Auto News 5

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

From GMM

F1's on-again, off-again New Jersey race appears back on again.

Bernie Ecclestone said in August a 2014 street race amid the Manhattan skyline is "not on the cards", and indeed the event was not listed on the draft calendar that recently appeared in the paddock.

But a race spokesman hit back, insisting preparations are "on track", and then F1 chief executive agreed: "If they comply with the contract, the race will take place."

Race promoter Leo Hindery jr on Tuesday said the issue is the simple matter of a fee that is not payable to the US sanctioning body until this week.

It means New Jersey simply missed the cut for the draft calendar.

"We never had any expectation of being on a preliminary schedule," Hindery is quoted by sportinglife.com.

"Bernie told us if we stayed consistent with the rules and applications then he would expect there to be a New Jersey race," he added.

If so, the race would be added to the official FIA calendar, to be ratified and released by the sport's governing body at the World Council meeting in Serbia later this month.

Hindery acknowledged however that the New Jersey project has been "the toughest challenge of my career".

"Were it not for some great partners and some folks in the sport who want us to succeed then it would have been abandoned," he admitted.

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.

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 Caterham F1 Team

Caterham F1 Team announced the arrival of a new Dutch sponsor as an official partner.

The Italian Grand Prix marked the first race where Cashper, the first and only short-term cash loan provider in Europe with a full banking licence owned by Novum Bank Limited (Malta), joined Caterham F1 Team as an official partner.

Cashper offers an easy accessible and convenient service for everyone with occasional short-term cash flow needs.

Photo: Caterham F1 Team

“Our partnership with Caterham F1 Team and Giedo van der Garde symbolises exactly what we stand for. Cashper's identity is “the Fast & Friendly Financer” and that mirrors perfectly Giedo's image, both of us constantly striving to maximize top speed and serve the public, said Renier Lemmens, Chairman of the Board, Novum Bank Ltd.

“As an Official Partner of Caterham F1 Team we are immediately creating a strong global presence for Cashper which provides short-term cash loans as a simple tool for consumers to meet and manage their smaller financial needs. Customers can count on almost instant cash and applying for a quick cash loan takes only five minutes”.

Over the coming months Cashper will instigate a large promotional campaign to support their partnership with Caterham F1 Team.

Every customer will be automatically entered into a monthly draw to win t-shirts and caps, personally signed by Caterham F1 Team driver Giedo van der Garde and a grand prize will be offered, giving the winner a full VIP trip to the Caterham F1 Team factory in Leafield, UK.

From GMM

Lotus has been the victim as more powerful teams waved chequebooks to lure key people.

In quick succession, Ferrari has poached Lotus' technical director James Allison, star driver Kimi Raikkonen, and aerodynamics chief Dirk de Beer.

France's Auto Hebdo claims computational fluid dynamics boss Jarrod Murphy is also departing.

Speaking before the latest wave of departures became clear, Lotus' chief executive Patrick Louis said: "It is clear that the average wage at the top teams is higher than ours.

"At certain levels, their salaries far exceed the standards."

Louis insists, however, that the Enstone based team will continue to thrive.

"People only see the visible part of the iceberg -- the stars, let's say," he said.

"But our structure is designed so that I am able to replace the various heads of the divisions overnight. A team should not be a house of cards that collapses when someone leaves."

Romain Grosjean, Lotus E21. (Photo: WRi2)

It must also be noted that the Lotus-Ferrari exchange has not been all one-way. It emerged this week that Nicolas Hennel de Beaupreau, a well-regarded aerodynamicist, is leaving Ferrari bound for the Enstone based team.

Italy's Autosprint reports that a deal may have been struck between the two teams, allowing both Hennel and the Ferrari-bound Dirk de Beer to avoid the customary 'gardening leave'.

Correspondent Alberto Antonini speculates that the 'gardening leave' deal might even be tied up with long time driver Felipe Massa's possible move from Ferrari to Lotus for 2014.

Automotive executives are extremely confident this year about the state of the industry even as some are becoming concerned that profits may be eroded as competition intensifies, a new survey found.

GM's electric-vehicle program will continue to focus on affordable electric cars for the mainstream public even though it plans to launch a luxury Cadillac-badged companion to its Chevrolet Volt.

The California New Car Dealers Association is seeking a state investigation into Tesla Motors advertising that the group says makes "unsubstantiated and illegal savings claims."

Car sharing services are expected to have more than 12 million members worldwide by 2020, up from 2.3 million this year, a report from Navigant Research said.

If you feel like we feature a lot of old Chrysler advertisements here, you're right.

If you feel like we feature a lot of old Chrysler advertisements here, you're right.

and#8220;Gran Turismo 6and#8221; is slated to hit the PS3 console on Dec. 6, but Japanese game magazine

and#8220;Gran Turismo 6and#8221; is slated to hit the PS3 console on Dec. 6, but Japanese game magazine

Not many sports cars can live up to titles like and#8220;road-racing championand#8221; and and#8220;rally legend,and#8221; but the Safari Rally Z claimed both in its short-lived career. The Nissan Restoration Club recently announced at

Not many sports cars can live up to titles like and#8220;road-racing championand#8221; and and#8220;rally legend,and#8221; but the Safari Rally Z claimed both in its short-lived career. The Nissan Restoration Club recently announced at

Ford is auctioning off a one-of-a-kind prototype 2014 NHRA Mustang Cobra Jet at Barrett-Jackson in Las Vegas.

Ford is auctioning off a one-of-a-kind prototype 2014 NHRA Mustang Cobra Jet at Barrett-Jackson in Las Vegas.

Following the failure of Fisker Automotive Inc. to repay federal loans, the U.S.

Russian Railways (RZD) says its acquisition of 75% of PSA Peugeot Citroen's logistics division Gefco, will see the business remain an independent entity.