Auto News 5

British motorsport publication Autosport Friday reveals that Formula 1 teams may be required to make two mandatory pit stops during the Grands Prix in 2014.

Well respected journalists Jonathan Noble and Dieter Rencken write that detailed tweaks to the F1 sporting regulations been tabled for discussion at next month's F1 Strategy Group meeting.

If accepted the new rules will then agreed by the F1 Commission and FIA's World Motor Sport Council in Paris.

Autosport says the rules will require that each driver must stop twice during the race to fit a new set of tires.

Additionally, drivers will not be allowed to use the 'prime' specification of tires for more than 50% of the race distance, while the 'option' compound will not be allowed to be used for more than 30% of the race distance.

“Should the rule changes be accepted, they will almost certainly reduce the importance of tire strategy in the races as there will no longer be an incentive to eke out a longer life from the tires”, Autosport writes.

With the introduction of the new V6 turbo hybrid engines next season, Pirelli wants to decrease the importance put on the performance of its tires.

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- This is one of the toughest places in the world to acquire a driver's license. Narrow, cobbled roads form concentric rings around the city's hub, which is teeming with trams, rickshaws, and literally thousands of cyclists. Yet the traffic accident rate is surprisingly low.

It's the perfect environment to launch a tiny city car nimble enough to co-exist emission-free amongst the cyclists, while offering its driver a connectivity to supporting infrastructure and alternative transportation choices that almost completely alleviate any range anxiety.


What is the 2014 BMW i3?
BMW's i3 is an all-electric four-seater built on an aluminum platform with a carbon-fibre frame. Since its inception in 2007, the i3 project's emphasis was on sustainability from production in the entirely wind-powered Liepzig, Germany plant, through to its emission-free operation and its construction of recycled and recyclable materials. The BMW i3 is more than just a car, it's an amalgamation of alternatives. Via its onboard connectivity system, users can calculate range, find charging stations, determine arrival time, and (if need be) choose from available public transportation options depending on traffic conditions.

BMW's i3 is an all-electric four-seater built on an aluminum platform with a carbon-fibre frame. (Photo: BMW)

2014 BMW i3 Price and Specs
There are three trim levels, and in keeping with the BMW i3's futuristic image they're named: Mega World, Giga World, and Tera World.

Base model Mega World comes standard with 19" aluminum wheels, BMW's ConnectedDrive system, Navigation, LED headlights, 7.4 kWh charger and cloth upholstery.

The mid-range Giga World adds leather and wool upholstery, sunroof, Sirius XM satellite radio, and a garage-door opener.

Range-topping Tera World models have genuine leather upholstery and unique alloy wheels.

The fully electric i3 powered by a 170 hp, 184 lb-ft of torque electric motor and 22 kWh lithium-ion battery pack will arrive in Canadian showrooms during the second quarter of 2014 for $44,950. Also available is a $48,900 Range Extended version, which is virtually identical to the electric model but adds a backup energy source: a rear-mounted 2-cylinder, 647cc gasoline engine producing 34 hp.

The fully electric i3 powered by a 170 hp, 184 lb-ft of torque electric motor and 22 kWh lithium-ion battery pack will arrive in Canadian showrooms during the second quarter of 2014. (Photo: BMW)

Driving the 2014 BMW i3
Put the console-located shift lever into "Drive" and the BMW i3 glides forward soundlessly. There's little drama and it quickly becomes as natural as driving any conventional vehicle.

The only notable difference is the regenerative braking, which is so efficient that the driver need only lift off the gas and rarely finds it necessary to touch the brake pedal.
There are three driving modes "Comfort," "EcoPro" and "EcoPro Plus," depending on whether the driver prefers responsiveness or energy conservation.

Like many electric vehicles, the BMW's bottom-located battery-pack gives it a low centre of gravity that renders it extremely stable while cornering. While it's never going to be included with BMW's corner-carving sports cars, the i3 is quite nimble and has a turning radius of just 9.6 metres making it well-suited to narrow, congested streets.

Navigating the myriad network of laneways in Amsterdam is no small feat, but the i3's agility helped us get through without ending up in one of the many canals.

The 2014 BMW i3 feels solid on the highway, and with a top speed of 150km/hr, has no trouble keeping up to traffic. The immediately available torque thrust makes passing manoeuvres astonishingly easy.

Range anxiety is almost non-existent. An overnight charge using a 110-volt outlet can deliver up to 160 km in EcoPro+ mode.

Put the console-located shift lever into "Drive" and the BMW i3 glides forward soundlessly. (Photo: BMW)

Inside and Out of the 2014 BMW i3
The i3's odd and chunky design is a bit unsettling for our North American palates, but in a modern urban setting, its futuristic appearance fits right in. The "one-box" design maximizes interior space, and the tall roofline and dipping beltline provide plenty of light and space within.

While the boxy nose wears BMW's signature twin-kidney grill, it's merely decorative since no engine needs to breathe.

The oversized turbine wheels on the 2014 BMW i3 are only 6” wide and aerodynamically sculpted to reduce drag.

Inside, the cabin is open and airy thanks to the large greenhouse. Seats are thin, yet supportive. The space-age design is funky yet functional. On the dash is an enormous display that renders crisp, colourful navigation routes, charge-station locations, and points of interest. Another, smaller screen in the gauge pod shows all relevant vehicle information. There's a console-located iPhone docking station, and BMW's nifty app sends nav info, driving efficiency scores, range, and even alternative transportation choices such as train schedules and walking routes.

Inside, the cabin is open and airy thanks to the large greenhouse. Seats are thin, yet supportive. (Photo: BMW)

Comparing the 2014 BMW i3
The i3's closest competitor in terms of style and handling ability is probably the Fiat 500e, but unfortunately it's only available in California.

Nissan's LEAF is a well-established presence and is thousands of dollars cheaper -- yet with shorter range and a lot less power. The Chevrolet Spark EV is roughly $10,000 cheaper, but again has less range and nowhere near the power of the BMW i3. Ford's Focus Electric is almost as expensive as the BMW i3, but has a smaller range and less power.

Over all, the 2014 BMW i3 is well-suited to a modern, busy urban environment with a well-developed infrastructure.

From GMM

Martin Whitmarsh has admitted he is not sure if Mercedes will supply a "competitive" engine in 2014.

According to the paddock grapevine, the German manufacturer has an early performance head-start over its turbo V6-producing rivals Renault and Ferrari.

But McLaren boss Whitmarsh, whose Woking based team will switch to works Honda power for 2015, said the rumours Mercedes will lead the game in 2014 cannot be verified.

McLaren MP4-28. (Photo: WRi2)

"Will we have a competitive drivetrain (in 2014)? I don't know," he is quoted by Speed Week.

"There are many people in the paddock who seem to know, but I don't know where they could have got that information from," added Whitmarsh.

"From what I know about Mercedes' resources and organisation, I am assuming that they have done a good job. I believe that we will be competitive," said Whitmarsh.

McLaren finished the 2013 season just fifth, having failed to score even a single podium.

One car I'm thankful I no longer own is the 1994 Volvo 850 sedan.

My family had two cars when I turned 16: a brown Ford Taurus and a 1987 Ford Escort Pony -- we were a Blue Oval family, after all.

My '75 El Camino was an underpowered, Malaise-choked slug. It also had swivel seats, which is reason enough to wish it was still around.

New gasoline direct injection (GDI) car petrol engines emit more cancer causing particles than modern diesel engines, a study by independent vehicle researchers TUV Nord claimed.

The car I'm thankful I no longer own is without question the Renault LeCar. Actually that should be CARS I'm thankful I no longer own. Yes, I actually owned two of them. Fell for it twice, I did. I can't remember what year(s) mine were.

News 28 Nov, 2013

Renault is working on a Clio-sized 141mpg plug-in hybrid for 2014 Geneva show

As we get ready to celebrate a

There appear to be differing views within General Motors hierarchy over the relationship in Europe between the Opel and Chevrolet brands.

The value of money is relative. If you don't have any, it's worth more. So when I was a wretched high school student working at Jack in the Box for what I seem to recall was $1.

News 28 Nov, 2013

BMW M Performance parts available for the new BMW 2 Series from launch next March

PSA will spend EUR 90m to produce a replacement for the current C segment Peugeot 5008 MPV/minivan at its Rennes plant.

It wasn't fair to the car to have it just sit in my garage. My 1981 Delorean DMC-12 had been turned into a storage shelf for various items and the large hood served perfectly as a place to set the shop manual for my

News 28 Nov, 2013

Geneva motor show debut for new Ssangyong SUV that’s set to go on sale next autumn

ROAD TEST EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: Hard to believe that it's been about three years since we've had our long-term 2011 Honda Odyssey.

BMW's Mini plant in Oxford, England, has built its last second generation hatchback.

I have owned some cars that are generally considered to be horrible. Actually, here's the whole list of cars that I've owned in order, with the last four being cars that I currently own, or in the case of the Willys, co-own :

The uproar over departing PSA CEO Philippe Varin's pension package will benefit the executive in the long run.