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Japanese automakers are taking steps to win back business in the competitive European market, bringing out new cars with small fuel-efficient diesel engines and smart interiors.

Japanese automakers are taking steps to win back business in the competitive European market, bringing out new cars with small fuel-efficient diesel engines and smart interiors.

VW denied that the company may miss its profit goals because of slower growth and higher-than-expected costs for the ramp up of its MQB architecture.

Japanese automakers are taking steps to win back business in the competitive European market, bringing out new cars with small fuel-efficient diesel engines and smart interiors.

Japanese automakers are taking steps to win back business in Europe, bringing out new cars with small fuel-efficient diesel engines and smart interiors.

Four years before taking the helm of Toyota in 2009, Akio Toyoda began quietly studying auto design under a veteran stylist at the carmaker's dome-roofed creative studio here. Call it a premonition.

From GMM

Just because Fernando Alonso has played down the McLaren rumours, it doesn't mean Sergio Perez's place at the British team is now safe.

"Sergio has a tremendous benchmark in Jenson, who is consistent, a great quality driver, a great team player and who brings a tremendous amount of benefits to our team," boss Martin Whitmarsh told reporters.

"For a young charger like Sergio, he knows and I know that he has to come in and beat him.  He hasn't done that consistently enough so far this year.

"He is going to give it a good go this weekend I expect," he added in Singapore.

Two-time world champion and former McLaren driver Fernando Alonso was high on Whitmarsh's list of candidates to potentially replace the Mexican, until recently.

"McLaren?  I love Ferrari, until the end," Spaniard Alonso was quoted late on Friday by Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Kevin Magnussen (Photo: McLaren)

But McLaren also has two young chargers in its pocket -- Formula Renault 3.5 title challengers Kevin Magnussen and Stoffel Vandoorne.

"They're in the frame," said Whitmarsh, who admitted 2014 might be slightly too soon for the youngsters to leap straight into F1 with McLaren.

"There's no doubt they will come into F1, and openly, we've spoken to a number of formula one teams about them."

Stoffel Vandoorne (Photo: McLaren)

Whichever way the enter F1, it's not going to be on Jenson Button's seat, which seems very safe indeed.

The 2009 world champion told reporters his 2014 deal is completely "done".

Asked if that's right, team boss Martin Whitmarsh told the British broadcaster Sky: "That's accurate."

National Electric Vehicle Sweden (Nevs), which now owns Saab, has just built its first pre-production car at the Trollhättan assembly plant.

This silver Saab 9-3 sedan had its engine started and systems tested before it left the final station of the production line and was rolled off with admiration by spectators.

The exercise basically served as a reminder that the plant is still operational and will once again be capable of mass-producing automobiles.

“I am pleased that today we have assembled our first car to verify all the production processes here in Trollhättan. Prior to our decision to start production of Saab cars, we need to finalize a few remaining dialogues to build partnerships with suppliers. We now know that the plant is ready for production”, said Mattias Bergman, acting President for Nevs.

Source : saabsunited.com

From GMM

Kimi Raikkonen almost sat out the Singapore grand prix weekend with a back injury, it emerged on Saturday.

So serious was the problem that Lotus briefed reserve driver Davide Valsecchi to prepare to step into the Finn's car.

But Raikkonen did manage to practice and qualify on Saturday, although he admitted that before arriving at the street circuit for the day's action, he doubted he would be able to.

"This morning it was very difficult," he is quoted by the German broadcaster Sky, amid a fraught and tense weekend after he revealed he decided to leave Lotus for Ferrari in 2014 because he hasn't been paid.

Sky said Raikkonen is suffering from a pinched nerve; an injury he has had before.

Kimi Raikkonen, Signapore GP (Photo: WRi2)

"At breakfast I thought I wouldn't be able to drive," he admitted.

Raikkonen was given pain killers and underwent treatment by doctors and a physio, and the 2007 world champion said "it worked".

But he wasn't at 100 per cent, particularly in morning practice where he therefore struggled find a good setup for qualifying.

He qualified just 13th, while in the sister car Romain Grosjean was third.

"In the afternoon it was not really ideal, but at least the car is on the grid.  For tomorrow we will see," added Raikkonen.

Because Raikkonen qualified the car, Valsecchi or another reserve is no longer allowed to step in to substitute.

From GMM

The days of constantly-changing helmet livery designs in formula one could be coming to an end.

This weekend, world champion Sebastian Vettel - who regularly changes the design of his helmet - is wearing a livery that shines like a disco ball under the Singapore lights.

Even Lewis Hamilton, who usually fields the same Senna-like yellow helmet, is showing off a special white design this weekend.

Lewis Hamilton (Photo: WRi2)

But the constant chopping-and-changing is set to be stopped by F1's governing body.

Germany's Bild newspaper reports that the F1 technical committee is discussing a ban, so that - as in the past - television and trackside spectators can pick out their favourite driver by reliably spotting his customary helmet design.

Correspondents Frank Schneider and Nicola Pohl report from Singapore that the ban would allow drivers to make only one helmet colour change per season.

"If the constantly-new helmets are banned, I think that's good," said triple world champion Niki Lauda, who wore an all-red helmet throughout his career.

"Even I can hardly tell the drivers apart," the great Austrian, now Mercedes' team chairman, admitted.

From GMM

Melbourne is closing on a new deal to secure the future of the Australian grand prix.

Race boss Ron Walker is in Singapore this weekend, where according to the Herald Sun newspaper he met with Bernie Ecclestone and negotiated the terms for a new contract.

"The deal is pretty much done," said a source, "and will now go to the (state government) cabinet for approval."

The current contract expires in 2015.

"We would support the grand prix - we would like (to keep) the grand prix - but not at any price," said premier Denis Napthine, who won office in March.

Duryea Motor Company was officially established on September 21st, 1894, and thereby became the first American company to produce gasoline-powered automobiles.

Brothers Charles and Frank Duryea invented and built the very first automobile in the U.S. two years earlier.

The original Duryea cars featured a horizontal engine with low-tension ignition, as well as a three-speed transmission with belt final drive. Three- and four-wheelers were created.

Duryea Motor Company ran out of business in 1917.

Photo: Wikipedia

From press release

The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) announced today a 12-race schedule for the 2014 debut season of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship starting with the 52nd running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 25-26.



(Photo: ALMS)

Illustrating the post-merger synergy is the fact that the 2014 lineup features four race tracks currently on the Rolex Series schedule, four that are on the current ALMS schedule and four that are on both series' 2013 slates.

With three circuits (Long Beach, Detroit Belle Isle and Virginia International Raceway) on the 2014 schedule not having all four TUDOR United SportsCar Championship classes competing, each class (Prototype, Prototype Challenge, GT Le Mans and GT Daytona) will race 11 times next season.


In addition, preseason test sessions have been set for Nov. 16-17 at Sebring International Raceway and Nov. 19-20 at Daytona International Speedway. The test sessions will be open to all four classes of cars that will compete in the new championship: Prototype, Prototype Challenge, GT Le Mans and GT Daytona.



“When we announced the merger plans last year, we immediately envisioned a dream schedule,” said IMSA President and COO Scott Atherton. “One that our industry and, most importantly, our fans would embrace. Although it wasn't easy, we feel like we have arrived at just that.



“This lineup will have it all - historic road courses, major market street circuits and two of the most spectacular superspeedways in the world, Daytona and Indy. And it also will have the continent's new jewel - Circuit of the Americas. Overall, a dream schedule, indeed.”


2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Schedule

Date Event

Jan 25-26 Daytona International Speedway
Mar 15 Sebring International Raceway

Apr 12 Long Beach Street Circuit

May 4 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

May 31 Detroit Belle Isle

Jun 29 Watkins Glen Internationa
l
Jul 13 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

Jul 25 Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Aug 10 Road America
Aug 24 Virginia International Raceway

Sep 20  Circuit of The Americas
Oct 4 Road Atlanta

Ryan Newman set a track record, knocking Kahne off the provisional pole, for the race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It his seventh pole at the track, second of the season and 51st in his career.

It was the 16th time the Gen-6 set qualifying record.

“Thought that Kasey's lap was the lap to beat,” Newman said. “It all came down to the track cooling down.”

Newman, who toured the flat one-mile oval at 136.497 mph, said that track position was crucial to a chance to win because there are so few passing opportunities. He noted that he had said, many times before, “this is the birthplace of track position.”

Photo: ryannewman.com

Chevrolets, including Newman's, grabbed the first four spots in qualifying while 10 of the fast 12 cars were driven by those in the Chase including Newman's.

Martin Truex Jr. who learned that his Michael Waltrip Racing sponsor was exiting the team prematurely at the end of the year had the fastest Toyota in fifth spot.    

Joey Logano had the fastest Ford in the sixth spot. While series points leader, Matt Kenseth, who drives for Joe Gibbs Racing, was ninth.

“We had a really good lap,” said Kahne who turned his fast lap at 136.082mph We went out early (in the day) and felt like I missed it off of (turn) two, just got beat here at the end.

Jeff Gordon, who was added as the 13th Chaser, was confident. “It feels good that we're peaking now,” he said.  “This is a great way to get the weekend started and great way to get the Chase started.” Gordon was the last driver to beat the old track record of 135.922mph set by Brad Keselowski in July.

Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion, and third in the point's standings, Jimmie Johnson, was 10th fastest. And Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth's teammate and second in the standings, will start 11th in Sunday's race.

Carl Edwards, one of the Chasers, qualified 26th and thus the team was in hole before the race started. “That didn't go very well,” the Ford driver said “At least we're looking at the good side of my race car; the clean side because I hit the fence with the other side.”

Qualifying witnessed one freak accident, which fortunately did not produce any injuries.

Josh Wise had a right front absorber break loosed from the car and explode out of the fender. “The right-front tire broke...and I just went straight into the wall.”

Because only 43 cars showed up for Sunday's race none of the teams went home.

Adapted from GMM

Eric Boullier and Gerard Lopez are denying rumours their team is on the brink of collapse.

As Kimi Raikkonen departs along with a few other well-known names, Blick newspaper, however, reports that twenty more Lotus employees have sent applications to top teams including Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren.

Bild newspaper said some mechanics are also waiting for their pay.

But, as Lopez, who owns the team, insists: "Most of the team's debt is with me, so the only one who can put Lotus out of business is myself."

Actually, as far as Raikkonen is concerned, there never was any money dispute.

Eric Boullier, Kimi Raikkonen (Photo: WRi2)

"He will get his money, as in previous years and as agreed, at the end of the season," Lopez said.

And team boss Boullier said on Friday that the Enstone based team is not considering boosting its coffers by signing a 'pay driver' to replace the departing Raikkonen.

Instead, Boullier confirmed, he wants to sign Felipe Massa or Nico Hulkenberg. Perhaps, even both, to the detriment of Romain Grosjean.

"In my position, unfortunately, I have to consider every option," the Frenchman told Brazil's Totalrace.

Similar to Honda, Volkswagen reportedly has plans to sell vehicles powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) in the U.S., provided that the government works to install more CNG pumps at fuelling stations.

Volkswagen has been offering CNG cars in Europe for about a decade now.

The limited infrastructure in the U.S. (only 600 public CNG fuelling stations, most of them on the East Coast and West Coast) is a major obstacle for automakers like Honda and Volkswagen.

In comparison, Germany has 900 such stations for a much smaller territory. “I'm always struggling because we have not enough,” says Heinz-Jakob Neusser, product development chief for the Volkswagen brand.

As the second-largest seller of CNG vehicles in Europe, behind Fiat, Volkswagen has made huge investments in a platform that allows plants to build the same car with a variety of powertrains, including gasoline, diesel, CNG, electric, plug-in hybrid, and ethanol.

Source : autonews.com

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) only needed one run in Q3 to secure pole position ahead of the 2013 Singapore Grand Prix.

Mercedes' Nico Rosberg came close to beating Vettel, but ultimately had to settle for second. Romain Grosjean (Lotus) stormed to third, ahead of Mark Webber (Red Bull) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes).

Felipe Massa, who will be replaced by Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari at the end of the season, proved quicker than Fernando Alonso, as the pair lines up sixth and seventh. Jenson Button (McLaren), Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso) and Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber) completed the top 10.

Unlike his unusually faster teammate, Nico Hulkenberg didn't make it to Q3. He lines up 11th on the grid.

Charles Pic edged Giedo van der Garde at Caterham. Jules Bianchi (Marussia) settled for 21st ahead of his teammate Max Chilton, who brings up the rear.

Before qualifying, Vettel had also topped the last free practice session, from the same men who starred in qualifying. The order that time was Grosjean second fastest, followed by Rosberg, Webber and Hamilton. Raikkonen (Lotus) failed to crack the top 10 on both occasions, as he went from 12th in FP3 to 13th on the grid.

The times in FP3 showed Mercedes struggled less compared to Red Bull on the medium compound than it did on the supersoft.

Qualifying results* - Singapore Grand Prix (Marina Bay street circuit)
1.Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'24"841 - Q3

2.Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'42"932 - Q3

3.Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'43"058 - Q3

4.Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'43"152 - Q3

5.Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'43"254 - Q3
6.Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'43"890 - Q3
7.Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'43"938 - Q3
8.Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'44"282 - Q3
9.Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'44"439 - Q3
10.Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - no time - Q3

11.Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'44"555 - Q2

12.Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'44"588 - Q2
13.Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'44"658 - Q2
14.Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'44"752 - Q2
15.Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'45"185 - Q2
16.Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'45"388 - Q2

17.Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'46"121 - Q3
18.Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'46"619 - Q3
19.Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'48"111 - Q3

20.Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'48"320 - Q3
21.Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'48"830 - Q3
22.Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'48"930 - Q3
*Unofficial timing

From press release

The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) announced today a 12-race schedule for the 2014 debut season of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship starting with the 52nd running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 25-26.



(Photo: ALMS)

Illustrating the post-merger synergy is the fact that the 2014 lineup features four race tracks currently on the Rolex Series schedule, four that are on the current ALMS schedule and four that are on both series' 2013 slates.

With three circuits (Long Beach, Detroit Belle Isle and Virginia International Raceway) on the 2014 schedule not having all four TUDOR United SportsCar Championship classes competing, each class (Prototype, Prototype Challenge, GT Le Mans and GT Daytona) will race 11 times next season.


In addition, preseason test sessions have been set for Nov. 16-17 at Sebring International Raceway and Nov. 19-20 at Daytona International Speedway. The test sessions will be open to all four classes of cars that will compete in the new championship: Prototype, Prototype Challenge, GT Le Mans and GT Daytona.



“When we announced the merger plans last year, we immediately envisioned a dream schedule,” said IMSA President and COO Scott Atherton. “One that our industry and, most importantly, our fans would embrace. Although it wasn't easy, we feel like we have arrived at just that.



“This lineup will have it all - historic road courses, major market street circuits and two of the most spectacular superspeedways in the world, Daytona and Indy. And it also will have the continent's new jewel - Circuit of the Americas. Overall, a dream schedule, indeed.”


2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Schedule

Date Event

Jan 25-26 Daytona International Speedway
Mar 15 Sebring International Raceway

Apr 12 Long Beach Street Circuit

May 4 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

May 31 Detroit Belle Isle

Jun 29 Watkins Glen Internationa
l
Jul 13 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

Jul 25 Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Aug 10 Road America
Aug 24 Virginia International Raceway

Sep 20  Circuit of The Americas
Oct 4 Road Atlanta

A joint venture of a Banco Santander unit and Chrysler Group was accused in a lawsuit by Ally Financial of violating a copyright on loan forms to avoid a $150 million accounting penalty.

A joint venture of a Banco Santander unit and Chrysler Group was accused in a lawsuit by Ally Financial of violating a copyright on loan forms to avoid a $150 million accounting penalty.