Auto News 5

Ford said it was meeting its commitments to maintain UK investment and to complete restructuring plans entirely through voluntary separations or redeployment within the company.

BMW group owned Rolls-Royce on Wednesday (17 July) said it had created over 100 new jobs.

European Union Trade Commissioner, Antonio Tajani, is stressing "urgent" action is needed by all members of the European Union (EU) to find a solution to the air conditioning refrigerant impasse that has seen several Mercedes-Benz models blocked in France.

European Union Trade Commissioner, Antonio Tajani, is stressing "urgent" action is needed by all members of the European Union (EU) to find a solution to the air conditioning refrigerant impasse that has seen several Mercedes-Benz models blocked in France.

Renault-Nissan CEO and chairman Carlos Ghosn said in Chennai, India, the alliance is developing "all-new" vehicles to meet the specific demands of new car buyers in the world's fastest growing economies.

Mercedes-Benz's AMG performance-car division has officially revealed its new 577-hp S63 AMG ahead of the rapid sedan's public

The toughest opponent for the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show has never been the weather, which is always perfect, nor the location, in car-crazed Southern California. It's been the calendar.

Facing down a buying public more interested in gargantuan chrome barges than frugal Swede-boxes, Volvo had to think out of theand#8230;box to peddle its wares.

Ally Financial, the auto-lender majority owned by federal taxpayers, may raise less than $1 billion in stock to help it pass the Federal Reserve's annual stress test, a person with knowledge of the plans told Bloomberg.

The death of the headline sticker price for new cars may be hastened by the popularity of smartphones and the growth of pay-per-use car-sharing operations.

While Kyle Busch was very upset with Ryan Newman after the running of the New Hampshire Motor Speedway race - Newman laughed off those comments.

On Sunday, after the race, Busch called Newman “the biggest stupid idiot out here, and he's a big ogre and can do whatever he wants because he can probably kick anybody's butt. So no sense in getting in a fight with him, but glad he's out of a job."

Late on Monday Newman called into the SiriusXM NASCAR studio to respond.

In response to a question by Dave Moody Newman laughed and said “what do you want me to say?”

But Moody and co-host Angie Skinner wanted to know how Newman really felt. "I'm just afraid if I re-arranged his face I might fix it," Newman said chuckling.

"He's frustrated finishing third or wherever he was after hitting me first and then getting a little rub down the straightaway. Just imagine how I feel. It is what it is.

"We know that he's not very bright. He's a heck of a talent but he's not very bright. And I'll leave it at that."

Ryan Newman, Chevrolet SS. (Photo: NASCAR)

Then Newman went on to explain “I thought Kurt (Busch's) and Matt and my incident was strictly a racing incident. I admit to dooring Kyle down the straightaway after he blasted me into corner I didn't crash him he didn't crash me. I don't know what he's mad about it.”

Then he addressed Busch's statement that he was happy that Newman lost his job at Stewart Haas Racing when the season ends.

“It seemed like me having not having a ride,” Newman added, seems like he has way more to lose than I do. He might want to check his track before he gets ahead of himself. Laughs I just said he has to watch his back. If he's going to run his mouth he'd better be able back up running his mouth.”

Then with another laugh he concluded “I've just given you guys fuel for your show I really don't care about his opinions.” And he laughed again.

Teams Red Bull Racing and Lotus announced that their regular race drivers would not participate in the young driver test held at Silverstone circuit in the UK.

Following a clarification of the permitted programmes from Pirelli and the FIA for the test, Red Bull Racing has revised its driver line up as follows, meaning that Mark Webber will not take the wheel of the Renault-powered RB9:

Wednesday July 17
All Day: Antonio Felix Da Costa
Thursday July 18
Morning: Antonio Felix Da Costa
Afternoon: Daniel Ricciardo
Friday July 19
Morning: Carlos Sainz Jr
Afternoon: Sebastian Vettel

Mark Webber, Red Bull RB9. (Photo: WRi2)

The test schedule was also modified at Lotus F1 Team. Nicolas Prost will now be driving the E21-Renault on the final day of the test in place of Kimi Raikkonen.

“After clarification emerged regarding the scope of tests that could be conducted by race drivers for Pirelli this week, it was evident that Kimi would be rather under utilised and that a better way forward was to use one of the team's test drivers to continue their work with the E21,” says the press release.

Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus E21. (Photo: WRi2)

“Once details of what race drivers were allowed to do here became apparent, we would have only been able to conduct a very limited programme with Kimi,” said trackside operations director Alan Permane.

“If we were to run him, it would compromise the other development work we want to do with the car here. By running Nico again we'll be able to build on the work already carried out and hopefully be in the best position to develop the E21 ahead of Budapest, whilst also conducting the necessary tire testing for Pirelli."

From GMM

Caterham is already focusing on 2014, current race driver Giedo van der Garde has revealed.

According to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, the Dutchman is scheduled to test Pirelli's new Hungary-spec tires at the Silverstone test late this week.

But the 28-year-old rookie revealed: "The team has been focusing on next season."

Van der Garde said the focus at Silverstone, then, will be for the race drivers to try Pirelli's new tires.

"For my teammate Charles Pic and me it is important to see how the tires feel. Probably they will have harder compounds that we can use for longer."

Caterham has had a difficult 2013 campaign, faltering initially with an overly conservative car and pushing to catch up with only rival Marussia.

"For this season," Giedo Van der Garde admitted, "there is not much more to gain. We should focus on the fight with Marussia, as we are not going to be able to close the gap to the others."

Caterham CT03. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

The extent of Sauber's Russian rescue deal, and the emergence of future team driver Sergey Sirotkin, caught the world of formula one by surprise.

Russian F1 commentator Alexei Popov is quoted by Basler Zeitung newspaper: "I had to read the (press release) several times before I could believe it."

Some of the sport's sceptics are still not sure.

There are reports of links to the KGB, but in truth very little is known about the entities listed in the Sauber release.

The likely debut of a 17-year-old Russian driver next year is also highly unusual.

"First of all I want to wish Sergey (Sirotkin) and his associates good luck," said Oksana Kosachenko, the former manager of ex-F1 driver Vitaly Petrov.

"But so far, he is not a formula one driver. This is about certain arrangements which, undoubtedly, will be implemented."

Sergey Sirotkin. (Photo: Renault)

Germany's Bild newspaper, however, claims that "not a cent" has yet flowed from Russia to Hinwil.

But a team boss who has worked with Sirotkin and his Russian partners before, Andreas Jenzer, told the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper that his dealings were all positive.

"When I first came into contact with his Russian supporters in 2008, I also had a little bit of concern initially. But I've never had a bad experience in all of the years," Jenzer said.

It seems that much will depend on whether Sirotkin makes his race debut next year, based on a series of track tests that could include appearances on Friday mornings in 2013.

But German broadcaster Christian Danner warned: "Unfortunately he is light years from the levels of a current formula one driver."

Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko knows more about the pecking order in Sirotkin's current race series, Formula Renault 3.5.

"Sergey is currently in the midfield, and he has struck me as not bad. Better than (2013 Sauber driver Esteban) Gutierrez. But he will have to show what he can do under pressure."

A major hurdle for Sirotkin will be getting his mandatory FIA super license, as Marko insisted: "You can't just get your sponsors to buy it for you!"

Some suspect the Russian deal was one done out of desperation by the financially-dying Sauber.

A Swiss supplier to the struggling F1 team told Aargauer Zeitung newspaper that his company has not been paid a cent by Sauber since December of last year.

A Swiss media source told us: "Unfortunately, Sauber has to play the game (with the Russians), but it's better than shutting up shop."

Speed Week also thinks the Russian deal is a good one, because it's "only a matter of time before normal sponsorships flow from Russia, with Gazprom in pole position".

Photo: WRi2

Bernie Ecclestone, meanwhile, hailed the Sauber deal, and also Tuesday's news that the backmarker Marussia has inked a long-term engine deal with Ferrari.

"I'm glad that Sauber and Marussia are continuing," the F1 chief executive told Blick newspaper. "But how serious the situation really was with these teams, I don't know."

Bernie Ecclestone added that Russian president Vladimir Putin is supportive of the Sauber deal.

"I was with him in Moscow three times," said the 82-year-old. "He is very enthusiastic and helpful, which will benefit the whole of F1."

This is literally a hot topic, and it's not something I like writing about. Being a mother of three, I always get my heart broken when I hear stories of young children being left inside a car while their parents go shopping or wait to pay for gas, especially when some of them die under the scorching sun.

Of course, many were simply forgotten by their distracted mom or dad, even though they love their kids to death (sorry for the pun). My goal here is to raise awareness about the dangers of leaving children inside a vehicle during a heat wave.


Four-wheel oven
Everyone knows that a car interior that sits under a hot sun rapidly turns into a oven, even when the outside temperature remains under 30°C. A 2008 study by Dr. Oded Bar-Or, sponsored by General Motors of Canada, showed that the internal temperature of a vehicle can exceed 50°C in just 40 minutes by a weather of 35°C.

Cracking the window
In the middle of summer, rolling the windows down a couple of minutes before stepping into a car barely makes a difference, so don't think that cracking a single window will help your kids breathe easily inside.

A quick stop
Leaving a child under 7 unattended inside a car is worth a fine of $60 in Quebec (how ridiculously low is that?). It doesn't matter if you want to let Junior sleep, or if you go out for just a few minutes; anybody -- including Mr. Sun -- could take your kid away from you. Do the test: Try to stay in your car for 15 minutes with the windows up and the engine off in stifling heat. I guarantee that you won't make it, so why put your little ones through that inferno?

Heat stroke
Sitting behind the wheel, you turn around and notice that your kid's skin is all red and hot. Stop immediately and give him or her some water, both for drinking and hydrating. If he or she is not perspiring, call 911. Anyone suffering from a heat stroke no longer perspires because their thermoregulation system stopped working.

Other symptoms include:

• Very high body temperature -- up to 41°C (106°F)
• Accelerated pulse
• Shortness of breath
• Headaches
• Confusion and other odd behaviour
• Unconsciousness

Obviously, if you leave your kids alone in the car, you won't be able to monitor these symptoms, and it might be too late when you come back.

Tips to prevent kids from being left in the car
The best advice I can give you is to keep your wallet or purse on the back seat, so when you leave your car you won't forget anyone inside. Also, develop a certain routine, like systematically checking your rearview mirror when you turn the engine off.

Always think safety first, especially in hot weather. And if you happen to spot a child who's been left alone in a car, the least you can do is to contact emergency personnel immediately. That alone could save his or her life.

In a shocking turn of events, Nissan is now unable to meet demand for the all-electric LEAF in the U.S. after sales reached 2,000 units a month -- four times more than in 2012.

"We're going to be short on inventory all through the summer," said Erik Gottfried, Nissan's director of electric vehicle sales and marketing. "It will be late fall before we can produce enough to satisfy everybody."

Demand is strong not only in the environmentally-minded state of California, but also in diverse locations such as St. Louis, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, and Raleigh.

Nissan also plans to install more than 100 public DC quick chargers at dealerships certified to sell the LEAF in 21 U.S. markets. These chargers can bring the battery back to 80% in about 30 minutes.

Source: autonews.com

Photo: Philippe Champoux

As part of the Vans US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, California (July 20-28), Fiat will showcase its various models including the recently launched Fiat 500e, the high-performance Fiat 500 Abarth Cabrio, and the all-new Fiat 500L and 500L Trekking. Also on display will be a one-of-a-kind Fiat 500c “Beach Cruiser,” as well as the Fiat 500 Jet-Ski that made waves in Miami during a publicity stunt.

Fiat 500c Beach Cruiser (Photo: Fiat)

Fiat 500c Jet-Ski (Photo: Fiat)

“The Vans US Open of Surfing is one of the largest professional surfing competition and action sports festival in the world, hosting over 400 world-class athletes in surf and skate,” said Jason Stoicevich, Fiat's top executive in North America. “This is a great opportunity for us to be part of an environment that reinforces the fun and energy that characterize both the Fiat brand and the Vans US Open of Surfing.”

Fiat 500 Abarth Cabrio (Photo: Fiat)

The company will even give fans the chance to learn some Italian at the event, with a phrase book giveaway that includes surfing and ocean terms. Professional surfer Brianna Cope will be on hand signing autographs.

Fiat 500e (Photo: Fiat)

The all-new 2014 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG 4MATIC will make its global debut this September at the Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany before going on sale in Canada and the U.S. in November. Pricing has yet to be announced.

Equipped with a 5.5L twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 577 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG 4MATIC comes standard with the performance-oriented AMG all-wheel drive 4MATIC system. It weighs 220 lbs less than its predecessor thanks to AMG forged light-alloy wheels, a lightweight lithium-ion battery, and a weight-optimized AMG high-performance two-piece brake system.

“We have unquestionably achieved our aim of making the new S63 AMG 4MATIC more powerful, lightweight and efficient than its predecessor. In terms of driving dynamics as well, the S63 AMG 4MATIC has made giant leaps forward,” said Tobias Moers, head of Overall Vehicle Development and board member of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

In terms of styling, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG 4MATIC stands out with a redesigned, distinctly three-dimensional grille sitting atop a front splitter and three large air dams, side sill panels with three-dimensional inserts in silver shadow, a black rear diffuser insert, and two chromed twin tailpipes.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

From GMM

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has hinted Daniel Ricciardo's test this week is a 2014 audition as the world champions look to replace the departing Mark Webber.

The news is a blow for Australian Ricciardo's similarly 23-year-old Toro Rosso teammate Jean-Eric Vergne, who earlier was also considered in the running for the top seat alongside Sebastian Vettel.

Unlike Ricciardo, Frenchman Vergne has not been called up to test the championship-leading RB9 at the Silverstone test.

Red Bull RB9-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

"We're very keen to have a look at Daniel as a prospect for next year," Horner told British broadcaster Sky on Wednesday.

"It's a great opportunity for him," he added.

Horner also said 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen is in the running for the seat.

Asked if it is now a two-horse race between the Finn, who currently drives for Lotus, and Ricciardo, Horner admitted: "Essentially, probably."

The "All-Electric Cars 101" section of the Auto123.com Green Car Guide is an introduction to the fascinating, yet confusing world of all-electric vehicles. Our writer, Marie-Andrée Ayotte, offers various tips and detailed information about the technology of battery electric cars and how they strive to meet the needs of today's drivers.

You will also find in our "All-Electric Cars 101" section a list of the main websites that will help you locate electric charging stations in the areas covered by the various networks.

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