Auto News 5

VW, Mercedes and BMW all posted record global sales last year, fueled by demand in China.

Volkswagen of America has hired Maserati North America CEO Mark McNabb, a former Nissan and GM sales executive, as its COO.

Magna International plans to use its expertise in body engineering to help automakers cut vehicle weight, CEO Don Walker says.

German automakers have long seen China as a key market. Now their French rivals, hit by slow sales in Europe, are playing catch up, and they are counting on the popularity of France's luxury fashion brands to help them.

Renault has said its Twin'Z rear-wheel-drive electric concept car is part of a design study for the third-generation Twingo, due to go on sale next year.

Jaguar Land Rover North America has hired industry veteran Duke Hale to help improve its reputation for customer service -- especially for the Land Rover brand.

The Shanghai auto show will provide an opportunity for Chinese carmakers to declare they've learned from past mistakes.

If I were an executive at a Chinese domestic automaker, I would be very worried. Why? Because it is difficult to find a Chinese-brand car on the streets of Shanghai.

The Shanghai auto show will provide an opportunity for Chinese carmakers to declare they've learned from past mistakes.

Audi will field a fourth car at the Le Mans test on June 9th, two weeks ahead of the 24-hour event.

Marco Bonanomi, the Italian who is the Ingolstadt manufacturer's LMP1 test and reserve driver is expected to take the wheel of the fourth R18 e-tron quattro, despite being dropped by the team.

Despite Audi's intention to field a fourth car for the test, it - along with five other entries - does not have a confirmed entry for the prestigious event.

The team will also enter a third car for the 6 Hours of Spa, which takes place on May 4th.

Further entries to the Spa race will be made by Aston Martin Racing with another V8 Vantage in the GTE Pro category and AF Corse who will run another 458 in GTE Am.

Photo: Audi Motorsport

Mazda's all-out attack on excessive fuel consumption (known as SKYACTIV) via technologies and engineering efforts culminate in the 2014 Mazda6 sedan.

Stand-out styling inside and out, as well as the best real-life mileage I'd achieved in a comparable sedan all year boosted my opinion of the 2013 Mazda6 GS.


SKYACTIV explained
It might sound like some workout program or a line of men's underarm spray, but SKYACTIV is actually a brand name conceived for a slew of features and efforts that push gas-engine fuel-efficiency to all new levels.

Mostly, these efforts are at work in the 2014 Mazda6's powertrain. Direct injection works with an extremely high 13:1 compression ratio and specially shaped piston tops to harness the most energy possible from every molecule of fuel. A slick variable valve timing system, in conjunction with a supercomputer-designed exhaust manifold, help the engine breathe more easily.

There are, additionally, friction-reducing measures inside the engine and transmission used to keep all moving parts inside more lubed up than oil wrestlers at your local gentleman's club.

Other efforts are applied to keep weight down in the 2014 Mazda6, too. Ultimately, the very core of SKYACTIV technology is a gasoline engine that works the same way gasoline engines always have, but a lot more efficiently.

The specs?

• Dual cams
• 16 valves
• 4 cylinders
• 2.5L displacement
• 184 horsepower
• 185 pounds of torque.

All that on regular-grade gas.

SKYACTIV is actually a brand name conceived for a slew of features and efforts that push gas-engine fuel-efficiency to all new levels. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

She's a looker, too
Mazda didn't put all of the 2014 Mazda6's eggs in its gas-mileage basket, either. The Mazda6's new design language is alive and well in all the curves, sculpted-ness, and muscularity that defines its body. Dual exhaust, a front chin spoiler, and projector lights add a sophisticated, sporty flare to the sedan.

That sporty sophistication carries on inside, too thanks to black leather,
gloss trim, and an overall upscale atmosphere. There's a lot of depth and contrast to keep the eyes busy. There's plenty of at-hand space for your stuff in the 2014 Mazda6 GS, too.

My nicely equipped tester got navigation, a central command console, heated seats, automatic climate control, and more all alongside a 6-speed manual transmission. Delightfully, Mazda doesn't make you take a base-level car if you want to shift your own gears.

The Mazda6's new design language is alive and well in all the curves, sculpted-ness, and muscularity that defines its body. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

All grown up
Fuel efficiency has effectively kicked the mischievously responsive sportiness that helped define the original Mazda6 from the spotlight. The sports-car steering, engine sound and tight suspension have all been loosened up, quieted down and softened overall.

If you're after something spacious, comfortable and refined (with a touch of athletic flare), you probably won't be disappointed here. However, if you fell in love with the dynamic friskiness of the original Mazda6, you might be.

Steering, particularly, is on the quick side -- though somewhat vague and light, at least until highway speeds and beyond when the system tightens up. This makes the new 2014 Mazda6 easier to park, but less rewarding to toss around a back road. While still an entertaining car to push, it no longer feels as extensively engineered to connect with driving enthusiasts.

The 2014 Mazda6 is bigger, too. You get more room, a big trunk, adult-friendly rear seats, and a sense of your own relaxing space.. However, again, the compact fun-factor delivered by the original Mazda6 is now a subject for the history books.

Fuel efficiency has effectively kicked the mischievously responsive sportiness that helped define the original Mazda6 from the spotlight. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Big likes
My favourite thing? The powertrain. Economy aside, the SKYACTIV mill is liquid smooth, often noiseless, and has plenty of low-end torque. More than one passenger was surprised by the power output.

The low-friction gearbox operates with a soft, quick action, and works best when you change gears quickly, even if the clutch is on the soft side. The brakes feel powerful, precise, and easy to modulate in the 2014 Mazda6 GS, too.

The math
After 2,150 kilometres of driving in frigid mid-February temperatures on winter tires, I achieved a real-life, measured-by-hand overall mileage of 8.8L/100km. To compare, I achieved figures of 9.5L/100km in comparable versions of the 2013 Honda Accord and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu on recent test drives.

None of these testers was broken in, all were driven in the cold, and the Malibu was the only one not wearing winter tires. Translation? Owners can expect to achieve lower consumption figures in the 2014 Mazda6 than I recorded.

The low-friction gearbox operates with a soft, quick action, and works best when you change gears quickly, even if the clutch is on the soft side. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Other notes
A few minor complaints: Mainly, the navigation and infotainment system can be fussy at times, and if someone texts you while you're in reverse, you lose the backup camera in place of a SMS notification.

Cross-shopping the market? The new Accord is more engaging and responsive to drive, the Chevrolet Malibu is quieter, and the Nissan Altima with the up-level V6 is more of a hot rod. The 2014 Mazda6, ultimately, will appeal mainly on style, fuel mileage, powertrain refinement, and its great cabin.

From GMM

McLaren threw Lewis Hamilton out of its garage during one of February's winter tests, the 2008 world champion claims.

Briton Hamilton, 28, rose through the junior ranks with the famous British team's backing, made his debut for McLaren in 2007 and won all of his 21 wins and his title with the Woking based squad.

But over the winter, he switched camps to Mercedes.

Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team

In a bid to keep his McLaren relationship alive, however, Hamilton said he tried to visit his old friends at Jerez on February, during the winter test period.

"I went to see them (McLaren) in Australia," he told F1's official website. "But I also tried to see them in Jerez, at the test, and there (sporting director) Sam Michael threw me out of the garage. That wasn't very positive and I don't feel very good about that."

Lewis Hamilton is believed to have fallen out badly with former mentor and McLaren supremo Ron Dennis, but he says his relationship with Martin Whitmarsh is intact.

"Martin has been great," he said, "and I have to say that I haven't had enough contact, so I will give Martin a call."

From GMM

Pirelli is set to make only minor modifications to its 2013 Formula 1 tires after this weekend's Grand Prix of Bahrain.

It was believed F1's controversial official supplier would make significant changes to this year's heavily-degrading tires for Barcelona and beyond, but Paul Hembery said on Friday that most teams are actually pushing for the status quo.

(Photo: Pirelli)

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that, in fact, the only changes will be to the 'hard' and 'soft' compounds, with the 'medium' and 'super-soft' tires to be left untouched.

Correspondent Michael Schmidt said the minor changes to the compounds are designed simply to minimise the amount of graining.

"The final decision will be made on Tuesday in Milan," he wrote on Friday.

Pirelli's Hembery said the hard tires should be working perfectly on a 40 degree track in Bahrain, but actually the circuit is proving too cool for the compound.

"That's why I don't rule out that the working range will be slightly changed for the cooler European races," he confirmed.

Changes to the 'soft' are also possible, but "we'll decide later," Hembery said.

"The construction will be the same, because if we changed that even slightly, the aerodynamics would be affected.

"Red Bull wants a stronger intervention from us, but we can't just do that, because of the other teams.

"The majority of the teams actually want us to do nothing -- Red Bull can't expect us to tailor a tire just for them."

(Photo: Pirelli)

As for the super-soft and medium, "Both tires are doing what we expected of them," said Hembery.

He insisted he cannot understand the strength of some of the criticism so far in 2013.

"No one is able to say before the race who is going to win," said Hembery. "There are many different strategies, and overtaking.

"I think we have done our job well," he added.

Finally, he thinks Red Bull's campaign of public criticism has actually worked against the reigning champions.

"I think they've just united the other teams against them," said Hembery.

So, you've decided that this will be the year you get into a shiny new sports car. Good call! This will be one of the biggest investments you'll make in your lifetime, but thankfully automakers the world over have developed a comprehensive array of unique models and technologies that fit virtually any need, lifestyle, personality or budget.

From affordable and fuel efficient to luxurious and classy to fire-breathing and racetrack-ready, join me this spring as I highlight some of the most popular sports and performance cars on the road today. We'll cover it all with pros, cons, and personal input from extensive test-drive experiences. It's all towards the goal of helping you find the right fit in a fun new ride.

Sports Car Buying HUB
Popular Shopping Sites: New or used, private or dealer, you'll need to check out pricing, compare models, and determine availability in your locale. Start with a search for sports car information on sites like these:

www.Auto123.com
www.trader.ca
www.used123.ca
www.ebay.ca/motors

Photo; Auto123.TV

Sports Car Technology 101: Many sports cars use unique technologies you may not be familiar with. Here's a look at some informative articles to bring yourself up to speed. For car buffs, this stuff makes a great read whether you're shopping or not.

How a Turbocharger Works
Porsche Technology Guide
How a Supercharger Works
Mitsubishi Performance Technologies Glossary
How a Dual-Clutch Transmission Works

Owner Forums for Popular Sports Cars: No matter the sports car you're considering, it's probably got an active community of owners who have formed an internet forum where folks meet to talk, exchange stories, and share advice, tips and real-life information on the model in question. Here's a look at some of the most popular owner forums out there.

Owner forum for Mazdaspeed models
Owner forum for VW GTI models
BMW M3 online forum
Owners Forum for Subaru Impreza models
Honda Civic Si Owners club
Canadian Mustang Owners Club
Owner Forum for performance Mini Models

Professional Ratings: Need some guidance and reinforcement? Look to the experts. At Auto123.com, our writers and editors test hundreds of vehicles per year, and conduct a yearly awards program, the Auto123.com Awards, that celebrates the best of the best. Category winners have been announced for convertibles, sports car, prestige cars, and more. Or, check out AJAC (http://www.ajac.ca) for the results of criteria-driven, side-by-side evaluations of the industry's latest models, tested yearly. The information generated each year by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) is tremendous in volume and importance. You can see if the model you're considering is a past or present winner, and compare it to other models with ease.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso led a Ferrari 1-2 in the first free practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix. In the afternoon, Kimi Raikkonen put Lotus on top of the timing sheets.

FP1
Felipe Massa - a two-time winner of the Bahrain Grand Prix - set his fastest time of 1m34.487, almost an hour into the session ahead of his teammate by a fractional 0.77s, as teams chose to focus their attention on tire duration and heavy fuel-loads around the dusty Sakhir circuit.

Felipe Massa, Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

The times set by the scarlet cars is a mirror image of FP2 in last weekend's Chinese Grand Prix and signifies the F138 is a pace-setter in its own right. Nico Rosberg once again showed the impressive pace of the Mercedes in third, some 0.134s from the pace of the two Ferraris.

Vettel was fourth, leading the Mercedes powered duo of Force India's Paul Di Resta and Jenson Button's McLaren rounding out the top six, after another encouraging performance for the Woking team following their difficult start to the season.

Mark Webber finished seventh in the No. 2 Red Bull, with Sutil splitting the two Lotus' of Raikkonen and Grosjean in ninth and 10th. The German - up to around 45 minute mark - topped the time sheets and once again underlined the improvements made by Force India over the winter.

Heikki Kovalainen, Caterham-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

Charles Pic outpaced Caterham returnee Heikki Kovalainen to take 19th in an upgraded car and outpace both Marussias, which were 21st with Max Chilton, and 22nd with the team's reserve driver, Rodolfo Gonzales, who made debut with the team behind the wheel of Jules Bianchi's car.

Free practice session 1 - Results*
1 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'34"487 - 11 laps
2 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'34"564 - 19
3 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'34"621 - 22
4 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'34"790 - 20
5 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'34"949 - 17
6 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'35"069 - 22
7 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'35"101 - 19
8 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'35"119 - 19
9 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'35"345 - 17
10 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'35"611 - 14
11 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'35"640 - 23
12 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'35"783 - 16
13 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'35"792 - 16
14 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'36"014 - 19
15 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'36"485 - 20
16 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'36"498 - 17
17 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'36"755 - 210
18 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'37"214 - 21
19 - Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'37"850 - 20
20 - Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'38"401 - 20
21 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'39"445 - 12
22 - Rodolfo Gonzalez (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'40"215 - 7

Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

FP2
Kimi Raikkonen set the fastest time of 1m34.254 in FP2 ahead of the Red Bulls, with Webber and Vettel finishing 0.030s and 0.128s behind the Lotus.

Raikkonen was one of the last drivers to sample the medium tires, and some 45 minutes into the session, bolted on the softer compound Pirelli to set his quickest time with a far from perfect lap as teams focussed on long runs as part of their preparation for Sunday's race.

Fernando Alonso was fourth with a best time of 1m34.310, despite having been quickest from Webber on harder tires earlier in the session. Paul di Resta continued Force India's strong form in fifth, ahead of Massa and the second Lotus of Romain Grosjean in seventh.

Adrian Sutil split the Mercedes' of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton in ninth, whilst McLaren, after showing promise in FP1, struggled with Jenson Button in 11th and Perez in 13th.

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber-Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

At the back of the grid, Charles Pic once again proved to be the quickest of the backmarkers in the revised Caterham, despite suffering an incident with Esteban's Gutierrez in which the Mexican rookie clipped the Caterham's front wing at Turn 8.

Pic's best lap was 1m37.061, which put him ahead of the two Marussias of Chilton and Bianchi, with the Brit outpacing his highly rated teammate.

The second Caterham of Giedo van der Garde propped up the timesheets in 22nd, but the Dutchman does not have the same upgrades as his teammate.

Free practice session 2 - Results*
1 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'34"154 - 31 laps
2 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'34"184 - 26
3 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'34"282 - 29
4 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'34"310 - 28
5 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'34"543 - 35
6 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'34"552 - 34
7 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'34"631 - 33
8 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'34"666 - 37
9 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'34"932 - 33
10 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'34"976 - 29
11 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'35"356 - 32
12 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'35"506 - 36
13 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'35"589 - 36
14 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'35"761 - 33
15 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'36"133 - 36
16 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'36"279 - 33
17 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'36"579 - 28
18 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'36"616 - 34
19 - Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'37"061 - 32
20 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'37"313 - 33
21 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'37"363 - 29
22 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'37"970 - 34

*Unofficial timing

From WRC.com

Volkswagen's Jari-Matti Latvala believes his season has taken an upward turn following a change of approach on last weekend's Rally of Portugal.

Following a difficult start to the season, which saw Latvala take just 15 points from three rounds, he scored his first podium for VW in Portugal since his switch to the team in 2013, and suggested a more aggressive and proactive approach attitude the wheel of his Polo R WRC was the key to his up-turn in form.

“I was pushing myself, forcing myself to drive fast and it started to help,” Latvala admitted to wrc.com after the event. “I have been letting myself think I can take the experience and the speed will just come, but it doesn't work that way - you have to work for it.”

Photo: WRC

The ex-Ford driver also believes the podium in Portugal has given him the confidence he needed in his car for the rest of the season, after having struggled with its handling and set-up characteristics in previous rounds.

“Now I see my year opening. Finally, my Championship can start!” he said. “My confidence is coming in the car. In Argentina I will have a different set-up which will suit me better, but still I am really, really happy with this result.”

The seven-time WRC rally winner also conceded that the dramatic gap in performance to teammate Sebastien Ogier who has won three of the four events so far this season, lies squarely at his feet and not VW's.

“The start of the season has been tough - learning, but also disappointing. I was expecting more from myself and I couldn't get it,” he continued. “The car has been quick, but I have been somewhere on another planet..."


American Le Mans Series leader, Bill Auberlen, believes taking part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans hour will be ‘good preparation' should BMW return to the event in the future.

Despite being a BMW driver in the ALMS, the German manufacturer has lent him to Aston Martin to share its fifth GTE Pro entry with Pedro Lamy and Paul Dalla Lana for the 24-hour French event, which takes part on June 22/23.

"It will also be good preparation in case BMW goes back to Le Mans,” he continued. “It's got to be good for our programme, too."

Although his Auberlen's last start at Le Mans was in 2005, he has taken part in the 24-hour race four times. Conversely, BMW's only victory came at the circuit in 2000 with the V12 LM and has yet to confirm any plans to return to the famous race.

Bill Auberlen, BMW Z4 GTE. (Photo: BMW Motorsport)

From GMM

Kimi Raikkonen is moving closer to committing to Lotus for the 2014 season, according to team boss Eric Boullier.

The Frenchman was playing down reports Red Bull has expressed interest in signing the 2007 world champion to replace Mark Webber next year.

"These are the usual games, but it's not just Red Bull. Other top teams have interest too," Boullier told Bild newspaper.

"But I'm also interested in Alonso, Hamilton and Vettel, although only Vettel if he listens to my team orders," he laughed. "We have already spoken with Kimi about a contract extension and he sounded very happy."

Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus E21. (Photo: WRi2)

In truth, however, with Finn Raikkonen's stock on the rise after impressive form in the wake of his rallying sabbatical, Lotus might struggle to afford the 33-year-old for 2014.

It is reported that team owner Genii has put a part of the Enstone based team on the market, with Gerard Lopez admitting it might be some time before a title sponsor is signed up.

Asked if money will factor into Raikkonen's decision, Boullier said: "Kimi doesn't race for the money. For him it's very important that he feels at home and has the freedom to be who he is. So I really see no reason why he should leave."

"I don't know if other teams would treat him as well as we do. We can definitely afford him. We have more money than last year," he insisted.

Toyota has revealed it is disappointed with the performance of its TS030 HYBRID car at the Six Hours of Silverstone.

Despite claiming a 1-2 in qualifying for the World Endurance Championship season opener, the Japanese manufacturer's pace dropped off dramatically during the race and both cars finished a lap down in third and fourth behind the leading Audis.

The result came as a surprise to Toyota, who by the end of the last WEC season, were perceived to have the best car on the grid, due to the TS030's its fuel efficiency and low levels of tire wear.

Photo: Toyota Racing

The pace of the first and second finishing Audi R18 e-tron quattros showed how much progress the Ingolstadt manufacturer has made over the winter, but Toyota is refusing the write the season off yet, considering it has started the 2013 season with its 2012 car. According to Autosport, the TS030 ‘still in the middle of its long-distance development programme.'

“Even though we brought our 2012 car to Silverstone we hoped to challenge for the victory so it is disappointing to miss out," said team president Yoshiaki Kinoshita some days after the race.

"Congratulations to Audi; as expected they have made a step forward over the winter and they performed well.”

The Japanese was also encouraged by the data the Cologne based team received from Silverstone and believes it can translate it to a better performance at the Six Hours of Spa on May 4th.

"We have also found additional performance with our 2013-specification TS030 HYBRID so we are more eager than ever to see what it can do at Spa next time.”

Sebastien Buemi, who finished third for the team at Silverstone was also equally as optimistic ahead of the Belgian race.

“It [was] a solid start to the season considering we used the 2012 car,” said the former Toro Rosso driver. “Nevertheless, we were not able to fight for the win.”

“We have lots we can learn from [the] weekend,” he continued. "We will move forward and improve for the second race; I can't wait for Spa.”

From GMM

Fernando Alonso has played down the significance of this weekend's Bahrain grand prix, suggesting the sport should not be picking which of its host countries' controversies to weight into.

The Spaniard was asked in the island Kingdom on Thursday if formula one should be in Bahrain amid protests against the government.

"If we start to look into that," the Ferrari driver is quoted by El Pais newspaper, "then when we go to China we should be concerned about what happens in their factories.

"Or what about India, where it is said that children are exploited, or Spain where there is political corruption?" added Alonso.

Protesters around Bahrain were on Thursday burning tyres for makeshift roadblocks, and it is reported "huge" demonstrations are planned to coincide with Friday's practice sessions.

But an unnamed senior official of an F1 team told the Financial Times: "We are more stoic, more phlegmatic (than last year)."

An FIA spokesman added: "If there is some sort of unrest outside the circuit, it will be for the local authorities to handle."

Photo: WRi2