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News 22 Jan, 2013

Latest pictures of the new BMW 1 Series GT undergoing winter testing

MG is back on sale in New Zealand, where just under 77,000 new cars were sold last year, at three showrooms.

Air system solutions company for the commercial vehicle industry, Meritor Wabco, says it has been named the standard position steer axle service brake chamber supplier for all Daimler Trucks North America air brake vehicles.

Beijing's Public Transport Corporation (BPTC) has placed an order for ZF Friedrichshafen low-floor axles, with 2,200 buses to be equipped with the German supplier's technology and delivered to the Chinese capital this year.

News 22 Jan, 2013

Nissan 370Z Nismo gets an extra 16bhp, firmer suspension and bodykit

Russian car sales will likely rise by 5 percent in 2013 to around 2.9 million, PricewaterhouseCoopers said on Tuesday.

Europe may have long resisted the automatic gearbox but environmental and fuel efficiency legislation combined with major advances in electronics and manufacturing techniques have paved the way for a flood of new automated transmission technologies, including dual clutch transmissions (DCTs). In this interview, Matthew Beecham talked with Alexander Moser, Supervisor Advanced Product Engineering, Clutch Systems, BorgWarner about just how the DCT market is shaping-up.

Toyota will probably pick Takeshi Uchiyamada, who led the development of the Prius hybrid car in 1990s, to replace Fujio Cho as the company's next chairman, Nikkei reported, without citing sources.

Audi says it plans to double sales in the Middle East to at least 20,000 vehicles a year by 2020, as it predicts premium car deliveries in the region will grow 12 to 15 percent this year.

Daimler's Turkish unit expects stronger car and van sales this year despite forecasting that the market will remain stagnant.

Hatchbacks from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi grew so popular in Europe that the carmakers bet Chinese consumers would feel the same way. They didn't. Next stop: India.

BMW will offer a two-cylinder motorcycle engine and a generator to extend the range of its i3 electric car. Herbert Diess, BMW's head of randd, said the package will be offered as an option on the i3.

BMW Motorsport press release

Timo Glock will take to the track at the wheel of the BMW M3 DTM this week.

The German driver is in Valencia for BMW Motorsport's first DTM tests of the year, during which he will familiarise himself with the car and be put through his paces at the “Circuit de la Comunitat”.

“We are pleased to be able to offer Timo Glock the opportunity to get to know our BMW M3 DTM in Valencia,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “Timo has demonstrated his driving ability over many years, particularly in Formula One. It is made all the nicer by the fact that he is, to a certain degree, returning to his roots in testing for BMW Motorsport.”

Timo Glock. (Photo: BMW Motorsport)

“I have fond memories of my time with BMW Motorsport and am very excited about testing the BMW M3 DTM,” said Glock. “Furthermore, I am bound to see a few familiar faces in Valencia from my previous time with BMW. I am really looking forward to it.”

Glock acquired the necessary tools for his successful career in single-seater racing while competing in the Formula BMW series in 2000 and 2001. The German driver won the Formula BMW ADAC Championship in 2001. Three years later he made his first appearance in Formula One, when he made his debut for the Jordan team at the Canadian Grand Prix.

In 2007, Glock returned to the BMW Motorsport fold. Together with three-time Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel, Glock was a test driver for the BMW Sauber F1 Team. He also took the title in the GP2 Championship in the same year. Since 2008 he has lined up as a regular driver for various teams in Formula One, and currently has 91 races to his name.

There have been changes made in the total distances at four different venues on the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series schedule to prevent races with fuel saving strategies.

Those four events are; St. Petersburg, Long Beach, Milwaukee and Mid-Ohio. According to series' officials, the new distances better match traditional fuel windows at each circuit.

Changes are the followings:
• St. Petersburg: Increase of 10 laps to 110 (198 miles total)

• Long Beach: Decrease of five laps to 80 (157.4 miles)

• Milwaukee: Increase of 25 laps to 250 (250 miles)
• Mid-Ohio: Increase of five laps to 90 (203 miles)

Photo: IndyCar

DETROIT, Mi - It seemed an inauspicious setting for one of the most highly anticipated events of this year's Detroit Auto Show, but when you consider that the Corvette, General Motors and Detroit itself have risen, phoenix-like, from the brink of extinction it was perhaps very fitting indeed.

Shuttled through a decaying landscape into a deserted-looking industrial complex, we're herded like lemmings towards an entrance, spotlights casting the Corvette flags upon the crumbling walls.

Inside, the juxtaposition of slick, refurbished studio space within the cavernous old warehouse creates a dramatic atmosphere, the crowd thrumming with anticipation.

During the economic meltdown of 2009, GM was drawing what looked like its last breath. What better way to announce its current state of health than to resurrect one of the most hallowed names in sports car history?

Unlike the first 1963 Corvette which was cobbled together from the GM part's bin, the 2014 C7 (seventh generation) Corvette is a ground-up creation representing the pinnacle of GM technology.

VP of Global Design, Ed Wellburn, gushing, declared the C7 to be the best Corvette ever produced, and worthy of the Stingray name.

Visually, it's an arresting design. Sharp, sculpted edges, vents and inlets were all engineered with the goal of improved performance.

In a departure from its blue-collar, muscle-car past, the 2014 C7 Corvette has more than a touch of European exotic. The front end is stylish, yet aggressive -- the grille wears a futuristic snarl. LED headlamps add more visual flair, while the sharply carved rump, with its square taillights, is more than a little Camaro-esque.

Criticized in the past for its spartan, sub-par interiors, the 2014 C7 Corvette boasts sculpted leather racing-style seats, premium materials, a smaller sporty steering wheel and an 8” high-definition Chevy MyLink infotainment screen. Chief Engineer for the C7, Tadge Juechter, is confident that the new Corvette will compete with such luxury sports cars as the Audi R8 and Porsche 911, not only in terms of performance, but in quality as well.

The steel frame has given way to one of aluminum in the 2014 C7 Corvette. It's not only 57% stiffer, but it's also almost 100 lbs lighter. More lightweight carbon fibre panels, shorter overhangs and a removable roof contribute to a lighter car that boasts a perfect 50/50 front-to-back weight distribution.

Enthusiasts will appreciate that the small, racing style wheel connects to steering that's 50% stiffer than the outgoing Vette's. Underhood lies an all-new, 6.2L, direct-injection V8 with cylinder deactivation and variable valve timing. Under light load, the C7 can coast in 4-cylinder mode.

Claiming a estimated rating of 9.0L/100kms, the new 2014 C7 Corvette is the most fuel-efficient Vette ever -- while still boasting an output of 450 hp/450 lb-ft of torque.

While there's an available 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, most enthusiasts will opt for the 7-speed manual. Purists will decry its new rev-matching downshift technology, which virtually eliminates the need for heel 'n' toe, but weekend trackday participants will no doubt embrace its ability to make them look like heroes.

The new Stingray can sprint from 0-100km/hr in less than 4 seconds. The 8“ screen behind the steering wheel can display three different configurations: touring, sport and race. Touring mode focuses on navigation and fuel consumption; sport mode puts the tachometer front and centre; while race mode displays the revs in a bar graph along with G-force and lap times.

A new Drive Mode selector allows the driver to modify the 2014 C7 Corvette depending on the situation with five different modes: Touring for regular, everyday driving; Weather to optimize control in snow and rain; Eco to provide the best fuel efficiency; Sport for enthusiastic driving; and Track mode.

There are 12 different vehicle settings that control throttle response, launch control, traction control, transmission shift points (automatic), steering and damper settings (Z51 models only).

The 2014 Corvette Stingray should be available sometime in the third quarter of 2013, with Canadian pricing to come later.

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From GMM

McLaren could be set to lose its technical director.

Germany's Sport Bild is reporting that Paddy Lowe, who has been with the Woking based team for twenty years, is following Lewis Hamilton to Mercedes.

The report said executive director Toto Wolff wooed Briton Lowe, 50, for a switch to Williams, but Austrian Wolff has subsequently moved to Mercedes.

"This is big news," Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko is quoted as saying.

McLaren declined to comment, according to Britain's Daily Telegraph.

Sport Bild said the other major changes at Mercedes, including the rise of Niki Lauda and the departure of Norbert Haug, could indicate that Ross Brawn and Nick Fry are preparing to leave.

The most endangered, however, appears Fry, with Mercedes' media statement on Monday saying: "Together with Ross Brawn, Lauda and Wolff will complete the management" of the team.

According to Italy's Autosprint, Mercedes' F1 shares are now split between Daimler (60 per cent), Wolff (30pc) and Lauda (10pc).

As he visited Mercedes' Stuttgart facilities on Monday, Hamilton said he knew nothing about Lowe's reportedly imminent McLaren-to-Mercedes switch.

"This is the first time I've heard of it," he said.

Lewis Hamilton visited Mercedes-Benz in Germany on Monday. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz)

Meanwhile, Autosprint reported that Wolff's move from Williams to Mercedes could result in Williams being powered by a turbo Mercedes engine in 2014.

Wife Susie Wolff, however, is staying as a Williams test driver.

"Very happy for my husband," she wrote on Twitter. "We will be fighting him hard on track!"

Former Formula 1 driver, Robert Kubica completed a hundred laps behind the wheel of a Renault Megane in preparation to his DTM test with Mercedes later this week.

The Pole was badly injured in a rally crash in Italy at the beginning of the 2011 season.

Kubica, who seems to hesitate between resuming his career in rallying or in road racing, will be testing a Mercedes C-Coupe DTM in Valencia this Thursday, with the possibility to join the German squad for the 2013 DTM season.

Kubica prepared himself seriously for this test. He completed more than 100 laps of the short circuit of San Martino del Lago, in Italy behding the wheel of a team Oregon's Renault Megane Trophy car.

Renault Megane Trophy, team Oregon (Photo: Renault Sport)

Swiss driver, Sebastien Buemi will continue to act as test and reserve driver for the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team.

The team confirmed Tuesday morning that Buemi will continue his work for 2013.

The 24-year-old will continue to work alongside previously confirmed race drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.

Photo: WRi2

“I know everyone at Red Bull Racing well and it's good to remain with the team for another year,” said Sebastien Buemi in a team's press release.

“Of course my aim is to be driving at the races again, but I am still learning all the time from my work with the team. I help with the development of the car and provide feedback throughout the season, both at the factory and at races.”

“We're pleased that Sébastien has continued as test and reserve driver for the coming season,” said Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing team principal.

“He joined the Red Bull Junior Team in 2004, has worked with Red Bull Racing in 2008 and 2012 and has significant race experience. He is an integral member of the team and will complete important simulation work for us throughout the year,” Horner said.

From GMM

Toto Wolff on Tuesday played down speculation he has wooed Paddy Lowe to Mercedes to replace team boss Ross Brawn.

Speaking to British reporters, Mercedes' new executive director and 30 per cent shareholder admitted there was "a lot of speculation" about the plans of McLaren's technical director Lowe.

McLaren and Mercedes spokespeople were keeping quiet on Tuesday, but BBC commentator Eddie Jordan - who has broken several stories in recent years - was clear.

"Paddy Lowe is going to Mercedes and it would appear that Brawn and (Nick) Fry are on their way out, and Lowe will be there in a very senior capacity," he said.

Wolff, however, said suggestions today about the next moves for Brawn, Fry or Lowe would be "foolish".

"I've read it in the papers as you have, but there's nothing else I can tell you," he added.

Much like the 2014 Grand Cherokee and Patriot, the 2014 Jeep Compass will arrive in Canadian showrooms in the second quarter of 2013.

Equipped with a new six-speed PowerTech automatic transmission and either a 158-horsepower 2.0L engine or a 172-horsepower 2.4L unit, the 2014 Jeep Compass is said to offer exceptional ride and handling in all weather conditions, not to mention great fuel economy (6.6L/100km on the highway with the base engine).

''Jeep Compass provides consumers with a combination of fuel economy, safety, value - and, of course, Jeep capability - in the important compact SUV segment,'' said Mike Manley, President and CEO of Jeep. ''For the 2014 model year, Jeep Compass buyers will enjoy their driving experience even more, courtesy of an all-new six-speed transmission and a refined interior and exterior design.''

The 2014 Jeep Compass comes in three trim levels: Sport, North, and Limited. All are available with front-wheel drive, the Freedom Drive I full-time active 4x4 system, or the Freedom Drive II Off-road full-time active 4x4 system with low-range capability.

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