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From Ferrari

The final test prior to the start of the 2014 Formula 1 season for Scuderia Ferrari and the other ten Formula 1 teams gets underway tomorrow, Thursday.

Once again, it takes place in Bahrain, an ideal location because of its temperate climate, similar to that which the drivers and teams can expect to encounter at many of the opening rounds of the 2014 season.

Tomorrow and Saturday, Kimi Raikkonen will be on driving duty for Ferrari, with Fernando Alonso at the wheel on Friday and Sunday. Testing runs from 9 in the morning to 5.30 pm, with a 30 minute lunch break at 1 o'clock.

The Scuderia Ferrari's work schedule is already mapped out.

These four days will see a continuation of the work of shaking down and fine tuning all the components on the car, with particular attention focusing on the new power unit, which will be signed off on Friday in accordance with the FIA's homologation process.

In the mornings, the team will also work on doing runs to check all the new systems, as well as continuing to look at set-up.

The afternoon will see some long run tests, while monitoring all the elements of the F14 T, as well as evaluating the how the car works with the Pirelli tires.

General Motors has announced a major recall affecting 850,000 Saturn, Chevrolet, and Pontiac vehicles due to a problem with the ignition switch. The driver's key could accidentally move to the OFF position, thus shutting the engine without warning and potentially causing an accident. In fact, over 30 crashes and 13 casualties related to this issue have been reported so far.

Affected models include the 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, 2006-2007 Saturn Sky, 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR, and 2006-2007 Pontiac Solstice.

This comes after a first recall in February 2013 hit the 2006-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5/Pursuit.

The number of units affected in Canada remains unknown. We'll keep you updated.

Source : ici.radio-canada.ca

2007 Saturn Sky (Photo: Rob Rothwell)

Temptation is the name of the game. You have needs and they must be fulfilled. One need in particular is transportation. As a consumer, only your wallet limits your access to what will fulfill this requirement. Being on a budget does not mean that you have to give up on getting what you need or even what you want.

The 2014 scion iQ is just one of numerous options under the $20,000 price mark. As a microcar, it is one of less than a half-dozen available in Canada. Given these odds, it's feasible to believe that the iQ is a popular choice. In truth, it is not. Something about it is either too big or too small.

Scion's iQ drives bigger than it is, and is an actual three-seater with a little room to spare. It's peppy, spunky and can be cute when the sun hits your eye just right, blinding you temporarily. However, its price is far too big and is what keeps them off the streets. Competition is fierce at this price point and the iQ doesn't measure up.


What is a Scion iQ?
The 2014 iQ is Toyota's Scion brand's smallest vehicle. It slots itself in the microcar category, one that is very popular in other markets around the globe but just starting to emerge in North America.

Scion recently celebrated 10 years on the U.S. market. In Canada, the youthful brand only arrived in 2010 and has met with limited (if any) noteworthy success.

2014 Scion iQ Price and Specs
The iQ's Achilles' heel comes in the form of sticker shock. At $17,115, its pricing towers over all in its segment, surpassing even a number of compact cars.

My tester was the one and only Scion iQ in the lineup. Only accessories such as alloy wheels, fog lights, carpets, and navigation can be selected.

The Scion iQ is motivated by a 94-horsepower 1.3L 4-cylinder engine. The only transmission to be had is a CVT, and it drives the front wheels. Brakes are disc up front, drums in the rear, and steering is electrically assisted.

The 2014 iQ is Toyota's Scion brand's smallest vehicle. (Photo: Scion)

Driving the Scion iQ
I'd only briefly driven the iQ nearly a year ago, and clearly it left little or no mark on my psyche. Strangely, I thoroughly enjoyed booting about town and surrounding areas during my weeklong test drive.

Weight always -- and I mean, always -- being the enemy, the iQ (thanks to its svelte self) is actually fun to boot. The mill's 89 lb-ft of torque come in midway through the 4,000-rpm mark, and the car actually livens up.

Brilliantly, the CVT will not anchor itself just below the rev limiter, destroying what's left of my eardrums after babysitting my gorgeous 10-day old god-daughter. The transmission is lively and willing.

As with every short wheelbase car, undulations and road imperfections affect comfort and the car's wellbeing. At no moment does it feel unsafe, but know that the 2014 Scion iQ's stability control cannot be deactivated and functions appropriately, unfortunately for snow-covered parking lots and I. The semi-independent suspension's work is otherwise appreciable, maintaining (what little weight transfers there are) body roll to a safe-feeling level.

The 2014 Scion iQ's brakes are quite good and steering, although a tad too assisted, is precise. It's really not that bad a drive, I tell you.

I thoroughly enjoyed booting about town and surrounding areas during my weeklong test drive. (Photo: Scion)

Inside and Out of the Scion iQ
An acquired taste, the 2014 scion iQ's styling is. Its outer dimensions limit what can be done; let's remember that the doors are roughly half the total length of the car. Bright colours do little to make visual impressions better, however, a set of proper aftermarket alloy wheels do help.

Of the available off-the-shelf options, a set of TRD lowering springs ($1,035) can do wonders outwardly.

The cabin is snug (size-wise) from the front row, but it really doesn't seem that way. The 2014 Scion iQ offers up plenty of leg, elbow, and headroom; this changes drastically in the rear. The passenger seat slides far forward enough to allow for rear legroom, permitting passenger No. 3 to take his/her place. The seat behind the driver is essentially a place to put a day bag. The trunk is no larger than an average glove box, and so the seatbacks have to be lowered to carry anything of size.

The car's ergonomics are amusing and easy to adapt to. The radio, on the other hard, is located too far up and forward to be reached without reaching. The front seats themselves are sufficiently comfortable for the average commute and more.

The 2014 Scion iQ offers up plenty of leg, elbow, and headroom; this changes drastically in the rear. (Photo: Scion)

Comparing the Scion iQ
The 2014 Scion iQ takes the smart fortwo head-on. The iQ name apparently plays this out. Also in the game are the Mitsubishi Mirage, FIAT 500 and Chevrolet Spark.

Also on the shopping list are the Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio and a number of other compact cars. The latter offer more of almost everything for the same money.

Either the price is too big or the car is too small -- or perhaps it's a bit of both.

From GMM

Fixing technical problems is taking mechanics up to four times longer than usual in F1's new turbo V6 era.

Writing in the Spanish sports daily Marca, Marco Canseco said the issue is so significant that a breakdown on the Saturday morning of a race weekend could mean the car is still not repaired by the time of the qualifying hour.

"Repair processes have at times been multiplied by four," said Canseco, referring to the multitude of breakdowns seen so far at the Jerez and Bahrain tests.

"If replacing a gearbox used to take an hour, we can now be talking about four. In the case of an engine, we can be talking about seven hours," he added.

Ferrari's Pat Fry is quoted as saying: "The cars are very complicated and it can take a while to just get in there and find the problem."

And a Toro Rosso mechanic told Marca: "The problem is that with the new power units, everything is packaged within millimetres.

"To find a faulty sensor that meant you stopped the car as a precaution can mean dismantling half the engine. Access is really complicated," he added.

The Toro Rosso STR9 stopped on track. (Photo: WRi2)

Volvo will reveal its new Concept Estate at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show. This stylish wagon follows the Concept Coupé (Frankfurt) and Concept XC Coupé (Detroit).

The company was kind enough to upload a few pictures on the website of Stutterheim, which manufactured the protective cover partially hiding the vehicle.

More details and pictures to come at the Geneva Auto Show.

Source : guideautoweb.com

Photo: Volvo

Photo: Volvo

Photo: Volvo

Like the old romantic song about love; Dale Earnhardt Jr. thought winning the Daytona was better the second time around.

"I was thinking about that," said Earnhardt who first won the Daytona 500 ten years ago, just three years after his father died at Daytona. "When I crossed the finish line, I was relieved that I've done it again and I've done it with the people I'm with. Initially the reaction was, this is better because I'm back in Victory Lane."

In fact he was on the radio screaming, "we're going to burn this place down".

Dale Earnhardt Jr. crosses the line. (Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

After one hour of taking ceremonial winner's pictures he was talking about it again.

“It's different because it's the people, you know.” Earnhardt continued, “I was talking about that earlier.  It's better because you had a taste of it before.  To win it the first time, you are blown away and sort of overwhelmed.  The experience is a blur.  It doesn't sink in.  You don't absorb much of the whole thing.  I can't even remember half of it even after the fact, what we did that week.  I don't even remember going over and putting the car in there.  It was just all so much of a flash.

"So now I realize that. I'm surrounded by so many great people. We got a great team. So many people are able to enjoy this. I'm reminded to let it sink in, reminded to enjoy it. I really enjoyed driving down in front of the fans there. I was having the time of my life inside that car going down the front straightaway.

"When I got to Victory Lane, I couldn't wait to hug everybody, just enjoy it. Didn't do that the first time 'cause you're just blown away.

"So this one's funner."


Dale Earnhardt Jr., 2014 Daytona 500 winner. (Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

It was so much “funner” that he got team owner, Rick Hendrick, to try to ride with him to Victory Lane. Hendrick, seemingly, swore off riding in a real Sprint Cup racing after once trying it with Jimmie Johnson.

"When I got to the car, he said 'Get in'", Hendrick said of Earnhardt. "I was so excited, I got in. When we got to that corner at the gate, I couldn't hold on inside. The roll bar was slick or something. I almost fell out. I was hollering, Stop. I almost didn't come in here tonight. Probably would have been over to Halifax (the nearby hospital).

"I won't do it anymore," Hendrick added. "I better not say that. But I think the emotion just got me as soon as I got to the window.

Then Earnhardt joked about a way to get the boss in his car after a win. "Need to learn how to get those side windows out, that way you can ride in the passenger seat," said Earnhardt.

"As soon as I got over there, he said, Climb in," Hendrick said. "I didn't even think about it. I'll think about it again because I almost fell out. I was wedged in with Jimmie. My legs were wedged up under the steering wheel. Riding like I was riding a bull. This time I almost did fall out."

Yeah, perhaps winning the Daytona 500 is better the second time around. At the very least it was "funner".

Honda will end production of the Insight model, the first hybrid vehicle introduced in the United States, after demand plunged and sales lagged behind the Toyota Prius.

Rolls-Royce is headed to the Geneva motor show with something new. From the teaser photo the company sent, we think that it will probably be the next

Volkswagen revealed the new Polo lineup on Wednesday ahead of the cars' official appearance at the

Dave Leggett considers some of the big strategic drivers for the global automotive industry. In particular, he believes that the the shift of global demand to emerging markets and the growth of "mega-platforms" will reinforce auto industry scale economies - favouring the bigger groups.

Fiat Chrysler announced that

The Nissan Juke is more lovable than it ought to be. For a ute/hatchback, its rear cargo room is negligible.

GM is seeking federal regulators' permission to not recall more than 200,000 new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups because of an electronic defect that can be triggered by using the steering wheel controls.

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

Presidents Day promotions and a slight warm-up from January's unusually harsh winter weather may have helped U.S. auto sales improve this month, but probably not by much.

Motorists in at least six states may be barred from using Google Glass, the eyewear device under test that can access the Internet and take photos with a blink.

General Motors added more than 588,000 vehicles to a recall to fix ignition switches that can inadvertently shut off engines and cause crashes, a problem that has now been linked to 31 crashes and 13 front-seat deaths.

From its inception in 1952, the paper air freshener has expanded across the globe, now offering more than 60 different scents to appease any set of nostrils.

News 25 Feb, 2014

Nissan gives first taste of Juke facelift ahead of Geneva Motor Show debut

Detroit has come clawing back from the brink with award-winning products, but Japanese and luxury brands still have the best lineups of cars and light trucks in the industry, the editors of the influential shopping guide Consumer Reports say.