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BMW of North America is adding features to its ConnectedDrive infotainment system as standard equipment on most 2014 vehicles.

German supplier Robert Bosch GmbH, aiming to develop an advanced lithium ion battery that can power electric vehicles much longer than today's batteries, has dumped its South Korean battery partner for a Japanese one.

Rapid growth at Volkswagen Group has the CEO of Europe's largest automaker convinced that the company will not only be the first automaker to sell 10 million cars in a year, it will do so ahead of his target year of 2018.

Ford expects a rise in SUV production in Russia to boost second-half vehicle sales in the market and help reduce losses in Europe. Ford's deliveries in Russia fell 18 percent this year through May, trailing a 4.5 percent industrywide drop.

Fiat-Chrysler boss Sergio Marchionne has said the company might seek a new Chinese partner to help produce Jeeps in China. This is bad news for Fiat and its Chinese partner, Guangzhou Automobile.

The latest issue of the Automotive News Europe monthly e-magazine takes an in-depth look at Volkswagen Group; reveals why BMW sales chief Ian Robertson thinks the automaker's new battery-powered vehicles will be game-changers; and details how...

Rapid growth at Volkswagen Group has the CEO of Europe's largest automaker convinced that the company will not only be the first automaker to sell 10 million cars in a year, it will do so ahead of his target year of 2018.

Volkswagen plans to broaden its diesel lineup in 2015 with the Golf GTD, the brand's first performance-oriented diesel car for the United States.

On 569 Lincoln MKS, Ford Explorer and Taurus models from 2013, the child safety lock actuation cam may have been manufactured incorrectly. As a result, the child lock may inadvertently disengage, which could allow the rear door to be opened using the inside door handle.

Consequently, dealers will inspect the child safety lock and, if necessary, replace the door latch assembly. In the meantime, drivers who need to use the child lock should ensure it is in the ON position before each use.

Source: Transports Canada

From GMM

Australia may retain the opening slot on the 2014 calendar.

Earlier, it was thought likely the sport's highly-controversial Bahrain race could steal Melbourne's thunder as the scene of next year's championship opener.

But Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman Ron Walker was in London last week for talks with Bernie Ecclestone.

"We will be the first race (in 2014). Everything is going to plan for that," Walker told the Australian Financial Review afterwards.

The situation was expected to be cleared up late last week, when the World Motor Sport Council met at Goodwood.

But, unusually, a provisional calendar was not published.

F1 chief executive Ecclestone, however, has backed his friend and ally Walker's claim that Australia will still host the opening race next March.

"No, we aren't making Bahrain the first race next year," the 82-year-old told F1 business journalist and Formula Money editor Christian Sylt last week.

"I think we will keep it as it is. It is just a rumour that it will change."

Start of the 2013 Australian Grand Prix. (Photo: WRi2)

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn is quite a busy man, but if you ask him, he can take even more load on his shoulders. To wit: He has just been named the new chairman of AVTOVAZ, Russia's largest automaker and owner of the LADA brand.

Details remain scarce, although Ghosn told AVTOVAZ shareholders that “the Alliance is committed to providing the resources and expertise necessary to transform AVTOVAZ into a world-class car manufacturer.”

The board of directors is now composed of 15 members (up from 12 previously), including eight people from the Renault-Nissan Alliance, which last year formed with Russian Technologies a joint venture that will hold a majority stake of 74.5% in AVTOVAZ by mid-2014.

Photo: Renault

A 1913 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost used as a mobile dental surgery during World War I will join the impressive line-up of automobiles at this year's Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale on Friday, July 12th.

It was acquired in 1915 by Auguste Charles Valadier, a pioneer in the development of maxillofacial reconstructive surgery, who volunteered his services to the British Red Cross Society in Paris and got called for duty in October of that year.

By the end of 1916, he was stationed at Boulogne and the Rolls-Royce - then bodied in limousine style - had been modified to incorporate a dentist's chair in the rear.

The car is projected to sell for ₤600,000 (approx. $957,900 CAD).

Photo: Bonhams

From GMM

Formula one's tire-dominated 2013 season has shifted into an even higher gear, as drivers threaten to go on strike unless immediate action is taken.

Crisis struck the Silverstone paddock on Sunday, after Pirelli's already-controversial tires inexplicably exploded while others deflated or showed visible damage, in a safety car-interrupted and almost red-flagged British grand prix.

There is talk of a drivers' boycott ahead of the weekend's Nurburgring race.

"Well, for sure we are going to discuss about that," said Felipe Massa, who almost died in 2009 when debris struck his helmet.

Felipe Massa, Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

The retiring Mark Webber was furious.

"It's not December yet, so I'll stay quiet," said the usually outspoken Australian, but he did admit that F1's authorities have displayed "deaf ears" to the drivers' concerns since Pirelli entered the sport.

But even FIA race director Charlie Whiting admitted after the race that he came "quite close" to waving the red flag on Sunday on safety grounds.

"I would have understood that perfectly," Massa agreed.

The Ferrari driver said the situation cannot be left to chance, particularly with circuits like Spa and Monza looming.

"These things cannot occur on these circuits," said the Brazilian.

Lewis Hamilton, who was leading on Sunday when his tire spectacularly exploded, revealed: "That's the first time in my whole career that I've felt the danger. I was thinking of stopping (retiring from the race)."

"I don't know why I have to put my life at risk for these damn tires," the 2008 world champion told broadcaster Sky.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

Niki Lauda, the triple world champion who was almost burned to death in 1976, and now Mercedes' F1 chairman, said: "If that (tire) tread hits you on your face, it would break your neck off."

FIA president Jean Todt was at Silverstone, and according to Germany's Bild newspaper, he summoned Whiting and Pirelli to an immediate crisis meeting late on Sunday.

The Frenchman has also called a more formal emergency meeting with Pirelli and the F1 teams for Wednesday.

"Our priority is the safety of the drivers. We must make the right decisions and not react emotionally," he told France's Canal Plus television.

One mooted solution, albeit suggested most loudly by those who have often struggled competitively on the 2013 tires, is to simply revert to Pirelli's 2012 tire.

"I don't know if that will happen, or whether the structure can be changed, but it is a fact that it is very dangerous," said Mercedes' Toto Wolff.

Lauda, and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, rubbished suggestions Silverstone's kerbs were to blame.

"We have kerbs at every circuit and everyone drives over them," Lauda blasted.

"That's what they're there for. If the tires cannot handle the kerbs, then you don't change the kerbs, you change the tires," he told German broadcaster RTL.

Alonso agreed: "I think the kerbs were perfectly ok."

Photo: Pirelli

Already in Pirelli's pocket is a new internally kevlar-belted tire that was designed to stop the delamination problems seen earlier this season.

Teams like Lotus and Sahara Force India vetoed the change, but only because Pirelli insisted the problem was merely aesthetic rather than a pressing safety issue.

Now, safety, danger and looming death are the words on everyone's lips.

"If Pirelli says the tires are not safe, then we would not stop the necessary changes from coming in," Lotus engineer Alan Permane told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Speaking to Canal Plus television, team boss Eric Boullier agreed: "Now that we are talking about safety, it's a different thing. We will all sit around a table and do everything we can to help Pirelli."

The biggest problem, however, is that the FIA meeting is taking place only on Wednesday, where two days later practice will kick off at the Nurburgring.

"For Germany you can't do anything," Lauda acknowledged.

But beyond that, according to Brazil's O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, some teams are proposing that the forthcoming young drivers test at Silverstone become a full-blown tire development test, with race drivers allowed to run.

"It's an idea that should be discussed in the coming days," said Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali.

Action Express' Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi made it two wins in a row at Watkins Glen, by winning the Six Hours of the Glen.

Fittipaldi had to be treated for dehydration just after he crossed the finish line, but soon was released by the medical personnel.

The duo's effort has put them on top of the North American Endurance Championship standings.

Photo: Grand-Am.com

Stéphane Sarrazin, Enzo Potolicchio and Michael Valiante, driving the 8Star Motorsports Corvette finished second, a mere 0.2 second behind the winners. Brendon Hartley, Scott Mayer and Pierre Kaffer completed the podium for Starworks Motorsport.

Pole-sitter Robin Liddell and co-driver John Edwards (No. 57 Chevrolet Camaro) topped the standings in GT, ahead of Leh Keen, Emil Assentato and Anthony Lazzaro (No. 69 Ferrari 458).

Championship leaders John Potter and Andy Lally (No. 44 Porsche GT3) completed the podium.

Joel Miller, Tristan Nunez and Yojiro Terada (No. 00 Mazda 6) were the best finishers in the GX class.

Press release

Yvan Muller and James Nash shared the honours at Porto's Boavista circuit this week end, and gave two more victories to the Chevrolet brand in the WTCC.

This was Muller's fifth win of the season and Nash's second. Both race winners were able to avoid making even the slightest mistakes in a pair of tough races, on a difficult circuit and inside overheated cockpits. The streets of Boavista are merciless and upset a number of drivers over the weekend.



Yvan Muller, Chevrolet Cruze. (Photo: FIA WTCC)

Michel Nykjær collected two third places that enabled him to move up further in the Drivers' Championship, 122 points behind Muller, and to maintain the lead in the Yokohama Trophy. Tom Chilton and Rob Huff finished brilliant runners up in Race 1 and Race 2 respectively, with the latter heroically fighting against major brake problems for much of the race.

The Castrol Honda team left Porto licking its wounds after turbocharger failures on both its cars. Tiago Monteiro, the local hero, saw the second Free Practice session end in a cloud of white smoke; low turbo pressure then meant he could only manage to qualify in 17th place. Race day then saw an identical problem afflicting his team-mate Gabriele Tarquini's Civic car in Race 1, while he was fighting for a possible podium place. A rapid turbo change between races was in vain and last place in Race 2 was scant reward for the Italian.

James Nash, Chevrolet Cruze. (Photo: FIA WTCC)

The championship will resume at Termas de Río Hondo on August 3rd and 4th for rounds 15 and 16 that will mark the first WTCC visit to Argentina.

Matt Kenseth gambled on a fuel only pit stop to help win the rain postponed Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway.

The Toyota driver beat it out of the pits, with 23-laps remaining, to take the lead alongside Jimmie Johnson who dominated the event at the 1.5 mile oval.

Matt Kenseth. (Photo: NASCAR)

"I didn't roll the dice, Jason (Ratcliff - his crew chief) did,” said Kenseth following his fourth win of the year. “I thought he was a slightly crazy when it happened.

"This is such a great team and a great opportunity for me. It's been just an unbelievable season and year of my life, honestly. Jason did a great job. I didn't think there was any way we were going to hold on for that win. He made the right call at the right time and these guys got it done on pit road," Kenseth said.

After the race Johnson, who ended up ninth after falling below 20th after he spun in turn two on the final restart, said “he No. 20 (Kenseth) broke the pace car speed, which you aren't supposed to, but, they aren't calling guys on that so I need to start trying that in the future." Johnson had led a race-high 182-laps.

Photo: NASCAR

“I have no idea what happened or what happened to him or what I possibly could have done to upset him,” Kenseth said.

“I didn't check my tach when the pace car went off if we were exactly the same pace, but I think you can look through data and see I didn't slow down.

Really at that point you try to watch the guy inside you and try to make sure he doesn't lay back and try to get a run at you, and tried to keep him right by my door; and when I got to the box, I went.  And from there, I don't really know what happened.”

Jamie McMurray finished second in a Chevy followed by the Toyota of Clint Bowyer. “I was quite a bit quicker than him (Bowyer), and I guess the No. 20 (Matt Kenseth) wasn't on (fresh) tires, so you are just fighting to get by as quick as you can because you never know when a caution is going to come out, or how it is going to play out," McMurray said.

Early in the race two Chase contenders were taken out of the fight for the win when 2004 series champ, Kurt Busch, attempted to pass Brad Keselowski by diving low under the yellow line. Unfortunately, when he attempted to move up the track, his Chevrolet hit a bump sending him into the side of the 2012 champ's Ford on a restart. Keselowski tried to save it, but, in heavy traffic his car was tagged by Greg Biffle and others. Keselowski came back late in the race to earn points by moving up a few places.

Photo: NASCAR

“We had the bottom lane on two or three restarts in a row and got shuffled back a little bit,” said Keselowski. “We were trying to get patient because it looked like we will get the whole race in before rain and there is no reason to drive like an animal. Apparently I am the only one that got that memo. It is one of those deals.”

Busch, who was able to continue, apologized, via his car radio during an 18-minute red flag to clean up the damage.

Greg Biffle. (Photo: NASCAR)

From GMM

Stefano Domenicali is not denying speculation Ferrari might enter prototype sports car racing, including fabled Le Mans.

The rumour first emerged mid last week, after Renault hinted its new 1.6 litre turbo engine for F1 next year could be adapted for Le Mans.

Asked if Le Mans might also be an option for Ferrari in the coming years, the Maranello based F1 team's boss Domenicali said: "The new turbo engine for introduction in formula one next year would allow some interesting projects.

"At the moment I cannot say more," he told Italian newspaper La Stampa.

Pat Fry and Stefano Domenicali. (Photo: Ferrari)

Sebastien Loeb set a new record in his first attempt of the Pikes Peak hill climb race, beating the previous record by more than one minute and a half.

Photo: Citroen Racing

Nine time rally world champion was driving a Peugeot 208 T16 specially developed for the event. He set a new record in 8'13''878, more than forty seconds faster than reigning champion Rhys Millen (Hyundai).

Jean-Phillipe Dayraut (Mini) was third quickest driving his Mini, in 9'42''740. Romain Dumas' Norma prototype had to stop following mechanical issue in his attempt.

From GMM

As Mercedes speeds ahead in formula one, tempers remain frayed and fingers are still pointing in the wake of the 'test-gate' scandal.

Many in the paddock believe Mercedes' dramatic turnaround - two wins in three races - since its secret Pirelli test is because of the unfair advantage gained by Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton over those 1000 highly controversial kilometres.

Asked if he still would have won at Silverstone if not for the Barcelona test, a defiant German Rosberg said on Sunday: "For sure. Definitely."

Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team

Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali, however, is not so sure.

"We have nothing to say," he is quoted by Spain's AS newspaper. "We avoid controversy and stay calm."

Mercedes chairman Niki Lauda, however, blasted the paddock insinuations.

"I cannot hear this nonsense. Everything was finished with the court (tribunal) ruling. So we are concentrating on racing," said the Austrian legend.

Relations between Mercedes and Red Bull, who along with Ferrari filed the original protest and have been highly vocal about the Barcelona test, are particularly fraught.

Photo: WRi2

Mercedes director Toto Wolff is believed to have made some crass comments about the Red Bull company in the German press last week.

He justified his counterpunch by insisting to Tagesspiegel that "there is a limit and Red Bull exceeded it", and admitting his comments might have made Dietrich Mateschitz "spit out his cereal".

"Eloquent. Very eloquent," Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko hit back. According to Kleine Zeitung, Marko has vowed only to deal with Lauda in the future.

"At least he (Lauda) is a man of character," said Marko.

From GMM

Nico Hulkenberg is the victim of a financial crisis at Swiss team Sauber, the German newspaper Bild reports.

We reported on Sunday that, as the Hinwil based team runs out money, development of the uncompetitive C32 has stopped, and suppliers' bills are going unpaid.

The Swiss newspaper Blick said Sauber is desperately waiting for a new sponsor, believed to be Russian natural gas giant Gazprom, to sign up.

Bild correspondents Helmut Uhl and Nicola Pohl claim Hulkenberg is yet to be paid for May.

Team boss Monisha Kaltenborn confirmed: "It's true, we're in trouble at the moment. But we will get out of it again, and in any case will still be here at the end of the season."

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber C32-Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)