Auto News 5

Volkswagen is sketching out a 10-year strategy for India, a market it sees as having one of the most promising growth prospects in the world.

Germany's Getrag formed a joint venture with Dongfeng to develop and produce dual clutch transmissions in China. The joint venture will start manufacturing transmissions for compact cars in 2016 at a factory in Wuhan.

It is not only the largest car market in the world, China can also be the most confusing for marketing departments as age profiles go out of the window.

News 20 Oct, 2014

There are more roadworks in the UK in 2014 than at any time in the past decade. These are the ten most disruptive roadworks for motorists.

News 20 Oct, 2014

The Ford Focus RS saga continues with another version of Ford’s mega hatch spotted at the ‘ring

When Chrysler Group said in May that the SRT designation would be for Dodge vehicles only, it was silent on the fate of the SRT versions of the Chrysler 300 and Jeep Grand Cherokee.

For a sign of the challenges in selling fuel efficiency as a virtue, Tanner Hulette need only look at the signs near his dealership advertising gasoline for $2.70 a gallon. Hulette, general manager of Mechanicsville Toyota near Richmond, Va.

Mike Maroone, COO of AutoNation Inc., said the dealership group intends to proceed cautiously in reducing its reliance on third-party online shopping sites.

GM nixed the sale of a Chevrolet store in Montana to former NADA Chairman Bill Underriner.

Most dealerships send totaled cars straight to the junkyard. White Bear Mitsubishi put one on display, and it has been reaping the rewards ever since.

Automakers frustrated by expensive delays in transporting vehicles to dealerships are about to learn whether railroads give preferential treatment to other shippers.

Used-car powerhouse CarMax has begun posting vehicle inventory again on AutoTrader.com and Cars.com after a 16-month hiatus.

Hyundai needs a new assembly plant to keep up with crossover demand, says U.S. boss Dave Zuchowski. Until then, Hyundai will likely get production from sibling brand Kia's factories in Mexico and Georgia.

An Automotive News analysis of documents filed with federal regulators shows that GM is moving faster to identify and fix problems but that many defects, especially in newer vehicles, are still reaching customers.

Porsche's limited-run 918 Spyder is nearing sellout status.

Ford has fewer vendors on its "watch" list of suppliers that are struggling to meet production targets. Ford purchasing chief Hau Thai-Tang says the company learned its lesson about unreliable parts supply.

From the FIA

The composition of a new FIA Accident Panel, as announced by FIA President Jean Todt in Sochi on October 10, 2014 following the accident involving Jules Bianchi at the Japanese Grand Prix, has been established.

The group will carry out a full review of the accident to gain a better understanding of what happened, and will propose new measures to reinforce safety at circuits, with recommendations to be made for the FIA President.

The work of the group will start this week and a full presentation of its findings is to be made at the next meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on 3 December 2014 in Doha, Qatar.

Peter Wright, Chairman of the FIA Safety Commission, has been entrusted with the Presidency of the newly established accident panel, and the full list of panel members can be found below.

Composition of the Accident Panel

Presidency
Peter Wright, President of the Safety Commission

Members
Ross Brawn, former Team Principal of Mercedes F1 Team, Brawn Grand Prix and former Technical Director of Scuderia Ferrari

Stefano Domenicali, former Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari

Gerd Ennser, Chief Stewards' representative

Emerson Fittipaldi, President of the FIA Drivers' Commission, F1 Steward

Eduardo de Freitas, WEC Race Director

Roger Peart, President of the Circuits Commission, President of the ASN of Canada, F1 Steward

Antonio Rigozzi, Advocate, Judge at the International Court of Appeal of the FIA co-opted by the teams

Gérard Saillant, President of the FIA Institute and President of the Medical Commission

Alex Wurz, President of the GPDA, drivers' representative

Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne has spent the last three season driving for the Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula 1 team. Taking to Sky Sports F1, Vergne said he thinks he has a place in F1.

Red Bull published devastating news for Vergne in August when it announced the arrival of 17-year-old Max Verstappen at Toro Rosso in 2015, assuming that the Frenchman would leave the team.

Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso, at Monza. (Photo: WRI2)

In Belgium, Vergne told the press “I'm too old at 24', adding he could not understand why Red Bull chose a 17-year-old rookie to drove for Toro Rosso.

“I don't want to understand it. People have their reasons; the same way as I don't want to understand how he [Verstappen] could get the Super Licence,” said Vergne.

“ If Red Bull put him in the car they think he's good, he's talented and he only has to show it in the car. As a team, Toro Rosso are right to put him in the car to give him as much mileage as possible.

“All I understand is that Toro Rosso is there with Red Bull-backing, which is a team to promote young drivers. And it stands that after three years you're not really a young driver anymore and that they need to keep feeding the programme with young drivers. That's what I understand,” he added.

Dr Helmut Marko and Jean-Eric Vergne. (Photo: WRi2)

His former teammate Daniel Ricciardo was promoted to Red Bull Racing.

“I think the reason they picked up Daniel [Ricciardo] was because he was probably more ready mentally and he was probably doing less mistakes. Now, all I know is that they need to promote young drivers, they take me out and I don't fit anywhere because there is simply no place in the Red Bull programme,” Vergne continued.

Vergne confessed he ran a strong race in Singapore, taking 6th place to equal his best result in F1. Could that save his career?

“I really think I have my place in F1; when you look at what Daniel [Ricciardo] is doing, and when you compare ourselves the last two years, we were extremely similar and it was so tight between him and me to go to Red Bull. So that means I have the potential; I came through many difficult moments in F1, you know. I'm sure that when I will have a good car, I will be extremely strong I believe...strong in my head,” he continued.

Jean-Eric Vergne fighting with teammate Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso. (Photo: WRi2)

The Frenchman admits that finding a good seat for 2015 will be difficult.

“I mean that the situation is as it is. I'm not a superstar; I've never won a race in F1. Even if I know - and people know - that I can make it, to be in big teams there is a big board of people to decide, that are not probably in the paddock; that just want to have a big name in their car. So it's a little bit tricky you know?” he asked.

When Sky Sports F1 asked him would you have done anything differently, Vergne replied, “No, I don't want to have regrets. I think I've done mistakes that have helped me to be a better driver and that's how it is.”

From GMM

Sebastian Vettel behaved impeccably in 2015, despite plotting his Red Bull exit and being outclassed by his teammate.

That is the claim of Daniel Ricciardo, who having established himself as an undisputed F1 star with three wins this year is now set to become the 'number 1' at Red Bull as Vettel prepares to move to Ferrari.

The Australian said that even as he rattled the reigning quadruple world champion's cage in 2014, Vettel dealt with the situation maturely.

"He was very respectful to me on the first day and he remained respectful to me after my third win," Ricciardo is quoted by Brazil's Globo.

"I'm sure he would love to have won this season, so there must be some frustration inside, but he has not shown it at any time.

"It is to his credit that he hasn't said anything to me, or in front of me. Maybe he has behind closed doors, but it was not visible to any of us," he added.

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

Daniel Ricciardo, 25, also said he thinks Vettel will do a good job with Ferrari next year.

"Apart from his driving ability that everyone sees on TV, his work ethic, the way he works with the engineers, is very impressive," he revealed.

"It has been good to see that from behind the scenes," Ricciardo added. "I think if he's going to Ferrari or to any other top team, he will play a strong leadership role."

Meanwhile, Red Bull team owner Dietrich Mateschitz thinks Ricciardo is more than ready to play the same sort of leadership role in Vettel's wake next year.

With Vettel having announced his exit, the Austrian billionaire said: "If we did not have a 'team leader' then the situation would look slightly different.

"But we knew that Daniel would fill these shoes, so things were much easier," Mateschitz is quoted by Melbourne's The Age newspaper.