Auto News 5

A Memorandum of Understanding formalising co-operation between the Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG), the European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA) and the Japan Auto Parts Industries Association (JAPIA) enters into force this month, with the objective to host the regional efforts of the Supplier Alliance, (SUAL).

In an effort to raise stuttering sales in India that far lag emerging Asian rival China, Mercedes, Audi and BMW are targeting young and female buyers outside the ultra-rich classes with small locally made cars.

News 23 Apr, 2013

Our spies have caught the new BMW 5 Series GT testing, ahead of its Frankfurt show debut

Malaysia's Proton Holdings is expected to unveil new models and announce new collaborative agreements over the next year, according to local industry sources.

Indonesia's largest vehicle manufacturer, Astra Daihatsu Motor, said it is delaying production of its new small car range until the government announces its long-anticipated small car policy.

Michelin has unveiled EUR4.9bn (US$6.4bn) of first-quarter 2013 sales, in line with its full-year outlook, but down 8.1%, with a weak passenger car and light truck tyre market in Europe and a disappointing environment in North America.

News 23 Apr, 2013

Our artist's image shows how the new baby Lexus hybrid SUV could look

Faurecia has posted consolidated sales for the first quarter of 2013 up 1.7% to EUR4.4bn, compared to the same period last year.

Do race cars have to roar or can they click and whirr? That question will be addressed next year when the all-new Formula E series circles the globe with 10 races in 10 cities, two of which will be Miami and Los Angeles.

Daimler plans a large investment to build transmission components in Romania at the site of an existing joint venture, a German newspaper reported.

French supplier Faurecia said today that first-quarter revenue rose nearly 2 percent as growing sales in North America and Asia helped offset the slowdown in European markets.

French supplier Faurecia said today that first-quarter revenue rose 1.7 percent as growing sales in North America and Asia helped offset the slowdown in European markets.

French supplier Faurecia said today that first-quarter revenue rose 1.7 percent as growing sales in North America and Asia helped offset the slowdown in European markets.

Green lobby group TandE has released a YouTube video that it hopes will put pressure on lawmakers to prevent them from weakening Europe's passenger-car CO2 target of 95 grams per kilometer for 2020.

VW executive James Muir, who is being replaced as head of the struggling Seat brand, will get a top sales job with VW Group, a report said.

The experts from British business publication, Formula One Black Book say that Pirelli is very close from inking a long-term contract to remain the official tire supplier to Formula 1.

Pirelli's tire supply contract with F1 expires at the end of the current season, but it is believed to be on the verge of an extension, reveal F1 Black Book's authors.

Former Formula 1 driver, Martin Brundle, commentating for Sky Sports on Saturday, reported a five-year extension was already in the bag.

Speaking on Friday, Briton Paul Hembery, Pirelli's motorsport director, wasn't giving much away but said if a deal is to be done it needs to be done very soon.

“As time passes, we have to make decisions as a business”, said Hembery.

“We're not immune to what's going on in the European automotive business in particular; sales were ten percent down in March in the overall market. That impacts heavily on us and we're currently having to make action plans to address those challenges. I would think that from our point of view, sooner rather than later - time is of the essence, I would suggest now”, Hembery added.

Photo: Pirelli

It was announced today in Mexico City that Michel Jourdain Jr., who brought Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing wins in Montreal and Milwaukee in the Champ Car World Series in 2003, will again drive for the team in the 97th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 26.

Jourdain, who finished 19th in the race last May, made his debut at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1996.

Office Depot Mexico returns as the primary sponsor of Jourdain's No. 17 entry and Grupo Indi and Grupo Multi return as associate sponsors.

The Mexican will have Graham Rahal, who was runner-up April 21 in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, and James Jakes as teammates.

In 1996, Jourdain Jr. became the youngest driver to start a Champ Car race to date when he drove at Long Beach at the age of 19 years, 6 months and 12 days.

NASCAR officials announced that the Sprint Cup Series will implement the group-based road course qualifying procedure used in Nationwide and Touring Series competition during its road-course events at Sonoma Raceway in California and Watkins Glen International in New York State.

Under the new procedure, cars will qualify in groups instead of the traditional single-car qualifying runs held on oval race tracks.

“The change will add an exciting element to road-course qualifying,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “Fans will be treated to new strategy and increased competition with several cars on track at once.”

Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet (Photo: Getty Images/NASCAR)

The new qualifying rules for the Sprint Cup Series at road courses are as follows:

Cars attempting to qualify will be divided into groups. The number of groups, and amount of cars in each, will depend on the number of cars that practice for the event.

Group assignments will be based on final practice times.

Each qualifying group will be on-track for a set period of time, determined by the Series Director.

A car's best lap time during the group session will be the qualifying lap time of record.

A group's time begins when the first car receives the green flag at the start/finish line.

“This is going to be a terrific new format for our NASCAR weekend,” said Steve Page, president and general manager of Sonoma Raceway. “It will intensify the action, with multiple cars on the track at the same time. It's a very positive development for our fans.”

“The new format of qualifying at Watkins Glen International enhances the fan experience which is our top priority,” said Michael Printup, president of Watkins Glen.

“Qualifying on Saturday for our Cheez-It 355 at The Glen is even more of a not-to-be missed aspect of a weekend of high-quality racing.”

The new format will debut with the Toyota Save-Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 23 and will return at Watkins Glen for the Cheez-It 355 at the Glen on August 11.

Among the many global debuts by Ford at Auto Shanghai 2013 was a concept with a very familiar name: Escort.

Light-years away from the model that enjoyed tremendous sales success from 1968-2000, the new Ford Escort Concept draws inspiration from the current Focus, with sleek lines that reportedly foreshadow a future compact sedan. While initially developed for the Chinese market, it could eventually bolster Ford's global car lineup.

Photo: Ford

“This compact concept highlights the strength of our global One Ford approach to vehicle design, and represents how we can make use of our global design language to bring refined designs to attainable vehicles,” said Jim Farley, executive vice president, Global Marketing, Sales and Service and Lincoln, Ford Motor Company. “Designed with the Chinese consumer in mind, the new Escort Concept has the potential to strengthen our product portfolio here in China as we take advantage of opportunities for diversification within the compact car segment.”

Ford is showcasing 15 other new products at Auto Shanghai 2013, including the Mondeo, Fiesta ST, EcoSport, and Kuga.

From GMM

Mark Webber has cooled speculation he is on the verge of quitting formula one by insisting he is still "hungry" for success.

Amid rumours his team is lining up Kimi Raikkonen to replace him in 2014, the 36-year-old Australian flew straight from Bahrain to Austria to appear on a Red Bull-owned Servus TV broadcast.

"I'm still hungry, I still want to do well," German-language reports quote him saying.

"I think I still have a few years left in me. As long as I'm fit, the performance is still there and the job is fun... that's actually the most important thing, that it's fun," said Webber.

"How it's going to go exactly, I don't know," he added, following reports Porsche is keen to finalise a long-term agreement with him for its Le Mans prototype project.

"I have never decided what I'm doing for the next year in April, and I'm not going to start now," said Webber.

Celebration of Mark Webber's 200th Grand Prix in Bahrein, without Sebastian Vettel. (Photo: WRi2)

Webber's comments are unlikely to calm the speculation about his future.

Asked after the Bahrain grand prix if Red Bull is still interested in Raikkonen, Dr Helmut Marko admitted: "We have always admitted that we are looking at him.

"And, for the umpteenth time, Red Bull traditionally looks at its driver issues only in the summer," he is quoted by Speed Week.

Mark Webber sat out Red Bull's post-race victory team photograph following teammate Sebastian Vettel's second win of the season last Sunday.

Celebration of Sebastian Vettel's victory in Bahrain, without Mark Webber. (Photo: WRi2)