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German company Messring has completed the construction of a new test facility in Chongqing for the Chinese safety institute Chongqing Automotive Engineering Research Institute (CAERI).

It could be some days before Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal resumes production at its Nagoya steel plant which was shut down following a fire on Wednesday.

Tesla Motors has announced it will locate its 'Gigafactory' battery factory in Nevada.

Pictures See all 12 pictures 5 Sep, 2014

News 5 Sep, 2014

Total number of cars sold in 2014 surpasses the 1.5 million mark with August figures

News 5 Sep, 2014

Bosses of the Citroen’s newly-independent luxury DS brand have confirmed plans for a six-strong worldwide line-up

Western European car sales rose 1 percent in August, the 12th consecutive monthly gain, as faltering German, French and Italian demand was offset by strong gains in the UK and Spain.

Bugatti CEO Wolfgang Duerheimer is not writing off the ultrapowerful Galibier four-door sedan yet, despite statements by his predecessor, Wolfgang Schreiber.

The global reach of Renault's budget-car program, which was dreamed up by former Renault CEO Louis Schweitzer, was in evidence at the Moscow auto show where seven models underpinned by the automaker's B0 low-cost platform were on display.

Mercedes expects a new name, fresh design and innovative technology will help double sales of the S-class coupe compared with the model it replaces, the CL.

The prospect of autonomous computer-controlled cars is troubling to governments and law enforcement agencies. Self-driving vehicles could potentially be open to threats from hackers who could use them for criminal purposes, possibly even as weapons.

Mazda veteran Martijn ten Brink is the automaker's new head of sales in Europe. He takes on the role at a time when the brand is enjoying a resurgence following the launch of new models.

The global reach of Renault's budget-car program, which was dreamed up by former Renault CEO Louis Schweitzer, was in evidence at the Moscow auto show where seven models underpinned by the automaker's B0 low-cost platform were on display.

Mercedes expects a new name, fresh design and innovative technology will help double sales of the S-class coupe compared with the model it replaces, the CL.

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk plans "romantic" touches for the company's multi-billion-dollar battery plant in Nevada that he says is vital to Tesla's goal of mass-market electric car sales.

Lexus is counting on its new 2015 RC 350 sports coupe to take on BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz in a segment dominated by the German luxury brands. And that may be the easy part of the car's mission.

From GMM

At Mercedes, the apologies are flying around like so much shattered carbon fibre.

Contrite after his run-in with teammate Lewis Hamilton at Spa, Nico Rosberg at Monza revealed that boss Niki Lauda also said sorry for his harsh criticism in the heated moments after the explosive Belgian grand prix.

"Yes, it's true," Rosberg admitted, "and that was a nice gesture which I have fully accepted of course."

Austrian Lauda, however, said his opinion of the Belgian crash has not changed, despite the apology.

"I apologised because I had not talked to him first," the F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman told Bild.

"That was not fair because Nico could not first explain his view of things. Saying sorry is not a problem for me. Nevertheless, I stand by my opinion that it was his fault," Niki Lauda added.

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes W05. (Photo: WRi2)

The Hamilton-Rosberg clash remains the hot topic at Monza, and some are getting the impression that - amid all the noise - the big winner has in fact been Mercedes' marketing men.

"That is what Bernie (Ecclestone) told me," team boss Toto Wolff acknowledged. "That it was the best for formula one and for us. But 43 points out the window -- that's not petty stuff."

F1 supremo Ecclestone, however, has no intention of getting into the debate about who was to blame or whether the FIA should have penalised Rosberg.

"The problem of having two winning drivers in the same team has been the same in formula one forever," he told Kronen Zeitung newspaper.

Retired double world champion Mika Hakkinen is also not sure what all the fuss is about.

"I was in formula one a long time," he told SID news agency, "and I think two teammates fighting hard against each other is a pretty normal situation.

"Especially when the car is so strong -- that only one of them can win the world championship creates a lot of tension," Hakkinen added.

Reigning quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel is also playing down the entire affair, saying what happened in Belgium "looked like a normal racing incident".

"And I was right behind," the Red Bull driver smiled.

"Maybe I'm not talented enough," Vettel joked, "but I could not deliberately cut someone's tyre with my front wing and just keep going myself.

"I liked that the FIA didn't intervene. What was funny was to see their team as the ones who did the punishing," added Sebastian Vettel.

Toronto, ON -- The Honda Fit has been a class leader since its arrival in 2007 in nearly ever aspect except for the most important: sales.

In every comparison test I've conducted in which the Fit participated, it almost inevitably always came out on top. The subcompact Honda hatchback is a brilliant product, but there was this one impossible-to-overcome, looming issue: pricing.

With the rolling out of the all-new 2015 Fit, Honda has further dressed up what was already a highly competent car, but this time around they've addressed what needed to be addressed: value.


What is a Honda Fit?
The Fit is Honda's entry-level small car. Now in its 3rd generation, the car has been fully revised and sports an all-new platform that will be shared with the upcoming HR-V. It will be built at the Celaya, Mexico plant.

In North America, the Fit is currently offered only as a hatchback while other markets will be entitled to a 4-door sedan. The principal reason for this decision is to avoid cannibalizing Civic sedan sales. The new 2015 Fit will arrive in showrooms on September 19th, 2014.

2015 Honda Fit Price and Specs
As part of the #Fitwhatever social media approach to launching the new Fit, Honda revised the entire pricing structure of the car in order to make it better “fit” into most budgets and thus driveways or garages.

The base price of the 2015 Fit is $14,495, marginally less than the 2014 and the new car packs a wallop of standard kit including a reverse camera, heated front seats, a 6-speed manual transmission, and more. The story is much the same throughout all trims where value increases exponentially, while pricing does not. A top-line EX-L Navi will set you back $22,595.

The all-new 1.5L 4-cylinder engine uses a new block, double-overhead camshafts, and direct injection. Output is rated at 130 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque. The optional ‘box is now a CVT, “up” from the previous 5-speed auto.

Driving the 2015 Honda Fit
The most notable change in the way the Fit drives has to do with ride quality. The new chassis is lighter and stiffer, conferring to the car a touch more upscale ride also thanks in part to the longer wheelbase.

The Fit feels at home in town, as a small car should, but just as comfortable on the highway at speed. Some of the traversed country roads were less than ideal, however, the Fit never lost its composure.

I managed to spend more time at the wheel of a manual car (thank you Honda!) and was more than satisfied with the mill's increased output and torque. The Fit pulls nicely ahead with reasonable gusto albeit with a fair amount of powertrain NVH.

My singular complaint pertaining with the drive is clutch operation. The new car's pedal travel is longer and the pick-up or friction point is higher up. I've driven a 2014 5-speed Fit on a number of occasions and find it far easier to operate. Synchronizing clutch and throttle requires more effort in the '15 than the '14. Perhaps more wheel time would have quelled this issue.

Otherwise, steering is light, brakes are on par with the car's vocation and, once more, driving the 2015 Fit is fun.

Inside and Out of the 2015 Honda Fit
The new 2015 Honda Fit has shrunk in overall length but grown in character and overall presence thanks to its crossfade monoform exterior design. The new Fit's bulkier -- or is that beefier? -- than the first two generations of the car. This was done to reverse the otherwise feminine lines of the older cars.

The final result is hit or miss, depending on whether subtle lines are your thing. In order to appeal to a wider and preferably younger audience, the Fit's body panels are a little swollen with mixed results. The higher the trim, the more appealing thanks to available 16” alloy wheels and fog lights.

Where the Fit truly shines and has done so for the last 8 years is in the cabin department. The Fit's rear bench seat arrangements, interior volume, and general ergonomics are second to none. There's, in fact, no comparing Honda's incredible Magic Seat set-up that allows for countless possible configurations to store tall or long objects. The secret lies in the fact that the gas tank is located in the centre of the car's chassis. Brilliant.

Seats are comfortable and sufficiently supportive. The previous Fit offered a few extra stowage spots up front, but overall there's room for everything -- or just about.

Comparing the 2015 Honda Fit
The 1st gen Fit peaked sales-wise in 2008 with about 15,000 deliveries. Since then, sales have hovered just under 10k per year. The new car, along with its increased value and pricing packages, should help Honda attain its 14k-unit goal for the next year.

The subcompact car market includes the likes of the Hyundai Accent, Mazda2, Ford Fiesta, Chevrolet Spark/Sonic, Nissan Micra/Versa Note duos, and Toyota Yaris to name a few. At the moment, Nissan's putting up an impressive fight in this segment and they should genuinely be considered.

From GMM

Kamui Kobayashi may be back on the grid, but that doesn't mean he is "happy".

As Caterham's new management took hold, the Japanese was sidelined in Belgium two weeks ago in favour of Andre Lotterer and his sponsor Hype.

"I think it was also the Wednesday (before the race)," he admitted to reporters at Monza.

"I was at the factory, working in the simulator and at about lunch I was told that I wouldn't race in Spa. I still went there but not to the track. I stayed at the hotel rather than causing problems in the paddock.

"There just would have been a lot of questions but I didn't have an answer as to why I wasn't racing," said Kobayashi.

Kamui Kobayashi, Caterham. (Photo: WRi2)

This time around, while Kobayashi was in Tokyo mere hours ago, it was clear that Lotterer and Roberto Merhi were at the front of the queue for the Monza seat.

Ultimately, Spaniard Merhi did not get a full F1 super license. And Lotterer turned down the chance because he would have had to sit out practice.

Asked on Thursday when he got the call to come to Monza, Kobayashi answered: "Yesterday. I was in Tokyo. It was all last-minute."

Kobayashi, known and loved for his fighting spirit, was already not particularly enjoying life at the back of the grid when team owner Tony Fernandes pulled the plug.

"The situation is difficult," the 27-year-old admitted on Thursday. "First of all I'm interested in racing. I want to race. But what happens in the last couple of weeks is not much about sport. I think it was political decisions."

"We had to negotiate even with lawyers -- definitely it is a difficult situation," said Kamui Kobayashi. "I think the team is in a difficult position. When I look at the news, I think everything is pretty obvious. Roberto will drive in the first practice and Andre was not very pleased with it. So they called me."

Asked if he considered joining Lotterer in saying "no", Kobayashi answered: "I have a contract. If they say I work on the simulator, I work on the simulator. If they say I stay at home, I stay at home."

Asked if he is happy, Kobayashi said: "Am I happy? No. But there's not much I can do. I am trying to maintain good relationships, as far as it is possible. But if they want to survive, maybe they are forced to be in this situation."

It is obvious that Caterham's plan is to show Merhi is up to speed on Friday morning, before his backers step up to the grid for Singapore and beyond.

Kamui Kobayashi acknowledged that he and his management are looking ahead to a different future.

"Of course we need to think about other options and see what we can do," he said. "First the top teams have to make their choice and then comes the rest."

From GMM

Speculation is rife that Luca di Montezemolo is on the verge of announcing his departure as Ferrari president.

Rumours Maranello's long-time and charismatic figurehead is stepping down to head the Italian national airline Alitalia were rejected only recently.

But multiple authoritative Italian sources and insiders are now reporting from Monza that Montezemolo's annual visit to the Italian grand prix could be the scene of an official announcement.

Others, like the highly respected La Gazzetta dello Sport correspondent Pino Allievi, say Montezemolo could then make his post formally vacant at a Ferrari board meeting next Thursday.

The rumours - with some even suggesting Ross Brawn will become team boss while Marco Mattiacci steps up to the presidency - have even reached Ferrari's top driver Fernando Alonso.

"I don't know. I have only heard rumours," he told the Italian news agency Ansa.

"I have not heard anything from him (Montezemolo)," said Fernando Alonso. "He has always been the president since I was here. If it did happen one day that he is not there, then we will talk about it, but it would be something totally new."