Auto News 5

News 20 Apr, 2014

Citroen reveals C-XR concept in Beijing. Built in partnership with DongFeng, it’s an SUV for the Chinese domestic market

General Motors now will replace lock cylinders, as well as ignition switches, in a recall of 2.2m older model cars in the US.

Hot on the heels of BMW M2 rumors earlier this week, we found this drag race video featuring the 2014

To call attention to its coming 2015 Transit full-size van, which arrives in midsummer,

First, get yourself a car. A 550-hp dragster will do nicely. Sure, you could run what you brung, but a Miata's stock 1.8-liter would look mighty silly making a pass, and we don't have all day anyway.

We got an early look at the Lexus NX 200t F Sport in production trim 10 days ahead of its world debut at the Beijing auto show April 20.

Articles 13 Apr, 2014

It's men vs women behind the wheel, as we crunch the numbers to find out who are the best drivers in the battle of the sexes

Bentley is using the Beijing auto show to reveal a hybrid concept based on its flagship Mulsanne sedan. The brand's first plug-in powertrain is expected in a Bentley SUV debuting in 2017.

Pictures See all 39 pictures 20 Apr, 2014

Renault unions demanded clarification over production and job cuts being considered at the carmaker's Flins plant near Paris. The plant builds the Clio subcompact and Zoe elecrtic car.

Lamborghini's newest supercar, the Huracan, will have the best sales year of any model in the automaker's 51-year history in 2015, CEO Stephan Winkelmann told Automotive News Europe.

Western Europe's 7 percent first-quarter rise in new-car sales has some market watchers adjusting their full-year forecasts upward, but economic risks remain and profit-robbing car discounting continues.

Fifteen years after its launch, the Renault-Nissan Alliance is targeting the United States in earnest as CEO Carlos Ghosn pushes his companies into common product architectures, manufacturing and randd.

Western Europe's 7 percent first-quarter rise in new-car sales has some market watchers adjusting their full-year forecasts upward while others are more cautious.

Ford of Europe executive Elena Cortesi has been given a global role as the automaker's corporate communications manager.

From GMM

Sahara Force India has denied it is set to split with its title sponsor Sahara.

The Indian conglomerate is headed by Subrata Roy, who is currently sitting in jail for failing to pay billions in refunds to investors.

The supreme court on Wednesday refused to release Roy, despite the Sahara Group saying the company is having trouble raising money while he is in jail.

"The intention behind putting him in jail is to raise money," Indian media quote Sahara's lawyer as having told the court, "but it is not possible to do so when he is inside."

At precisely the same time, the prominent 'Sahara' branding disappeared from the sidepods of Force India's car during post-race testing in Bahrain.

But the Silverstone based team insisted that the all-black sidepods were simply due to the testing of "development parts".

"The Sahara logo will be found in its usual places in China," the spokesperson is quoted by German-language Speed Week.

Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg, Sahara Force India, in Bahrain. (Photo: WRi2)

Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli has revealed the tire nominations for the Grands Prix of Spain, Monaco and Canada.

Spain
Pirelli will bring the P Zero Orange hard and P Zero White medium: the two hardest tires in the range. The Montmelo circuit is well known for putting high-energy loads through the tires, while ambient temperatures can also be notable at the Spanish Grand Prix. Tarmac roughness is quite high, and the tires on the left-hand side are particularly stressed.

Monaco and Canada
Monaco and Montreal are respectively a street circuit and a semi-permanent facility, the two softest tires in the range will be used: P Zero Yellow soft and P Zero Red Supersoft.

Monaco is the slowest circuit on the calendar, which is very twisty with smooth asphalt, and also relies heavily on mechanical grip from the tires. This makes it the perfect place for the supersoft with its rapid warm-up to make its 2014 debut, in combination with the soft.

Canada is another circuit that is very reliant on mechanical grip, with the race frequently held in cool temperatures. As a result, the soft and supersoft is once again the ideal choice. Traction and braking are the main characteristics of the lap.

From GMM

The plan to ban tire warmers in 2015 is currently in doubt.

This week at the Bahrain test, after Williams test driver Felipe Nasr tried an experimental Pirelli tire, the Brazilian said it was "very difficult to get them up to temperature, even in the Bahrain heat".

"It will be even more of a challenge at tracks such as Silverstone or Spa," he warned.

Pirelli boss Paul Hembery said the main issue is tire pressure, as the difference between a cold and a hot tire is significant.

"At present, we believe it will be difficult to implement the FIA's plan for 2015" he is quoted by Speed Week.

Tires warming-up in the stand. (Photo: WRi2)

F1's governing body wants to get rid of expensive tire warmers on cost grounds, but Hembery said safety is a consideration.

"We need to consider how the tire behaves during, for example, a safety car period, when the pressures and temperatures fall," he said.

Told, however, that other racing series cope without tire blankets, Hembery responded: "Yes, as in GP2. But we are talking about different tire sizes, and the pressure at the start is much higher."

One possible solution is that, along with the warmer ban, F1 simultaneously ditches its "old fashioned" tire design and switch to a low-profile.

"If we had a lower profile tire with a stiffer sidewall and a lower volume of air cavity, it would certainly be much easier to manage," said Williams' Pat Symonds.

But Mercedes' Paddy Lowe warned: "Introducing the low profile (tire) is a very non-trivial task in terms of engineering and cost, so not an easy one."

Gene Haas, co-owner of the Stewart-Haas Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup team, has been accepted by the FIA to become the 12th Formula 1 team 2015.

After meeting with the FIA earlier this year and going through a careful selection process, Haas new team -- Haas Racing Development -- has received the green light for his project to go ahead.

“We're extremely pleased to have been granted a Formula 1 licence by the FIA,” Gene Haas said in a statement.

“It's an exciting time for me, Haas Automation and anyone who wanted to see an American team return to Formula 1.

“Now, the really hard work begins. It's a challenge we embrace as we work to put cars on the grid. I want to thank the FIA for this opportunity and the diligence everyone put forth to see our licence application come to fruition.”

The successful American businessman is thought to be looking to use a Dallara-built chassis and Ferrari V6 turbo hybrid Power Units, with a European base being located in Italy near Maranello to work in tandem with operations in the United States.

If that doesn't work out, Haas could also purchase the name and assets of an existing, but financially struggling team near the end of the year (read Caterham or Marussia).

Jon Olsson had a crazy idea to take a 600-horsepower supercar to go drifting on a ski slope in Sweden!

Olsson will compete in the upcoming Gumball 3000 #Miami2Ibiza rally in June 2014.

So he took a 600-hp, 1000kg supercar Rebellion R2K up a snowy ski slope in Storlien, Sweden to drift uphill.

Rebellion R2K. (Photo: World of Betsafe)

The prototype was fitted with 315 mm wide winter tires.

"I have always had a passion for taking supercars to the ski slopes. Now that I am injured, I can't ski, so we brought the 600hp, 1000kg Rebellion to see what would happen if you actually drove a true supercar up a slope!" said Olsson.