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News 9 May, 2014

German tuning company MEC Design offers styling package for Ferrari 458, including bodykit and 21-inch alloys

Pictures See all 7 pictures 9 May, 2014

Subaru parent Fuji Heavy Industries will stop making the Toyota Camry at its Indiana factory in the fall of 2016. Production will shift to Toyota's plant in Kentucky.

News 11 May, 2014

The amazing Dubai police car fleet means there's absolutely no escape for the emirate's errant motorists

Mercedes is attracting a huge number of new customers from other brands with cars such as the coupe-styled CLA compact. The average age of a CLA buyer is 43, compared with 50 or older for the rest of the automaker's lineup.

Incoming Citroen CEO Linda Jackson has proved herself in the UK by reducing image-harming discounts and boosting morale.

The headquarters of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will move to London, CEO Sergio Marchionne said, cementing a politically sensitive shift away from Italy, Fiat's home for the past 115 years.

A top Kia executive doused designer Peter Schreyer's dreams for a sporty roadster, saying it wouldn't adequately build the brand or boost profits.

Rolls-Royce named Brett Soso, a former executive at China carmaker Chery, as regional director for the Middle East, Africa and South America.

When the first generations of the Citroen C1, Peugeot 107 and Toyota Aygo sibling minicars looked too similar, the automakers avoided discussing the designs of the second-generation cars to prevent that from happening again.

Test your knowledge of the latest news with our weekly quiz.

Mazda has a history of building track-tuned and enthusiast-oriented vehicles like the MAZDASPEED3 and 6, the MX-5, and the RX-7/RX-8. As such, it must be a tricky business to market a big, heavy crossover SUV when your reputation is built upon lightweight, thrilling, and sporty rides. After all, most crossovers, and especially large ones, are about as exciting as a bowl of rocks.


What is a Mazda CX-9 GT
The CX-9 is the Japanese brand's big-dog family hauler -- one that boasts three rows of seats, room for the crew and their things, and available AWD. Fresh out of a recent update, the latest CX-9 boasts refreshed styling, inside and out, that targets an affordable high-end look and feel. The CX-9 competes with machinery like the Honda Pilot, Dodge Durango, and Nissan Pathfinder with an eye for premium looks and the promise of a sporty driving experience.

The new face and body here are more elegant, mature, easily identifiable and modern than before. They're also unique. Thanks to a new KODO design language (check out the new Mazda6 and CX-5 for other examples), this big hauler packs much of the visual energy and passion you'll find in your favourite sports car. That's a good start to making a crossover that's a bit exciting.

2014 Mazda CX-9 Price and Specs
The CX-9 starts at $33,995 with front-wheel drive in GS trim, with AWD spiking the price to $36,995. The top-line GT, with standard AWD and a very lengthy list of premium features, is priced at $44,750.

Driving the 2014 Mazda CX-9
Even if it's not the most “zoom zoom” Mazda model on the road, CX-9 stays flat in corners, feels more agile than its size suggests, and steers and maneuvers more like a car than a truck. It's relatively easy to park, too. The 2014 Mazda CX-9 is nice and quiet at highway speeds as well, even wearing aggressive winter tires. The CX-9 rides with a firm sportiness without compromising much comfort. It's a nicely balanced ride and handling equation.

Under the hood is a 3.7L, 273-horsepower V6. It's not a quiet engine, but it sounds good and blasts the CX-9 along adequately when you give it the boots. Mazda's slick Active Torque Split AWD system was also on board, making quick work of slippery winter conditions. No issues with needless wheel spin or off-the-line traction. The tester wore a set of Blizzak winter tires, and proved confidently entertaining, even during a snow-plowing session through over a foot of powder on my favourite empty backroad.

The 6-speed automatic works well with the engine, quickly finding a gear ratio to maximize acceleration or gas mileage depending on your intentions. Manual-mode shifting is available too.

Inside and Out of the 2014 Mazda CX-9
Go with the top-line GT model like the tester, and you get Bose audio, a sunroof, heated seats, automatic climate control, navigation, Bluetooth, and more. I liked the powerful, high-performance xenon lighting system, and those who don't like looking behind them will like the blind-spot monitoring mirrors and a backup camera, too.

Shoppers will notice the perforated leather, suede inserts, glossy and metallic accents and intricate panel intersections, and how they work to show off some attention to detail. Material use is about average for the segment, but the design will rival a premium crossover's cabin any day of the week. So, the cabin pulls off some excitement, too.

The driver computer is a small LCD readout, rather than a full-colour screen. The navigation and phone interface isn't the market's most advanced -- but, all in all, test-drivers should find the CX-9 to be a sporty, upscale and well-equipped place to be.

It's also roomy: Up front there is generous space for two adults and their stuff, thanks to plenty of storage. Rear-seat occupants get their own climate control, and the accessory, form-fitted rubber mats make for easy cleaning of winter messes, cargo spills, and the like. The cargo hold is just massive, and conceals a third seating row that flips out of the floor as needed when you've got more than five total occupants along for the ride.

Complaints? As expected of a big powerful ute, gas mileage can get thirsty. During a lead-footed filming session in very deep snow, I saw 20L/100km. Discounting this exceptional situation, mileage landed at 15L/100km, which was as expected.

Further, the remote tailgate only worked some of the time, which was weird, and the leather on the steering wheel was a bit on the slippery side, so make sure you're grabbing on tight.

Comparing the 2014 Mazda CX-9 GT
Ultimately, the looks, room, and flexibility should leave drivers and their families feeling like they're in something that's sophisticated, entertaining and ready for anything -- even very deep snow. Consider the 2014 Mazda CX-9 a sportier, more engaging alternative to the Honda Pilot, GMC Acadia, and Ford Explorer.

From GMM

Toro Rosso is singling out teenage Russian rookie Daniil Kvyat as a future world champion.

"Yes," boss Franz Tost confirmed, "because he's shown that already by winning the younger classes -- and especially the way he was winning. He has it in his DNA to win races and championships."

Tost told F1's official website that Kvyat has already revealed his championship potential within a few short races, which undoubtedly raises the pressure on Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso's established driver, who has been at Faenza since 2012.

But, for now, Tost is backing the low-profile 24-year-old Frenchman, insisting he is struggling with the new fly-by-wire braking.

"Jean-Eric is a quite sensible driver," he said, "and as soon as we have this (braking problem) under control I am convinced that he will show his real potential, because he is a really fast and highly skilled driver."

Daniil Kvyat and Franz Tost, Toro Rosso. (Photo: WRi2)

It is, however, an awkward time in Vergne's career, having been considered for Mark Webber's seat at Red Bull Racing but now seeing his former teammate Daniel Ricciardo perform so strongly alongside world champion Sebastian Vettel.

At the same time, Vergne is struggling to show up a boy-faced 20-year-old.

"A lot of things have been happening that were not necessarily visible," Vergne told France's L'Equipe, "but in these cases I prefer not to look for excuses but to keep my head down.

"I feel much better than last year in qualifying, even if the race results are not yet the ones we expected."

Still, he is keen to point out that when he was paired with Ricciardo, they were very closely matched.

"I have no regrets, because things happen for one reason or another," said Vergne, referring to Red Bull's decision to promote Ricciardo and not him.

"As I had the same performance as Daniel in the last two seasons, it shows what level we had, Daniel and me," he said.

"I learned a lot from him in qualifying, and in the race I was always able to make a difference."

TORONTO, On - Tire manufacturers are at a distinct disadvantage, while their products are one of the most important components in a car's safety, they're difficult to market since they're also the least sexy.

But saving money is attractive to almost everyone - which should make "low-rolling resistance" tires, designed to be more fuel efficient , an easy sell, right?

Not necessarily.

Just like cars that have been engineered to use less gas, that economic friendliness often comes at the price of performance. Continental claims that their TrueContact tire not only reduces fuel consumption and lasts longer but out-performs other leading brands in handling and comfort. To prove it, they pitted their tire against their top competitor, the Bridgestone Ecopia, in a variety of tests, using identical AWD Audi A4 sedans.

Photo: Canadian Tire

What are low rolling-resistance tires?
How much fuel a vehicle consumes is directly related to its effort to overcome inertia - or resistance to moving. Low rolling-resistance tires are designed to reduce weight, through thinner sidewalls and generally shallower tread depth.

Depending on road and weather conditions, low rolling resistance tires can improve your fuel economy by as much as 4 percent. That may not sound like much, but could save you hundreds at the pumps each year or almost enough to pay for the tires.

Low-rolling resistance tires are somewhat of a compromise; the dollars saved in fuel come at a cost of decreased performance. Shallower treads, more flexible sidewalls and different composites generally resulted in poor performance and less grip. They wore out faster too, which pretty much cancelled out any fuel savings.

Photo: Canadian Tire

The Competitors
Bridgestone's patented technology more evenly blends the ingredients in their Ecopia for a more consistent grip. The sidewalls are engineered to regain their shape more quickly, since sidewall flex causes a tire to squirm and lose traction. Tread blocks provide better handling and grooves, for channeling away water for better wet road performance and braking. The better distribution of carbon helps reduce friction, which also extends the tire's life.

Continental's TrueContact tire compound is molded into a symmetrical design, providing continuous road contact for better steering response and handling. Wide grooves prevent hydroplaning while improving traction. Twin steel internal belts provide strength, while a cushioning layer of rubber absorbs vibration over rough pavement. Continental promises up to $550 in fuel savings over its competitors over the tire's life.

Both are "Tier One" premium tires designed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

Photo: Canadian Tire

Comfort, Noise and Vibration
The first comparison test was conducted over a short course featuring several rough surfaces that emulated rough pavement, potholes and bumps. For the most part there was little difference between the two; both handled the potholes and rough patches well.

But over thin strips of rubber resembling ridged pavement, the Continentals were slightly quieter, with less vibration intruding into the car's cabins.

Steering and Handling
Up next was a nice little handling course featuring a couple of slaloms and ending with a tight hairpin.

At 50 km/h, both tires performed well, but the Continental provided noticeably better steering response. At 57 km/h, the Bridgestone Ecopia started to lose lateral grip and displayed more sidewall flex.

With the TrueContacts, I could push the car up to 67km/h with no squirming during the side-to-side motion of the slalom, and retain grip and steering through the hairpin. The Ecopia's steering seemed mushier by comparison.

Wet Braking
This test was performed by applying a full-on panic stop brake from 70 km/h and measuring the stopping distance on wet pavement. The TrueContacts consistently out braked the Ecopias by at least ten feet in every single instance, with an average of 95 feet for the Bridgestones and 85 feet for the Continentals through my six runs.

Ten feet may not sound like much - but it could mean the difference between a close call, and tragedy.

Photo: Canadian Tire

Conclusion
Both tires are designed to save you money at the gas pumps, but the Continental TrueContact does so with less performance sacrifice.

However, the Ecopia EP20 starts at $113.99 (www.bridgestonetire.ca), while the TrueContact starts at $129.99 (www.canadiantire.ca).

TrueContacts last on average about 145,000 km, and feature wear indicators "DWS" to let you know when they've reached their optimum use depending on the condition. For example; once the letter 'S' is worn, the tire is no longer effective on snow, 'W' refers to Wet, and when 'D' is the only remaining intact letter, the tire is good only on dry pavement. Ecopias are covered by a 105,000 km warranty.

While both of these tires claim "all-season" utility, it is important to note that they can't replicate the cold-weather ability of genuine winter tires.

The Sauber Formula 1 team mounted a GoPro camera to Simona De Silvestro's helmet when she recently tested a C31 at Fiorano.

The camera filmed an in and an outlap during her first test in the two-year old Sauber F1 at the Ferrari test track.

The Swiss raced in the IndyCar series for four years before she signed a contract with Sauber in 2014.

From press release

Hilmer Motorsport is pleased to announce that Beitske Visser and Nelson Mason will join the team for the opening event of the 2014 GP3 Series in Barcelona.

The 26-year-old Canadian from Niagara Falls was already testing with the German team at the pre-season test days in Jerez and Barcelona and has shown a promising performance. Mason will compete with Hilmer Motorsport the whole 2014 season.

Mason began his racing career at the age of five years in Canadian National Motocross.

To increase his track time, he has competed in various racing categories throughout his career and was competing in different Karting Championships and European Formula Championships.

In 2013, he achieved three race wins and four pole positions in European Formula Open and raced in the prestigious 60th Macau Grand Prix.

Nelson Mason, Hilmer GP3 car (Photo: Hilmer Motorsport)

Nelson Mason will run the No. 18 GP3 car and Beitske Visser will be at the wheel of the No. 19 GP3 car of Hilmer Motorsport. Both will make their GP3 race debut at the Circuit de Catalunya on 10th May 2014.

“I am extremely happy to be part of Hilmer Motorsport and to compete with the team in GP3 Series this year,” said Mason.

“I would like to thank the whole team for offering me this opportunity and all the work at the pre-season test days in Jerez and Barcelona. It is a tremendous honour to join the team in the GP3 Series, and I hope to uphold the success that the team has achieved so far in GP2. I'd really like to thank my family and supporters for all the tireless work to get me here and everyone behind the scenes.”

From GMM

Formula 1's smallest teams, like Marussia, Caterham and Sauber, have proposed a mid-season development freeze to cut costs from 2015.

After the powerful 'Strategy Group' teams recently vetoed plans for a budget cap, the FIA told disgruntled smaller teams to come up with alternate cost-saving measures that could be added to the sporting and technical rules next year.

According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, the headline proposal is for a freeze to car development after 1 July each season.

"After that, only homologated parts may be used until the end of the season," revealed correspondent Michael Schmidt.

Another proposal by the small teams is that the expensive flying-in of new car components will be banned after scrutineering at each grand prix.

Not only that, teams would be free to buy steering wheels and chassis components from other outfits in the pit lane, while Friday morning practice will be axed, with cars entering 'parc fermé' conditions on the same day.

Any proposals would have to be agreed by majority before June 30 in order to be included in the regulations for 2015.

From GMM

Four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel could not resist the lure of racing in the three-week gap between F1's Chinese and Spanish grands prix.

Kölner Express newspaper revealed that the Red Bull driver entered the German championship race at Ampfing in Bavaria with Michael Schumacher's KSM team.

Sebastian Vettel, Lonato. (Photo: Tony Kart)

The report said it was the reigning world champion's first kart race for three years.

And, confirming the news, the kart maker Tony Kart revealed that Vettel tested the machine at the Lonato track in Italy for two days before the German event.

Young Nico Hulkenberg and Sebastian Vettel at the Paris-Bercy indoor karting event. (Photo: Sebastian Blin)

Mercedes AMG Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg finished the first day of track action in Barcelona in first and second places respectively.

The newly titled Mercedes F1 W05 Hybrid topped both of today's practice sessions at the Circuit de Catalunya, home of the Spanish Grand Prix, first European race of the season.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W05. (Photo: WRi2)

The drivers completed a total of 95 laps today across the two practice sessions, just under 1.5 race distances.

Rosberg's mileage was restricted by an ERS cooling system problem in the first session and he completed just nine laps.

The big news concerned Sebastian Vettel who was forced to sit out second practice due to an electrical problem.

The issue manifested itself just four laps into FP1, forcing Vettel to pull his RB10 to a halt on circuit. An electrical problem had damaged the wiring loom of the RB10.

Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing. (Photo: WRi2)

“Our two practice sessions today went very smoothly, in fact I've not had such a good Friday for a very long time!,” Hamilton said.

“Barcelona is a difficult circuit in terms of the tires so our running was all about trying to see how long the tires would last and we were able to make some positive changes with that during P2 this afternoon. It's very difficult to overtake here so we will do everything we can to qualify as high as possible tomorrow, but really it is all about the race and looking after those tires is the most important thing,” he added.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F14 T. (Photo: WRi2)

Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona, Friday's Free Practice 1*:
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 1'27”023 - 17 laps
2 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1'27"891 - 26
3 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1'27"973 - 21
4 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14 T) - 1'28"128 - 21
5 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1'28"168 - 9
6 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14 T) - 1'28”337 - 19
7 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1'28"423 - 27
8 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1'28”744 - 34
9 - Sergio Perez (Sahara Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1'28”779 - 18
10 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1'28"791 - 13
11 - Daniil Kvyat(Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1'28"792 - 24
12 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sahara Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1'28"828 - 17
13 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1'28"859 - 24
14 - Felipe Nasr (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1'29"272 - 15
15 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1'29"688 - 16
16 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1'29"820 - 22
17 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1'29”944 - 21
18 - Giedo Van der Garde (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1'30"440 - 22
19 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1'30"748 - 19
20 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1'30"942 - 4
21 - Kamui Kobayashi (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1'30”997 - 22
22 - Marcus Ericsson (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1'31”421 - 22

Kevin Magnussen, McLaren-Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

Spanish Grand Prix, Barcelona, Friday's Free Practice 2*:
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 1'25"524 - 33 laps
2 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1'25"973 +0.449 - 36
3 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1'26"509 +0.985 - 38
4 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14 T) - 1'27"121 +1.597 - 33
5 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14 T) - 1'27'296 +1.772 - 33
6 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1'27"788 +2.264 - 37
7 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1'27"811 +2.287 - 29
8 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1'27"824 +2.300 - 31
9 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1'27"866 +2.342 - 42
10 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1'28"049 +2.525 - 35
11 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sahara Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1'28"074 +2.550 - 31
12 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1'28"246 +2.722 - 30
13 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1'28"284 +2.760 - 33
14 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1'28"698 +3.174 - 33
15 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1'29"105 +3.581 - 24
16 - Sergio Perez (Sahara Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1'29"129 +3.605 - 34
17 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1'29"493 +3.969 - 26
18 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1'29"991 +4.467 - 26
19 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1'31"148 +5.624 - 28
20 - Kamui Kobayashi (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1'31"338 +5.814 - 38
21 - Marcus Ericsson (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1'31"586 +6.062 - 39

* Unofficial timings

Renault Sport F1 boss Jean-Michel Jalinier has met with the customer teams that use the Renault Power Unit to remind them to pay their bills.

In the paddock of Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Jalinier told journalists that the French company was losing patience and threatened to suspend engine supply if the issue was not solved quickly.

Renault currently supplies V6 turbo hybrid Power Units to Red Bull Racing, Toro Rosso, Lotus and Caterham. However, it is widely speculated by Red Bull Racing is not behind with payments.

News agency Reuters reports that Jalinier said that while Renault could live with late payments "up to a certain point", the critical point - likely to be the Grand Prix of Monaco later this month - was fast approaching.

Jean-Michel Jalinier, Renault Sport F1. (Photo: WRi2)

"Our resources are coming from two sources: One is Renault, and we have been able to secure the right resources...and the other part of it is coming from the teams, because we are selling the engines to the teams," Jalinier told reporters in Barcelona.

"On this part I must say we are not at an acceptable situation, because some of the teams are just late in payments, and at the time you need to spend resources to catch up you cannot afford to have those (late) payments,” Jalinier added.

Jalinier was asked if suspending engines supply to the teams behind with their payments was considered, the Frenchman said: “That is an option. You first need to work with your team and get back to some kind of financial situation.”