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News 12 Dec, 2014

Porsche's most hardcore 911 is back out testing ahead of its possible public unveiling in early 2015

Chrysler Group has agreed to further expand its regional recall of older-model Dodge and Chrysler vehicles equipped with airbag inflators manufactured by Takata -- a week after federal safety regulators criticized the automaker's response to the...

Features 27 Dec, 2014

It’s a driving lesson with a difference, as Ferrari experts teach our man how to tame 730bhp F12 Berlinetta

News 12 Dec, 2014

Bold styling revealed for new seven-seater Audi Q7, the first in a new-generation of Audi SUVs

News 12 Dec, 2014

Fiat's Doblo van-based people carrier gets updated styling and new technology for 2015

General Motors said it would spend an additional US$3.6bn in Mexico by 2018, primarily to modernise and expand its manufacturing factories in Toluca, Ramos Arizpe, Silao and San Luis Potosi.

Skoda will launch the third generation of its Superb flagship in mid-2015 after the midsize sedan debuts at the Geneva auto show in March. Skoda said the new Superb has shifted to the upper end of its segment.

A rare tour of Nissan's UK battery plant demonstrated how tricky it is to build the product. The factory produces battery for the Leaf electric car and the e-NV200 electric van.

Getrag Ford Transmissions, a joint venture between the U.S. automaker and the German supplier, has named Sue Slaughter as its chief operating officer. Getrag also appointed a new Asia boss.

Nissan is boosting production in Russia as the collapse in the ruble hits its profits.The company started production of its X-Trail SUV at its St. Petersburg factory this week and will add the Qashqai next year.

BWI Group provides added stability to the new Lamborghini Huracan with it optional magneto-rheologic suspension damper control system. Harman supplies the supercar's infotainment and navigation system.

Relations between automakers and suppliers are deteriorating as vehicle manufacturers seek annual price decreases as high as 10 percent, according to the 2014 Global OEM-Supplier Relations Study conducted by IHS Automotive.

Audi has reduced the A1's CO2 emissions to below 100 grams per kilometer by adding three-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines to the subcompact's powertrain lineup as part of the car's mid-cycle refresh.

Nissan is boosting production in Russia as the collapse in the ruble hits its profits. The company started production of its X-Trail SUV at its St. Petersburg factory this week and will add the Qashqai next year.

Getrag Ford Transmissions, a joint venture between the U.S. automaker and the German supplier, has named Sue Slaughter as its chief operating officer. Getrag also appointed a new Asia boss.

From GMM

For both Fernando Alonso and Ron Dennis, a successful Formula 1 marriage is "unfinished business".

When they split seven years ago, most insiders found the idea of a reunion at any point in the future impossible to fathom.

Indeed, as what Alonso on Thursday described as their recent "dating" in hotel rooms ramped up, McLaren supremo Dennis admitted that it was initially an "uncomfortable" process.

But with McLaren-Honda needing the best possible driver for 2015, and Alonso seeking a highly-resourced home after his Ferrari exit, both strong characters analysed the reasons for their split and decided to try again.

"You regret the mistakes you make in life," said Dennis on Thursday.

It is believed, however, that Alonso himself was to blame for many of the mistakes of 2007, particularly as 'spy-gate' and his battle against the surprisingly-competitive rookie Lewis Hamilton became all-out war.

But as Dennis laid the foundation for what he called a "happy situation" on Thursday, he put at least some of the blame at departed McLaren driver Hamilton's door.

"Lewis was understandably perceived to be the chosen one but he also had immaturity," he said. "If you ask who struck the first blow then I'd have to say Lewis had his part to play in starting a process that escalated."

Back at Woking on Thursday, Alonso also admitted that after the 2007 situation spiralled out of control, it had subsequently always played on his mind.

"I had this wish to remove the only thing in my career I am not proud of," he said. "2007."

The 33-year-old Spaniard, set to earn close to an incredible $50 million in 2015, believes his relationship with Dennis soured so badly simply because they are both "extremely competitive people".

Alonso also admits his own failings as a then 25-year-old.

"We have to be honest with ourselves and, if we are, we can find the things we would have done differently," he said.

"The other side is it is no longer 2007. It is not McLaren-Mercedes, it is McLaren-Honda, which is a completely different thing in my opinion," said Alonso.

"Jenson (Button) is not Lewis, which is completely different. I am sitting here, ready for this challenge with McLaren-Honda, because I see no problems at all."

The race fan who climbed a safety fence at Richmond International Raceway on September 6 and caused an major NASCAR Cup Chase race to stop, was sentenced to jail Thursday.

Richmond TV station WWBT reported the fan, 53-year-old James Dennis was sentenced to one year in jail with all but one month suspended, meaning he'll only serve one month.

The police report states that Dennis was found guilty of disorderly conduct and being drunk in public.

The local TV station explained a police officer testified Dennis "told them he climbed the fence because it was his birthday and he wanted to stop the race and be on TV."

His trick worked, as NASCAR officials threw a yellow flag and stopped the important race.

WWBT mentioned the shirtless man also wanted to get a photo of driver Kevin Harvick from above and failed to do so because he forgot to bring his phone with him.

British motorsport publication Autosport revealed Friday that Steve Nielsen has left his position as sporting director at the Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula 1 team.

Steve Nielsen with Max Verstappen (Photo: WRI2)

The vastly experienced Nielsen had been a member of the Red Bull junior F1 team since the start of 2013, when he joined after a short period at Caterham.

Nielsen started his F1 career in 1987 as part of the Lotus test team.

He then worked for Tyrrell, Benetton, Arrows, Renault and Lotus, mostly at the position of team manager or sporting manager.

Autosport added that the small team based in Faenza declined to disclose the reason for Steve Nielsen's exit.

We, at Auto123.com, know that several members have left the team since last September.

During Thursday's press conference at the McLaren Technology Centre, company's CEO Ron Dennis declared he wanted to avoid his team to run a third Formula 1 car in the near future.

Dennis said his team had the intention of helping F1's struggling teams in order to avoid running a third McLaren-Honda as early as 2015.

The issue of the financially struggling teams (Marussia, Caterham, Sauber and Lotus) was on the agenda of the Formula One Commission meeting in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday after the last race of the season.

Ron Dennis talking for the press conference at McLaren. (Photo: McLaren)

“As is widely known now there are certain teams, one of which is McLaren, there are three teams who have a contractual obligation to run three cars in the event the grid world championship entry falls under 16, or 16 or less,” Ron Dennis explained.

“I still feel two teams have great challenges left to get to next year's grid,” he continued.

”It is actually my intention to try and assist them to that position because I think third cars are not good for F1. ”

Although Dennis stated he would run a third car if required to by his contract with FOM (Formula One Management), he does not believe it would be positive for F1.

“I actually absolutely believe that the fastest way to eliminate the back of the grid would be to run three cars,” he explained.

Ron Dennis told why running a third car is by far more complicated than it seems.

“If you run three cars you will absolutely try to optimize the experience. The third car would have a lot more function to it than just fulfilling the contract.

“You've then got to try and use it as a development tool, et cetera et cetera, so you'd only get stronger from the process in all areas except one - which is it would cost us money. No question. So as it's going to cost us money there's a high incentive to avoid that cost by trying to help the other teams successfully survive,” Dennis concluded.

From indycar.com

Series' officials announced that the Mazda name will be on the 2-liter, turbocharged engine that will be paired with the new Dallara IL-15 chassis for the 2015 Indy Lights season.

It is the Mazda's latest development in its commitment to motorsports, which includes the Mazda Road to Indy development system that incorporates Indy Lights, the Pro Mazda Championship and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda.

The engine, developed in conjunction with Advanced Engine Research, was first campaigned by Mazda in the American Le Mans Series. Further development by AER was designed to produce 450 horsepower and last an entire season without a rebuild for Indy Lights.

The 2015 Indy Lights season kicks off March 27-29 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., in conjunction with the Verizon IndyCar Series opener and concludes Sept. 11-13 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in California.

The engine-chassis package went through extensive evaluation and confirmation during the summer. Verizon IndyCar Series drivers Scott Dixon, James Hinchcliffe, Conor Daly and Tristan Vautier, along with 2014 Indy Lights champion Gabby Chaves, tested the car on multiple racetracks.