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Dealership new-vehicle profits won't grow anytime soon.

Everything about the new test program that Google co-founder Sergey Brin revealed last week points toward a personal transportation system that directly challenges the driver-centered, ownership-based business model the auto industry has relied on...

Five years ago this week, General Motors Corp. -- long a symbol of America's industrial might -- sought bankruptcy protection. Work on what would become the bankruptcy road map began within GM before outgoing President George W.

Eight states, in a coalition including California and New York, have signaled that they're willing to meet automakers part way in an effort to put 3.3 million zero-emission vehicles on their roads by 2025.

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has high ambitions for the French-Japanese carmaking alliance. His aim is to "install Renault-Nissan as one of the top three global automakers."

Automotive News Europe honors the winners of the 2014 Rising Stars awards. Every day through June 3 a pair of the 14 winners will be featured. The Rising Star for Marketing is Etienne Henry of Renault-Nissan.

Automotive News Europe salutes the winners of the 2014 Rising Stars awards. Every day through June 3 two of the 14 winners will be featured. The Rising Star for Purchasing is Craig Price of Dana.

Renault's long-term sales goals for China are bold. The automaker is aiming to sell 600,000 to 700,000 units, up from just 32,000 cars in the market last year.

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has high ambitions for the French-Japanese carmaking alliance. His aim is to "install Renault-Nissan as one of the top three global automakers."

The latest issue of the Automotive News Europe monthly e-magazine is ready for you to view. This month's edition looks at Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn's plan catch industry leaders Toyota, VW and GM.

British Formula 1 journalist Adam Cooper reports Monday morning that despite radio silence from the FIA, the Romanian-backed FRR F1 Team project has been granted a place on the F1 grid.

After the FIA granted an entry to American entrepreneur Gene Haas April 11, it said it was “in the process of conducting further investigations for Forza Rossa,” using the name that forms part of the official FRR identity.

Despite the delay, FFR is expected to be ready to race by 2015.

Cooper also writes that FFR - to be run for Colin Kolles - is planning to use Renault power units (that could be rebadged as Dacias) and apparently has a lot more elements in place compared to Haas Formula.

The man behind the project is Kolles' fellow countryman, 45-year-old Ion Bazac, a qualified physician, politician and former Romanian health minister.

Bazac is also a successful businessman and is also Romania's Ferrari importer, under the name Forza Rossa.

Colin Kolles, HRT, 2011. (Photo: WRi2)

Japanese driver Yuki Iwasaki crashed heavily into the barriers during a race of the Japan GT300 series at Autopolis.

Iwasaki, who drives a Nissan GT-R Nismo, said the brake pedal when straight to the floor at 220 km/h when he attempted to decelerate for a corner.

The Japanese explained in his blog that he downshifted to try to reduce the speed of the car, and worked the steering wheel to try to spin the car. Nothing worked.

The Nissan hit the tire wall straight on.

Amazingly, Iwazaki has not been injured although he suffers from a sore back.

The first few replicas of the hot new Ferrari LaFerrari are currently entering production in China and are expected to hit the market pretty soon. Using a Toyota Camry engine, these models will be sold at a much cheaper price than the original: $20,000 USD.

The real, exclusive Ferrari LaFerrari, which made its global debut at the 2013 Geneva Auto Show as the Italian automaker's first hybrid car, is reserved for just 499 customers.

Source : inautonews.com

Photo: Ferrari

Toyota Canada has announced recalls on the 2004-2011 Sienna minivan, 2014 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid SUVs, and 2013 Lexus GS 350 sedan.

On 82,381 Toyota Siennas operated where road salts are frequently used, corrosion of the spare tire carrier assembly cable may cause the separation of the spare tire stowed under the vehicle. Dealers will replace the spare tire carrier assembly when parts become available.

Note: This recall supersedes recall 2010-123. Vehicles that were inspected and/or repaired under the previous recall may still be at risk of spare tire separation and will require re-inspection and/or repair.

Meanwhile, some 4,000 Highlanders may suffer from a defect in the programming of the occupant classification system that could limit the seat belt's ability to protect front passenger seat occupants during a crash. Dealers will therefore reprogram the occupant classification module.

Finally, on 463 Lexus GS 350 sedans, the brake pedal load sensing switch could fail. This would cause the brake warning light to illuminate and the brakes to activate while driving. In this case, dealers will replace the brake pedal assembly.

Source: Transport Canada

General Motors plans to launch a new Belt Assurance System to help ensure the driver and front passenger buckle up before hitting the road. It simply does not allow shifting from “park” until the left and right front seat belts are buckled.

GM has said that the Belt Assurance System will be available at no cost on select fleet vehicles later this year. No word yet on mainstream vehicles.

Source : auto.lapresse.ca

From GMM

Honda has an advantage in being able to concentrate exclusively on 2015.

That is the claim of Andy Cowell, who is the engine boss for F1's dominant Mercedes team.

This year, the German marque is fighting for title spoils against only Renault and Ferrari, but Japanese carmaker Honda is returning to the fray in 2015 as McLaren's works partner.

"There are pros and cons (for Honda)," said Cowell.

He is referring to the fact that Honda is missing from the grid in 2014, the very first season of the all-new turbo V6 era.

"Ferrari, Renault and Mercedes have the experience of winter testing and the grands prix this year," Cowell told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

"We know based on facts what the issues are and how to solve them. Honda can only watch," he said.

"On the other hand, we face a challenge in that we are continuing to develop the current engine in the context of what is allowed, and simultaneously we need to prepare for the 2015 homologation next February," Andy Cowell explained.

"So Honda has the advantage of being able to learn through photos and analysing the performance of the engines whilst concentrating fully on 2015," he said.

"They are gaining knowledge free of charge, but not in the depth of the three (existing) manufacturers," added Andy Cowell.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

From GMM

Sochi could be the next night race on the F1 calendar.

Despite the unfolding Crimean crisis, tickets for the inaugural Russian grand prix in October have are now on sale.

And for the future, promoter Sergey Vorobyov said the plan is to hold the race under floodlights.

"On the night race, yes. (Bernie) Ecclestone was in Sochi to make sure that the night-time is very beautiful," he told Ria Novosti news agency.

"The idea is technically difficult for the first year (2014), which will definitely be a day race," said Sergey Vorobyov.

"A night race has high costs that must first be calculated. But we like it (the night race concept), and I think that sooner or later it will come," he added.

Olympic fireworks in Sochi. (Photo: Formula Sochi)

Here are 8 interesting details Formula 1 fans must know about the Canadian Grand Prix held this weekend in Montreal.

1
The first Canadian Grand Prix was held in 1967 at Mosport Park near Toronto, and was won by Jack Brabham, driving a Brabham-Repco.

Jack Brabham, Brabham-Repco. (Photo: WRi2)

2
The Gilles Villeneuve circuit was the scene of Robert Kubica's terrible and frightening crash in 2007 in his BMW Sauber.

3
Ferrari and McLaren have won the Canadian race 18 times each. The next best team is Williams with 7 wins.

4
The first race to be held in Montreal in October 1978 saw Gilles Villeneuve take the win - his first in Formula 1 - in his Ferrari 312 T3.

Gilles Villeneuve, Ferrari 312 T3. (Photo: WRi2)

5
The winningest driver is Michael Schumacher with 7 wins, followed by Nelson Piquet and Lewis Hamilton with 3 victories each.

6
Five drivers have taken a debut win in Montreal: Gilles Villeneuve (1978), Thierry Boutsen (1989), Jean Alesi (1995), Lewis Hamilton (2007) and Robert Kubica (2008).

Jean Alesi in 1995. (Photo: WRi2)

7
In 2005, the Canadian Grand Prix was the third-most watched sporting event in the world with 51 million viewers, just behind the Super Bowl and the UEFA Champions League.

8
The 2011 Canadian Grand Prix was the longest-ever Formula 1 race in 4h04m39.54 because of a downpour. Jenson Button eventually won the race by beating Sebastian Vettel.

Jenson Button, McLaren, 2011. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Michael Schumacher's manager has dismissed the latest round of speculation about the F1 legend.

Media reports in Spain last week quoted Sabine Kehm, Schumacher's manager, as saying the seven time world champion was now able to "interact" with his "immediate surroundings".

The news follows more than a 150-day coma for the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver, following his skiing fall just after Christmas.

But Kehm told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport: "I have never spoken with these journalists, and we have not issued any statement about Michael's health condition."

However, some believe the speculation about Schumacher's condition is only being fuelled by the complete lack of official information from his family and management.

Roger Benoit, a respected and long-serving member of the F1 corps, wrote in Blick newspaper: "Slowly, everybody is really worried. Grenoble and the family have been silent for weeks. Why?"

Michael Schumacher. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz)

Also critical of the Schumacher camp's media strategy is Gary Hartstein, the former F1 doctor.

He fears the worst.

"I can conceive of no possible reason that Michael's entourage, understandably extremely protective of his and their privacy, would not tell his fans if significantly good things have happened," Hartstein wrote on his blog.

He said that, almost six months into a coma of Schumacher's magnitude, "only a tiny, tiny fraction" of patients ever regain consciousness.

Dr Hartstein added: "I'm quite afraid, and virtually certain, we will never have any good news about Michael. At this point, I rather dread seeing that the family has put out a press release."

From GMM

Stefano Domenicali says his heart will "always be red".

Red, of course, is the colour of Ferrari, the fabled Italian marque he represented for more than two decades.

But Domenicali, 49, left the Maranello team earlier this year, with poor results in the all-new turbo V6 era triggering the arrival of Marco Mattiacci.

Domenicali has been laying low since his exit, but he resurfaced at the weekend at Mugello, for the Italian round of MotoGP.

"Ferrari? My heart will always be red," Italian reports quote him as saying.

Also at Mugello on Sunday was Ferrari's lead driver Fernando Alonso.

"It is my first time not just at a MotoGP race, but any motorcycle race," Alonso, who arrived in a red Ferrari F12, told Spain's Marca newspaper.

The Spaniard also spoke about Ferrari's flagging fortunes in 2014.

"We have to improve step by step -- we cannot do quantum leaps," Alonso is quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"We need to set the objective of creating a solid foundation not only for this year but for the future as well."