Auto News 5

Honda will start manufacturing its Fit (Jazz) model at all three of its Japanese domestic assembly sites, increasing daily output by some 20% to 1,200 units, as it reports strong orders for the recently renewed third generation model.

Mercedes is considering separate model lines for its SUVs that have mainly car-like characteristics and those that are aimed at customers who want off-road capability.

Brazil's anemic auto market is getting a boost from affluent motorists buying Mercedes and BMW cars. The premium segment grew 32 percent in the first quarter amid total vehicle sales that fell 5 percent.

Mercedes is considering separate model lines for its SUVs that have mainly car-like characteristics and those that are aimed at customers who want off-road capability.

This week's top viral video tries to get dirty, and fails.

Trident today announced the global availability of its new Iceni, billed as the world's fastest and most efficient diesel-powered sports car.

Using a 400-horsepower, 6.6L V8 engine, the Iceni sprints from 0-60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.7 seconds before reaching a top speed of 190 mph (306 km/h). Drivers can also expect an astounding range of 3,219 kilometres!

Two additional models to the Iceni range were also unveiled today: the Iceni Magna (fastback) and Iceni Venturer (wagon). All three models boast the same impressive specs, each with its own distinctive design.

Pricing starts at £96,000, or roughly $177,000. Production will be limited.

Photo: Trident

Self-driving or autonomous cars will inevitably hit the road in the near future. While they have shown their ability to avoid stationary objects, can they do the same with indecisive drivers, pedestrians and cyclists?

The following video explains how Google's self-driving car identifies and classifies obstacles, particularly cyclists.

Source : io9.com

From Ferrari

On May 1st, the Ayrton Senna Tribute 1994/2014 event gets underway at Imola's Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit.

It's a tribute in memory of the Brazilian champion, who died tragically in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. On the 20th anniversary of his death and that of the Austrian Roland Ratzenberger, who also died during qualifying for this Grand Prix, the Imola circuit is opening its doors to the public for four days of motor sport memories.

Ayrton Senna, Williams-Renault, 1994 San Marino Grand Prix (Photo: WRI2)

Among the guests who will attend the commemorative ceremony on Thursday at 13h30 will be Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen. Although they were both very young at the time, they were already keen enough about motor racing to be affected by Senna's achievements.

“I think Senna set the standard for all drivers and he was definitely the best of his generation,” reckons Alonso on the eve of this sad anniversary.

“What made him special was his great will to win and the numbers speak for themselves. He always fought right to the bitter end and that earned him the respect of all his colleagues and it's what makes him a legend today. I was very little at the time and Spanish TV did not show Formula 1, but I began to know something about him as my father was a fan and my first kart was painted in the same colours as his car.”

Although it was a long time ago, Kimi's recollections are still vivid. “Senna's death was an incredibly sad moment for the world of Formula 1,” says the Finn. “I was still at school back then and even if I don't remember much about him, because I was too young, that day has stayed fixed in my memory. I think he was a great driver and a benchmark for many who came after him.”

Roads of the future may not be paved with asphalt but rather covered in solar glass panels. That's the crazy concept Julie and Scott Brusaw have been working on since 2009.

The U.S. Department of Transportation even gave them a $100,000 grant to carry out their project.

The Brusaws first textured a highly durable glass roadway surface to provide the same kind of grip as asphalt. Then, they added LEDs under the glass to create light-up lane markings (you can't paint a solar panel without making it useless). An integrated heating system even prevents ice and snow buildup.

A working prototype of their solar road currently functions as their driveway. The pair now seeks $1 million in crowdfunding to take their invention to the masses in the form of parking lot paving and sidewalks. The electricity generated by these small-scale test areas will be capable of powering local businesses and save folks from having to shovel snow.

One million dollars may seem a lot, but these solar roadways are supposed to generate much more revenue in power than they cost to produce.

Source : dvice.com

From GMM

Heikki Kovalainen is poised to return to formula one, according to the major Finnish newspaper Ilta Sanomat.

The report said the 32-year-old, who was dropped by Caterham at the end of 2012, is set to sign on the dotted line of a contract to be a Mercedes test driver.

Last year, Kovalainen looked poised to return to the grid with Caterham in 2014, but late in the season he struggled notably at Lotus when he was drafted in to replace the injured Kimi Raikkonen.

Caterham team owner Tony Fernandes admitted recently that Kovalainen's Lotus struggle "played a part" in the decision to sign Kamui Kobayashi instead.

Kovalainen is yet to comment on his 2014 plans, but Ilta Sanomat reports that the Mercedes deal has been on the table for some time, with contracts now ready to be signed.

Mercedes' factory in Brackley. (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

From GMM

Jenson Button pulled out of a triathlon on the Canary Islands last weekend.

The McLaren driver, participating in the event at Fuerteventura in the gap between the Chinese and Spanish grands prix, completed the 1.9km swim and 90 kilometre bike legs without trouble.

But Button, 34, pulled out during the half-marathon with 'muscle problems' in his leg, according to specialist media reports.

With less than two weeks until the Spanish grand prix at Barcelona, McLaren has been contacted for comment.

UPDATE:

McLaren denies report Jenson Button is nursing a leg injury.

"Jenson decided not to complete the Canary Islands triathlon, but he is fit and well and has, contrary to a few rogue media reports, no injuries of any kind," a McLaren spokesman told us on Tuesday.

"Indeed, he is driving in our simulator today and is looking forward to participating in the forthcoming Spanish grand prix."

From GMM

Former director of Scuderia Ferrari, Stefano Domenicali could continue his motorsport career with Formula 1's newest team.

Gunther Steiner, a former Jaguar and Red Bull chief, is now heavily involved in the Haas Formula project, with NASCAR team co-owner Gene Haas having secured a two-year license to enter F1, beginning either in 2015 or 2016.

The latest reports from Italy, where Haas will have its first car manufactured by the chassis maker Dallara, suggest 2016 is now the most likely debut date for the new American team.

"We've got the option to start in '16 if we think it is not doable in a good, professional way for '15," admitted Steiner.

Gunther Steiner, Red Bull 2005. (Photo: WRi2)

The Italian reports also said Haas officials are set to travel to Maranello to meet with Marco Mattiacci, the new sporting chief at Ferrari, Haas' likely 'power unit' supplier.

And Haas said the team will rely on its "technology partner" for more than just a turbo V6.

He said Haas will also outsource the "transmissions, KERS systems, suspensions, steering wheel. All of those things are going to come packaged to us," he revealed.

"So our main thing is just focusing on the construction of the aero and chassis and getting to the races," Haas added.

Haas plans to have a 'satellite' operation in Europe, while Steiner explained that having a main headquarters in the US is made possible due to F1's logistics.

"The cars this year went from Europe to Bahrain for the test," he said, "then they flew direct from Bahrain to Australia, from Australia direct to Malaysia, then to Bahrain for racing and now they're on the way to China."

Gunther Steiner said update parts can then be flown by the team straight to the race locations.

"It doesn't make a difference if you come from America or Europe in that sense," he explained.

An ideal tool to help stave off failure of the project would be a highly experienced F1 figure, like the former Mercedes and Ferrari chiefs, Norbert Haug and Stefano Domenicali respectively.

"I think now he (Haug) is basically doing DTM commentating, and Stefano I have no idea what he's going to do in the future or if he has figured out something," said Steiner.

"But I'm sure we will speak with him, and never say never, because they are both good people and they've been around a long time and their experience, for sure, has got value."

From GMM

Kimi Raikkonen must quickly get on terms with his Ferrari teammate, countryman and fellow world champion Mika Hakkinen insists.

When Hakkinen left McLaren at the end of 2001, he urged Ron Dennis to sign the young Sauber driver Raikkonen, famously telling Ron Dennis: "If you want to win, get the Finn."

Indeed, Raikkonen went on to win 20 career grands prix and the title for Ferrari in 2007.

But since he returned to Maranello for 2014, the now 34-year-old has struggled at the wheel of the F14-T car, also piloted by Fernando Alonso.

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

"Kimi has problems and they need to be resolved," Hakkinen told Hermes.

"At the moment Alonso is utterly dominating him -- the difference is not small," 45-year-old Hakkinen, the title winner in 1998 and 1999, added.

"There have been four races and I would have expected him to settle in by now. His car is not so catastrophically bad that he can't do anything about Alonso," he continued.

"Kimi needs to do something, and he needs to do it very soon."

Notoriously, Raikkonen is no fan of driving simulators, but Ferrari's new facility is state of the art and Hakkinen urged him to use the gap between China and Barcelona wisely.

"The simulator is a good tool. You can try out all sorts of setting changes," he said.

"But I don't want to be giving Kimi advice, because I'm assuming that a world champion is already concentrated on solving his problems so that he can beat his teammate and deliver decent performances," said Mika Hakkinen.

Kurt Busch officially starts his Indianapolis 500 journey on Tuesday with extra practice alongside former CART and Formula 1 champion Jacques Villeneuve afforded by Verizon IndyCar Series officials.

Jacques Villeneuve. (Photo: Forrest Mellott)

Andretti Autosport unveiled the No. 26 Dallara/Honda that he'll pilot in next month's event. The car of Andretti Autosport will be sponsored by Suretone, a recording company that has Fleetwood Mac, Lonestar and ZZ Top among its clients.

Also present for this Tuesday session will be Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti, James Hinchcliffe and Carlos Muñoz, who finished second in last year's 500.

Villeneuve will be driving his Dollar general-sponsored Dallara.

Jacques Villeneuve's Dallara at IMS. (Photo: IndyCar Instagram)

A powertrain issue has surfaced on the 2013 Cadillac SRX and potentially affects 3,306 units in Canada, which has led General Motors to announce a recall.

On certain SRX crossovers equipped with a 3.6L V6 engine, the transmission control module calibration may cause a three- to four-second delay in acceleration. This will occur if the following sequence is commanded within two seconds: During an upshift from first to second gear (12 - 16 km/h), the driver brakes the vehicle to less than 8 km/h, and then accelerates again.

GM dealers will reprogram the transmission control module.

Source: Transport Canada

From press release

Disappointed and frustrated that Kawartha Speedway sat virtually unused in 2013, former racer Andrew McFadden has leapt into the realm of motorsports promotions and has put together an eight-date stock car schedule for the Fraserville, Ontario track.

'The big pieces were still in place, it was a matter of organizing the background bits," explained McFadden. "I spoke with the drivers, as well as (Peterborough Speedway owner) JP (Josiasse) and (former Kawartha Director) Derek Lynch to get some organizational advice and decided that putting together a racing program was something I could do."

With the decision to go with the eight race dates, McFadden was unsure whether to proceed with the traditional Friday night slot or attempt Sunday afternoon events. Eventually, he decided to try both.

"No one could give me the definitive answer of which night was better," said McFadden. "Some drivers like the option of running Friday nights to leave the weekend open, while others would rather race Sundays so that they don't have to miss work to get to the track on Friday in time for practice. Ultimately, it will be the fans who decide when we run."

For the first season at the reborn Kawartha facility, McFadden has produced an ambitious calendar with competition each night featuring the Late Models, Thunder Cars, Mini Stock and Four Fun divisions, as well as a nightly Legends Invitational. Each class will be provided a trio of races per event, with twin heat dashes coupled with a feature contest.

2014 Schedule

May 16 Open practice
June 6 Season Opener
June 15 Race 2
June 22 Race 3
July 6 Race 4
July 18 Race 5
July 15 Race 6
August 8 Race 7
August 15 Race 8

From press release

Move Motorsports Management (Canadian formula car series promoters) and Honda Performance Development jointly announced today a contingency agreement of the growing Toyo Tires F1600 Championship.

“We are very thrilled to make this announcement today,” stated series promoter Jason Sharpe.

“Our relationship with Honda Performance Development has been a huge catalyst for the series' growth and stability over the last couple of seasons. They work closely with our Series Officials to ensure we are on the cutting edge of technology and have created a contingency program that is unprecedented in Canada at this level of the sport,” he added.

With more than 120 Honda Formula 1600 engines sold to racers in the United States and Canada, Honda Performance Development has played a major role in the revitalization of North American Formula 1600 competition over the last four years.

"We are very excited to see how the Toyo Tires Formula 1600 series has progressed,” stated Jeff Barrow, Manager Motorsports, Commercial Division at HPD.

“We at Honda Performance Development are committed to supporting the series with our technical support and contingency programs.”

The 1.5-liter HPD L15A7 became eligible for SCCA Formula 1600 competition in 2010, introducing a modern racing engine to the category while strengthening Formula 1600's historic position as the first step in open-wheel racing.

Developed from the current Honda Fit passenger car, introduced in 2009, the L15A7 engine in Formula 1600 form provided open-wheel racers with a modern, fuel-injected design offering superior reliability, service life, increased availability and lower operating costs compared to the category's traditional engines.

Capitalizing on their association with Fiat, Dodge has released a compact car that targets a shopper unlikely to buy the “beige one” and drive 15 under the speed limit in the fast lane. If you're a bit young, sporty, and after something with a touch of attitude, the folks at Dodge (and Fiat) are hoping you'll go for a Dart.


What is a 2014 Dodge Dart SXT Rallye
Under the sheet metal and plastic skin, and between its signature “racetrack” LED taillamp and distinctive front fascia, the Dart is actually an Alfa Romeo Guilietta -- a good thing when it comes to ride comfort, chassis refinement, and the like. Plus, since the Dart is actually part Italian, you can tell your buddies it's pretty much a Maserati.
The Rallye package added some unique wheels, fog lamps, a touring-grade suspension, special badging, and the big dual-exhausts that tell your buddies you're rocking some serious ponies.

2014 Dodge Dart Price and Specs
The Dart SE opens the model range from just under $16,000, with the high-value, midline SXT tester starting at $18,995. The Rallye package, automatic gearbox, navigation, honkin' stereo system, and a few other goodies make it $24,700. If you're all fancy, GT and Limited trim grades are available on the 2014 Dodge Dart, too.

Driving the 2014 Dodge Dart
The Dart's European-trained suspension showed minimal sign of being overwhelmed by the frost-heaved crater fields that pass for roadways in your writer's locale. The springy bits feel solid and tough, not rattle-y and flimsy. When smooth roads pass beneath, a largely comfortable ride with a touch of sporty tautness is apparent. That's backed by below-average levels of wind and road noise on board at speed, and a pleasingly progressive and clamped-on feel to the steering in the 2014 Dodge Dart.

Power came from the Multiair Tigershark: Dart's awesomely named big-dog four-banger that's now available in the SXT trim grade. This big four makes 184 horsepower from 2.4L -- far from mind-blowing specific output -- but with Fiat's MultiAir technology, it's all about how that power is delivered.

Multiair transmits the action of the camshaft to the valves via oil pressure, rather than a mechanism. The pressurized oil that drives each valve is channeled through a solenoid which controls when and how much of that oil pressure is applied. Translation? Engineers get unparalleled control over valve timing and lift, and the ability to control engine breathing on a valve-by-valve, stroke-by-stroke basis. And drivers get instant, on-demand torque when called upon, and the promise of more efficient cruising otherwise.

Even at low revs without a downshift, the Multiair system alters breathing to create a quiet and refined slab of torque. Hammer down, and the system turns in even and linear pull to the 6,500 rpm redline. It's smooth and virtually vibration-free from idle to redline, even if the sound effects can be a little gruff.

Add in the smooth-as-silk 6-speed automatic, and the brief throttle-cuts it summons between full-throttle upshifts for proper rev-matching, and you've got a pleasing, slick and nicely behaved powertrain in the 2014 Dodge Dart. Or, save yourself $1,400 by shifting yourself with the 6-speed manual.

Inside and Out of the 2014 Dodge Dart
The tester used sculpting, depth, contrast stitching, and some striped seats towards a refreshingly upscale atmosphere backed up by decent material selection, with soft, quality-feeling plastics dispatched to cover much of the cabin. The instruments are gorgeous, and there's plenty of storage at hand to keep smaller items organized and out of the way. The Dart's cabin pulls its weight strongly towards its appeal as an overall package.

Feature content helps, too. My tester got a potent 500-watt Alpine stereo for blasting tunes out of its sunroof, and the best navigation and infotainment system in the segment was bolted to the centre of the dashboard. Notably, this central interface is vivid, modern, and bright. More importantly, it reacts instantly to driver inputs -- flicking through screens and controls and functions as fast as fingertips can dance around the screen.

In all, the 2014 Dodge Dart's cabin represents a refreshing departure from the crispy grey interiors of numerous competitors that feel like they're made of melted down Yoplait containers. The Dart is on the big side for a compact car, too - so, even individuals of generous height and girth who generally avoid salads should find it adequately spacious.

Comparing the 2014 Dodge Dart SXT Rallye
Shoppers in this market segment have heaps of choice. Though the Civic and Corolla may sell more units on account of their established names and reputation, the Dart should appeal well to a shopper with a heavier focus on feature content, styling, ride manners, and overall sporty bang-for-the-buck. It amounts to a good value on a car with few weaknesses and many strengths. Key competitors to test drive alongside the Dart should include the Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, and Mazda3.

The video and the headlines from this week's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway screamed Marcos Ambrose punches Casey Mears.

"(My eye) is OK," Mears said. "He got me good, though. Out of all the NASCAR fights or punches or when you see people swinging, usually it's a lot of fly-swatting. He actually connected so that was pretty good."

Not since Jeff Gordon shoved Jeff Burton at Texas Motor Speedway, in 2010, were two nicer guys involved in a fracas at a NASCAR Sprint Cup race track.

After the race ended Mears, the nephew of four-time Indy 500 winner Rick Mears, was in a heated discussion with the affable Australian, Ambrose. Then it appeared that Mears shoved Ambrose, and, boom.

Up till now content of the discussion has not been disseminated to the media, but, NASCAR.com caught up with Mears at a charity run in Charlotte on Monday.

"Some things happened out on the track that we weren't real happy with, I guess both of us weren't right?" Mears told NASCAR's website. "We were talking and it turned into not talking at the end.

"Things happen. He got me pretty good with that shot. Everybody gets mad after those races when everybody is trying so hard. It's a passionate sport, obviously. It's tough when you first get out of the car, when you don't have a good chance to cool off, it escalates pretty quick."



While the North American media was a bit dumbfounded by the punched thrown by Ambrose which landed on Mears' right eye the Aussie media was having a field day.

Greg Murphy, who almost came to blows with Ambrose after a wreck in a V8 Supercar race in 2005 spoke to an Australian website. "I didn't think he had it in him, but there you go, I'm wrong again," an amused Murphy told Speedcafe.com. "I've got to pay credit to that one. It looked like it was a pretty good hook!

"Maybe he saw a picture of my head on Casey Mears' shoulders, who knows?

"He obviously got a big shove from Casey for whatever reason that moved him aside and that was enough to get him riled up.

"It was very entertaining!"

Even NASCAR's most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr had a funny reaction on Twitter, "So, I went to Australia once. They don't take no crap. #Thunderstruck".

Ambrose has not spoken publicly about the incident.

NASCAR officials said that, as per usual, they would review all of the available video before determine any penalties for the fracas. They usually are announced on Tuesday afternoons.

Auto supplier Tenneco's first-quarter net income slipped 15 percent to $46 million because of one-time restructuring costs.