Auto News 5

Certified Elite dealers can make aggressive offers with the confidence that the factory won't nickel-and-dime the dealership for doing it.

Some big rivals dismiss American Honda sales boss John Mendel's grim warning that extended loan terms and other strategies being employed by competitors hurt resale values, customer loyalty and ultimately profits. So who's right?

While federal officials and researchers today envision a so-called Internet of cars that would make driving safer by linking vehicles through a wireless network, they have all but ruled out funding, building or running it themselves.

Rick Case dealer group interviews every single employee to find out what kind of job each employee ultimately wants. The idea is to retain employees who might otherwise leave looking for new challenges or a better fit.

In the auto design world, there are the suave, black-turtleneck types and there are guys like Dave Marek, a chatty hot-rodder who'd rather skip a fancy dinner than get dressed up for it.

The rivalry between Ford's venerable F series and Chrysler's hard-charging Ram truck brand is heating up again.

Continental's pick-up of Google executive underscores how the supplier sees specialized software and services as increasingly crucial to its future.

Matthew McConaughey is collaborating with Ford's luxury brand to promote a very different kind of Lincoln: The 2015 MKC compact crossover.

Robert Hegbloom, the new head of the Ram brand, will get a crash course in the van market next year.

Companies that draw on Chicago's historic strengths in electronics design and manufacturing, wireless communications and mapping, are well-positioned for a key role in the development of the connected car.

From FLIR

FLIR, an innovation partner with Infiniti Red Bull Racing, had the opportunity to capture some great footage at GAMMA Racing Day 2014.

Using a FLIR x6580sc infrared camera, the company were able to capture in high speed, the Infiniti Red Bull car's tires heating up as the driver burned rubber.

Other thermal cameras used were the FLIR T650sc and the FLIR B660.

In the partnership, FLIR will develop solutions using our world-class miniature thermal cameras to provide the Infiniti Red Bull Racing team with unique insights into the thermal characteristics of their cars' components and operations.

See more at www.flir.com/motorsports

British, South African, Australian and customers from twenty other countries may now order a right-hand drive (RHD) Mustang for the first time in the car's history.

Ford engineers put the final touches on the prototype only a few days ago and are now readying it for extensive testing that will take place over the next few months. The car is slated to be released by Q2 in 2015 to a total 120 markets world wide, 25 of them being new thanks to the arrival of the RHD ‘stang.

More than 9.2 million Mustangs have been sold in America since 1964 while only 161,000 have been delivered elsewhere in the world in the same period. The RHD version should significantly increase the car's appeal.

Source : Ford

Photo: Ford

Last month, Buick unveiled its all-new SUV, the Envision. Today, the manufacturer published a first look at the interior of the vehicle, which will make its world premiere on August 28. Competing with the Acura RDX and the Infiniti EX, the Envision is slated for the (American) market during the latter months of 2015.

We now know that the Envision is outfitted with a leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel. The steering wheel also features controls for cruise control, music and Bluetooth connectivity. The area beneath the centre console and the seats, which have split centre armrests for access to extra storage space and USB port, are wrapped in dual-stitched burgundy leather.

A panoramic sunroof gives its soundproof interior a spacious feel. The Envision's FlexRide suspension system can be adjusted between 4 different settings: Normal, Tour, Sport and Off-Road. In fact, the Envision is the first Buick vehicle to offer Off-Road mode. It is also equipped with parking assist, engine start/stop and lane departure warning.

Source : motorauthority.com

Photo: Buick

The second running of the NASCAR Camping World Truck race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park -- Chevrolet Silverado 250 --will be staged this weekend.

The race will feature rounds of the Camping World Truck, the Porsche GT3 Cup Canada, the NASCAR Canadian Tire series and the Canadian Touring Car Championship.

For more information about this exciting event or to purchase tickets, make sure to visit: www.mosport.com.

Last moments of the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 250 (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Chevrolet Silverado 250 Weekend*

Friday, August 29, 2014
7:00 am - 9:00 pm - Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Registration
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm - Porsche GT3 Cup Canada Test Session
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm - LUNCH
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm - Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada Practice #1
3:45 pm - 4:15 pm - Canadian Touring Car Championship Practice #1
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm - Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada Practice #2

Saturday, August 30, 2014
7:00 am - 4:00 pm - Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Registration
8:00 am - 8:30 am - Canadian Touring Car Championship Qualifying
8:45 am - 9:15 am - Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada Qualifying
9:30 am - 10:30 am - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Practice #1
10:40 am - 11:25 am - NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Practice #1
11:35 am - 1:00 pm - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Practice #2
1:10 pm - 2:00 pm - NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Practice #2
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm - LUNCH
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm - Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada Race #1
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm - Canadian Touring Car Championship Race #1
4:40 pm - 5:00 pm - NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Qualifying - First Session
5:05 pm - 5:25 pm - NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Qualifying - Second Session
5:40 pm - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Qualifying

Sunday, August 31, 2014
7:00 am - 3:00 pm - Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Registration
9:00 am - 9:30 am - Canadian Touring Car Championship Qualifying
9:50 am - NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Driver Introductions
10:00 am - 11:45 am - Pinty's presents the Clarington 200

(NASCAR Canadian Tire Series) 200 km
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm - LUNCH
1:00 pm - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Driver Introductions
1:30 pm - Chevrolet Silverado 250

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race (64 Laps)
4:15 pm - 5:00 pm - Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada Race #2
5:15 pm - 5:45 pm - Canadian Touring Car Championship Race #2

* Schedule Subject to Change

Mark Reuss, the person in charge of global development for Cadillac, confirmed the introduction of a new flagship luxury Cadillac towards the end of next year. It will compete head on with the biggest names in the high-end market, including the Mercedes-Benz Classe S.

Cadillac hopes that this sedan becomes the standard bearer of the brand. “What we do there has got to be a symbol of excellence,” Reuss told The Detroit Bureau at a GM event. “This is a car Cadillac needs and that will define this brand in terms of innovation and excellence.”

This new sedan will rank higher than the previous premium model, Cadillac XTS, which could well disappear in the mid-term. The XTS is also about the only Caddy left with front-wheel drive, a feature that Cadillac looks like abandoning in the near future. Indeed, the new flagship sedan will most likely opt for rear-drive and all-wheel-drive, following the example of kindred models such as the Jaguar XJ and the BMW 7 Series.

To be continued...

Source : thedetroitbureau.com

From GMM

Struggling world champion Sebastian Vettel will get a new race engineer for the 2015 season.

This year defending his fourth consecutive drivers' title, the German has notably struggled in 2014 alongside new teammate Daniel Ricciardo.

Australian Ricciardo drove through the Mercedes shenanigans on Sunday to win his second consecutive race -- his third of the season and his career.

In contrast, and earning many multiples more millions, Vettel has yet to break through this season, and at the drivers' circuit Spa-Francorchamps he finished fifth and almost a minute behind the sister car.

Vettel complained afterwards of a probable car defect, telling German reporters he felt he had been sent into "war with a wooden stick".

But that is not necessarily why Vettel's race engineer Guillaume Roquelin, known affectionately as 'Rocky', will no longer be in that role with the 27-year-old in 2015.

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

"These are restructuring measures to improve the team," Dr Helmut Marko told German television Sky at Spa, responding to the reports about 'Rocky' that emerged on Sunday.

Team technical boss Adrian Newey is stepping back after Christmas, but Red Bull will not directly replace him.

"I think that at the track in Paul Monaghan, 'Rocky' and Simon (Rennie) we have three very able technical people and I see no reason why they shouldn't be able to take those decisions," Newey had said earlier in Belgium.

Germany's Welt newspaper claims the promoted 'Rocky' will be replaced at Vettel's side by Gianpiero Lambiase, currently Sergio Perez's engineer at Force India.

Helmut Marko said: "Sebastian knows who is coming -- he was involved in the talks."

Meanwhile, despite being nominated by DTM driver Timo Glock for the now-famous 'ice bucket challenge', Vettel has turned it down.

"I think I'll skip the shower and just give a donation," he is quoted by the Swiss newspaper Blick.

From GMM

Heikki Kovalainen looks set to rebuild his motor racing career in the German touring car series DTM.

According to the Finnish broadcaster MTV3, the German marque BMW has announced that the Finn will test a 2014-spec M4 during this week's Lausitzring test.

Former Renault and McLaren driver Kovalainen, 32, lost his Caterham seat at the end of 2012 and his last two grands prix were at the end of last season for Lotus, replacing his injured Finnish countryman Kimi Raikkonen.

BMW said Kovalainen "will use the opportunity at the Lausitzring to gain an impression of the BMW M4 DTM".

BMW M4 DTM. (Photo: BMW Motorsport)

From wrc.com

Thierry Neuville claimed a rags-to-riches first world rally victory in Germany Sunday, three days after virtually destroying his car when he rolled six times at pre-event shakedown.

In a chaotic final day at ADAC Rallye Deutschland, Neuville climbed from third after first Jari-Matti Latvala and then Kris Meeke crashed out of the lead.

The win on this ninth round of the FIA World Rally Championship was the first for Hyundai in its debut year back in the series. Dani Sordo added icing to the cake by finishing second for the Korean manufacturer.

Neuville's story began on Thursday morning when he barrel-rolled through the vineyards near Trier. Team mechanics worked for 18 hours to rebuild the battered i20 car and Neuville repaid them in style, becoming only the second Belgian to win a world rally and the first since François Duval in 2005.

Latvala, chasing his first asphalt win to reignite his title bid, was almost a minute clear when he started the first of the final four stages in the vineyards on the banks of the Mosel River.

Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R. (Photo: WRC)

However, he crashed his Volkswagen Polo R in treacherously slippery conditions, handing Meeke an 8.4sec advantage over Neuville. But the Northern Irishman hit a wall early in the next test after a recce pace note error, ripping the left rear wheel from his Citroen DS3.

Neuville, who admitted dropping two wheels into a ditch in the opening stage, was in the clear and finished 40.7sec ahead of Sordo. The Spaniard enjoyed a clean run on his first rally since May, aside from a sixth gear spin yesterday after aquaplaning.

Co-driver Miikka Anttila surveys Jari-Matti Latvala's damaged car

Andreas Mikkelsen survived a spin where Latvala crashed to take third in a Polo R, 17.3sec further back. Elfyn Evans excelled on his debut asphalt event in a World Rally Car, matching a career-best fourth place after outgunning more experienced Ford Fiesta RS team-mate Mikko Hirvonen by 6.9sec.

Despite retiring after two crashes, Sébastien Ogier's retains a 44-point lead over Latvala in the standings. Although a wretched weekend meant it failed to clinch the manufacturers' title, the results guaranteed a Volkswagen driver - Latvala, Ogier, or Mikkelsen - will win the drivers' crown.