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If Volkswagen does buy Fiat Chrysler -- despite the companies' denials of a report that they are in talks -- it would be because the fixations of VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech may line up perfectly with the needs of the family that controls Fiat...

Opel will discontinue the weak-selling Ampera plug-in hybrid, according to people familiar with the company's plans.

If VW does buy Fiat Chrysler -- despite the companies' denials of a report that they are in talks -- it would be because the fixations of VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech may line up perfectly with the needs of Fiat Chrysler's controlling family.

This year's Automotive Hall of Fame inductees -- Keith Crain, Ferdinand Piech, Dave Power and Alex Tremulis -- have a lot in common.

Authorities working to stop the flowof high-end cars overseas have run into a significant obstacle: Exporters arranging the shipments may not be breaking any laws, even if so-called strawbuyers are sometimes deceptive.

Griffith Motors is one of hundreds of Honda and Acura dealers that American Honda is asking to add service bays, hours or both by 2018 to accommodate the automaker's forecast of rising sales.

Automotive News will host a half-day conference devoted to dealer issues on Jan. 22 in San Francisco at the Hotel InterContinental during the National Automobile Dealers Association convention.

Scientists working for Toyota believe that the future assault of fully autonomous cars may end up increasing overall fuel consumption and air pollution, despite the fact that these vehicles feature a bunch of technologies designed to eliminate traffic accidents and congestion, and in turn reduce fuel use.

Okay, how is that possible, you say? Well, they argue that by making daily commutes faster and more enjoyable, allowing drivers to complete various tasks instead of actually driving, autonomous cars will simultaneously add to urban sprawl and encourage people to hit the road more often.

Photo: Ford

“U.S. history shows that anytime you make driving easier, there seems to be this inexhaustible desire to live further from things,” Ken Laberteaux, senior principal scientist at Toyota Research Institute-North America, said in an interview at the Automated Vehicles Symposium in San Francisco. “The pattern we've seen for a century is people turn more speed into more travel, rather than maybe saying ‘I'm going to use my reduced travel time by spending more time with my family.'”

While Toyota is preaching more of a “co-pilot” approach, U.S. safety regulators want to accelerate the development of so-called driverless cars in order to reduce traffic accidents that annually kill more than 30,000 people.

Do you think drivers will spend more time on the road with autonomous cars than they do right now with regular cars?

Source : bloomberg.com

From IndyCar.com

British driver Mike Conway earned his second Verizon IndyCar Series victory of the season by holding off Tony Kanaan over a three-lap sprint to the finish in the second race of the Honda Indy Toronto doubleheader.

Conway, driving the No. 20 Fuzzy's Ultra Premium Vodka car for Ed Carpenter Racing, won by 3.5418 seconds following the lap 54 restart after a red flag with 4 minutes, 23 seconds left in the 80-minute race.

Photo: LAT for IndyCar

The race director called for the red flag to freeze the field on lap 52 after a multiple-car incident in Turn 3 the previous lap.

Will Power finished third in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske car and Charlie Kimball advanced 14 positions relative to his starting spot in the No. 83 Levemir FlexTouch Chip Ganassi Racing car to finish fourth. Takuma Sato rebounded from 23rd place in Race 1 to finish a season-high fifth in the No. 14 ABC Supply A.J. Foyt Racing entry.

Verizon IndyCar Series championship front-runner Helio Castroneves, the pole sitter as the race lineup for the standing start was determined by entrant points, sustained wing damage on the No. 3 PPG Team Penske car on the penultimate lap and dropped to 12th place. He holds a 13-point lead over Power through 14 of the 18 races.

Photo: LAT for IndyCar

Conway was the second to switch from Firestone rain tires to alternate tires on lap 43 as the 1.755-mile, 11-turn street circuit was drying following a light rain that started on lap 12.

He was running third after gaining one position on a lap 49 restart and overtook Justin Wilson and Josef Newgarden - both still on rain tires - for first on lap 50.

Conway, earning his second victory of the season and the third for Ed Carpenter Racing, won the 250th race for Firestone since its return to Indy car racing in 1995.

In Race 1, Sebastien Bourdais, driving the No. 11 Hydroxycut KVSH Racing car, claimed his 32nd Indy car career win. Bourdais broke a tie with Dario Franchitti and Paul Tracy for eighth on the all-time win list.

From GMM

Euphoric at Silverstone two weeks ago when he pulled the gap back to just 4 points, Lewis Hamilton's mood dimmed once again on Sunday as he deficit blew back out to 14.

Hamilton started the race in 20th place and finished third behind race winner Nico Rosberg and Valtteri Bottas.

Hamilton thinks a result better than third might have been possible at Hockenheim, after seeing Adrian Sutil's stricken Sauber.

A safety car would have ended championship leader Nico Rosberg's huge race lead.

"I definitely got a bit worried," Rosberg admitted, "because I was sure there was going to be a safety car and that would have obviously made it a lot more difficult."

Safety car at Hockenheim. (Photo: WRi2)

Nico Rosberg wasn't the only one surprised, particularly in a sport that, in the name of safety, is prepared to delay a race for an hour to fix a damaged barrier.

"I was really concerned for the marshals -- really concerned," said Hamilton, referring to the incident.

"It felt like the closest thing I have seen for a long, long time."

He said whizzing past marshals who ran across the racing line to recover Sutil's Sauber reminded him of footage of the 1977 South African grand prix, when a marshal and Tom Pryce were killed in a gruesome collision.

"That was the first thing I thought about," said Hamilton. "I couldn't believe it. How on earth a car can be sitting in the middle of the road for a couple of laps and not come out? I think you know why."

The Briton would not expand on what he meant by his final remark, but there was probably no conspiracy to protect Rosberg's race lead for a sure home win.

Mercedes' Wolff said not putting the safety car out was surely the result of a new effort by F1's authorities to reduce interference in the racing.

"Under the old spirit of the FIA," he told Auto Motor und Sport, "the safety car would have come out. But I think Charlie's decision was deliberately taken not to turn a race on its head with 15 laps to go."

Hollywood actor and star of the famous “Grand Prix” movie, James Garner died of natural causes at his Brentwood, California, home.

Garner was found dead of natural causes at his home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles Saturday evening.

Garner played the role of F1 driver Pete Aron alongside Eva Marie Saint and Yves Montand in the iconic “Grand Prix” movie of 1966 directed by John Frankenheimer.

Since then, Garner became a die-hard motorsport fan, attending several Indy 500s and Formula 1 races.

James Garner, « Grand Prix » movie, 1966

From GMM

Niki Lauda has criticised Williams, in the wake of female driver Susie Wolff's Friday morning appearances at Silverstone and Hockenheim.

Wolff's Silverstone outing was short-lived due to technical trouble, but at Hockenheim the 31-year-old Scot managed more laps and eventually was just two tenths shy of Felipe Massa's best time.

According to F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman Lauda, however, the British team Williams missed a trick in managing Wolff's practice sessions -- the first time a woman has taken part in world championship rounds for 22 years.

"Williams unfortunately missed the chance to do global women's racing a big favour," he told the Swiss newspaper Blick at Hockenheim.

Niki Lauda, who works closely with Wolff's husband Toto at Mercedes, said Williams should have dispensed with its usual Friday practice programme in order to allow Susie to impress the world with a scintillating laptime.

"Rather than the same fuel and the same tires as Massa, she should have got soft rubber and low fuel -- and then been a lot higher up. If you do a PR move, then do it right," said the outspoken Austrian. "But I take off my cap to Susie."

Susie Wolff, Williams Martini Racing. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

New fuel did not give Red Bull the boost it was hoping for in Germany, world champion Sebastian Vettel has admitted.

Pre-Hockenheim, it was reported the new blend supplied by Renault's works partner Total would deliver a 12 horse power boost.

It did not materialise.

"I think it's not the last word on this," German Vettel told Auto Motor und Sport, "as there are reasons why it did not work out.

"Whether we find out in a week, it's hard to say," he added, referring to the forthcoming Hungarian grand prix.

"For sure it was a disappointment, as we had hoped for more. The big step didn't work out," said Vettel, "but I hope that it is coming."

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing. (Photo: WRi2)

A few races ago, reigning world champion Red Bull looked to have established itself as the first force behind Mercedes.

But Vettel says Williams is now holding that position.

"Absolutely. Their pace in qualifying is outstanding," he said. "But I think we can still catch up. But since Austria they have been right at the front."

Until now, Red Bull has pointed the finger at engine supplier Renault for its lack of pace. But Vettel now suggests Milton-Keynes has some more work to do.

"We have simply lacked grip," he said. "We slide too much. The others are doing better."

From GMM

Niki Lauda has used an expletive to describe the quality of the cars produced by Mercedes' grandee rivals in 2014.

The F1 legend is the chairman of the Mercedes team, whose W05 car is utterly dominating the sport this year.

"McLaren has the same engine as us and the car is sh*t," he told the Spanish newspaper El Pais. "Where are they? Nowhere. The same with Ferrari -- another sh*t car. Next year will be different because they can change half the engine."

Niki Lauda had been asked about Mercedes' huge advantage in 2014, and whether it is fair that the regulations restrict the rivals' freedom to fight back.

"The rules are written clearly. You cannot penalise Brixworth because others have been stupid," he said.

But the situation has left Fernando Alonso as perhaps the most frustrated driver in F1, seemingly always stranded in a midfield car despite his talents.

"I'm sure he is very frustrated, but the money he makes should help him," said Lauda.

"He can't just go to McLaren because he has a contract that he can't get out of unless he's sacked. Sometimes you choose a car and you're wrong. Remember Ronnie Peterson? He was the best but always in the wrong place," Niki Lauda added.

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

When asked about Lauda's expletive-laden description of the 2014 Ferrari, boss Marco Mattiacci played down the controversy.

"I do not intend to comment on a phrase taken out of context in an interview," he is quoted by Italy's Autosprint. "For me, Niki Lauda is an icon of motor sport, one of the most intelligent drivers of all time and my esteem for him is huge."

From GMM

Michael Schumacher might soon continue his rehabilitation at home, according to the Swiss newspaper Sonntagsblick.

After six months in a coma, the seven time world champion was recently transferred from intensive care in Grenoble to a rehabilitation ward in Lausanne.

That is not far from the Schumachers' home on the shores of Lake Geneva, but Sonntagsblick claims the 45-year-old German could return home "during the course of the summer".

The report cited sources close to the Lausanne hospital.

Mark Mader, the chief doctor at a rehabilitation hospital in Basel, Switzerland, said that while home care is "difficult" for the family, "it is optimal" for patients like Schumacher.

From GMM

Fernando Alonso has urged teammate Kimi Raikkonen to "improve".

Spaniard Alonso has utterly dominated his fellow former champion at Ferrari since the Finn returned to the Maranello team for 2014.

He argues Raikkonen's struggles are now hurting Ferrari, who at Hockenheim fell behind Williams in the fight for third place in the constructors' standings.

"In the constructors' championship we have lost a bit of ground to Williams," Alonso confirmed to the Spanish sports daily Marca after the German grand prix.

"We have only been able to count on one car again and we have to improve on that."

Three world champions in action: Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Felipe Massa insists his F1 career is not being put in the shadow by a new star.

The warring Mercedes duo aside, the undoubted star of the last three races has been Valtteri Bottas, a shy Finn who on Sunday completed a hat-trick of podiums.

Former F1 driver Patrick Tambay told RMC Sport he thinks Bottas, 24, is establishing himself as a "star for the next ten years".

"He's a tough competitor," Bottas' Williams teammate Felipe Massa told Brazil's Totalrace, "but I have no reason to fear him -- no way."

Second in Germany, Valtteri Bottas is close to the victory once again. (Photo: WRi2)

The Brazilian, a long-time Ferrari driver until his switch to Williams this year, has had a much lower-profile season of results, including his spectacular rollover crash at Hockenheim.

"I know what I'm capable of, what I can do for the team, my speed," Massa insisted.

"I lack nothing to him. I've done as much as he did in the last few races, or even better," said the 33-year-old, who has scored 61 fewer points than Bottas so far in 2014.

"I have no concern with it," Felipe Massa continued. "I am glad for what has happened to him because he has earned it through his work, but we could be ahead of Red Bull if everything that happened to me did not."

Massa said the situation is not as difficult to cope with as some previous bad seasons with Ferrari.

"It is more difficult when it is an issue about you, or you needing to improve," he explained. "For sure this period will eventually end. I have no concerns with my pace.

"If I was slow and I did not have the results because of my fault, it would be different," Massa added.

Canadian Lance Stroll of Montreal captured victory in Race 2 of the Mugello meeting of the Italian Formula 4 Championship.

Fresh out of karting, Stroll - a member of the prestigious Ferrari driver development program - contests this year his first season in car racing.

Stroll won one race every meeting and stands on top of the point standings with 175 points. He leads Andrea Russo (114 points) and Leonardo Pulcini (84 points).

Lance Stroll (No. 18) (Photo; Formula 4 Championship)

The young Canadian has shown impressive consistency so far this season. He won a race at Adria (June 8), Imola (June 29) and now Mugello on July 13.

Interestingly, Stroll drives for Prema Powerteam, the team led by Angelo Rosin. It is more of less the same team that ran a young Jacques Villeneuve (son of Gilles) during his days in the Italian Formula 3 Championship in the early 80s.

From GMM

Two top Formula 1 teams have admitted they considered lodging a protest against Mercedes AMG at the German Grand Prix.

Hamilton's crash was caused by a failure of the Mercedes driver's Brembo-supplied brake disc, so Mercedes opted to switch the Briton to Carbone Industrie brakes ahead of the race.

Mercedes successfully argued that it should avoid penalty for breaching parc fermé rules because of a clause allowing changes if the new parts are "similar in mass, inertia and function".

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG, Hockenheim. (Photo: WRi2)

Red Bull Racing's Christian Horner revealed that he "absolutely" disagrees, particularly as both of the RB cars were fitted with Brembo brakes throughout the race weekend.

"If you change it like-for-like that is one thing," he said.

"But if you change it for something made by a different manufacturer that has a different characteristic, and as described by the driver himself as something different, it is an interesting precedent."

Christian Horner ultimately decided not to protest, but he is now calling for an FIA "clarification".

"We obviously now need clarification," he said, "because if you can do that, then what else can you change?"

Ferrari's Marco Mattiacci also admitted discussions took place about a potential protest.

"We decided not to move forward on this because I don't think we wanted to get into it," he said.

Remember the SyScan 360 conference we told you about last week, more specifically the $10,000 prize for anyone who could successfully hack into a Tesla Model S and take control of the car? Well, it's been done, folks!

Chinese security experts were able to gain remote control of the electric luxury sedan's door locks, headlights, wipers, sunroof, and horn.

Qihoo 360, which co-sponsored the event, declined to reveal details about how the hack was accomplished, however. According to one unnamed source, the hackers managed to crack the 6-digit code for the Model S' mobile app.

The company also said it reported the hack to Tesla and offered to work with them to fix the vulnerability.

"While Tesla is not associated with the conference and is not a sponsor of the competition, we support the idea of providing an environment in which responsible security researchers can help identify potential vulnerabilities," the company said in a statement. "We hope that the security researchers will act responsibly and in good faith."

Source : cnet.com

Photo: Tesla