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Eiji Toyoda, who spearheaded Toyota's expansion in Europe and the United States as the automaker's longest serving president, died today. He was 100.

Eiji Toyoda, who spearheaded Toyota's expansion in Europe and the United States as the automaker's longest serving president, died today. He was 100.

Eiji Toyoda, who spearheaded Toyota Motor Corp.'s expansion in the United States as the automaker's longest-serving president, died today at the age of 100.

Eiji Toyoda, who spearheaded Toyota's expansion in the United States as the automaker's longest-serving president, died today at the age of 100.

Eiji Toyoda, who spearheaded Toyota's expansion in the United States as the automaker's longest-serving president, died today at the age of 100.

Opel/Vauxhall says it hopes its Mokka subcompact SUV will rise to the top of Europe's fast-growing small SUV and crossover segment, but market watchers don't see it climbing that high.

In the spot "Trace Your Road" for the new IS Hybrid, Lexus invited some its Facebook fans to participate in an augmented reality video game with former Formula One driver Jarno Trulli.

Achieving scale is the only way to survive as a supplier in a fiercely competitive and globalized automotive market, a top executive at IAC Group said. 'Size means you have global presence.

In the spot "Trace Your Road" for the new IS Hybrid, Lexus invited some of its Facebook fans to participate in an augmented reality video game with former Formula One driver Jarno Trulli.

Opel/Vauxhall says it hopes its Mokka subcompact SUV will become market leader of Europe's fast-growing small SUV and crossover segment, but market watchers don't see it climbing that high.

In the spot "Trace Your Road" for the new IS Hybrid, Lexus invited some of its Facebook fans to participate in an augmented reality video game with former Formula One driver Jarno Trulli.

Opel/Vauxhall says it hopes its Mokka subcompact SUV will rise to the top of Europe's fast-growing small SUV and crossover segment, but market watchers don't see it climbing that high.

Bentley's ultra-luxury SUV will create a new segment when it begins sales in 2016, its global head of sales and marketing said.

From GMM

Sebastian Vettel has admitted he will miss his teammate Mark Webber.

The pair, teamed together at Red Bull since 2009, have had an often fraught relationship that arguably broke down completely after this year's 'multi-21' affair.

"You can say what you want about our relationship," triple world champion Vettel told the Austrian magazine Sportwoche, "but in the end we pushed each other very hard.

"I will miss that," said the German, referring to Australian Webber's impending departure for Le Mans-style prototype racing with Porsche.

Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing. (Photo: WRi2)

Mark Webber admitted to the latest edition of F1 Racing magazine that he decided to call time on his grand prix career due to flagging motivation.

"I've been on the edge with F1, motivation-wise, for the past couple of years," he said.

Indeed, since they went head-to-head for the title in 2010, this season Vettel has clearly had the edge on 37-year-old Webber, who is now almost 100 points behind the championship leader.

But Sebastian Vettel insists Mark Webber still pushes him hard.

"There has always been two or three corners where Mark has me biting my lip," he said. "You try to figure out what he is doing, which keeps you busy enough."

The pair have often clashed in the personality stakes, but Vettel insists that "Even if it is perceived differently from the outside, it was important that I was always hungry".

Not everyone can be pleased, and that's a fact. Frankly, when carmakers (in this case) try too hard, they usually miss the mark -- at least in my book. Sometimes, when they don't put in the necessary efforts, they also fail. Tough job they've got or is it that the crowd is tough?

Anyhoo, here's my list of hits & misses from this year's 2013 IAA:

Hit - Hyundai i10

Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre

I love me a good, stylish, small (let's call it micro) car like the Nissan Micra I recently drove. The Koreans have long excelled in this segment, and they continue to push the envelope as far as design and content are concerned. The new i10, which would slot beneath the Accent on our market, hits all the right notes both inside and out.

Continue reading 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show: Hits & Misses

Ford plans to install 200 additional charging stations at more than 50 of its facilities in the U.S. and Canada, including car plants, product development centres, as well as marketing and sales offices.

The automaker hopes to have all these new 220V charging stations operational by mid-2014. Ford employees will get the first four hours of charging for free; after that, they'll start paying. It's believed that this policy will encourage employees to move their vehicles so others can plug in.

Ford currently has about 1,700 charging stations at dealerships and company facilities in North America.

Source : autonews.com

Photo: Ford

From GMM

Lotus is weighing up between Nico Hulkenberg and Felipe Massa to complete its 2014 driver lineup.

Asked recently if - in the interests of continuity - Romain Grosjean will definitely be retained next year if Kimi Raikkonen departs, team boss Eric Boullier answered simply: "Yes."

So that leaves only the cockpit currently occupied by the Ferrari-bound Finn Raikkonen to fill.

The candidates are Hulkenberg - the impressive German who after moving from Force India last year is now seeking to jump from struggling Sauber - and the experienced Ferrari refugee Massa.

Brazilian Massa, 32, might have the edge.

Felipe Massa (Ferrari) has the edge on Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) for the Lotus race seat. (Photo: WRi2)

According to O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, Frenchman Boullier said recently that, "In 2014, experience will be more important than speed".

He is referring to the move from the current engine rules to next year's regulations surrounding the turbo V6s, which according to most of the sport's technical insiders is perhaps the biggest shift in the history of F1.

That is why, on the face of it, while the younger but hugely promising Hulkenberg perhaps should be the favourite, Massa's vast wealth of experience might have him in pole position for the seat.

A source close to Boullier told Brazilian correspondent Livio Oricchio: "The chances are 50 per cent apiece for Hulkenberg and Massa."

Oricchio said the prize on offer is a two-year contract with options.

And there may be another factor counting in Massa's favour -- money.

While definitely not a traditional 'pay driver', Massa would bring some weighty support to Lotus in the form of his well-connected manager, Nicolas Todt.

The son of FIA president Jean Todt, Nicolas has - according to Italy's Autosprint - already brought a sponsor to Lotus in the form of Swiss watchmaker Richard Mille.

Massa's continuity in F1 is also backed strongly by Bernie Ecclestone, who fears the absence of a single Brazilian on the grid could affect the success of the crucial Brazilian market, and the popular Brazilian grand prix.

"It would be surprising if (Ecclestone) has not talked to Eric Boullier and (Gerard) Lopez about his preference regarding the choice between Hulkenberg and Massa," said Oricchio.

Felipe Massa told Brazil's O Globo broadcaster this week: "We are negotiating (with Lotus). The Lotus is a very competitive car, which is what I want. It's a team that has a very important story with Brazil as well. They've had a hard time financially, so we are having many conversations to try to find a way not only for me to have a good car, but for Lotus as well."

Meanwhile, when asked about Massa's claim there has also been contact with McLaren, a spokesman for the British team told us: "We don't comment on media speculation with regard to rumoured driver movements."

From GMM

Red Bull has rejected a proposal that might have levelled the playing field for F1's struggling teams.

Next year, in-season testing will once again be allowed, but midfield teams Sauber and Force India admitted during a recent team managers' meeting that they probably cannot afford to attend every test day.

According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, Sauber proposed that, instead, they be allowed to substitute a test day for a day of wind tunnel testing with the actual race car.

"This was flatly rejected by Red Bull," said correspondent Michael Schmidt.

"The argument (made by Red Bull) is that they (Sauber) could learn more than on the track, and so they (Red Bull) would be forced to build a 1:1 model. Additionally, they (Red Bull) do not have a suitable wind tunnel."

Photo: Sauber F1 Team

Schmidt insisted, however, that Red Bull is not the only powerful team that is strenuously resisting the push for major cost cutting in formula one.

"The big teams protest so loudly that it's reminiscent of the orchestra that kept playing on the Titanic as it sunk," he said.

Finally, having resisted pressure to get on board until now, FIA president Jean Todt has reportedly signaled his intention to get to work on cost cutting.

"It seems the presidential election campaign also has its positive side effects," said Schmidt.

Gianmarco Raimondo will make his GP2 debut this weekend on the streets of Singapore with team Trident Racing.

Twenty-two-year-old Raimondo, from St. Catherines, Ontario, will face a tough challenge, as he will discover the driving of a GP2 car with no training. The Canadian will only have the 30 minute-long free practice session on Friday, on one of the most demanding track of the season, on the streets of Singapore to get to grips with his new mount.

Last year, Raimondo missed the European Open F3 title by nothing, as he led the point standings until the final race of the year.

He remained without a race seat this year until the team Trident's offer for Singapore. Gianmarco Raimondo will join Frenchman Nathanael Berthon in the Italian squad, replacing italian driver Sergio Campana.

Sergio Campana. (Photo: Trident Racing)

From GMM

Luca di Montezemolo on Tuesday said he does not believe Felipe Massa will race selfishly for the rest of his Ferrari career.

Now informed he will be replaced by Kimi Raikkonen after November's Brazil finale, Massa told TV Globo this week: "Starting on Friday in Singapore, I work only for myself.

"I will be on full attack on each lap. Now the time has come for me to look after just myself," the Brazilian, who has admitted contact about a 2014 seat with Lotus and McLaren, added.

Ferrari president di Montezemolo, however, said he is sure the Maranello based team, and title-charging 'number 1' Fernando Alonso, will continue to be able to count on Massa.

Felipe Massa, Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

"I expect Felipe - a wonderful person - to finish the season well. Supposedly he doesn't want to help Fernando? Nonsense -- he definitely will do it," the Italian told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"He will help us in the constructors' championship, as well as Alonso in the drivers'," di Montezemolo added.

It could be an awkward end to Massa's long Ferrari career. Indeed, he is being replaced by the driver - Raikkonen - who he comprehensively beat as teammate in 2008.

The 32-year-old said he doubts pairing the Finn with Alonso was a wise move by Ferrari.

"I know Fernando and Kimi well, both on and off the track. They are excellent drivers but I fear, as a team, there will be conflict," said Felipe Massa. "I have told them (Ferrari's management) to breathe deeply now, because breathing will be much more difficult next season."

Undoubtedly, Ferrari considered signing Nico Hulkenberg, but di Montezemolo said replacing Massa with "a young driver for the complex 2014 season would not have boosted our confidence".

He said he did not want to "look back on (ousting) Massa with regret", so signed a teammate for Alonso in the same league as "Alonso, Vettel and Hamilton".

"And Alonso is the first one happy that he is coming to us," added Montezemolo, insisting Ferrari is not so "masochistic" it would sign a driver that will patently upset the existing driver.