Auto News 5

Mitsubishi Motors, aiming to improve sluggish sales, has slashed the price of its electric minicar, i-MiEV, in Japan by up to US$9,100.

News 18 Nov, 2013

The new Mercedes C-Class, due in 2014, has been spotted fully undisguised in North America

Although your car may be equipped with the latest advanced driver assistance systems thereby reducing the chances of an impact, this technology can increase costs of repair if something goes wrong. Conversely such technology can also reduce your insurance costs. UK-based Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre (Thatcham) have explored this topic and demonstrate how good design and inclusion of the right technologies can make a car more appealing to the consumer looking for good value in the long term. To find out more, Matthew Beecham talked with Matthew Avery, Thatcham's head of research.

Hyundai will get its face made up as its new design chief sets out on his task to put clear space between it and sister brand Kia.

A regional French automotive industry association has hailed the success of its initiatives in attracting investment and jobs in the teeth of the country's economic challenges.

UK market minnow Mitsubishi hopes to reintroduce the Lancer Evolution X in the UK next year as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations.

Articles 18 Nov, 2013

Road safety charity Brake has called to ban hands-free phones while behind the wheel

Daimler's Mercedes-Benz has opened its first passenger car engine plant outside of Germany in China at Beijing Benz Automotive in Beijing.

Strike action by the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) affecting dealer deliveries in the country, looks likely reach at least a week in duration.

News 18 Nov, 2013

Official pictures of the all-new MINI Cooper 2014 have surfaced online, ahead of its full reveal today

Daimler is set to sign a final agreement to buy a 12 percent stake in Beijing Auto's passenger-car unit tomorrow, securing a stake in its Chinese joint-venture partner ahead of a planned initial public offering.

Daimler will sign a final agreement to buy a 12 percent stake in Chinese joint venture partner BAIC's passenger-car unit tomorrow.

Walking through the lobby between the North and Central Halls at SEMA we saw a more or less standard customized motorcycle.

Maserati CEO Harald Wester says Quattroporte sales in China are being boosted by young businesswomen. In China, the average age of Maserati buyers is about 37 years old compared with 55 for Europe and the United States.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has yet to put out any auto lending regulations or sue any auto lenders, but last week, it gave the clearest picture yet of how it thinks auto lending should change.

Automotive News Europe needs your help to find the Rising Stars in the European automotive industry.

From GMM

Nico Hulkenberg is still the big player at the tail-end of the 2014 driver 'silly season'.

Actually, as recently as Sunday in the Austin paddock, most insiders now expected that Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado's PDVSA millions had resulted in a done deal for the most competitive race seat still vacant on next year's grid.

That might be why Maldonado suddenly toned down his astonishing attack on Williams, including suspicions of sabotage, on Sunday -- perhaps he was told behaviour like that is not welcome at Lotus, even despite his PDVSA power.

"In the good times we were together, and also the bad times," he said, referring to Williams as his "family".

Maldonado also had a bad race to go with his bad qualifying in Texas, as he clashed on the first lap with Sahara Force India's angry Adrian Sutil.

"We've had many incidents with this driver," said the German, "so maybe he needs an emergency area around him to avoid these kinds of things."

Lotus may be holding out hope that the albeit very delayed investment by the 'Quantum' group eventually hits its bank account.

Quantum chief Mansoor Ijaz has made clear he wants the highly talented, but mainly unsponsored, Nico Hulkenberg at the wheel in 2014.

Nico Hulkenberg in Austin. (Photo: René Fagnan)

Asked about Hulkenberg on Sunday, Ijaz told Britain's Sky: "We're going to make that part of it happen in terms of making sure he (team boss Eric Boullier) gets enough money.

"We're very close now -- I'm pretty sure we'll get it done this week," he added.

Nico Hulkenberg, then, can still hope. And many believe he is also still in the running for Paul di Resta's Sahara Force India seat.

Indeed, Hulkenberg's manager Werner Heinz was seen in the Force India hospitality area, speaking with deputy boss Bob Fernley, after the US grand prix, according to French television Canal Plus.

And Britain's Sky claimed on Sunday that Monisha Kaltenborn wants the German to stay at Sauber in 2014.

"That's good news, isn't it?" Hulkenberg smiled after hearing about his options on Sunday, after finishing the US grand prix in a strong sixth place.

"All I can do is keep delivering on the track."

The all-new 2014 MINI Cooper S made its world debut today at the Oxford assembly plant in front of British Prime Minister David Cameron and numerous other guests. It will also be unveiled on Wednesday at the Los Angeles and Tokyo Auto Shows.

Featuring a new architecture, new design, advanced safety features, and a range of new fuel-efficient, 3- and 4-cylinder engines, the next-generation MINI offers more passenger room and a reduced carbon footprint starting at the factory.

The 2014 MINI Cooper S will go on sale in the U.K. next spring, along with a host of customization options and performance upgrades. Prices and release dates for North America have yet to be announced.

Photo: BMW Group

Volkswagen Canada will recall 16,235 Tiguan CUVs from 2009-2011 to replace a fuse that can overheat and damage the fuse box, causing a partial loss of exterior vehicle lighting. This could reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

In related news, 318 Jetta Hybrids from 2013 (all equipped with direct-shift gearboxes, or DSG) are being recalled because the interior of the gearbox can corrode due to incompatible gearbox lubricant additives, causing electrical shorts and blowing gearbox fuses. This could result in a loss of propulsion. Dealers will replace the existing gearbox lubricant with an updated formulation.

Source: Transport Canada

Jetta Hybrid 2013. (Photo: Volkswagen Canada)