Auto News 5

Race team owner and car dealer Rick Hendrick bought the first 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, VIN 0001, at the Barrett-Jackson car auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Jan. 19.

With the 2013 RM, Bonhams, Gooding and Co., and Silver auctions in the bag, the record-breaking sales trend we saw earlier in the week seems to be holding strong.

EU politicians are sharply divided between those keen for ambitious green car standards they say are needed to keep up with U.S. goals and those trying to limit the regulatory impact on makers of big luxury cars.

Sébastien Loeb (Citroën) has won the World Rally Championship (WRC) season-opening Rally Monte-Carlo, which was shortened for safety reasons.

The nine-time world champion, who was leading by 1min40s over Sébastien Ogier (Volkswagen) before the last day, maintained his advantage to the end, which came sooner because the last two special stages were cancelled.

Evgeny Novikov, Ford Fiesta RS (Photo: McKlein Photography/WRC)

Organizers considered the excessively large amount of spectators a threat for safety, had a car gone off.

This last day of racing saw several drivers retiring. In the ESS14 “Moulinet-La Bollène Vésubie”, Evgeny Novikov (Ford), Jari-Matti Latvala (Volkswagen) and Juho Hanninen (Ford) all went off the road for good.

Juho Hanninen, Ford Fiesta RS (Photo: McKlein Photography/WRC)

In the end, Loeb took a seventh (and probably last) win in Monte-Carlo, 1min39s ahead of Sébastien Ogier. Dani Sordo (Citroën) completes the podium ahead of teammate Mikko Hirvonen.

Bryan Bouffier (Citroën) finished fifth because Mads Ostberg (Ford) lost several minutes after he went off the road in the very last stage he competed in. Bouffier also posted his first WRC stage win in ESS14.

Mikko Hirvonen, Citroën DS3 (Photo: McKlein Photography/WRC)

The results put Loeb in the championship lead after the first event of the season. But lets not forget the Frenchman will compete in only four or five rallies this season before leaving WRC for good.



Final classification:
1. Loeb / Elena (Citroën DS3 WRC) 5h18'57''2

2. Ogier / Ingrassia (VW Polo R WRC) +1'39''9

3. Sordo / Del Barrio (Citroën DS3 WRC) +3'49''0
4. Hirvonen / Lehtinen (Citroën DS3 WRC) +5'26''3
5. Bouffier / Panseri (Citroën DS3 WRC) +8'13''1
6. Ostberg / Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +12'03''7

Etc.

Championship:
1. Loeb 25 points, 2. Ogier 18, 3. Sordo 15, 4. Hirvonen 12, 5. Bouffier 10, etc.

Stéphane Peterhansel (MINI) secured his fifth win in the car category of the Dakar rally, 42 minutes ahead of Giniel de Villiers' Toyota, Saturday in Santiago du Chili, the final halt of the event.

This adds to be Peterhansel's 11th Dakar win, including his victories on two wheels.

The Frenchman dominated the 2013 race, despite early pressure from Carlos Sainz and Nasser Al Attiyah. Eventually, both buggy drivers were forced to retirement by mechanical issues.

Leonid Novitskiy takes third position driving a 4x4 MINI ahead of Juan Roma, who sacrificed his podium position to protect his teammate Stéphane Peterhansel in the last days.

The buggies of Guerlain Chicherit and Robby Gordon were fast during the two weeks of the race, but both lost hopes of a good result to mechanical and navigational issues.



Dakar - Final classification:
1. Peterhansel-Cottret (MINI) in 38h32'39''
2. De Villiers-Von Zitzewitz (Toyota) +42'22''
3. Novitskiy-Zhiltsov (MINI) +1h28'22''
4. Roma-Perin (MINI) +1h36'43''
5. Terranova-Fiuza (BMW) +1h49'10''
6. Sousa-Ramalho (Great Wall) +2h38'16''
7. Chabot-Pillot (buggy SMG) +3h18'05''
8. Chicherit-Garcin (buggy SMG) +3h27'44''
Etc.

History/Description: Sporty, practical and ready for Canadian life, the Nissan Altima was often considered a sportier alternative to models like the Honda Accord, Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fusion.

The last generation of this Japanese machine was available in sedan and coupe variations, packed 4- or 6-cylinder power and offered CVT or manual transmissions. Specifically, look for a 2.5L 4-cylinder engine as standard, with 175 horsepower or a 3.5L V6 with 270. All Nissan Altima variants were front-wheel drive.

Altima could be specified as a basic family sedan, a luxurious performance coupe, or just about anything in between thanks to feature content like a sunroof, Bluetooth, navigation, heated leather, push-button start, automatic climate control, and plenty more.

Altima could be specified as a basic family sedan, a luxurious performance coupe, or just about anything in between thanks to feature content. (Photo: Michel Deslauriers)

What Owners Like: Many Altima owners report plenty of space, a comfortable ride, plenty of at-hand interior storage, a quiet ride and even good fuel economy. Performance from the V6 engine is also highly rated, and a solid, confident handling dynamic is also reported.

What Owners Dislike: Blind spots, a large turning radius, sub-par performance from the up-level BOSE stereo system and some cheap interior trim are among the most common complaints.

Common Issues: Start your test drive of a used Altima by “feeling” for any unwelcomed sensations from the CVT transmission. It should deliver power smoothly, and on an uninterrupted surge when given the boot. Revs will often wind up and stay fairly steady. This is normal. Lurching, surging or sporadic power delivery is not.

If you're unfamiliar with the “feel” of a CVT transmission, ask a Nissan mechanic to give it a check-up ahead of your purchase. Or, opt for a model with the manual transmission to be safe.

A “brake” warning light on the dashboard could be caused by a common master-cylinder leak, which is a big deal because it can prevent your used Altima from being able to stop. Be sure this warning light isn't present, and that the brakes on the model you're considering perform strongly.

Your local Nissan mechanic will be familiar with the leaking master cylinder problem and able to diagnose it quickly.

Have tires and brake pads/rotors inspected for signs of wear, and have the underside of the Altima inspected for fluid leaks, which aren't common but could be evidence of a problem. Budget for a full fluid change if you're uncertain of the service history of the used Altima you're considering.

Opting for a high-end Altima model? Ensure its features, including automatic climate control, power seats and navigation work as expected. On any model, inspect the dashboard carefully for signs of cracking.

Have tires and brake pads/rotors inspected for signs of wear. (Photo: Michel Deslauriers)

The Verdict: Despite a few fairly concentrated issues, the last-generation Altima seems to be a fairly solid used-car bet, especially if it checks out with a mechanic ahead of your purchase. A manual-equipped 4-cylinder sedan will be the least expensive to run while delivering an appreciable blend of comfort, space and performance.

Volkswagen opened its 100th plant worldwide in Silao, Mexico on Wednesday. The facility is dedicated to TSI engine production and will have an annual capacity of 330,000 units.

Photo: Volkswagen

The German manufacturer is strengthening its presence in Mexico after investing in the Puebla (Jetta, Golf, Beetle and Beetle Convertible for all markets), Querétaro (commercial trucks) and San José Chiapa (Audi Q5 starting in 2016) assembly plants.

It's expected that 700 new jobs will be created in Silao, which will supply the North American vehicle plants in Puebla and Chattanooga, Tennessee with the latest generation of fuel-efficient TSI engines.

Photo: Volkswagen

Jean-Philippe Dayraut (MINI) made another step toward his fourth title in Trophée Andros, winning both rounds presented in Lans-en-Vercors this weekend.

The championship leader dominated the field from start to finish. He first won in the qualifying heats of Saturday, then in his Elite Sup finale, therefore ending day one in first position overall. Andrea and Jean-Baptiste Dubourg were happy to join him on the podium, both driving a Renault Clio III.

Jean-Philippe Dayraut in action (Photo: Trophée Andros)

The second day yielded the same results. Again, Dayraut was quickest in the qualifying rounds, and won his Elite Sup finale, which granted him another victory on Sunday, this time ahead of Olivier Panis (Dacia Lodgy) and Jean-Baptiste Rivière (Citroën DS3).

Dayraut extends his lead in provisional championship classification, as Rivière retains his second position ahead of Olivier Panis.

2010 24 Hours of Le Mans-winner Romain Dumas was replacing Jacques Villeneuve aboard the team speedaventure.com's Citroën DS3. The Canadian was at the side of his newly born baby.

BMW Group Canada and the Canadian Olympic Team have signed a four-year partnership which will run until the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The news was announced as both Winter and Summer athletes took part in simultaneous events in Montreal and Toronto.

''We are delighted to welcome this amazing corporation as an official National Partner of the Canadian Olympic Team and look forward to driving together toward an even more exciting future for our Canadian athletes,'' said Marcel Aubut, president of the Canadian Olympic Committee.

Photo: BMW

Roseline Filion, a bronze medallist at the 2012 London Olympic Games, expressed how ''it's a tremendous feeling to know that, once again, we're seeing increased support for the amazing work athletes and coaches are doing 365 days a year.''

In addition to supporting the Canadian Olympic Team, BMW Group Canada will sponsor two national sport federations that have yet to be named.

The Alfa Romeo brand will re-enter the U.S. market late this year with its 4C sports car, Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said Friday. Increasing Alfa's sales is a cornerstone of Marchionne's plan to cut losses at Fiat in Europe by 2015.

The Arizona collector car auctions are in full swing, and we've seen some big sales already. Join Hagerty classic car experts Rob Sass and Dave Kinney and Andy Reid of

Jaguar Land Rover has roared to health in the four years since it was bought by India's Tata Motors, but now comes the hard part for the luxury British automaker: proving it can build new models without former owner Ford.

Automakers plan to introduce 61 new or redesigned models in the United States this year, 50 percent more than any year since 2006. While the resurgence gives consumers more choices, suppliers could be hard-pressed to keep up.

The recovering U.S. economy has brought conspicuous consumers out of hiding in the world's biggest supercar market.

Jaguar Land Rover has roared to health in the four years since it was bought by India's Tata Motors, but now comes the hard part for the luxury British automaker: proving it can build new models without former owner Ford.

A new study of the global auto industry's patent activity by Thomson Reuters reveals a 182% increase in patents related to alternative power and technologies since 2006.

A total of 14,977 unique inventions have been patented in the last year studied alone (2011). Overall, Toyota led the way during the five-year period with 1,901 patents, followed by Honda (587), Denso, General Motors, and Panasonic (maker of Toyota Prius batteries).

"With stringent new fuel economy standards introduced in the U.S. that require global auto manufacturers to double their average mileage requirements, car companies have gotten very serious about alternative power," said Bob Stembridge, an intellectual property analyst at Thomson Reuters and author of the study. "The aggressive R&D efforts of some of the leading manufacturers suggest that consumer options for alternative power will grow considerably in the coming decade."

From GMM

Ferrari is sticking with its novel 'pull-rod' front suspension layout for 2013, technical director Pat Fry has confirmed.

Last year, the Italian team stunned its rivals by reviving a concept not seen in F1 since Minardi raced around at the back of the grid in 2001.

Fernando Alonso ultimately came close to winning last year's title, but it is true Ferrari initially struggled with its F2012, which even when heavily developed was never the most competitive car in the field.

The Ferrari F2012 (Photo: Pirelli)

Asked if the 'pull-rod' project was worth it, Fry told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport: "It was certainly not our problem.

"You get get a little aerodynamic advantage from it.  We solved the structural problems well."

One of the issues is that the layout makes it hard for the mechanics to work on the front of the car, but Fry said an "evolution" is ready to debut in 2013.

"We will build on it, but it will look different," he revealed.  "I would not be surprised if some others follow suit.

"When we talked about it for the first time, the first reaction was 'This is crazy'.  But if you weigh up all the pros and cons, it's not so stupid," added Fry.

General Motors of Canada has issued a recall on 65 GMC Savana and Chevrolet Express vans from the 2013 model year due to an ignition key that can be removed from the ignition when it's not in the OFF position.

This could result in unintended vehicle movement and potentially lead to a crash.

GM dealers will therefore replace the ignition lock cylinder.

Source: Transport Canada

Photo: GM

Photo: GM

From GMM

Force India has hit back at claims co-owner Vijay Mallya's reported financial problems could sink the Silverstone based team.

Citing sources, the Italiaracing magazine had said former Indian billionaire Mallya's "severe economic difficulties" meant Bernie Ecclestone has "activated a plan to save the team".

The report mentioned the possibility of a return to F1 for Colin Kolles, or even Flavio Briatore.

Late on Friday, Force India hit back at the claims, insisting they are "part of a growing trend of irresponsible online journalism directed at the team".

Spokesman Will Hings added that there is "no truth" to the claims Force India is in crisis, saying the story comes "at a time when news in the formula one world is limited".

Photo: Pirelli

"The team is pushing ahead with the new car build and looking forward to the launch of the 2013 car and new team partnerships," the team statement concluded.

But, after Paul di Resta admitted he is "surprised" news about his 2013 teammate is taking so long, it has also emerged that Force India may launch the new VJM06 early in February before a second race driver is decided.

And Italiaracing, "happily acknowledging the team's position" in the wake of its controversial report, "firmly rejects the accusations of irresponsible journalism", editor Massimo Costa insisted.

"That (accusation) does not reflect the tradition of reliability and accuracy" of the publication, he said.

"We also reaffirm our confidence in the authoritative sources on which we based our report, and of course send our best wishes to the Sahara Force India team for a positive evolution of the story", Costa added.

Richard Petty Motorsports driver Aric Almirola was fastest in abbreviated test at the 1.5 mile Charlotte Motor Speedway.

NASCAR officials were pleased in the final test of the new “Gen 6” NASCAR stock car.

“It's definitely just another step in the launch of the Generation 6 car,” said Sprint Cup Series director John Darby.  But there's probably more cars here today that I'll term as real race cars with full manufacturer's steel bodies and the correct components, deck lids, hoods, and everything else that goes with it.

“For a lot of the teams, the test is probably more real, real‑life than what some of our previous tests here have been.  Other than that, not a lot has changed.    

“I think from the rules package‑wise and specification for the cars, all of that is pretty much settled down.  We had most of that dialled in from our previous test here in December, so everybody has taken those specifications and going forward with them and just trying to do the best they can now as we get ready to start into the real season.”

And there was another new development. After decades of using steel and aluminum templates to gauge if a stock car was “stock,” the series has adopted a form of a laser measuring device.

“Through the effort of a lot of our officials and some help from our engineers and IT people, we've finally reached that point, and the laser platform is something that we feel really good ‑‑ we're excited about that, as well as a lot of the teams have adapted to it, as well.  It's going to be very accurate. It's going to be very consistent.

“It doesn't change the technical inspection procedure much.  It's just it ‑‑ one unit is replacing probably 15 or 20 mechanical hand‑held gauges that we used to use in the past.    

“We had it here just for the use of the teams.  To your point, there was many cars that came across it, and it's like anything else; if we're off now, it's a few thousandths here or a few thousandths there.  It's numbers that for all practical purposes aren't even worth arguing about.

“That made everybody feel good, as well as our guys who have been working so hard on putting that piece together,” Darby added.

And, as a final look back at last week's test at Daytona, Darby was asked if there were any changes for next month's Speedweek's at Daytona.

“Hell no, I wouldn't change nothing.  I just can't wait to get back there,” he said.