Auto News 5

Hyundai Motorsport has announced the signing of Dutchman Kevin Abbring in the role of test driver for the coming season of the World Rally Chamionship.

Abbring, who turns 26 next week, is a young and talented driver with a bright future in the WRC. He carried out some driving duties for the team last year, taking part in a number of pre-event roll-outs.

“His attitude and skill behind the wheel impressed the engineers, who found him to be a valuable addition to the team,” says the press release.

Abbring will take part in a number of official tests with the main focus on development of the New Generation i20 WRC and will compete in selected WRC events with the team, alongside his co-driver Sebastian Marshall.

Hyundai Motorsport also announced new partnerships with affiliates Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai WIA and Hyundai Steel.

Kevin Abbring, Hyundai. (Photo: Hyundai Motorsport)

From GMM

Sergio Marchionne has warned Ferrari fans yet again that 2015 will be a difficult season for the fabled Scuderia.

Speaking at the Detroit auto show on Tuesday, he refused to wade in deeper on a war of words with the Italian marque's ousted long-time president, Luca di Montezemolo.

"Unfortunately we have dropped back, but I will not argue with those who want to make a controversy," Marchionne is quoted by Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"We start behind but we will keep our heads down and try to win."

Italian-Canadian Marchionne is also chief of Fiat-Chrysler, and reportedly focused on finding strategic partnerships for the group whilst also preparing a stock market floatation for Ferrari.

"I would like to say to the fans that I will go to some grands prix," he revealed, "but we have appointed a team leader (Maurizio Arrivabene) and he will deal with the management directly."

Ferrari F14 T. (Photo: WRi2)

According to the Spanish news agency EFE, Marchionne also said Ferrari has "much work to do" after a tumultuous period, and warned that improved results are likely only in the "final five or six races" of 2015.

"I'm encouraged," he said, referring to the political victory on the engine 'unfreeze' issue, "because now we have the ability to make changes during the season.

"My hope is that we will see improved performance on the track at the end of the season. I think the most interesting part of 2015 will be the last races," added Marchionne.

Monday, Ford unveiled at the Nord American International Auto Show in Detroit the all-new GT, an ultra-high-performance supercar that serves as a technology showcase for top EcoBoost performance, aerodynamics and lightweight carbon fibre construction.

The all-new GT supercar features rear-wheel drive, a mid-mounted engine, and a sleek, aerodynamic, two-door coupe body shell.

It is propelled by the most powerful EcoBoost production engine ever - a next-generation twin-turbocharged V6 producing more than 600 horsepower.

Beginning production late next year, the GT hits the road in select global markets to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ford GT race cars placing 1-2-3 at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans with the famed GT40.

Ford GT. (Photo: Ford)

Will it race, and if yes, where?

It seems evident that the car will contest the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans in the GTLM category. However, will it contest the full season of the World Endurance Championship or will Ford focus on the classic French endurance race? Will it also compete in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship?

Several American publications link this new Ford GT to Chip Ganassi Racing. “The two-car assault will be campaigned by Chip Ganassi Racing when the United SportsCar Championship opens 2016 with the Rolex 24 at Daytona,” wrote Autoweek.

“Ford will have at its disposal a top-notch, all-American line-up in at least one car [Scott Pruett and Joey Hand] when it attempts to win the GTLM class at Le Mans - 50 years after its GT40 Mk. II,” the magazine said.

Time will tell. Stay tuned!

From press release

JR Motorsports will expand into the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for 10 races in 2015 with teenager Cole Custer, general manager Kelley Earnhardt Miller announced.

Custer, who turns 17 this month, became the youngest winner in NASCAR national touring series history last year with a truck series victory in only his seventh start.

Custer, a native of Ladera Ranch, California, and the No. 00 Chevrolet Silverado team will receive primary sponsorship from Haas Automation Inc., the largest CNC machine tool builder in North America.

Custer's trucks will be based out of a JR Motorsports satellite shop in Mooresville, North Carolina. Joe Shear, Jr., will serve as the team's crew chief.

Custer's 10-race NCWTS schedule includes races at Martinsville Speedway (March 28), Dover International Speedway (May 29), Gateway Motorsports Park (June 13), Iowa Speedway (June 19), Eldora Speedway (July 22), Bristol Motor Speedway (Aug. 19), Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (Aug. 30), New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Sept. 26), Martinsville Speedway (Oct. 31) and Phoenix International Raceway (Nov. 13).

From press release

Red Bull Global Rallycross released its 2015 schedule on Monday.

The series will feature a 12-race schedule across nine venues.

The schedule kicks off in Florida for a race in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area on May 31 and ends with a return Las Vegas on November 5.

This year's calendar is also marked with three doubleheader events, including the second straight doubleheader in the series' home city of Los Angeles, and the expansion of the series' popular Barbados race.

One of those doubleheader weekends is scheduled to be in Detroit, July 25-26.

2015 Red Bull Global Rallycross calendar:
May 31: Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla.
June 21: Daytona Beach, Fla.
July 5: United States Military Base (TBD)
July 25: Detroit (I)
July 26: Detroit (II)
August 15: Washington, D.C.
August 30: Seattle, Wash.
September 12: Los Angeles (I)
September 13: Los Angeles (II)
October 3: Barbados (I)
October 4: Barbados (II)
November 5: Las Vegas

From GMM

Valtteri Bottas thinks the odd look of formula one cars is about to end.

Last year, unseemly 'anteater', 'vacuum cleaner', 'walrus-tusked' and other descriptively-derided solutions filled the grid as designers made the most of the new aerodynamic rules and loopholes.

Those regulations have been tidied up for 2015, and Williams' Bottas thinks the outcome will result in "a far neater appearance" at the front of all the cars this year.

"The rules are quite strict now," he is quoted by the Finnish broadcaster MTV3, "so I think they will all be basically similar.

"I do not think we will see any more unusual solutions," Bottas added.

Valtteri Bottas, Williams, fighting with Sahara Force India and McLaren. (Photo: WRi2)

The minimum weight of the cars has also been slightly lifted, at the same time as designers get to grips with the radical set of regulations that arrived last year.

It means drivers can now relax slightly, after drastically dieting this time a year ago.

"I have set a certain (personal) weight limit," said Bottas, "but the situation is not as bad as last year. But it's true that some other teams had bigger problems than we ever did."

From press release

McLaren announced Tuesday that the McLaren Group has changed its name to the McLaren Technology Group.

“The change represents an on-going shift at McLaren, as we increasingly develop into a diversified high-technology company, applying our unique innovation and technology to industries such as oil and gas, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, aviation and financial services”, the release says.

“Some time ago we set McLaren on a path of diversification, and as a result we are today far more than just a racing team. The McLaren companies now employ more than 3000 people, three-quarters of whom are not involved in motorsport,” said Ron Dennis CBE, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the McLaren Technology Group.

“Technology drives everything we do - creating the world's most advanced road cars, working with blue-chip companies to enhance their performance and their products, and/or developing the world's most robust electronic control systems. Our new name therefore reflects our ever-increasing focus on innovation and the creation of disruptive technologies that will have a positive and far-reaching impact.”

To facilitate McLaren Applied Technologies' planned growth, the company has submitted a planning application for the construction of a new 'applied technology centre' of 57,000 square metres (gross internal area), including additional aerodynamic research facilities, workshops, research and development space, offices, meeting rooms, teaching and training space, and vehicle preparation and assembly areas, thereby doubling the existing McLaren Technology Group footprint.

From GMM

Bahrain is blocking Qatar's plans to join the F1 calendar.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said last month that despite negotiating with a keen Qatari group, a race in the oil-rich Arab state is actually unlikely.

That is because he made one of his famous "handshake deals" with Bahrain's crown prince years ago not to install any new races in the Persian Gulf.

"I put the people together and said 'Can you sort this out between you?'. They haven't managed to do it," said Ecclestone.

Since then, Qatar has stepped up its F1 bid, securing the backing of the Emir, hosting the FIA's recent gala awards and now unveiling images of a proposed new street circuit in Lusail.

Despite agreeing to the spectacular floodlit Abu Dhabi grand prix, however, Bahrain is refusing to budge in similarly allowing Qatar on the calendar.

"My personal opinion of having another race - wherever it is - I don't think we are ready for that," Bahrain circuit chief Sheikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa is quoted by British newspapers.

Sheikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, Bernie Ecclestone and Jean Todt in Bahrain. (Photo: WRi2)

Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen said sales of the ATS compact sedan have been hurt by the Mercedes CLA and other lower-priced recent entries, and he plans to respond with an entry-level sedan of his own.

Alfa Romeo's second completely redesigned vehicle in its $6 billion brand overhaul will be a sedan that might carry the historic Giulia nameplate, top executives with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles hinted Monday.

Volvo debuted two new sedans today: its Chinese-made S60 Inscription and S60 Cross Country.

News 12 Jan, 2015

Hyundai surprises at the Detroit Motor Show by unveiling the Santa Cruz crossover pick-up concept- and it could make production

In rectangular space on the Detroit auto show floor about the size of an extended van, Local Motors is using a 3-D printer to create the body of its Strati car in about 44 hours.

News 12 Jan, 2015

Audi working on Model S and Model X rivals, plus all-electric R8 with 250-mile range will debut at Geneva show

Hyundai Motor Group, seeking to broaden its appeal in truck-crazy markets such as the US, today unveiled the genre-bending Santa Cruz concept as a possible sketch of a future crossover.

Bentley has announced the name of its first-ever SUV, to be revealed later this year. It will be called the Bentley Bentayga.

News 12 Jan, 2015

New Bentley Bentayga goes on sale in 2016 and will be revealed at a motor show later this year, plus video of it testing

The next Chevrolet Volt will have Korean competition. Today at the Detroit auto show, Hyundai revealed its first battery-powered vehicle: a plug-in hybrid version of the Sonata midsize sedan that will go on sale this year.

News 12 Jan, 2015

The next Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupe (formerly the C63 AMG) will get an S-Class Coupe-style makeover this year

General Motors, working to revive its slumping Cadillac luxury brand, plans to spend $12 billion to develop eight new models by 2020 and two more in the next decade, the brand's chief said.