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Chinese automaker Qoros is using Slovakia as its first global export market with the goal of rolling out the brand across western Europe within two years.

Audi has decided to bring back the five-door version of its A3 compact to the United States -- but without an ordinary gasoline engine. The five-door body style will be available with a 2-liter TDI engine next summer, Audi said today.

One member of the Mustang family won't have a very high-profile role at this week's 50th anniversary celebrations: the 1974-78 Mustang II.

From GMM

F1's four smallest teams have written a letter complaining about the state of the sport.

Germany's Sport Bild revealed that the letter, initiated by Marussia and also signed by Caterham, Sahara Force India and Sauber, was addressed to the other seven teams as well as Bernie Ecclestone and FIA president Jean Todt.

The report said a main complaint of the letter is about the new and rule-influential Strategy Group, made up of the grid's 'big five' teams and, for historic reasons, Williams.

The letter follows hot on the heels of Todt's admission that his plans for a mandatory budget cap for 2015 have been scrapped, due to the sudden withdrawal of support of the powerful Strategy Group teams.

The new group, who receive the lion's share of the commercial revenue distributed by Ecclestone, has replaced the old rule-making technical and sporting working groups.

"We have a situation where we have enriched and empowered five teams and disenfranchised six. The six disenfranchised teams are worthless," Sahara Force India's Bob Fernley told the Guardian last month.

Bob Fernley, Vijay Mallya, Sahara Force India and Monisha Kaltenborn, Sauber. (Photo: WRi2)

The smallest teams are now reportedly warning that, unless their complaints are listened to, the grid could dramatically dwindle as the more expensive rules take their toll.

"All the teams have taken the cost increase of the new technology but only five have been enriched because of the disproportionate share of the money coming into F1," Bob Fernley explained.

"It's inevitable that all the smaller teams could fall by the wayside."

Sport Bild said the small teams, arguing that their marginalisation could even be contrary to European competition law, want urgent talks to be held ahead of this weekend's Chinese grand prix in Shanghai.

The report quoted an unnamed Red Bull chief as saying: "The letter is explosive and also justified. We do need to change something, starting with a fairer distribution of money, so that the smaller teams get more of the pie. We also need to make the sport more attractive, in order to attract more sponsors."

Here is the on-track schedule of the UBS Grand Prix of China, Round 4 of the 2014 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.

The race will be held at Shanghai International Circuit. It is
5.451-km long and the cars will complete 56 laps, for a total distance of 305.066 km.

Timetable*

Thursday April 17
Formula One Press Conference 15:00
Formula One F1 Autograph Session 16:00 - 17:15

Friday April 18
Formula One Practice 1 10:00 - 11:30
Porsche Carrera Cup Asia First Practice Session 12:00 - 12:30
Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk 12:35 - 13:30
Formula One Practice 2 14:00 - 15:30
Formula One Press Conference - Press Room 16:00 - 17:00
Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Second Practice Session 16:00 - 16:30
Promoters Activity Public Pit Lane Walk - 3 Day Ticket Holders Only 17:30 - 19:00

Saturday April 19
Formula One Team Pit Stop Practice 09:30 - 10:30
Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk 09:30 - 10:45
Formula One Practice 3 11:00 - 12:00
Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Qualifying Session 12:25 - 12:55
Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk 13:00 - 13:45
Formula One Qualifying 14:00
Porsche Carrera Cup Asia First Race (12 Laps or 30 Minutes) 15:30 - 16:05

Sunday April 20
Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk 11:00 - 12:15
Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Second Race (12 Laps or 30 Minutes) 12:30 - 13:05
Formula One Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk 13:15 - 14:00
Formula One Drivers Track Parade 13:30
Formula One Starting Grid Presentation 13:45 - 14:15
Formula One National Anthem 14:46
Formula One Race 15:00

*Note - please be advised that this timetable is subject to change.

From GMM

Daniel Ricciardo has admitted he is "surprised" Lotus is still struggling so much with its Renault engine.

Following the post-Bahrain test last week, Lotus' Romain Grosjean slammed the situation as "not acceptable", after both himself and teammate Pastor Maldonado struggled simply to run the E22 amid 'power unit-related' issues.

The similarly Renault-powered Red Bull's Ricciardo, however, said he is "surprised" to hear the extent of Lotus' ongoing troubles.

"It is not very reassuring to see another Renault powered team encountering such difficulties," the Australian is quoted by the French-language F1i.

"We also had a few problems with the V6 turbo in the tests, but nothing too serious. While we can make further progress on reliability, I am surprised that they (Lotus) are still facing so many problems," Ricciardo added.

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

Indeed, Renault's Remi Taffin said ahead of the Chinese grand prix that the French marque, after a difficult opening few months of 2014, is now beginning to "hit our stride".

"While we know that the others are still ahead, we have made some good progress in the last two races," he explained.

"At the test in Bahrain we tested several new software modes that will see us closer to the limits of the power unit than before," added Taffin.

Here are 6 noteworthy details about the Formula 1 Grand Prix of China that will be held this weekend in Shanghai.

* The first Chinese Grand Prix was held September 26, 2004. Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari) started on pole and won the 56-lap race from Jenson Button (Honda) and Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren).

* The circuit layout makes overtaking difficult. The track surface can be bumpy under braking, especially in T14 where brake locking is possible”. However, the Shanghai circuit is one of the easiest circuits of the year on brakes.

2013 Grand Prix of China (Photo: Lotuds F1 Team)

* Only two drivers have won twice in China: Fernando Alonso (2013 with Ferrari, and 2005 with Renault) and Lewis Hamilton (2011 and 2008 with McLaren).

* Weather conditions in China vary wildly; from 29°C to under 20°C has been seen over a race weekend. These variations will change track conditions and therefore car behaviour. Wind speed and direction have a big influence on the car.

* Maximum speed in qualifying last year was set by Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) at 319.8 km/h. During the race, Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso) was the fastest at 320.9 km/h.

* The 1.175-km straight in Shanghai is the longest of the season. It will see the V6 turbo hybrid power units at maximum revs and full speed for just under 20 seconds, around 20% of the lap.

The Mazda2 has proven itself a winner over the past few years and sales have been pretty solid. However, time moves rapidly in the sub-compact world and the Mazda2 is now perhaps starting to show a few age-related wrinkles.


What is a Mazda2?
The North American version of the Mazda2 was first unveiled to the North American public at the 2009 LA Auto Show and went on sale in in 2010. However, the little sub-compact had already been around for a year or two in other parts of the world and received several accolades, including being named World Car of the Year in 2008.

The vehicle was seen as the perfect platform for Mazda's return to the sub-compact market here in N.A., as the company hadn't featured in this category since the retirement of its 323 model way back in 1995 (‘94 in the U.S.).

2014 Mazda2 Price & Specs
Our test vehicle was the GS model, fitted with the manual 5-speed gearbox. The MSRP on the 2014 Mazda2 GS is $18,300, and this places it up against some pretty fierce competition in today's marketplace.

Fuel economy: 6.8L/100kms (city), 5.6L/100kms (hwy).

Tank capacity: 42.8L.

Cargo space: 377 litres, and 787 litres with the rear seat down.

Driving the 2014 Mazda2
In all honesty, the Mazda2 handles like a charm and, with a stick shift to play with, it's a lot of fun to drive. The 1.5L DOHC 16-valve 4-cyl engine with VVT produces just 100hp (98 lb-ft of torque) yet, with a curb weight of just 1,051kgs, it's plenty to put a smile on your face.

Another reason for this smile would be the handling characteristics of the 2014 Mazda2 which are simply superb! The vehicle feels light because it is light, yet the weight has been shaved from the areas that matter, and this makes the Mazda2 a proper little mover.

The cockpit offers a surprising amount of elbow room for such a small car, and it's quite easy to find yourself imagining you're in a larger vehicle, until the next change of direction is required! Yes, there is go-kart-like steering and handling to match. It's a great combination which further proves that you don't need huge horsepower to have some fun in a sub-compact.

Inside and Out of the 2014 Mazda2
The exterior is typical Mazda. It's designed with a purpose in mind, yet carries plenty of style and more than a little zoom-zoom. Inside, the story is much the same with red stitching/piping highlighting the cloth seats and the leather steering wheel.

The overall design has been well thought out and Mazda quality is to be seen everywhere. However, although the 2014 Mazda2 comes with such niceties as steering-wheel-mounted cruise control and rain-sensing wipers, it lacks one of the basic requirements of today: Bluetooth phone connectivity.

Of course, I'm from the generation who roller-skated on dirt roads uphill both ways to school each day, so I can survive without all the “must-have” electronic gizmos. Having said this, even I started to get a little tired of having to stop and answer phone calls at the side of the road due to its lack of Bluetooth.

Now, in fairness, the 2014 Mazda2 was probably initially designed nearly 10 years ago (at least a year or two prior to its launch), when the dangers of cell phones/distracted drivers weren't so apparent. Of course, there are aftermarket units available, but add the cost of these to the price of the Mazda2 GS, and it simply sounds wrong!

Comparing the 2014 Mazda2
The Mazda2 has plenty of competition nowadays, which is rather unfortunate as it's now slightly behind in must-have technology. Fortunately, there are rumours of a new Mazda2 in the works (Mazda's Hazumi concept shown at the recent Geneva show points to this being true).

So, does this mean the 2014 model is no longer worth considering? Not at all. In fact, it's a great little car that has a proven track record and that can sometimes be better than taking the gamble on a freshly released product. Its lack of Bluetooth is the only issue, and can be remedied, so I'd still look at a 2014 although I'd be expecting the dealer to perhaps sharpen his pencil with regards to price given that we're getting closer to the release of the all-new Mazda2.

From GMM

Dr Helmut Marko has hit back at Mercedes, after the German squad this week called on the court of appeal to come down hard on Red Bull.

As Red Bull appealed Daniel Ricciardo's Melbourne disqualification in Paris on Monday, a lawyer for rival Mercedes argued at length that the FIA should in fact impose "a further sanction", due to the "flagrant and deliberate" rules breach.

Ultimately, the five judges upheld Ricciardo's disqualification, but did not add to Red Bull's penalty.

"We are obviously bitterly disappointed," the always-blunt Red Bull director Marko said after digesting the court's decision.

"We cannot say any more until we get the detailed reasons for the judgement, but what amazed us even more was the language and aggressiveness that our competitor Mercedes used to argue against us," he is quoted by Austria's Kleine Zeitung newspaper.

Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull, in Australia. (Photo: WRi2)

Less publicly angry is the affable Australian Ricciardo himself, who although having sprayed the champagne on his home-race podium, is in fact yet to officially bank a F1 trophy.

"It's disappointing not to get the 18 points from Australia," he said on Wednesday, "but if anything it gives me more motivation to get back on the podium as soon as possible.

"As I said that week, I'd rather have a great race, finish on the podium and then be excluded than to have had a rubbish race and then retire with a car problem half way through," Ricciardo added.

News 16 Apr, 2014

SUV boss confirms he wants a family of coupe SUVs and sees space for an upmarket Range Rover rival

Meet the Chevy Trax, the company's new entry in the compact SUV segment. Chevrolet has officially taken the wraps off the Trax ahead of its U.S.

Chevrolet is adding the Trax to its lineup in the United States, making it the latest brand to enter the budding market for petite crossovers. The 2015 Trax was unveiled tonight, on the eve of the New York auto show.

One current Bridgestone executive and two who formerly worked for the Japanese tire company have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Cleveland for allegedly conspiring to fix automotive-part prices.

The Mini Countryman has undergone a subtle midlife facelift for the New York auto show, four years after it was launched in North America.

General Motors said in a court filing that it will ask a federal bankruptcy judge to bar lawsuits related to its recall for faulty ignition switches, citing the terms of its 2009 bankruptcy.

General Motors, fighting to bolster its reputation amid a recall crisis, has created a team of engineers aimed at improving vehicle safety, CEO Mary Barra said today in New York.

Ford has brought its problem-plagued MyFord Touch communications system up to exceed industry-average reliability -- and plans an upgrade to improve the system's capability, Ford executive Joe Hinrichs said today.

Here we are in the Automotive Lake of Fire again, and we feel compelled to follow up a couple of

News 15 Apr, 2014

Skoda unveils convertible, two-seater version of Citigo ahead of its debut at Worthersee tuning event in May

Pictures See all 2 pictures 15 Apr, 2014