Auto News 5

Chevrolet is reportedly raising the U.S. prices for its Corvette Stingray coupe and convertible, including the Z51 package. These hikes won't affect customers who have already placed an order, however.

The company says that demand now far exceeds its initial forecasts, especially when it comes to the Z51, so it had no choice but to sell the Corvette Stingray at a higher price.

In the U.S., the coupe will go from $51,000 to $53,000 (Z51: $57,000), while the convertible will jump to $58,000 from $56,000 (Z51: $62,000).

No word yet on whether Canadian prices will be adjusted, too.

Source : corvetteblogger.com

Photo: Chevrolet

While it's not scheduled to go on sale before 2016, the Bentley EXP 9 F concept has already generated 2,000 pre-orders. The company even plans to make a plug-in hybrid variant of its first-ever SUV.

The original prototype has gone through testing in South Africa and will begin winter testing in Northern Europe in April. Volkswagen took care of the design, both inside and out, but sources claim the production model will be less boxy and more "Bentley-like" than the EXP 9 F concept.

As for a possible plug-in hybrid, it should be ready for 2017, with an estimated EV range of 32-40 kilometres. While technical specs remain an obvious mystery, look for a large and potent engine ― in typical Bentley fashion ― to supply motivation.

Source : autocar.co.uk

Photo: Bentley

During a post-game ceremony for the Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic this past Sunday at BC Place in Vancouver, Honda donated a brand new 2014 CR-V to Make-A-Wish Canada, more specifically its Eastern Ontario division, on behalf of the Ottawa Senators.

The vehicle will be used for daily activities and trips to visit families of Make-A-Wish children.

In 2014, Auto123.com will once again participate in the Make-A-Wish Quebec 48-Hour Ride. The event will take place at Montreal's Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in September.

Pictured from left to right: Ottawa Senators captain Jason Spezza; NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, Make-A-Wish Canada representative Ross Hetherington, and Senior Manager of Honda Sales James Marchand.

From GMM

Ron Dennis is back to business at McLaren F1 team and he expects the team to quickly return to its winning form.

Dennis sat down with British journalists and insisted he will get the famous British team out of its 2013 slump and back to winning races "much faster than people imagine".

He would not be drawn on the reported coup to remove the apparently departed Martin Whitmarsh, saying only the matter was "between us".

But he said McLaren in its former guise was "unfit. The people were distracted, they had lost focus."

Dennis said McLaren will initially have no title sponsor early in 2014, but that will change after "a few races".

"We are negotiating with several companies at the moment and I'm optimistic that it will happen sooner than later."

Ron Dennis, McLaren. (Photo: WRi2)

Driver Jenson Button said Dennis' return to the helm, with Eric Boullier the new team boss and a new factory-based F1 CEO yet to be appointed, will push McLaren to succeed again.

"He (Dennis) is quite an unusual character Ron, I have a lot of respect for what he has done in the sport," he said.

"I think everyone is excited, he is looking forward to this challenge and it gives everyone a lot more confidence within the team," Jenson Button added.

The 2015 BMW ALPINA B6 xDrive Gran Coupe will make its North American debut at the 2014 New York Auto Show in April before heading to dealerships later this year. In the U.S., the price is set at $118,225.

Sprinting from 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, the 2015 BMW ALPINA B6 xDrive Gran Coupe uses a 540-horsepower 4.4L twin-turbo ALPINA V8 engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and xDrive all-wheel drive system. Top speed is rated at 198 mph (319 km/h).

Photo: BMW

The 2015 BMW ALPINA B6 xDrive Gran Coupe rides on 21-spoke 20'' wheels, and features LAVALINA leather on the steering wheel. The door panels are adorned with an illuminated ALPINA logo. Buyers can choose between a piano black finish or genuine wood trim.

Photo: BMW

From GMM

The Nurburgring looks to have been sold for between EUR 60 and 70 million.

This week, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone said he had been outbid for the fabled German grand prix venue, having offered "$50 million".

Now, the leading business weekly Wirtschaftswoche reports that Miami-based private equity company HIG Capital was the high bidder, having pledged EUR 60-70m for the circuit, amusement park and nearby hotels.

The report said the Nurburgring trustee had actually wanted a three-digit million sum.

HIG Capital declined to comment.

Asked if the Nurburgring will return to the calendar as scheduled next year, Bernie Ecclestone told Reuters: "It depends who buys it."

On display at the 2014 Geneva Auto Show is an all-electric sports car concept by nanoFLOWCELL called QUANT e-Sportlimousine.

Measuring 5.25 metres in length, 2.20 metres in width, and 1.35 metre in height, it uses four in-wheel motors to sprint from 0-100 km/h in just 2.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 380 km/h, while providing a range of 400-600 kilometres.

The futuristic cockpit of the QUANT e-Sportlimousine features an Android-based infotainment system and offers multiple functions for all occupants. Wood trim and adjustable ambient lighting emphasizes the appeal, not to mention a ridiculously large 1.25m display on the dashboard that makes you feel like sitting in a theatre.

Peak output amounts to 680 kW or 925 horsepower. The battery makes do without precious metals and rare soils for greater environmental performance.

Here is a superb replica of legendary F1 driver Gilles Villeneuve's dark blue and orange helmet. It was made entirely from scratch, starting only with pictures! The artist behind this amazing replica is Luc Sauriol, an accomplished kart racer on the track and also an economist by day.

Gilles Villeneuve, Grand Prix of Canada, 1981 (Photo: René Fagnan)

The Laval native is actually a former Rotax Max Karting World Champion. Two years ago, he decided to start working on a replica of his hero Gilles Villeneuve's helmet.

It was no small undertaking as the French helmet manufacturer GPA stopped production of that particular model 28 years ago. That means no more moulds and no more parts. Of course, some units still exist, but are extremely hard to find and very expensive.

Luc Sauriol's replica of Gilles Villeneuve's helmet. (Photo: René Fagnan)

The only option left to Sauriol was to build everything from scratch, using only pictures from the 1981 season, during which Villeneuve won in Monaco and Spain.

"I did try to build my replica over a GPA motorcycle helmet, which one can still find if you're very lucky," Sauriol later admitted to us.

"But it didn't work. The opening for the eyes had to be narrowed a bit and the fibreglass wouldn't bond with the plastic shell. It was just easier to shape my own mould from as many pictures from the original helmet as I could put my hands on."

Luc Sauriol's replica of Gilles Villeneuve's helmet. (Photo: René Fagnan)

With this, Sauriol was able to build a near perfect fibreglass shell.

Then started a more difficult bit of the process: fabricating all the hardware, like the intercom connector, the visor, the visor mechanism, the rubber trims and of course all the nuts and bolts.

"I often travel to Europe for work and there, I found a British company that manufactures all kinds of custom hardware. I then made a mould for the closing mechanism, out of plastic like the original. I only found one intercom connector which comes from the military air defense. So I made a mould for that too to be able to duplicate it later on."

Gilles Villeneuve, Grand Prix of the Netherlands,1981 (Photo: WRI2)

Sauriol admits the fibreglass shell was relatively quick and easy to make.

"It gets more complicated after that. I take my time so everything fits and works properly. Piecing all the elements together is slow and very demanding."

The result, however, is stunning. Minus the weight of the helmet, everything is absolutely identical to an original. Even the peculiar "U" system that replaced conventional straps for tying the helmet on. Sauriol managed not only to make it, but also to make it work perfectly.

Luc Sauriol's replica of Gilles Villeneuve's helmet. (Photo: René Fagnan)

"I've only made three so far and maybe that's enough. I don't want to get into mass production. I also just completed a replica of Ayrton Senna's 1992 Shoei helmet. Senna and Gilles Villeneuve were two drivers that profoundly touched me, so it's important for me to honour them somehow."

During simultaneous launches in Geneva and Hong Kong, Infiniti revealed the engine that drives the Q50 Eau Rouge concept, which debuted at the NAIAS in Detroit earlier this year. It's a 3.8L twin-turbocharged V6 producing 560 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque.

Eau Rouge, by the way, refers to the world-famous corner at the Formula One track in Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium.

"A car with such pronounced styling treatments demands the very best in terms of high-performance powertrains, which is why we installed this V6 twin-turbocharged, 7-speed combination as an example of what a potential powertrain for the Q50 Eau Rouge may look and sound like," said Johan de Nysschen, president of Infiniti Motor Company Limited.

What's more, Infiniti will expand the Q50 lineup with a new 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that develops 211 horsepower. It will come to China in the spring and Europe in the fall before rolling out to other global markets before the end of the year.

Photo: Infiniti

Photo: Infiniti

From Maritime Pro Stock Tour

Gear up for another exciting season on the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour!

The Maritime Pro Stock Tour is excited to announce Parts for Trucks will return to present the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour in 2014.

Parts for Trucks is the largest distributor of heavy duty truck and trailer parts in Atlantic Canada and has outlets in each of the five Maritime markets the Pro Stock Tour visits.

This is the fourth consecutive season Parts for Trucks will serve as title sponsor for Canada's biggest short track based touring series, with 12 races being contested in all three Maritime provinces.

The season will kick off on Saturday, May 24th at Scotia Speedworld, located just outside of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with the Lucas Oil 100.

"We are excited to have Parts for Trucks return as the title sponsor for 2014." Said Pro Stock Tour General Manager, Ken Cunning.

"Parts for Trucks, as any maritime race fan knows, has been involved in stock car racing for years and with the Tour for all of our 14 years. Their staff are keen supporters and are in attendance at all our stops during the summer. It enhances our reputation to have Parts for Trucks as a member of our team."

"Parts for Trucks is looking forward to another season as the title sponsor for the Maritimes' top racing series,” said Rudi Foster, Vice President of Sale for Parts for Trucks.

“We have 15 locations across Atlantic Canada to serve all of your truck and trailer needs including a brand new service shop in Moncton located in the West Moncton Industrial Park just minutes away from Petty International Raceway. Tour fans have been loyal customers of Parts for Trucks and we are pleased to help present another great season of racing for fans across the region.”

From GMM

Romain Grosjean wasn't his always-smiling self during one dramatic moment at the Bahrain tests last week.

There's nothing really new there as drivers, engineers and team directors often lose their cool under pressure. But in this case, the scene was captured on camera.

Footage has emerged of the Frenchman angrily thumping the tool benches in the Lotus garage as he apparently discussed the new Renault-powered E22's obvious problems with an engineer.


Having sat out the first test at Jerez amid recent financial problems, the extent of Lotus' situation with its troubled 2014 car became clear only in Bahrain.

"Of course," Frenchman Grosjean is quoted by Speed Week, "we are still far away from a good performance.

"We need to understand the brake-by-wire system, the new power unit and charging the batteries and in these areas, it doesn't look so good," he admitted.

"But together with Renault, we will work in the next two weeks until Melbourne to improve."

Asked how he will keep his ever-present smile on his face early in 2014, Grosjean answered: "Think of my son."

From GMM

Red Bull is "slaving around the clock" to solve its problems ahead of next weekend's season-opening Australian grand prix.

It is emerging that, amid the reigning world champions' obvious problems with engine partner Renault and the new turbo V6 'power unit', the actual basic design of the Adrian Newey-penned RB10 is sound.

Lewis Hamilton calls the car "stunning", and McLaren's Jenson Button thinks it is also fast.

"I was with (Daniel) Ricciardo for several laps and he couldn't pass me on the straights," said the Briton at the end of pre-season testing in Bahrain.

"He passed me on the outside of turn 11, which is high speed -- I've never seen anything like that before," Jenson Button is quoted by Spain's Marca sports newspaper.

The Red Bull RB10 in Bahrain. (Photo: WRi2)

Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko said the team's normal development processes are also working well ahead of the new season.

"Our measurements have shown that the new parts we were bringing worked as desired, making the car better," he is quoted by Germany's Auto Bild.

"The fact that it did not look good on the track was due to the engine software," he revealed.

Helmut Marko said Red Bull and Renault are working hard together in the remaining days until Melbourne.

"We have so much to do," he told Bild newspaper, "especially the guys responsible for the software who will now slave around the clock on 18 hour shifts. But whoever can win together, can also work hard together"

Mercedes is the clear early-season title favourite, but the German squad's Toto Wolff is not writing off Red Bull.

"I am sure they will come back," he is quoted by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper. "The only question is when.

"In our view, hopefully as late as possible," Wolff is also quoted by APA news agency.

Those on the outside, however, are less sure Red Bull can recover quickly.

"I think a Mercedes will win the title," former F1 driver Timo Glock told T-online.

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone is not unhappy his friend Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull are struggling, telling Bild newspaper the fans need a new winner to make the sport "exciting" again.

He added: "Red Bull are not going to run away just because they don't win everything again."

From press release

After showing encouraging competitiveness and speed, and with ultra-quick adaptation to a brand new race car, Montreal's Alex Tagliani is ready for his next TUDOR United SportsCar Championship assignment.

Driving one of Paul Gentilozzi's RSR entries, "Tag" will take on one of the oldest sports car races in North America, the 62nd Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, fueled by Fresh from Florida, March 15th.

To prepare for the second event in the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar championship at the extremely challenging course in Sebring Florida, Tagliani will run a full test with the RSR team in the No. 08 Automaxusa.com Oreca FLM 09 at Sebring on March 8.

Alex Tagliani (Photo: Tagliani Autosport)

Despite having never driven the car before arriving at the Series' previous event, the Rolex 24 at Daytona back in January, "Tag" got comfortable immediately and qualified fifth in the Prototype Challenge class. The Canadian set a fast lap time of 1m42:187.

So Tagliani, the 2011 Indianapolis 500 pole winner, is very excited about what they should be able to do at Sebring in the test and the race, based on their speed and numbers at Daytona.

"We have a good car and a team capable of winning every race. We have a pretty full test plan in preparation for the Sebring race. It's great to have the Daytona times as a base, but we feel we still have room for improvement", Tagliani commented.

Sharing the driving duties in the No. 08 RSR Oreca with Alex for the Twelve Hours of Sebring will be 2013 Driver's Championship runner-up and fellow-Canadian Chris Cumming of Vancouver, and Rusty Mitchell of Midland Texas.

The RSR team's sister car, the No. 09 Lino'spresso Oreca FLM09, anchored by fellow former ChampCar driver Bruno Junqueira, was also very quick at Daytona. Tagliani believes with the information and feedback between the two teams, they have a definite chance to win a very tough and physically demanding race.

"Working with my old friend Bruno on the RSR team is a great situation. We know each other so well. We are two very competitive drivers. Since both team cars are identical, we can really gain an advantage when we debrief together and exchange information and ideas. That was huge for me getting comfortable in the RSR car at Daytona since I had no time in the seat before practise. At Sebring, we take all we learned at Daytona into the pre-race test March 8 that should mean even better car preparation and results in the Twelve Hours on the 15th, so I'm very excited about this next run with RSR!", Tagliani offered.

The Twelve Hours of Sebring goes green Saturday March 15th at 10:30 AM eastern, and is checkered 12 Hours later at 10:30 PM. Tagliani says starting in daylight and finishing in the dark makes this race and this race course one of the toughest in the sport!

"More than a few drivers with some of the best teams in sports car racing will tell you the Twelve Hours of Sebring is one of the most gruelling endurances races on any schedule. The 17 corner full track is very bumpy and extremely challenging because you're turning a lot. It's very tough on drivers and equipment. Not only that, it's not as brightly lit as Daytona. You have to be able to navigate at speed with over 60 cars out there in some pretty dark sections relying totally on your headlights! I have experience testing on the shorter "Indy" portion of the Sebring track, and I will be familiar with that section of the circuit. But the addition full-track distance adds almost a full minute to the lap times. It's longer, tougher!",Tagliani added.

From GMM

Susie Wolff has revealed that if she ever has children, she will quit motor racing.

The wife of Mercedes boss Toto, 31-year-old Briton Wolff has stepped up her role with the Williams team this year.

She will get two chances to drive the FW36 in the Friday morning practice sessions at grands prix, at Silverstone and Hockenheim in July.

"Competing in a formula one race has always been the ambition," she told the Telegraph, "and as of last week I'm one big step closer. I just need the chance. And I'll do everything I can to make it happen."

In the male-dominated world of motor racing, Wolff has struggled at times to be taken seriously.

Some think her burgeoning role at Williams smacks of little more than marketing.

"There are far more deserving cases, male and female, who would merit the chance to drive in an F1 practice session," Simon Arron, editor at Motor Sport magazine, is quoted by London's Times newspaper.

"Whether this is tied into any marketing programme, I don't know, but she doesn't have a record which suggests she should be near F1."

Susie Wolff aboard the Williams-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

Former F1 race winner David Coulthard, however, said Wolff is definitely a top-level driver, having been beaten by her "more than once" in the German touring car series DTM.

"Does she have that last bit of speed to make it as an F1 driver? I absolutely don't know," said Coulthard, a fellow Scot. "She will have her opportunity and if she delivers, she will continue. If she doesn't she won't -- and we'll all have the answer."

For how long Susie Wolff will continue her racing career, however, is not clear.

She admits that when the urge to become a mother overtakes her need for speed, she will quit.

"I will never race again once that (starting a family) happens," said Wolff.

"I want to have kids and I know that when I do have them I have to have finished with this. Because I could never put myself at risk knowing that there is a child at home relying on me. At the moment I love my life but I think that there will come a point where the need for a child will be greater than my need to race, so I'm just waiting for that moment," she admitted.

Meanwhile, the correspondent for the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat, Heikki Kulta, says he is in London for the launch on Thursday of the new Martini-branded livery of Williams' 2014 car.

BMW confirmed the rumored new X4 Sports Activity Coupe, sort of a smaller BMW X6.

As promised, Volkswagen brought the pint-sized T-ROC concept to the Geneva Motor Show this week.

Hyundai previewed the next Sonata in a teaser photo on Wednesday.

The 2015 BMW Alpina B6 xDrive Gran Coupe was revealed on Wednesday. The new super-coupe will make its North American debut next month at the New York auto show and go on sale immediately after.

Subaru's 'green' concept vehicle dubbed Viziv 2 -- short for 'vision for innovation' -- hints at a new crossover and possible replacement for the outgoing Tribeca.

Since its introduction into NASCAR in the 1960s, the 426 Hemi has been a popular powerplant for power-hungry customers across the