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Automakers will test China's huge appetite for crossovers and SUVs with introductions this week at the Shanghai auto show.

As automakers in North America crank up production, suppliers that chopped capacity during the recession have become a critical bottleneck. Asked to boost production, many suppliers say they finally are making money again and are loath to take risks.

Cadillac chief Bob Ferguson has picked Steve Majoros, a veteran of ad agency Campbell-Ewald and a force behind such well-known Chevrolet campaigns as "Like A Rock" and "American Revolution," as his global marketing director.

With the help of key suppliers -- ZF Friedrichshafen and American Axle and Manufacturing -- that developed two major innovations, the Cherokee is Jeep's best hope to compete with today's Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Ford Escape.

To make its 500e electric more appealing to shoppers, Fiat will offer the car for the same monthly lease payment as the base 500 with a gasoline engine.

If Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk can't win against dealers at the state level, he will make a federal case of his bid to sell electric vehicles directly to the public through factory stores.

Hyundai-Kia U.S. retail sales, excluding fleet sales, totaled about 248,900 vehicles in the first quarter, down 9 percent from last year. Meanwhile, major competitors all increased sales to retail customers.

The "world's best-selling vehicle nameplate" has a nice ring to it, and last week Ford laid claim to that title in 2012, just as it had for 2011. But Toyota would have none of it, claiming that its Corolla was the real No. 1.

China gets part of the credit for Ford Motor Co.'s newest EcoBoost engine, a 1.5-liter powerplant. China gives car buyers a roughly $300 tax break for buying a vehicle with an engine of 1.5 liters or less.

Automakers will test China's huge appetite for crossovers and SUVs with introductions at the Shanghai auto show.

Ford and General Motors are developing nine- and 10-speed transmissions jointly for use in cars, crossovers, pickups and SUVs.

Ford and GM are developing nine- and 10-speed transmissions jointly for use in cars, crossovers, pickups and SUVs. The rivals say partnering on the automatic front- and rear-wheel-drive gearboxes will get them to market faster and cheaper.

A massive vehicle recall by four Japanese automakers because of faulty airbags underscores the perils of huge global supply chains as companies increasingly rely on a handful of suppliers for common or similar parts.

Aluminum -- already the material of choice for engine blocks and many wheels and hoods -- will find a place in the body-in-white, predicts Randall Scheps, Alcoa's director of marketing.

From GMM

Explosions near the F1 track in Bahrain have marked the travelling circus' quick march from China to the island Kingdom.

AP news agency said 'a series of explosions', including a gas cylinder that set a car ablaze but injured no one, set the tone in Bahrain on Sunday, one week before formula one's most controversial annual race.

Bahrain authorities, however, have pledged "adequate" security for the grand prix, which has been under a cloud since the 2011 edition had to be cancelled due to clashes between the government and protesters of the regime.

Albeit expecting there to be some trouble this weekend, Force India deputy boss Bob Fernley said he is not overly worried.

"You'd be a bit foolish to think there's not going to be some sort of protest and things like that," he told Reuters. "If formula one activates some protests and they want to get things off their chests, that's good as well."

But last year, after a petrol bomb incident, Fernley ruled that Force India would sit out a late practice session so that team members could safely travel from the circuit back to the hotel before nightfall.

Recalling the incident, Bob Fernley said in Shanghai: "Once we'd got over that initial hiccup, we were fine."

From GMM

Some members of F1's travelling circus admitted their frustration at the end of the Chinese grand prix.

"It's quite excruciating," McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh is quoted by the Telegraph, "trying to save tires non-stop from start to finish. It feels painful, and however bad it is for me, it must be a lot worse if you have to drive like that."

He is referring to the new situation caused by Pirelli's rapidly-wearing 2013 tires. Some hail the new era that stands in stark contrast to a decade ago, when quite often the pole sitter would be predictably unchallenged to the chequered flag.

Photo: McLaren

Others, however, say F1 is racing away from racing itself.

"Balance of power? At the moment that's a bit of a joke," said world champion Sebastian Vettel on Sunday when asked his thoughts about the respective strength of the teams.

"It doesn't have much to do with racing, if all you're doing is going easy on the tires. If you lose five seconds per lap just because of the tires, that doesn't have much to do with the skill of the driver or how good is the car," he told SID news agency.

Indeed, throughout the Shanghai race, drivers and engineers could be heard on the radios wondering if they should go wheel-to-wheel with their rivals, or simply stick the plan of a strategy based on nursing tire life.

"Previously you could attack," said Vettel, "but now, when it comes to fights, you're a bit in the dark. Twice today I didn't try to defend myself, because it would have just been shooting myself in the foot."

Photo WRi2

1997 world champion turned TV pundit Jacques Villeneuve agreed on Canal Plus : "I saw a few corners of action and then everybody taking care of their tires. That's not real racing."

According to Niki Lauda and Bernie Ecclestone, the situation could change after Sunday's Bahrain grand prix, with Pirelli reportedly taking a different tack for the European season and beyond.

Told that the status quo is difficult for the spectators to understand, Chinese grand prix winner Fernando Alonso said: "It's the same for us (drivers) too!"

Lauda is quoted by APA news agency: "You have to wonder if it's necessary for the tires to be so on the limit, when everyone has to go in the box just after starting a race. It's so complicated, especially for the spectators."

Photo: Ferrari

From GMM

Even amid McLaren's competitive slump, the spotlight is shining ever more brightly on Sergio Perez.

The young Mexican was signed by the British team to replace Lewis Hamilton this year and beyond, but some linked the deal with his commercial ties to billionaire Carlos Slim.

He struggled notably in China, admitting it "wasn't my best weekend in terms of pace".

Martin Whitmarsh and Sergio Perez at Woking. (Photo: McLaren)

Sergio Perez also got caught up in on-track incidents, most notably with Kimi Raikkonen, who screamed 'What the hell he's doing?' after being run wide and colliding.

When the Finn discussed the incident in the green room prior to mounting the podium, third-placed Hamilton agreed: "He (Perez) was all over the place."

Martin Brundle, a former McLaren driver turned British commentator, is quoted by Speed Week as suggesting Nico Hulkenberg would have been a better pick for 2013.

"I still don't understand why McLaren didn't sign this guy (Hulkenberg) up. His talent is abundantly clear. I would have signed him ten times before (signing) Perez," said Brundle.

Nico Hulkenberg. (Photo: Sauber F1 Team)

For now, McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh is backing his new 23-year-old driver.

"In terms of the (Raikkonen) incident, I said to him (Perez), 'You have to be out there racing'. That means sometimes you've got elbows and you've got to be robust without being dirty."

From GMM

F1's tire situation will change after this weekend's Bahrain grand prix.

Pirelli's heavily degrading 2013 product is dominating the sport at present, to the point that - according to Mark Webber - it is "a bit WWF".

That is a reference to the American 'fake' professional wrestling federation, with that sport taking a back seat to choreography and elaborate plots.

"At the moment it (F1) is not much to do with racing," reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel was quoted on Sunday by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Photo: Pirelli

Like Red Bull, Mercedes has also been pushing Pirelli hard for a change of tack.

"Pirelli has a plan," team chairman and shareholder Niki Lauda said on German RTL television in China.

It is believed new harder compounds that last longer will be brought to May's Spanish grand prix, the first European race of the season.

"I can break the good news that the situation will change from Barcelona. Then it will get better," said Lauda.

He said the decision has been made for the good of the sport.

"It's just that there is so much confusion. The tires need to last longer," said the triple world champion.

Meanwhile, Bernie Ecclestone reportedly told British Sky television on Sunday that - also from Barcelona - Pirelli will supply more tires to teams for Fridays, to ensure more action than has been seen in practice so far in 2013.

After a week driving Volkswagen's new Jetta Hybrid in late February, I'd virtually tied the mileage I achieved a few months earlier while driving their Jetta TDI. After highway-intensive tests of both, I logged 6.7 and 6.9L/100km, respectively.

For accuracy, these real-life figures are measured by hand, not taken from the driver computer. The hybrid was at a relative disadvantage being tested in the cold and on winter tires. The TDI was on all-seasons in late spring.

At the end of the day, the difference in mileage between the two testers was negligible for where and how I drive.


Why a hybrid?
Why offer a Jetta Hybrid when you've been selling Canadians a diesel-powered Jetta TDI for decades?

Choices. Shoppers willing to pay a premium for a fuel-saving powertrain love them. So, as a business decision, the 2013 VW Jetta Hybrid makes sense to tap into a new market segment.

A seamless powertrain
The 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid has a turbocharged engine and an electric motor that makes heaps of torque when fed electrons by the trunk-mounted battery. Coast or brake, and roles reverse as the battery is fed electrons by the motor, which acts as a generator when it's not driving the wheels.

Request acceleration, and stored electricity helps drive the car, lightening the load on the gas engine. At lower speeds, the 2013 Jetta Hybrid can run solely on electricity. This is all invisible to the driver, albeit for some readouts that visualize what the systems are up to, and an occasional squirm in the power delivery or an audible clicking of a relay.

Other than a missing chunk of trunk space to facilitate the battery, the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid literally operates, drives, and functions like any other car. You could lend it to you mother without explaining a thing, save for how the gas engine shuts off at traffic lights and hasn't stalled.

At lower speeds, the 2013 Jetta Hybrid can run solely on electricity. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Learning curve?
If this is your first hybrid car, there's nothing much to get used to other than the brakes. Like most hybrids, the Volkswagen Jetta's pedal isn't attached directly to the brake system, since a blend of traditional hydraulic brakes and electric-motor resistance are summoned by the pedal to slow the car.

The brakes are powerful when jammed hard and stop the 2013 Jetta Hybrid in a jiffy. Less pressure and it feels like the pedal is attached to a glob of Cheez-Whiz -- they feel squishy, inconsistent, difficult to modulate, and often cause lurching while stopping as your foot subconsciously re-learns the brake pedal every time.

Steering, additionally, is vague and light. The 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid isn't opposed to spirited corner carving, though driving enthusiasts gravitating towards the Jetta's sporty reputation may be a little disappointed.

The brakes are powerful when jammed hard and stop the 2013 Jetta Hybrid in a jiffy. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Surprising performance, ready to save
The 2013 Jetta Hybrid puts 170 combined horsepower and even more torque under its driver's right foot, alongside lightning fast gearshifts from the 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) automatic transmission. Hammer down to get by slower traffic, and the Jetta Hybrid goes like all electric-assisted heck.

Screens display the hybrid system's current state, and the tachometer is replaced by a metre that shows whether the powertrain is in “charge,” “eco,” “power” or “boost” state. The latter was my favourite, and it announces that the turbocharger and electrons are all fired up for fun.

On the other side of the equation, you can drive with a light foot by using the gas-saving “E-Mode” which optimizes the powertrain for low-speed, electric-only driving. This means more sitting back and smiling smugly because, at times, you're rolling along sans fuel.

Other notes
I enjoyed the potent Fender stereo, comfortable leather seats, and especially the powerful adaptive xenon lights which drench the road ahead with clean, white light. This made confident work of tackling a 600-kilometre, after-dark road trip. A premium-feeling cabin with all the toys helped create an upscale atmosphere to take on the drive.

Even with winter tires mounted, the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid's ride was relatively quiet at speed. The suspension felt firmly sporty, robust and tough, adding to an overall feel of quality. It's ultimately a nice, relaxing and particularly premium-feeling car to drive. The 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid feels every bit a Jetta where ride quality is concerned, and that's a good thing.

I enjoyed the powerful adaptive xenon lights which drench the road ahead with clean, white light. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Choices
Volkswagen is giving shoppers choices when it comes to reducing fuel costs and going further on every tank of fuel.

My choice? The TDI. I like hybrids. But I like the massive torque of the TDI's diesel engine better. I also like that you can get a Jetta TDI with a manual gearbox. The Hybrid only comes with an automatic.

I'd strongly suggest test driving both models if you're considering either one.

According to Radio Le Mans, Mark Webber has signed a five-year deal to spearhead Porsche's Le Mans assault as of 2014.

The Australian has suffered a difficult start to the 2013 Formula 1 season, with the Multi-21 affair in Malaysia, and then enduring a nightmare weekend in China which saw Webber pushed to the back of the grid following a fuel irregularity in qualifying and then the rear wheel parting company from his RB9 in the race which forced him into retirement following a pit stop.

To compound Webber's misery, he will also take a three-place grid drop in this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix after colliding with Jean-Eric Vergne's Toro Rosso in yesterday's race.

Citing information from the F1 paddock, Radio Le Mans broke the news during the World Endurance Championship's season opener, the Six Hours of Silverstone, that Webber had signed a five-year deal with Porsche beginning next season, when the Stuttgart marque returns to sportscar racing as an official manufacturer.

Mark Webber. (Photo: WRi2)

However, neither party have confirmed or denied the rumour, despite Porsche shedding some light on the situation.

"There is a test plan, and for sure Mark Webber is not part of them,” said Wolfgang Hatz, a member of the Porsche management board.

Despite the comments seeming like an immediate rebuff to Webber, Hatz's comments further reveal that teaming up with former Formula 1 drivers for next season was not impossible.

"We can have perhaps some F1 drivers in the future,” he continued, “but it is not necessary."

"We will use some of our own drivers and add some external drivers - we have two cars and need six drivers next year.”

"We still have plenty of time to decide our driver line up," he added.

"What we need is the best combination of drivers that fit together. LMP1 is a team sport, and if you have three of the quickest drivers I am not sure that this is the best way.”

Meanwhile, Webber has remained silent on the rumours following yesterday's race and has not mentioned anything on his official page, Twitter or to the media.

The Australian previously raced at Le Mans in 1999 for Mercedes.