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In 2008, the recession was raging, and dealer Joe Cardinale decided to make some changes.

The long-awaited Jeep Wrangler redesign planned for 2018 will come with an eight-speed automatic transmission that promises to dramatically improve the off-roader's fuel economy.

Automotive News Europe needs your help to identify the Rising Stars in the European automotive industry. The award honors executives with a pan-European profile who have driven change, fostered innovation and made courageous decisions.

When Jim Farley started his first tour of duty in Europe in 1997, he had a lot to learn. Now he's going back to run Ford's European unit. "I got my PhD in small cars walking through parking lots," in Europe, he says.

South Korea's car imports have leapt from 3 percent of sales a decade ago to 14 percent today as foreign brands led by Germany's BMW and Mercedes take advantage of a free trade deal to grow sales in a once impregnable market.

SGL Group, the materials supplier for carbon fiber reinforced parts in BMW's electric cars, is in talks with Audi, Porsche, GM and other carmakers to supply carbon fiber for a wider range of automotive components, its CEO said.

The long-awaited Jeep Wrangler redesign planned for 2018 will come with an eight-speed automatic transmission that promises to dramatically improve the off-roader's fuel economy.

From GMM

Michael Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm says it is "not possible" to talk about how long it will take the F1 legend to recover.

Speaking with the German broadcaster RTL, however, she said she is happy that the earlier media storm surrounding the seriously injured former Mercedes and Ferrari driver has now calmed down.

"People have understood that this whole situation needs calmness and patience," said Kehm on Sunday.

"So many people also understand that privacy in this context is also very important."

Schumacher, 45, has now returned home in the wake of his skiing crash last December and long subsequent hospitalisation, but little is known about the extent of his brain injury.

There is speculation the German cannot walk or talk but Kehm insisted that Schumacher is making "progress appropriate to the severity of his injuries".

As for an actual timeframe for full recovery, she said: "That's just not possible in this situation. It will be a difficult and long process."

From Citroen Racing

Nine-time World Rally Champions, Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena are to return to action in a DS 3 WRC at the Rallye Monte-Carlo, opening round of the 2015 World Rally Championship.

This one-off appearance, at the most prestigious rally on the World Rally Championship calendar, will support the launch of the DS Brand.

The two DS 3 WRCs are nominated to score points in the Manufacturers' championship will be driven by Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle - already confirmed as a works crew for the full season - and by Loeb and Elena.

They will take on the challenge once again as they return to road racing more than a year after the end of their shared career.

Often unpredictable due to the weather conditions, Rallye Monte-Carlo will provide the Franco-Monegasque pair with the perfect opportunity to use their immense experience.

Sebastien Loeb, Citroen DS3 WRC, Monte-Carlo 2013. (Photo: WRC)

From GMM

As their fierce rivalry this year came to its zenith on Sunday, Nico Rosberg was notably gracious in defeat.

The bullish German had spent the Abu Dhabi weekend firing psychological barbs at Lewis Hamilton, but on Sunday he was beaten off the line by the Briton before technical problems began to strike.

Rosberg and Hamilton, old friends and boyhood karting teammates, have clashed memorably in 2014 as their in-house title battle intensified.

But as the non-alcoholic rose water flowed on the podium amid fireworks in the sky, the defeated Rosberg was gracious in defeat.

"He (Hamilton) did a little bit of a better job than me in the races this year. Tiny bits that I need to find," he said.

Earlier, although he finished the race just 14th, Rosberg even made his way into the pre-podium room to congratulate his rival, and the pair embraced and shared some of the first words they have uttered to one another for weeks.

"He just came into the room, very, very professional," said Hamilton, "and he just said 'fantastic'. He said 'you drove really well'. And the same to him -- all year long he drove incredibly well, especially in qualifying, so hats off to him."

Nico Rosberg partying with Mercedes team. (Photo: WRi2)

Nico Rosberg also graciously attended Mercedes' post-race team party, even though he said watching the champagne flow for Hamilton was "a bit hard".

But the pair once again came face to face, with Rosberg explaining: "I said 'you deserve it'. He was the best driver on the grid this year, and it was a great battle between us. And I race for battles such as this."

Rosberg's disappointment will be compounded on Tuesday when he must return to the cockpit of his recently-malfunctioned car for the post-race Abu Dhabi test.

"Right now I have to say that I am not really in the mood for it," he admitted late on Sunday.

Lewis Hamilton admitted that their embraces and handshakes may "ease" some of the tension that has characterised their rivalry in 2014.

He said: "He was graceful enough to come up to me and see me after, which I really appreciated. It was really big of him to be able to do that. It's very, very tough, I know what it's like losing a championship so, for sure, we'll keep working at it."

Lewis Hamilton, world champion 2014, and Nico Rosberg. (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

Team boss Toto Wolff said he was also happy to see how gracious Rosberg was in defeat.

"The most emotional I felt today was when I saw Nico going up to congratulate him," he told German television.

"That's outstanding by Nico because I know the discussions we had after Spa, where the relationship was exactly the opposite. So I'm very happy for both of them because it needed Lewis to accept Nico's congratulations," he added.

"It probably would have been exactly the same the other way around," Toto Wolff told the RTL broadcaster. "For us it is great that we have two such great sportsmen in the team."

From press release

Ohsweken Speedway officials are proud to announce a partnership with Sam Donnelly of Klotz Canada Synthetic Lubricants to become the title sponsor of Micro Sprint racing at Ohsweken.

Beginner, Junior, Senior, and Expert divisions compete on the Micro Sprint track at Ohsweken on Thursday nights during each summer, and provide an excellent training ground for the next generation of dirt track stars.

Donnelly has been a supporter of Ohsweken Speedway in the past through his Klotz Canada brand, and travels frequently from Ontario's Kawartha Lakes region to attend races at the track each season.

His support of Micro Sprint racing is a welcome addition, as track officials work to grow the grass roots divisions at Ohsweken.

Formula 1 teams will participate Tuesday and Wednesday to the final test session of the 2014 season held at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi.

Confirmed drivers will take part in these tests, such as Kimi Raikkonen with Ferrari and Nico Rosberg with Mercedes AMG.

Several rookies will also get the chance to get some valuable mileage in an F1 car, such as GP2 drivers Raffaele Marciello (Ferrari), Jolyon Palmer (Force India), Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren) a Formula Renault 3.5 series, champion, Carlos Sainz junior and Mercedes DTM driver, Pascal Wehrlein (Mercedes AMG).

Test line-ups:

Tuesday November 25
• Red Bull Racing: Carlos Sainz Jr
• Mercedes AMG: Nico Rosberg
• Ferrari: Kimi Raikkonen
• Lotus: Esteban Ocon
• McLaren: Stoffel Vandoorne
• Sauber: Marcus Ericsson
• Sahara Force India: Jolyon Palmer
• Toro Rosso: Max Verstappen
• Williams: Valtteri Bottas
• Caterham: Will Stevens

Wednesday November 26
• Red Bull Racing: Daniel Ricciardo
• Mercedes AMG: Pascal Wehrlein
• Ferrari: Raffaele Marciello
• Lotus: To be announced
• McLaren: Stoffel Vandoorne
• Sauber: Marcus Ericsson
• Sahara Force India: Spike Goddard
• Toro Rosso: Max Verstappen
• Williams: Felipe Nasr
• Caterham: Will Stevens

McLaren Formula 1 team ended its 20-year relationship with Mercedes-Benz at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Sunday night.

The British team is now fully focused on the new Honda era.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the team will be conducting systems and logistics checks with the Honda-engined interim car, MP4-29H/1X1 at the Yas Marina circuit of Abu Dhabi.

McLaren test and development driver Stoffel Vandoorne will be driving on both days.

“On Tuesday and Wednesday, here in Abu Dhabi, we'll be testing our hybrid McLaren-Honda MP4-29H/1X1 for the first time, following our filming day with the car at Silverstone last week,” said Eric Boullier, racing director, McLaren.

“It's an exciting time for both McLaren and Honda, and for all who sail and will sail in the good ship McLaren-Honda. Ahead of us are many weeks of hard graft, but you may be well sure we're up for the task”.

From GMM

Carlos Sainz jr could be unveiled within days as Toro Rosso's new driver for 2015.

That is the claim of the Spanish sports daily Marca, following reports in Abu Dhabi at the weekend that Jean-Eric Vergne now seems resigned to leaving Faenza after three full seasons with the Red Bull-owned junior team.

Marca said the probability is now "99 per cent" that 20-year-old new Formula Renault 3.5 champion and Spaniard Sainz will be teenager Max Verstappen's teammate.

"The announcement could even take place this week," added the newspaper.

Marca said Sainz Jr, whose father is the well-known world rally legend of the same name, will touch down in Abu Dhabi on Monday where he will test in the coming days for Red Bull.

Carlos Sainz Sr is tipped to be travelling with him.

In their pocket could be a new sponsor for Toro Rosso, with the team's existing Spanish backer Cepsa said to be departing, the newspaper reported.

Cepsa brand on Toro Rosso STR9-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

Ferrari Monday morning announced the appointment of Maurizio Arrivabene as Managing Director of Gestione Sportiva and as Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari, replacing Marco Mattiacci.

When asked if Abu Dhabi was his last race, Mattiacci said on Sunday: "At the moment I am very focused on my job just as I was when I started in April."

Maurizio Arrivabene comes to Ferrari from Philip Morris, which he joined in 1997 after a 20 years career in marketing and promotions in Italy and abroad.

Throughout his time with Philip Morris, Maurizio Arrivabene has been closely involved in the partnership with Ferrari both in Maranello and on the world's racing circuits. He has also represented all Formula One sponsors on the F1 Commission since 2010.

“We decided to appoint Maurizio Arrivabene because, at this historic moment in time for the Scuderia and for Formula 1, we need a person with a thorough understanding not just of Ferrari but also of the governance mechanisms and requirements of the sport,” declared Ferrari Chairman Sergio Marchionne.

“Maurizio has a unique wealth of knowledge: he has been extremely close to the Scuderia for years and, as a member of the F1 Commission, is also keenly aware of the challenges we are facing. He has been a constant source of innovative ideas focused on revitalisation of Formula One. His managerial experience on a highly complex and closely regulated market is also of great importance, and will help him manage and motivate the team. I am delighted to have been able to secure his leadership for our racing activities”.

“We would also like to thank Marco Mattiacci for his service to Ferrari in the last 15 years and we wish him well in his future endeavours” concluded Marchionne.

From GMM

Rival F1 team Sahara Force India has blasted outgoing world champions Red Bull as the "cheats" of the sport.

"Red Bull gives you flexible wings," team supremo and co-owner Vijay Mallya said on Twitter on Sunday.

The former Indian billionaire's attack on the energy drink-owned team follows not just the latest flexible wing saga, but also team boss Christian Horner supposedly enraging his counterparts in a recent meeting.

Not only Mallya, but also Lotus owner Gerard Lopez have intimated to members of the F1 media that it was Horner who openly laughed at the demise of backmarkers Caterham and Marussia.

The next most endangered teams - Lotus, Force India and Sauber - have been arguing ferociously in recent weeks that the sport should more fairly distribute its almost $1 billion in annual income among the teams.

But Christian Horner is quoted by the Times as "categorically" denying that he scoffed at their plight.

"I would never decry other teams," he said. "They have my respect. For example, we have helped Caterham get into the paddock. They got gearboxes from us (in Abu Dhabi) even though we are owed money."

Start of the 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. (Photo: WRi2)

But something has obviously enraged Mallya, who launched a tirade of anti-Red Bull sentiment on his official Twitter page ahead of Sunday's 2014 finale in Abu Dhabi.

"Arrogance and a superiority complex on the part of those who are paid to be in F1 should not dilute or colour those who pay to be in F1," he said.

"A big F1 team that says we small outfits should not come with bananas to a gun fight, grabs maximum money and cheats on the regulations," Mallya added.

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo were disqualified from qualifying on Saturday after the FIA deemed their front wings were illegal.

A BBC report that revealed a concealed spring was specifically designed to allow the wing to illegally bend was also 'retweeted' by Vijay Mallya.

Former Caterham technical boss Mike Gascoyne also attacked the Red Bull chief on Sunday, tweeting before the race: "Wonder if Christian Halliwell will visit the back of the grid? Will remind him of his first few years in Red Bull."

He signed off with the hashtag: "Whatgoesaroundcomesaround".

From GMM

Marco Mattiacci has done little to reject rumours he is set to depart as Ferrari's team boss.

Reports throughout the Abu Dhabi weekend suggested the Roman and former Ferrari North America chief, who arrived at Maranello in April to replace the suddenly-ousted Stefano Domenicali, is on the verge of himself being replaced.

The rumours say Marlboro executive and F1 Commission member Maurizio Arrivabene, or perhaps even Ross Brawn, are set to succeed Mattiacci.

When asked if Abu Dhabi was his last race, Mattiacci said on Sunday: "At the moment I am very focused on my job just as I was when I started in April."

It is obvious, however, that more changes may be afoot at Maranello.

Piero Ferrari, the great Enzo Ferrari's only living son, was trackside in Abu Dhabi and he answered "I don't know" as to whether Brawn is set to return.

But when asked if the team's former technical director parted on good terms a decade ago, however, Ferrari insisted: "Yes."

How did Chrysler decide which star fit best with which auto brand? Marissa Hunter, director of global brand advertising and head of Ram Truck brand advertising, laid it out like this.

Chrysler on Sunday night launched an ad blitz during the American Music Awards that linked five of its brands to A-list recording artists in spots that co-promoted both the vehicles and Interscope singles.

Chrysler on Sunday night launched an ad blitz during the American Music Awards that linked five of its brands to A-list recording artists in spots that co-promoted both the vehicles and Interscope singles.