, the simple layout of the middle console and driver instrument cluster is a welcome change to the now-norm of multiple LCD screens, graphics, colours and hooplah. It might seem plain to some, but sometimes keeping a low profile is better.

Driving position is comfortable and visibility is great all around. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

DSG, yes please
I've left this till the very end because I'm afraid I'm going to gush so much over the engine and transmission that you'll think VW has bought me out. Trust me, they haven't. It's just that good.

Decked out with a 2.0L 4-cylinder, turbocharged fuel sipping engine, the 2013 Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDI is good for 140 horses and 236 lb-ft of glorious diesel-driven toque. And that really is the heart of the driving matter with it comes to TDI: all that torque. It's so much get-up-and-go that you'll want to get up and go as often as possible - and you won't suffer at the pumps for all that driving pleasure.

Over the course of the week I drove approximately 800km, after 700 I still had a little over 1/4 tank left. I was not driving conservatively, nor was I trying to bring my gas mileage down. My average over the week hovered in the 6.9L/100km range.

Add to all that fantastic turboed dieselness Volkswagen's sequential automatic 6-speed DSG transmission and I'm going to have to stop for a moment to find a few more adjectives. Shifts happen so quickly and so flawlessly with the DSG dual-clutch ‘box, that it truly is worth the extra $1,400.

Driving dynamics in the 2013 Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDI offer a somewhat sporty feel, despite the large rear it sports. Steering is precise and connected, and even with FWD the Golf felt stable and planted on the road even in cold and snowy conditions.

Decked out with a 2.0L 4-cylinder, turbocharged fuel sipping engine, the 2013 Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDI is good for 140 horses and 236 lb-ft of glorious diesel-driven toque. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

All the room you need
Of course, this is a review about a wagon, so I have to talk a bit about the cargo space, of which there is plenty. With a baby seat installed behind the front passenger seat, there was still plenty of room. And the trunk (which offers 930 litres) easily swallowed up a stroller, plus bags packed for a weekend with the grandparents.

This 2013 Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDI review was originally published on Auto-Venus.com.

From GMM

Jacques Villeneuve will be back at the grands prix in 2013.

Reporting from a launch event at Monza, the Italian press said the 1997 world champion has signed up with Sky Italia to commentate during live broadcasts at all races this season.

Joining him will be Ferrari test driver Marc Gene, who switches over from Antena 3's Spanish coverage.

French Canadian Villeneuve, 41, is quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport: "Watching the races on TV, sometimes I would get angry about what others are saying."

"Now maybe someone will get angry at me," laughed the outspoken former Williams, Honda and BMW driver.

11-time grand prix winner Villeneuve's late father, Gilles, is among the most revered Ferrari drivers of all time.

Jacques Villeneuve spent his last season in F1 with BMW, in 2006.

Some are calling it the “Chinese Chevy Volt.” GAC calls it the E-JET concept. So what is it exactly, and who is GAC?

Guangzhou Automobile Company (GAC) started out as an automotive components manufacturer and is currently the sixth-largest car manufacturer by volume in China.

Photo: Nauman Farooq

They currently produce sedans and SUVs which, on some models, feature platforms taken from Alfa Romeo and Mitsubishi. GAC also has ties with Toyota, Honda, Hino, and at the 2013 North American International Auto Show, announced that it has signed a deal with Fiat SpA (parent company of Chrysler Group LLC) to produce Jeep models for the Chinese market.

However, GAC came to the show with more than just news about their corporate connections. They also wanted to show a new car called the E-JET.

This attractive plug-in hybrid features a permanent magnet electric motor which has a peak output of 95 kW. Coupled with its 13 kWh lithium-ion battery back, this vehicle has a range of over 100 km on a full charge.

When you run out of battery power, a 1.0L, inline 4-cylinder engine will spin a 30 kW generator to take you the rest of the way home. So, it's designed to very much be a range-extended electric vehicle.

According to GAC, the E-JET will hopefully qualify for a fuel consumption rating of just 1.9L/100km, which is much better than a conventional hybrid.

While not a sports sedan, GAC claims the E-JET can sprint from 0-50 km/h in 4.5 seconds, and has a top speed of 160 km/h.

One of the nemeses of gas-electric vehicles has been weight, because they have to carry components for both drivetrains. However, GAC has used lightweight materials where possible (aluminum body panels, lithium-ion battery) to keep the weight down. Hence, at 1,550 kg, the E-JET is 175 kg lighter than the Volt. However, the E-JET shown in Detroit is just in its concept stage, so specifications might vary if and when it hits the production line.

The car on display at COBO Hall is a very early prototype, hence the company officials didn't want to open the doors for shots of the interior saying: “It's not finished.”

Speaking of doors, it does have rear-hinged back doors, very much like a Rolls Royce Phantom. Will these features make it to the production model? Dr. Xiangdong Huang, GAC Group Vice President of Research and Development did mention that the production car will look quite different from this concept, but did not elaborate any further.

GAC is hoping that the production E-JET will hit the market in China this fall.

Considering this company already has a four-wheel drive, hybrid sedan called the Trumpchi 4X4 Hybrid, and a fully electric SUV called the BEV Trumpchi GS5 which has a 160-km range, GAC seems well on its way to becoming a leader in electric and hybrid vehicles in its homeland.

As for when GAC will start selling its vehicles in North America? Huang said, “Hopefully (by) 2015... but we are not sure.”

Photo: Nauman Farooq

Last week while some 200 plus accredited journalists looked on the Ford Fusion NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers took a lap in Charlotte North Carolina.

The area, which is known as Uptown, is what most drivers called "downtown." This may have been the first opportunity for race fans to get an up close and long look at what has been termed the Gen 6 Sprint Cup car.

Of course these cars were show cars but they are pretty much reasonable facsimiles of the real deal, except perhaps, the one with two seats in front.

Here's a video of that demonstration run.

On the real world front there is a Goodyear tire test scheduled for Darlington SC on Tuesday February 5th.

Crap. A pair of snowplows. And just when I was starting to enjoy driving the week's Audi RS5 tester in a blizzard.

Now, instead of smugly leading a pack of traffic while slush and ice pass beneath the foot-wide winter tires, I was doomed to spend God-knows-how-long going about 7 km/h in a mile-long train of salty impatience.

Crap, crap, crap.

Forced to sit back, relax and get peppered with winter road slop, I discovered a few different ways that an RS5 driver might enjoy their machine when the 450 horsepower, 8,500 revs and Quattro-derived traction would, mostly, go to waste until the plows pulled off for a coffee break.

Photo: Justin Pritchard

Make people point at the spoiler: The RS5 has a rear-fin spoiler that self-deploys when you exceed about 120 km/h. There's also a button to make it pop up and down any time you like. Click it repeatedly, and you can make it wave at the passengers in the car behind you. Most will point with a concerned look on their face, wondering what the heck is going on. Some will wave back.

Play music with the paddle shifters: The RS5 has a 7-speed transmission that shifts in a blink, making the rich and meaty exhaust note change pitch up and down faster than Niki Minaj's auto-tune machine. Holding your speed steady, click away on the paddles a few times to get the revs twitching up and down, complete with blurping, gurgly noises in between. With enough practice, you can play a song from the RS5's tailpipes for your fellow motorists.

Have a tiff with the Voice Command lady: Press the button and ask the voice that responds for something absurd, like a cheeseburger. When the pretty female voice advises you that she can't process your request, press the button again, and ask for driving directions to New Zealand. Continue asking for unreasonable things until the system ignores you. Toss in a few random insults for fun.

Rediscover your favourite music: The Audi RS5's Bang & Olufsen stereo system doesn't have 1.21 Jigawatts and a trunkful of subwoofers, but it is vibrant, clear and extremely crisp. You'll hear details in music you've never heard before -- especially if played back from a CD or DVD. And, chances are, you'll run out of eardrum before this stereo runs out of horsepower. Clapton, Rise Against, Mumford & Sons and All That Remains all sounded fantastic. Incidentally, Clapton is some damn fine music for driving in a snowstorm.

Learn a new language: Set the infotainment system to Spanish, German or Japanese in the settings menu. Then, try your hand at navigating through the various controls for the stereo, Bluetooth, navigation system or Audi Drive Select configurator. Played with enough, one can learn how handy words like “Satellite Radio,” “Destination,” “Phone Directory” and “Streaming Audio” look in an unfamiliar language.

From GMM

Lotus' technical boss thinks many teams will continue to use 'step' noses in 2013.

The first 2013 car to be unveiled on Monday, Enstone based Lotus' E21 still features the indecorous 'step' synonymous with last year's grid, despite the FIA now allowing teams to please the fans by installing a so-called 'modesty' laminate.

It is believed that Williams and Ferrari will indeed race cars with smooth noses in 2013.

But Lotus' James Allison thinks the majority of the field will continue to feature questionable aesthetics.

"I would not be surprised if the majority of the grid chose not to make use of it (the modesty panel)," said the technical director.

"The panel will add a few grams of weight and so is only likely to run on the car if a team can find a performance benefit for doing so," added Allison.

The new Lotus E21, revealed during a Youtube launch on Monday evening, does however feature the Twitter hashtag #imsexyandiknowit on its livery.

James Allison admitted the car is a combination of redesigned parts and evolution.

The Lotus E21 and its drivers, Nicolas Prost, Davide Valsecchi, Kimi Raikkonen, Romain Grosjean and Jerome d'Ambrosio. (Photo: Lotus F1 Team)

Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean will race, while the new GP2 champion Davide Valsecchi has signed up as 'third driver'.

Italian Valsecchi, 26, said: "I hope this is the beginning of a career in F1."

Belgian Jerome d'Ambrosio, however, retains his role as 'reserve driver', while Frenchman Nicolas Prost - the son of the famous four-time world champion Alain - "will perform development driver duties", Lotus announced.

Renault Sport F1 is the division established by Renault to represent its interests in the FIA Formula One World Championship and is tasked with designing and building optimised engines that can be fully integrated into a chassis package by RSF1's carefully selected partner teams.

Photo: Renault

The current power plant, codenamed the RS27, is a 750bhp V8 engine with a capacity for 18,000rpm.

In 2013 identical units are supplied to four partner teams: Red Bull Racing, Lotus, Williams and Caterham.

Photo: Renault

SPECIFICATIONS RS27 ENGINE*
DESIGNATION: RS27-2012
CONFIGURATION: 2.4L V8
NO OF CYLINDERS: 8
NO OF VALVES: 32
DISPLACEMENT: 2400cc
WEIGHT: 95kg
V ANGLE: 90°
RPM: 18
FUEL: Total
OIL: Total
POWER OUTPUT: >750 bhp
SPARK PLUGS: Semi surface discharge
IGNITION SYSTEM: High energy inductive
PISTONS: Aluminium alloy
ENGINE BLOCK: Aluminium alloy
CRANKSHAFT: Nitrided alloy steel with tungsten alloy
counterweights
CONNECTING RODS: Titanium alloy
THROTTLE SYSTEM: 8 butterflies

Photo: Renault

ENGINE STATISTICS*

2,500
2,500 parts make up one RS27 engine.

95 kg
The vital statistics of the engine are partly determined by the regulations. For example, the engine's weight and centre of gravity must meet a minimum criterion. As a result the engine weighs 95kg, the equivalent to two small grown women, but this could be even less if given free rein !

Materials
Each engine piece is carefully crafted to be as light as possible whilst optimising the weight
distribution. Materials such as aluminium and titanium are used for their lightweight properties.

Photo: Renault

900° C
During a race, the exhausts of the RS27 will reach up to 900°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 to make the exhausts.

750 bhp
Each engine is capable of producing approximately 750bhp. Most road car engines produce between 120 and 180bhp, less than 25% of the RS27.

2 tons
The actual weight of a piston is only 250g but when the engine revs to its maximum limit of 18,000rpm this weight exerts a force of 2 tonnes on its connecting parts.

Photo: Renault

2.5 s
The RS27 can accelerate from
0 to 60kph in 1.6 seconds. It can do 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.5 seconds, 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 5.1 seconds and 0 to 300 km/h (186 mph) in 12.0 seconds dependant on aerodynamic setup and gearing.

220 litres
Over the course of an average race, the RS27 will consume approximately 220 litres of fuel.

3,000 km
Each race is a maximum of 300km, but each F1 engine is capable of running to around 3,000km, ten times a race distance. It's not a lot compared to an average road car user, who will run 16,000km per year, but the average road car engine does not rev to 18,000rpm!

Photo: Renault

20,000 hours
Renault Sport F1 has 10 test beds at its factory. Each dyno at Viry will run for 4.5 days a week, 12 hours a day. Even taking into account holidays and downtime that's equivalent to more than 20,000 hours dyno time per year!

* From Renault Sport F1