Auto News 5

Ford said it would start building the latest Transit commercial van in Russia later this year. US assembly is also set to start soon.

News 22 Jan, 2014

Kia offers new VR7 trim on all Picanto, Rio and Cee’d models, featuring added kit and savings of up to £1,000

Bosch got a big boost from its automotive division, which was the only business unit within the diversified company to report a sales increase in 2013. The supplier's automotive unit had an EBIT margin of 8 percent, up from 4.5 percent in 2012.

Indonesia expects a new wave of automotive component sector investments to result from the expansion of passenger vehicle production capacity that is taking place in the country.

Verizon Enterprise Solutions has signed an agreement to provide a range of connected services including safety, security, diagnostics and infotainment to Hyundai vehicles starting in 2014.

VW will build its Crafter van in Poland after ending a partnership with Daimler, a German newspaper reported. Currently, Daimler builds the Crafter alongside the Mercedes Sprinter in Germany.

The Malaysian government has announced a new National Automotive Policy (NAP) initiative to help attract investment in energy efficient vehicle (EEV) production.

Nissan's Europe boss, Trevor Mann, says the second-generation Qashqai crossover will match the success of the original model, which consistently ranked as one of the region's top-selling models from 2008-2013.

TI Automotive, which make auto fuel systems, has delayed a vote on a $2 billion sale to Bain Capital Partners as shareholders review a rival bid from Pamplona Capital Management, people with knowledge of the matter said.

TI Automotive, which make auto fuel systems, has delayed a vote on a $2 billion sale to Bain Capital Partners as shareholders review a rival bid from Pamplona Capital Management, people with knowledge of the matter said.

Volkswagen Group's Porsche sportscar unit is expanding its dealer network in India.

Minicars such as the Fiat 500 and Honda Fit performed worse than any other vehicle segment in a U.S. frontal crash test that mimics what happens when a car hits another vehicle, utility pole or tree.

News 22 Jan, 2014

A rugged 4x4 version of the SEAT Leon ST estate will be revealed soon, according to an insider

A sturdy dairy barn outside a small town halfway between Omaha, Neb., and Bullwinkle's Frostbite Falls, Minn., became the ideal spot for a and#8220;resto-creationand#8221; of a Porsche single-seat road-going sports car.

Tesla will officially open new Supercharger locations connecting the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria in the week beginning 20 January.

News 22 Jan, 2014

SEAT announces tie-up with Spanish fashion retailer MANGO and launch new version of Mii supermini

News 22 Jan, 2014

Special edition Fiat Panda Antarctica revealed, featuring exclusive styling and added kit

Most of the tiniest cars on the road fared poorly in the challenging new small-overlap crash test from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, with only the Chevrolet Spark getting an acceptable rating, the group said today.

From GMM

McLaren has confirmed it will not announce a replacement for departed title sponsor Vodafone when the 2014 car is officially launched on Friday.

But after the final season of Vodafone's backing passed without a win or even a podium for the great British team, managing director Jonathan Neale insisted McLaren remains in good financial health for 2014.

"We're in good shape financially," he told GMM exclusively, "and we have a lot of fantastic partners -- Mobil 1, Santander, GSK, Johnnie Walker, Hilton, Hugo Boss, TAG Heuer and SAP and quite a few more."

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren MP4-27. (Photo: WRi2)

Jonathan Neale pointed out that because McLaren is not a PLC, it does not have to "show a profit".

"Our shareholders, Ron Dennis, TAG and Mumtalakat, never take a dividend," said Neale.

"No, they're motivated by the desire to see McLaren grow and grow again. So, yes, I can confirm that McLaren will have a bigger operational budget in 2014 than we've had in any previous year," he added.

However, McLaren is in a period of great change, and not just because Honda is arriving as the works engine partner in 2015.

McLaren supremo Dennis is also back in charge, amid speculation Martin Whitmarsh's days as team principal are over.

Claiming that Ross Brawn or Sam Michael could be set to take the reins, Speed Week reports that Martin Whitmarsh will not be at the Jerez test next week.

And Britain's Daily Mail newspaper reports that Ciaron Pilbeam, once Mark Webber's race engineer at Red Bull Racing, has been poached by McLaren from Lotus to be chief race engineer "in the wake of their disastrous 2013 campaign".

From GMM

Former F1 driver Jan Magnussen has revealed he is considering ending his own career in order to support his son's move into motor sport's highest category.

Although his own grand prix career flopped in the late 90s when he was sacked by then team owner Sir Jackie Stewart, the 40-year-old Dane still races sports cars, and is a perennial contender at fabled Le Mans.

But now his 21-year-old son is moving into F1 with the British grandee McLaren, who gave the then chaotic Jan Magnussen a one-off F1 drive back in 1995.

He is keen for Kevin to avoid his mistakes.

"I wish I'd had another chance," Jan told the Guardian, "but Kevin is where he is today because of what happened to me.

"In fact there are no similarities," Magnussen explained. "He's super hardworking and much more organised than I ever was. I was a smoker, I didn't train properly and was not at all organised."

Jan and Kevin Magnussen, McLaren. (Photo: WRi2)

Magnussen Snr will not be in Melbourne for his son's grand prix debut in March, because it clashes with his own driving duties.

"But I will get to eight or nine races, about half," he said. "Now Kevin is in formula one I've thought a lot about how long my career will go on. I've got to decide whether I can focus on what I'm doing or whether I'd rather be with Kevin. But I don't want to be his manager. I want to be his dad, and that's it."

"Kevin used to be the son of Jan Magnussen," he smiled. "Now, suddenly, I am the father of Kevin Magnussen."