Auto News 5

Numbers are finally out on the 2014 Sierra 1500 Denali pickup from GM, and they're pretty impressive for a light-duty truck.

Available with a 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 the third-generation 2014 GM Sierra 1500 Denali's engine will push out 420 horses and 450 lb-ft of torque. These numbers ensure the Sierra can offer the most power and torque amongst the light duty trucks currently on the market.

The 2014 Sierra Denali also offers a host of technological luxuries including an available 8” Customizable Driver Display, as well as a standard 8” Colour Touch navigation radio featuring GM's Intellilink. Other features include projector headlights with LED daytime running lights, Bose audio, heated steering wheel as well as front and rear seats, and a power-sliding rear window.

Photo: GMC

From a total purse of more than $12,020,065, $2,353,355 will go directly to the 97th edition of the Indianapolis 500 winner Tony Kanaan, the rest being divided amongst the other 32 drivers that took part in the May classic.

Kanaan also set a record with a winning speed of 187.433 mph, breaking the 185.981 set by Arie Luyendyk in 1990. Kanaan won for the first time in 12 career starts, tying an event record for earning a victory latest in a driver's Indy 500 career.

Photo: John Cote/IMS

Andretti Autosport' s Carlos Munoz was awarded the Chase Rookie Of The Year Award. The Columbian qualified second and finished second and earned $964,205, which included a $25,000 bonus from Chase.

Reigning IZOD IndyCar Series champion and Munoz teammate, Ryan Hunter-Reay earned $583,005 for driving his No. 1 DHL Chevrolet for Andretti Autosport to a third-place finish.

Marco Andretti, fourth, was awarded $469,755 while Justin Wilson (Dale Coyne Racing) earned $337,805 for finishing fifth.

Pole sitter Ed Carpenter, who led the race six times for a race-high 37 laps in his No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, finished the 10th Indianapolis 500 of his career in 10th position. He received $405,955, which included $100,000 for earning the Verizon P1 Award as pole winner.

Because every movie star gets nipped and tucked eventually, right? Well, it looks like not even the Autobots are safe from the effects of Hollywood and the need to look younger, more vibrant, and more relevant.

Well, pictures from Michael Bay's fourth installment of the blockbuster Transformers series have been released, and along with a few new Autobot members (which we'll get to in a moment), it looks like Optimus Prime has had a few nips, tucks, and highlights put in. The heavily customized Western Star truck looks just as you'd expect Optimus to look: intimidating, strong and like he'll transform into a robot at any moment...

As for the mystery Autotbots, no word on their characters, but we know they're a 1,200 horsepower Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse and a modded version of the 2014 C7 Corvette Stingray.

Yup, we'll be lining up to see this one.

Source: Yahoo

Photo: Michael Bay

Photo: Michael Bay

Photo: Michael Bay

From Williams

Williams Grand Prix Holdings PLC has announced that Mike O'Driscoll will become Group CEO with effect from today.

O'Driscoll, formerly Managing Director of Jaguar Cars (2007 - 2011) and ex-President of Aston Martin Jaguar Land Rover in North America (2001 - 2007), has been appointed Group CEO to guide the long term future of Williams.

The newly created role will see the Williams F1 Team and Williams Advanced Engineering united under one management structure and will enable O'Driscoll to provide support to Sir Frank Williams, founder and Team Principal and to work in partnership with Claire Williams, Deputy Team Principal.

O'Driscoll will lead the Executive Committee who will report to him and in turn he will report to Sir Frank Williams and the Williams Grand Prix Holdings board.

Alex Burns, previously Chief Executive Officer of Williams Grand Prix Holdings PLC, will leave the company with immediate effect. “Williams thanks him for the significant contribution he has made to the business and wishes him well in his future endeavours,” says the press release.

Photo: Williams F1 Team

Are any of the prevalent niggling doubts regarding the purchase of an electric vehicle rational?

A quick tour of the various EV websites confirms that there are a number of recurring questions and doubts regarding these much talked about, but relatively little-known vehicles.

2013 Chevrolet Volt (Photo: Chevrolet)

EVs are too expensive
If cost is your main preoccupation, take a peek at our Calculating your EV ROI article and discover how the purchase of a Ford Focus Electric costing an extra $11,220 more than the gasoline-powered model will provide sufficient savings to finance a week-long trip down south after only two years.

Charging station safety
While one end of the charging station can be plugged into a standard wall outlet, the charging plug itself has been standardized. Charging cannot commence unless the plug is completely inserted. Furthermore, it is impossible to start your electric vehicle while still connected. Don't expect to see images of a distracted EV driver dragging a charging station behind his vehicle on the web.

Am I exposed to any additional risks in an accident?
Your EV is equipped with an emergency cutoff system. The on-board computer is programmed to shut down the different systems in case of a major impact. First-responders and firefighters have received specific EV training that helps them identify and deal with potential issues than could occur in an accident.

Are EVs safe?
They go through the same IIHS collision tests. If your vehicles crash-safety rating is an area of concern, go to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website, it is both free and easy to navigate. You will find detailed descriptions and various videos explaining the different tests, as well as the IIHS safety-rating for your vehicle.

Do EVs function well in cold weather?
Of course, and if the term ‘fires right up' could apply, it would be the most accurate description! Autonomy is reduced, due in large part to the added strain of heating the passenger compartment as well as the diminished battery capacity that comes with cold weather. Want to find out more? Consult the What about an EV in colder weather? article in our Green File!

What is an EV's top speed?
You can easily push your EV into ‘speeding ticket' range. Even if some EVs are ‘limited' to 130-140 km/h, zipping around on a racecourse, overtaking slower traffic, and brisk acceleration are readily available to those who are looking for speed.

How is EV range calculated?
The much-publicized 160 km Nissan LEAF range varies according to individual driving habits, speed, and outdoor temperature. So, how did they come up with this figure?

Photo: EPA.gov

EV range figures are based on the American EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) LA4, or 'city' test. The 1,369 second (nearly 23 minute) test, which includes 18 stops, is performed for 11.9 kms on a dynamometer at 31.3 km/h. This test wreaks havoc on gasoline-powered vehicle fuel ratings, while heavily favoring EVs.


Sources:
IIHS.org
CAA
Nissan.ca
Communauto
Government of Ontario
EPA.gov

I recently read a study that described a noticeable reduction in miles travelled in the U.S. over the last few years. There are numerous possible reasons for this calculated drop, and one of them is technology and how it's shrinking the world around us.

We've all heard that the world is a small place, and never has it been truer than in the 21st Century. When I was 17, I borrowed my parent's car and went to the video store to rent a movie. If I wanted a book or to buy shoes, I jumped in the car and drove myself downtown.

Nowadays, everybody orders stuff online -- be it movies, clothing or books. Increasingly, leaving the house is becoming less of a necessity and more of a burden. Factor in strip malls with grocery stores that are popping up all over the place within a 10-minute walk from the house and the only wheels anyone will every require in the near future will be those on a bicycle or skateboard. Working from one's abode has never been more realistic, either.

Does this mean that the 20-somethings will never leave the house? Is it because all manner of entertainment and basic needs are at one's fingertips that they will never purchase a car?

No.

So long as there are those who prefer outdoor activities to video games, cars will be required to get around. Going to grandma's place in the country with the 1.15 kids (Canadian stats) and dog cannot be done online.

The current trend is that fewer miles are being travelled, not necessarily that fewer cars are being purchased. Still, this tendency could progress to the point where car ownership becomes less of a necessity, what with car-sharing programs and constant improvements being made to public transit.

This may frighten some people (including me), but I've come to the conclusion that the car business has nothing to worry about. Needs are evolving and car makers will go with the times and find ways of integrating technology into all cars.

The bottom line will always be that there is no better or cheaper way to freedom. Cycling is great -- I love it -- but if I want to explore new areas it goes in the car and my automobile takes me to a new place. Plane tickets are expensive and planes, well, are out of reach for most. This leaves the car.

Cars are changing, and will continue to evolve, but they will always remain.

Spectrum chassis' factory team in Canada, Exclusive Autosport, came out strong in the first round of the 2013 Formula Tour championship, presented last weekend in Mont-Tremblant.

Rookies Jack Mitchell Jr., Tristan DeGrand and Thomas McGregor swept the podium in the season's first race, aboard their Honda-powered Spectrum cars.

Sunday, for the second event of the weekend, Jesse Lazare managed to slip past the Exclusive Autosport trio in his Van Diemen-Ford. Mitchell Jr. and McGregor completed the podium.

Crowd favourite Didier Schraenen bagged a duo of top 10 finishes, driving his refurbished CMV chassis.

Exclusive Autosport brought home a lot of silverware (Photo: Exclusive Autosport)

From GMM

Sebastian Vettel has admitted he defied his team's instructions in Monaco due to boredom.

In the dying stages of the race, the Red Bull driver picked up his pace behind winner Nico Rosberg, earning a rebuke for smashing the fastest race lap.

"Just satisfaction instead of going slow for 77 laps," replied the German.

"No satisfaction for us though," added Vettel's race engineer Guillaume Rocquelin.

Photo: Red Bull Racing

On seeing just how much faster the Red Bull driver was capable of going in Monaco, having conserved Pirelli's fragile tires all race, BBC commentator David Coulthard called the current situation in F1 "rubbish".

Vettel added: "I'm not trying to do something silly, and I apologise for quarrelling with my engineer on the radio.

"But it's a reflection of how the racing is today, when you can be three seconds a lap faster," he is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace.

"I know that the drivers are not enjoying the races as much as they would like," he added.

"The show is good up to a point, but if it's a matter of following one another and waiting for the chequered flag, I'm not sure if that is what people want to see."

Vettel said he hopes the changes being made by Pirelli for the next race in Canada and beyond will help the situation.

This one's addictive
The MAZDASPEED3 carries its name quite well, and for a number of reasons: Every MAZDASPEED car I've ever encountered -- from the first SPEED Protegé to this latest SPEED3 -- has all but turned me into an addict. Get it? Speed? Addiction? Drugs?

Speed is also exactly that. MAZDASPEED Mazda cars have always been about taking a regular car to the next level performance and handling. A SPEED of the Mazda type is about progression at a rapid rate of velocity.

The 2013 MAZDASPEED3 is unapologetic about being what it is: It's brash, loud and wickedly fast, not especially comfortable, but satisfyingly utilitarian enough to pass off as a multipurpose mode of transportation.


What is a MAZDASPEED3?
A 2013 MAZDASPEED3 is one of the few remaining sport compact cars that were once all the rage. These cars were once my religion. The SPEED3 is the top trim of Mazda's hugely popular MAZDA3 compact car.

The MAZDASPEED3 is directly aimed at the tuner crowd who find that with a few simple modifications (such as an exhaust system upgrade and an ECU flash) much power and fun can be had with this superb little car.

The MAZDASPEED3 is directly aimed at the tuner crowd who find that with a few simple modifications. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Technicalities
The 2013 MAZDASPEED3 is a simple car. The main ingredient to this SPEED is a turbocharged 2.3L 4-cylinder engine. It pumps out a fashionable 263 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque thanks to a Warner-Hitachi K-04 turbo and its 15 psi of boost. To it all is bolted a 6-speed manual gearbox that contains a delightful limited slip differential.

The 2013 MAZDA3's pricing starts at $15,995. The SPEED3 tips the price scale at $29,995. With the as-tested Technology package, the final tally is $32,635.

The main ingredient to this SPEED is a turbocharged 2.3L 4-cylinder engine. It pumps out a fashionable 263 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque thanks to a Warner-Hitachi K-04 turbo and its 15 psi of boost. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Driving the MAZDASPEED3
To start a cold 2013 MAZDASPEED3 is to immediately get a sense of what this car can and will do for the driver. At once strong and thick, the idle settles and first gear is selected, but only with firm gestures. The clutch pedal's weight and friction point are sharp, but once mastered the fun begins.

Despite the presence of a torque-sensing conical limited-slip differential and equal length half-shafts, the SPEED3 will pull to one side upon side-stepping the “man” pedal. Being prepared to shift quickly is the best way to snap the 0-100 km sprint in roughly 6.5 seconds. The MZR 2.3L's power band is fairly narrow and is best between 2,800 rpm and near 5,500.

The 2013 MAZDASPEED3's ride is a direct result of the car's vocation. That is to say that the SPEED3 is committed to handling apexes on a track, controlling body roll, and keeping all four wheels on the tarmac at all times. To say that the car is uncomfortable on an uneven urban road is pointless; it is the compromise made when selecting a car that is this hunkered down and ready for battle with a track.

To match and defeat the SPEED3's pace, Mazda attached fittingly larger disc brakes and calipers that work brilliantly in both city and track settings, having done track time with a few MAZDASPEED3s over the years.

The car's electro-hydraulic power assisted steering (EHPAS) is well judged, both in weight and precision. Feedback trickles in sufficiently in order to get a good picture of what the front wheels are up to.

As for fuel consumption, I averaged a respectable 11L/100 km over a week.

To match and defeat the SPEED3's pace, Mazda attached fittingly larger disc brakes and calipers that work brilliantly in both city and track settings. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Inside and Out of the MAZDASPEED3
There isn't much to write about where the 2013 MAZDASPEED3's cabin is concerned. There are few differences between it and a regular 3. The most notable are the leather- and cloth-covered red and black MAZDASPEED sport seats. They are not as special as they sound, but still hold occupants well enough in place.

Aluminum-alloy pedals and footrest, and digital boost gauge round out the upgrades. The remainder is functional and ergonomic.

I have no love for the overburdened steering wheel. The grip is good, but the countless controls are not only in poor taste aesthetically but I found that they interfere with rapid wheel-hand movements.

As for the 2013 MAZDASPEED3's outer shell, it gains notable items that make a world of difference. As nothing more than an “appreciator” of the 3's overall shape and grin, the addition of black 18” wheels, a large rear spoiler, and hood scoop save it.

There are few differences between it and a regular 3. The most notable are the leather- and cloth-covered red and black MAZDASPEED sport seats. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Comparing the MAZDASPEED3
The 2013 Mazdaspeed3 is a car I attempt to drive every year. I find solace in the existence of this car; its near brutal and unforgiving nature is a sign that not all is lost in the modern car world.

Competition lies in the Volkswagen GTI/Golf R, Honda Civic Si and Subaru Impreza WRX. All of these cars are “softer” than the SPEED, but I'm thankful for the sheer fact that they all exist.

From GMM

Valtteri Bottas has been accused of "unsportsmanlike" behaviour in the dying moments of the Monaco grand prix.

In the last two laps, when Kimi Raikkonen was seething through the field on fresh Pirelli rubber following his late pitstop, the Finn managed to salvage a solitary point by making up three places to finish tenth.

One of the cars he passed was countryman Bottas, who appeared to pull over for the title-charging Raikkonen.

Photo: Williams F1 Team

That allowed the Lotus driver to stroll past Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg, who on worn Pirelli tires that were showing the steel belt beneath therefore missed the final championship point by mere metres.

To Blick newspaper, Sauber team manager Beat Zehnder slammed Bottas' behaviour towards the charging Raikkonen as "unsportsmanlike".

Team founder Peter Sauber added: "He (Bottas) stole a point from us."

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, however, claims Bottas told reporters after the race that he only pulled over for Raikkonen because he thought the black Lotus was the leader.

From GMM

F1 could be about to be rocked by a penalty on the scale of the 'spy scandal' of 2007.

The FIA is expected to convene a meeting of the international tribunal, to consider the matter of Mercedes' 'secret' Pirelli tire test.

Ferrari, along with Red Bull, filed the official protest in Monaco.

"You might expect a sporting penalty," Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali told the Associated Press.

"But because it is not really clear what could be the effect on the race weekend, it may be bigger than that. Because there is no precedent, I have no idea what should happen," he added.

Photo: WRi2

Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko, however, believes there is a precedent.

"There will be a hearing, although I do not know when and where. It is in the direction of the spy scandal of 2007 between McLaren and Ferrari," Marko told Bild newspaper.

The outspoken Austrian is referring to 2007, when the FIA considered banning McLaren but ultimately excluded the British team from the constructors' championship and issued a record $100 million fine.

Marko makes the 'spygate' comparison because he alleges Mercedes' advantage from the exclusive 1000km test with its 2013 car and race drivers will be far-reaching.

"A test like that is even more of an advantage if it is immediately after a race, because you have all of the comparative data, so you can make very decisive improvements. Until now the tires have had a steel (internal) belt but now it's going to be kevlar, which is the tires that were tested," he is quoted by Swiss newspaper Blick.

"That is what we are going to have in Montreal, so Mercedes does not only have an advantage for Monaco," added Marko.

By Design: Ferrari LaFerrari

Terrific. But what'll they do for an encore?

"It looks like a Ferrari."

Photo Gallery: By Design: Ferrari LaFerrari - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: By Design: Ferrari LaFerrari - Automobile Magazine

By Design: Ferrari LaFerrari | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Enterprise Holdings, the parent of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo and National, has acquired Chicago-based nonprofit car-sharing service I-Go, the companies announced Tuesday.

Cadillac, building on its sales growth in the United States this year, is expecting a glitzy marketing boost from the fashion world this week.

Investor Ray Lane resigned from Fisker Automotive's board of directors late last week, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers confirmed today.

News 26 Jun, 2013

The latest issue of Auto Express is on sale now and has the full story on a new Renaultsport Twingo

News 29 May, 2013

Vauxhall VXR8 GTS unveiled, powered by a 576bhp, 6.2-litre V8 engine

Daimler is recalling more than 6,000 Mercedes A-class hatchbacks because of problems with the passenger airbag.

French carmaker and Nissan alliance partner Renault said the collapse of a joint venture aimed at making electric cars more appealing would not hold back its plans for battery-powered vehicles.

Renault said the collapse of a joint venture aimed at making electric cars more appealing would not hold back its plans for battery-powered vehicles.