Auto News 5

Hyundai notched big gains in its sales, market share and image when its swoopy 2011 Sonata hit the market.

Lithia and Sonic Automotive, the nation's third-largest dealership group, see significant opportunities for revenue growth this year by improving customer experience and increasing customer-pay, as opposed to factory warranty, service business.

Nearly five years after Chrysler terminated his Billings, Mont., Chrysler-Jeep store, along with 788 other dealerships around the country, Steve Zabawa believes he is on the threshold of reopening.

Before President Obama leaves office, he wants to make sure the largest trucks on U.S. roads keep getting more fuel efficient into the 2020s.

Jaguar Land Rover North America is putting dealers on the spot by requesting customer data from dealership computer systems -- and promising a financial penalty to dealers who resist.

Tesla Motors finished its first year as a full-fledged automaker with 22,477 cars sold, $2 billion in revenue and a net loss of $74 million.

Now that Volkswagen workers here have turned away the UAW, labor leaders within VW are going back to the drawing board.

Automotive News spoke to labor analyst Kristen Dziczek about the root of the issues that led up to the recent vote at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga.

Mazda's new assembly plant in Salamanca, Mexico gives the company a low-cost production base; an export platform for shipping cars; and a natural hedge against swings in the yen's exchange rate.

From press release

Sunday afternoon's second round of the Cooper Tires Winterfest for the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires was decided at the start when outside front row qualifier Garett Grist jumped clear of the field at the rolling start.

The teenaged rookie from Grimsby, Ont., took full advantage by romping to a decisive win for Andretti Autosport at NOLA Motorsport Park in Avondale.

Polesitter Spencer Pigot (Juncos Racing) fell to sixth before Turn One, but charged back through the field and was able to regain second place when Brazilian debutant Pipo Derani made a mistake with just three corners remaining in the 18-lap race.

Pigot now leads the standings by 10 points over Grist as the mini-series heads almost immediately to Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala., for two more races on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 25/26.

The top seven cars ran virtually in nose-to-tail formation for the opening five laps before Grist, a race winner last year in USF2000, settled into his stride and began to inch clear. He finally took the checkered flag 4.495 seconds clear of Pigot.

With all of the cars on the inside of the starting lineup bottled up behind Pigot when the race went green, Derani (Team Pelfrey) saw his opportunity and vaulted all the way from sixth to second. He remained under pressure initially from Scott Hargrove, who won last year's Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda, and then from the fast-recovering Pigot.

Pigot set the fastest lap of the race as he tried to find a way past Derani, and his efforts finally paid off in Turn 13 on the 18th and final lap when Derani left his braking a little too late, slid slightly wide, and Pigot immediately filled the gap.

Hargrove completed his rookie Pro Mazda weekend for Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing with a fine run to fourth, while 17-year-old Kyle Kaiser (Juncos Racing) held off a race-long challenge from both Jose Gutierrez (Juncos Racing), from Monterrey, Mexico, and Shelby Blackstock (Andretti Autosport) for fifth.

Dalton Kellett (Team Pelfrey), from Stouffville, Ont., Canada, Neil Alberico (Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing) and Michael Johnson (JDC MotorSports) completed the top 10.

"Today was a great day. It was our second start in Pro Mazda and I started second again. Yesterday I had a poor start and fell back, but luckily today I was able to make a good one. I put my head down from out front and just knocked off consistent laps until the end,” said Garett Grist, driver of the No. 27 DaVinci Foods/Lander Property Management Andretti Autosport car.

A day of several physical activities was organised Monday by Santander for Ferrari driver, Fernando Alonso in Dubai.

Alonso began the day with some cross training, based on the military style programme, which involved jumping in and out of tires as quickly as possible. It's an exercise that works on reflexes and muscle tone.

Fernando Alonso with Diego Maradona and Michel Salgado. (Photo: Ferrari)

Later, Alonso raced karts before he climbed on his bicycle, his favorite pastime and his main fitness tools in between races and during the winter.

The day of training came to an end at the Dubai Football Academy, with another sport that Fernando, along with millions of others, loves, namely football.

He took part in a game between two teams that also included former Real Madrid player Michel Salgado and no other than Diego Armando Maradona.

On this occasion, Alonso had to bow to the Golden Boy, but only by a score of 5-4, says the Ferrari web site.

From press release

Following the accident that saw No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Corvette Daytona Prototype driver Memo Gidley suffer severe injuries at this year's Rolex 24 At Daytona, GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racings has elected to suspend operations for the balance of the 2014 season.

“It is with great regret that we will have to suspend operations for the balance of the 2014 season,” said Team Owner Bob Stallings.

“Since Daytona, priority one for us has been on Memo's recovery. Everyone on the team has been focused on his care and comfort, and it has meant the world to see such support from the fans and the racing community at large. Even though Memo has a long road ahead, the worst is behind him, and it has allowed us to step back and take a look at the program at large. With both the personal and economic strain this has put on us, we feel it's in the best interest of everyone to sit out this year, with a firm focus on a return in 2015.”

With the team having a strong sense of family and community, the strain of Gidley's recovery, combined with the destruction of the team's primary vehicle and the financial requirements to continue in the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Championship, the organization felt it was in the best interest to simply sit the year out. All drivers and crew have been released for opportunities available with other teams.

While the team's famed No. 99 “Red Dragon” will be absent this year, this will also position GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing to focus efforts on an improved 2015. With the 2014 season continuing to be an evolutionary year for the new series, the break will allow for the team to take an evaluatory look at their best options for next year.

Insiders told Bloomberg that Ford will end its partnership with Microsoft and instead base the next-generation SYNC system on BlackBerry's less expensive QNX platform.

This comes after customer complaints about slow, glitchy touchscreens and voice commands hurt Ford in surveys by J.D. Power and Consumer Reports.

BlackBerry, as you may know, has lost 95% of its value since mid-2008, so a deal with Ford would substantially boost its credibility and stock.

Source : bloomberg.com

Photo: Ford

From GMM

With only four days of track running now left until Melbourne, a clear trend is emerging.

Defending champions Red Bull are in major trouble, and the works Mercedes team is leading the way.

In the silver W05, Nico Rosberg ended the first week of Bahrain testing on Saturday with a stunning laptime, less than 1 second off his 2013 pole.

And it emerges that the German, practicing qualifying, was using only the 'soft' tire, not the faster 'super-soft' that has also been in action by other teams in Bahrain.

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes W05. (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

At the same time, despite earlier signs of recovery, Red Bull's problems with the Renault-powered RB10 persist.

Daniel Ricciardo, who managed a meagre 15 laps, was almost 7 seconds off the pace as the Bahrain test wrapped up on Saturday.

"The challenge is to improve the rate of progress," engine supplier Renault's Rob White said, "because the gap to where we wanted to be at this stage remains substantial."

With the FIA's engine development freeze deadline now just days away, White admitted Renault is "weeks" behind its rivals.

Red Bull's problems, meanwhile, are even deeper. The similarly Renault-powered Lotus has been faster, and on Saturday managed four times as many laps as the RB10.

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull RB10. (Photo: WRi2)

"I think we could be the lead Renault team," Lotus technical boss Nick Chester said. Of the four Renault-powered teams, only Lotus' black E22 does not feature a Red Bull gearbox.

But none of them are likely to be in the running for Melbourne spoils.

"The strongest teams out there are the Mercedes-powered teams," Mercedes' Paddy Lowe told Sky. "The Ferrari is also looking strong, so those are the people we are watching and trying to measure against."

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen ended his Bahrain week with a crash, and according to the German news agency SID he said the F14-T is "not bad".

"The Mercedes powered teams have gone well here," he admitted, "but we were doing our own programme. It won't get serious until Melbourne.

"The reliability of our car has been ok, but in terms of speed I do not know what's going on," Raikkonen is quoted by Finland's Turun Sanomat.

Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari damaged. (Photo: WRi2)

Also fairly confident is Jenson Button, who told reporters that after McLaren's disastrous 2013 season, "We're in a reasonable position but you would also like to be faster.

"We know we don't have the fastest car, but we also know that we are not slow," he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

Jenson Button agreed that Mercedes' works team currently appears the fastest.

"I already have a good idea of who will be on pole in Melbourne," he said, "but you couldn't say who will win the championship."

Right now, not too many bets are being placed on Red Bull.

But Mercedes' Rosberg insisted: "It doesn't mean they won't recover. What it does mean is that (Red Bull) winning again this year is likely to be a far bigger challenge than the previous four."

From GMM

He may have won the court battle with Constantin Medien, but it still cost the F1 chief executive millions.

Amid the Gerhard Gribkowsky corruption affair, the German media company had pursued the embattled 83-year-old Briton Ecclestone for $140 million.

However, the case still cost Ecclestone millions.

"My costs are bloody expensive," he told F1 business journalist Christian Sylt. "The costs are in excess of 20 million pounds ($33m). I hope they will be able to pay."

And in separate comments published by The Times, he said: At least I don't have to pay someone 80 million pounds ($133m) or so, because we won that."

Bernie Ecclestone and his expensive lawyers are now preparing for a German criminal trial, set to begin in April.

"All we have to prove is Gribkowsky doesn't exactly always tell the truth," he told Sylt in comments published by the Daily Mail.

The general shape of a Formula 1 car is defined by the technical regulations of the FIA. Within the rules, engineers design a car that's not only sleek but more importantly one which must produce massive negative lift called downforce.

Long before their birth, scale models of the actual F1 cars are tested and evaluated in the team's' wind tunnels.

A wind tunnel is a tool used in aerodynamic research to study the effects of air moving past solid objects. It consists of a closed tubular passage with the car to be tested mounted in the middle. A powerful fan system moves air past the car; the fan must have straightening vanes to smooth the airflow.

Fan of the Red Bull Technology wind tunnel. (Photo: Red Bull)

There are in fact two main types of wind tunnels. One type is called an “open circuit tunnel”s with an air entry open to the atmosphere. Formula 1 teams rely on the other type:, the closed circuit wind tunnels. These generate a more uniform flow, in principle, than open circuit tunnels.

They are said to be low-speed closed circuit tunnels. This means that the speed varies between 10 and 100 m/s approximately, and the same air is recirculated. The stream is turned, typically by four 90° corners, each provided with turning vanes placed aside of each other, to prevent turbulence in the corners.

Highly skilled members of the aerodynamic department build scale models of the actual car, complete with wheels, suspension, wings, and driver's helmet. It is made of a stiff skeleton on which the various parts -- made of aluminium, plastic or carbon fibre -- are bolted or glued. Rapid prototyping makes it relatively easy to produce small component thatare can be quickly evaluated in the wind tunnel.

Since the model parts do not represent the real- world car size, a Reynold's number is , for example, used to make coefficient correlations between the model parts and the 100% to-scale model. A Reynold's number is a measure of the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces.

The model car is placed in the test chamber of the wind tunnel. It rests on a rolling road thatwhich is designed to simulate the track. The idea is to make the track move under the car at the same speed thatas the air flows around the car, complete with rotating real tires. Wheels that rotate at 300km/h produce a lot of turbulence.

Ferrari wind tunnel in Maranello. (Photo: Ferrari)

Once the fan is started, and the wind it produces simulates how the real car in motion would flow throughin the air while running on the road course.

Aerodynamic forces applied on the test model are usually measured with beam balances, connected to the model with beams, strings, or cables.

The direction of airflow on the surface can be visualized by taping threads on the test model. Smoke can also be introduced into the airflow upstream of the test model. Or Flow-viz can also be applied on various the parts and its path around the model can be examined afterwards. Pressure-sensitive paint, in which higher local pressure is indicated by lowered fluorescence of the paint at that point, is also used.

The test model is attached to a vertical beam that can move in several directions. This beam is used by the engineers to move the model in relation to the ground in order to simulate yaw (as if the car was into the cornering), pitch (as if the car was braking or accelerating), and to adjust ride height with a precision of 0.01 mm. The movements of the model car are controlled by a computer.

Interestingly, the suction generated by the floor and diffuser of the car creates is so great that the rolling road must the sucked down by a vacuum so it remains perfectly flat!

Scale model of a Formula 1 car being tested in the wind tunnel. (Photo: Toyota TMG)

In order to reduce the costs, the FIA has put restrictions on wind- tunnel testing. The scale models used cannotmay be anyno larger than 60% of a full- size car, and speeds are limited to 50 metres/second (which translates into 180 km/h).

Results from the wind tunnel are then compared with the data obtained during straight- line aerodynamic tests on an airfield. Teams are allowed to perform four days of aero test during a full season.

From GMM

At full tilt in a straight line, this year's formula one cars emit a much tamer sound than the class of 2013.

However, the top speeds of the new turbo V6s are significantly higher, thanks to reduced downforce and an impressive engine-plus-ERS maximum of almost 900 horse power.

In Nico Rosberg's hands, the currently dominant new W05 Mercedes is almost as quick over a full lap as the German's pole of 2013.

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes W05. (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

Cornering speeds are lower, but at full speed, the cars are much faster -- Fernando Alonso's 2014 Ferrari clocked 336kph in Bahrain, compared to a top speed of 314 during the island Kingdom's grand prix last year.

"We are incredibly fast on the straights," German Rosberg told Auto Motor und Sport. "I would guess that at Monza we will be doing 360."

That may not be the case for the entire field, however. The fastest of the struggling Renault-powered cars in Bahrain clocked a top of just 308kph -- slower than 2013.

And world champion Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull was 7kph slower even than that.

Kimi Räikkönen, Ferrari F14-T. (Photo: WRi2)

So it's a particularly challenging time for a team like Caterham, struggling not only with the troubled Renault V6 but also a small budget amid the enormous and expensive technical revolution.

"Currently we are not on formula one level. It's more GP2 level," Kamui Kobayashi, 10 seconds off the pace on Saturday, is quoted by Speed Week.

"We have so many problems with the car and the times are incredibly slow," said the Japanese. "When you look at what Mercedes is doing, it's overwhelming, but it also shows us what is possible and in what direction we need to develop."

Kamui Kobayashi, Caterham CT05-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

From NASCAR.com

In a race that was delayed more than six hours by rain, Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the 56th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, opening round of the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Denny Hamlin leads the pack. (Photo: Todd Warshaw/NASCAR via Getty Images)

Only 38 laps had been completed when the race was halted for rain. Officials red-flagged the race at 2:13 p.m. ET.

Although the rain intensified - severe weather warnings were issued for the surrounding region and lightning streaked against the gray sky - after nearly six and one half hours, the cars were back on the race track.

The 39-year-old Earnhardt led six times for 54 laps in the 200-lap event, holding off Denny Hamlin for the victory in a two-lap dash set up after a multicar crash in Turn 3.

Matt Kenseth ended up pitting the wrong way! (Photo: Todd Warshaw/NASCAR via Getty Images)

A winner of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series' premier event in 2004, Earnhardt Jr. had finished second in three of his last four Daytona 500 attempts. Sunday's victory was his first win in his last 56 starts.

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

Another crash erupted on the final lap, forcing the race to end under caution, but the mayhem was in the leader's rear-view mirror.

Denny Hamlin, eyeing a sweep of events at Daytona -- he won last week's Sprint Unlimited and one of Thursday's two Budweiser Duel races -- rallied from sixth to second in the closing laps.

Brad Keselowski, Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson completed the top five in the season's season-opening event.

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

Results - 2014 Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup
Pos.  Nu.  Driver  Car manufacturer  Laps completed
1  88  Dale Earnhardt Jr  Chevrolet  200 laps
2  11  Denny Hamlin  Toyota  200
3  2  Brad Keselowski  Ford  200
4  24  Jeff Gordon  Chevrolet  200
5  48  Jimmie Johnson  Chevrolet   200
6  20  Matt Kenseth  Toyota  200
7  17  Ricky Stenhouse Jr  Ford  200
8  16  Greg Biffle  Ford  200
9  3  Austin Dillon  Chevrolet   200
10  13  Casey Mears  Chevrolet  200
11  22  Joey Logano  Ford  200
12  40  Landon Cassill  Chevrolet  200
13  4  Kevin Harvick  Chevrolet  200
14  1  Jamie McMurray  Chevrolet  200
15  52  Bobby Labonte  Chevrolet  200
16  36  Reed Sorenson  Chevrolet   200
17  99  Carl Edwards  Ford   200
18  9  Marcos Ambrose  Ford  200
19  18  Kyle Busch  Toyota  200
20  32  Terry Labonte  Ford   200
21  41  Kurt Busch  Chevrolet  199
22  31  Ryan Newman  Chevrolet
23  23  Alex Bowman  Toyota
24  98  Josh Wise  Ford  196
25  33  Brian Scott  Chevrolet  196
26  47  AJ Allmendinger  Chevrolet   194
27  51  Justin Allgaier  Chevrolet  193
28  26  Cole Whitt  Toyota  193
29  30  Parker Kligerman  Toyota  193
30  55  Brian Vickers  Toyota   192
31  5  Kasey Kahne  Chevrolet  192
32  27  Paul Menard  Chevrolet  184
33  21  Trevor Bayne  Ford  183
34  34  David Ragan  Ford  176
35  14  Tony Stewart  Chevrolet  174
36  38  David Gilliland  Ford  171
37  7  Michael Annett  Chevrolet   161
38  42  Kyle Larson  Chevrolet   160
39  43  Aric Almirola  Ford  146
40  10  Danica Patrick  Chevrolet  145
41  66  Michael Waltrip  Toyota  144
42  15  Clint Bowyer  Toyota  127
43  78  Martin Truex Jr  Chevrolet  30

The new 2015 Ford Focus has just made its debut at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. With a completely revised exterior and interior, the popular compact takes fuel economy to another level with a new 1.0L EcoBoost (official ratings have yet to be announced).

As far as styling is concerned, the 2015 Ford Focus sports new taillights, a redesigned front grille and hood, a more modern cockpit with new seat materials and revised centre console, plus an available heated steering wheel.

A 4.2'' display and backup camera come standard (a Focus first), while models equipped with MyFord Touch get an 8'' touchscreen. Blind spot monitoring and lane keeping systems are available, as well.

Look for the 2015 Ford Focus to arrive in Canadian showrooms during the second half of 2014 in both sedan and hatchback configurations.

Photo: Ford

From Williams F1 Team

Williams Formula 1 team Monday confirmed that Susie Wolff will be continuing as the team's Development Driver for 2014 in an expanded role that will see her take to the wheel of the Williams Mercedes FW36 in two FP1 sessions this season.

Wolff, née Stoddart, joined Williams in April 2012 and has played a valuable role in helping to develop the FW34, FW35, and the new Mercedes-powered Williams FW36.

Susie Wolff, Williams. (Photo: WRi2)

This year, Susie Wolff will continue to work in the Williams simulator to help further develop the FW36.

Driving for Williams in two FP1 sessions this season will see Wolff become the first female driver to compete in a Formula 1 Grand Prix session in over two decades, and builds on her promising performance for Williams in last year's Young Drivers Test in Silverstone.

Prior to joining Williams Susie spent seven seasons driving in DTM, and was twice nominated for the prestigious BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award.