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Rearview mirror supplier, Samvardhana Motherson Reflectec (SMR), says it is expanding its Marysville, Michigan, SMR Automotive Systems USA plant.

BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe Concept First Look

A vision of BMW’s future.

Lago Como, Italy

Photo Gallery: BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe Concept First Look - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupe Concept First Look - Automobile Magazine

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Aluminium rolling and recycling company, Novelis, says it will expand its production capacity for automotive sheet effective immediately as it looks to meet growing demand for light, recyclable aluminium sheet for car manufacturing.

Electronic braking systems are rapidly gaining share in the automotive industry as automakers seek benefits of improved performance at low cost. These braking technologies are also being driven by regulatory bodies such as Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme). To find out how, Matthew Beecham talked with Vince Austin, Director, Product Planning, Global Braking Systems, TRW Automotive.

Better Place, the Tel Aviv-based company launched in 2007 to develop a global network of recharging stations for electric vehicles, has filed for bankruptcy. The company said in its court filing on Sunday that it has cumulative losses of US$812m, assets of US$10m and that it owes US$40m to suppliers.

Australian new vehicle sales rose 7.6% year on year to 85,117 units in April, according to official VFACTS data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).

News 28 May, 2013

Research shows discrepancy in figures more than doubles in a decade and calls out worst manufacturers

WEST COAST EDITOR MARK VAUGHN: Everybody's right, the detractors and the believers. The CR-Z does not perform like a

Toyota Australia's decision to launch the redesigned RAV4 with a diesel engine option has resulted in 30% of orders being for models with the 2.2-litre turbodiesel compared with the long term forecast of 20%.

The gap has widened between the fuel efficiency that carmakers declare for their models and the reality for drivers, with luxury German vehicles showing the biggest divergence, a study found.

Audi dealer China Yongda Automobiles Services Holdings said it aims to boost sales by 14-fold in five to six years after signing an agreement with VW Group giving it priority to sell new models and take control of certain dealerships in China.

Volkswagen agreed to raise wages for German workers by 5.7 percent over 20 months as the country's biggest manufacturing union helped employees tap into the company's growing profit.

Volkswagen agreed to raise wages for German workers by 5.7 percent over 20 months as the country's biggest manufacturing union helped employees tap into the company's growing profit.

Automotive News Europe salutes the winners of the 2013 Rising Stars awards. Every day until June 12 one of the 18 winners will be featured. Today's Rising Star is Xavier Dupont, vice president of transmissions at supplier Valeo.

Volkswagen's Nazi past kept it from celebrating the 75th anniversary of a big event in the automaker's history. On May 26, 1938, Adolf Hitler laid the foundation stone for what would become VW's Wolfsburg plant.

Jaguar's tie-up with singer Lana Del Rey is paying dividends. The automaker's "Desire" video, which features Del Rey, tops our list of top viral videos this week.

From GMM

Kimi Raikkonen has delivered another punchy quote to his legions of fans, after his run-in with Sergio Perez in the Monaco grand prix.

Furious about being run into by the McLaren driver at the exit of the tunnel, Finn Raikkonen initially called his Mexican rival an "idiot" and "stupid".

"We've lost a lot of points to Sebastian (Vettel) in the championship and you can't afford to lose ground like that," said Raikkonen.

Asked if he will seek Perez out for talks, Raikkonen insisted: "No, that won't help."

Asked what will, he suggested: "Maybe someone should punch him in the face."

Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) and Sergio Perez (McLaren) in Monaco. (Photo: WRi2)

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso also had trouble with Perez in Monaco, skipping the chicane after an attack and having to give the place to his rival.

"Only McLaren has to be happy with him," former McLaren driver Alonso said coyly afterwards.

Team boss Martin Whitmarsh, however, insisted McLaren is indeed happy with the feisty 23-year-old, saying run-ins are "what happens in Monaco occasionally".

"I am happy with his spirit and his challenge," he said.

"You can over push sometimes but I think he did some great overtakes. I have got to be pleased that he is there, he is committed and racing," added Whitmarsh.

From GMM

The furore over Mercedes' secret Pirelli test looks set to deepen, as rival teams claim they were not informed by F1's tire supplier.

As it refused to rule out "penalties", the FIA said Pirelli and Mercedes would have got the green light for the test "provided every team" was also offered the same opportunity.

It has emerged Ferrari did a secret test for Pirelli before Barcelona with a 2011 car, with Pedro de la Rosa at the wheel.

And Red Bull confirmed it was asked about conducting a test for Pirelli, "but we very clearly said no," Dr Helmut Marko told Austrian television Servus TV.

"In our opinion, such a test is not covered by the regulations. It is a clear violation."

Photo: WRi2

There are reports that Pirelli distributed an email about the possibility of tire testing, but many teams reportedly deny ever receiving it.

"We feel cheated," Sauber founder Peter Sauber is quoted by 20min.ch.

According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, Williams also denies knowing about the possibility of Pirelli tire testing.

And asked if his team was consulted, Lotus boss Eric Boullier is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace: "No."

Force India's Bob Fernley said the issue came up in a FOTA meeting, but it was not a formal invitation to test.

"I don't remember getting a letter from Pirelli on the subject," he insisted.

In fact, the Telegraph newspaper refers to an email to teams from the teams association FOTA, explicitly warning that in-season testing is not allowed unless there is "unanimous" consent by all teams.

The matter is now in the FIA's hands.

"I don't expect there to be a judgement before Montreal," Marko said. "I would say by Silverstone at the earliest."

Red Bull and Ferrari are reportedly proposing that, if Mercedes was allowed to test, they should as well.

"We want to have the same test in order to get to the same level," said Marko. But it is clear that not all teams, particularly those who are happiest with Pirelli's difficult 2013 tires, will agree to that remedy.

"There will certainly be a penalty, because Mercedes' tire advantage in Monaco was obvious," Marko is quoted by Bild newspaper. "There is also a question of cost, because such a test costs nearly a million euros."

Another factor, said Marko, is the long-life engine rule, with Mercedes' three race distances at the secret test supposedly now excluded from its allocation of eight engines per driver.

"There is a long list of things," said the outspoken Austrian. "We also want to have this test. Logistically, it can only happen at Silverstone, which means that we have lost two races until we have the same knowledge."

Mercedes chairman Niki Lauda, meanwhile, is accusing Red Bull of sour grapes.

"Red Bull was also asked (about the test) but we were simply faster to accept. So they are just sore losers. I have made a bet with Helmut Marko - 50 euros - that there will be no consequences for Mercedes," the Austrian legend added.

Finally, Marko said Red Bull is not questioning the validity of Nico Rosberg's Monaco win.

"We deliberately put in the protest before the race, because our protest is about the test, not Nico Rosberg's victory. It was a great performance and we can live with second and third places," he insisted.

From GMM

Renault will look to reduce the price of its new turbo V6 engines over time, the French carmaker's president Carlos Ghosn said.

Reports have indicated that Renault's new engine for 2014 is millions more expensive than any of its rival F1 suppliers, causing Williams to jump ship to Mercedes.

It is also rumoured that, while Caterham looks set to stay with Renault, Lotus is in talks with Ferrari.

Already signed up with Renault for 2014 are Red Bull's two teams, including Toro Rosso.

Christian Horner, Carlos Ghosn, Franz Tost and Helmut Marko in Monaco. (Photo: Renault Sport)

"We will not be surprised if the third one will come soon. We may have more but we don't need more," said Ghosn.

"There is some concern about the cost of the engine, I understand it, but our commitment is to work to reduce these costs," Ghosn said in Monaco at the weekend.

He insisted, however, that the initial cost of the engines to customers - believed to be over EUR 20 million per season - will not be reduced.

"We are not going to drop the price for anybody for 2014," said Ghosn. "But our commitment is every year we will be working hard to make this engine more efficient, to reduce the costs and then try to pass part of the cost reduction to the users."

Taking it all on
Drumheller, AB - The 2013 Ford F-150 not only takes on competitors, but takes on the countryside as well, with or without roads. Driving on the road is like being in a Lincoln, while off-roading is like having your own tank. In a word: Awesome!

What is the Ford F-150?
Simply put, the Ford F-150 is Canada's best-selling pickup truck, and has been for the past 47 years.

Technicalities
Ford wisely chose to leave the powertrains in the F-150 alone. The 302 hp 3.7L normally aspirated V6 is still the base engine, followed by the 365 hp 3.5L twin-turbo EcoBoost V6. First up on the V8 list is the 360 hp 5.0L V8, followed by the 411 hp 6.2L V8. The 6.2L option is limited to use in select models, such as the Platinum and Raptor.

All 2013 Ford F-150 engines are backed by a 6-speed automatic transmission, and an available 4X4 drivetrain.

A basic, regular cab F-150 in two-wheel drive can be ordered for $19,999; while the Platinum edition starts at $61,099.


Driving the F 150
Trailer towing gets a bit easier with the 2013 Ford F-150 thanks to available towing packages. With the Max. trailer tow package when combined with the Lariat trim or higher, the trailer-towing mirrors become electronically adjustable and can telescope in and out, as well as fold, and the mirrors themself are still fully power-adjustable. This is something that GM has yet to do with the Silverado and Sierra; Ram and Toyota Tundra mirrors are only power-adjustable, as well.

The 2013 F-150 is offered in regular, Super Cab or Crew Cab versions with three different box lengths also available. All of the trucks can tow conventional trailers, but it is not recommended to use a fifth-wheel hitch with the short box. Towing capacities vary slightly amongst the 2013 Ford F-150 models, but properly equipped the F-150 is rated at 11,300 lbs.

I drove a normal 2013 Ford F-150 (equipped with EcoBoost) hooked to a trailer with 11,000 lbs. My partner and I took to the highway and proceeded to get up to the 100 km/hr speed limit. Aside from a little trailer sway dampened by the trailer-sway control program, it stayed stable and was hardly noticeable.

The only time a heavy load was obvious with the Ford F-150 was under braking or while traversing an 8% grade. Braking took a bit of extra time and distance, but not a lot of extra pedal pressure. Going up the hill took about 50% more throttle pressure to keep slightly above the posted 70 km/hr speed limit.

Next on my list of real world tests came a 50 km fuel economy run. Ford says the EcoBoost motor should get 9.6 l/100 km on the highway and 14.1 l/100 km in town. My average for both town and highway, including headwinds and the 8% grade was 11.8 l/100 km. That is certainly much better than I thought it would be!

With the Max. trailer tow package when combined with the Lariat trim or higher, the trailer-towing mirrors become electronically adjustable and can telescope in and out, as well as fold, and the mirrors themself are still fully power-adjustable. (Photo: Ford)

Ins and Outs of the Ford F-150
As far as new looks go on the 2013 Ford F-150: The front grilles have changed, HID headlamps are widely available, and the front fascia has changed a bit to accommodate these new lights. New 18” and 20” wheel packages round out the differences.

Exterior definition for the average F 150 depends on the trim level chosen. Side badges are distinctive and depend on the trim level chosen. And while the front fascia has been updated, designers managed to keep the “Built Ford Tough” image.

The most distinctive exterior belongs to that of the 2013 Ford F-150 Raptor. With an instantly recognizable grille, a slightly different front end treatment, and a more aggressive stance, the Raptor means business. Even the Raptor's tires have a more bad-ass tread design, and the wheels are equally angry-looking. Paint and badging stand out as well, adding to the predator look of the F-150 Raptor.

Interiors are as distinctive (and important) as exteriors. Basic seating is a 40/20/40 split bench that can be upgraded to bucket seats with a centre console that can be used as an office. Add space through ordering a Super Cab or Super Crew Cab F-150 and buyers gain both seating capacity and storage space. Rear seats may be comfortable to sit on, but they also fold up to open up interior storage space.

SYNC™ with MyFordTouch® is now available in all 2013 Ford F-150s, and has been redesigned specifically for the truck buyers. That means, owners can now work SYNC™ with gloves on, just like all the other controls.

As far as new looks go on the 2013 Ford F-150: The front grilles have changed, HID headlamps are widely available, and the front fascia has changed a bit to accommodate these new lights. (Photo: Ford)

Comparing the F 150
Main competitors, such as Ram and GM's Silverado and Sierra are closing in where sales are involved, but haven't managed to outdo the F-150 just yet. The other players in Canada are Nissan with the Titan and Toyota with the Tundra, but neither of these companies offers the depth of model lineup that Ford has with the F-150. None of the companies goes to the effort that Ford does to ensure there is an F-150 suited to every customer.