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The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Aston Martin on Tuesday (2 September) announced, respectively, the resignation of Andy Palmer, who has "accepted a position with another company", and his appointment as chief executive officer.

Andy Palmer, the car-guy chief planning officer at Nissan Motor Corp. once tipped as a possible future CEO, is leaving the company to head UK sports car maker Aston Martin.

Andy Palmer, the car-guy chief planning officer at Nissan, who was once tipped as a possible future CEO, is leaving the company to head UK sports-car maker Aston Martin.

Infiniti is working to reposition itself as a unique design- and technology-driven alternative to Germany's premium automakers, the carmaker's Chairman, Andy Palmer, told Automotive News Europe.

Volvo will begin shipping its China-built long-wheelbase S60 sedan to the U.S. starting next year. The S60L will be the first China-built vehicle to be sold in the country by an established automaker.

Two new entries in our weekly viral video rankings showcase the appeal of speed.

From GMM

Max Verstappen has admitted the blame for crashing during his first proper run in a Formula 1 car.

With all eyes on the 16-year-old after his controversial announcement as Toro Rosso's 2015 racer, the Dutchman steered into a barrier whilst demonstrating a Red Bull car during the street event in Rotterdam at the weekend.

"No excuses. I'm guilty," Verstappen is quoted by De Telegraaf newspaper.

"I was late with the clutch in the anti-stall system," he added, with the crash reminding some of the way the late Maria de Villota also lost control when she was testing a Marussia in 2012.

Max Verstappen (Photo: WRI2)

The incident occurred during a third donut-laden lap of the Rotterdam layout, and Verstappen explained: "Twice it went fantastically, one time there was a mistake.

"It's a learning process. But after everything, this is what I've always wanted -- to drive a formula one car."

If Verstappen is granted a super license by the FIA, Toro Rosso intends to run him on Friday mornings at Grands Prix later this season.

From GMM

Spaniard driver Dani Juncadella has leapt into contention to make his Formula 1 debut in 2015.

The 23-year-old, Mercedes-linked Spaniard is already Force India's reserve driver, and at Monza this weekend he will practice for the first 30 minutes on Friday morning.

Now, the Spanish newspaper El Confidencial said it is possible Juncadella is in the running to replace Force India's Sergio Perez next year, after the Mexican said he was in talks with teams other than the Silverstone based one for 2015.

Not only that, Juncadella has a sponsor -- Astana, promoting the Kazakh capital, is already on the livery of Force India's 2014 car.

He admits a 2015 debut is possible.

Daniel Juncadella, Force India VJM07 (Photo: WRI2)

"Yes, of course. They (Astana) remain eager but it can be the typical game of 'who brings the most' so you never know what can happen. The amounts you hear about with some drivers are pretty ridiculous," said Juncadella.

"They (Astana) are relying on me for next year, the choice is clear, but from the economic point of view it must be conscionable.

"My sponsor has been supporting me over the years with amounts of money that are not exaggerated, so it is not a matter of going from year to year with excessive quantities of millions.

"I'm in the DTM with Mercedes and I am very happy, so in the end it has to be something right that works for everyone," he concluded.

Andrew Palmer, who is responsible for global product planning at Nissan, will now be working as president and CEO of Aston Martin.

Palmer, 51, has been a Nissan executive since 1991. He recently oversaw Infiniti operations following the departure of Johan de Nysschen.

In case you didn't know, Aston Martin's Ulrich Bez retired last November. Palmer will mainly focus on revitalizing the British luxury brand.

Source : caradisiac.com

Photo: Wikipedia

Honda's motorsport director Yasuhisa Arai discussed current progress of their new V6 turbo hybrid engine that will power the 2015 McLaren Formula 1 car.

“We are absolutely within our development plan. Our engine is ready for a whole system check, but without the chassis. It will still need more time to bring the power unit and chassis together and then be able to run checks with the complete car,” said Arai on Formula1.com.

When will the new McLaren-Honda F1 car be taken to the track for the first time?

“In the next couple of weeks we will run simulations and at the beginning of next year we will start to run on the track - very likely at Jerez. That will very likely be the first time to show the whole car, the Honda engine and the McLaren chassis. Right now there are no plans to collect data during the rest of 2014. Jerez will be the first time,” Arai added.

Arai confirmed that Honda's return in F1 was greatly motivated by the new engine rule.

“Yes, it definitely was one reason for Honda to come back into Formula 1, but there was also the fact that the lap times compared to the old engines are very similar, and that means that we are talking about a technology that is very advanced. You can match the speed of the old engines, but with much smarter - and resource-saving - technology,” Arai explained.

The Japanese is also convinced the new Honda engine will be able to match the mighty Mercedes power unit.

"I have confidence that we will match Mercedes. I also think that the two other engine suppliers will recover next season - I strongly believe that. And we will be there too. I can imagine that Mercedes found the perfect balance between their chassis and their power unit and that the others didn't find that balance. So we work together with McLaren as one team - because this is the only way to go,” Arai explained.

On a final note, Yasuhisa Arai confirmed that McLaren will be Honda's factory team in 2015.

“In 2015 we don't have the plan to supply any team other than McLaren. In 2016 or after, if some teams or partners ask us to supply them too, we will take a look at that situation. But even in 2016 McLaren will be our main partner in F1,” he said.

By late 2018, the popular Toyota Prius will have a new threat to ward off. Two separate sources close to the matter told Reuters that Ford is planning to launch a brand new hybrid model to rival the best-selling Japanese icon, which will enter its 4th generation next year.

The as-yet-unnamed vehicle will reportedly go on sale as a 2019 model. It will be a “dedicated” hybrid rather than a spinoff of a regular model.

Similar to the Prius, Ford's new hybrid could be available in various body styles. A plug-in hybrid is obviously in the cards. Fuel economy and range are both expected to be better than today's hybrids.

Ford envisions a production of 120,000 units a year at its Wayne assembly plant in Michigan, the sources said.

No word yet on pricing.

Source : reuters.com

Four different series - Formula 1, GP2, GP3 and the Porsche Cup -- will be in action this weekend at the Italian Grand Prix at Autodromo di Monza.

Here is the complete schedule* of events for the three days.

Thursday September 4
Formula 1 Press Conference - Press Room 15:00

Friday September 5
Formula 1 Practice 1 10:00 - 11:30
GP2 Practice Session 12:00 - 12:45
Formula 1 Practice 2 14:00 - 15:30
GP2 Qualifying Session 15:55 - 16:25
Formula 1 Press Conference 16:00 - 17:00
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Practice Session 16:45 - 17:30
GP3 Practice Session 17:50 - 18:35

Saturday September 6
Formula 1 Team Pit Stop Practice 08:30 - 09:15
GP3 Qualifying Session 09:45 - 10:15
Formula 1 Practice 3 11:00 - 12:00
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Qualifying Session 12:25 - 12:55
Formula 1 Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk 13:00 - 13:45
Formula 1 Qualifying 14:00
GP2 First Race (30 Laps or 60 Minutes) 15:40 - 16:45
GP3 First Race (17 Laps or 30 Minutes) 17:20 - 17:55

Sunday September 7
GP3 Second Race (17 Laps or 30 Minutes) 09:25 - 10:00
GP2 Second Race (21 Laps or 45 Minutes) 10:35 - 11:25
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Race (14 Laps or 30 Minutes) 11:45 - 12:20
Formula 1 Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk 12:25 - 13:15
Formula 1 Drivers Track Parade 12:30
Formula 1 Starting Grid Presentation 12:45 - 13:15
Formula 1 National Anthem 13:46
Formula 1 Race 14:00

*Note - please be advised that this timetable is subject to change.

Korea's LG Chem, a supplier for top automakers such as General Motors and Renault, is currently developing a new battery with 300+ kilometres of range for entry-level cars to be sold for less than $40,000.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the company expects deliveries to begin within the next three years.

Right now, the only electric car with that much range is the Tesla Model S ($78,970), whose standard 60kWh battery allows drivers to travel up to 350 kilometres.

Boasting higher energy density and improved cell management, LG Chem's lithium-ion battery will also be cheaper to manufacture, effectively dropping the price of electric vehicles.

Source : techno-car.fr

From GMM

Force India Formula 1 team supremo Vijay Mallya has run into serious business trouble in his native India.

Amid the decline of his airline Kingfisher, the former billionaire has now been declared a 'wilful defaulter' by the public sector lender the United Bank of India.

India's Telegraph newspaper said it means Mallya will lose his director positions from his companies and be unable to borrow from Indian banks.

An insider explained: "Any company in which they are directors, those companies would be affected.  The idea is to exclude them from the financial sector."

Then watch the following video.

The 2016 Volvo XC90 has just broken cover and already it's being crashed, smashed and rolled on, with impressive results.

Volvo has built a reputation on making some of the safest cars on the road and it ain't news to find out that they're still up to their old tricks.

It is paramount, especially in a key product for North America, then that the all-new XC90 SUV be as safe as possible. It is undeniably handsome and, as such, it is a little painful to watch it get mangled, but there is something compelling about how well it holds up to the punishment.

Source : roadandtrack.com

No good cause has gone more viral in recent weeks than the fight against ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. This is all thanks to the Ice Bucket Challenge, taken up by a number of celebrities and regular people.

Now, 40 of Hyundai Canada's employees have joined the list.

The automaker made a donation on behalf of every participant, and challenged others to do the same.

Pros: The 2015 BMW X1 compact SUV benefits from an impressive engine and transmission duo that is delivered through a very efficient all-wheel drive system. Fuel consumption will most likely drop in this year's version. Handling is a strong point of the BMW X1, especially for an SUV, and the versatility of this vehicle is exemplified by the three-way split rear seat back.

Cons: The BMW X1 is cramped, especially in the rear. As is the case with many German vehicles, pricing is not one of its strong points, and the addition of too many options only exacerbates the price issue.

Photo: BMW

2015 BMW X1 Price: The 2015 X1 SUV compact is available in two versions: the xDrive28i at $36,990 and the xDrive35i at $39,990. Both models offer the xLine and Sport Line packages, which add $1,500 and $1,900 respectively.

2015 BMW X1 Fuel Economy: The BMW X1 xDrive28i has an estimated combined fuel economy rating of 8.9 L/100 km while the xDrive35i is rated at 11.2 L/100 km.

Improvements and Changes: As the nest-generation X1 is just around the corner, no major changes have been applied.

2015 BMW X1 Powertrain: The 2015 xDrive28i is equipped with a DOHC turbocharged 2 litre 4-cylinder engine that delivers 241 hp and 258 lb-ft torque and is hooked-up to an 8-speed automatic transmission. As for the xDrive35i, it is equipped with the venerable inline DOHC turbocharged 3 litre 6-cylinder engine that cranks out 300 hp and 300 lb-ft torque mated to a 6-speed automatic that delivers the power to all four wheels.

Cargo Capacity: 420 or 1350 litres of cargo capacity are available with rear seatback either up or reclined.

Safety: The 2015 BMW X1 is equipped with several standard safety features including ABS brakes, electronic braking assistance, electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability control, launch control, and hill assist.

Comparing the 2015 BMW X1: The compact SUV category includes the Acura RDX, Infiniti QX50, the Land Rover LR2, the Mercedes-Benz GLK, the Volkswagen Tiguan 4WD and the Volvo XC60.

From GMM

For the first time, Renault has declared Red Bull Racing as its official 'works team'.

Recently, amid a Red Bull-pressured restructuring of the struggling French supplier, Cyril Abiteboul returned from Caterham to head Renault's preparations for a stronger 2015.

Abiteboul admitted to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport that not making Red Bull Racing its clear focus for the new turbo V6 era was a mistake by Renault.

"Renault has tried in recent years to treat all four of its customers equally," Abiteboul said.

"From the perspective of Caterham, where I worked a year ago, it was nice. But for Red Bull Racing it was counterproductive," he explained.

So Abiteboul declared that, now, Renault's "works team is called Red Bull".

He therefore dismissed claims that Red Bull has or intends to take over so much responsibility on the engine side that it is planning for a future with its very own 'power unit'.

Renault Sport's Cyril Abiteboul (Photo: WRI2)

"Red Bull is a chassis manufacturer and that's what they want to focus on," said Abiteboul.

"Development of an engine is a far too complex task to be established quickly. But it is true that there will be a much closer integration between Red Bull and Renault."

It has been rumoured, for instance, that Red Bull will exclusively take over the entire electronic side of the project, with Renault remaining in charge of the engine.

Renault, Total and Red Bull's title sponsor Infiniti are expected to contribute the funding.

Abiteboul replied: "We are in the process of distributing the tasks as efficiently as possible.

"The question is where Red Bull can help us in the best way. The plan should be decided at the latest by October."

Pros: The 2015 Ford Fiesta 5-Door Hatch sports a thoroughly modern design both inside and out. It offers an impressive choice of normally-aspirated and turbocharged engines as well as many standard technological goodies. The Fiesta is well-built, and presents quality materials and excellent fuel consumption. Contrary to its sedan sibling, the 5-door hatchback is also available in a souped-up ST version.

Cons: The 2015 5-door Hatch allows significantly more luggage capacity than the sedan. Be careful when checking-off the options list, as they will quickly inflate the starting price.

Photo: Ford

2015 Ford Fiesta Price: For 2015, Ford offers a selection of four different 5-door models, starting with the 5-speed manual Fiesta S Hatch at $14,999, followed by the 5-speed manual SE Hatch at $15,999 and the 6-speed automatic at $17,249. The luxurious 5-speed manual Titanium Hatch starts at $19,849, and climbs to $21,099 for the 6-speed automatic. The sporty ST version, with its 6-speed manual gearbox, retails at $24,599.

2015 Ford Fiesta Fuel Economy: The 5-door Fiesta Hatch with manual 5-speed transmission has an estimated fuel economy rating of 8.5/6.5 L/100 km (city/highway); the automatic transmission version is rated at 8.7/6.4 L/100 km; as for the ST, fuel economy is rated at 8.9/6.8 L/100 km.

Improvements and Changes: The 3-cylinder EcoBoost is new for 2015, along with a 5-speed-only transmission option for the base S model.

2015 Ford Fiesta Powertrain: Ford offers a 1.6 litre normally-aspirated engine that delivers 120 hp and 112 lb-ft of torque in the 2015 5-door Fiesta Hatch, along with an optional all-new turbocharged 123 hp 3-cylinder 148 lb-ft EcoBoost engine for those who want more power. The power output for both engines may be comparable, but the additional torque in the turbocharged 1 litre engine makes a huge difference in performance. Let's not forget the 1.6 litre 4-cylinder turbocharged DOHC EcoBoost engine that delivers 197 hp and 215 lb-ft of torque.

Cargo Capacity: The luggage compartment of the 5-door Fiesta Hatch in the S, SE and Titanium models allows 423 litres of capacity, while the ST offers 285 litres. 720 litres is available in every model when the rear seat back is lowered.

Safety: Safety features in the 2015 Ford Fiesta include ABS brakes, electronic braking assistance, electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability control, launch control, imminent crash assistance and hill assist.

Comparing the 2015 Ford Fiesta 5-Door Hatch: Comparable models in this subcompact 5-door hatchback category include the Honda Fit, the Hyundai Accent, the Kia Rio, and the Nissan Versa.

From GMM

Mere days before the Italian Grand Prix, the identity of Caterham's second race driver is still unclear.

Reports from Japan suggest Kamui Kobayashi will definitely not be back at the wheel of the car at Monza, having already sat out Spa-Francorchamps.

After reigning Le Mans winner Andre Lotterer and his sponsor Hype filled in at Spa, it was expected that Spanish rookie Roberto Merhi and his Russian backers had now put up the rumoured EUR 300,000 for the Monza seat this weekend.

But new speculation reports that Merhi, 23, admitted mere hours ago that "I still do not have the super license. I have to do 300 kilometres" in a F1 car.

Merhi is a former Formula 3 Euroseries champion, but the FIA is apparently nervous about a rookie getting his first experience of a F1 car at the sport's highest-speed circuit.

The Red Bull junior Carlos Sainz Jr. has also been linked with the Monza seat, but also still in the running is Lotterer.

Andre Lotterer, Caterham CT05 (Photo: WRI2)

"We're still in touch," German Lotterer, who impressed at Spa but retired early during the Belgian Grand Prix, told Racer when asked about Caterham, "and I think there's opportunities to do more races.

"It was a great experience for me and I have to look at the schedule and see if it is more of a one-off chapter for me or if it makes sense to do more."

Monza does not clash with the calendars for Lotterer's two racing responsibilities this year; Super Formula in Japan and the world endurance championship.

"(At Spa) it felt like everybody at Audi was behind me and all of the people who supported my career before and in Japan," he added.