Auto News 5

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 Marcus Cox, Opel/Vauxhall's finance director for sales, marketing and aftersales.

Audi purchasing chief Bernd Martens says the automaker aims to buy 90 percent of its components for its new Mexico factory from local sources. So far no other Audi location has done that

Daimler has strengthened ties with Ford after consulting with the U.S. automaker on its three-cylinder turbo gasoline engine, which it is building with Renault for the next Smart and Twingo cars.

Nissan will introduce its first Datsun model in India by March 2014 as the carmaker offers cheaper vehicles in a push for a fivefold increase in its share of Asia's third-biggest auto market.

U.S. auto exports to Europe could quadruple within 15 years if regulators get rid of tariffs and adopt standard vehicle-safety rules, automaker associations say.

Already collaborating with Ford on the development of fuel cell vehicles, Daimler and the U.S. automaker recently exchanged information about their gasoline engines.

Daimler strengthened ties with Ford after consulting with the automaker on its three-cylinder turbo gasoline engine, which it is building with Renault for the next Smart and Twingo cars.

From GMM

The engine deal between Toro Rosso and Renault is reportedly not yet ready to be announced.

Earlier this week, we reported that the Red Bull-owned team's anticipated switch from Ferrari power would be announced imminently, on the sidelines of the Monaco grand prix weekend.

But German-language Speed Week reports that, during conference calls and internal meetings in the last days, there were still elements of the deal that were being discussed and debated.

"There are still too many outstanding issues," a Toro Rosso source is quoted as saying.

Alain Prost, on Renault's executive committee, said on Thursday that he expected progress to be made this weekend as the French marque signs up its 2014 customers.

"I'm not negotiating with the teams myself but we all know that it's going to be accelerating during this weekend," he said in Monaco.

"I cannot say all the (announcement) dates for all the teams but I hope very quickly."

Photo: Renault Sport F1

While Denny Hamlin was concentrating on breaking the track record, in qualifying at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, his motivation was getting back into Chase contention.

Driving a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Hamlin broke the track record with a speed of 195.624 mph around one-and-a-half mile oval. He knocked the Chevrolet driven by Kurt Busch off of the provisional pole.

Shrugging off the effects of a fractured vertebra, suffered at Auto Club Speedway earlier this year, Hamlin thought a pole was good but only just good enough. "We have a mission ahead, and that's to try and make the Chase," said Hamlin.

In order to make sure that happens he'd likely need to win two races and advance to the top 20 in the points to earn a Wild Card entry into NASCAR's version of the "The best way to do that is to win races, and to win races, you're going to have to have every advantage you can -- one of them being the No. 1 pit stall (granted to the pole-winner).”

Denny Hamlin, Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing. (Photo: NASCAR)

Since it's NASCAR's longest race, at 600 miles, good pit stops will take on added importance. Having the choice of a pit stall helps determine where a driver might blast out off on restarts.

Hamlin is currently 27th in the standings 61 points out of 20th place after missing four races due to his back injury.

Kurt Busch, who has been working on restoring his stature in the NASCAR with some very good runs but no wins, said "I really just committed to running the best lap I could, pushing every envelope that I normally don't push. Obviously, it paid off with a big reward."

Despite being faster than 41 cars, in the 43-car field, Busch said “I didn't do my job, but my team is doing an incredible job with fast cars week in and week out. I told them we had a pole-winning car today. We didn't have a pole-winning draw as far as going out in the mid-range, but it's part of the game. You have to have a pole-winning car and then if you get a pole-winning draw, like Denny did to go out late, you want to deliver. And so he did.”

The Toyota's of Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin, and Clint Bowyer completed a Toyota sweep of third through fifth.

Sunday's race starts at 7PM EDT.

Life is all about perceptions; how we perceive those around us. Life is often about stereotypes as well, and as much as we try and avoid such things, they trickle into our everyday lives and have even seeped into the automotive world.

That's right; this list of top 10 queer cars for the straight guy is a gathering of seemingly girlie or feminine cars that are actually quite manly and brutish once you ditch the stereotypes and get behind the wheel.

Whether it's womanly because of the design or because of a stereotype that's grown over the years and never been squished, these 10 vehicles have been wrongly accused of wearing miniskirts and stilettos when they actually wear Levis and steel-toe boots.

Mazda MX-5/Miata (any generation)

Photo: Mazda

It's adorable, little, and has always had a cute grin that makes girls say “awww” whenever they see one pass on the street. A two-seater convertible, the Miata brings to mind long blonde hair billowing in the wind. However, this queer car for the straight guy is anything but girlie. Nearly track ready and able to handle any curve you throw its way with ease, this grinning roadster is a rebel within.

Continue reading Top 10: Queer Cars for the Straight Guy

McLaren's Jenson Button believes the streets of Monaco do not show up the flaws on the team's troubled MP4-28 car as much as on previous tracks.

Whilst Button and teammate Sergio Perez never threatened the top-five in either of yesterday's practice sessions, the 2009 world champion believes the car's long run pace around the principality is better than it has been on previous circuits as it seems to simply behave better with a street set-up.

"I'm happier with the car here than in the last few races," said Button.

"The pace on the long run is surprisingly good.

"There are some positives with areas that we've struggled in before, but seem a bit better.

"Because Monaco's such a different race, you change the car quite a bit, and it seems to be working a little bit better.

"Not that that matters much around here when you're 1.2 seconds off the pace in qualifying...”

Jenson Button, McLaren MP4-28. (Photo: McLaren F1 Team)

Lexington, KY - I've said it before and I'll say it a million times more: I'm a sucker for something built with a purpose. I don't care if it's a well-designed pair of jeans or a Porsche 911; if it's built to do something and it does that thing to the very best of its ability (and better than anyone else), and makes no allowances for that purpose or pretends to be anything else then all hail that product.

Enter the 2013 Land Rover LR4.

All hail the LR4.

It's big, it's boxy and it's bloody beautiful (in my opinion). Why? Not because of its exterior looks, but because of what it can do when you're behind the wheel. Whether you're scaling your local suburban streets to get the groceries or off-roading on an exploratory weekend camping extravaganza; the 2013 Land Rover LR4 has you covered -- and that's just fantastic.


What is a Land Rover LR4?
To anyone outside North America, he knows this particular model as the Land Rover Discovery 4. Now in its fourth generation (hence the LR4 badging), the Discovery has been around since the late ‘80s. An off-shoot of the much loved and hailed Land Rover Defender, the Discovery was introduced to compete with the more affordable SUVs of the times.

Since then, the Land Rover Discovery has gone through a few minor cosmetic changes (keeping that boxy, utilitarian look for the most part) and a host of engine choices.

In short, the Land Rover LR4 is a highly capable off-roader equipped with a host of luxurious amenities.

Technicalities
The 2013 Land Rover LR4 is available in three trim levels (base, HSE and HSE LUX), the Land Rover LR4's base price is $59,490. The top of the line HSE LUX model (which gets your more technological bits and pieces) jumps to the $70,790 mark.

Across the line, all 2013 Land Rover LR4 models are equipped with an LR-V8 5.0L engine good for 375 horsepower. Power is handled via a 6-speed CommandShift transmission. With its 2-speed transfer gearbox , and Land Rover's 4-Corner Electronic Air Suspension and Terrain Response, the LR4 is truly built to handle whatever you throw its way, and in any season.

Driving the Land Rover LR4
While I didn't get to do a 400-mile road trip across deserts, rocks, mountains and highways, I did spend quite a bit of time behind the wheel on the Horse Park grounds in Lexington, KY. What did I learn in that too-short period of time? That the LR4 is still as purpose-built as it ever was.

With a specially designed off-road course at my disposal, I dutifully drove the 2013 Land Rover LR4 where few other off-road vehicles would dare venture. From a controlled hill decent with zero brake input from yours truly to uneven, rocky surfaces that pushed the 4-corner suspension to its limit, all the way to a water wade that would have most checking for leaks in the footwells; the Landie never let me down. So impressed was I with the LR4 that I insisted on taking more than one run at the course.

It was just as comfortable traversing the back roads of the Horse Park. Driving position is phenomenal, and despite the Land Rover LR4's rather large size, it handles very well. Power is there when you need it, but also kept at bay during more reserved, careful climbs over uneven surfaces.

It's big, it's boxy and it's bloody beautiful (in my opinion). Why? Not because of its exterior looks, but because of what it can do when you're behind the wheel. (Photo: Miranda Lightstone)

Inside and Out of the Land Rover LR4
For 2013, the LR4 didn't just get a new face, it also got some nifty interior upgrades as well. From a more upscale feel to the cabin through soft-touch materials and mood lighting to a unique combination of seating in the back (the LR4 offers a 35:30:35 row set-up), the 2013 Land Rover LR4 is definitely a luxurious way to transport yourself and six of your closest friends.

From the outside, the LR4 remains ever boxy, and I adore that. It's not pretending to be something else. The moment you lay eyes on this SUV you know what it's all about. You don't have to question, is it a crossover? A wagon? A hatch? Watch, maybe it's one of those fancy SAVs... Kudos to you Land Rover for sticking to the LR4's shape.

The 2013 Land Rover LR4 is definitely a luxurious way to transport yourself and six of your closest friends. (Photo: Miranda Lightstone)

Comparing the Land Rover LR4
When it comes to rugged off-road ability, few can compete with the likes of the 2013 Land Rover LR4. They've been doing it for 65 years, and they'll be doing it for another 65 at this rate. However, in terms of passenger room and a vague form of off-road capability, you're looking at the likes of the VW Touareg or even the Lexus GX 460.

From GMM

Mark Webber's future at Red Bull is clouded, according to F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone.

It is believed the world champion team is considering replacing the veteran Australian next year with Kimi Raikkonen, or the top youngster from the development squad Toro Rosso, Daniel Ricciardo.

In the end, however, the decision could be 36-year-old Webber's.

"At the relevant time, we will sit down with Mark and see what he wants to do, what his plans are for the future," Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said in Monaco on Thursday.

Bernie Ecclestone, who is known for keeping his finger at the pulse of all the major deals in F1, also hinted that Webber will have a say as to whether or not he stays.

"I don't think Webber knows if he will stay at Red Bull," the 82-year-old told Formula Money editor Christian Sylt.

Photo: Red Bull Racing

Sylt had also asked Ecclestone about the longer term future at Red Bull, and whether boss Horner might be given a share of the team, along the lines of Monisha Kaltenborn at Sauber.

"If Didi (Mateschitz) was going to sell I think he would look after Christian," said Ecclestone. "Christian and Adrian Newey have got long term contracts."

Sage Karam barely beat Carlos Munoz to earn his first ever Firestone Indy Lights pole at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Karam set a two-lap average speed of 189.243 mph, putting him just ahead of Munoz's 189.103 mph mark (Munoz who will also take part in the Indianapolis 500 IndyCar race).

Sage Karam, Schmidt Peterson. (Photo: Chris Jones/IMS)

Munoz admitted that jumping between the Lights car and the IndyCar had made things a little trickier for him.

The Colombian's closest title rival was Jack Hawksworth, who ended up fifth on the grid behind Peter Dempsey and Gabby Chaves, but said that he was satisfied with his starting position.

A small field of just 11 cars took part in the qualifying session.

Pos  Driver   Team   Speed (in mph)
1. Sage Karam  Schmidt Peterson  189.243
2. Carlos Munoz   Andretti  189.103
3. Peter Dempsey  Belardi  188.793
4. Gabby Chaves   Schmidt Peterson  187.770
5. Jack Hawksworth   Schmidt Peterson   187.410
6. Kyle O'Gara  Schmidt Peterson   187.276
7. Zach Veach  Andretti   187.013
8. Juan Pablo Garcia  Moore  186.509
9. Chase Austin  Herta  186.261
10. Jorge Goncalvez   Belardi  186.183
11. Jimmy Simpson  Moore  185.967

Red Bull's Mark Webber is not overly concerned about the team's single lap pace in Monaco, despite both cars failing to finish in the top-three in either of yesterday's free practice sessions.

Despite recording only the fifth fastest lap in the final session, some +0.645 seconds off pace setter Nico Rosberg's Mercedes, Webber is refusing to be downbeat about the team's performance.

"You will never come to Monte Carlo and have the perfect day or perfect set-up,” said the 2010 and 2012 Monaco winner.

"We were not really in the window here last year up until my last lap in Q3.

“We need to rediscover that if I can and be towards the front - you need to be there here."

However, teammate Sebastian Vettel was not as positive following a KERS issue that halted his running on Thursday, as well as a ‘very poor' run on soft-tires.

"Not completely ideal but that is Friday - or in this case, Thursday,” said the triple world champion.

"We would like to be a little bit more competitive in low-fuel configuration so we need to try and find some lap time there.

"My run on super-softs was very poor, so we need to understand why.

“I wasn't able to improve which you should be quite easily.

"After that I did a long run on super-soft and it seemed quite OK.”

From GMM

Former team co-owner Gerhard Berger does not think Toro Rosso's current race drivers are ready to make the step up to Red Bull next year.

It is strongly rumoured that Sebastian Vettel's long-time teammate Mark Webber, 36, will not stay at the world champion team for an eighth consecutive season in 2014.

Reportedly at the front of the grid to replace him are Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen and Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo, although Jean-Eric Vergne also cannot be ruled out.

"I expect from both of the (Toro Rosso) drivers a very competitive second half of the season," said Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost, referring to the similarly 23-year-old Ricciardo and Vergne.

"Then we will see how the future will be."

Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso. (Photo: WRi2)

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner also said he is keeping an eye on the young duo.

"They're both young, talented drivers, both developing very well. It's good to see," he said in Monaco on Thursday. "For sure they're two guys we have a watchful eye over."

But Berger, who in 2007 oversaw Vettel's ultra-successful transition from Toro Rosso to Red Bull, thinks it could be too soon for Australian Ricciardo or Frenchman Vergne.

"Red Bull needs two absolutely winning drivers," he told APA news agency. "Whether one of both of these boys have it, we will see in the second half of the season. But now it's still too early to judge. I think they may need another year of development at Toro Rosso."

Asked about the Raikkonen speculation, fellow former McLaren and Ferrari driver Berger answered: "Kimi would definitely be a very good option (for Red Bull)."

This weekend, the mythical Indianapolis 500 race takes place the same day as the prestigious Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix and the famed Coca Cola 600 NASCAR Sprint Cup at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Fans of every category will be treated with some of the best and most important racing of the year.

However, I'd say that the Indy 500 remains The Big Unknown. Not because I'd say it's almost impossible to predict in advance who's going to win it, but because this 500-mile race -- the jewel of the IndyCar crown -- has generated virtually no coverage this year.

Do you know who will be on pole position for Sunday's race? No? I'm not surprised. He's an American driver, Ed Carpenter. The guy who will sit beside him on the starting grid is even more unknown: Columbia's Carlos Munoz.

Then, the list of relatively anonymous drivers goes on: Viso, Hildebrand, Jakes, Bell, Newgarden, Saavedra, Beatriz, Mann, Lazier, etc...

We must confess that the departure of Miss Danica Patrick to the NASCAR Sprint Cup badly hurt the IndyCar series. Despite having won just one race in her IndyCar career, Danica was able to generate more coverage than all 33 current drivers combined!

Apart from the motorsport newspapers, magazines, and web sites almost no one talks about the Indy 500.

The battle of the engine manufacturers involving Honda and Chevrolet gets very little attention. Things get worse as the provisional point standings are lead by a former F1 driver, Japanese Takuma Sato.

Where are the true stars? Where are the hot-blooded, big mouth, controversial drivers of the past who made IndyCar racing one of the best racing series ever?

I agree that today's stars -- guys like Will Power, Ryan Hunter-Reay, and Dario Franchitti -- are well mannered, good drivers, and outstanding with the media.

However, 20 or 30 years ago the fans admired the cowboys like Al and Bobby Unser, A.J. Foyt, Johnny Rutherford, Mario Andretti, Rick Mears, and Bobby Rahal.

These guys had gut, courage, determination, talent, and they were not afraid to speak their minds. You either loved them or hated them, but they did not go unnoticed; which is not the case with today's drivers.

So, will you watch the Indy 500 on TV this Sunday?

Photo: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

From GMM

Kimi Raikkonen has reportedly been told to remove the depiction of 1976 world champion James Hunt from the top of his Monaco-spec helmet.

An unabashed fan of the wild, drinking, smoking, womanising British driver, Finn Raikkonen went one step further a year ago in the Principality, wearing the late Hunt's iconic black helmet livery.

This year, the Lotus driver's tribute to Hunt is a stylish picture on the top of his helmet, bearing the words 'James Hunt, 1976 world champion'.

And on the back of the helmet, above Raikkonen's 'iceman' logo, it reads: "Kimi on the Hunt'.

Photo: WRi2

But according to reports, including in Speed Week and Finland's Turun Sanomat, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has told Raikkonen to either cover the tribute or revert to his original helmet for the rest of the weekend.

Reportedly, Ecclestone objects either to the positioning of the tribute in full view of the overhead onboard camera, or believes it is an unauthorised advertisement of the forthcoming feature film about Hunt and Niki Lauda's 1976 title battle ('Rush').

When asked about the reported run-in with Ecclestone, Raikkonen told Speed Week: "I know nothing about it.

"As far as I know, I will wear the helmet all weekend."

Meanwhile, when asked about his admission he has "two options" on the table for the 2014 season, Raikkonen clarified that one of them is a return to retirement.

It had been reported that one of the options for the Lotus driver might be a switch to Red Bull.

"There is always the option that I will not drive (at all). It's always possible," the 2007 world champion is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace.

Photo: Lotus F1 Team

Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez agreed that F1 should take that possibility seriously.

"Knowing Kimi well, outside of the track too, he could just as well announce that he's stopping altogether," he said on Thursday.

"I wouldn't take any bets whatsoever," he added.

From GMM

Both of Sauber's main team figures were missing in action on Thursday as Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Gutierrez practiced in Monaco.

Roger Benoit, the very well connected correspondent for Swiss newspaper Blick, said it is "very rare" that neither Peter Sauber and team boss Monisha Kaltenborn are present at a grand prix circuit.

"They are somewhere in eastern Europe, on the sponsor search," he said.

Esteban Gutiérrez, Sauber C32. (Photo: WRi2)

The search for new money is increasingly important this year, as midfield teams prepare for the much more expensive turbo V6 engine rules of 2014.

"It's hellishly expensive," Red Bull team boss Christian Horner admitted on Thursday, referring to the 2014 rules. "The timing (of the rule change) probably isn't ideal for some of the teams further down the grid."

Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez agrees: "The timing is ... I don't know if it's well-chosen. It's certainly odd."

Pirelli has issued ultimatum to Formula 1 teams that should they not agree on a 2014 contract for the Italian tire manufacturer, then it will pull out at the end of this season.

Over recent weeks, talks between Pirelli and the teams have broken down, with the tyre firm saying it is running out of time to be able to fully prepare and produce tires for next season; a season which will see a massive technical overhaul in Formula 1.

The company's motorsport director, Paul Hembrey, told the media on Thursday at Monaco that the situation was becoming ‘extremely serious', and should the matter not be resolved soon, Pirelli will be unable to make the tyres for next season.

Bernie Ecclestone and Paul Hembery. (Photo: Pirelli)

"Apparently on September 1, we are meant to tell them [the teams] everything that they need to know with the tires for next season, but now we are in mid-May," he explained.

"You can imagine how ludicrous that is when we have not got contracts in place.

"Things are getting, as far as we can see, extremely serious because the changes next year are substantial.

"The sport has to take a rapid decision because aside from having the fixed resources in the business involved in F1, there is also a technical job. We need to do a technical job as well.

"It is not just a case of maybe putting a harder compound on to this year's tires - the changes are so dramatic that we will need to do a thorough re-engineering of the tire. That takes time, so the longer is goes on it makes our job impossible.

"There comes a time where we will not have time to do the job any more. Maybe we won't be here..."

It is rumoured that should Pirelli withdraw from the sport, South Korean tire firm Hankook, the DTM's tire supplier since 2011, is set to replace them.