Auto News 5

GM is reportedly set to unveil a pair of new midsize pickup trucks for the 2015 model year. Their debut could take place at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, according to Mark Reuss, President of General Motors North America.

Buyers have turned away from this market segment in recent years, also marking the withdrawal of Ford and Chrysler. GM is now hoping to reverse the trend by targeting people after a sportier, more fuel-efficient truck that maintains most of the capabilities of its full-size siblings.

While no names have been suggested so far, “don't think of them as (Chevrolet) Canyon and (GMC) Colorado replacements because they're not,” Reuss said.

He also promised that there will be much more differentiation between the Chevrolet and GMC models than ever before, both in terms of design and marketing approach.

Specifications remain undisclosed, of course, but the idea of a diesel option has been floating around -- as is the case with the Chevrolet and GMC full-size trucks.

Source: The Detroit Bureau

As it looks to increase its market share in the luxury segment, Nissan is reportedly considering a second North American plant to manufacture Infiniti vehicles.

While the site and timing have yet to be determined, Nissan officials in Japan recently met with Canadian Industry Minister Christian Paradis, who encouraged the automaker to build an Infiniti plant in Canada.

Infiniti products are currently assembled in Japan and the U.S., although the plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, only makes one Infiniti model -- the JX crossover.

Source: Automotive News

Given the low sales volumes of the 2012 Honda Civic, the Japanese automaker still has enough units left in Canada not to order 2013 models.

Despite the Civic being the most popular car in the country for the past decade and a half, Honda Canada sold a mere 150 Civic Hybrids last year. This poor performance may be due to harsh criticism of the car's real-world fuel economy, which is said to be only marginally better than the regular Civic's.

Also, it wouldn't make much sense to offer a 2013 Civic Hybrid with Honda's new 2014 models about to hit the market.

Source: La Presse

Photo: Honda

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has praised Jules Bianchi following his strong start to the 2013 season.

Bianchi, who has been part of Ferrari's young driver programme since 2009, made a last minute Formula 1 debut with Marussia following sponsorship problems with the originally signed driver, Luiz Razia.

Since his debut in Australia, Bianchi has consistently out qualified and raced teammate Max Chilton and the two Caterhams.

"I think he is having a great season," said Domenicali. “[In] the first three races, he has had incredible pace with due respect to the car he has."

Photo: Marussia F1 Team

Domenicali went on to suggest that should his driver continue to impress, then he would have the chance to move up the grid if he were to leave Marussia after his one year deal expires at the end of the year.

"I hope he can keep this pace because I'm sure he will show his potential not only with his team, but also in the future with other teams," the Italian concluded.

Bianchi also took part in a shoot-out with Adrian Sutil for the second Force India seat over the winter, but ultimately lost out to the German.

I'm seated behind the wheel of a 570-horsepower, all-wheel drive vehicle. I haven't driven it before, and it's safe to say: I'm a little intimidated.

I feel as though my bottom is inches away from the ground and I'm not entirely wrong.

The Lamborghini LP570-4 Superleggera is a beautiful beast of a vehicle. Clad in carbon fibre and the latest technological gadgetry, I'm in for a real treat.

The icing on the cake?

I'm at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and I'm about to start driving.

Lots going on
Despite a couple of “track orientation” laps in another vehicle, getting comfortable in a new setting takes time. My time is limited, so I need to make the best of it.

That said, getting to know how the Superleggera will perform out there is another layer in the equation. There's lots going on.

Then again, this is what I live for; and it feels like I could live multiple lifetimes in this moment. If only.

Photo: Bridgestone

Purpose driven
Underneath me is a set of Bridgestone Potenza Ultra High Performance tires. My purpose for being here is to give these rubbers a run for their money. They are some of the latest products in the company's lineup, and I couldn't imagine a better proving ground than a high-performance machine like the Lamborghini. Someone pinch me.

The facts
What makes the Bridgestone Potenza RE-11A tires fit for some of the fastest cars in the world? Their new tread compound improves grip. According to Bridgestone, “the Potenza RE-11A maintains the tread design of the current Potenza RE-11 while providing an enhanced tread compound designed to provide faster lap times, higher speeds on the track, and improved braking and cornering, while maintaining durability.”

Furthermore, it provides high heat resistance for the days when you're out on the track for longer stints.

Large shoulder blocks and an asymmetrical shape also contribute to cornering performance while at high speeds.

The new Bridgestone Potenza RE-11A lineup are focused on sports-compact cars that are recognized favourites among auto-cross enthusiasts.

Getting the job done
Here's the picture: I'm in a car I've never driven before on an unfamiliar track. I have an instructor beside me telling me what points I need to hit. There's a camera taping my whole session, other vehicles on the track, and an outdoor viewing area where at least a hundred people are sitting. I keep thinking: “Don't screw up!”

The last things on my mind were the tires. You could argue I wasn't doing my job. I'd say I was doing exactly what I was supposed to.

Because the tires did their job effortlessly, I didn't have to worry about them. They hugged the pavement as specified. When cornering, I always felt I had enough grip to keep pushing a little more each time around. Did I use the Bridgestone Potenza RE-11As to their full potential? Probably not, but I wasn't coasting around that track at highway speeds either.

Bottom line
The Bridgestone RE-11A tires impressed me. I could have driven around on them all day long.

Specifications
- V- and W-speed rated
- 15” - 18” rim diameters
- 40 - 55 series
- 10 sizes

From GMM

Romain Grosjean needs to rebuild his tattered confidence if he wants to get back on terms with Lotus team leader Kimi Raikkonen.

That is the advice of France's quadruple world champion Alain Prost, who thinks 26-year-old Grosjean is suffering mentally after a difficult start to the 2013 season.

Photo: WRi2

While Finn Raikkonen won in Australia, finished second in Shanghai and is only 3 points off leading the drivers' championship, Frenchman Grosjean has struggled in the sister E21, scoring just 11 points versus his teammate's 49.

"In the interviews you can see clearly that he is in an emotionally difficult situation," Prost told Russia's Championat.

"His self-confidence is missing, particularly because of Raikkonen's good performance. Last year, Romain was fighting on an equal footing with him (Raikkonen), but this time he has been unable to," added Prost.

Grosjean has puzzled as to the reasons for his struggle, but Prost commented: "Maybe he just needs a good weekend, so he can start again with a clean slate.

"I tend to think this is more about the mental side than his speed," he opined.

Photo: WRi2

Lotus team boss Eric Boullier agrees that Raikkonen's top form could explain the extent of Grosjean's struggles.

"Romain faces the very tough challenge of driving the same car as one of the most gifted drivers around," said the Frenchman.

"This will be frustrating for Romain at times as it's very, very difficult to beat the Kimi who arrives at the track this season," added Boullier. "But it's also a tremendous opportunity as he's learning from the very best. If he can learn these lessons whilst bringing home points for the team, then he's doing the job we want from him."

Mother Nature sure makes things interesting for us Canadian drivers. In addition to significant temperature variations, our cars must endure a nasty mix of dirt, salt, and road grime. Whether it's the body or the interior, the longer you wait to clean the mess, the harder it will be for you to keep your car spotless.

Here are some basic tips when it comes to interior car care:

Carpeting
This vital barrier prevents rust from attacking the floor area of your car, provided you do your best to keep moisture out. During winter, salty snow deposits leave some white stains that can prove quite difficult to remove. When diluted with water, salt infiltrates the floor mats and carpeting, resulting in further damage. Besides corroding the footwells, salt can also damage the levers, handles, and cables that open the fuel door and trunk lid.

Tip: Ahead of the cold season, install specially contoured winter floor mats that will prevent water buildup inside your car. If you park inside, snow will melt, so crack the windows to allow humidity to exit into ambient air. All year long, you should shake the dirt off your mats at least once per week. Remember to tap your shoes or boots against one another (not the door frame!) before entering your car.

Seats
Any dirt, stain or damage on your seats will be extremely noticeable. The clothes you wear -- more specifically, the buttons, zippers, and Velcro -- can scratch seating surfaces, and there's nothing you can do to repair that, save for swapping out the seats or buying aftermarket covers.

Tip: Regularly clean your seats with a vacuum. The more you allow dirt to reach the tiniest recesses, the harder it will be to remove. A growing number of automakers offer water- and stain-proof materials, particularly in SUVs and minivans; however, if you can choose between a light or dark interior, opt for the latter to maintain that fresh, new look longer. In the case of leather or suede seats, use specially designed products to clean and moisturize the surfaces.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

Dashboard
Taking care of your dashboard is easier than you think. More often than not, a wet towel is enough to remove dust.

Tip: You don't need all those fancy products sold in large retail stores. If water fails to do the trick, consider a brand like Worth. Whatever you do, avoid oil-based products: That beautiful shine will only last a couple of days, and it'll attract even more dust. In addition, the plastic on your dashboard will absorb the oil and may crack as a result.

Windows
Once again, simplicity is the key. Use a dedicated cleaning product such as Windex and, more importantly, avoid natural fibre cloth or tissue paper when wiping the windows. Believe it or not, newspaper will deliver better results.

Protection from the sun
For all its wonderful benefits, the sun can really damage your car interior -- paint or trim discolouration and cracking on the seats and dashboard are just a few examples. In fact, your car is no different from your skin: You need to protect it from dangerous UV rays. Avoid leaving your car parked under the sun for long periods, and consider tinting your windows (if they're not already).

Canadian racer, Matthew Di Leo will join fellow countryman Mikael Grenier at the upcoming Firestone Indy Lights' event, the Long Beach 100 in the streets of Long Beach this weekend.

Matthew Di Leo (Photo: IndyCar)

The 18-year-old, who serves as owner/driver of MDL Racing, will make his series' debut in Long Beach, following a successful run in the USF2000 Championship.

Driving the MDL Racing entry that is sponsored by RES Precast Inc., Di Leo will have the benefit of working with the same crew that has led him to previous junior formula car success. Recently, the Ontario driver has completed a successful test at California's Buttonwillow Raceway.

Di Leo has competed as an owner/driver for the past two years and was a contender for top honors in the 2012 USF2000 Championship, finishing fourth in the championship fight with four podiums.

Alexander Rossi will return to racing this weekend in Bahrain after replacing Ma Qing Hua in the Caterham Racing GP2 team.

Rossi will replace the Chinese for the rest of the GP2 season, as well as keeping his role as reserve driver for the Caterham F1 team alongside the newly Heikki Kovalainen who will return to the team who he raced for from 2010-2012 as a reserve driver.

Hua, who finished 21st in his debut race for the Caterham GP2 team also drove for the F1 outfit in Friday's free practice for the Chinese Grand Prix, but will be relieved of his reserve driver duties after a difficult session which saw him finish last of all the runners. He will however, be kept on by Caterham but the nature of his future role is yet to be announced by the team.

Ma Qing Hua, Caterham, in Malaysia. (Photo: GP2 Series)

Rossi's connection with Caterham goes back to last season, when he raced for the Arden Caterham outfit in Formula Renault 3.5 and finished the season in 11th. His teammate for the GP2 season will be Spaniard Sergio Canamasas.

It is still unknown whether Rossi or Kovalainen will drive in this weekend's Friday practice sessions.

From GMM

Lotus owner Genii is offering part of the Enstone based team for sale, according to a report by Cesare Mannucci in Italy's Autosprint.

Mannucci said the money would go towards the team retaining Kimi Raikkonen for 2014, amid reports Red Bull is making moves to sign the 2007 world champion.

"Kimi's position (beyond 2013) is going to be based on a bunch of things and not on what Red Bull say," Genii's Gerard Lopez is quoted by the Sun newspaper.

"I can guarantee you Kimi is not the kind of guy who is going to sign any sort of pre-contract -- not with anybody. If we keep giving him what he wants then I don't see there is any reason for him to go anywhere," added Lopez.

Photo: Lotus F1 Team

Lotus, like the other customer engine teams, will also need a bigger budget for next year's more expensive V6 engines, whilst technical director James Allison will reportedly be offered a pay-rise to prevent him from leaving for a bigger team.

Cesare Mannucci also claimed Red Bull may be back in talks with Middle Eastern investors about selling its second formula one team, the former Minardi outfit Toro Rosso.

NASCAR officials lowered the boom on the Penske Racing team and drivers Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano as well as their crew chiefs and cars chiefs for technical rules violations.

Six-race suspensions were imposed on crew chiefs Paul Wolfe and Todd Gordon as well as car chiefs, engineers and team managers. Wolfe and Gordon have been fined $100,000. Perhaps worse; both Keselowski and Logano were penalized 25 driver's points. Also 25 owner's points were levied against the two teams.

"Penske Racing received communication today from NASCAR regarding penalties they have issued against the No. 2 and No. 22 teams. Penske Racing will appeal utilizing the appropriate NASCAR process. We have no further comment at this time,” said a press release from the team.

Hefty penalties were also assessed against Martin Truex Jr. whose second place finishing Texas Motor Speedway car was found too low after the race. According to NASCAR “As a result of this violation, crew chief Chad Johnston has been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 5. The team has also been docked six championship driver (Martin Truex Jr.) and six championship owner (Michael Waltrip) points.

MWR won't appeal. Their statement is: “Michael Waltrip Racing is sensitive to working within the guidelines of NASCAR policy. This infraction clearly occurred as a result of a malfunction caused by race conditions. Therefore, we will not appeal. We thank NASCAR for providing a fair and equitable platform for all of its competitors and respect its decisions.”

Also penalized was Truck Series driver Ron Hornaday Jr. has been fined $25,000, docked 25 championship driver points and placed on NASCAR probation until June 12, for intentionally crashing into Darrell Wallace, Jr.

On Saturday evening before the NRA 400 NASCAR officials confiscated the rear end housings and other parts of both Penske Cars.

The nub of the penalty was that the rear end was somehow skewed or in NASCAR terminology “All front end and rear end suspension mounts with mounting hardware assembled must have single round mounting holes that are the correct size for the fastener being used. All front end and rear end suspension mounts and mounting hardware must not allow movement or realignment of any suspension component beyond normal rotation or suspension travel.”

After the race Keselowski told reporters that he felt his and Logano's team were being targeted for special treatment and he was frustrated. He also used some inappropriate language. On Monday NASCAR CEO Brian France said that there would not be any penalty for that outburst.

Volkswagen is to revise its expectations for the 2013 WRC season after Sebastien Ogier's win in Portugal.

Following the Frenchman's third consecutive victory, VW's motorsport director, Jost Capito, has said the team may need to revise their pre-season targets.

Ahead of the season opener in Monte Carlo, the team repeatedly stated their goal for their debut WRC season would be to gain experience, with wins the target for 2014 and a championship assault the following year. However, Ogier has won three of the four last rallies and the VW Polo R WRC has proved the class of the field.

Sebastien Ogier and Jost Capito. (Photo: Volkswagen Motorsport)

"In terms of pace, we are among the front-runners and appear to be able to force our rivals to make mistakes, without making any ourselves,” said Capito after the Rally of Portugal. “With that in mind, we might just have to change our goals for the season.”

Ogier's latest victory puts him 54 points ahead of Citroen's Mikko Hirvonen in the driver's championship and puts VW at the top of the manufacturer's standings with 121 points to Citroen's 107.

From GMM

Pirelli's director of competition, Paul Hembery has rubbished suggestions Formula 1 teams Lotus and Ferrari are getting an unfair advantage in 2013.

One theory doing the rounds is that Lotus' E21 is kind to the otherwise heavily-degrading tires this year because Pirelli's test car is the 2010-spec R30 -- which was designed by Enstone based Lotus' former incarnation, Renault.

"We have certainly done everything to avoid any team getting any advantage from our test data," Pirelli's Paul Hembery is quoted by German magazine Sport Bild.

He confirmed reports that rival teams rejected a proposal to share the burden of providing Pirelli with a test car.

"We even proposed that they alternate with each other to test our tires, but none of our proposals proved popular," said Briton Hembery.

"So they can't start complaining now."

Hembery also rejected a wild theory that Ferrari obtained an advantage through the shared nationality of its lead driver, Fernando Alonso, and main Pirelli tester Jaime Alguersuari.

He smiled: "Someone told me actually that Jaime and Fernando don't even talk.

"Anyway, how could a comment be converted into a design?" he wondered. "That's hard to accomplish.

"And even if you could get something from it, it would be pretty minimal."

From GMM

Kimi Raikkonen has refused to join the chorus of criticism of this year's Pirelli tires.

Currently just three points shy of leading the 2013 world championship, the Finn won the season opening Australian grand prix and finished second in Shanghai.

In China, Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton said making Pirelli's soft tire last more than just a few corners was "almost impossible".

"But everyone has the same (challenge) ... except for this guy," he said, turning to Lotus' Raikkonen.

"He seems to be able to look after them a little bit better than most people," Hamilton added.

Photo: WRi2

Indeed, Raikkonen said he doesn't know what all the fuss is about regarding Pirelli's supposedly-disintegrating 2013 tires.

He said before this weekend's Bahrain grand prix: "It's never perfect. You can't always push 100 per cent. (But) it's not really any different from last year -at least for us anyway- so I don't really understand why people are complaining."

What is it?

The biggest barrier to autonomous vehicles could end up being consumer acceptance, one expert said during a panel discussion on driver distraction that marked the first day of the SAE World Congress here on Tuesday.

2014 Jaguar F-Type First Drive

A new era for Jaguar?

We drove the 2014 Jaguar F-Type last Thursday and Friday in the Navarra region of northeastern Spain. By Friday evening, we were sitting at a dinner table in Normandy at the home of a couple of friends who split their time between Paris and France's northern coast. They know that media previews of new cars often bring us to Europe but don't have the details of this particular trip.

Photo Gallery: 2014 Jaguar F-Type First Drive - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2014 Jaguar F-Type First Drive - Automobile Magazine

2014 Jaguar F-Type First Drive | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

We always feel a twinge of indignation when we see some gomer sans placard or appropriate plate parked in a spot reserved for the disabled.

Aluminum wheel supplier Superior Industries International is planning to build a wheel plant in Chihuahua, Mexico.

Welcome to Autoweek Track Time. You've seen "Top Gear" send the Stig -- a and#8220;tame racing driverand#8221; -- around an airfield in Old Blighty. We're basically going to copy them, but our version will be different in three very important ways: