Leoni has reported second quarter net income up 27% to EUR29.9m (US$40m), with consolidated sales rising 3.5% year on year to EUR2.039bn in the first six months of 2014, reaching EUR2bn at the half-year mark for the first time.
Johnson Controls has opened a new crash test facility at its Automotive Seating headquarters in Plymouth, Michigan.
News
13 Aug, 2014
Two years after being installed, variable speed cameras will finally be switched on
China's anti-trust probe has expanded to include over 1,000 local Chinese and overseas automotive companies, according to local sources quoting a Chinese government official.
Autoliv has unveiled a new operating structure, which it says will create two business segments, namely passive safety and electronics.
GM's European transformation is gathering momentum, with the vast majority of its former Chevrolet dealers in the region now selling only Opel-branded vehicles to boost the once-flagging German brand.
Skoda said today its global sales in July rose 19 percent to 82,800 units, the most ever for that month and biggest monthly increase so far this year.
A new generation of the Ford Ka has been shown to the media in Brazil. Unlike the outgoing model, there are two body styles: a sedan and a five-door hatchback.
News
13 Aug, 2014
The results of the Driver Power 2014 survey are in, showing that dealers annoy most by failing to find a reported fault
Britain's fourth-largest car dealer, Lookers, expects to post a full-year pretax profit of more than 60 million pounds (75 million euros) after record sales lifted its pretax profit by 36 percent in the first half.
News
13 Aug, 2014
50,000 UK motorists told Driver Power about their car insurance experiences. Here's the low-down on the premiums, discounts and claims
Nothing can prepare you for the sudden popularity that comes with driving a Lamborghini. One minute you're as average as white bread, the next minute you're being photographed like a supermodel.
Europe's car sales slump took its toll on the executive ranks at automakers active in the region. Just 13 of the 37 executives who topped their organizational charts before the crisis are still there.
From press release
Brad Keselowski Racing announced today that Alex Tagliani will drive the team's No. 19 Ford F-150 in the August 31 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada.
Tagliani, a native of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, has five NASCAR Nationwide Series starts sprinkled over six seasons dating back to 2009.
He has racked up two poles and two top five finishes and enters the NCWTS event at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park on the heels of a strong performance at the recent NNS race at Road America (Elkhart Lake, Wisc.), where he won the pole and scored a strong second-place finish.
Tagliani also scored a second place finish at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal in 2011 and won the pole there in 2012.
 |
| (Photo: Tagliani Autosport) |
"Alex did a heck of a job in the Nationwide car for Team Penske at Road America and I knew I had to put him in one of my trucks," Keselowski said. "I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do."
The race will be the debut for Tagliani in NCWTS competition and adds to his diverse racing portfolio, which includes the Indianapolis 500, IndyCar, road racing and Champ Car competition.
"It's an honour to get a call to drive for Brad's team this year, especially after sharing the No. 22 Team Penske Nationwide car with him for two races," Tagliani said.
"It will be my first time competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, but Mosport is a great track to drive and I am hoping to be able to help the team with a strong result."
The former IndyCar driver currently competes as an owner/driver in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and in the United Sports Car Championship.
Canadian, Gilles Villeneuve has undoubtedly been one of the most popular Formula 1 drivers of all time, despite a short career that saw him win just six of the 67 Grands Prix he contested between 1977 and 1982.
More than for his victories, Villeneuve's acclaim around the globe was for his great human qualities, his honesty and his stunning determination. His driving style and passing manoeuvres were incredibly spectacular, and he never, ever gave up despite the mechanical gremlins or the bad luck. He always gave his very best, whatever his starting position on the grid happened to be.
Here is a collection of the features, photos and videos we posted during the 2012 season to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his tragic death that took place Saturday May 8, 1982, during the second qualifying session for the Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder.
The early days
At a young age, Gilles Villeneuve fulfilled his need for speed in a very unusual manner, competing in drag racing and in snowmobile racing on icy ovals.
He then followed his first road-racing course before he went on to win the Quebec Formula Ford 1600 championship and the North American Formula Atlantic series.
Breaking the ice (+photos and video)
His first driving course
His stunning Formula Ford 1600 debuts (+photos)
Making his mark in Formula Atlantic (+photos)
His maiden Formula 1 Grand Prix
Beaten by Villeneuve in the Formula Atlantic race held in the streets of Trois-Rivieres in 1976, British F1 driver, James Hunt, was so impressed that he spoke very highly of the young Villeneuve to his McLaren boss, Teddy Mayer.
 |
| His first Grand Prix with McLaren in 1977. (Photo: WRI2) |
Villeneuve contested his first F1 race at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July 1977.
His first Formula 1 contract with McLaren!
His first Grand Prix with McLaren at Silverstone (+video)
His first Grand Prix with McLaren in 1977
The Ferrari years
Against all odds, Enzo Ferrari himself chose Villeneuve at the end of 1977 to drive the prestigious Scuderia Ferrari. A teammate of Carlos Reutemann in 1978, Villeneuve captured his first F1 victory in front of his home crowd in Montreal in October 1978.
Video of his lap of Zandvoort circuit on three wheels!
A few stories from his business manager, Gaston Parent
Video of his first Formula 1 victory in Montreal
Ferrari F1 car driven by Gilles Villeneuve vs Italian jet fighter (+video)
1978 Long Beach Grand Prix (+videos)
 |
| Gilles Villeneuve behind the wheel of the 312T3 at Fiorano. (Photo: Ferrari) |
Memories from his arch rivals
Gilles Villeneuve's rivals talk about the racecar driver, but also the great human being that Villeneuve was.
When Patrick Tambay took over the No. 27 Ferrari
Memories from Alan Jones
Memories from Jean-Pierre Jarier
Testimony from his friend René Arnoux (+video)
John Watson's words about the tragedy
Mario Andretti's testimony
May 8 commemoration
The 30th anniversary of Gilles Villeneuve's tragic death
Remembering Gilles Villeneuve's tragic death
The tragic loss of Gilles Villeneuve
Video of Jacques Villeneuve driving the Ferrari 312 T4 of his father Gilles (+video)
Jacques Villeneuve drives his father Gilles' Ferrari 312 T4 at Fiorano
Details of the Ferrari 312 T4 Jacques Villeneuve will drive at Fiorano (+photos, video)
Rare and never published photos
Rare photos of the career of the late Gilles Villeneuve (Part 1)
Rare photos of the career of Gilles Villeneuve (Part 2)
 |
| Gilles Villeneuve ready to fly Walter Wolf's helicopter. (Photo: Lucie St-Jacques) |
In an interview given to
Syracuse.com, Kevin Ward Sr. spoke publicly for the first time about the death of his son, Kevin Ward Jr.
The angry father blamed Stewart for striking and killing his son during a dirt race at Canandaigua Motorsports Park on Saturday night.
Ward Jr. and Stewart had contact during the race, forcing Ward into a retirement.
Ward got out of his car, ran onto the track and angrily gestured at Stewart. Seconds later, Stewart's right rear tire struck Ward and threw him an estimated 20-30 feet, fatally injuring him.
"I think the reason he (Ward Jr.) probably got out of that car is who put him into the wall. He was definitely put into the wall," Ward Sr. told Syracuse.com.
"Tony Stewart was the best damn driver by far on the track that night. Why he had to go up as high as he did and hog my son, there's no reason for it."
"Apparently, Tony Stewart was the only one driving out there who didn't see him," Ward Sr. told the New York state website, noting that several other drivers on track avoided his son.
"The one person that knows what happened that night is possibly facing 10 years in prison. Is he going to say what he done?"
As for the social media reaction, Ward Sr. told Syracuse.com, "A situation happened and everybody has their own opinions," Ward Sr. said. "Some are way off, some without a clue and some are very hurtful. A 20-year-old talented driver was killed and that's what we need to focus on. ... We've had a lot of messages sent. We are so thankful. If everybody could just pray for us, we'll get through it."
Forbes magazine has published its list of the best-paid female athletes in the world.
The list is made largely of tennis players, with one race car driver.
These top 5 women made the most money between June 2013 and June 2014 from prize money, salary, licensing, appearances and endorsements.
No. 1 Maria Sharapova, tennis player
Total earnings: $24.4 million
Prize money: $2.4 million
Endorsements: $22 million
No. 2 Li Na, tennis player
Total earnings: $23.6 million
Prize money: $5.6 million
Endorsements: $18 million
No. 3 Serena Williams, tennis player
Total earnings: $22 million
Prize money: $11 million
Endorsements: $11 million
No. 4 Kim Yuna, skater
Total earnings: $16.3 million
Prize money: $300,000
Endorsements: $16 million
No. 5 Danica Patrick, NASCAR driver
Total earnings: $15 million
Salary/winnings: $7 million
Endorsements/licensing: $8 million
Despite not having won a single race in NASCAR, Danica Patrick remains one of the sport's biggest draws and has more than 10 personal endorsement partners, including Coca-Cola, Tissot and Peak.
She also appeared in a record 13 Super Bowl commercials for her main NASCAR sponsor, GoDaddy.
From GMM
Imperial Tobacco has played down reports it is looking to return to Formula 1 with Lotus.
Recently, Pastor Maldonado said he would welcome the inspiration of Lotus' black and gold livery - the iconic John Player Special cigarette brand - back to the sport with Enstone.
Tobacco advertising in F1 is banned, but Ferrari continues to be backed by Philip Morris, whose Marlboro colours resemble the imagery on the Italian team's cars and logos.
"For sure, a sponsor is welcome," Venezuelan Maldonado said. "Whoever can join the team, it's always welcome."
But John Player Special parent Imperial Tobacco has played down the rumours.
 |
| Pastor Maldonado, Lotus E22 (Photo: WRi2) |
"As is well known, sponsorship in Formula 1 with tobacco companies has been prohibited for quite some time," group press officer Simon Evans told
Speed Week.
"Our company would never act in a way that amounts to a breach of the law."
However, those comments would seem to leave the door open for a partnership along the lines of Ferrari's with Philip Morris.
Evans replied: "I have no knowledge of the details of the agreement between Philip Morris International and Ferrari.
"I can only repeat that we do not seek a sponsorship agreement with a team."
Hot on the heels of the
insanely powerful Challenger SRT Hellcat comes the new 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, which is directly inspired by the classic 1969 model.
With a 6.2L V8 HEMI producing 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, the Charger SRT Hellcat becomes the fastest and most powerful sedan in the world. Its unrivalled 4-door performance includes NHRA-certified quarter mile elapsed time in 11.0 seconds on street tires, 0-100-0 mph (0-160-0 km/h) in under 13 seconds, and a top speed of 204 mph (328 km/h).
 |
| Photo: Dodge |
The 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat also uses an 8-speed, heavy-duty automatic transmission, 15.4'' 2-piece brake rotors with 6-piston Brembo callipers, 20'' forged aluminum wheels with Pirelli P Zero performance tires, and 3-mode adaptive damping. Similar to the Challenger SRT Hellcat, it comes standard with two key fobs: The red one is the only key that can unlock the full horsepower and torque potential of the SRT Hellcat engine, while the black key fob limits the driver to a reduced engine output.
Despite paying tribute to vintage Chargers, the new Charger SRT Hellcat features state-of-the-art technology such as an 8.4'' Uconnect touchscreen and a 900W, 18-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, not to mention heated and cooled front seats.
Pricing for the 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat will be announced later. Stay tuned for Canadian details.
Source : Chrysler
 |
| Photo: Dodge |
In November 2012, Hyundai and Kia admitted to misrepresenting their vehicles' fuel economy, which led to a
class action against both companies. A settlement with the plaintiffs was reached last January... except in Quebec.
That changed last week when a Quebec judge ruled in favour of Hyundai and Kia owners, represented by Siskinds Desmeules.
Compensations are based on mileage. Over the next few weeks customers will be notified in the media and through a special website, and invited to fill a compensation form.
Under the terms of the proposed settlement, they may choose a one-time lump sum cash payment or join the ongoing reimbursement program for as long as they lease or own the affected vehicles. Customers can also elect other options, such as a dealership credit of 150% of the lump sum cash payment amount, or a credit of 200% of the cash amount toward the purchase of a new Hyundai or Kia vehicle.
If you leased or own one of the following vehicles, you are entitled to a compensation:
Hyundai:
- 2011-2012 Sonata Hybrid;
- 2011-2013 Elantra;
- 2012-2013 Accent;
- 2012-2013 Genesis;
- 2012-2013 Tucson;
- 2012-2013 Veloster;
- 2013 Elantra GT and Elantra Coupe;
- 2013 Santa Fe.
Kia:
- 2011-2012 Optima Hybrid;
- 2012-2013 Rio;
- 2012-2013 Sorento;
- 2012-2013 Soul;
- 2012-2013 Sportage.
Source : argent.canoe.ca
The latest auto news, reviews, prices, product and vehicle releases. 
