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News 3 Oct, 2014

Skoda's new seven-seat SUV will rival the Kia Sorento, but even top-spec models are unlikely to cost more than £35,000

News 3 Oct, 2014

Boss of upmarket Citroen's DS brand promises three all-new models, faster variants and a bold plan for exclusive dealerships

One reason why Renault shocked the auto world in 1998 by acquiring Nissan was the emergence of a delightful Renault design language in the 1990s. Credit for that look goes to former Renault styling chief Patrick Le Quement.

News 3 Oct, 2014

Peugeot boss confirms a Quartz-inspired 7-seater SUV could be on the cards

News 3 Oct, 2014

Renault's Paris show star could still make it to the UK in right-hand drive form

Ford Europe chief Stephen Odell has told just-auto that Ford is happy with its production capacity position in Europe, which he feels is right for prevailing market conditions and amid a 'very modest recovery' to car sales across the region.

Fiat Chrysler has no need for a capital increase to fund its five-year growth plan but its board will examine all capital-boosting options, including taking on more debt, a mandatory convertible bond and a possible capital increase, CEO Sergio...

Opel/Vauxhall CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann is confident that the automaker will achieve its goal of returning to profit by 2016, helped by pushing into new segments, leveraging GM's global vehicle platforms, and reducing parts and labor costs.

Mercedes and BMW aim to sell more standardized cars and services to boost profit margins and simplify the complex list of options for buyers -- while also giving them the choice of a bespoke car if they want.

Renault is considering building engines in Morocco to serve growing production in the country and trim costs.

From GMM

Fresh doubt is being cast over Bernie Ecclestone's F1 reign.

News is circulating around the Suzuka paddock on Friday that the sport's 'supremo' has been denied his planned return to the executive board.

Although he always remained chief executive, the 83-year-old had stepped down from the parent company Delta Topco amid his recent corruption trial in Germany.

When he controversially settled that case recently, Ecclestone said he expected to return to the board.

"I stood down for obvious reasons, but I'll be back on again now," he had said.

But the British newspapers the Telegraph and the Daily Mail report that the board has turned down the opportunity to reinstate Ecclestone.

The Telegraph explained that "during the last board meeting, he (Ecclestone) did not meet certain 'conditions' required for him to be reinstated".

The Daily Mail added: "The wildest, but not necessarily ill-informed rumours suggest that Ecclestone could be discarded within a fortnight."

From GMM

Sebastian Vettel's chief mechanic has left Red Bull.

Already this year, it was announced that the reigning quadruple world champion's well-known race engineer, Guillaume 'Rocky' Rocquelin, is being promoted for 2015.

Vettel's new engineer is scheduled to be Gianpiero Lambiase, currently at Sahara Force India.

Now, Germany's Bild newspaper reports that Kenny Handkammer, Vettel's chief mechanic, has left Red Bull.

"Kenny Handkammer has left the company with immediate effect," confirmed Dr Helmut Marko.

He is not at Suzuka, Marko revealed.

"We have found someone else for this position better suited in the course of the restructuring of the team," he announced.

Kenny Handkammer, 400 races celebrations in F1 back in 2012, with Red Bull at Abu Dhabi. (Photo: WRi2)

Some might link the news about Handkammer with other rumours swirling around Vettel.

On Thursday, the German dodged rumours he might be a candidate to replace Fernando Alonso should a vacancy arise at Ferrari.

"Well, I think there has always been rumours over the last couple of years, especially around this time of the season," Vettel said.

On Thursday, Italy's Autosprint reported from Suzuka that a race engineer who once worked closely with Vettel at Toro Rosso - Riccardo Adami - is preparing to move from Faenza to Ferrari for 2015.

Winter tires are a must, regardless of where you live, as long as snow falls to the ground and temperatures dip below the freezing point. As we all know, summer and four-season tire compounds lose much — if not all — of their flexibility at as little as 7 degrees Celsius. Why risk it?

Canadian tire shoppers received good news in 2013: Tire prices dropped significantly in order to discourage cross-boarder shopping. Given that pricing is the No. 1 consideration when it comes to buying these expensive consumables, the news was very good indeed.

As the winter season approaches, the questions are starting to roll in: “What winter tire should I buy?” To help you along with your shopping, I've devised another “best bang for the buck” line-up of tire suggestions.

As compact and midsize cars remain popular in Canada, I've selected the following P205/55R16 size as the yardstick. Keep in mind that these picks apply to most cars, as well as minivans and crossover vehicles. For a more specific list of tire suggestions for the latter two vehicles, click here.

Here are the top 2014-‘15 winter tire suggestions:

From GMM

Kimi Raikkonen has denied the contract talks behind closed doors at Ferrari could also affect his place at the Maranello team.

The talk of the Suzuka paddock is Fernando Alonso's future, amid speculation the Spaniard and Ferrari have already agreed to terminate their partnership.

At the same time, Kimi Raikkonen has struggled in 2014 and paddock rumours suggest Ferrari could also be planning to oust the Finn and rebuild for the future with an all-new lineup of Sebastian Vettel alongside Jules Bianchi in 2015.

When asked about the Alonso rumours, Raikkonen told the Finnish broadcaster MTV3: "You should ask him. It's not my thing or my concern.

"I have no interest, really."

Asked if his own contract situation has changed, Raikkonen insisted: "It has not."

Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso, Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

Raikkonen told reporters at Suzuka that, despite struggling this season, he has begun to feel much more comfortable at recent races.

"Once you get that, everything gets much easier and hopefully we keep going in this direction," he said.

"I believe 100 per cent in the people at Ferrari and the fact that we can turn it around and put the team where it should be, at the front of the field.

"As for myself, I have a contract and therefore no worries about my future," Kimi Raikkonen added.

Everyone tries to do their part to protect our dear Mother Earth, whether it's recycling, composting, saving water, or whatever. Every action counts, even those that go unnoticed.

Of course, you can't hide what you park in your driveway. Then again, you don't have to when you're the proud driver of a so-called “green” vehicle like the 2014 Ford C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid, which has everything to make you look -- and feel -- good.

You may have heard about the virtual leaves that grow on the instrument cluster as you increase your driving efficiency. Well, I took up the challenge so seriously that, in a perfect showcase of hypermiling craziness, I went as far as slowing down to 80 km/h on the highway just to gain a few leaves on my display.

What are you willing to do to save gas?

To check out our full review, head on over to Auto-Venus.com.

Photo: Philippe Champoux

From GMM

A new recruit will reportedly inject much-needed funds at struggling Marussia.

The team announced at Suzuka that Briton Will Stevens, currently a Formula Renault 3.5 driver but having previously tested for Caterham, has signed up as a reserve driver.

It was expected he would make his Friday practice debut at Suzuka, but boss John Booth said a "paperwork" holdup in Germany had delayed those plans for now.

Marussia said he will instead "take part in a number of free practice 1 sessions" elsewhere in 2014.

Will Stevens. (Photo: Marussia F1 Team)

It is believed Stevens, 23, is also a candidate for a race seat in 2015, possibly at the expense of fellow Briton Max Chilton, who almost missed the recent Belgian grand prix amid contractual problems.

Chilton, however, welcomed the news about Stevens at Suzuka.

"I know Will very well. He's a good friend of mine so I'm more than happy," he insisted.

British newspapers claim Stevens' job at Marussia has been facilitated by his backers.

The Times said he is paying "as much as 150,000 pounds ($243,000)" per Friday practice, while the Mirror estimated the cost at more like "around 200,000 pounds ($323,000)" per 90-minute session.

From GMM

Fernando Alonso and Ferrari are on the cusp of announcing the Spaniard's split, despite his contract for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

The Spanish publication Cope said the parties have now agreed to terminate the deal, amid speculation of an enormous EUR 50 million per year standing offer from McLaren.

"At this moment, in Japan, Alonso is discussing his future at Ferrari," Luca di Montezemolo, still Ferrari's president until Sergio Marchionne takes over later this month, said at the Paris Motor Show.

"I am sure we will find the best solution for him and for Ferrari, whatever that may be," Montezemolo added.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

Authoritative media sources say the situation has progressed to the point that Alonso and his closest colleagues at the fabled Italian team are now beginning to say their goodbyes.

"I must thank Alonso," Luca di Montezemolo continued, "because whether he stays or doesn't stay, he has done a lot for Ferrari.

"We have a contract and in the next few days we are going to take a final decision with a lot of respect for one another.

"If he says he will stay, we will be happy. If we decide together to end our collaboration, it will be in the best manner possible," he added.

Also speaking in Paris, Sergio Marchionne also suggested that Ferrari's marriage to Alonso is nearing an end.

"Ferrari is more important than any partner," he said. "Our priorities are well defined: the company, the brand and above all the people."

If you're in the market for a new car, the likelihood that you're shopping in the compact crossover segment is quite high. This is especially true if you've got a small family in tow.

As they remain one of the hottest segments in the car business, I've selected the very common P225/65R17 size as the yardstick for this winter tire exercise.

The rating system is desperately simple: Looking to spend a specific amount? Find your best picks within the described price ranges.

In 2013, Canadian tire shoppers got some good news: Tire prices dropped considerably in order to discourage cross-boarder shopping. Tire manufacturers wizened up and lowered pricing to match US retail prices as much as possible.

To help you along with your shopping, I've devised another “best bang for the buck” line-up of tire suggestions. For a more specific list of tire suggestions for your car, click here.

Here are the top 2014-‘15 CUV/minivan/small SUV winter tire choices:

The imminent threat to Japan from typhoon PHANFONE is gradually diminishing.

The current forecasts from Formula 1 Weather Service UBIMET indicates the arrival of rain bands, these at times heavy, for Sunday and, with the centre of the typhoon will pass close by on Monday morning.

Satellite Image of PHANFONE from Friday, 2nd October 06 UTC (08 CEST) (Image: JMA / UBIMET)

Wet race likely scenario
For Sunday there are no significant changes to previous UBIMET-forecasts.

The rain will largely be persistent - possibly with an occasional dry interlude - but also it will become heavy at times, this more likely after midday.

Thus, at the scheduled race start time by 15:00 local time (8:00 CEST), a wet race seems to be a likely scenario. The on-site expert on-site meteorologists expect the passage of the typhoon centre between the early and the afternoon hours of Monday.

"Probably PHANFONE will pass to the southeast of Suzuka. There are also model solutions that can draw the eye directly on the race circuit. In both cases severe structural damage is expected on Monday, with possible widespread severe damage from the second case,” they predicted.

Typhoon creates challenges for the Premiere in Sochi
The huge mass of equipment that Formula 1 operates must be dismantled and packed up immediately after the race - Sunday evening into Monday (local time) and after that transported from Japan to Russia.

The Grand Prix of Russia takes place on the following Sunday, October 12th. Keeping to this tight schedule will be wholly dependent on how the typhoon behaves and will surely be a tough challenge.

Estimated storm track from Friday 3rd until Monday 7th October, time information in Japanese local time. (Image: UBIMET)

The Pulsar nameplate is back at Nissan after several years of absence, and it has even been given the NISMO treatment. The result was shown this week at the Paris Auto Show.

The Pulsar NISMO Concept's paintwork is finished in satin grey and surrounding the body is the NISMO's trademark Layered Double-Wing accentuated in red. The dramatic front bumper features larger, optimized air intakes and striking brake cooling vents. Deeper side skirts, a lower ride height, and 19” five-spoke alloy wheels with 235/35R19 tires emphasize the muscular stance.

Other elements include a unique carbon fibre rear spoiler, flared wheel arches, and a diffuser-style rear bumper with central twin exhaust pipes. There's also a chrome trim around the side windows painted in black.

The race-inspired cockpit boasts deeply sculpted sports seats trimmed in Alcantara, a sporty three-spoke steering wheel, and alloy pedals.

The engine remains a mystery, although some sources claim the Nissan Pulsar NISMO houses a 1.8L turbo unit producing 250+ horsepower.

Source : Nissan

Photo: Nissan