Auto News 5

Mitsubishi Motors has posted increased sales and profits for the first half of its 2013 fiscal year to 31 March, 2014 and revised full year sales down but profits up.

Supply chain optimisation is becoming accepted as a vital tool for improving vehicle manufacturers' production efficiency and, ultimately, profitability. Matthew Beecham catches up with Brad Brennan, managing director of emergency logistics specialist Evolution Time Critical, who explains the critical role played by supply chain contingency.

Michelin has posted a drop in third quarter net sales down 5.8% from EUR5.44bn (US$7.5bn) to EUR5.12bn, while nine-month sales also dropped 5.3% to EUR15.3bn.

It seems like we say this every year, but this year it's truly fitting: this was the best Art Center Car Classic ever.

If the

Land Rover may rebadge its next Freelander medium SUV as a Discovery, creating a sub-brand for Land Rover, with the new vehicle slotting in below the current Discovery large SUV.

BMW has joined VW in backing the German government's goal to have 1 million electric cars on the country's roads by 2020.

Land Rover may rebadge its next Freelander medium SUV as a Discovery, creating a subbrand for Land Rover, with the new vehicle slotting in below the current Discovery large SUV.

Renault will sell about 10,000 units of its Zoe subcompact electric car this year, well below its target of 50,000 deliveries, according to market analyst Inovev.

Fiat Group has acquired the remaining half of VM Motori, a diesel engine manufacturer, from GM for 34.1 million euros.

BMW does not intend to increase its stake in SGL Group, the carbon fiber materials supplier the automaker works with to create the passenger cabin for its i3 electric car and its i8 plug-in hybrid.

Photographers have caught their first glimpses of Audi's third-generation TT coupe, expected to go on sale in Europe in the second half of 2014 and in the United States the next year.

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler said that western European auto markets will not recover before the end of the decade.

Honda embraces optical illusionist M.C. Escher in its latest spot, "An Impossible Made Possible," and rockets to the top of our weekly viral video round-up.

From GMM

Another secret of Red Bull Racing's dominance in the second half of the season is emerging.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said former Jordan, Stewart and Jaguar designer Gary Anderson, now a technical pundit for the BBC, floated the theory about the RB9.

The car, which in Sebastian Vettel's hands has won the last six grands prix on the trot, caught Anderson's attention recently when images of a rear-facing thermal camera were broadcast.

The 'tea tray' of the RB9. (Photo: WRI2)

The images show that the floor just underneath the drivers' feet, the so-called 'tea-tray', was running extremely hot at slow speeds.

Anderson believes Adrian Newey may have found a way to "lift the 'tea tray' away from the track as it gets hot", allowing a lower front ride height.

Auto Motor und Sport reported on Tuesday that Sahara Force India also believes the Anderson theory, and that such a solution would be illegal.

So, in India, the FIA's technical delegate Jo Bauer reportedly put Anderson's theory to the test, heating the 'tea tray' to a temperature of 300 degrees C.

"The result? It did not move," said Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt. "Consequently, the Red Bull RB9 is legal, at least in this area."

Following a unsatisfactory season in the ADAC Formel Masters series, Red Bull has decided to drop female driver Beitske Visser from its Junior Team.

The 18-year-old girl from Dronten in the Netherlands won a race and climbed another time on the podium to eventually ranked 8th in his maiden season in the ADAC Formel Masters series.

However, her contract was not renewed after the post-season evaluation of her performance.

"I'm sad to tell I'm no longer part of the Red Bull Junior Team anymore. It was a difficult season and the results were not what both expected," wrote Beitske Visser on her Twitter account.

"Many thanks to Red Bull and Dr. [Helmut] Marko for the great support they gave me. I will work hard to come back strong. I won't give up."

Beitske Visser (Photo: Red Bull)

From GMM

Mercedes on Tuesday refused to confirm or deny the latest speculation about Ross Brawn's future.

Former F1 team owner and boss Eddie Jordan, who now works as a pundit for British television BBC and has a reputation for getting his predictions right, said the 58-year-old Briton is carrying ahead with his threat to leave the Brackley based team at the end of the season.

In Japan, Ross Brawn warned he might exit if his position as team principal is not confirmed.

And last weekend in India, he admitted the transition to Paddy Lowe running the team will take place "at some point".

"Now we are having discussions about what is the best solution for the team in the future," Brawn told F1's official website a few days ago. "When we are ready we will let everybody know."

Ross Brawn, Mercedes AMG Team principal. (Photo: WRi2)

Jordan's prediction on Tuesday, however, has only reinforced the perception in the paddock that Brawn's mind is already made up.

Still, Mercedes is saying nothing.

"A spokesman did not comment specifically on the story," a report by the Press Association news agency said on Tuesday.

The spokesman reportedly added that a decision about Brawn's future is still not due until the end of the season.

Founded in 1909, Hudson Motor Company stopped manufacturing automobiles on October 29th, 1954.

At one point (1929), Hudson was the third largest car maker in the U.S., after Ford and Chevrolet. It gained international fame in 1947 with the iconic Hornet, which dominated in NASCAR from 1951-1954.

A decline in sales, combined with the high costs of racing, forced Hudson to merge with Nash to form the American Motor Corporation, better known as AMC. Sold to Renault in 1979, then to Chrysler in 1987, AMC became the Jeep-Eagle division of the latter.

Source: Wikipedia

Hudson Hornet Club Coupe 1951.

On November 23rd at the Tokyo Auto Show, Honda will unveil the production version of its Urban SUV Concept, which made its debut in Detroit earlier this year.

Honda will also introduce the S660 Concept (a small cabriolet) and host the Japanese premiere of the Acura NSX Concept.

Production models on display will include the Honda Accord Plug-in Hybrid, as well as the new Fit with Earth Dreams technology.

As for motorcycles, Honda will present the Dunk, a small 50cc bike aimed at the Japanese market, along with the CB1300 Super BOL D'OR, CB400 Super BOL D'OR, CB400 Super Four, and CBR250R.

Visitors in Tokyo will also get to see the original Honda F1 car from 1964, plus a replica of Honda's first public debut, the 1962 Sports 360.

Source: Tokyo Motorshow

Honda Concept Urban. (Photo: Honda)

Sebastien Loeb Racing, which runs a pair of McLaren MP4-12Cs in various GT endurance series, is angry with the famed British sports car manufacturer.

After it finished third in the final round of the FFSA GT French Championship last Sunday at the Paul Ricard circuit in France, the No. 19 McLaren MP4-12C ran by Sébastien Loeb Racing was disqualified at the technical inspection due to a problem with the turbo pressure.

It was not the first time this season that Loeb's team was disqualified following the technical inspection in the FIA GT Series and the French GT Championship.

McLaren MP4-12C of Sebastien Loeb Racing. (Photo: WRI2)

The French team published this press release following this last incident.

“At Nogaro, Zandvoort, Magny-Cours and this Sunday at Paul Ricard, one of our McLarens was disqualified following the technical inspection, either in qualifying or after the race.,” recalls Dominique Heintz, Sebastien Loeb Racing team manager.

“We have been patient but the situation is no longer tolerable. Today, I'm clearly very disappointed, and even furious. The entire team shares my sentiments. I'm upset because all the guys on the team give their all every day to get the best results, and because Sebastien and Christophe Lapierre had a great race and took risks...all for nothing!

“These disqualifications are not attributable to our technical team or something our mechanics have done. It's McLaren's fault and their engineers have stated it. This has cost us relatively important results depending on the case, including a podium finish this past Sunday. Not being at fault for these issues, we still suffer the consequences, and we are annoyed to suffer these.

“The McLaren MP4-12C is a car that we like in terms of pure performance, but these types of issues shouldn't keep happening and that's why we will contact McLaren management as soon as Monday. We've already alerted them to the situation and today it's time they take action. Solutions must be found.”