banner The latest auto news, reviews, prices, product and vehicle releases. Auto News 5

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed

Do not miss the latest Auto News !

Oct
1st

2014 Eurostar winner Elon Musk

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
The executives chosen as 2014 Automotive News Europe Eurostars achieved success by exceeding expectations. Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk is this year's Eurostar winner for Entrepreneur.
Oct
1st

Jaguar F-Type relies on Stadco’s aluminum skin

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
Stadco supplies the vast majority of the aluminum outer structure for the new Jaguar F-Type, including the door and hood assemblies and front and rear fenders.
Oct
1st

2014 Eurostar winner Heinz-Gerhard Wente

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
The executives chosen as 2014 Automotive News Europe Eurostars achieved success by exceeding expectations. Heinz-Gerhard Wente, head of Continental's ContiTech division, is this year's Eurostar winner for Supplier Division CEO.
Oct
1st

Lamborghini, Ferrari supercars join fuel sippers as show stars

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
Supercars such as a new 900hp Lamborghini and the Ferrari 458 Speciale A will line up alongside fuel-efficient plug-in hybrids such as the VW Passat GTE at the Paris auto show. The Mercedes-AMG GT and Jaguar XE will also debut.
Oct
1st

Trucks fly in a ‘best we could have expected’ September

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
U.S. sales of SUVs, small crossovers and full-size pickups soared in September as cars became a tougher sell. Overall volume rose 9 percent, and a 16.4 million SAAR showed demand remains strong even after the industry put up big numbers all summer.
Oct
1st

Chrysler Group gains on Jeep, Ram volume

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
Chrysler Group sold 169,890 vehicles in September, a 19 percent increase from September 2013, with every brand but Dodge contributing to the company's gains. It was the group's 54th consecutive month of year-over-year increases.
Oct
1st

Ford Credit rolls out 75-month loans nationwide

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
Ford Motor Credit has joined the trend toward longer loans, rolling out 75-month terms nationwide starting today. The company previously had conducted a pilot program.
Oct
1st

Ford sales slip 3% on softer F-series demand, drop in fleet

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
Soft F-series pickup sales and a 40 percent cutback in sales to rental fleets pushed Ford Motor Co.'s September sales down 3 percent from a year earlier, to 179,518 units. Overall fleet sales fell 14 percent to 42,878.
Oct
1st

Toyota trucks carry load amid wait for ’15 Camry

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
Booming crossover and SUV sales helped Toyota Division eke out its seventh straight monthly sales gain last month, while Lexus continued to gain ground on its luxury rivals.
Oct
1st

F1: Helmut Marko believes Mercedes ”can throw championship away”

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
From GMM

With five full races to spare, Mercedes this weekend has its first opportunity to wrap up the 2014 constructors' world championship.

Utterly dominant this season, the German team is 174 points clear heading into Suzuka, meaning a one-two on Sunday with Red Bull scoring fewer than 3 points would wrap it up with Sochi, Austin, Brazil and Abu Dhabi still to run.

"Every single one of us wants to finish 2014 in style," confirmed team boss Toto Wolff.

Mercedes is also the overwhelming favourite for the drivers' title, but the close battle between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg and a marked record in the reliability stakes means that Daniel Ricciardo remains remotely in the running for now.

F1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes W05 Nico Rosberg
Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, Mercedes W05. (Photo: WRi2)

Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko is keeping the pressure high, insisting that the tension between Hamilton and Rosberg still threatens to derail the silver team.

"This peace (between the drivers) is not real," he exclaimed to the major German daily Bild ahead of the Japanese grand prix.

"Eventually, Hamilton and Rosberg will be side by side again, and when they see it is the title in front of them, there are no more rules," added Marko.

"And when the silver arrows explode again, we will be there to beat them."

Marko also hopes Mercedes' poor reliability record of late, including former championship leader Nico Rosberg's steering wheel failure in Singapore, continues to worsen.

"Further losses for them plays in our favour in the championship fight," said the outspoken Austrian.

"Mercedes can still throw the championship away."


Oct
1st

F1: Nurburgring buyout deal might set to collapse

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
From GMM

The fate of the German grand prix venue at the fabled Nurburgring is once again in serious doubt.

Recently, we reported that after the embattled circuit was bought for a reported EUR 77 million, it was in the throes of promising talks with Bernie Ecclestone over a new long-term F1 race contract.

But it then emerged in late August that the buyer, a Dusseldorf company called Capricorn, had missed the deadline on its latest due payment to the Rhineland-Palatinate state.

"We still expect the sale to go ahead," a spokesman for the financial recovery experts in charge of the Nurburgring insolvency said at the time.

Nurburgring
Aerial view of the Nurburgring.

But now, another alarming report about the health of the Nurburgring buyout deal has emerged.

The respected German business magazine Wirtschaftswoche claims Deutsche Bank has withdrawn its financing for the Capricorn transaction, meaning a new buyer for the Nurburgring is now being sought.

The news could become official later on Wednesday, when the European Commission rules on whether the Capricorn deal is even lawful.

A spokesman for the liquidator told Wirtschaftswoche that he could not comment for reasons of "confidentiality".

Deutsche Bank also would not comment.

But the report said the liquidator has already been in talks with alternative buyers, last Thursday in Berlin and on Monday in London.

A spokesman for HIG Capital, a US-based group, said: "We have the money and we stand by our (previous) offer."



Oct
1st

Kia’s new “Race Track” ad features… 2015 Sedona minivan?

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
“It's not a sports car. It's a Sedona”

Kia's U.S. division is launching a multiplatform marketing campaign to promote the all-new 2015 Kia Sedona.

“Race Track” is the first in a series of ads that playfully challenge the stereotypes and conventions of high-end, high-performance vehicles and the people who drive them. The new Sedona is portrayed as “not what you'd expect” and “not a compromise” before the campaign tagline -- “It's not a sports car. It's a Sedona” -- appears.

“The element of desire was a major theme in the design and engineering of the all-new Sedona, and our campaign was conceived to signal that something different is going on at Kia,” said Tim Chaney, vice president of marketing communications at Kia Motors America. “Sedona brings new levels of style and sophistication to a bland and predictable segment for the growing number of people who do not want to be confined by the conventional design limitations of the category."

Looks can be deceiving indeed!

Source: Kia

Oct
1st

F1: Mercedes AMG confirms news partnership with Hugo Boss

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
The Mercedes AMG Formula 1 Team confirmed Wednesday the news of a new partnership with Hugo Boss, effective from 1 January 2015 onwards.

Hugo Boss, a market leader in the upper premium and luxury global apparel market, becomes a team partner of the Mercedes F1 team, and the team's official supplier of lifestyle and formal wear clothing.

F1 Mercedes AMG Nico Rosberg Hugo Boss Lewis Hamilton
Photo: Mercedes AMG

Hugo Boss is therefore leaving McLaren after 33 years.

The German company will create high-performance teamwear and develop a 'BOSS for Mercedes-Benz Collection', inspired by the Formula 1 team, which will be available twice a year featuring high-end menswear fashion.

GP2 Nico Rosberg 2005 Hugo Boss
Nico Rosberg already had a personal sponsorship from Hugo Boss when he raced in GP2 in 2005. (Photo: WRI2)


Oct
1st

Ford creates 1,000 new jobs at Oakville assembly plant

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
Ford Canada today announced that 1,000 hourly jobs will be created at its Oakville assembly plant in Ontario to produce the all-new 2015 Ford Edge, which will go on sale early next year.

Through a $700 million investment, Oakville is now one of Canada's most competitive and advanced global manufacturing plants, able to meet growing demand in North America and around the world.

The new jobs will bring total employment at the plant to more than 4,000 by the end of this year. Ford already added 300 jobs in 2013 to meet growing consumer demand.

“The new 2015 Ford Edge sets a new standard in its class and will show countries around the world Canadian quality at its best,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of The Americas. “New jobs at Oakville Assembly will strengthen our investment in Canada and increase our capabilities as we gear up for one of the most anticipated launches at Ford.”

The Oakville assembly plant currently manufactures the Ford Edge and Flex, along with the Lincoln MKX and MKT. The 2015 Ford Edge will be exported to more than 100 countries worldwide. It's all new from wheels to roof and is loaded with more technology, higher levels of craftsmanship and greatly improved vehicle dynamics.

Source : Ford Canada

2015 Ford Edge
Photo: Ford


Oct
1st

Infiniti shows first official pics of Q80 Inspiration concept

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
Infiniti has released the first official pictures of the all-new Q80 Inspiration concept ahead of its public debut at the Paris Auto Show on Thursday.

Standing 5,060mm long and 2,010mm wide, the Q80 Inspiration sedan offers a unique head-up display system for both the driver and front passenger, and a touchscreen for each rear passenger.

Under the hood is a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 engine mated to an electric motor. Total output is 550 horsepower.

This new engine is smaller and more potent, and serves as a precursor to a family of engines that will be introduced to the Infiniti portfolio within the next two years.

"Q80 Inspiration is a concept vehicle, but there is a production intent associated with it," said Francois Bancon, Infiniti Vice President of Product Strategy. "The naming of the car indicates that something like the Q80 Inspiration will be in our portfolio of the future. This vehicle will inspire all of our future products."

Source : infinitinews.com

Infiniti Q80 Inspiration
Photo: Infiniti


Oct
1st

Recall on 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
GM Canada is recalling 17,481 Cadillac SRX crossovers from 2010-2015 because the rear suspension toe link jam nuts may not have been tightened to specification. If the vehicle is operated in this condition, the toe link nuts could loosen and eventually separate, allowing the rear wheel to turn inboard or outboard.

If this were to happen, handling could be affected, potentially resulting in a crash.

Dealers will therefore inspect and ensure the rear suspension toe link nuts are tightened to specification. If required, the rear suspension toe link will be replaced.

Source : Transport Canada
Oct
1st

F1: Honda hits back after F1 delay reports

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
From GMM

Honda has apparently hit back at rumours its 2015 F1 programme is facing delays.

Italy's Autosprint reported on Tuesday that, despite making an audacious bid to lure Fernando Alonso to McLaren for 2015, the Japanese manufacturer is three months behind in the development of its all-new turbo V6 'power unit'.

Apparently hitting back at that speculation on Wednesday ahead of the Japanese grand prix at Honda-owned Suzuka, the carmaker revealed the first image of its 2015 engine.

F1 Honda engine V6
Photo: Honda Racing

At the same time, Honda's F1 chief Yasuhisa Arai said the 2015 engine project is now entering the "prime phase" in Japan, and will now undergo "full-fledged bench tests" connected to the turbo and energy recovery systems.

"In the meantime, our racing operation base in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom, has become fully operational," he announced.

Not only that, Speed Week is reporting on Wednesday that Mercedes - McLaren's current engine supplier - has given McLaren permission to debut the Honda V6 at the post-Abu Dhabi grand prix test next month.

That is despite Honda's Arai having said just weeks ago that the engine will in fact not make its debut until the first winter test of 2015 next February at Jerez.

"There is obviously a lot of work behind the scenes with our new partner for next year," McLaren team boss Eric Boullier said recently in Singapore.

"We have not exactly defined when and where we will test first, to be clear about some discussions and rumours. There is a lot of work going through and, to be honest, as per the original schedule, everything is fine so far."



Oct
1st

F1: Kimi Raikkonen admits ‘finally’ getting comfortable with Ferrari’s F14 T

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
From Formula1.com

Speaking ahead of this weekend's 2014 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, Raikkonen pinpointed qualifying in Singapore as the chief cause for his optimism.

"In Singapore, we finally had the speed to put together a quick single flying lap in qualifying, as the car behaved the way I'd been hoping for," the Finn told Ferrari's official website.

"It was just a shame we could not maximise the performance of the car because of a minor issue before the last flying lap (in Q3). It meant we could not do much in the race, as I was stuck in traffic and couldn't exploit my pace.

"But for me, the positive thing that weekend was I finally had a good feeling from the car, something I had been waiting for a long time this year."

Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari
Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari (Photo: Ferrari)

Raikkonen admitted it is not yet clear how Ferrari will match up to their rivals in Japan this weekend, but said the technical Suzuka circuit suits his driving style - as evidenced by his past success at the track.

"It's a high power circuit, but also technically very challenging, so we are looking forward to see how our car goes there compared to the front running teams," Raikkonen added.

"I like Suzuka a lot. It's an old-school type of racing circuit, the sort that always gives me the best feeling. I'd have to say my favourite is Spa-Francorchamps, but Suzuka comes very near in my ranking. Apart from my first ever time in Japan and Suzuka, when I was driving for Sauber and had to retire after crashing with Alesi, I have finished every single race in Japan and I have got some really good results, as well. Winning the 2005 race was one of my best ever drives."


Oct
1st

F1: Toto Wolff ‘99% sure’ of 2015 Mercedes drivers

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
From GMM

Team boss Toto Wolff is not 100 per cent sure Mercedes will head into the 2015 season with an unchanged driver lineup.

With Nico Rosberg already under contract into the longer term, his teammate Lewis Hamilton is among those drivers speculatively linked with a sensational switch to the new Honda era at McLaren beginning next year.

Recently, a slight disagreement between Briton Hamilton and Mercedes became apparent after Wolff indicated talks for a new contract beyond 2015 had been "frozen".

"Well, I haven't said that I was freezing anything," the 2008 world champion said last month.

It is rumoured Hamilton might be tempted to leave Mercedes if his teammate Rosberg, with whom relations are already intensely strained, wins the 2014 title.

Toto Wolff has also warned that if the pair cannot find a way to work together effectively, Mercedes might need to rethink its 2015 lineup.

F1 Mercedes AMG Toto Wolff
Toto Wolff, Mercedes AMG. (Photo: WRi2)

It is a theme Austrian Wolff appears to have returned to in the days before the Japanese grand prix.

He told Germany's Sport Bild that the Brackley based team's driver lineup for 2015 is only "99 per cent" guaranteed at this stage.

"You have to hold something back because exceptional circumstances can always arise. In life, nothing is ever 100 per cent for sure," said Wolff.

He insisted yet again that contractual talks with Hamilton have indeed been frozen for the time being.

"On both sides we had the desire and decided to postpone the issue, because the championship is so intense," Wolff said.

"Rather than be discussing commercial issues, we want to get to the end of the season. And then the first thing we will do is sit down with Lewis and hopefully everything will be in the bag for the years after 2015," he added.


Oct
1st

Chase Pelletier wins 2014 Team Canada Scholarship

Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
Canadian race car driver Chase Pelletier will be representing the Team Canada Scholarship at the 43rd Annual BRSCC British Formula Ford Festival, October 25/26.

Announced today by scholarship founder Brian Graham, Pelletier will fly to England this October to contest the world renowned Formula Ford Festival held at Brands Hatch.

Ontario's Chase Pelletier entered this season his second season of F1600 racing making his focus the Ontario based Toyo Tires F1600 Championship as well as competing in the newly created “Super Series”.

With several podium finishes under his belt he went into the final rounds of the Super Series with a shot at the championship and put his most impressive weekend of the year together when he won both ends of the double header and claimed the inaugural Super Series Championship.

As in the past, Cliff Dempsey Racing will be the host team for the Canadian squad.

Hosted by CifTech Hosting.