Auto News 5

A two-day wildcat strike at Mercedes-Benz's East London car plant in South Africa ended today following crisis talks between management and a workers union.

A two-day strike at Mercedes-Benz's East London car plant in South Africa ended following crisis talks between management and a workers union.

Mitsubishi Motors (MMC) has revealed initial details of the production version of the G4 concept from the recent Bangkok motor show. This new model, a sedan version of the Mirage/Space Star hatchback, is called 'Attrage'.

Magneti Marelli has opened a plant in the southern China city of Foshan to produce rear lights, headlamps and other lighting components. The company aims to secure a 10 percent share of China's lighting market in the midterm.

PSA's China joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Corp. said it increased sales 37 percent last month to 45,303 units helped by strong demand for its stretched Citroen C4 and Peugeot 3008 models.

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 Nick Collins, Ford of Europe's global vehicle line director for the B segment.

South Korea has become a growth market for BMW, Mercedes and Audi as lower tariffs make their cars cheaper and local buyers abandon a decades-long preference for domestic brands.

Global April sales for Fiat-Chrysler show how much the Americas, especially the U.S. and Brazil, are supporting the automaker as deliveries in Europe fall.

From GMM

Nico Hulkenberg has left open the possibility of a future tie-in with Ferrari.

When the talented 25-year-old made the curious and apparently sideways step from Force India to Sauber for 2013, many sensed a 'Ferrari factor'.

Indeed, while Force India uses Mercedes power, the Swiss team Sauber is a customer and close political ally of Ferrari.

Following the German's move, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said: "I am very curious to see how Hulkenberg goes with our engine at Sauber".

The start of Hulkenberg's Ferrari-powered career has been mixed: he has thoroughly outshone Esteban Gutierrez in the sister car and won Sauber's praise.

On the other hand, the C32 car is struggling.

Photo: Sauber F1 Team

Asked if that's what he expected when he moved from Force India, Hulkenberg smiled to Spain's El Confidencial: "No. We are behind where we expected, and not producing the results we wanted."

As for whether his road towards Ferrari is on course, Hulkenberg admitted: "I don't know -- you'll have to ask them. These are the early days of the season, but I do want to get back to winning races and challenging, and to be champion one day. To do that you have to be in a big team. The future is open and you have to do the best you can with the car you have every weekend."

Nico Hulkenberg, a rare commodity in the F1 paddock in that he is a midfield driver without considerable sponsorship backing, has had a stop-start F1 career so far.

He made an impressive debut in 2010, scoring pole position at the season finale, but was immediately dropped by Williams.

He sat on the reserve bench with Sahara Force India the following year, returning to the grid in 2012.

"Three teams in three years, many changes ... more than I would like," Hulkenberg smiled again. "What happened with Williams was frustrating -- there was no discussion, I was out. You do a good season and lose the seat for other reasons. In any case, it's in the past and everyone's race (F1 career) is different -- mine with many changes."

A new study by Cisco shows that most car drivers are willing to share private and biometric information in return for more personalized security.

Among the 1,500+ respondents across 10 countries, 74% would allow their driving habits to be monitored in order to save on insurance or service maintenance or costs. Moreover, 65% would disclose their height and weight if this allowed a more customized vehicle and driving experience. And get this: 60% would agree to provide biometric information such as fingerprints and DNA samples!

What about autonomous vehicles? More than half of global consumers (57%) claimed they would be likely to ride in a car that does not require a human driver. However, there's a major gap between Japanese (28%) and Brazilian (96%) respondents.

And when asked about children, 46% would still trust their kids to ride in driverless automobiles.

The Mercedes of team Black Falcon took victort at the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring follwoing a long interruption caused by the bad weather.

The race was stopped for more than eight hours, from 11:00 pm on Sunday night until 8:20 am on Monday for safety reasons because of the heavy rain and fog.

At the end, Black Falcon's Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 took victory with Bernd Schneider, Nicki Thiim, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Sean Edwards.

It was a first win for Mercedes at the Nurburgring. But near the end, the Mercedes was caught by the flying BMW Z4 of Marc VDS.

Mercedes SLS AMG GT3. (Photo: 24h Rennen.de)

The No. 25 Z4 driven by Maxime Martin set a brillant performance, being sometimes 20 seconds a lap faster than its rivals during the race. The Z4 finally took second place with Martin and his teammates, Piccini, Göransson et Buurman.

The Mercedes of team ROWE finished in third place.

Mike Rockenfeller, who won the DTM race at Brands Hatch, UK on Sunday, flew to Germany to take compete in the race. He and Fässler, Stippler and Winkelhock finished 5th in their Audi R8 LMS ran by team Phoenix.

Two other DTM drivers took part in the Nürburgring 24 Hour race after Brands Hatch. Augusto Farfus and Martin Tomczyk were supposed to drive a BMW Z4 each. But Farfus did not take the wheel as his Z4 was damaged in an accident. Tomczyk ran the race and claimed 6th position.

General Motors of Canada is recalling 913 Cadillac SRX crossovers from 2013 because the wheel nuts may have been insufficiently tightened during vehicle assembly.

If the wheels have not yet been removed and replaced due to winter tire installation or tire rotation, the wheel nuts may loosen, resulting in possible damage to the wheel studs and/or wheel(s). This could also lead to a complete separation of the wheel(s) from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers will therefore perform a tire rotation during which the wheel nuts are tightened to specification.

Source: Transport Canada

Photo: Cadillac

Kimi Raikkonen is unsurprised both he and Lotus lie second in the constructors' and drivers' Formula 1 championships.

The Finn returned to Formula 1 in 2012 with the Enstone team after spending two years in the World Rally Championship.

He finished third in the F1 standings last season after a consistent year in which he won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but in 2013, the 2007 title winner won the season opener, and has finished on the podium in every round with the exception of Malaysia, where he came home seventh.

As a result, Raikkonen is just four points behind series leader, Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull Racing.

Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus E21. (Photo: WRi2)

"I don't see why we should be surprised; I don't think there is any magic behind it," Raikkonen said.

"We wanted to improve on the start to last year and we have done that.

"The aim was to start the first races better and we've already put ourselves in a strong position.

Despite his rich form, Raikkonen has conceded both he and Lotus are disappointed to have not won more races.

“We've already put ourselves in a strong position, [but] we wanted to win more races already, but it hasn't happened.

“Looking at it afterwards, you're never happy. Even if you win all the races, you're probably not 100 per cent happy.”

The Finn also believes the team's E21 challenger is fundamentally fast, and is not benefiting from the 2013 Pirelli soft compound tire; a statement which is contrary to some views within the paddock.

"If you're not fast, you're not going to be on the podium; first you have to be strong enough to put yourself there.

"Maybe there's more room to make a difference with different types of tires and things like that, [but] before you could play more with the fuel.”

On Sunday, Aston Martin unveiled the CC100 Speedster Concept to celebrate the brand's 100th anniversary as well as Sir Stirling Moss' triumphant win at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 1959.

The ultra-lightweight car features generous use of carbon fibre and is powered by a 6.0L V12 engine. While output has not been specified, Aston Martin claims a 0-100km/h time of just over 4.0 seconds and a top speed of 290 km/h (electronically limited).

Photo: Aston Martin

From GMM

Valencia is hoping to negotiate a new fee and then agree to annually alternate a spot on the formula one calendar with Spanish grand prix host Barcelona.

Whether the Spanish cities will ultimately share just one Spanish date on future grand prix calendars is a long-running saga, but the latest reports indicate talks are still ongoing.

Barcelona officials played down the likelihood of a deal when it hosted its race at the Circuit de Catalunya earlier this month.

But Valencia's regional government, the Valencian generalitat, said through its vice president Jose Ciscar: "We are negotiating a discount for it (the F1 race).

"When it is closed, I believe that we can sign the contract between the three parties," he told the Spanish news agency EFE, referring to Valencia, Barcelona and F1's Bernie Ecclestone.

Ciscar said F1 could therefore return to Valencia in 2014, adding: "But I'm very cautious. When we can announce that the deal is done, it will be announced."

Start of the 2012 European Grand Prix, in Valencia. (Photo: Pirelli)

Pros and Cons*
Pros
Great handling and visibility and attractive interior design make the 2013 Chevrolet Sonic a strong sub-compact contender.

Cons
Unproven reliability, small and uncomfortable rear seats, outdated 1.8-litre engine and numerous additional options are certainly not in its favour.


Price
Both hatchback and sedans start at $13,665 with automatic transmission versions starting at $15,965.

The LT model has a MSRP of $16,815 which increases to $18,315 with the automatic transmission option.

The turbocharged 1.4-litre LTZ model starts at $21,055.

The high-end RS model (only available as a 5-door) starts at $23,560.

Fuel Economy
City driving estimates for the 1.8-litre 4-cylinder engine are an estimated 7.7/8.3 L/100 km for the manual and automatic versions, respectively. Highway estimates for both models are rated at 5.5 L/100 km.

The turbocharged version consumes between 7.3 L/100 km and 7.7 L/100 km city and between 5.1 L/100 km and 5.5 L/100 km highway, depending on manual or automatic transmission.

The RS version consumes an additional 1L/100km in both city and highway tests.

New and Improved
New RS hatchback version.

Exterior Styling
This modern sub-compact has a feisty character - witness the motorcycle-inspired headlights. It's available in either the 5-door hatchback version or as a sedan.

Drivetrain
A 1.8-litre 4-cylinder 136 hp and 125 lb-ft torque engine powers the base versions.
This front-wheel drive vehicle can be equipped with either standard equipment 5-speed manual or optional 6-speed automatic transmissions.

The LTZ and RS models are powered by an Ecotec 1.4-litre turbocharged engine that produces 138 hp and 148 lb-ft torque. They are equipped with standard manual or optional automatic 6-speed transmissions.

Cargo Capacity
The sedan can load up to 422 litres in its trunk. The 5-door hatchback can hold 538 litres behind the rear seats and almost doubles to 1,351 litres of storage space with the rear seat reclined.

Safety
The Sonic is equipped with six standard airbags.

Comparable Models
Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio, Mazda 2, Nissan Versa, Scion xD, Toyota Yaris

Photo: Chevrolet

*References
Joubert Antoine, L'annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal Transcontinental, 2012, p.190
Duval Jacques, L'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions La Presse, 2012, p.190
gm.ca

Former Saab CEO Jan-Aake Jonsson, Chief Financial Officer Karl-Gustav Lindstroem, and general counsel Kristina Geer have just been arrested in Sweden on tax charges.

Without giving any names, Olof Sahlgren, chief prosecutor at the Swedish Economic Crime Authority, said that three people were questioned on Monday on suspicion of “grave attempts to complicate tax controls.”

The crimes reportedly occurred before Saab filed for bankruptcy in December 2011.

Lawyers representing the three executives have denied these allegations, which could lead to a minimum prison sentence of six months and a maximum sentence of four years in Sweden.

Source: Automotive News

Photo: Matthieu Lambert

Pros and Cons*
Pros
Ample room for seven passengers, numerous standard features, retractable seats, improved handling and decent fuel economy are great assets for this luxury minivan.

Cons
The absence of an all-wheel drive option, bland exterior styling and steep price may turn some potential customers away from the 2013 Chrysler Town & Country.


Price
The Touring version has a MSRP of $40,995 and is delivered with standard 17-inch wheels and backup camera.

The Touring-L starts at $42,995 and is equipped with standard 8-position heated leather seats.

The Limited, at $46,995, is generously equipped and offers additional heated rear seats and a voice-controlled audio system.

Fuel Economy
Fuel economy ratings are in the 12.5 L/100 km city and 8 L/100 km highway range.

Exterior Styling
This upscale version of the Dodge Grand Caravan has a total of four doors of which two are of the sliding variety. The chrome grille proudly displays the iconic Chrysler logo. Numerous styling touches such as rear LED tail lights, body-coloured rear spoiler and a number of chrome accents contribute to the overall refined styling.

Drivetrain
A 3.6 litre V6 sits under the hood of the 2013 Chrysler Town & Country that pumps out 283 hp and 260 lb-ft torque and is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission which powers the front wheels.

Cargo Capacity
The trunk alone holds up to 934 litres. Lowering the 3rd row of seats brings the total to 2,240 litres of storage, while an impressive 4,072 litres of space can be achieved when lowering the 2nd row and limiting the vehicle's occupants to just two - driver and front seat passenger.

The stowage area can be completely flat thanks to the Stow‘n'Go seats.

Safety
Eight airbags and a number of active safety systems protect the occupants.

Comparable Models
Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda Odyssey, Nissan Quest, Toyota Sienna

Photo: Chrysler

*References
www.chrysler.ca

Memorial Day weekend in the United States is a time when the folks in the NASCAR community display appreciation for the country's military forces. Roush Fenway Racing sponsor, Fastenal, will honor military service men and women, both active and retired, with a three-car tribute on the No. 16, 17 and 99 Ford Fusions at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

These three cars, known as the Fastenal Tribute Cars, will feature the names of current Fastenal employees who served in the military. David MacFadden (First Sergeant, U.S. Army) will be displayed on the hood of the No. 99, and Brian Ashbee (Chief Quartermaster, U.S. Navy) and Anthony Phillips (Private First Class, U.S. Army) will see their names on the hood of the No. 17.

Photo: Roush Fenway Racing

The displays are part of Fastenal's “Heroes Hired Here” campaign honoring employees who are active or retired military members. MacFadden, Ashbee and Phillips were the top three finishers in a Fastenal employee essay contest. As the contest winner, MacFadden will also receive a trip for two to the Bank of America 500 in Charlotte on October 12th. Fastenal will be posting the winners' stories on the Fastenal Racing Facebook

“We're extremely proud of the hundreds of former and current military personnel who are part of the Fastenal Blue Team,” said Fastenal President Lee Hein. “The Tribute Cars are a small way of expressing our gratitude to them and all of the men and women who have served our country.”

This is Fastenal's second season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series as the primary sponsor for Carl Edwards in the No. 99 Ford Fusion and second year sponsoring three Cup cars in the Roush Fenway Racing family for the Coca-Cola 600.

Jamie Whincup this past weekend won three of the four Australian V8 Supercar races held at Circuit of the Americas in Austin Texas.

Amazingly, the same three drivers on the podium for the first three of the four 100-kilometer sprints begged for at least one new name besides Jamie Whincup, Fabian Coulthard and Craig Lowndes.

In race 4, Whincup won by three seconds over Coulthard, but in third was Shane Van Gisbergen, like Whincup and Coulthard drives a GM Holden Commodore.

The race was apparently a success with an announced three-day crowd of 68,000 at Circuit of the Americas, the Austin 400 -- the first appearance of the Australian V8 Supercars.

Jamie Whincup. (Photo: EDGE Photographics)