Auto News 5

News 23 Jan, 2013

Nissan has reduced the price of its Leaf EV by £2,500, which means it's now available from £23,490

Automotive metal processor, Kemmerich USA, is to establish a manufacturing operation and its American headquarters in Calloway County, Kentucky, creating120 new, full-time jobs in a US$12.2m investment.

China's car warranty regulation will become effective on 1 October, after eight years in the making. The rule will support customers' rights to return defective vehicles and seek a refund or replacement.

Recticel Automobilsysteme is to restructure in Germany with the loss of around 150 jobs following the news it had not been successful in securing interior component production for the Mercedes C-Class model.

German trade union IG Metall said it will not accept demands by General Motors to freeze wages for workers at its money-losing Opel division in Germany.

The anonymous Japanese collector was upset. The rare BMW Kompressor Rennsport, the finest pre-/postwar machine that he had listed, wasn't going for what he wanted. Five hundred thousand dollars he wanted.

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen plans to launch hybrid cars partially powered by compressed air by 2016. The carmaker says the so-called "Hybrid Air" system developed with supplier Robert Bosch will be lighter than a hybrid running on gasoline and battery power.

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen plans to launch hybrid cars partially powered by compressed air by 2016. GM will likely use the technology as part of its alliance agreement with PSA, a spokesman said.

Toyota is nearing a final agreement to license its fuel-cell vehicle technology to BMW, the Nikkei reported.

Porsche is counting on emulating the success of its Cayenne SUV in China when it launches the smaller Macan in the market next year as part of expansion plans aimed at making China the carmaker's No. 1 market.

The 2013 Ford Fusion mid-sized sedan won praise for its handling and sportiness from Consumer Reports, but the magazine's automotive experts faulted the car for poor fit and finish and fuel economy that falls well short of claims on the...

Lotus has set the date for the launch of its new Formula 1 car to be driven by Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean this season.

Lotus F1's E21 will be the first 2013 Formula 1 contender to be exposed to the world with an online reveal on Monday January 28.

Streaming live from the team's base in Enstone, Oxfordshire, UKthe launch will be broadcast on the team's YouTube channel from 19:15 (GMT) / 20:15 (CET).

The event will also be showcased live on Sky Sports News HD in the UK, including exclusive interviews and additional content.

Adapted from GMM

Toto Wolff says he hopes Ross Brawn will stay at Mercedes, meanwhile the situation at Williams remains unclear.

With Wolff buying 30 per cent of the German team and becoming executive director, it is strongly rumoured that he has wooed McLaren's Paddy Lowe to join him.

That would appear a direct undermining of team principal and technical expert Brawn's position, with Daily Express journalist Bob McKenzie reporting that the 58-year-old is therefore "close to quitting".

Rumor? Could Paddy Lowe quit McLaren for Mercedes? (Photo: McLaren)

Toto Wolff said: "It's all speculation. Ross is here as part of the leading team and I hope he is going to stay."

Pressed, he added: "I have had conversations with Ross and I admire what Ross has done but I need to understand the structure."

McLaren has declined to comment, but if he does leave, 51-year-old Lowe would almost certainly have to serve some 'gardening leave'. Like Brawn, the position of Mercedes' Nick Fry is reportedly also in serious doubt.

Toto Wolff insisted: "There are many intelligent people there (at Brackley) and I'd like to meet them, speak to them and analyse and then make my conclusions. There is an organisation in place and I'd like to work with it."

Williams

As Toto Wolff gets down to work at Mercedes, the situation at Williams remains unclear.

When the Austrian's team switch was announced, Williams made clear that Wolff "will retain his shareholding". It is believed the 41-year-old's Williams stake is worth up to EUR 40 million.

Sources have said Wolff owning shares in competing F1 teams - he has bought 30 per cent of Brackley based Mercedes - is legitimate, but it remains to be seen if the situation will change.

"For the moment I'm going to keep those (Williams) shares," he said on Tuesday. "I have a responsibility as a shareholder. I can't let everybody else down. I'm going to look at the situation in the next couple of weeks or months. I am working 100 per cent for Mercedes, as a director of Mercedes and trying to be successful with Mercedes. But I've had a long interest in Williams and you can't kill an emotion just by resigning from a directorship."

Manager of Valtteri Bottas, shareholder at Williams and Mercedes, Executive Director at Mercedes, Toto Wolff accumulates the responsibilities. (Photo: WRi2)

It is rumoured there could be a silver lining for Williams, with suggestions Wolff's new Mercedes link could deliver a change of customer engine supplier for the currently Renault-powered Grove team.

"No discussions have been held," Wolff said.

DTM

As for Wolff's new role, he said he will be mainly devoted to F1, attending all the grands prix and the major events on the DTM calendar.

Among his first duties will be keeping tabs on injured F1 driver Robert Kubica's test this week in a Mercedes DTM car.

But Toto Wolff played down the prospect of a return to formula one for the Pole in the short term, "If the DTM test goes well and we see that he is doing well in a proper race car with downforce, I think there are still some physical constraints to drive a monocoque chassis with his elbow and arm. I think we all would love to see Robert doing well in a formula one car in the future but that is definitely too early at this stage."

From GMM

Rumours Red Bull team boss Christian Horner recently visited Maranello emerged on Wednesday.

The German website motorsport-total.com reported leaks about the Briton's secret Ferrari visit have been made to the Italian media.

The report said Horner met with Ferrari's head of human resources, Mario Mairano, probably last month.

"The thought is that this is an attempt to indirectly gain access to the services of star designer Adrian Newey," wrote journalist Christian Nimmervoll.

It is believed Horner and Newey always sign and renew their Red Bull contracts together.

Horner, understood to have a Red Bull contract until at least 2014, has also been previously linked to Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali's job.

The main entrance to Ferrari's offices in Maranello. (Photo: René Fagnan)

IZOD IndyCar Series officials have now formalized event procedures for the debuts of double-headers to be held at Belle Isle, Toronto and Houston in 2013 and standing starts will be part of the action.

Qualifications for the first race of the double-header will take place on the Friday and follow the format of three rounds of eliminations, culminating in the Firestone Fast Six.

The first segment has been reduced from 15 minutes to 10 minutes to match subsequent segments.

Photo: IndyCar

Contrary to 2012, tire usage during the three segments of all road/street qualifying will be determined by the entrant; allowing teams the choice of saving a new set of tires for the race or use during qualifying.

Qualifications for the second race will be held on Saturday morning and will consist of a 30-minute session for all cars, with the starting order set by lap time.

Standing starts will be implemented for Race 1 at both Toronto in July and Houston in October. Race 2 at the venues will feature a traditional North American rolling start following a few pace laps.

Both races at each of the three double-header venues will be full distance with equal points. Pit location for both races of a double-header will be determined by the entrant's qualifications result at the previous race event. Qualifications for Race 2 will determine pit location for the next event.

Pirelli will continue to work with the same two development drivers as last year.

The Italian tire manufacturer will rely again on Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari and Brazilian Lucas di Grassi to continue the development of the Formula 1 tires this season.

Released by Sauber, Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi was tipped to play this role but Pirelli's motorsport director, Paul Hembery said in Milan that that there would be no change in personnel for 2013.

Hembery added that the company needed to agree with Bernie Ecclestone on a new F1 contract before there was any point in continuing the development program.

Jaime Alguersuari, Renault R30. (Photo: Pirelli)

The Briton also said that there was no point to look for a more up-to-date car to replace its 2010-spec Renault, especially as the shape of F1 would be changing in a year's time with the introduction of the turbo engines.

Marco Tronchetti, Pirelli chairman confirmed that the Italian company was open to pursuing a new contract to be the official supplier to F1, claiming that the teams appeared to be happy with the tires it was supplying, especially after Pirelli responded to calls to make the tires less predictable and the racing more exciting.

Mitsubishi Canada hosted the North American premiere of an all-new subcompact car at the 2013 Montreal Auto Show. This five-door hatchback will go on sale this fall under a name that has yet to be announced. In other parts of the globe, it's already known as the ''Mirage.''

Despite a low price of about $13,000, buyers should expect a fair amount of standard features and amenities. And that great value will be complemented with exceptional fuel economy courtesy of a 1.2L three-cylinder engine rated at 74 horsepower.

Standing out from the pack
The production model is based on Mitsubishi's Global Small concept unveiled a year ago. In a market segment highlighted by the Chevrolet Spark, Fiat 500, and Scion iQ, it will prove more affordable, more fuel-efficient and more spacious, with actual seating for five, the company promises.

Naturally, the Thai-built subcompact from Mitsubishi is aimed at younger drivers, which is why the show car in Montreal sported a bright Green Metallic body. The sleek roofline curves gently down toward the rear spoiler, thus improving aerodynamics.

Meanwhile, the clean-looking cabin seems to convey a sense of purpose. Obviously, you won't find many bells and whistles, here, but quality is there. As for the cargo area, it can swallow a reasonable amount of luggage.

Look for the new Mitsubishi to hit squarely on all five key purchase considerations of subcompact car buyers (according to brand research): fuel economy, value for money, price, exterior styling, and reliability.

Speaking of which, let's not forget Mitsubishi's impressive coverage, including an industry-best 10-year/160,000-km limited powertrain warranty. The Japanese automaker clearly puts a lot of faith in its vehicles.

Why Montreal?
The province of Quebec represents 40% of all Mitsubishi sales in Canada, and has a comprehensive network of 34 dealers. Only 50 additional showrooms can be found in the rest of the country.

Describing the new subcompact as their ''latest ultra-efficient vehicle,'' Quebec sales manager Patrick Renaud said: ''Fuel efficiency is our global focus, our company mission.'' He also noted that the Mitsubishi RVR crossover achieves a class-leading 6.1L/100km.

Mitsubishi expects the final fuel economy ratings to be among the best for gasoline-powered cars in Canada.

From GMM

Talented drivers are proving the victims of a financial crisis in formula one, according to media reports.

Major newspapers like Germany's Bild, and specialist outlets including Auto Motor und Sport, say the sport is "sick".

"Only the top four - Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes - are having no problems," said Bild.

Auto Motor und Sport added: "We have to worry about formula one. HRT has gone. Caterham and Marussia can only survive with pay-drivers. Drivers like Timo Glock and Heikki Kovalainen are losing their jobs. The sport must be wondering how it will survive in the long term."

And veteran Swiss correspondent Roger Benoit wrote on Tuesday: "If the 11 teams had to pay all their debts by the end of February, only ten cars would race in Melbourne."

Photo: WRi2

The latest victim of the 'crisis' is German Glock, who is now looking to rescue his career with BMW in the DTM series, after Marussia ended his 'valid contract' as it seeks a driver with a dowry.

"That's the way of F1 at the moment," the 30-year-old wrote on Twitter. "I hope it will change again soon because like this it has nothing to do with sport."

Of the growing power of 'pay drivers', Felipe Massa said on Tuesday: "Honestly, this is not a great thing for formula one".

The solution, according to Sauber's Monisha Kaltenborn, is to cut costs drastically and urgently.

"If it doesn't happen soon," she is quoted by Switzerland's Blick, "then this sport will be in very dangerous times."

This past Sunday, CBS aired a segment on its Sunday Morning Show all about the Corvette, highlighting the launch of the 2014 Stingray. 

The comprehensive piece takes the viewer from the birth of the iconic American sports car through its many designs.

It includes Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, taking a spin with correspondent Lee Cowan.

“The Corvette was just the ultimate car,” Hendrick tells Cowan. “I mean, it was -- you had the styling, the power, all the girls liked them.”

Photo: General Motors

Hendrick has one of the largest private Corvette collections in the world, with nearly 150 in his stable. He said he met his wife, Linda, while driving a Stingray. 


“She rode with me in that first Corvette, on our first date, and it broke down,” Hendrick recalls. “She wasn't very impressed.”

That collection is housed in Hendrick's Heritage Center which is not yet open to the public.

Here's a link to that segment called “Corvette: An American Classic Renewed”

Several big names of motorsport, including Jacques Villeneuve and Sebastien Loeb, are expected to compete in the 2-litre Supertouring race to be held at the Grand Prix of Pau in May.

Villeneuve, who competes in selected events (he runs in the Andros Trophy ice racing series this winter), will drive a Silhouette car in the new series created by Jean-Philippe Dayraut. It will be a first experience in this type of car for Villeneuve.

Photo: Grand Prix de Pau

Sebastien Loeb will also be competing. The Frenchman -- the nine-time World Rally Champion -- is progressively moving to road racing. Last year, he won both French Porsche Carrera Cup races staged in the streets of Pau.

Both Villeneuve and Loeb could be joined by three-time World Touring Car Champion Yvan Muller. Muller, who still has to finalize a racing program after Chevrolet's withdrawal from the WTCC, could enter the 2-litre Supertouring race in Pau if he's not forced to contest the Austrian round of the WTCC held that same weekend, May 18-19.