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Mar
10th

Automotive News’ Keith Crain gets Hall of Fame honors

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Keith Crain, who in 43 years at the helm of Automotive News has grilled hundreds of top executives, broken some of the industry's biggest stories and served as one of its toughest critics and strongest supporters, has been elected to the Automotive...
Mar
10th

What’s an FandI pro worth?

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On average, FandI managers earn fatter paychecks than people in any other key dealership position except the general manager, according to the 2013 NADA Dealership Workforce Study Industry Report. Some dealers are beginning to rethink that.
Mar
10th

Lexus, Subaru rank high for responding to internet leads

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An annual study found that 21 of 33 auto brands improved their responsiveness to internet leads last year.
Mar
10th

Ford of Europe works its way back

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After Ford of Europe completes its current round of plant closings, it will bring manufacturing to 80 percent of capacity.
Mar
10th

Feds’ focus: Safety notice or sales pitch?

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Federal regulators, law-enforcement agencies and consumer advocates are cracking down on some dealership service mailings, which they say are deceptive and often illegal.
Mar
10th

Forecasts add a dab of caution

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Here's a sure sign that executives feel a lot less giddy about prospects for new-vehicle sales than they did a year ago.
Mar
10th

Inside Mazda’s Salamanca factory

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Staff Reporter Hans Greimel was on the ground at the opening of Mazda's Salamanca plant and captured images of the technology and workers at the plant.
Mar
10th

The early warnings that GM missed

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For years, as drivers complained that their Cobalts and Ions were stalling repeatedly, GM treated it as a matter of customer satisfaction, not safety.
Mar
10th

Audi A3 gatherings target young, hip bacon lovers

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Audi is planning blowout parties April 3 in New York and Los Angeles to mark the launch of the Audi A3, and it wants all of its dealers to throw their own get-togethers that night.
Mar
10th

Daring design is the norm at Geneva show

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Automakers are looking for a healthier European market this year, and their new products reflect the confidence.
Mar
10th

William Clay Ford Sr. remembered for 57-year legacy at Ford Motor

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William Clay Ford Sr., who took driving lessons at age 10 from his grandfather Henry Ford and once flew with legendary aviator Charles Lindbergh, is being remembered for helping steer Ford Motor Co. for more than 57 years. He died Sunday at age 88.
Mar
10th

Japanese automakers march into Mexico, set up export base

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When three-tiered car haulers packed with Mazda3s pulled out of the dusty rail yard in Mexico last month, they represented the latest volley in a south-of-the-border blitz by Japanese automakers.
Mar
10th

Rally: Sebastien Ogier won a tough Rally Mexico

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From press release

The Frenchman headed a Volkswagen 1-2 finish, beating Jari-Matti Latvala by 1min 12.6sec to take a three point lead in the standings over his Finnish colleague.

Thierry Neuville claimed a maiden podium for Hyundai after a dramatic finale when he twice stopped on the final road section to the León finish to top up his car's leaking radiator - with beer provided by rally sponsor Corona at the interim podium after the final stage!

Ogier, second in the start order, minimised his time loss on Friday morning's dirty roads before moving ahead with a stunning performance through the long El Chocolate stage in the afternoon when the tracks were cleaner.

WRC Volkswagen Mexico Sebastien Ogier
Sebastien Ogier, Volkswagen, winner in Mexico. (Photo: Volkswagen)

He ended the day 26.1sec clear of Mads Ostberg and when the Norwegian retired with broken rear left suspension after hitting a bank in Saturday's opening test, Ogier was in the clear. He reeled off five consecutive stage wins, before pacing himself to the finish, claiming fastest time in the final live TV Power Stage to earn maximum bonus points.

“It was the perfect week, a victory in the rally and the Power Stage,” said Ogier. “I came here very angry after a small mistake in Sweden and that's the best way to restart my winning ways in the championship. Now we are looking forward to continuing like that.”

Having endured the worst of Friday's slippery roads after starting first, Latvala's chances of victory were slim. However, he too kept his time loss to less than expected and climbed from third to second after Ostberg's demise.


WRC Volkswagen Sebastien Ogier
Photo: Volkswagen

Neuville was faultless on the first gravel rally for the i20 car. As others fell by the wayside, he kept out of trouble to climb the leaderboard and deserved his slice of luck to finish 4min 16.0sec behind Latvala after 22 stages and almost 400km of action.

Elfyn Evans claimed a career-best fourth in a Ford Fiesta RS on his first appearance in Mexico, 1min 20.7sec behind Neuville. Under strict instructions to drive for a finish, the Welshman was also flawless and was another to benefit from the troubles of others.



Mar
10th

Gerhard Berger injured in skiing fall

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From GMM

Former F1 driver Gerhard Berger has crashed whilst skiing in the Kitzbuhel district in his native Austria.

Ten weeks into Michael Schumacher's coma, Austrian reports including the Kronen Zeitung newspaper said former Ferrari and McLaren driver Berger was hospitalised late last week after crashing at the Skiwelt Wilder Kaiser Brixental resort.

APA news agency said the 54-year-old was released from the St Johann hospital on Sunday, where he had been airlifted from the scene with a broken upper arm and operated on.

"He's very good. He is on the road to recovery," a hospital spokesperson said.

Reports said Berger tripped on a forest road and struck a concrete drainage pipe.


Mar
10th

F1: Mika Salo says Ferrari sandbagged in winter testing

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From GMM

Ferrari is yet to reveal the full potential of its 2014 car.

That is the view of former F1 driver Mika Salo, who raced a few times for the fabled Italian team in 1999 and is now a pundit on Finnish television.

Many believe that, in the 2014 pecking order, Ferrari trails most of the Mercedes-powered teams, but 47-year-old Salo is not so sure.

"Ferrari has been pretty much hidden," he told Finnish radio Nova.

"When you look at the sector times for the tests, some are very good but some are ridiculously bad. They are covering up their pace and no one really knows where they are," added Mika Salo.

F1 Ferrari F14-T Kimi Raikkonen
Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari F14-T. (Photo: WRi2)



Mar
10th

F1: Every car may retire in Melbourne

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From GMM

It is possible every single car will fail to finish Sunday's season-opening Australian grand prix.

That is the claim of Roberto Dalla, the head of F1 electronics supplier Magneti Marelli.

He told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport that the electronics of the cars have become so much more complicated in 2014, without a corresponding increase in the amount of pre-season testing.

"Last year, there was a single unit made by McLaren that was the brain of every aspect. But now it only has control of a portion, and the underlying challenge is to be able to operate like an orchestra the engine, the turbo, the recovery systems," said Roberto Dalla.

"To find the right solutions will take another two to three months," he claimed.

"Doing it during three winter sessions with only 12 days in total was a real mission impossible. In Melbourne, it could happen that all the cars do not see the finish line, because every team experienced serious problems in testing," Roberto Dalla added.

F1 Red Bull RB10 Renault
Red Bull RB10-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)


Mar
10th

F1: Owners worried Ecclestone’s demise could hurt F1

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From GMM

F1's owners are scared Bernie Ecclestone's demise could hurt the sport.

That is the claim of the diminutive Ecclestone, who remains the F1 chief executive and 'supremo' even amid a corruption scandal that could see him jailed.

The 83-year-old likened his situation to that of former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, whose retirement last year coincided with a decline in the great football team's form.

"I have got a sneaking feeling our board are probably football enthusiasts and saw what happened when they got rid of that guy from Manchester United," Ecclestone told F1 business journalist Christian Sylt, writing in the Sunday Express.

Meanwhile, McLaren's returning supremo Ron Dennis has said he does not think Christian Horner - reportedly Ecclestone's personal pick - should succeed the 83-year-old.

"Personally, and I have nothing against either Christian or any other team principal," Dennis told British Sky television, "I don't think it would be a wise decision to put any former team principal into the position of running formula one.

"There's too much conflict," he insisted.


Mar
10th

2015 Porsche Macan First Impressions

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LEIPZIG, Germany -- One minute we're straddling a 30-degree banked granite incline, stones pinging off the car's undercladding, the next we're chasing a Porsche 911 around a FIA-certified racetrack featuring corners modeled after some of the world's most challenging circuits.

All while driving the same vehicle.


What is the 2015 Porsche Macan?
The Macan is Porsche's entry into one of the most rapidly growing segments in the automotive market: the luxury compact crossover. Over the last half-dozen years, the segment has exploded, selling well over a million vehicles globally -- and shows no sign of slowing down.

With the Macan, Porsche is well poised to take advantage of that growth, and the company predicts it will surpass the full-size Cayenne to become their top-selling model. A turbo-diesel variant will also be released in other markets, but is still undergoing emissions-related development before arriving in Canada.

There's a misconception that this is a re-badged Audi Q5 -- it's not. While parts-sharing with the mother company helps keep costs down, the Macan and Q5 share only the floor pan, and some interior components (roughly 30% in all).

2015 Porsche Macan Price and Specs

When the 2015 Porsche Macan arrives in Canada in late spring, it will be available in two trim levels: the Macan S and the Macan Turbo.

Starting at $54,300, the Macan S features a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 producing 340 hp, 339 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 7-speed, dual-clutch PDK, and Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel-drive. The "S" model sprints from 0-100km/hr in 5.0 seconds.

The Macan Turbo, at $82,200, boasts a twin-turbo, 3.6L V6 with an output of 400 hp/406 lb-ft of torque and can blast from 0-100km/hr in as little as 4.4 seconds.

Standard on the Turbo, our "S" models came loaded with performance options: Porsche Active Suspension Management $1,560 (PASM), Porsche Torque Vectoring $1,700 (PTV Plus), Sport Chrono Package $1,480 (Sport Plus and Launch Control) and Air Suspension $3,140.

2015 Porsche Macan 3/4 view
The Macan is Porsche's entry into one of the most rapidly growing segments in the automotive market: the luxury compact crossover. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Driving the 2015 Porsche Macan
For sports-car lovers who've been forced to compromise, there is no finer handling crossover on the market. On the autobahn, the 2015 Porsche Macan accelerates with the same linear thrust as its sports-car stablemates. While it may not stick to the road with the same suction-cup thrust as the 911 Turbos, there's very little body roll. In fact, it's easy to forget you're not in a coupe.

Bushwhacking in Off-Road Mode through several acres of rugged cuts and steep embankments, the 2015 Porsche Macan proved to be a capable off-roader, although with less clearance than the Cayenne. When equipped with air suspension, the Macan gains an extra 2" clearance.

However, it's on-track that the Macan will make believers out of SUV-haters. Dynamically, the Macan is tight and predictable with the sort of snappy response more suited to a Cayman than a 1,916kg utility vehicle. While the steering lacks the telepathic feedback of the 911, it's perfectly accurate. Switch to Sports Plus mode, and the PDK rips through gears with a familiar melodic Porsche bellow.

2015 Porsche Macan rear 3/4 view
For sports-car lovers who've been forced to compromise, there is no finer handling crossover on the market. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Inside and Out of the 2015 Porsche Macan

The Macan's compact size, wide stance, and much lower height give it the look of a bulkier 911 rather than a scaled-down Cayenne. Powerful rear haunches are enhanced by wider wheels, while skinny treads up front sharpen the steering response. Flanks are creased with what Porsche refers to as "sideblades," visually slenderizing and lowering the 2015 Macan and furthering the illusion of a squatting sports car.

Turbo models are distinguished by the signature red callipers and turbo-badging on the rump, and there's available carbon-fibre trim to smarten up those sideblades. Aside from its compact size, the easiest way to tell the 2015 Porsche Macan from the Cayenne is its slick new clamshell hood whose clean, uninterrupted length streamlines the nose.

While the 2015 Porsche Macan moves into the entry-level spot in Porsche's lineup, there's no cost cutting evident in the cabin. It's a typical Porsche environment, with the familiar bank of Carrera GT-inspired switchgear. While un-optioned vehicles are upholstered in Alcantara, our testers were all fitted with first-rate leather sports seats. Dash, doors, and console are stitched leather, and the steering wheel is lifted from the 918 supercar.

The shortened roofline really eats into rear headspace. Still, I rode back there quite comfortably and with plenty of knee room. The seats split 40/20/40 and fold down for a nearly flat load floor.

2015 Porche Macan cabin
While the 2015 Porsche Macan moves into the entry-level spot in Porsche's lineup, there's no cost cutting evident in the cabin. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Comparing the 2015 Porsche Macan
While Porsche seems confident that there won't be any scavenging of Cayenne sales to the Macan, they're bound to lose a few once this excellent crossover hits the market.

So, who will buy the 2015 Porsche Macan? Consumers who've also looked at the Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLK, BMW X3 or Range Rover Evoque are a given. However, the Macan is also the answer to the driver who always wanted a 911 or Cayman, but whose family obligations insist on more utility. Or, like a friend of mine, who waited until the kids were grown to buy his 911, but he (and his family) can no longer fit in one. For him, the Macan is the perfect solution.

Mar
10th

NASCAR: Las Vegas proved new Chase rules let racers race (+video)

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This week's NASCAR Sprint Cup race proved that the new Chase rules allowed both Brad Keselowski, who won, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., who finished second after running out fuel, to race each other to the finish regardless of points.

As Earnhardt noted the new championship format system allows you to go for broke pretty much like you guys did today.

"I think everybody has seen that over the last couple of weeks," Earnhardt said "that this format has definitely allowed teams to gamble like we have."



When Keselowski won his Sprint Cup Championship in 2012 he and crew chief, Paul Wolfe, took big risks. That was the only way to wrest the title from Jimmie Johnson.

And it appears that's how racing will be this year.

"You know, I think if anything it (referring to the new Chase format) actually lends itself to better racing," said Keselowski. "That chance that Dale and Stevie (Letarte - Junior's crew chief) took with the 88 car was way out there, and it was a good, risky move on their part because they had nothing to lose because of this format.

"I think that shows some of the opportunities that come up and how they can be stressfree days, and I'm looking forward to being able to take those same opportunities, because believe me, I'm not scared to take them, and I know Paul's not, so look out.  It's going to be a lot of fun."

Ironically, the race was determined by fuel mileage, but it didn't appear to be because Earnhardt raced hard to the end despite knowing that he'd be about three-quarters of a lap short.

This year's Daytona 500 came to the media center looking at a can of his soda sponsor's product and said that the 16 ounce aluminum can represented the amount of fuel he needed to hold off Keselowski for the win. And, despite his obvious disappointment it was not overwhelming.

"It's nice to have that freedom to do the things that we did today, even though we knew our odds weren't good. We really shouldn't have made it, and we didn't, but we got to try because of the new system. So yeah, I think it's pretty cool," Earnhardt added.

NASCAR Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski. (Photo: NASCAR)

Back in the early days of NASCAR one of the worst things one driver could say about his rivals was he was a "points racer."

Due to television covering the series viewers and team's alike had come to view the season title above winning individual races. And, in post-race interviews, we've come to hear and hate the finishers below first saying "but it was a good points day."

Under the new Chase format wins count more than points. Racers now race each other for the wins. And that's a good thing.


Mar
10th

F1: Felipe Massa says he lived good and very bad moments at Ferrari

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From GMM

Brazilian Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa has admitted he has been "impressed" with his switch to Mercedes power for 2014.

Now that he is a member of the Williams-Mercedes team, it is the first time in his F1 career Massa's car is not powered by a Ferrari engine.

"I went to the (Mercedes) factory and I was impressed," Massa is quoted by Italy's La Repubblica.

Massa's last comment suggests that he no longer felt loved at Ferrari.

"I will not speak badly of Ferrari," he insisted. "I was there many years and I lived some beautiful moments. And some very bad ones as well."

F1 Ferrari 150 Italia Felipe Massa
Felipe Massa, Ferrari 150 Italia. (Photo: WRi2)

He does not hide that Hockenheim 2010, when he was told 'Fernando (Alonso) is faster than you', was the low point.

"They did not let me win a race that I deserved," said Massa. "It was not just the team order that hurt me, but the fact that I had come back from a very bad accident. It would have been very important to me."

Asked if he often behaved 'too loyally' to Ferrari, he admitted: "Yes, maybe I did. But now it's the past and it doesn't matter.

"I remember the wonderful years at Ferrari, and the friendships with many people."


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