Auto News 5

Chrysler Group's chief marketing officer says the automaker's "Farmer" campaign launched during the 2013 Super Bowl is boosting Ram consideration among prospective pickup buyers.

Stair-step programs, the incentive plans that drive many dealers crazy, are causing more grumbling than they were a year ago.

White-haired, tanned and vigorous at 80, Frank Stronach clearly has zero interest in retiring after building North America's biggest auto parts company. He now intends to jolt politics in his native Austria.

Honda has turned off the incentive spigot for the 2013 Civic that arrived in January -- and so far, so good. The revamped car is winning over consumers who are looking for more than just the deal of the week.

Dealers and automakers are slugging it out in some state legislatures over state franchise laws. Several state dealer associations are trying to beef up existing laws.

Automakers, urged on by China's national and local governments, are eager to expand in the markets of central and western China. Future growth will be in the hinterland, auto executives interviewed during this month's Shanghai auto show agreed.

Automotive News will put a spotlight on dealership finance and insurance issues during the third annual FandI Week, an online conference in June. Experts, academics and FandI professionals will headline six Webinars on June 11-13.

Carjacking a Mercedes-Benz M class proved to be a critical mistake for the alleged Boston Marathon bombers. When the driver escaped and called police, officers were able to track the vehicle using the crossover's factory-installed GPS system.

For the first time in nearly three decades, Mercedes-Benz will offer a four-cylinder diesel engine in the United States when the GLK250 BlueTec compact crossover goes on sale Tuesday, April 30.

White-haired, tanned and vigorous at 80, Frank Stronach clearly has zero interest in retiring after building North America's biggest auto parts company. He now intends to jolt politics in his native Austria.

A Michigan couple found guilty of stealing General Motors trade secrets related to hybrid-car technology to help develop similar vehicles in China will be sentenced Tuesday in Detroit.

An innovative surfer, pioneering Olympian and others who Mazda calls "game changers" will help launch the redesigned Mazda6 mid-sized sedan in an advertising campaign kicking off this week.

To attract a bigger audience to electric cars, Nissan officials say they must get more public EV chargers in place -- particularly the more powerful and expensive fast-charging stations.

Closing up shop was not an option for Scott Pitman, America's best-selling Suzuki dealer. He couldn't fathom leaving the business and laying off 86 employees at his Suzuki of Wichita.

Frank Stronach, 80, has no interest in retiring after building Magna into a top supplier. He has launched anew political party, Team Stronach, in Austria.

Honda claimed its first WTCC win when Gabriele Tarquini crossed the finish line of race 1 in first place at the Slovakia Ring.

Honda's WTCC squad had a tough beginning of the season in Monza and Marrakech, but was dominant in the third round of the season in Slovakia, claiming 1-2-3 in qualifying with Gabriele Tarquini, Tiago Monteiro and the semi-private Honda Civic driven by Norbert Michelisz.

Gabriele Tarquini, Honda Civic (Photo: WTCC)

The race ended in the same order for the three Honda men.

In race 2, Tom Coronel started from pole position, and drove his BMW 320TC to the win, ahead of Yvan Muller (Chevrolet) and Tarquini. Yvan Muller still leads provisional championship classification, 24 points ahead of Tarquini.

Carlos Huertas took his first career win in Formula Renault 3.5, this weekend at Motorland Aragon, in Spain.

Kevin Magnussen, who set the pole position in the first qualifying session, was dominant in race 1, taking win ahead of Will Stevens and Arthur Pic, while Antonio Felix Da Costa, who was dropped to the back of the field after a penalty in qualifying, failed to score any point.

Ahead of race 2, Norman Nato clinched his first pole position under the heavy rain of Sunday. Unfortunately for the Frenchman, he went wide in the very first corner of the race, therefore allowing Carlos Huertas into the lead.

Huertas eventually took his first Formula Renault 3.5 win ahead of Sergey Sirotkin and Stoffel Vandoorne.

Kevin Magnussen overhauled Stoffel Vandoorne for the points lead.

Race 1:
1 - Kevin Magnussen - Dams - 27 laps in 46'15"323

2 - Will Stevens - P1 by Strakka - 19"933

3 - Arthur Pic - AV Formula - 21"266

4 - Sergey Sirotkin - ISR - 23"601
5 - Norman Nato - Dams - 24"398
Etc.

Race 2:
1 - Carlos Huertas - Carlin - 14 laps in 33'19"005

2 - Sergey Sirotkin - ISR - 11"921

3 - Stoffel Vandoorne - Fortec - 16"429
4 - Will Stevens - P1 by Strakka - 24"691

5 - Nico Muller - Draco - 26"826
Etc.

Championship:
1.Magnussen 63; 2.Vandoorne 59; 3.Pic 35; 4.Da Costa 31; 5.Sirotkin, Stevens 30, etc.

From GMM

Toto Wolff has warned that the staff at Mercedes' Brackley headquarters are under pressure to keep their jobs.

Some of the team's British staff have been on site since Craig Pollock founded BAR in 1998.

The team then became Honda, then Brawn GP, and now Austrians Wolff and Niki Lauda have arrived to shake up the team following its first three years as Mercedes.

Wolff said one of the problems has been the staff's lack of "identity".

"I am trying to have them breathe it again. There are those who will respond, and those who will not," he warned in the Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger.

Toto Wolff denied, however, that he is preparing to take a "terminator method" to his shakeup plans.

"I'm no terminator," he smiled, "but I would be wrong if I did not express my opinions and then take a success-oriented approach to my actions."

Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team

Pros and Cons*
Pros
Behind the wheel of a 2013 smart fortwo cabrio, you can enjoy the sun, easy driving, a surprisingly roomy passenger cab... all at an affordable price. This is topped, of course, by the car's unique look.

Cons
However, this mini-car is sold at the same price as a compact. The cabrio has a few more let-downs: it has a small trunk, it's a little anaemic power-wise and it's susceptible to crosswinds.

Price
The basic model, starting at $20,500, is generously equipped, including its 15-inch light alloy wheel rims, power windows, diurnal LED lighting, automatic climate control, silver grille and rear window defroster.

The brabus model is available for $23,900 with 15-inch alloy wheels in front and 17-inch in the back as well as a leather upholstered dashboard and heated seats.

Many exterior, interior, audio, safety features as well as operational and electrical equipment are also available.

Photo: smart

Fuel Economy
In the city, the 2013 smart fortwo cabrio has a fuel consumption of 5.9 L/100 km. This rating goes as low as 4.8 L/100 km on the highway, so overall, it averages around 5.4 L/100 km.

Exterior Styling
The mini-car measures just 2.69 metres in length. Front headlights, along with its two large rear lights, give it a striking demeanor. Fully automatic, the Tritop textile soft top comes in three different colours. With its black side air inlets and distinctive C pillars, the 2013 smart fortwo cabrio can't be missed.

Powertrain
The mini-car's engine is mounted in the back. The 1-litre 3-cylinder engine delivers 70 hp and 68 lb-ft of torque. The engine is coupled with a 5-speed automatic transmission which features a manual mode.

Cargo Capacity
If you're just looking at the trunk, the storage area is only 220 litres. If you pile your groceries up to the roof, you'll get an 120 additional litres, so, 340 litres overall.

Safety
The 2013 smart fortwo cabrio is equipped with four airbags, an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with hill start assistance, anti-lock brakes, an emergency brake assist, an automatic door-closing system and a crash sensor which activates the hazard lights..

Comparable Models
Fiat 500c

Photo: smart

*References
Gélinas Gabriel, Le guide de l'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions de l'Homme, 2012, p.542
Crépault Michel, L'annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal Transcontinental, 2012, p.534
www.thesmart.ca

From GMM

Luiz Razia is hoping to return to formula one by the end of 2013.

The Brazilian came tantalisingly close to making his grand prix debut this year, signing with Marussia but then losing the drive when his sponsors failed to pay.

Now, the 24-year-old has told Jovem Pan radio he is in talks with Force India about becoming a test and Friday practice driver.

"The possibility is there," said Razia. "Force India is very interested in doing this project. But - strangely enough - I need sponsorship. The team doesn't want to do something badly, they want a project for at least two years: this year building up to be race driver in the coming year. I need sponsorship. It's disappointing to have to rely on it so much to do our work professionally, but that's how it is."

Photo: WRi2

Razia denied that the Marussia episode has hurt his credibility and image, "Marussia was very convinced of me and so put me there without much security. But I believe Force India is going to want something more concrete. I don't think it hurt. The difficult part was only the situation. We had the option of going to Caterham, but we chose Marussia for two reasons: they had a better package while Caterham was focusing more on 2014, and because we had several meetings with Pat Symonds and he was very confident."

Razia said he is sure he could have emulated Jules Bianchi's feats, having impressed the F1 world by comprehensively beating teammate Max Chilton so far.

"For sure," he insisted. "It don't think that would have been a difficult goal for the season. I think Chilton has come into formula one too early, with not enough experience."