Auto News 5

Over the years, car designers occasionally have tried to capture some of the charm and practical benefits of athletic shoes in cheeky auto show concept cars. Now one of those concepts is headed for production.

Ford executives are excited that the automaker's global regions of Europe, Africa, South America and Asia Pacific posted a combined quarterly profit for the first time since the second quarter of 2011.

As head of global product development before retiring in 2007, Richard Parry-Jones became known as Ford's alchemist of vehicle dynamics. He was a rally-car driver in his spare time, and pushed hard to make all Fords a blast to drive.

The latest issue of the Automotive News Europe monthly e-magazine looks at a battle between Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz that goes beyond unit sales.

Lookers became the latest UK car dealer to forecast better-than-expected 2013 profits on the back of resurgent car sales in its home market.

DETROIT -- A consummate gearhead who was once a race engineer for Mario Andretti and Nigel Mansell, Hau Thai-Tang made a name for himself as chief engineer of the 2005 Ford Mustang.

Understanding the supplier business is child's play compared with trying to grasp the meaning of one of Belgian surrealist Rene Magritte's bizarre paintings.

A shutdown of the federal government hurt showroom traffic at many dealers in the first half of October, but auto sales are expected to be up at least 12 percent from a year ago for the month overall, according to analyst forecasts.

Auto sales increased 10 percent in the United States during October as the Detroit 3 gained market share while other major automakers fell short of projections.

From GMM

Red Bull Racing designer Adrian Newey this week said he didn't know if the team's alternator problems of 2012 have now resurfaced.

After Mark Webber's retirement in India, obvious questions were being asked about whether the same constant problems of last year had come back.

"The problem with Mark had nothing to do with the events of 2012," engine supplier Renault's Remi Taffin told Auto Motor und Sport.

He said the exact cause is not yet known.

Red Bull Racing changed supplier for 2013.

"Either the alternator came from a faulty series, or there was a problem with the installation," he added.

Taffin said Webber's Renault engine mercifully survived the problem, as was the V8 unit in Lotus driver Romain Grosjean's car.

Grosjean had a storming drive to the podium in India, but Auto Motor und Sport said that if the race had been two laps longer, the Frenchman would have retired as the engine was losing air.

Red Bull's Webber, meanwhile, laughed with resignation at his retirement last week in India, and shrugged on Thursday when contemplating his long run of bad luck.

"A lot of results have slipped through the net, but that's the way it's been, for whatever reason," he said.

Next week, the 2013 SEMA Show will kick off at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada. Starting on Tuesday, Auto123.com will be on hand covering all the new model launches, and bringing you lots of pics and videos.

We'll also have a number of surprises in store for you throughout the week. You can follow our journalists and photographers on Instagram to get a taste of what's coming to Auto123.com.

This year, the SEMA Show will have the most exhibitors (over 2,500) in its 47-year history. They will occupy more than one million square feet of floor, and welcome nearly 130,000 industry folks from November 5th to 8th.

Stay tuned!

Photo: SEMA Show

According to Fiat, if you're looking for some "eco-friendly love" then you should look no further than the 2013 Fiat 500e. An environmentally friendly take on the already popular hatchback, Fiat has entered the EV game with a cute, original player that's sure to capture some hearts (and wallets) -- as long as you're on the West Coast.


What is the Fiat 500e?
An A-segment hatchback, the Fiat 500e is an electrified version of the popular Cinquecento. Unfortunately, unless you're a Californian you won't be able to buy one. The 500e is available only in the Sunshine State -- and it has completely sold out already. It's what's known as a "compliance car," built to satisfy California's requirements that any volume automaker selling cars in that state must also offer an electric variant.

An A-segment hatchback, the Fiat 500e is an electrified version of the popular Cinquecento. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

2013 Fiat 500e Price and Specs
The Fiat 500e is priced at $31,800 USD (which is twice the price of the base 500), but there are some compelling incentives for California residents including a $7,500 USD Federal rebate, $2,500 USD in California tax credits, and a $2,000 USD Fiat rebate.

Options in the 2013 Fiat 500e include:

• Power sunroof ($1,100 USD);
• Steam White interior ($395 USD);
• The E-Sport Package ($495 USD) which includes lighting and graphics upgrades, cast-aluminum matte-black and orange alloy wheels, and orange mirror caps.

Powered by a permanent magnetic electric motor putting out 111 horsepower and 147 lb-ft of torque, the 500e claims a class-leading range of 108 MPGe. The charge is stored in a 24 kWh lithium-ion battery. There's a single-speed automatic transmission to translate that power to the wheels.

Standard content includes: Bi-halogen projector beams, LED centre signal lamp, 7.0" instrument display, Electronic Vehicle Information Centre (EVIC), remote key fob, USB port, Sirius XM with a 1-year subscription, premium six-speaker audio system, 3-year Fiat 500e Smartphone connectivity, Navigation, and Bluetooth.

Powered by a permanent magnetic electric motor putting out 111 horsepower and 147 lb-ft of torque, the 500e claims a class-leading range of 108 MPGe. The charge is stored in a 24 kWh lithium-ion battery. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Driving the 2013 Fiat 500e
We drove the 500e at Chrysler's Chelsea Proving Grounds, a 3,850-acre site near Ann Arbor Michigan where new products are tested for handling and durability. Among the several tracks are a steeply banked oval for high speed and performance testing, a two-lane "ride road" with a variety of surfaces to evaluate suspension, noise and vibration, and a small road course featuring several hairpin turns.

The 2013 Fiat 500e has a specially designed chassis and suspension to accommodate the battery that's located in the lower body structure for optimum centre of gravity and a better weight balance at 57/43 than the regular version's 64/36.

As a result, the 500e feels stiff, planted and so well balanced that it is actually a lot of fun to drive. The low centre of gravity gives it an air of solidity lacking in the other 500 models -- and it's a fraction faster than the base 500, but not as fast as the Turbo.

That sense of eerie quiet is amplified by extra EV-specific sound deadening. There are 13 different steps taken to improve noise, vibration, and harshness. Of course, there's no overtaxed buzzing of a tiny 4-cylinder to contend with, either.
The silly dash-mount location of the Navigation (as in the regular 500) is a real sight obstruction, and looks flimsy to boot.

Unlike many hybrid and EV braking -- which can be grabby with a sense of drag when the pedal is lifted -- the 2013 Fiat 500e's "blended' braking feels more natural while still regenerating.

The 500e feels stiff, planted and so well balanced that it is actually a lot of fun to drive. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Inside and Out of the 2013 Fiat 500e
The Fiat 500e shares most of the same styling features as the regular 500, with an exterior that's been tweaked to provide better aerodynamic efficiency. There are just a few external cues differentiating it from its gasoline counterpart: streamlined alloy wheels, rear spoiler, and perforated, dot-patterned front and rear fasciae.

Inside the 2103 Fiat 500e, there are a few notable changes over the regular variant including a push-button "transmission", a revised gauge pod and a full-colour display for battery level, energy flow, range, and speed. There's no sprouting shrubbery or flocks of frolicking butterflies rewarding you for frugal driving; instead a simple arrow lets you know how you're doing, power use-wise. The 7" instrument screen displays vehicle functions and charge levels, while the dash-mounted TomTom shows charge schedule, range, and location of charging stations.

Much of the 2013 Fiat 500e's power supply was developed by Bosch who produced the battery, motor, and electrons.

Inside the 2103 Fiat 500e, there are a few notable changes over the regular variant including a push-button "transmission". (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Comparing the 2013 Fiat 500e
Where the 500e may once have been a game-changer, it now joins a growing segment. Competitors include the Ford Focus Electric ($41,199 CDN), which has a 128km range, but more power at 143 hp/181 lb-ft; the rather antiquated Mitsubishi i-MiEV with a 100km range and a paltry 66 hp/145 lb-ft($32,998); Nissan LEAF that has a 117km range and 107 hp/207 lb-ft ($29,650-$35,690 USD) or the smart fortwo with a range of 101km and 74 hp/96 lb-ft ($26,990 coupé and $29,990 cabriolet).

There are no plans to bring the Fiat 500e to the Canadian market. Too bad, because it's not only one of the best-looking electric vehicles currently available it's actually better to drive than the original gas model.

Former Formula 1 team Super Aguri will make a return on the international motorsport scene by running a team in the new, electric Formula E championship next year.

Super Aguri Formula E is headquartered in Tokyo and is overseen by Japanese racing driver and team owner Aguri Suzuki.

It becomes the second Asian team (after China) to enter the new Formula E series.

The Super Aguri name is best known for its association in Formula 1 where Super Aguri F1 competed in the sport from 2006 until 2008. The expertise and knowledge gained in F1 will now be applied to creating eco-conscious technological solutions which can be used in major urban cities such as Tokyo.

Super Aguri Formula E was founded in 2013 by four partners: Aguri Suzuki (Executive Chairman), Mark Preston (Team Principal), Peter McCool (Technical Director) and Ferry Spijkerman (Commercial Director).

“Today is a new chapter for the Super Aguri name and I'm proud that our team will represent Japan in the inaugural Formula E series. Zero emissions racing is a progressive concept for the motorsport industry, and after more than 40 years as both a driver and team owner, I see Formula E as a great stride towards the future,” said Aguri Suzuki.

On my way home the other day, I saw a driver ignoring a pedestrian crossing as a lady was about to step onto the road. While I stopped so she could make it safely to the other side, I wondered if the other driver simply missed the sign, didn't know what it meant or chose to ignore the law.

I'll never know because I was obviously not going to start chasing the guy to find out, but the fact is that road sign disobedience is not a rare sight. So, today I'll ask you this: Do you really know what the various signs and warnings mean?

Here are some of the more problematic ones:

The Pedestrian Crossing sign informs road users that they are approaching a crossing for pedestrians. They must show caution and yield to any pedestrian needing to cross. In Quebec, a violation of this traffic sign carries a fine of $100 for drivers and $37 for cyclists.

Everybody knows of the yield sign, but do they really know what it means? Judging by the sheer number of people who slow down to let others merge, my guess is no. Basically, this sign indicates that drivers are required to yield the right-of-way to vehicles on a priority highway.

You want to show courtesy by helping drivers in the on-ramp safely merge into traffic? Fine. But for God's sake, don't hammer the brake pedal when you have cars following you at more than 100 km/h!

What is that sign, you ask? Well, it's a hazard marker indicating the presence of an obstruction on the roadway or shoulders, as well as indicating where a public highway narrows. The diagonal bars point to the side you have to take to avoid said obstruction (in this case, the right side).

A Prepare to Stop sign indicates an intersection with traffic lights ahead. It displays flashing amber beacons when the lights are going to turn red before you reach the intersection. So, why do some drivers ignore the warning and brake at the last second, possibly encroaching on the intersection and risking a collision with other vehicles that do have a green light? I'm puzzled...

It's not just a red octagon; it also reads “Stop.” Get it? Stop! Not “Slow Down.” This can mean the difference between life and death if you ever hit a pedestrian or cyclist. Think about it...


If you'd like to test your knowledge, complete GM's Great Canadian Road Signs Quiz. I'd be curious to know your score.

On behalf of all road users, please know your signs and drive safely!


Sources: rsr.mtq.gouv.qc.ca
spvm.qc.ca

Lotus' Romain Grosjean set the pace during Friday morning's first free practice session, but newly crowned 2013 champion Sebastian Vettel put his Red Bull RB9 on top of the charts in the afternoon in Abu Dhabi.

Third place finisher in India a week ago, Grosjean clocked the fastest time in an opening session, setting a time of 1m44.241 in the closing stages to edge out Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton by 0.192s.

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull (Photo: Red Bull)

Vettel finished the 90-minute session in third place with a 1m44.499 ahead of his Red Bull Racing teammate Mark Webber, with the second respective Mercedes and Lotus cars of Nico Rosberg and Kimi Raikkonen completing the top six.

Ferrari experienced some problems on the slippery Yas Marina circuit with Fernando Alonso down in 12th and Felipe Massa 17th. In fact, numerous drivers had small moments where they inadvertently cut chicanes or ran briefly off the road.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus (Photo: WRI2)

However, it was a slightly different story in the second free practice session.

Red Bull Racing set their seventh P2 one-two of the season as Vettel set the fastest time of the day with a 1m41.335, beating Webber by 0.155 second.

Hamilton led the chase in his Mercedes to set the third fastest time ahead of last year's surprise winner, Kimi Raikkonen in a Lotus.

Yas Marina circuit (Photo: WRI2)

Both Lotuses proved to be quick in race trim and on medium Pirelli tires and they could provide Red Bull's sternest challenge this weekend.

Rosberg was fifth fastest in his Mercedes ahead of Sergio Pérez and Jenson Button of McLaren (the team trying low-drag rear wings), Alonso, Nico Hulkenberg in his Sauber and Massa.

Fastest in FP1, Grosjean was only 12th quickest. His E21-Renault suffered brake problems and then a vibration.

Felipe Massa, Ferrari (Photo: WRI2)

Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina circuit, Friday 1st practice session*
1 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'44"241 - 21 laps
2 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'44"433 - 23
3 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'44"499 - 18
4 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'44"712 - 20
5 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'44"741 - 24
6 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'44"929 - 23
7 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'45"040 - 20
8 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'45"099 - 20
9 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'45"150 - 24
10 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'45"331 - 20
11 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'45"378 - 23
12 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'45"440 - 18
13 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'45"823 - 22
14 - James Calado (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'45"924 - 20
15 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'46"068 - 18
16 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'46"114 - 22
17 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'46"124 - 18
18 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'46"126 - 21
19 - Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'47"600 - 22
20 - Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'47"670 - 22
21 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'47"723 - 23
22 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'49"565 - 22

Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina circuit, Friday 2nd practice session*
1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'41"335 - 34 laps
2 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'41"490 - 32
3 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'41"690 - 37
4 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'41"726 - 42
5 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'41"758 - 41
6 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'42"006 - 36
7 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'42"010 - 31
8 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'42"171 - 31
9 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'42"324 - 41
10 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'42"440 - 36
11 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'42"509 - 39
12 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'42"607 - 18
13 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'42"806 - 27
14 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'42"952 - 36
15 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'42"998 - 27
16 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'43"152 - 29
17 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'42"271 - 36
18 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'43"565 - 36
19 - Giedo Van Der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'44"138 - 35
20 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'44"459 - 35
21 - Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'44"525 - 38
22 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'44"565 - 27
*Unofficial timing

I love rowing gears and having fun behind the wheel. Obviously, I have a weak spot for sports cars, while sedans often fly under my radar. Save for a few exceptions, sedans are depressingly uninspiring -- like the car your aunt drives.

What about the 2014 Kia Forte? Well, it sure looks great thanks to Peter Schreyer. However, they say one shouldn't judge a book by its cover, so let me tell you the whole story. I promise you, it's a good one.


Love at first sight
As I approached the Glittering Silver 2014 Kia Forte SX with the Smart Key in my purse, the side mirrors automatically deployed, and the door handle gently lit up to invite me in. Then, when I settled in the driver's seat and hit the Start button, a mini Forte appeared on the dashboard to greet me.

“Well hello to you, too!”

Among the first few things I noticed were the superb visibility, and abundant storage and passenger room.

The comfort zone
The leather seats in the 2014 Kia Forte SX proved comfortable. Heck, the driver's seat is even climate-controlled, so your butt always stays warm or cool depending on the temperature -- how thoughtful! It gets better with a heated steering wheel that helps you stave off the cold.

As for interior styling: All black doesn't mean all boring thanks to various textures including carbon-fibre patterned trim.

Photo: Philippe Champoux

Putting on the charm
Good news for short-armed drivers like me: The 2014 Kia Forte SX has a sliding centre armrest. Did I tell you about the slick LCD screen, SiriusXM radio, paddle shifters, dual-zone climate control system, cooling glove box, power sunroof, and GPS? I would run out of breath listing the many luxurious amenities in my tester.

I also liked the 2014 Kia Forte SX's rearview camera, the small triangular window between the A-pillars and side mirrors, and of course the loading-friendly trunk opening (no need to swing your grocery bags up in the air).

The drive seals it
I could go on and on about the wide array of features and attributes of the 2014 Kia Forte SX, but telling you how it drove may actually be more impressive. The 4-cylinder engine is lively and feisty, making for easy passing manoeuvres. That was with the automatic transmission; I suspect the manual is wicked fun.

Photo: Philippe Champoux

Thinking about the next time...
This is one exception to the soporific sedan rule. I tip my hat to Mr. Schreyer for his bold approach. Now, that's what I call truly and delightfully breaking the mould.

With its many endearing qualities, fresh new looks, attractive price, and slightly delinquent nature, I would happily give the 2014 Kia Forte SX a spot in my driveway -- it's already got one in my heart!

The Mackinac Bridge, which connects the Upper and Lower peninsulas of the state of Michigan, opened on November 1st, 1957.

Standing 8.038 kilometres long overall and 61 metres above the water, the Mackinac Bridge was the world's longest suspension bridge at the time. It's currently third behind the Minami Bisan-Seto Bridge (Japan) and the Taizhou Bridge (China).

Feeling seasick? The Mackinac Bridge Authority has a Drivers Assistance Program that provides drivers for those uncomfortable with driving across the bridge.

Source : wikipedia.org

Mackinac bridge (Photo: Wikipedia)

From GMM

Ferrari driver Felipe Massa has admitted he might have entered his final month as a Formula 1 driver.

With Pastor Maldonado on pole position to take his PDVSA backing to Lotus for 2014, Massa is tipped as the frontrunner to replace him at Williams, reportedly with the support of the Brazilian oil company Petrobras in tow.

Felipe Massa, Ferrari, Abu Dhabi (Photo: Ferrari)

Massa, who is being replaced at Ferrari for 2014 by Kimi Raikkonen, said he hopes he has a deal in place by the season finale at Interlagos -- his beloved home race.

"I will not accept racing in Brazil with nothing in place for the next year without having a happy ending to my career," he is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace.

The 32-year-old Sao Paulista, however, said he is confident his race will go on.

"I have never lost sleep thinking about what will happen next," said Massa.

"I'm calm, just as I was when there was the announcement that I will not continue at Ferrari.

"I believe that something will happen and I'll find a good team for my future," he added.

Furniture Row Racing and Martin Truex Jr confirmed one of the most obvious rumors of this year when the announced a multi-year deal for the Truex.

“Really proud I could pick myself up, dust myself off. Not everyone was so lucky. You always have something to prove in Cup,” said Truex referring to his roller coaster year. “I'm ready.”

Truex, who currently drives for Michael Waltrip Racing, was having one of the best years in his career when he broke a 218-race winless drought (at Sonoma), a multi-year contract with sponsor, NAPA, and made the NASCAR Chase on points - initially - after Richmond.

Then NASCAR officials ruled that teammate, Brian Vickers manipulated the outcome of the race by an unnecessarily long pit stop. That changed the final points and Vickers was out of the Chase. A few weeks later NAPA officials said that they would end their NASCAR involvement at the end of the year depriving Truex of a sponsor - and a job.

"I was terrified. It was like getting punched in the face," said Truex adding “"As unlucky as I got at Richmond, I got just as lucky when this deal turned up."

Meanwhile, over at Furniture Row Racing they needed a driver after Kurt Busch accepted a ride with Stewart-Haas Racing. They had a brief interview with Juan Pablo Montoya, but, the Colombian driver went back to IndyCar joining Penske Racing in 2014.

When Truex walked into the media center in Texas on Friday morning with the Furniture Row general manager, Joe Garone, no one was surprised.

“We couldn't be happier to have landed one of the top drivers in NASCAR,” said Garone. “Martin's talents - both on and off the track -- have been well documented and everyone at Furniture Row Racing feels that he is an excellent fit to continue the success that we have enjoyed this season."

MWR issued the following “Michael Waltrip Racing congratulates Martin on his announcement today. We are very happy to see him in a competitive ride next year and appreciate the professionalism everyone showed throughout this entire process.”

Garone also mentioned that Truex's current over-wall pit crew (not necessarily including his crew chief) will be joining Truex at FRR.

As it strives to expand its network of Supercharger stations across the U.S. and Canada, Tesla announced that it will connect Miami and Montreal in 2014 after recently doing the same with Vancouver and San Diego.

These 120 kW Superchargers can charge a Tesla Model S to 50% in about 20 minutes. They are currently the world's most powerful charging stations, but remain exclusive to Tesla owners -- for free.

According to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the short distance between Superchargers means that the vast majority of drivers (over 85%) can get to any of them with a single charge. The Model S has a range of up to 370 kilometres at 90 km/h.

Source : auto.lapresse.ca

Photo: Tesla