Auto News 5

Cadillac plans to open several test-drive centers, stand-alone service facilities and pop-up storefronts across western Europe. The idea is to expose prospective customers to Cadillac products without forcing them to visit a dealership.

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone admitted on Friday that F1's new-generation cars are actually louder than he first thought.

The F1 chief executive did not attend any of the pre-season tests or the season opening Australian grand prix, where a big controversy about the milder tones of the turbo V6 engines kicked off.

"It sounds terrible on the TV," Ecclestone told Britain's Sky Sports in the Sepang pitlane during the second practice session on Friday.

He was standing with Ong Beng Seng, the Singaporean magnate who is a leading figure in the city-state's highly-popular night race.

"Mr Ong was complaining about the noise," Ecclestone revealed, referring to the Singapore grand prix chief.

"We were just saying, I think it's a little louder than we thought. If we could get it up a little bit more than this, then it would be alright," he added.

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes W05, Sepang. (Photo: WRi2)

In the wake of Australian promoter Ron Walker's harsh critique, Ecclestone said on Friday that "all the promoters" are also complaining to him.

"We will have to have a reduction in fees!" Mr Ong laughed.

More seriously, however, Ong revealed that Ecclestone met with a Singaporean government minister on Thursday, because "We are a city race, and we must have the 'buzz' with the noise."

83-year-old Ecclestone, however, suggested he was somewhat relieved to have actually heard the turbo V6s in action for the first time on Friday.

"People said you couldn't hear anything, (but) it's not true," he said.

The first practice sessions for the Malaysian Grand Prix took place today in the heat of the Sepang circuit and saw Mercedes AMG's Nico Rosberg capture the fastest time of the day.

It was a very busy day, and also extremely competitive as the top six cars in the second session were covered by just 0.203s, the equivalent to just 12 metres or two and a half car lengths.

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

Rosberg's teammate, Lewis Hamiton ran his Melbourne V6 Power Unit all day, following the resolution of the problem with the ignition system that caused his misfire in Australia.

“It was crazy conditions out there. In the very, very warm temperatures, it's a huge challenge to get everything right,” said Nico Rosberg, the winner in Australia two weeks ago.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus E22-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

“The cars are on the edge and the tire degradation was higher than expected today - we are sliding a bit more this year, perhaps because of the reduced downforce levels. We are still having some small issues and therefore we were not able to maximize everything today. The quickest teams seem to be closer together than in Australia, so we still have work to do overnight to improve our level of performance”.

Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber C33-Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

2014 Malaysian Grand Prix

Free Practice 1 - Results*
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 1'40”691 - 19 laps
2 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14-T) - 1'40"843 - 20
3 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1'41"028 - 19
4 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1'41"111 - 20
5 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1'41"274 - 18
6 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1'41"402 - 15
7 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1'41"523 - 9
8 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sahara Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1'41"642 - 19
9 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1'41"686 - 23
10 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1'41"833 - 22
11 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14-T) - 1'41"923 - 14
12 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1'42"117 - 20
13 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1'42"365 - 21
14 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1'42"869 - 21
15 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1'42"904 - 23
16 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1'43"825 - 18
17 - Marcus Ericsson (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1'45”775 - 24
18 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1'46"911 - 10
19 - Kamui Kobayashi (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1'51”180 - 5
20 - Sergio Perez (Sahara Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - no time - 2
21 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - no time - 2
22 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - no time - 4

Tribute To MH370 on the Mercedes W05. (Photo: WRi2)

Free Practice 2 - Results*
1 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1'39"909 - 30 laps
2 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14-T) - 1'39"944 - 30
3 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1'39"970 - 30
4 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 1'40"051 - 32
5 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14-T) - 1'40"103 - 29
6 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1'40"112 - 34
7 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1'40"276 - 29
8 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1'40"628 - 28
9 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1'40"638 - 35
10 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sahara Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1'40"691 - 34
11 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1'40"777 - 33
12 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1'41"014 - 20
13 - Adrian Sutil (Sahara Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1'41"257 - 28
14 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1'41"325 - 32
15 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1'41"407 - 34
16 - Sergio Perez (Sahara Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1'41"671 - 25
17 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1'42"531 - 14
18 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1'43"638 - 20
19 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1'43"752 - 29
20 - Marcus Ericsson (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1'45"703 - 31
21 - Kamui Kobayashi (Caterham CT05-Renault) - no time - 0
22 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - no time - 0

* Unofficials timings

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

From GMM

It is almost impossible to predict the outcome of this year's world championship.

That is the view of former F1 driver Jean Alesi, who thinks the pecking order in the sport's all-new turbo V6 era is not as clear as it currently appears.

"I think it is easier to win the lottery than say who will win this season," the popular Frenchman told L'Equipe sports daily.

Mercedes is undoubtedly the clear title favourite based on winter testing and the results in Australia.

But Alesi insisted: "It will take more than three grands prix to determine which car is the most reliable. Today, the engines are playing a more important role than the chassis, when in previous years it was the opposite. I feel that for the moment Mercedes has the best engine, but it is very difficult to say more than that.

"For the drivers, I think it will be between Hamilton, Alonso and Raikkonen, but - again - nothing is certain," Alesi added.

Sauber, Caterham, Lotus in Australia. (Photo: WRi2)

The 49-year-old former Ferrari and Sauber driver is sure, however, that 2014 will be an exciting season.

"Yes, because we see very clearly that no team is really ready today. Even Mercedes had the technical problem with Lewis Hamilton after only a few laps in Melbourne. So nothing is certain," said Jean Alesi.

From GMM

Fernando Alonso has denied that Ferrari is yet to 'turn its engine up' in the 2014 season.

Lewis Hamilton, a title favourite with the dominant team Mercedes, downplayed the German squad's superiority when he said at Sepang: "I'm sure Renault have not turned their engine up to max. It's the same with Ferrari. If you look at their apex speed, they have a good car."

According to Spaniard Alonso, however, that's not right. "As far as the electrical side, yes, we are using the full power.

"But in the early laps in Melbourne we had a problem that we were blocked and so it didn't work fully," he is quoted by El Mundo Deportivo.

Alonso is referring to the energy-recovery side of the new 'power unit' that, in the opening phase of a grand prix, is automatically 'blocked' by the FIA.

But the Ferrari-powered cars in Melbourne were without up to 100 horse power for the entire first stint until the pitstop, due to an FIA glitch.

Ferrari F14-T. (Photo: WRi2)

It is also clear that Ferrari's 'power unit' is up to 13 kilograms overweight.

"Yes," Ferrari-powered Sauber's Esteban Gutierrez confirmed to Spain's Marca, "but the positive thing is that this is a new world (in F1) and the possibilities for development are vast."

Fernando Alonso has won at Sepang in a Renault, a McLaren and a Ferrari, but he effectively ruled out a repeat of his surprise 2012 win this weekend.

"This is formula one and anything can happen," he is quoted by the EFE news agency, "but I think what we saw in 2012 was once in a lifetime."

Beyond that, he is not willing to talk too much about his 2014 prospects.

"If I say I am happy with fourth place, someone will say that I am no longer hungry for results," said Fernando Alonso. "And if I say that I am not happy, someone will have something to say about that too."

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Medium.com that all Model S cars built after March 6th, 2014, will have a titanium underbody shield to protect the battery packs from road debris and prevent them from catching fire.

Musk deemed the measure to be necessary after three Model S fires were reported last year, even though the drivers came out unharmed.

Tesla also posted videos showing the effectiveness of the new titanium underbody shield when hitting an errant ball hitch, a concrete block, and a car alternator.

Source : medium.com

Photo: TransportEvolved.com

Photo: TransportEvolved.com

Photo: TransportEvolved.com

The editorial team at Auto123.com is proud to bring you its annual Summer Tire Guide to help you make a smarter decision when it comes to picking the right summer tires for your car. Whether you're looking for information about a specific model, tire maintenance, or load and speed ratings, we promise to answer all your questions!

From GMM

Kamui Kobayashi has confirmed he is worried about the safety of this year's low nose designs.

Before the season began, Red Bull designer Adrian Newey expressed concern about the new, low front noses, arguing not only that they are ugly, but they might also be dangerous.

The reduced height minimises the risk of cars being launched into the air, but "I am concerned the opposite may now happen, that cars now (will) submarine effectively," the Briton had said.

Indeed, alarming images of the crash involving Kamui Kobayashi and Felipe Massa at the first corner in Melbourne subsequently emerged, showing the front of Kobayashi's Caterham 'submarining' under the diffuser of Massa's Williams.

Kamui Kobayashi (Caterham) just before hitting Felipe Massa (Williams). (Photo: WRi2)

"It was a very serious problem," Japanese Kobayashi was quoted in Malaysia by Brazil's Globo, "and it can be very dangerous for drivers. I think I was lucky not to be hurt -- if it had happened at Monza, the outcome could have been different."

"We need to seriously discuss what happened, because the design of the noses was changed just for safety. If they are more dangerous, then I think we need to talk again about what we need to change in the regulations," he continued.

It's not often that you hear Audi's sports coupe being compared to “Germany's Next Top Model.”

However, such was the case when Jürgen Löffler gave his presentation on the upcoming third generation of two-door. He used it in reference to the process of elimination in which the designs for the iconic vehicle were chosen.

Löffler mentioned that 20 designers brought forth their visions to create a vehicle with a history that dates back to its auto show introduction in 1995 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Back then, it was a major step for Audi when it came to creating a vehicle that would stir the soul, as well as inspire driving.

The competition between the designers was rigorous. Initial sketches were presented. Those who made the cut would then render 3D drawings in CAD and then, through further elimination, clay models would be made, and then colours and contours added.

Finally, the winner would be awarded the project.

The process for bringing a car to market truly happens years before it sees the light of day.


Audi TT: Exterior Design
With all three generations present in Ingolstadt, Germany, (1998, 2006 and upcoming) Löffler explained the various features of the shape of things to come.

It's easy to see how designers used the original TT from 1998 as a platform and inspiration leading up to what will be seen on North American streets as of 2015.
Löffler used words such as “puristic” and “masculine” to sum up the Audi TT's exterior physique.

He added that if you have an icon in the company, you should maintain and build upon it.

Furthermore, in regards to its physique, he compared the TT to an athlete, a track athlete not a bodybuilder. The Audi TT is svelte, but also has clearly defined muscularity without the bulk.

Design characteristics encompass horizontal lines that dominate the brand new Audi TT's front end. You'll find the single-frame grille is wide and flat. Running from its top corners are the two contours that stretch across the hood that bears the Audi ring quartet. Webs structure the air intakes. The headlights are also designed with separating bars that radiate the daytime running lights. LED technology headlights are available as an option.

Many details in the profile of the new Coupé are borrowed from the first-generation model. Audi mentioned, “the sill contour forms a strong line, the wide wheel arches form their own geometric body. The front arch breaks through the line of the hood, which continues above the door as a tornado line and runs to the tail. The flat glass housing acts like a body in its own right, while a slight bend in the rear side window emphasizes the powerful C-pillar. The fuel tank flap features a traditional circular shape and opens by touch.”

What's new? There is no fuel tank cap under the flap. It's similar to what Ford currently uses on their vehicles.

Both headlight and taillights were designed to be mirror images of themselves. And their vertical geometry is a tribute to the brand's motorsport heritage.

Photo: Alexandra Straub

Audi TT: Interior Design
When it came to the interior design, the team looked to the second generation TT. They used an existing model and took on the challenge of making it better.
Jet-engine inspired air vents accessorize the centre stack. This time around, climate controls are on the vents themselves, and so are the options for heating the seats.

The newly developed sports seats are mounted low and together, and they weigh 5 kg (11.02 lb) less than the seats in the Audi TT's predecessor.

For those looking inside, you'll find a brand new media interface (Audi Virtual Cockpit and MMI) that can be controlled either via the steering wheel or the selection knob near the centre console.

As a 2+2, the new Audi TT is a sports car that is highly suited to everyday use. The luggage compartment has a volume of 305 litres (10.77 cubic feet), which is 13 litres (0.46 cubic feet) more than the previous model.

Photo: Alexandra Straub

Audi TT: Under the hood
While there are no plans to bring the TDI version of the TT to Canada, there is still something to look forward to.

The 2.0 TFSI is available in two versions: in the Audi TT with 230 horsepower and 272.90 lb-ft of torque, and in the TTS with 310 hp and 280.27 lb-ft of torque. The Audi TTS advances in the top performance range -- it takes 4.7 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/hr, while the top speed (which is limited to 250 km/hr) is just a formality.

The new Audi TT will then have the option of either a 6-speed manual or the 6-speed S tronic automatic with dual-clutch transmission and Audi's quattro permanent all-wheel drive system.

The Porsche 919 Hybrid LMP1 set the fastest time overall in the first day of the World Endurance Championship pre-season tests at Circuit Paul-Ricard in France.

Porsche 919 Hybrid (Photo: Pascal SAIVET - VSA)

T
imo Behrnard went quickest in the Porsche, beating Andre Lotterer in the Audi R18 e-tron quattro and Marc Lieb in the second Porsche.

The new Toyota TS040s ranked fourth and sixth, while the second Audi finished the day in 5th place.

1 - Timo Behrnard (Porsche 919) - Porsche - 1m41.788
2 - Andre Lotterer (Audi R18) - Audi - 1m42.73
3 - Marc Lieb (Porsche 919) - Porsche - 1m42.126
4 - Alex Wurz (Toyota TS040) - Toyota - 1m42.356
5 - Loic Duval (Audi R18) - Audi - 1m42.407
6 - Anthony Davidson (Toyota TS040) - Toyota - 1m43.959
7 - Nico Prost (Lola B12/60-Toyota) - Rebellion - 1m44.806
8 - Fabio Leimer (Lola B12/60-Toyota) - Rebellion - 1m46.915
9 - Shinji Nakano (Oreca 03-Nissan) - Millennium - 1m48.970
10 - Oliver Pla (Morgan-Nissan) - OAK - 1m49.084
11 - John Martin (Oreca 03-Nissan) - Millennium - 1m49.432
12 - Matt Howson (Oreca 03-Nissan) - KCMG - 1m49.722
13 - Nicolas Minassian (Oreca 03-Nissan) - SMP - 1m49.796
14 - Kirill Ladygin (Oreca 03-Nissan) - SMP - 1m50.321
15 - Marco Holzer (Porsche 991) - Manthey - 1m58.041
16 - Davide Rigon (Ferrari 458) - AF Corse - 1m58.277
17 - Paolo Ruberti (Ferrari 458) - 8Star - 1m58.507
18 - Michele Rugolo (Ferrari 458) - AF Corse - 1m58.545
19 - Matt Griffin (Ferrari 458) - Ram - 1m58.679
20 - Klaus Bachler (Porsche 997) - Proton - 1m59.055
21 - Alex MacDowall (Aston Martin Vantage) - Bamboo - 1m59.076
22 - Mark Patterson (Ferrari 458) - Ram - 1m59.258
23 - Luis Perez-Companc (Ferrari 458) - AF Corse - 1m59.419
24 - Nicki Thiim (Aston Martin Vantage) - Aston Martin - 1m59.457

From GMM

The 'fuel flow' saga is continuing in Malaysia.

The Times newspaper reports that, after Daniel Ricciardo's disqualification in Melbourne, Red Bull spent over $130,000 on five brand new FIA-mandated Gill sensors for the Sepang race.

"We are not taking any chances and we have gone out independently and bought sensors so we know that we will have at least one that works properly," a team source said.

Red Bull has appealed Ricciardo's exclusion, and last week at Milton Keynes FIA figures had been invited to inspect the sensors the reigning world champions claim were faulty in Australia.

But the trouble hasn't stopped there.

The RedBull RB10 without its cover. (Photo: WRi2)

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that, during the first practice session at Sepang, Ricciardo's RB10 once again struck fuel flow sensor problems.

And correspondent Michael Schmidt said the similarly Renault-powered sister team Toro Rosso also had problems getting a signal from the sensors.

A new sensor - costing $26,000 at full calibration - was fitted to Ricciardo's car for second practice.

"So much for saving money," Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko bluntly observed.

More serious, however, is the risk of further disqualifications. What will Red Bull do now if, as in Melbourne, the FIA asks the team to reduce the Renault engine's fuel flow?

"I don't know," team boss Christian Horner answered. "Maybe two sensors should be installed in different places, and the average value should be read in order to reduce the risk of incorrect measurements."

From MMHF

Only a few days remain to nominate your pick for the 2014 class of the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame (MMHF). The deadline is April 1.

After that the nominations committee will review nominees and make their selection, usually announced by mid-summer.

Anyone can nominate and anyone can be nominated who has made a significant contribution to Maritime motorsports in any way and in any genre. The committee depends on the public to put forth those persons they think worthy of the honour of being inducted to the MMHF.

Nomination forms are available online at www.mmhf.ca or by calling 506.756.2110.

Since 2006 more than 70 motorsports legends have become honourable members of the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame. Their names and biographies can be found in the 'Alumni' section on the MMHF website.

For the first time ever the induction gala will be held in Prince Edward Island this year, set for November 15 at the Delta Charlottetown. Event tickets and room information will be published when the new inductees are announced.

Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame Inc. is a registered non-profit organization with proceeds benefitting the preservation of motorsports heritage in the Maritimes. Our museum in Petitcodiac features historic displays year-round. Since 2006, more than 70 Maritime motorsports heroes have been inducted in the Maritime Motorsports Hall of Fame.

To learn more about them, our museum or our organization please call 506.756.2110 or visit us online at www.mmhf.ca.

In a season that has been characterized by rain delays NASCAR launched its' Air Titan 2.0 track drying system.

It's lighter, more powerful and more efficient with fuel consumption.

The mostly oval-based racing series is held hostage to weather. Lengthy delays for track drying have meant lost revenues and lost momentum.

NASCAR's CEO Brian Z. France initiated a program, in 2012, to supplant the previous system of track drying and the Air Titan was born.

Air Titan 2.0 (Photo: Robert Laberge/NASCAR via Getty Images)

According to NASCAR “the Air Titan 2.0 more than triples the blade capacity of the original version and deliver 2.6 times more air volume at a speed of 568 mph, while raising the air temperature by 70 degrees over ambient. With the combination of water removal and accelerated evaporation, the ultimate goal is to reduce track-drying time by 80 percent.

Air Titan 2.0 will consume nearly 80 percent less fuel and emit 80 percent less carbon dioxides. Air Titan 2.0 works in conjunction with the Eco-Infused Elgin Track Vacuum/Sweeper and existing jet dryers. In coordination with the roll out of the Air Titan 2.0, Elgin has now become the Official Sweeper of NASCAR Green.

“Developed by our engineers at the NASCAR R&D Center, Air Titan 2.0 will help us more quickly return to racing, which serves our most important mission - the enjoyment of our fans,” said Brian France, NASCAR chairman and CEO.

“It's faster, more agile and eco-friendly. The new Air Titan creates the ultimate win-win-win for our sport, our fans and our environment.”

Lotus' drivers Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado Friday endured a frustrating first day of the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit.

Grosjean managed to complete 14 laps of the circuit in the afternoon while Maldonado only lapped the track twice during both sessions.

Pastor Maldonado, Lotus. (Photo: WRi2)

Several glitches reduced running for both drivers in the morning session, the most serious of which being an engine-related issue for Maldonado, the resultant engine change precluding him from running in the afternoon.

Grosjean's afternoon saw a collection of problems too, with a wiring problem preventing the gearbox from working correctly.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus. (Photo: WRi2)

“Not a great day, quite far from it in fact. Both cars were delayed in the morning with mapping issues,” said Nick Chester, Lotus' technical director.

“Pastor then suffered from a turbo-related problem with his car. This meant we needed to remove the engine and subsequently he was unable to run in the afternoon. Romain was able to get some more laps in the afternoon, however a wiring issue caused difficulties with his gearbox. More lessons learnt, and we'll be focusing on getting as much mileage as possible tomorrow.”

From GMM

Two weeks ago in Melbourne, McLaren said the prominent 'Mobil' branding on the sidepods of its 2014 car was a one-off.

The British team, yet to sign a replacement for departed title sponsor Vodafone, said the branding was to celebrate the 20-year history of the Mobil sponsorship.

Now in Malaysia, McLaren's black sidepods are featuring the branding of 'Esso', another ExxonMobil brand.

Also new for the MP4-29 at Sepang is a tweaked 'anteater' nose, as team supremo Ron Dennis said McLaren will not give up on winning this season.

"We are not here to be second or third," he is quoted by 20min.ch, adding that McLaren expects to have added half a second of pace to the car since Australia.

Kevin Magnussen, McLaren MP4-29, in Malaysia. (Photo: WRi2)

Lead driver Jenson Button said in Malaysia: "Out of the box the car was what we expected, a little bit low on downforce, but as long as we keep developing the car as we plan to we should be able to catch Mercedes."

Departed McLaren driver Sergio Perez said he is not surprised the team has bounced back after a dismal 2013 season.

"The development of the 2013 car was given up very early in the season to focus on 2014," the Mexican told F1's official website. "That was McLaren's target -- all 2014."

One has to hand it to Chrysler: Every once in a while, they really shake up the car business with some insanely (at the time) crazy ideas that typically catch on and eventually become the norm. The most obvious and well-known: the minivan.

Occasionally, they come up with alternatives to mainstream products that resound with the buying public without changing the course of the car business. This alternative to their own creation, again the minivan, is the Dodge Journey.

Unlike any other compact CUV, the Journey blends the undeniable utility of the minivan with the “coolness” factor of the crossover. The Journey also happens to be affordable and a better than decent drive. It's no wonder then that it thrives despite being 6 years old.


What is a Dodge Journey?
The 2014 Dodge Journey is Chrysler's answer to the uber popular compact crossover segment and is capable of accommodating up to 7 passengers, loads of gear and can be had with much equipment.

Unlike its competition, the Journey offers up vast amounts of interior space at the expense of some enticing styling, which clearly works.

2014 Dodge Journey Price and Specs
The basic FWD Canada Value Package 2014 Dodge Journey has a retail price of $21,495. At the top of the heap sits the R/T Rallye with AWD and its starting price is $33,895.

The latter version was my tester, and its sticker price with options such as navigation and sunroof topped out at $36,210. At this point in the Journey's career, discounts are readily offered and thus paying the retail price is just about impossible.

Entry-level Journeys run on a 173-horsepower 2.4L 4-cylinder engine. To it is connected a 4-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels exclusively. The other engine is a potent 283-horsepower 3.6L V6, which is mated to a 6-speed autobox and available with either FWD or AWD.

Driving the 2014 Dodge Journey
The Dodge Journey drives its age; this was my first observation minutes after taking off. As technologies progress and chassis engineering defies the laws of gravity, the Journey feels slightly sloppier than a number of its competitors especially where steering and ride quality are concerned.

I quickly left that frame of mind when I reminded myself who actually buys the Journey. I may have been thrown by the fact that my tester was an R/T with 19” wheels and a standard performance suspension. My inner monologue then moved on to the realization that few actually buy this version. In actuality, the R/T is the least representative of the Journey's stuffed lineup of trims.

On the road, the 2014 Dodge Journey feels heavy and not particularly nimble. Steering is numb and could use a little tightening, but this is not the most annoying issue with the drive. The transmission is generally reluctant to give the V6 free reign and allow it to unleash its power. Throttle response is slow-ish and the slushbox plays the same game.

Once more, this thinking has little to do with the large crowd that requires a means of transportation that is all about safety, room and who are on a budget. The 2014 Journey juggles all of the above with a fair degree of skill and it must be said that, once underway, the V6 does boogie.

Inside and Out of the 2014 Dodge Journey
The Journey's exterior shape is not the most inspiring, however, it's aged fairly well. Unlike some modern mind-bending designs, the Journey's squared-off body remains unfettered by the ravages of time. The 2011 facelift did help.

The R/T gains body-colour grille and door handles and the 19” Satin Carbon aluminum wheels, which enhance the Journey's on-road presence.

The 2014 Dodge Journey's cabin fits with Chrysler's efforts of making the space occupied by passengers as pleasant and stylish as possible. Presentation-wise, the Journey's dashboard is both functional and well assembled. My loaded R/T featured navigation and all the bells and whistles, and all works very well.

Seats, in the first two rows, are fair too good, offering an appreciable level of comfort. The third row, as are all of them in this segment, are reserved for the shorter and more flexible amongst us. The best aspect of the interior is the trunk, which is vast, and is able to swallow 1,121 litres of stuff.

Comparing the 2014 Dodge Journey
As the bestselling midsize CUV in Canada with deliveries of 27,745 units in 2013 and 28,888 in 2012, the Dodge Journey sits high on the hog for value and content.

Alongside it, shoppers will find the Kia Sorento, Nissan Murano, and Honda Pilot, all worthy however the Journey's price point is far more attractive.

Car classifieds often conceal rare and unique items. One example is this 1920 Ford Model TT that was fully restored and converted into a snowmobile.

It has seldom been used and has always been stored indoors. Now that the owner has passed away, his son is putting it on the market for US$7,000.

Interested?

Source : hemmings.com

Photo: howstuffworks

Canadian James Hinchcliffe was quickest of the 22 drivers at 1 minute, 2.9326 seconds during the first Verizon IndyCar Series practice session for the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Honda, with its new twin-turbo V6 engine, held the top three spots on the time sheet (Justin Wilson in the No. 19 Dale Coyne Racing car was second at 1m02.9385 and Takuma Sato in the No. 14 ABC Supply car for A.J. Foyt Racing was third at 1m03.0603).

Will Power, the pole sitter each of the past four years in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car, was fourth and St. Petersburg resident Sebastien Bourdais in the No. 11 Hydroxycut KVSH Racing car.

The top 18 cars were separated by less than a second.

Friday, free practice 1:

1 - James Hinchcliffe (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Andretti - 1m02.9326
2 - Justin Wilson (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Coyne - 1m02.9385
3 - Takuma Sato (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Foyt - 1m03.0603
4 - Will Power (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - 1m03.1932
5 - Sebastien Bourdais (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - KV - 1m03.1948
6 - Ryan Briscoe (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Ganassi - 1m03.2067
7 - Ryan Hunter-Reay (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Andretti - 1m03.2684
8 - Simon Pagenaud (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Schmidt - 1m03.3087
9 - Graham Rahal (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Rahal - 1m03.3254
10 - Tony Kanaan (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Ganassi - 1m03.3258
11 - Helio Castroneves (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - 1m03.3998
12 - Josef Newgarden (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Fisher - 1m03.4827
13 - Scott Dixon (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Ganassi - 1m03.6425
14 - Juan Pablo Montoya (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Penske - 1m03.6759
15 - Carlos Munoz (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Andretti - 1m03.6948
16 - Mike Conway (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Carpenter - 1m03.7559
17 - Marco Andretti (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Andretti - 1m03.7807
18 - Charlie Kimball (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Ganassi - 1m03.9023
19 - Jack Hawksworth (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - Herta - 1m04.0541
20 - Mikhail Aleshin (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Schmidt - 1m04.1986
21 - Sebastian Saavedra (Dallara DW12-Chevy) - KV - 1m04.6781
22 - Carlos Munoz (Dallara DW12-Honda) - Andretti - 1m07.7706

The new and#8220;Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesand#8221; live-action trailer made its online debut today. The four heroes in a half shell are back in New York, with a tarted-up Megan Fox playing April O'Neil -- somehow without red hair.

BMW's next expansion at its Spartanburg, S.C., plant and the addition of the X7 crossover will mark another milestone for a factory that's become a centerpiece of BMW's global manufacturing strategy.