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News 10 Sep, 2013

iV-4 hints 
at crossover the size of a supermini to rival Dacia Duster and Nissan Juke

News 10 Sep, 2013

Renault Espace is previewed at this week's Frankfurt Motor Show

News 10 Sep, 2013

Renault Espace is previewed at this week's Frankfurt Motor Show

News 10 Sep, 2013

Mercedes S-Class coupe is due next year with prices set to start at £75,000

News 10 Sep, 2013

Racing version of Mercedes CLA 45 AMG revealed

Pictures 10 Sep, 2013

Former BMW styling boss Chris Bangle believes current car design is standing still in a fast-moving world.

Former BMW styling boss Chris Bangle believes current car design is standing still in a fast-moving world.

Lamborghini's race with Bentley to build the world's most expensive SUV reflects the competition among VW's 12 brands.

Ford of Europe CEO Stephen Odell sees signs that the European economy's tailspin has stopped. He cited business purchasing data, flattening of unemployment levels and the ability of hard-hit southern European countries to borrow.

Lamborghini's race with Bentley to build the world's most expensive SUV reflects the competition among VW's 12 brands.

Ford of Europe CEO Stephen Odell sees signs that the European economy's tailspin has stopped. He cited business purchasing data, flattening of unemployment levels and the ability of hard-hit southern European countries to borrow.

The Porsche 918 Spyder, officially unveiled today at the Frankfurt Auto Show, recently completed the 20.6 kilometres of the Nurburgring Nordschleife in a time of six minutes and 57 seconds -- 14 seconds faster than the previous Nurburgring record for a street-legal automobile.

“We promised a great deal with the 918 Spyder, namely to redefine performance, efficiency and driving pleasure. We have kept our word,” said Wolfgang Hatz, member of the Porsche AG Board of Management in charge of Research and Development.

As a plug-in hybrid, the new Porsche 918 Spyder paves the way for future generations of super sports cars. This 887-horsepower green monster can sprint from 0-100 km/h in just 2.8 seconds while burning an average of 3.0-3.3L/100km.

The completely redesigned 2014 Kia Soul made its European debut today at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Sporting a fresh new look inspired by the 2012 Kia Track'ster concept, the Soul also rides on a new platform and promises improved driving dynamics.

Front and rear LEDs, xenon headlights, and a panoramic sunroof highlight the exterior of the 2014 Kia Soul. The interior will prove quieter and roomier than the current one, including in the cargo area (now amounting to 354 litres).

Available features will include keyless entry and push-button start, automatic climate control, leather seat trim, and ventilated front seats. An optional Infinity sound system, tuned specifically for the 2014 Kia Soul, will also be part of the menu.

Pricing and on-sale dates have yet to be announced.

2013 vs 2014 Kia Soul (Photomontage: Auto123.com)

Kia today launched a compact crossover concept with butterfly doors at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Called Niro, this Nissan Juke rival stands 4,185 mm long, 1,850 mm wide, and 1,558 mm tall.

Riding on 20'' wheels, the Kia Niro offers 2+2 seating with a 50/50 split rear bench. Under the hood, you'll find a 1.6L turbocharged engine that generates 160 horsepower through a seven-speed, dual-clutch gearbox, while the rear wheels are driven by a 33 kilowatt electric motor.

The interior of the Kia Niro features aluminum inserts and a flat-bottomed steering wheel wrapped in leather. The centre screen can display altitude, compass, navigation, Bluetooth, and entertainment information.

Kia doesn't plan to enter production with the Niro, but based on consumer response, this concept may serve as inspiration for a future road model.

Source : caradisiac.com

Photo: Kia

From Toyo Tire F1600 Series

The Toyo Tires F1600 Championship Series is back at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for the BEMC Indian Summer races, rounds 11 and 12 of the Championship.

The Title fight for A Class honours has two combatants nearly neck-and-neck at the top of the points with only 4 races remaining.

Zach Robichon of Ottawa, Ontario and Jack Mitchell, Jr., of Clarendon Hills, Illinois have almost equal statistics on paper at this point in the season. Before drops Robichon is the points leader based on his consistent finishing record and 3 wins. Mitchell, Jr. is on top of the points after drops so far based on his outright pace and 4 trips to the top step of the podium.

After missing the Calabogie round 4th place Shane Jantzi returns and will be very strong. It is not known at this time whether 3rd place Jesse Lazare will be competing as he just finished up back-to-back weekends in Calabogie with F1600 and last weekend in USF2000 at Laguna Seca.

Wisconson's Max Hanratty could be the dark horse in A Class as his pace and confidence have risen steadily as the season has worn on. He was very strong last time out at CTMP and was in contention for a win. This could be his weekend to break through. He will be joined by teammate Thomas McGregor in a Spectrum Honda.

We are excited that Bob Perona, an IndyCar mechanic from Indiana will be taking advantage of an off weekend and making the trip north with his Piper and competing in this weekend's event. Marc Bishara will also be entered in his Van Diemen.

Craig Willis has been smashing records all season long and sits atop the “B” Class Championship points standings with a comfortable margin over Rookie Connor Wagland and Mike Lee.

Willis may not have all things his way this weekend as ultra-quick Andrew Mason is entered and will be looking for nothing but a win.

A surprise entry is Stephen Adams, a former Esso Protec series front runner and father of last season's A Class champion Michael Adams. He has made it clear he is just out for some fun but suspicions are he will be a great storyline once the green flag is waved.

Steve Bodrug, Bruce Kitchen and Bill Tebbut will also be back to compete in the always intense B Class battle.

Cars will hit the track on Friday for a full day of testing and the racing will begin with Round 1 on Saturday and Round 2 on Sunday afternoon.

To mark the first decade of production at the Home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood, England, the British luxury car maker unveiled the Phantom Celestial today at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

While the exterior colour scheme evokes the night sky, the interior offers a new take on the Starlight Headliner. The constellations, exactly as they were at midnight on January 1st, 2003 (as verified by the South Downs Planetarium), are represented by over 1,000 fibre optic lights hand-woven into the Celestial Phantom's headlining. The reflection of the “stars” in the surface of the rear drinks compartment lid was meticulously planned and designed.

World-class Dusk leather surfaces and a rear privacy divider's clock replete with four diamonds are included as well.

While the Rolls-Royce Phantom Celestial's price has yet to be announced, it'll quickly bring you down to earth, for sure.

Photo: Rolls-Royce

Photo: Rolls-Royce

From GMM

FIA presidential candidate David Ward has denied he is siding with F1's old guard Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone in his push to dethrone Jean Todt.

It has been rumoured that Ward, who worked closely with Mosley before Frenchman Todt took over, is being backed strongly not only by Mosley, but also the former FIA president's hand-in-hand powerbroker Ecclestone.

And not only that, the Daily Mail reports that Ward's campaign will be "helped" by Richard Woods, the former right-hand man during the Mosley reign.

"Woods has also acted for Ecclestone, albeit in the shadows," said correspondent Jonathan McEvoy.

"Despite having fingers in many pies, he is fundamentally a Mosley loyalist," he added.

Ward, however, plays down the links.

"I am not Max's man; I am not Bernie's man," he insisted, also denying that Mosley or Ecclestone are bankrolling his campaign.

Incumbent Todt, however, sounded less sure about Ward's continuing links to Mosley and Ecclestone.

"Don't put me into that please," he told the Telegraph last weekend at Monza. "Because honestly I have my own thoughts. I have very good contact with Max. I like Max. I have always been defending Max. In May he sent me an email saying 'Don't hear the noise that I am interested (in the presidency) or that David is interested ... it's not true. I am not interested'."

From GMM

Red Bull left Monza scratching its head, after winner Sebastian Vettel and teammate Mark Webber nursed gearbox problems throughout the race weekend.

"We already had problems on Friday," world championship leader Vettel is quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Before the race, the team had to open the gearbox and replace damaged parts, and during the Italian grand prix, both drivers were instructed to 'short-shift'.

And the drivers were also told to select a 'rain-mode' setting, delivering smoother gear changes, which explains why Fernando Alonso complained about Vettel's flashing red tail light.

Red Bull was alerted to the problem after the telemetry showed high oil temperatures.

Red Bull RB9-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

"Frankly, it's a mystery," admitted car designer Adrian Newey.

"Monza is particularly hard on the gearbox, but we never had a problem like this," he added. "With Mark it was serious, while for Vettel it was more of a precaution. It is possible that we will open his gearbox in the factory and everything is fine."

Team boss Christian Horner added: "Caterham uses an identical gearbox and had no problems."

From GMM

Renault has denied the departure of the French carmaker's chief operating officer Carlos Tavares will affect the formula one programme.

Media reports last week suggested the exit of motor racing enthusiast Tavares would "almost certainly have some impact" on the approach taken in F1 by Renault, who supply engines to multiple teams.

But when asked what the impact will be on F1, Renault Sport chief Jean-Michel Jalinier insisted: "Nothing changes. We have multi-year programmes and, personally, I answer directly to Carlos Ghosn.

"Our commitment remains unchanged, because the new formula one engines are more consistent with our interests," he told the Quattroruote publication at Monza.