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News 3 Jan, 2014

Recent floods and storms show drivers need more information in times of severe weather

Infiniti is to show its Q50 Eau Rouge concept, representing its design vision for high-performance products, at the upcoming Detroit Motor Show.

Bosch is sponsoring the 'Driverless Car Experience' at the 2014 International CES next week.

Six years after the brand's formation, Qoros has handed over its first customer car.

Visteon is to present its latest advanced technologies for automotive cockpits at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next week. These will include new connected car features and cloud-based technology for upcoming vehicle platforms.

When we last talked to UK-based technology company IDEAdvance, they had developed a sensor-less rotation detection, control and monitoring method for brushed DC electric motors. To find out how their technology has developed, Matthew Beecham talked with Jan Nottelmann, CEO and CTO of IDEAdvance Ltd and their technology partner, Brian Thompson, MD of Control Developments (UK) Ltd.

Hyundai says that its next generation of products, starting with the all-new 2015 Genesis, will allow owners to connect with their vehicle using wearable devices.

China's Wanxiang Group has made a late bid for the assets of US-based bankrupt luxury hybrid sports car producer Fisker.

In America, the magic bullet for kick-starting EV sales seems to be offering the right car at the right price. Nissan and Chevrolet have seen aggressive sales growth after

BMW's

News 3 Jan, 2014

VW will offer e-up! owners free use of a conventionally-powered car for up to 30 days of the year

News 3 Jan, 2014

Suzuki launches design a t-shirt competition in aid of the Marcus Rutherford Foundation

In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of MotoMaster Eliminator batteries in extreme cold, Canadian Tire recently used one to power a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado built out of more than 11,000 pounds of ice in Hensall, Ontario.

Photo: Canadian Tire

The body, mirrors, grille, and licence plate were all made of ice. The truck managed to drive 1.6 kilometre at an average speed of 20 km/h in the city's streets.

The battery had previously been kept in a freezer at a temperature of -40 degrees Celsius, then fitted to the vehicle.

It will go into the Guinness Book of World Records as the ''first rolling ice structure.''

Source : Canadian Tire

Pros: On the absolute technological brink of the automotive industry, the upcoming 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder embodies the absolute core of Porsche's identity in a highly advanced new package. Blending proven racing technologies with 365-day-per-year utility and combining low emissions with maximum performance, this striking two-seater leads the brand into the next decade of advanced performance cars. It'll also be a flagship for the latest in performance hybrid technology—turning in crushing power output and low fuel consumption.

Cons: As it tends to go with ground breaking Porsche models, the 918 Spyder is expensive, exclusive and highly unattainable for all but the most financially gifted performance car shopper.


2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Pricing: Pricing starts at $845,000 US dollars, while the special Weissach Package will raise that figure to just shy of $930,000.

2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Fuel Economy: Despite the monstrous power output, lightweight engineering and the latest advances in performance hybrid propulsion enable the 918 Spyder to achieve an average consumption of around 3.1L / 100km.

Improvements and Changes: The 918 Spyder is an all-new model, highly based on the concept version shown at the auto show circuit last year.

Don't Miss: The electric-only driving range. With a full battery charge and the “E-Power” mode enabled, the 918 can drive up to 29 km (18 miles) on electric power only, at speeds approaching 100 mph. A driver-controlled mode selector enables the switching between various drive configurations that calibrate the 918's various powertrain systems for maximum efficiency or performance, depending on the conditions at hand. Also, don't miss the Porsche Active Aerodynamics system, which deploys various aerodynamic flaps and spoilers to optimize airflow around the car in response to various speeds and conditions.

2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Powertrain: Main propulsion comes from a 4.6L 8-cylinder engine with 608 horsepower. The V8's 9,150 RPM redline is supported by a dry-sump lubrication system for maximum oiling at all speeds. The gasoline engine is teamed with a 115 kilowatt electric motor, with output from both systems is combined inside of the 918-specific PDK gearbox. Up front, a separate electric motor provides power to the front wheels as well, adding stability and traction when required. Combined output of the gas and electric propulsion systems tops out at 887 horsepower, which is good for 0-100 km/h runs of less than 2.8 seconds.

Safety: The 918 Spyder delivers the latest in driver-assist technologies to maximize performance, security and control at all times. High-performance brakes and an all-LED lighting system turn in optimal stopping power and illumination, respectively.

Comparables: Though the 918 Spyder has no direct competitors per-se, it should compete with other extreme exotic models from manufacturers like Lamborghini, Ferrari, McLaren and Pagani.

Photo: Porsche

From GMM

Austria's return to the formula one calendar will definitely go ahead next year.

Earlier, although circuit owner Red Bull was given an official spot on the 2014 calendar, organisers did not have all the necessary local approvals in place.

Having demolished the old A1-Ring in Spielberg, and relaunched the 'Red Bull Ring', the energy drink company found itself limited to allowing a mere 40,000 race-day crowd to gather.

But Kleine Zeitung newspaper reported on Friday that local authorities have now granted Red Bull's application for a total race weekend crowd of 225,000 for the late June event.

And administrator Harald Schnedl has also been reviewing a full noise, emissions and traffic engineering concept, submitted by Red Bull for the 2014 race.

"I have granted the major events permission," he confirmed to the newspaper.

His approval was granted under a new events law, which does not allow formal appeals to be filed.

Photo: Red Bull

Look for Audi to put on a show with the Quattro Laserlight concept at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next week.

Based on the Quattro concept unveiled in Frankfurt last September, this new model boasts the same 4.0L V8 engine rated at 700 horsepower. Similar to BMW's upcoming i8 hybrid, it will also feature LED lights and laser lights with a range of 500 metres.

Thanks to a partnership with Nvidia, the Audi Quattro Laserlight uses a Tegra 38 processor for 3D display.

Source : caradisiac.com

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone has backed Ferrari's controversial new driver pairing.

Some - even Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo - believe pitting former undisputed 'number 1' Fernando Alonso against the team's 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen is a bold risk.

"But I have been here since the early 70s," the Italian said recently, "and I know that risk is something you have to live with in formula one."

Bernie Ecclestone, F1's chief executive, usually likes to see the sport's top drivers spread across the most competitive teams.

But he thinks Alonso versus Raikkonen at Ferrari, F1's most famous team, will be "fun".

"I thought Ferrari would win the title in 2013," the 83-year-old Briton told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport, "and I cannot explain why they were not competitive. Alonso, in any case, drove well."

Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen. (Photo: WRi2)

Bernie Ecclestone answered "yes" when asked if the Spaniard was right to criticise the Maranello based team mid-season.

But that criticism earned him a rebuke, and many believe Ferrari's decision to replace Alonso's preferred teammate Felipe Massa with Finn Raikkonen for 2014 was part of a shift away from the Spaniard.

"Now the dust has settled," Ecclestone explained, "and we will see a different Ferrari in 2014.

"Alonso-Raikkonen is a classic combination that Enzo Ferrari would have liked to see. It will be fun with those two. If Kimi drives as he did many times in 2013, it will stimulate Alonso, but what Ferrari really needs is a good car. Otherwise there is nothing to talk about," he added.

Bernie Ecclestone has said the team with the best all-new V6 engine will win the 2014 title, but he also thinks "luck" will play a big role.

"There is no guarantee that the best driver will win the title," he insisted. "The title will be for the luckiest one. At the moment I have no favourite."

Un rappel a été émis pour 10 390 camionnettes de la Série E des années-modèles 2010 à 2012 concernant un problème sur les pneus installés à l'usine. Certains d'entre eux pourraient perdre leur bande de roulement car la ceinture de cette bande risque de se détacher, causant ainsi des débris sur la chaussée et risquant de provoquer un accident.

Les propriétaires des modèles concernés devront chez le concessionnaire, où un jeu de pneus sera installé.

Les modèles concernés sont les suivants :

• Ford E-150 2010 à 2012;
• Ford E-250 2010 à 2012;
• Ford E-350 Cutaway Chassis cab 2010-2012;
• Ford E-450 Cutaway Chassis cab 2010 à 2012

Source: Transport Canada

Photo: Ford

From GMM

Michael Schumacher could remain in his coma for weeks, or even months.

That is the expert view of Professor Uwe Kehler, the highly respected head of neurosurgery at the Asklepios hospital in Hamburg.

As is much of the world at present, he is watching with keen interest the progress in Grenoble of injured seven time world champion Schumacher, who is in a critical condition after a skiing crash last Sunday.

Friday, Schumacher's 45th birthday, is the sixth day since the accident, but Kehler told Bild newspaper that the great German's family, friends and fans face a longer wait.

"Generally, it takes two to three weeks until a patient with such a severe trauma can be woken up," he said. "But it can take days or even weeks until the patient opens his eyes. Unfortunately, it is also possible that the person does not wake up properly."

Professor Kehler said it is a good sign that Schumacher, although critical, has entered a period of stability.

"In a severe craniocerebral trauma, the first hours and days are crucial to see if the pressure and swelling continues to increase. Especially critical are the first three to four days. When patients get through those first few days, everyone can breathe a little. But no statement can be made yet about the patient's survival or the outcome. If the patient continues to remain stable, you can shut down the measures to reduce intracranial pressure and then dissolve the coma," he explained.

A Paris neurosurgeon, Philippe Decq, told France's RMC Sport that Schumacher will then reach a crucial point in his recovery.

"After a severe traumatic brain injury, if three weeks passes and there are no signs of awakening, then from a prognostic point of view it is very bad," he said.

Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm implied by text message on Thursday that the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver remains in a stable yet critical condition.

"We will not make statements unless there is something new (to report)," she said.

A statement issued by Schumacher's family reads: "We all know he is a fighter and will not give up."

From GMM

Lewis Hamilton has played down the impact of Ross Brawn's departure, insisting it is neither a loss to Mercedes or even formula one.

Just a year after 2008 world champion Hamilton was enticed to switch from McLaren, 58-year-old Briton Brawn has stepped down as Brackley based Mercedes' team boss.

Lewis Hamilton, though, says he is not worried.

"When I decided to go to Mercedes. I had much greater reasons than just him," he is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace.

"To me, that he was there was a bonus, but after I arrived, I saw that the team had a lot of talented people," added Hamilton, whose new team bosses will be Paddy Lowe and Toto Wolff, overseen by chairman Niki Lauda.

"He (Brawn) was a good boss, with a very good approach, which creates a great atmosphere in the team -- but this is something that is expected of a leader," Hamilton continued.

Lewis Hamilton and Ross Brawn in Hungary. First win of Lewis Hamilton with Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

Ross Brawn has resolved to take a sabbatical from F1, and says he will only decide if he will come back in 2015 in the summer.

But Lewis Hamilton, 28, said even a permanent exit from the sport for Brawn will not be a blow to F1.

"The sport will continue when any of us go. So no, I don't see it as a loss for the sport," he said.