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News 18 Sep, 2014

Striking Peugeot Quartz crossover concept previews next-generation 3008

Honda has released pictures of its near-production next-generation Jazz subcompact, which show a bigger, sportier-looking model than the current car. The Jazz is Honda's No. 3-selling model in Europe after the Civic and CR-V.

Pictures See all 7 pictures 18 Sep, 2014

Production of the redesigned Mazda 2 (Demio in Japan) has begun at Auto Alliance (Thailand) (AAT) with initial output destined for Australia and New Zealand.

General Motors is adding a third shift at its Wentzville plant in Missouri creating around 750 new jobs.

Mitsubishi Motors has confirmed plans to build a new vehicle assembly plant in Indonesia as it looks to strengthen its position in south-east Asia's largest and most promising vehicle market.

News 17 Sep, 2014

Exclusive image shows XC90 influence on Volvo's new executive saloon, the S90

European car sales rose 2 percent in August but a heavy reliance on incentives in Spain and a fall in sales in Germany, France and Italy are signs that the region's recovery may be faltering, analysts and executives said.

European new-car registrations rose 2 percent in August as subcompact models from Ford and VW and price cuts by automakers led to the 12th consecutive month of higher sales.

Premium automakers are progressively pushing volume rivals out of profit-rich niches such as coupes and convertibles. In the first half, 67 percent of all coupes sold in Europe were from premium brands, up from 55 percent in 2013.

The European car market underwent a big shake-up in the first half as there was a change at the top of nine of the 24 segments tracked by Automotive News Europe. The biggest gainers were electric vehicles and small SUVs.

The executives chosen as 2014 Automotive News Europe Eurostars outworked and outmaneuvered their rivals. Luca de Meo, Audi's sales boss, is this year's Eurostar winner for Sales and Marketing Executive.

Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said he doesn't plan to hold a road show for investors before listing shares of the combined car company in New York next month.

Mercedes has increased production capacity for its Hungary-built CLA compact sedan, aiming to alleviate tight supplies that have limited sales, particularly in the key U.S. market.

The decision whether to charge three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart in the August death of a fellow driver at a sprint car race in upstate New York will be up to a grand jury.

Ontario County District Attorney Michael Tantillo said Tuesday he made the decision to present the case to a grand jury after reviewing evidence collected by sheriff's investigators.

Associated Press reports that Tantillo could have determined there was not enough evidence to support charges and dropped the case, but instead announced his decision more than a month after Stewart's car struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr. at a dirt-track race on August 9.

In a statement, Tony Stewart said he respects the time and effort authorities have spent "investigating this tragic accident."

"I look forward to this process being completed, and I will continue to provide my full cooperation," he said.

"Upon my review of all of the information contained in the entire investigation," Michael Tantillo declared, "I have made the determination that it would be appropriate to submit the evidence to the grand jury for their determination as to what action should be taken in this matter."

Tantillo added that the law prevented him from saying when the case would be scheduled or who would be called as witnesses.

Experts have said Tony Stewart could be charged with second-degree manslaughter under New York law if prosecutors believe he "recklessly caused the death of another person," with negligent homicide another possibility.

From indycar.com

Verizon IndyCar Series competitor Mikhail Aleshin was released from Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis Tuesday to continue his recovery from injuries suffered in an accident during practice August 29 for the race at Auto Club Speedway.

"I'm feeling better each day," Aleshin declared.

"I'm very happy to be back in Indianapolis with my friends and the team. The doctors are taking very good care of me. Everything is going as planned with my recovery, and before you know it I'll be back behind the steering wheel."

Aleshin, who suffered a concussion, chest injuries, fractured ribs and broken clavicle, was transferred to Methodist from Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, Calif., on September 9.

Following his transfer, Aleshin was evaluated by doctors, including INDYCAR medical consultants Dr. Terry Trammell and Dr. Kevin Scheid, and underwent a minor surgical procedure on his right shoulder.

Aleshin will remain in Indianapolis as he continues his rehabilitation under the consultation of the INDYCAR medical group. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Mikhail Aleshin, Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. (Photo: IndyCar)

Caterham Formula 1 team confirmed Wednesday that Japanese Kamui Kobayashi would drive the No. 10 car.

Kobayashi was pushed aside by the new management team in Belgium to make way for rookie Andre Lotterer.

The team apparently tried to run Roberto Mehri in Italy, but the Spaniard did not have a super licence to race in Formula 1.

For this weekends' race, Kobayashi will be behind the wheel of the Renault-powered CT05 alongside Marcus Ericsson.

“I always like the Singapore Grand Prix because it's a night race and its festive atmosphere is definitely one of the highlights of the season. It's a very technical track, with lots of changes of direction, and it's a challenging race for everyone,” said Kobayashi.

“After finishing ahead of our closest rivals in Italy, I look forward to another good fight out on track in Singapore - it will be good to see what we are capable of with the updated car at the Marina Bay Street Circuit - at street circuits anything can happen and we need to make sure we do our best.”

Title rivals and Mercedes AMG Formula 1 teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have welcomed the move to limit the pit wall's communication with drivers from this weekend's Grand Prix of Singapore - with each now hoping that the crackdown presents more chances to gain an on-track edge over the other.

In separate interviews with Sky Sports News HQ's Craig Slater, Hamilton and Rosberg each expressed happiness that drivers would now effectively be left to their own devices in the car.

Rosberg even declared that the new communication ruling would encourage 'pure racing'.

Asked if he could personally profit from the change compared to Rosberg, the Briton said: “I hope so. I remember way back from when we were in karts, the cool thing in karting [is] you don't have any data - or we didn't back then. So no one could ever see where I was quick.

“Maybe that's a little bit more of a step in that direction because now you have so much data you can see everything, everything I do, any trick that I have. Every driver in every team will see that from his teammate, but hopefully this is one step in that [other] direction.

His teammate Nico Rosberg explained that he spent a lot of the time in the driving simulator: “Yesterday at the factory in Brackley I was in the simulator, all day, practicing these different procedures and everything because I have to remember a lot more also. But I really think it's good.”

Renault's new EOLAB prototype, which will be on display at the Paris Auto Show early next month, uses numerous advanced systems and strategies to achieve an NEDC combined cycle consumption rating of 1L/100km.

While there's little to no chance of seeing this car in North America, the technology at work may produce a snowball effect over the next few years.

Renault wants to ensure that ultra-low fuel consumption becomes a reality for as many people as possible. The notion of such a car being produced in large numbers within the next 10 years was dialled into the plan from the very start.

The EOLAB prototype's exceptional fuel economy is the result of Renault engineers working on three main fronts:

• Refined aerodynamics: The car's shape was designed to slice through the air efficiently, while movable devices such as an active spoiler and lateral vanes take it a step further;
• Weight saving: A weight saving program brought the car's mass down to just 400kg, thanks in particular to a multimaterial body shell combining steel, aluminium and composites, as well as a remarkable magnesium roof that tips the scales at just 4kg;
• Z.E. Hybrid technology: A new, compact and affordable hybrid power unit combines ultra-low fuel consumption with zero-emission mobility for trips of less than 60 km and at speeds of up to 120 km/h.

Many partners were involved in the EOLAB project including Michelin (tires), Continental (brakes), Faurecia (seats), and Saint-Gobain (glass).

Source : Renault.com

Photo: Renault

Ferrari Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo confirmed the launch of a 10-unit, limited-edition model exclusively in the U.S. market. The car will make its official debut on October 12th during a gala dinner to celebrate 60 years of Ferrari operations in Uncle Sam's land.

All 10 units will be painted in blue with white stripes, the colours used by the North American Racing Team that raced Ferrari cars from the 1960s to the 1980s.

According to Automotive News, this unique model most likely will be based on the 740-horsepower F12 Berlinetta two-seat coupe while featuring a specific body and interior.

It will mark Montezemolo's last public act at the helm of Ferrari, since Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne will take over chairman duties as previously reported.

The price? A mere $3.2 million USD. Yet, the car has already sold out.

Source : autonews.com

Photo: Ferrari