Auto News 5

ZF Friedrichshafen plans to boost production of eight- and nine-speed automatic transmissions by 50 percent to 1.2 million units by 2016.

From GMM

Mika Hakkinen says he is "working hard" to secure the future of Williams rookie Valtteri Bottas.

Bottas, the 23-year-old Finn, made his debut this year just as the British team's competitiveness slumped.

Teammate Pastor Maldonado, the strongly PDVSA-backed Venezuelan, has scored Williams' only 2013 point to date.

And there are rumours Williams, having partnered with GP2 team Russian Time, could pair Maldonado with a Russian driver next year.

Mika Hakkinen and Valtteri Bottas. (Photo: WRi2)

Asked to reveal the details of Bottas' plans for 2014, double world champion Hakkinen - involved in the young Finn's management - said: "We are working hard to achieve the best possible situation for Valtteri in many respects.

"I think his performance this season has been amazing. He is in good hands," the 44-year-old former McLaren driver told Russia's Championat.

Valtteri Bottas admits that Williams' languishing form has made it difficult for him to show his full potential in 2013.

"I think for sure it's not helping," he said.

"If you would be consistently fighting in the top ten, everyone would see maybe a bit more of what you can do. I think the first half of the season hasn't been too bad for me," added Bottas.

On 540 diesel-powered units of the 2010 BMW X5, the fuel filter heater (used for warming diesel fuel during vehicle operation at low ambient air temperature) could malfunction and/or become permanently activated, even when the vehicle is parked and turned off, which could drain the battery.

A discharged battery would prevent engine start-up. In certain cases, the heater unit could overheat and result in a fire causing property damage and/or personal injury.

BMW dealers in Canada will therefore replace the fuel filter heater assembly. Note: This is an expansion of a 2011 recall on the X5.

Source: Transport Canada

Photo: BMW

Those who proclaim money is the root of all evil are simply complaining that they don't have enough of it. I occasionally find myself woe-is-me-ing the fact that I don't have millions of dollars in the bank, but I usually get over it.

Those with a few extra clams in the bank, without being filthy stinkin' rich, the automotive world is ripe with options, some better than others.

Perhaps one of the best-rounded choices in North America is the Audi S6. The battle rages on between BMW and Mercedes-Benz for the top-dog spot, but Audi know the cars speak for themselves.

The Audi S6 need not do a thing except be. Offering a perfect blend of luxury and performance, the S6 is motivation alone to get a degree that'll land you salary enough to get behind the wheel.


What is an Audi S6?
The 2013 Audi S6 is the crown jewel in the A6 lineup in North America. Elsewhere, those with enough coin can purchase an RS 6 wagon. If you'd like a sample of what the RS 6 is like, check out my review of the RS 7, essentially the hatchback version of the same car.

On that subject, the S6 is only offered as a sedan in North America, while delightful long-roofs are available in many European countries.

The Audi S6 is a large, midsize luxury sedan blessed with everything that comes with the “S” line of Audi cars, meaning it goes fast and looks good in the process.

The 2013 Audi S6 is the crown jewel in the A6 lineup in North America. (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre)

2013 Audi S6 Price and Specs
The 2013 S6 features Audi's delectable twin-turbocharged 4.0L V8 TFSI engine. It develops a healthy 420 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque.

The engine is an absolute gem, but the piece de résistance is the 7-speed Audi S tronic dual-clutch transmission mated to the quattro all-wheel drive system. What goes fast must slow down and the S6 does so with 15.7” front and 14” rear ventilated discs.

Large portions of the car's body are made of aluminum for maximum weight saving.

Base price of the 2013 Audi S6 is $82,300. With options (such as the Bang & Olufsen audio system, Vision package, LED headlights) my tester's total rings in at $100,895.

The 2013 S6 features Audi's delectable twin-turbocharged 4.0L V8 TFSI engine. It develops a healthy 420 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre)

Driving the 2013 Audi S6
I was fortunate enough to get my hands on the 2013 Audi S6 just in time for a 1,000 km road trip. The S6 proved my best companion to date for this drive.

With Audi's Drive Select set to Individual (everything on Dynamic, save for the suspension on Comfort), the highway held no obstacles -- only dreaded traffic.

Throttle response feels lazy, but the powertrain's effortless efficiency and power only make it seem so. In mere moments, the big sedan barrels down the highway with supreme focus and confidence. The 2013 Audi S6 is so at ease at speed and so unperturbed that exceeding limits without realizing is a real concern. Hence why I love Germany.

The 2013 Audi S6 will break the 100 km/h mark in a blink over 4.5 seconds. In the process, and especially when in manual mode, the driver gets to experience Audi's savoir-faire transmission-wise. The S tronic bangs through gears with alacrity. Whether slumming around the city or attempting to break the sound barrier, the transmission lives by the driver's whims.
To go along with the powertrain, Audi was kind enough to endow the car with precise steering. I would have liked an extra dose of tactile communication from the front-end, but I could easily live without.

I was fortunate enough to get my hands on the 2013 Audi S6 just in time for a 1,000 km road trip. The S6 proved my best companion to date for this drive. (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre)

Inside and Out of the 2013 Audi S6
The current generation A6, introduced in 2012, is boss. Period. Audi's famous the world over for their front fascia. The S6's Phantom Black coat mixes beautifully with the gorgeous grille and particularly well with the stunning LED headlamps.

The 2013 Audi S6's styling is not revolutionary, but is oh-so flawlessly German. The optional 20” alloys fill the wheel wells and expose the large discs and S6-branded calipers. Oh, and the S6 badges cap everything off perfectly.

On board, the S6 treats its occupants to extraordinary seats up front, and a roomy rear bench. Facing the driver is a busy dashboard replete with controls to make the entire driving experience a memorable one.

Fit and finish are flawless. I'm a huge fan of the contrast stitching on the wheel and shifter boot. Audi's MMI controller requires some time for familiarization, but can be mastered. The trunk, with the bench lowered, easily swallowed my Giant and week's worth of gear.

A word about the famous Bang & Olufsen audio system: While a supreme showpiece when the tweeters rise from the corners of the dashboard with great sound, I think the $6,500 price would be better invested in comfort seats and Starbucks shares.

Facing the driver is a busy dashboard replete with controls to make the entire driving experience a memorable one. Fit and finish are flawless. (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre)

Comparing the Audi S6
The 2013 Audi S6 faces stiff competition from the BMW 550i xDrive and the Mercedes-Benz E 550 4MATIC.

The Audi S6 is the sportiest of the lot and, depending on taste, the most badass. I would look into the Bimmer but would likely return home with the Four Rings.

From GMM

World champion Sebastian Vettel has jumped to the defence of F1's embattled chief executive.

Already under fire by German prosecutors over the Gerhard Gribkowsky bribe affair, Ecclestone's troubles worsened this week when a London court ordered his bosses at F1 owner CVC to release hundreds of documents about the sale of the sport years ago.

The Financial Times said the documents relate to German media group Constantin Medien's $171 million lawsuit claiming F1 was undervalued when it was sold to CVC in 2006.

Bernie Ecclestone's birthday party in 2012. (Photo: WRi2)

Most figures in the paddock have been reluctant to comment on Ecclestone's troubles, which could end the 82-year-old's decades-long reign over formula one.

But Vettel is quoted by Germany's Bild newspaper: "The bottom line is that he is the one who brought formula one to such a high level."

And Mercedes' Nico Rosberg reportedly added: "He has done so much for this sport for so many years."

According to media speculation, one potential successor for Ecclestone is Christian Horner, currently Vettel's team boss at Red Bull.

But the Briton played down the prospect, insisting he is "fully focused on what I'm doing".

"I hope he (Ecclestone) goes on for a long time to come," Horner is quoted by the Daily Mail. "The business, as it is today, is because of the way he has run it and operated it. It is unimaginable for him not to be there."

I've become painfully aware of my dependence on all things technological. From not being able to properly complete a run if my internet radio fails while on the trail to dreading the thought of having to press a button on a key fob instead of having keyless entry. Analogue is so passé.

However, the more technology I integrate into my everyday life (and believe me, there's a lot of it), the more chance there is of something going wrong -- something I can't fix on my own.

Take for example the time we tested a Chevrolet Volt; while out on the road the oh-so-fancy and nice-to-look-at digital gauges just stopped working. The screen went blank: no speedometer, no battery reading, nada. We were driving blind, and there was nothing we could do about it. It eventually came back, but we were at the mercy of the car's technology.

From digital gauges to all-touchscreen centre stacks and electric-lift tailgates, cars today are loaded to the gills with gadgetry and electronic bits and bobs that are bound to fail down the road. And what happens when they do? Well, I found out you have no other option but to call a tow.

While out on the road on a family vacation in a 2013 Volvo XC60 T6 AWD we had a bit of a vehicle malfunction. The power-assisted, electric lift-gate locked in the “open” position and nothing we did would bring it back down. There was no way to override the hydraulic arms and muscle it down, unless we wanted to crack said arms. We were stuck with an open trunk. So, we called for a tow.

It was frustrating because the fix seemed so simple. If only the trunk had an analogue override, some way to bypass all the technological gadgetry so it could just be closed manually. Most power-assisted hatches do not like to be manually “assisted” and will resist any sort of human intervention when on the move. It's annoying.

I've also been in higher-end German vehicles where the radio would suddenly, and loudly, blare static while I was driving -- and it was a known issue for the brand.

Even auto-up windows are risky; as I've had one lock in the “open” position after a passenger jokingly hit the up-down button a few times in a row, essentially confusing the system. Same for a self-folding mirror; it complied and folded in, but refused to fold back out. I had to drive with one mirror for a few days before the glitch “passed” because God forbid I muscled it back to open against the electrical motor that would have surely broken further.

Head-up displays, night vision, front crash sensors, blind-spot monitors, rear DVD systems/entertainment hubs, massaging seats, power-assisted trunks/doors/folding mirrors, touchscreens everywhere, fully digital gauges; where will it end? How much more technological gadgetry will we integrate to make our cars harder and harder to maintain on our own without an engineering degree?

As the future of EVs and other such vehicular advancements is practically upon us, I can't help but panic a little as the world of simplistic knobs, buttons and needles in the gauges are quickly fading away.

Photo: Philippe Champoux

Porsche is once again teaming up with Blackberry to create a premium smartphone inspired from the Blackberry Z10. The upgrades made by Porsche Design will result in a starting price of nearly $2,000 USD when it goes on sale in 2014, sources say.

Codenamed P9982, this new smartphone will feature a textured leather back and a premium aluminum front panel.

The first joint product of Porsche and Blackberry, the P'9981 based on the Blackberry Bold 990, launched in 2012 and recently won a Red Dot Award for Best Technology Design.

Source : techno.lapresse.ca

From Maritime Pro Stock Tour

Maritime Pro Stock Tour racer, Mike Stevens has died following late race crash at Oyster Bed Speedway, Prince Edward's Island.

Stevens from Riverview, New Brunswick has died after a multi-car crash in a series race at Oyster Bed Speedway last Saturday night.

The crash happened on lap 98 of the 100-lap feature.

Stevens is a multi-time series winner with three trips to victory lane in the past three seasons, along with 23 top 10s over his eight years on the PST circuit.

He was 30 years old and is survived by his wife Sharon and two small children.

Service details are pending; it is requested the family's privacy be respected at this difficult time.

Condolences can be shared via Twitter @ProStockTour #MikeStevens.

Race results from last evening are pending and will be posted as available.

This September at the Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany, Honda will introduce the production version of the new Civic Tourer as well as a refreshed Civic Hatchback, both of which won't land in North American showrooms.

In addition, visitors will get to see thew Acura NSX Concept and the 2013 Honda Civic WTCC that is competing in the FIA World Touring Car Championship with drivers Gabriele Tarquini and Tiago Monteiro.

Set to return to F1 in 2015 under a joint project with McLaren, Honda will also showcase the McLaren Honda MP4/4 Heritage F1 Car, which dominated the 1988 F1 championship by winning 15 of 16 Grand Prix.

Finally, the Japanese manufacturer will display the RC213V motorcycle that is currently racing in MotoGP for the Repsol Honda team.

Photo: Honda

On November 18th, 2013, the next-generation MINI will make its world debut at the Oxford assembly plant in England, followed by a party in London that same evening.

The date happens to coincide with the 107th anniversary of the man who founded the Mini brand in 1959, Sir Alec Issigonis.

Two days later, the limelight will shine on the new MINI at the Tokyo Auto Show, Japan, then a few hours later at the Los Angeles Auto Show in California.

Photo: MINI

Citroen Racing confirmed Wednesday that three-time WTCC champion, Yvan Muller will be Sebastien Loeb's teammate at Citroen for the 2014 World Touring Car Championship.

Sébastien Loeb and Yvan Muller. (Photo: Citroën Racing)

Yvan Muller is a highly-respected figure in the world of WTCC, having won the title three times (in 2008, 2010 and 2011) and broken every record going, from race wins, to points scored, to number of pole positions and number of laps spent in the lead.

The 2013 season has confirmed his supremacy and he could clinch his fourth championship crown at the upcoming Sonoma meeting (7-8 September).

C-Elysée WTCC. (Photo: Citroën Racing)

Yvan Muller's contract commits him to the team for the next two seasons.

After driving the Citroën C-Elysée WTCC for the first time at the Val de Vienne circuit, he will take part in the testing programme that will take place in the lead-up to the 2014 World Championship.

In a recent interview with GP Week, Sahara Force India driver Adrian Sutil said he lost all respect for Lewis Hamilton following an incident in a Shanghai nightclub in 2011.

Sutil was involved in an incident with Genii's Eric Lux in a Shanghai nightclub following Hamilton's victory in the Chinese Grand Prix. Hamilton who was present was a key witness in their affair.

Adrian Sutil had hoped Hamilton would act as a witness, but the Briton never appeared.

The German Formula 1 driver was ultimately convicted of causing grievous bodily harm, incurring an 18-month suspended sentence and a 200,000 euro fine.

Sutil and Hamilton had been friends since their Formula 3 days, but the incident dramatically altered their relationship.

Lewis Hamilton and Adrian Sutil in Japan, in 2008. (Photo: WRi2)

After a year off, Sutil was back in F1 this season and Hamilton suggested in Monaco that he wanted "to make sure we get things right".

Asked by GP Week whether he and Hamilton had yet to discuss their situation, Adrian Sutil said: "No, no. For some reason he never contacted me again.”

“He always said he is my friend but he wishes to suddenly disappear, he changed his number. I saw him in the paddock and he always said, 'Yeah, we can sit down and talk about it', but he never arrived,” Sutil explained.

“These kinds of people I don't really respect. I respect him as a sportsman, but in private he's not on my level and I don't need to waste time with those people. I'm happy I realised what kind of a person he is,” he added.

From OSCAAR

Brandon Watson, driver of the No.9 Shear Metal Products car, led from flag-to-flag to earn his fourth OSCAAR (Ontario Stock Car Association of Asphalt Racing) victory of the 2013 season at Peterborough Speedway on Saturday night.

After taking the lead on the first lap, Watson was never challenged for the top spot, leading by as much as a full straightaway at the Chase for the Colours event.

"We were lucky to get (the car) spot on and our car was really good," said Watson. "We were able to lead all the laps and never looked back."

Watson started inside row three for the 50 lap main event, but was the benefactor of a lap one incident between polesitter Kevin Cornelius (No.17 Halton Crushed Stone) and Derrick Tiemersma (No.7 Wayfreight).

The top two drivers made contact on the initial start to the race heading in to turn one, but couldn't separate after their fenders became locked. Cornelius got the worst of the contact, suffering a flat right rear tire and forcing him to relinquish his starting spot at the front of the field.

A complete restart was in order for the 15-car field which put Tiemersma on point with Watson to his outside. Watson wasted little time taking the lead, passing Tiemersma at the entrance of turn one.

The Stayner, Ont.-based driver set a blistering pace for the next 36 laps. At the half way mark, Watson put John Owen (No.2 Owen Performance Engines) one lap off the pace, leaving just four cars on the lead lap.

The second and final caution of the night came on lap 36 when Jim Bowman (No.63 Remax/TMG Mortgages) spun in to the infield grass off of turn four. Owen received the lucky dog award and become the fifth and final car on the lead lap.

The ensuing restart gave Tiemersma his best chance at the lead, but Watson gave the second-place driver nothing to work with. Watson paced the field for the final 14 laps, cruising to the checkered flag by nearly half a lap margin of victory.

The battle for the second spot heated up considerably as Tiemersma and Gresel battled nose to tail for several laps. In the dying laps, Gresel was finally able to get underneath the No.7 in turn three to earn the second spot on the podium.

Tiemersma would finish third while Glenn Watson (No.22 Line-X/Rival Office Solutions) would cross the line fourth. Owen would round out the top-five drivers.

With the win, Watson will start on the pole for the 21st edition of the Autumn Colours Classic on Thanksgiving weekend.

The series shift to Kawartha Speedway next Sunday August 11 for the tour's only stop at the Fraserville, Ont. facility.

A 4:00pm start time is on tap for the OSCAAR Super Late Models who will be joined by the OSCAAR Modifieds and Brighton Speedway's Vanderlaan dirt Pro Late Models for an exhibition race.

From Hyundai Motorsport

Hyundai Motorsport continued to make good progress on its development programme by conducting the first gravel tests with a new 2014-specification of the i20 WRC in July.

All three of the team's recently-signed development drivers, Juho Hänninen, Bryan Bouffier and Chris Atkinson, got behind the wheel of the i20 WRC as the team evaluated a range of new components in unique gravel conditions in preparation for its debut season in 2014.

Photo: Hyundai Motorsport

“We have had a very solid month of testing and learned a lot about the performance potential of the new Hyundai i20 WRC in a range of conditions, said Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal Michel Nandan.

“As with any inaugural testing, there have been some teething issues to overcome but this is precisely the purpose of testing and we have taken time to analyse and understand the problems. We have signed three very competent development drivers in Juho, Bryan and Chris, and the balance of the last month of testing has, for me, been positive.”

The team carried out two separate private tests during July in which to put the latest iteration i20 WRC through its paces with the prime objective of component testing in appropriate conditions for the FIA World Rally Championship.

Photo: Hyundai Motorsport

“The two test sessions that we held last month took place in the grounds of Chateau Lastours and Mazamet in the south of France, two venues that afforded us diverse conditions,” continued Nandan.

“It is important for us to gather data in rough, as well as fast and flowing conditions. The Hyundai Motorsport engineering and design teams at Alzenau are constantly working to perfect the i20 WRC so these latest tests gave us the opportunity to assess the main mechanical components of the car, like transmission or suspension. It is very much an evolution of the car we used in previous tarmac tests.”

The team has also been finessing its own operations at the tests, bonding as a team and establishing the test crew set-up for the rest of the year's testing.

DTM has produced this exciting video of the Top 10 overtaking manoeuvres of the past 13 years.

The clip shows some stunning and very braves passing moves, including those of top drivers such as Manuel Reuter, five-time DTM champion Bernd Schneider, Christian Albers, Tom Kristensen, reigning champion Bruno Spengler, Gary Paffett and two female drivers, Katherine Legge and Susie Wolff.

Italy's Max Papis will fill-in for the injured Tony Stewart at this weekend's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen International the former site of the USGP.

According to the Stewart Haas Racing team the 42-year old three-time Sprint Cup champion had surgery “after suffering a broken tibia and fibula in a sprint car crash Monday night, Aug. 5 at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Stewart did not sustain any other injuries.

The surgery served as a preliminary procedure to stabilize and clean the Grade 2 injury. A second surgery will be necessary. In the meantime, Stewart will remain hospitalized for observation.

Stewart was leading the 30-lap American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) feature when a lapped car spun in front of him. Stewart hit the lapped car and flipped.”

Papis had recently tested a car for Stewart for the race.

Tony Stewart, Chevrolet SS. (Photo: NASCAR)

The 43 year old said on Twitter he was honored by the opportunity.

The Italian has driven in Formula One, Champ Car,IndyCar, sports cars and in NASCAR including 35 Sprint Cup Series starts, with a career-best finish of eighth in 2009 at Watkins Glen. His last Cup level drive was at Michigan International Speedway in 2010.

Stewart added on his team's Facebook page “I told someone to go get my phone or else I was going to get up and get it myself,” Stewart said. “Finally got reconnected to the world and just want to say thank you for all the prayers and well wishes. My team will remain strong and I will be back."

What is it?

What is it?

What is it?

What is it?