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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

After a one-year break, Risi Competizione will return to the American Le Mans Series, racing a Ferrari 458 Italia in the GT class.

The Texas-based team took a step back in 2012 to better prepare its future ahead of the 2014 merger with Grand-Am.

At the moment, Risi's Rick Mayer is in Italy, preparing the F458 his team will race.

Photo: Risi Competizione

"Having watched the developments for the future of sports car racing in North America from the side-lines in 2012, I believe that now is the right time to return to competition," said team principal Giuseppe Risi.

"We know what to expect in 2013 and 2014."

In the past, Risi Competizione has won two ALMS championships, and also amassed three 24 Hours of Le Mans class wins.

The 2013 Formula Tour 1600 season features 12 rounds, over 6 weekends. Three venues have already been confirmed.

The first race will be held May 24-25, and the last September 22-23. But where?

So far, we only know the series will stop at the circuit Gilles Villeneuve, as part of the Canadian Grand Prix, at the GP3R, in Trois-Rivières (Québec), and at the Calabogie Motorsports Park, in Ontario.



Formula Tour 1600 - 2013 Calendar
May 24-25 - to be confirmed
June 7-9 - Canadian Grand Prix
July 5-7 - to be confirmed
August 5-7 - GP3R
August 23-25 - Ted Powell Memorial (Calabogie)
September 22-23 - to be confirmed

Once a styling knockout, Volkswagen's 2013 CC has unfortunately lost much of its initial appeal. When it first surfaced as a 2009, the car world could scarcely get enough of the then-Passat CC's silhouette, avant-garde design and everything else we've come to expect from Volkswagen.


These elements along with a fantastically designed cabin, supreme seats and great powertrain options are all still present. The for-2013 aesthetical lift softened the sharp creases and plunging-wedge nose, and made the 2013 Volkswagen CC less of a bold choice: the CC is now mainstream.

From the driver's and passenger's point of view, all's good; however, in a parking lot the new CC has literally lost its edge. And all because of a bad nose job. The 2013 Volkswagen CC still remains a good drive, though.

Effort for naught
The first iteration of the Passat CC was akin to a sexy blade affixed to a handsome guard, hilt and pommel. It was sharp, exciting and dashing. Even the less-than-well-judged taillights fit the mold. With the firm intent on selling more (always more) Volkswagen has purposefully diluted the 2013 CC with the hopes of attracting more (always more) buyers.

The Comfort Coupé's new shell is softer, less extravagant (if ever a German car could be qualified as such) and it's the 2013 Volkswagen CC's front end that has suffered the most from the generic facelift.

To be straight, the remainder of the car has changed very little. The tails are now in line with the current crop of Vdubs. The car's new fascia betrays what is otherwise the same car as it was, without the initial visual punch. It's a shame, really.

The cabin is gorgeous; it has always been, and I expect it always will be. In fact, in the sub-$40k range, the $35,125 base Sportline 2013 Volkswagen CC has the nicest interior on the market.

The highlights are the seats that have seemingly been pulled out of an $80,000 Audi. Not only do they look good, but their firmness and support make them very comfortable. The dashboard's simple and symmetrical layout is pleasing to the eye and the materials, fit and finish, to the touch.

The cabin is gorgeous; it has always been, and I expect it always will be. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Familiar territory
What makes members of the Volkswagen family attractive propositions are the similarities found in each product line. Sporty, well designed steering wheels and fabulously clear and nearly luxurious gauges are two such examples.

Another example are the powertrains: Most trims of the 2013 Volkswagen CC are motivated by one of my favourite 4-cylinder engines in the business; the turbocharged 200 hp 2.0L TSI. It's so good that I bought one. What I also like is Volkswagen's DSG transmission. This combination is found in the GLI, GTI and Beetle Turbo. That particular engine is even found in other configurations elsewhere in the lineup.

What's most impressive is how it all works as a perfectly tuned unit. Throttle response is near immediate as one of the clutches grabs onto the flywheel and, with no discernible lag, the 2.0T rushes the car forward. Shifts are immediate as the second clutch is already lined up. All the driver will notice is a sharp, yet smooth, drop in engine revs and further forward thrust.

The other aspect most appreciated by the powertrain is its ability to make all that happen while consuming a very reasonable amount of fuel. Heavy left footed as I am, I averaged 9.5L per 100 km.

Most trims of the 2013 Volkswagen CC are motivated by one of my favourite 4-cylinder engines in the business; the turbocharged 200 hp 2.0L TSI. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

The road in a 4-door coupe
The 2.0TSI does not make the 2013 Volkswagen CC a low-flying rocket, but the efficiency and rapidity at which the car covers ground is immensely rewarding. The other engine is another group favourite as it is the 280 hp 3.6L VR6. With VW's 4MOTION AWD system standard, the $48,475 Highline 2013 Volkswagen CC is an all-weather, near-sports car.

As with all VW cars, the 2013 Volkswagen CC has an innate ability to do many things very well, especially on the road. The car's fully independent suspension manages both high levels of comfort as well as remain poised and in control at high speeds.

The electromechanical power-assisted rack and pinion steering is, as always, well adjusted and somehow perfectly matched to the 2013 Volkswagen CC's springs and struts. Whether cruising or enjoying a bit of spirited driving, the chassis (along with its mechanicals) constantly operate in perfect unison.

Although not the quietest car on the road due in part to the retro-cool frameless doors, the 2013 Volkswagen CC still manages to keep its ideally allocated four passengers quite happy. Visibility is one of the very few sore points associated to the car; it's something one must deal with if they want to be seen, or barely, in Volkswagen's Comfort Coupé.

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.

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.