Auto News 5

Ford will recall 13,493 imported Edge SUVs in China on a possible fuel system leak that could lead to a fire, China's quality watchdog said.

Andreas Renschler, who quit his post as production chief at Mercedes, may move to Volkswagen to head its trucks business, according to a report.

Veteran Daimler executive Andreas Renschler, who quit his post as production chief at Mercedes, may move to Volkswagen to head its trucks business, according to a report.

Tsubakimoto Chain, a Toyota supplier, forecasts China auto parts sales to more than double in four years as carmakers including GM and Volkswagen raise orders to diversify supply chains.

I have to say I'm somewhat intrigued by today's news from India and Japan: Suzuki will build a new car plant of its own to supply Indian affiliate Maruti Suzuki with 100,000 cars a year.

Fiat reported fourth-quarter earnings below analysts' expectations and cut its 2014 guidance more than expected, as a profit drop in Latin America overwhelmed gains by Chrysler.

Fiat reported fourth-quarter earnings below analysts' expectations and cut its 2014 guidance more than expected, as a profit drop in Latin America overwhelmed gains by Chrysler.

Chrysler reported an increase in earnings for the fourth quarter as the launch of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee and higher sales in the United States helped the automaker to its third straight annual profit.

Chrysler Group reported an increase in earnings for the fourth quarter as the launch of the 2014 Jeep Cherokee and higher sales in the United States helped the automaker to its third straight annual profit.

Suzuki Motor has announced plans to spend JPY50bn ($486.3m) on a new 100,000-unit car plant in India to supply Maruti Suzuki India on an OEM contract basis, allowing the Indian affiliate to focus more on product development and marketing.

Maruti Suzuki said vehicle sales in the third fiscal quarter to 31 December, 2013 slipped 4.4% year on year to 288,151. Third quarter exports were off 38.6% to 19,966 cars.

A gang of factory workers at Nissan's UK factory have been jailed after stealing almost GBP1m (US$1.6m) of satellite navigation equipment and selling it on the internet auction site eBay.

Andreas Renschler, the man many expected eventually to take over at the helm of Daimler, has left the company suddenly for personal reasons.

Is the future of cars decidedly old school?

News 29 Jan, 2014

Video surfaces online appearing to reveal the production version of the Lexus LF-NX concept

Honeywell's turbocharger in the new Renault Clio helps the car's new 90-hp 1.5-liter dCi diesel achieve fuel consumption as low as 3.2 liters per 100km and emissions of 83g/km, down from previous best of 106g/km and 3.

The likelihood that Renault-Nissan will appoint a single executive to succeed Carlos Ghosn to run both automakers is remote. Will the alliance unwind if the automakers are headed by two different CEOs?

From GMM

World champion Sebastian Vettel has flown out of southern Spain after a miserable opening two days of running in 2014.

He cancelled his appointments with the media and leapt into his much more reliable Infiniti road car just after lunch.

"At this stage it really makes no difference which driver is sitting in the car," team boss Christian Horner told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Early testing of the all-new V6-powered cars has been fraught, and after getting less than a handful of laps under its belt on Tuesday, Red Bull packed up early on Wednesday with a "Renault energy store problem".

Other Renault-powered cars have reportedly also been affected, including the Caterham and the Toro Rosso.

Christian Horner confirmed that sister team Toro Rosso suffered the same problem on Tuesday.

Photo: WRi2

Mercedes-powered cars were much more prolific, including Jenson Button (McLaren), Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) and Sergio Perez (Force India), all with several dozen laps under their respective belts.

Vettel, on the other hand, managed just 11 laps with the RB10 over his two days, and now hands over to teammate Daniel Ricciardo.

"It was always likely that this (lack of running) was going to be the case," said car designer Adrian Newey, referring to the massive change in regulations since the end of the team's dominant display in 2013.

Newey is known for getting his new cars up and running at the eleventh hour, but even the famous Briton admitted he might have got to work earlier in the second half of last season, when Vettel was in the midst of his nine-race winning streak.

Photo: WRi2

"With hindsight, perhaps in the second half we could have afforded to stop developing the car a little bit sooner," he is quoted by Britain's Sky, "but we weren't to know that at the time.

"So we kept pushing and had less time to work on this year's car."

From press release

After suffering multiple injuries in an on-track accident during the United SportsCar Championship opener, the Rolex 24 At Daytona this past weekend, Memo Gidley has a long road to recovery ahead.

The incident occurred on Saturday when Gidley was behind the wheel of the No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Corvette Prototype when he struck the disabled No. 62 Ferrari being driven by Italian driver Matteo Malucelli.

Malucelli's car was without power and moving very slowly between turns three and four of the road course when the No. 99 "Red Dragon" hit him.



Following the incident on Saturday, Gidley was admitted to Halifax Health in Daytona Beach, Fla. Once admitted, doctors discovered multiple fractures, including his lower left leg and left elbow, along with a lower back compression fracture. These injuries have required Gidley to have two surgeries since Saturday.

On Saturday, doctors immediately addressed the left leg and left arm injuries by completing an almost four-hour surgery shortly after Gidley's admittance into the hospital.

On Monday evening, doctors stabilized and repaired the compression fracture in Gidley's lower back in an extended surgery.

The medical staff will continue to evaluate and monitor Gidley's progress. Because of the type of injuries Gidley sustained, he is expected to spend an undetermined amount of time in a transitional rehabilitation facility in Northern California upon his release from the hospital in Daytona Beach.

From press release

McLaren Racing is pleased to announce that Eric Boullier has been appointed to the position of Racing Director, effective Monday February 3rd.

Eric is one of the most capable trackside leaders in Formula 1. He has played the central role in Lotus F1 Team's recent successes, and brings with him extensive single-seater motorsport experience, having worked in senior positions in World Series by Nissan and A1 Grand Prix before moving up to Formula 1.

Working with Jonathan Neale (Chief Operating Officer) and his senior management colleagues within McLaren Racing, Eric will ultimately report to the Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Racing, an all-new position, whose yet-to-be-appointed occupant will in turn report directly to Ron Dennis (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, McLaren Group).

Until such time as a Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Racing has been appointed, Jonathan Neale will be acting in that role.

Eric Boullier said: "First of all, I regard this appointment as an honour, a privilege and a wonderful opportunity. The McLaren Racing workforce and the facilities at the McLaren Technology Centre are world-class, and I'm hugely excited about the prospect of joining such an outstanding team. I'm both eager and determined to play an active part, working alongside McLaren Racing's other senior managers and directors, within a new operational structure, to bring about the changes that will deliver success. Last, I want to take this opportunity to assure the McLaren Racing workforce that I'm utterly determined to match their famous passion and commitment to win."

Ron Dennis said: “Eric's appointment is an integral part of a senior management restructure within McLaren Racing. In due course we'll announce the identity of McLaren Racing's new Chief Executive Officer, who'll report to me, and to whom Eric will report. I'm firmly of the belief that, once McLaren Racing's restructured senior management team has been assembled, together we'll begin the march back to full competitiveness, quickly and professionally, harnessing the fantastic depth of talent that exists within our organisation."