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The executives chosen as 2014 Automotive News Europe Eurostars rose above the rest by pushing their companies to new heights. Volvo Senior Manager for Social Media Bruno G. Renhult is this year's winner for Social Media Executive.

Mercedes plans to roll out at least 10 new plug-in hybrid models by 2017 -- starting with its flagship S-class sedan -- as the premium car manufacturer looks to fulfill strict carbon emission requirements in Europe.

The executives chosen as 2014 Automotive News Europe Eurostars rose above the rest by pushing their companies to new heights. Volvo Senior Manager for Social Media Bruno G. Renhult is this year's winner for Social Media Executive.

Infiniti has released an image of a large four-door fastback concept that signals the styling for a stream of new products planned over the next four years.

The only Lotus model sold in the U.S., the Evora, is being dropped for the 2015 model year because it no longer meets U.S. federal crash standards.

GM hired its first product cybersecurity chief in a move designed to address the growing challenge of providing safe, secure and reliable technology in vehicles.

BMW has appointed Franciscus "Frank" van Meel as head of its M in-house performance unit. Van Meel ran Audi's quattro division until April of this year.

Mercedes plans to roll out at least 10 new plug-in hybrid models by 2017 -- starting with its flagship S-class sedan -- as the premium car manufacturer looks to fulfill strict carbon emission requirements in Europe.

From GMM

Ferrari could be set for yet another change right at the top of the Maranello marque.

The departure of long-time president Luca di Montezemolo recently, with Fiat Chrysler chairman Sergio Marchionne taking over, made huge media waves.

But it might not be the final act.

Recently, as the looming Montezemolo exit became reality, a member of the influential Agnelli family backed the controversial news.

Andrea Agnelli, whose uncle was the great Fiat figurehead Gianni Agnelli, had said it was "right" that Ferrari's efforts to improve "involves new people".

He was speaking as president of the Juventus football club.

But now, the Italian newspaper Libero claims 38-year-old Agnelli, already a Fiat board member, is set to become Montezemolo's long-term successor as Ferrari president.

The rumour was stated by Luciano Moggi, a former Juventus chief.

"Informed rumours say that the wily strategists at Fiat are thinking that to revitalise Ferrari there is no one better than a winner like Andrea," he said.

Motorhome Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

Nine-time World Rally Champion, Frenchman Sebastien Loeb will be back behind the wheel of a rally car, for one event only.

Loeb will contest the Rallye du Var in a Citroen DS3 WRC, November 27-30. His codriver will not be Daniel Elena, but his wife, Severine.

The Loebs won the Rallye du Var together in 2009, and they ran it in 2008 in a Citroen C2 1600. In 2013, they contested the Rallye du Chablais in Switzerland.

Sebastien and Severine Loeb, Citroën. (Photo: Citroën Racing)

"I'm pleased to have the opportunity to compete in the Rallye du Var with Severine," Loeb declared.

"This is not the first time we ride together and it's always nice to both be in the car to share, on the road, this passion that we have always had in common.

"I have not driven in rallying for a while and I am now fully focused on my WTCC programme.

"But this [rallying] is my first love, as they say.

"The Var is a great rally, with beautiful roads in an area I enjoy. So I look forward to being at the wheel."

During a recent event in Cupertino, California, 507 electric car owners gathered at the same place to set a new Guinness record, breaking the previous high of 481 set in Germany earlier this year.

While there were many plug-in hybrids on hand as well, only all-electric cars were considered for the record, including Tesla Model S, Nissan LEAF, Kia Soul EV, and Toyota RAV4 EV models.

A solar-powered vehicle, built by students from the Netherlands, also participated in the event.

Source : greencarreports.com

Teenager Max Verstappen will make his Grand Prix debut next year with Toro Rosso and he is scheduled to drive a STR9 at this year's first free practice session in Japan.

Red Bull's Helmut Marko was the driving force behind Max Verstappen's signing with Toro Rosso. What did he see in the young Dutchman?

“He is an exceptional talent that comes along only once in decades...” said Marko on Formula1.com.

Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen, stand Toro Rosso. (Photo: WRi2)

Marko said he has no problem with seeing a 17-year-old kid drive a Formula car.

“As I said: mentally he is past 20 years old! And yes, we work with him intensively. He will do some Friday runs'. Marko explained.

“Not long ago he did a 400 km test in Italy, he's in the simulator whenever possible and he's working on his physique and psychology with top experts. Yes, some things became visible that we will have to address for the 2015 season. Having said that, he is getting the perfect ‘schooling' before he gets on the grid”, Marko continued.

Max Verstappen driving the Toro Rosso at Adria, Italy. (Photo: ToroRosso.com)

The strict Austrian went even a step further, comparing him with one of the greatest drivers of all times.

“[I would compare him] most likely Ayrton Senna. And in such a case you must not look at his age. He has been talking with people who are experts when it comes to the development of youngsters and they all say that (in terms of) his mind he is more like 22 than 16,” Marko said.

“And regarding his skills behind the steering wheel, he has been racing since he was four years old - professionally. So we expect him to be competitive from the first race. We are not playing the lottery - we know what we are doing. And success proves us right,” Helmut Marko explained.

The Paris Auto Show will play host to the all-new Volkswagen Golf Alltrack, which will go on sale in the U.K. next summer.

This new Golf offers an impressive selection of engines including:

• 1.8L TSI rated at 177 hp, 0-100km/h in 7.8 seconds, top speed of 217 km/h;
• 1.6L TDI rated at 108 hp, 0-100km/h in 12.1 seconds, top speed of 187 km/h;
• 2.0L TDI rated at 148 hp, 0-100km/h in 8.9 seconds, top speed of 206 km/h;
• 2.0L TDI rated at 181 hp, 0-100km/h in 7.8 seconds, top speed of 219 km/h.

The last two transfer their power to the all-wheel drive system via a standard 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG).

The current Golf is built in Puebla, Mexico, and the plant is designed to produce any variations in the future -- diesel, gasoline, hybrid, all-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, cabriolet, wagon, etc.

Will the Golf Alltrack be assembled down there? And will it come to North America? The fact that it uses the same flexible MQB platform is a good sign.

Source : Volkswagen

Photo: Volkswagen

From GMM

Toto Wolff thinks Sunday's Singapore grand prix proved F1 needs to rethink its new clampdown on radio communications.

Ultimately, a last-minute compromise meant only driver 'coaching' was banned in Singapore and for the rest of the season.

But the governing FIA is still planning to outlaw all 'performance'-related messages from the start of 2015, including any radio call that helps the driver to manage the technical systems aboard his car.

Motorhome FIA. (Photo: WRi2)

Mercedes chief Wolff, however, said former championship leader Nico Rosberg's electronic and steering wheel problems in Singapore proves that F1 needs to think again about the planned 2015 clampdown.

A post-race controversy involving McLaren accusing Red Bull of coding illegal messages to Daniel Ricciardo in Singapore has emerged, but Wolff said Mercedes was also nearly caught out on Sunday.

"We had several moments where we discussed whether what we were saying was still within what is allowed," said the Austrian, "so I think there are some messages that will require more calibration."

But he says it is the 2015 clampdown that is really worrying him.

"If it (the clampdown) had been enforced as originally suggested, it would have been a nightmare," said Wolff.

"Can you imagine not being able to give any messages to the drivers in our situation (with Rosberg)?

"How do you want to communicate with the driver whose steering wheel is not showing him anything anymore? It's also a matter of safety," Toto Wolff insisted.

"Maybe the Singapore race, with all of its ingredients, needs to flow into any future decisions on radio messages.

"I think Charlie (Whiting) and the FIA have realised that this needs another look and I'm sure that good will come out of it at the end," he added.

Toyota has released the first official picture of the C-HR Concept that will make its debut on October 2nd at the Paris Auto Show. This follows the shadowy figure we saw on September 15th.

At first glance, the Toyota C-HR Concept promises to take on other small crossovers like the Nissan Juke and Chevrolet Trax, not to mention the upcoming Honda HR-V. The design may hint at the future direction of Toyota models.

There are no further details available at this point, so we'll likely have to wait until next week to learn more about the C-HR.

Source: autos.ca

From GMM

Caterham and Pirelli have denied reports the struggling Leafield based team could be left without tires at the forthcoming Japanese grand prix.

The Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf had claimed Pirelli, F1's official supplier, had warned the backmarker outfit that it urgently needed to make a payment for its 2014 tire supply before receiving service at Suzuka.

"It (the report) is just stupid," team boss Manfredi Ravetto, who recently took over from the suddenly departed new chief Christijan Albers, told Italy's Omnicorse.

"We will have tires at Suzuka as per normal," he insisted.

Pirelli also joined in the denials, with the Italian company's head of F1 communications Roberto Boccafogli insisting: "Caterham will be supplied tires to the end of the season. There are no problems."

Photo: Pirelli

Thousands of vehicles within the Chrysler family are affected by a new series of recalls.

On 18,000 Jeep Grand Cherokees, a fuel pump relay within the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) could fail, causing the engine to stall or fail to start. Engine stalling would result in a loss of motive power, which, in conjunction with driver reactions and traffic conditions, could increase the risk of a crash.

Dealers will install a revised fuel pump relay external to the TIPM.

Meanwhile, some 3,945 Ram Cargo Vans from 2013-2015 may experience inadvertent deployment of the front passenger side curtain and/or seat airbag due to a resonance at the rear quarter panel sensor that can be aggravated by aftermarket installed roof racks & associated ladders/equipment.

Dealers will update the Occupant Restraint Control (ORC) module software.

Also, the head restraints in 2,400 Ram Promaster cargo vans from 2014 may exceed the maximum measurement limit. In the event of a crash, this could increase the risk of injury to the seat occupant, so dealers will replace the head restraints.

Finally, on 201 Dodge/SRT Viper models from 2013-2014, the front seat position sensors may have been incorrectly installed. As a result, frontal airbags could deploy with a lower velocity than intended, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.

Dealers will measure the air gap between the seat track position sensor and the seat track detection plate. Seat tracks with an excessive air gap will have a metal shim installed onto the track detection plate.

Source: Transport Canada

Talking to the CORIM (Conseil des relations internationales de Montréal), Denis Coderre, mayor of Montreal, declared that the city is interested to stage a round of the new FIA Formula E electric championship.

Mr. Coderre said he had discussions about such a race with Jean Todt, the head of motorsport's world governing body the FIA.

Last week we reported that Vancouver was interested in hosting such a race.

NPA Coun. Elizabeth Ball will bring forward a motion asking Vancouver to look into becoming a future host for the Formula E series, but no discussions have taken place yet.

Formula E races are all held on temporary street circuits built downtown cities of the world such as London, Beijing, Berlin and Miami. The Montreal race would not be presented on the Gilles Villeneuve Formula 1 circuit.

From GMM

Johnnie Walker parent Diageo declined to step up its deal with McLaren to title sponsorship.

Days ago, news agency GMM reported incorrectly that because Bernie Ecclestone had signed the whisky brand as an official F1 sponsor, it meant Johnnie Walker was leaving McLaren.

In fact, Mirror correspondent Byron Young had claimed only that McLaren had hoped Diageo, the British alcohol drink multinational, would choose to expand the team deal to finally replace departed Vodafone as title sponsor.

McLaren has also moved to clarify the situation in the past days, a source admitting that while Diageo did decline to step up to title sponsorship, Johnnie Walker will continue to be represented on the livery of next year's Honda-powered car.

The team source also pointed out that Diageo's new deal to become the 'Official Whisky' of formula one is "comparatively small" and therefore not related to Diageo's decision-making with regards to McLaren.

Kevin Magnussen, McLaren. (Photo: WRi2)