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From GMM

The supplier of F1's mandatory new fuel flow sensor has distanced itself from the Red Bull cheat controversy.

The reigning world champion team pointed a clear finger of blame at Gill Sensors after Daniel Ricciardo was disqualified in Melbourne due to breaching the new rules governing a maximum fuel flow rate.

"The (Gill Sensors) device has obvious fluctuations," Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko has now told Austrian television Servus TV.

"It does not give precise measurements, when in our opinion we were within the (100 kilogram per hour flow) rules," he insisted.

But Gill, a British company, said in the wake of the Melbourne controversy that it has the backing of its client, F1's governing body.

It said the FIA "provided Gill Sensors with positive feedback on the performance of the fuel flow meter (in Australia), confirming their confidence in the development and stating the meters meet the FIA's accuracy specification."

Red Bull is expected to follow through with an appeal against the Ricciardo ruling, but the fuel flow saga may only be a blip as the champions continue their chase of dominant 2014 team Mercedes.

Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull, second in Melbourne, leading the pack. (Photo: WRi2)

"The speed with which Red Bull has caught up should make everyone worry," Williams' Pat Symonds is quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner confirmed that the team and its struggling engine supplier are making clear progress.

"At the Bahrain test the Renault was at 10 per cent of what it can do. In Melbourne we were at 60," he said.

Renault chief Rob White, however, warned: "We are not out of the woods yet. In our steep learning curve, further setbacks are inevitable."

But the huge progress since Bahrain means car designer Adrian Newey can now get down to the real challenge of 2014.

"I have only now begun with the development of the car," he said. "If you can't drive, you can't try anything."

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone says it is up to F1's three engine suppliers to make the sport loud again.

"They made them quiet, now they can make them loud again," the F1 chief executive said.

After Melbourne race organisers slammed the new purring tones of the once-screaming sport after the 2014 season opener, Ecclestone vowed to get to work to fix a problem that could drive promoters, sponsors and fans away.

The 83-year-old put the onus of blame on the turbo V6 suppliers, Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault.

"It's a technical problem. They have an obligation to give us formula one with volume," Bernie Ecclestone told the German newspaper Bild.

The Mercedes engine. Powerful, reliable, fast, but not noisy enough. (Photo: WRi2)

He said Melbourne is not the only worried race promoter.

"The organisers of the other races are also afraid now," said Ecclestone. "They doubt they are going to sell enough tickets."

However, one race promoter dismissed the Australians' suggestion that F1 has breached contract by switching to such quiet engines.

"There are no such clauses about minimum volume. Quite the contrary, in fact," said the German federation ADAC's Klaus Klotzner.

Bernie Ecclestone, however, insisted what was offered up at Albert Park was not true F1.

"Formula one -- it's glamour, and people love glamour, right up to the moment when the engines are started. Then the noise begins," he said.

A source, however, said the F1 teams are too busy to consider the sound of their complex and revolutionary new engines as a priority.

"At the moment, we've all got more on our plate than worrying about the noise," the source told London's Times newspaper.

From GMM

Almost unnoticed in the Albert Park paddock last weekend strolled two Japanese with very big plans.

Speed Week correspondent Mathias Brunner reports that Yasuhisa Arai, Honda's new F1 boss, and the Japanese marque's technical chief Kazuo Sakurahara were on an ununiformed mission to learn and observe as the 2014 season kicked off.

It is not until 2015 that Honda, absent from the paddock since the shock decision in late 2008 to pull its Brackley based works team from F1, will return to the grid as McLaren's supplier of works turbo V6 engines.

Kevin Magnussen, McLaren-Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

But as F1's brave new era began in Australia, "It was the first of many visits this year," Brunner claimed, as the Honda duo embark upon a meticulous mission to be up to speed against experienced rivals Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault.

Arai is quoted as saying: "At the beginning (of the V6 programme) there were some difficulties, but at the moment we are quite satisfied with our level of development."

Undoubtedly, F1's smaller, greener and more relevant engine regulations lured the modern-minded Honda back to the sport, but Arai insists that the ultimate ambition is clear.

"There's no point in racing unless you win," he is quoted by Japan Today.

"That's why we teamed up with a winning team," Arai added, referring to McLaren, who in 2014 are spending their twentieth and last season with Mercedes power.

When we first met on the grassy hills of a cross-country equestrian course in Kentucky, I have to admit that the RR Sport's modern new lines made me swoon. If nothing else, this thing looks hot.

Finally, nearly five years after its initial facelift, the Range Rover Sport has a sexy new look and a new feel on the road, too (thankfully!). To find out how this big British brute wooed me, check out my full review on Auto-Venus.com.

Photo: Land Rover

Team Penske's Will Power continued his domination during the second day of IndyCar testing at Barber Motorsport Park on Tuesday by setting the fastest time once again.

Will Power, Penske-Chevrolet. (Photo: LAT / IndyCar)

Power was able to clock a fastest time of 1m07.0608, which is more than 0.6 seconds faster than the one previously set on Monday. Once again, the session was again shortened by mist and cold conditions.

Justin Wilson (Dale Coyne Racing) and Juan-Pablo Montoya (Team Penske). (Photo: LAT / IndyCar)

Justin Wilson (Dale Coyne Racing) was second in a Honda-powered Dallara while IndyCar champion Scott Dixon (Ganassi) ended-up in third.

Takuma Sato (AJ Foyt) and Ryan Briscoe (Ganassi) completed the top 5 of the day.

Ryan Briscoe, Ganassi-Chevrolet. (Photo: LAT / IndyCar)

Pos  Driver  Team/Engine  Time Gap  Laps
1. Will Power  Penske/Chevy  1m07.0608s  62
2. Justin Wilson   Coyne/Honda  1m07.0646s  +0.0038s   51
3. Scott Dixon  Ganassi/Chevy  1m07.0791s  +0.0183s  59
4. Takuma Sato  Foyt/Honda   1m07.3314s  +0.2706s  57
5. Ryan Briscoe  Ganassi/Chevy   1m07.3705s   +0.3097s   48
6. Helio Castroneves  Penske/Chevy  1m07.4004s   +0.3396s  54
7. Ryan Hunter-Reay   Andretti/Honda   1m07.4495s  +0.3887s  56
8. James Hinchcliffe  Andretti/Honda   1m07.4639s   +0.4031s   60
9. Juan Pablo Montoya   Penske/Chevy   1m07.4764s  +0.4156s   61
10. Simon Pagenaud   Schmidt/Honda   1m07.5235s  +0.4627s  72
11. Tony Kanaan  Ganassi/Chevy   1m07.6126s  +0.5518s   59
12. Jack Hawksworth  Herta/Honda  1m07.6542s  +0.5934s  64
13. Charlie Kimball  Ganassi/Chevy   1m07.7064s  +0.6456s  73
14. Sebastien Bourdais   KV/Chevy   1m07.7118s  +0.6510s  67
15. Marco Andretti  Andretti/Honda  1m07.7942s  +0.7334s   71
16. Carlos Munoz  Andretti/Honda  1m07.9437s  +0.8829s   79
17. Sebastian Saavedra   KV/Chevy   1m07.9736s  +0.9128s   50
18. Josef Newgarden   Fisher/Honda  1m08.0757s  +1.0149s  47
19. Graham Rahal  Rahal/Honda   1m08.0833s  +1.0225s  62
20. Mikhail Aleshin   Schmidt/Honda   1m08.1970s  +1.1362s  15
21. Mike Conway  Carpenter/Chevy  1m08.2169s  +1.1561s  70
22. Oriol Servia  Rahal/Honda   1m08.3943s  +1.3335s  51

The IndyCar Series has announced that it will bring safety updates for its DW12 chassis focusing mainly on improved driver protection in side impacts.

This will be made possible through the addition of carbon fibre panels to both the exterior and interior of the cockpit.

This will supplement the Xylon anti-intrusion panels that were introduced over six years ago. This should increase the chassis' side impact integrity by 60 per cent.
Also, a carbon fibre reinforcement ring is being added to increase the structural integrity of the cockpit opening, and the headrests have been modified to reduce the helmet buffeting effect on road and street courses.

Other changes will include a switch from carbon to engineered plastic foam for the panels located outside the drivers' thighs, and the road course rear wheel pods have been strengthened.

The upgrades add around 10 pounds to the rolling weight of the chassis, and will be required for all cars entered in this year's Indianapolis 500.

An IndyCar statement said that power steering is still being considered for the future.

From press release

Three-time NASCAR Canadian Tire Series' champion Scott Steckly is pleased to announce that he has accepted Parachute's invitation to return in 2014 as a judge in the annual IS IT WORTH IT campaign.

"I am very honoured to be asked to judge this contest again in 2014," said Steckly.

"With two young children of my own who are fast approaching driving age, I see the benefits of programs like this to help educate youth on the dangers associated with distracted driving. As a professional driver I know it takes 100% of your focus to drive a vehicle and that the results from anything less than 100% can be dangerous and even tragic."

Teen driver safety is a serious issue among Canadian youth.

Motor vehicle crashes are the number one killer of Canadian youth, seriously injuring 26% of young drivers. This puts teens at a higher risk of being killed in a motor vehicle than any other age group.

Driver safety focuses on issues such as, but not limited to: distracted driving, driving with excessive speed, careless driving, driving under the influence, etc.

The 2014 contest is underway with the deadline for entries on March 31, 2014. Visit isitworthit.ca for details.

The campaign focus is the Canada-wide multimedia competition, offering more than $2,000 in prizes to the best student-created video public service announcements. The PSA and can be in any creative medium youth would like to use (e.g. acting, clay animation, graphics, stop motion photography, etc.)

After a successful 2011-2012 pilot year, the campaign continued for the 2012-2013 school year under the No Regrets peer leadership program and will continue to do so for 2013-14.

This year funding has been generously provided by Devon Energy (devonenergy.com). Is It Worth It? and No Regrets are programs of Parachute.

MIRAMAS, France -- Although we are told (repeatedly) that the X5 eDrives we're in are "prototypes," we're pleasantly surprised by the fit and finish of the interior, and the seamless performance during our test drive. Over several laps of the BMW-owned Circuit of Miramas -- a 1,168-acre facility that once hosted the French Grand Prix -- it became clear that this was probably the best X5 yet. The telltale camouflage cladding was the only clue that it wasn't a production-ready vehicle.

With its release date set for some time in 2015, there's still a year left for improvement.


What is the 2015 BMW X5 eDrive PHEV?
The 2015 BMW X5 eDrive is a prototype Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) version of BMW's midsize utility vehicle, and the first of their mainstream lineup to get the technology developed with the i3 and i8 vehicles. The plug-in parallel hybrid is also the first X5 to feature a 4-cylinder engine.

Under the cargo floor is a lithium battery pack. Although hybrid technology tends to be heavy, the X5 PHEV has several aerodynamic features to compensate for the extra 250-300kg. Aside from the reshaped exterior, the 2015 BMW X5 PHEV features "air curtains" which help prevent turbulence by redirecting air around the wheel wells through special vents, valves, and active grill shutters that close at slower speeds.

2015 BMW X5 eDrive PHEV Price and Specs
Based on the third-generation BMW X5, the 2015 eDrive PHEV is powered by a 245 hp, 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, and a 70kW/90 hp electric motor. Its electric-only range of 30km should suffice for most European commuters -- Canadians with their longer average commutes will probably have to rely on the combustion motor kicking in more often. The lithium-ion battery pack can be charged via standard 240V outlets in three or four hours, and half that through a wall-mounted fast charger.

The gasoline 4-banger is mounted low in the engine bay, behind the front axles, for excellent balance and a low centre of gravity. The integration of electric motor and ZF 8-speed automatic transmission does away with the need of a torque convertor, and the advantage is quicker response and weight savings.

The target fuel economy rating of 3.8L/100km will make the 2015 BMW X5 eDrive PHEV one of the most fuel-efficient utility vehicles on the market, while offering SUV practicality and the ability to sprint from 0-100 km in under 7 seconds.

The 2015 BMW X5 eDrive is a prototype Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) version of BMW's midsize utility vehicle. (Photo: BMW)

Driving the 2015 X5 BMW X5 eDrive PHEV
Over the looping circuit of the Miramas test track, we drove the 2015 BMW X5 eDrive PHEV during pure electric and combined operation. In "Max eDrive" the PHEV operates on electric power only until the pedal is pressed to the floor. There's an excellent transition between power modes, with none of the telltale shuddering when the combustion unit kicks in. You can opt to travel on gasoline alone and preserve battery power should you choose.

Thanks to the low-mounted 4-cylinder (its placement behind the front axles effectively makes this a front, mid-engine vehicle) the 2015 BMW X5 eDrive PHEV has a 50:50 weight distribution and a much snappier cornering ability than expected.

Just like the regular X5, the PHEV has three drive settings to choose from: Eco Pro, Comfort or Sport that remaps throttle and shift response accordingly. In "Sport," the PHEV is responsive enough to be genuinely fun on the track.

A display screen shows which power source is being used, and also charts the flow of regeneration. BMW's xDrive AWD system distributes torque between all four wheels, but it's an unlikely candidate for off-roading. However, the PHEV should have the same 3,500kg tow rating as the conventional X5.

Another interesting piece of fuel-saving technology is the proactive drive system, which using Navigation and on-board sensors, anticipates the drive route ahead and automatically selects the transmission's appropriate gear.

You can opt to travel on gasoline alone and preserve battery power should you choose. (Photo: BMW)

Inside and Out of the 2015 BMW X5 eDrive PHEV
There's not much to differentiate the PHEV's cabin from the rest of the X5 models, other than a couple of buttons on the centre console (covered with black electrical tape during our test) and the hybrid display screens. The battery pack eats into rear storage space somewhat -- but in a visual comparison between the PHEV and regular variant the load floor looks only slightly higher.

From what we could see under all the camo tape, the 2015 X5 eDrive doesn't really look that much different from the gas-powered SUV, other than the plug-in port on the front fender. Production models will probably feature bespoke rims and the "iBlue" trim developed for the BMW i brand.

From what we could see under all the camo tape, the 2015 X5 eDrive doesn't really look that much different from the gas-powered SUV. (Photo: BMW)

Comparing the 2015 BMW X5 eDrive PHEV
As BMW's first plug-in variant of their regular, mainstream lineup, the X5 eDrive is an important vehicle for the automaker. It faces stiff competition from Audi's Q7 E-Tron plug-in hybrid, also arriving next year, while the Lexus RX450h could also be considered a competitor.

Two engine fires that resulted from a loose connecting rod that damaged the crankcase and led to oil leakage have prompted Porsche to replace the engines of all 911 GT3 vehicles from the 2014 model year.

Overall, 785 Porsche customers are affected in Canada. All of them are required to take their car to a local Porsche Centre, which will stay in touch to discuss the further course of action.

No other 911 models or other Porsche vehicles are affected by this recall.

Photo: Porsche

From GMM

German driver Nico Rosberg on Wednesday vowed not to get ahead of himself, despite admitting he likes the taste of Formula 1 dominance.

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel's eight-month string of race wins finally came to an end in Melbourne, where a new dawn for the sport saw Mercedes' Nico Rosberg win by half a minute.

Currently holidaying in Bali with his fiancee Vivian, F1's new winning German said he is expecting to hang on to that sunny feeling in 2014.

"To know that I can keep going for poles and race wins is cool," he told Sport Bild.

"I now know pretty well how Sebastian must have felt last year when he was winning by 30 seconds," said Rosberg.

However, although currently a big step ahead of his likely title rivals like teammate Lewis Hamilton and Vettel, Rosberg insisted he is counting no chickens.

"You can never rule out Red Bull," said the 28-year-old. "I would almost have bet my house after the tests that they would still be in trouble (in Melbourne) but they were stronger than we expected.

"It shows that we cannot sleep," Rosberg warned.

Another problem on the horizon is a likely tense in-house battle with his own Mercedes teammate, Briton Hamilton.

Their relationship, both personal and competitive, goes back to their boyhoods, with Rosberg admitting: "We are not best friends, but we are fine.

"But I'm also aware that the more success we have, the more complicated our relationship will be."

Officially, Tesla's marketing efforts have yet to include commercials. However, back in November, a group of young graduates spent $1,500 to create a short video advertisement promoting the famous electric luxury sedan.

Titled ''Modern Spaceship,'' the minute-long clip is so good and professional-looking that Tesla shared it on Facebook and Twitter.

Addressing the possibility of hiring the creators, CEO Elon Musk wrote: "I'm confident that Tesla will do something with them."

Source: autonews.com

Following the launch of the S-Class Coupe in Geneva, the 2014 New York International Auto Show will feature the world premiere of the new Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG Coupe, which will go on sale later this year.

Equipped with a 5.5L twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 585 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, the S 63 AMG Coupe delivers more horsepower (+41 hp) and more torque (+74 lb-ft) than the outgoing CL 63 AMG, while shaving 65 kilograms (total of 1,995 kg) through the use of an all-aluminum shell and lightweight lithium-ion battery.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

Equipped with a 5.5L twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 585 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, the S 63 AMG Coupe delivers more horsepower (+41 hp) and more torque (+74 lb-ft) than the outgoing CL 63 AMG, while shaving 65 kilograms (total of 1,995 kg) through the use of an all-aluminum shell and lightweight lithium-ion battery.

With the automaker's 4MATIC all-wheel drive system, the new Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG Coupe sprints from 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. The RWD variant is a bit slower, clocking a time of 4.3 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited at 250 km/h.

Mercedes-Benz will start taking orders for the S 63 AMG 4MATIC Coupe in April, while non-4MATIC models will be available for ordering as of July.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

Volvo is currently studying various advanced technologies designed to improved safety including systems that recognize a driver's facial expression and state to adjust the car accordingly in emergency situations.

Photo: Volvo

An infrared sensor on the dashboard monitors aspects such as the direction the driver is looking in, how open their eyes are (indicating the level of fatigue), as well as their head position and angle. Infrared light is just outside the wavelengths that the human eye can see, which means that the person behind the wheel doesn't notice it at all.

By monitoring eye movements, said sensor would also be able to adjust both interior and exterior lighting to follow the direction in which the driver is looking. Likewise, the vehicle could adjust the driver's seat settings or activate safety systems such as collision warning with full auto brake or lane keeping assist.

Photo: Volvo

The technology is already installed in test vehicles. Volvo Cars is also conducting research together with partners including Chalmers University of Technology and Volvo AB to identify effective methods for detecting tiredness and inattention.

British driver Dean Stoneman, member of the Marussia F1 Team's Driver Development Programme, returns to action this year in the GP3 Series with Marussia Manor Racing.

This year will mark Stoneman's full time single-seater comeback since his recovery from life-threatening cancer. 

The 2010 Formula 2 champion starred in his first F1 Test with Williams but shortly afterwards was diagnosed as being in the advanced stages of the illness. 

After a long battle to recovery, his remarkable comeback was sealed with a podium finish in his first GP3 race at the final round of the 2013 championship. His obvious talent, coupled with incredible determination, marks him out as a strong contender for the 2014 title.

The Marussia F1 Team will again offer the most successful Marussia Manor Racing driver of the GP3 season the opportunity to test its Formula 1 car.

Marussia GP3 single-seater in Abu Dhabi, 2013. (Photo: WRi2)

It looks like Audi is about to expand its portfolio once again, this time with plug-in hybrid variants of the A6, A8, and Q7.

Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, head of the R&D department at Audi, confirmed to Indian Autos Blog that these new models will soon join the rest of the lineup. When exactly? He wouldn't say.

The next-generation Audi Q7, scheduled for 2015, will likely benefit from the new plug-in hybrid technology.

No word yet on global availability.

Source: autoblog.com

Enter our Facebook contest with a chance to win a genuine Toro Rosso Formula 1 team shirt.

It's really easy to participate.

To participate in the draw, participants must visit the Concours / Contest tab on Auto123.com Racing / Course Facebook page by clicking here.


The contest begins Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at noon and ends Tuesday, March 25, 2014 at noon (Montreal time). The contest is open to people 13 and over.

The winner will be drawn on March 25th at 1pm (Montreal time) among all participants. The winner will be contacted via Facebook private message, will have 48 hours to claim the prize and his (her) name will be posted on the Auto123.com Racing / Course Facebook page as soon as he (she) claims his (her) prize.

Good luck!

MIRAMAS, France ― Automakers are under relentless pressure to become ever more efficient at reducing both fuel consumption and emissions ratings. But at the same time, customers expect an increasing level of safety, technology and luxury. This has led to some truly inventive thinking from manufacturers - from the use of lightweight materials, to advanced aerodynamics and drive management systems that can consider the route ahead of you and adapt shift and throttle responses accordingly.

BMW invited us to their Miramas Test Facility in the south of France, to have an advance look at some of their latest technology.

Photo: BMW

CFRP Driveshaft
Lotus's Colin Chapman knew that to "go faster, you add lightness". Carbon Fibre technology is the modern day answer to the eternal quest for lightness: 30 per cent lighter than aluminum and 50 per cent lighter than steel, it's ideal for reducing vehicle weight while adding stiffness.

BMW has had the jump on carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) technology - bringing the costs down by manufacturing it themselves - with the introduction of their all-electric "i" brand. It was only a matter of time before they extended the use of this light, yet incredibly strong material throughout the rest of their lineup.

One of the most interesting items on display was a driveshaft, made entirely from CFRP - which will be introduced for the first time in the new BMW M3 sedan and M4 Coupe.
CFRP is not only extremely light - it's also renowned for its stiffness. The strength allows the driveshaft to be produced in one single component - without the weight-adding centre bearing of most conventional units.

Not only does this reduce the shaft's weight by 40 per cent, the overall reduction in rotating mass results in much quicker engine response and faster acceleration.

Photo: BMW

Engine Thermal Management
Developed for the new i8 electric sports car - engine thermal management will probably spread throughout the rest of the BMW lineup.

Although engines really love to breathe cool air, they function best when their body parts are kept warm. According to BMW's Intelligent Energy Management project leader, engineer Felix Schedel, engines run their most efficiently and economically when hot - yet the nature of most commutes rarely gives them the opportunity to reach that peak temperature. "The warmer the engine is at start up, the better the fuel economy will be".

Their solution was an "engine capsule" or system of various blankets formed from lightweight thermoplastic. Created of varying thicknesses depending on the job they do, these blankets cover the sides, bottom, turbo, exhaust and the gearbox and help delay the engine's cool down.

Turning over the various components in our hands, we could see the heat-reflecting foil of the thinner pieces that wrap the exhaust manifolds, with thicker, spongier capsules that encased the cooler parts of the engine.

Not only does the engine capsule help keep it at optimum temperature but it also helps reduce noise and vibration.

Photo: BMW

Laser Headlights
Between BMW and Audi, it's been a very close race to see who will be the first to market a vehicle boasting laser beam headlights. While Audi recently showed off their laser-equipped Audi Sport Quattro concept car, BMW's i8 electric vehicle will feature optional laser headlamps when it goes into production this year.

In a BMW 7 Series, fitted with prototypes of the laser headlight systems, we drove through the dark French countryside to experience them for ourselves.

The results are dramatic, or should we say "enlightening". Consuming 30 per cent less energy than conventional lighting system, the laser beams have double the range: from 300 meters to 600 meters. Since many auto accidents occur at night, the ability to see further and react quicker is an important boost to safety.

BMW's system features a trio of blue lasers, which are filtered through a block of yellow phosphorous to produce a clear white light. They work with the car's onboard navigation and other systems to detect traffic and heavily settled areas, and automatically move the light to avoid blinding oncoming drivers.

Unfortunately, like Mercedes-Benz and Audi's laser systems, BMW's headlights won't yet meet North America's strict regulations.

Photo: BMW

Predictive Drivetrain Management
Since 2012, BMW has been working with its on-board navigation system to create the most fuel-efficient route possible. Predicting the road ahead, the system pre-prepares the drivetrain, so that the transmission is already in the correct gear before reaching a turn or stop and thus saving fuel.

Now they're taking it a step further. Integrating on-board cameras into the system, Predictive Drivetrain Management can sense slower moving cars ahead, and will downshift the transmission in preparation for overtaking.

On the Miramas test track, we sampled the prototype system in a BMW 5-series equipped with dash-mounted iPads displaying vehicle proximity and transmission activity. On-board cameras fore and aft help in both frontal collision avoidance, and rear blind spot monitoring.

As we followed a 3-Series around the looping circuit, the system would recognize when we drew close enough to pass, and hold the transmission in gear.

Predictive drivetrain management helps increase safety- but can also decrease fuel consumption with its more efficient transmission behaviour.

Photo: BMW

Hertz Global Holdings has trimmed its rental fleet and expects to sell more of those vehicles, when they're retired from service, directly to consumers at company-owned dealerships, its CEO said today.

Volkswagen, the most prolific seller of diesel cars in the American market, said it will have the newest iteration of its TDI engine ready for U.S. sale at the start of model year 2015, marking a continued effort to popularize diesel with Americans.

BMW and Toyota engineers are continuing to discuss sharing a platform to underpin new roadster models for each automaker to share, just-auto.com has learned.