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Mini previewed its upcoming new Clubman with a lightly veiled concept of the larger, reconfigured five-seater. It makes its public premiere at next week's Geneva motor show.

UK-based engineering group GKN has posted 2013 operating profit up 20% helped by strong organic growth in its automotive businesses.

Toyota is giving design unprecedented clout in a management shuffle that puts the company's global design chief, Tokuo Fukuichi, in charge of Lexus division and on the board.

Toyota is giving design unprecedented clout in a management shuffle that puts the company's global design chief, Tokuo Fukuichi, in charge of the Lexus division and on the board.

Ernst and Young was accused by the United States of failing to comply with an Internal Revenue Service request for documents in an investigation of the tax liability of Georg Schaeffler, chairman of the German supplier of the same name

Five workers from Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant in the U.S. have petitioned the National Labor Relations Board for a chance to challenge the UAW's efforts to overturn the results of this month's union election there.

Toyota expects the majority of future European sales of the Verso minivan will be versions equipped with a BMW-sourced diesel engine.

McLaren-Mercedes Formula 1 team plans to build a total of only four MP4-29 chassis this season.

McLaren MP4-29 (Photo: McLaren)

That might sound quite paltry for a sport that's rightly considered the pinnacle of automotive engineering, but, in fact, it's a reflection of the lean, efficient way in which modern F1 operates.

Back in the 1990s, McLaren was running three distinct teams - one race team, and two operationally independent test teams - you needed the chassis to back them up.

By the early 2000s, it wasn't unusual for a top outfit to have a test team stationed down at Barcelona testing tires, and another at Paul Ricard trying the Monaco aero package - all while the race team's trucks trundled back from a weekend in Imola.

In those days, it wasn't unusual for a team to knock out eight or nine tubs per year. McLaren built an incredible 11 MP4-6 chassis in 1991.



Such profligate production came to a halt in 2009, when all teams voted to abandon in-season testing, instead jointly agreeing to a series of tests before the season kicked off.

Since 2010, McLaren has produced just four chassis every year. Let's look at the four MP4-29 chassis scheduled for this season.

Chassis No. 01 has so far done the majority of 2014's legwork; it was the car placed under the spotlight at the car launch on January 24, and it's the chassis that did the Jerez test in early February. It's since been returned to McLaren Technology Centre, re-built, modded and painted and freighted to Bahrain, where it was the spare at last week's test, and will be pressed into service again later this week.

Chassis No. 03 was the running car for the first Bahrain test, and will also undertake testing duties this week - it then hurries back to MTC, gets dressed (ie: it gets a new paintjob) and is rushed out to Melbourne, where it's the last of three cars to arrive for the Australian Grand Prix.

As such, it's the car that will sit in the back of the garage in stripped-down tub-form - only being pressed into service if the team damages one of the two fully built-up race cars.

Chassis No. 01, the star of Jerez, also goes back to MTC for a wash and a scrub, but it and its sibling, chassis No. 04, fly to Melbourne five days earlier than the spare chassis, becoming the two race cars that are currently slated to contest Australia, Malaysia, Bahrain and China.

Chassis No. 02 is not due to take to the track until the post-Bahrain Grand Prix test in early April.

From press release

Former Indy car and Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve will compete in the 98th Running of the Indianapolis 500 in a car prepared by Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, his first participation in "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" since winning the event in 1995.

Villeneuve's entry in the 2014 Indianapolis 500 marks the 20th anniversary of his first start in 1994, in which the French-Canadian driver finished second and claimed Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honors. Villeneuve, 42, won the race and the CART season championship the following year.

Jacques Villeneuve ((Photo: René Fagnan)

Albatec Racing has released Jacques Villeneuve from his contract to contest the UK round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship, after it emerged the Canadian has been approached to contest the prestigious Indy 500, which clashes with the Lydden Hill round on Sunday 25 May.

Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, led by team principal Sam Schmidt and businessman Ric Peterson, is entering its third year of competition in the IndyCar Series. In its first season as a one-car operation with Simon Pagenaud in 2012, the team quickly made its mark as Pagenaud claimed the Rookie of the Year title and placed fifth in the series championship.

Following Peterson's addition to ownership in 2013, the team expanded to two cars, again capturing Rookie of the Year honors with 2012 Firestone Indy Lights champion Tristan Vautier and gathering two wins and third place in the series championship with Pagenaud.

"We're very pleased to have a driver of the caliber of Jacques in our lineup in May," Schmidt said.

"He's a former winner in the event and brings tremendous experience from his success in the world's top racing series. The trust Jacques is putting in Schmidt Peterson Motorsports also validates the progress all of our team members have made in creating an organization capable of competing with anyone."

"Having grown up in Canada, the name Villeneuve is synonymous with winning,” said Ric Peterson.

“I was even there in person when he won the Indy 500 in 1995, and Jacques being the only Canadian to win that huge event, it gave me a huge sense of national pride. It is an honor to have the opportunity to be involved in bringing Jacques back to the '500,' and we look forward to a fantastic result."

The wait is finally over. According to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Alfa Romeo will make a return to the U.S. in June of 2014 with one model, the 4C, landing at the company's Maserati dealers and also the ''best-performing'' Fiat dealers, CEO Sergio Marchionne announced.

Fiat Chrysler spokesman Rick Deneau told The Detroit News that those select Fiat dealers have not been notified yet.

The rest of the Alfa Romeo lineup, including the Giulia, Giulietta, and an all-new Spider that is being co-developed with Mazda, won't arrive until 2015.

As for Canada, we have yet to receive information that would confirm a launch north of the border.

Source : detroitnews.com

Photo: Alfa Romeo

If the Yamaha MOTIV.e sounds or looks familiar, it's because the Japanese manufacturer bought the idea from former F1 engineer Gordon Murray, who designed the T.25.

This electric microcar is 2,690 mm long and 1,470 mm wide. It can sprint from 0-100 km/h in less than 15 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 105 km/h. Range is estimated at more than 160 km.

All of that comes from a Zytek electric motor (weighing only 13 kg) and a single-speed Vocis transmission.

When it goes on sale (the exact date and price remain unknown), the MOTIV.e will become Yamaha's first production automobile. The brand once supplied engines to Ford and Volvo, among others.

Sources : gas2.org

Photo: Yamaha

Nissan today released the first preview of its completely redesigned JUKE, which will make its global debut next week at the Geneva Auto Show.

Look for an even bolder exterior than the outgoing model, as well as greater fuel economy and refinement.

Source : greencarreports.com

Photo: Nissan

Kelley Blue Book has just published its Top 10 best AWD cars and SUVs under US$25,000, and get this: Subaru occupies the top 5 spots!

The KBB.com editorial team chose the vehicles on their recommended list based on a vehicle's overall attributes and value in comparison with other models in their segment and price class.

Top 10 AWD vehicles under US$25,000 for 2014:

1. 2014 Subaru Forester
2. 2014 Subaru Outback
3. 2014 Subaru Legacy
4. 2014 Subaru Impreza
5. 2014 Subaru XV Crosstrek
6. 2014 Honda CR-V
7. 2014 Nissan Rogue
8. 2014 Mazda CX-5
9. 2014 Nissan Juke
10. 2014 Kia Sportage

Source: Kelley Blue Book

The Bugatti Veyron Super Sport is no longer the world's fastest production car despite reaching 267.81 mph (431 km/h). The new queen is the 1,244-horsepower Hennessey Venom GT, which managed to post a speed of 270.49 mph (435.3 km/h).

The Guinness Book of World Records has yet to recognize the feat, however, because the car had to complete two trips (one in each direction) to determine an average top speed. Hennessey founder John Hennessey claimed NASA only allowed one shot despite more than two years of negotiations.

Another problem is that the Guinness Book of World Records defines a production car as having at least 30 units. The Hennessey Venom GT has currently sold just 29. So, technically, the Bugatti is still the fastest.

Either way, that'll mess up one's perfectly coiffed hair in a hurry!

Source : autoblog.com

From GMM

An American motor racing personality has accused F1's Bernie Ecclestone of being repeatedly "foolish".

Eddie Gossage, the president of the Texas Motor Speedway, has blasted the F1 chief executive for scheduling this year's US grand prix on the same November date as the major Nascar sprint cup race in the same state.

"I absolutely think it's foolish. I can't say I was surprised because Bernie Ecclestone does a lot of foolish things," Gossage is quoted by AP news agency.

"It's just not smart. There's 52 weeks in the year. But that was the only weekend that formula one could make it work in Austin? Give me a break," said Eddie Gossage.

The Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

F1's ugly face of 2014 could get uglier still.

That is the warning of the German specialist magazine Auto Motor und Sport, claiming that car designers are looking into nose solutions for the new rules that are even less attractive than those already used during testing.

With the 'gentleman's appendage', asymmetrical and 'vacuum cleaner'-style noses already in action, respected correspondent Michael Schmidt said some all-new solutions could be seen as early as this week at the final Bahrain test.

"(In the wind tunnel) we are trying every kind of nose that is in circulation," admitted Sahara Force India technical boss Andy Green.

Schmidt concluded: "If that is the case for Force India, then the big teams will be doing even more."

It is likely Lotus' unique, double-tusk solution is causing the most head-scratching among rival teams, with many perhaps not having initially considered the idea of utilising the concept of asymmetry.

"Our spies tell us that some teams are considering 'anteater' noses that do not grow from the middle of the car, but to the left or to the right," said Schmidt.

The double nose of the Lotus E22. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

After the dizzying heights of utter domination late last season, Red Bull finds itself in deep crisis just two weeks before the 2014 opener.

Not only has the new RB10 struggled merely for laps amid engine supplier Renault's obvious problems, the Adrian Newey-penned car has also been slow.

In an analysis, Speed Week found that if the times in Bahrain testing last week was actually qualifying in Melbourne, both Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo would have failed to meet the 107 per cent qualifying rule.

"We are in complex difficulties," Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko admitted to Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper. "We can solve it only in conjunction with Renault. Unfortunately, we are going from problem to problem and are clearly behind schedule."

The Red Bull RB10 stopped on the track. (Photo: WRi2)

The reigning world champions only have four more official test days, in Bahrain this week beginning on Thursday, to prepare for the Melbourne season opener.

Asked if the problems can be solved by then, Marko answered: "That is open and cannot be predicted. We will have developments in Bahrain for the third test but, as I said, everything is very complex."

Marko said it is not the first time Red Bull could head into a new season without having even completed a single race distance with its new car.

"Yes, we've had that once, but I repeat: we cannot hang our heads," he insisted. "We need to look and think ahead."

From GMM

Lotus is pinning its high hopes for 2014 on trouble engine supplier Renault.

Technical boss Nick Chester is confident the Enstone team has produced a winning car, with respected Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt agreeing the double-tusked E22 is the most "courageous" in the field.

"The wind tunnel numbers are incredible," Chester is quoted by the German magazine. "Our measurements at the test in Bahrain have confirmed that we have a really fast car."

He said Lotus' biggest concern is that Renault might be unable to resolve its obvious technical crisis with the new French-made V6 'power unit'.

"It would be a pity," said Chester, "if the engine is what determines the order on the track."

Photo: WRi2

The most noticeable innovation aboard the E22 is the asymmetrical, tuning fork-style double-tusk nose, which has attracted envious glances up and down pitlane.

"The other teams could copy it, but that alone won't help them much. If they want to take advantage of the (double) nose then they'd also have to change the rear of the car. And that would take them a lot of time," Nick Chester warned.

"Some engineers left us last year taking the knowledge of the benefits (of the nose) to our competitors, but I imagine they had difficulty passing the crash tests," said Chester.

From GMM

Charles Pic has admitted being dropped by Caterham ahead of the 2014 season was "a surprise".

In the wake of the blow, the Frenchman will try to put his race aspirations back on track for 2015 by testing this year for the Lotus team.

"I'll have days of private testing as well as free practice sessions," he told the French-language F1i.

"All I can say is it will be a good number of Fridays and the right number of test days. I'll let the team say more but I think it is a very good programme for me."

The Lotus E22-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

Charles Pic, 24, admitted it was a challenge to put the Lotus programme together after being told his services were no longer required at Caterham.

"Their (Caterham's) decision was taken very late, and I still had a contract running for 2014. So it was difficult to bounce back from that," he said.

"So, yes, it was a surprise.

"On the other hand, I am very happy to have found this solution with Lotus. It was important to find a third driver role that allowed me to drive a lot, and this is the case with Lotus, a super team. I am very happy," he said.

Pic admitted however that his real ambition is to return to the grid in 2015.

"Of course," he said, "but I think we should do everything in its time. When we approach the end of the summer, that will be the time to start looking around for 2015."

From GMM

Christian Horner is being hotly tipped as the next 'F1 supremo'.

A source at Delta Topco, the CVC-controlled group that owns the sport's commercial rights, has named 40-year-old Briton Horner as the top choice to succeed embattled chief executive Bernie Ecclestone.

The news follows suggestions external figures like Justin King, the outgoing Sainsbury's chief, or F1 marketing specialist Zak Brown are in fact the more likely picks.

Christian Horner, the Red Bull team boss, has repeatedly denied he is interested in the job, even after a judge last week damagingly found that Ecclestone had paid a "bribe" to Gerhard Gribkowsky.

If convicted of that very offense by a German criminal court later this year, the F1 board would certainly remove the 83-year-old.

Christian Horner and Bernie Ecclestone. (Photo: WRi2)

Horner, however, said last week he would "never consider" replacing Ecclestone.

"My function and commitment is to Red Bull, and I certainly hope that Bernie will continue for another 20 years," he told Sportbusiness International.

But even in light of Horner's repeated denials, a source close to the Delta Topco board said this week: "There is no doubt Christian fits the bill.

"We need someone with experience of formula one, someone who can deal with television rights and commercial contracts," the source told The Times newspaper.

"The fact that Bernie would train Christian up, in effect, looks like a solution to many of the directors."