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News 26 Aug, 2014

Our poll shows that 90% of motorists think UK driving standards are getting worse - but only 15% say their performance has dropped

Mexico's auto industry has launched an effort to develop a national network of Tier 2 suppliers as U.S., German and Japanese automakers look to regionalize parts procurement.

Jaguar Land Rover's Special Operations unit unveiled its Lightweight E-Type, an exact replica of an aluminum-body E-Type racecar first produced in 1963, with plans to complete the originally planned production run.

People often use the name Cadillac to describe the finest products money can buy, as in “It's the Cadillac of lawnmowers or coffeemakers.” Well, after spending a week with the sensational 2014 Cadillac CTS Vsport, I know exactly what they're talking about.

To check out our full review on the 2014 Cadillac CTS Vsport, head on over to Auto-Venus.com.

Photo: Philippe Champoux

From GMM

Fernando Alonso says it is his "intention" to extend his stay at Ferrari beyond his current contract.

Although reportedly frustrated with the performance of his red car, the Spaniard is scheduled to stay at Maranello for two more years.

He has been linked with a return to McLaren for the British team's works Honda foray beginning next year, but rumours have also hinted at a staggering nine-digit sum for a new Ferrari deal beyond 2016.

"I have a two year contract and so I have no hurry to sign, even if that is my intention," Alonso said at Spa-Francorchamps, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Fernando Alonso (Photo: WRI2)

"The question is why there are these exaggerated and out-of-context informations out there to damage my image," he added, "but it is not important."

It was not clear that he was pointing the finger at Ferrari, but in Belgium on Thursday he did question boss Marco Mattiacci's assertion that the team is plotting a course back to the top by creating a culture more willing to take risks.

"For years I hear that we have to take more risks," Alonso is quoted by Italy's Autosprint.

"At the end of 2011 I heard these messages, and in 2012 we introduced the pullrod suspension at the front.

"But that's not the point," he insisted. "The point is to make sure that everything works together, improving not only the car but also the factory and the facilities."

Meanwhile, Mercedes' Toto Wolff was asked by La Gazzetta about the reports linking Alonso with a new EUR 100 million Ferrari deal.

"Whether the number is true or not has nothing to do with the current market," the German answered.

"There are many young drivers, like Ricciardo and Bottas and Kvyat, who drive for one to two million. I am convinced that driver salaries are dropping."

From GMM

Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel's season could be set to go from bad to worse.

With each driver only allowed to run five engines all season, Vettel's fifth Renault V6 is to be fitted to his car at Spa-Francorchamps.

"It was always clear that it would catch up with me sooner or later," he is quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

More problems could mean that at qualifying-crucial races like Singapore, a ten-place grid penalty for an unscheduled engine change will be highly costly.

Sebastian Vettel could be using his fifth engine at Spa (Photo: WRI2)

So might Red Bull opt to voluntarily install Vettel's sixth engine at Monza, where grid position is not so important?

"We need to examine our options for Singapore and Japan, as we definitely don't want to go ten places back there," he admitted.

Asked about voluntarily taking a penalty at Monza, Vettel added: "That is hypothetical, but we could most likely live with a penalty."

A new seat belt and seat cover developed by scientists at the Biomechanics Institute of Valencia (IBV), in Spain, is equipped with heartbeat and respiratory rate sensors to detect signs of driver fatigue. The prototype called Harken - Heart and Respiration In-Car Embedded Non-Intrusive Sensors - consists of a series of sensors embedded in the driver seat and seat belt, which can measure the driver's heart rate and respiratory pace.

“Variations in heart and respiratory rates are good indicators of the state of the driver as they relate to fatigue. So when the driver goes into a state of fatigue or drowsiness, modifications appear in their breathing and heart rate; Harken can monitor those variables and therefore warn the driver before the onset of symptoms of fatigue,” explained José Solaz, IBV Director of Innovation Markets in Automobile and Mass Transportation.

So, if the driver starts to doze off, the system will emit a warning alarm and urge the driver to stop and take some rest. Last April, researchers asserted that their prototype was ready to be tested under real world conditions. Obviously, several months of additional trials will be necessary before Harken takes this innovative new product to market.

Source: connected-objects.fr

Infiniti unveiled a sleek picture of a grille captioned only with « Inspiration à la Infiniti ». The luxury car builder volunteered no other details pertaining to the image other than a whole new vision is forthcoming “on a scale not seen before from the company. »

More to come...

Source : Infiniti

Photo: Infiniti

In an interview with Autosport, former Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve said he was not happy at all with the arrival of a teenager, Max Verstappen in F1 next year.

The French Canadian explained that the current Super Licence system is flawed when a 17-year-old can graduate so easily to F1.

"Getting a Super License should be meaningful, not just doing 300km in an F1 car and it being fine," Villeneuve told Autosport Friday.

"There is something that is flawed there. Basically, it's like getting all the presents without deserving anything. But there is this thing of 'the younger, the better'. What's the next step? A team who will sign someone at 15 just to get the image out of it?” questioned Villeneuve.

Jacques Villeneuve (Photo: René Fagnan)

"He is still a boy so it is very risky. You don't take a 16-year-old, who hasn't even been to university, in the best hospital as a doctor even if he is very good and very intelligent. You need to pay dues; you need to deserve it because that is only how you will become a man,” Villeneuve added.

The 1995 IndyCar champion also explained that Max Verstappen's arrival will not be good for F1 even if he is successful right away.

"It is the worst thing ever for F1 because it will have two effects," Villeneuve continued.

"It will either destroy him [Verstappen] or, even if he is successful right away, then F1 will be meaningless.

"What will F1 be? It will be nothing. It doesn't do any good for anyone. It does a good splash of publicity now for Red Bull but putting a Red Bull helmet on his head for four years probably would have been better,” the outspoken Canadian said.

In a most bizarre turnover, Max Chilton will race in the Belgian Grand Prix for Marussia after all.

The contractual dispute between Chilton and Marussia has apparently been resolved.

The dispute led Marussia to announce that American Alexander Rossi was to race in Belgium in place of Chilton.

Chilton's management team claimed their driver had ‘volunteered' to stand aside for the weekend so the Banbury outfit could ‘attract much needed funds by selling his seat'.

However, following apparent overnight talks between Marussia and Chilton's backers to resolve the apparent financial dispute, it was confirmed during the course of Rossi's time in the car during Free Practice 1 that Chilton would be back in the MR03 from Friday's second practice session onwards after all.

Mercedes AMG set the pace Friday as Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton shared the best time in the first two practice sessions of the Grand Prix of Belgium at Spa-Francorchamps.

The German team picked up where they left off in opening practice at the Belgian Grand Prix on Friday morning, with Nico Rosberg fastest ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes (Photo: WRI2)

Rosberg, the current point standings' leader, lapped the 7.004km Spa-Francorchamps circuit in a time of 1m51.577.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso was third quickest (a surprise on this low downforce, high power engine circuit), ahead of Jenson Button of McLaren and Kimi Raikkonen whose Ferrari suffered an overheating ERS system.

Second practice session

After the lunch break, Hamilton set a dominant pace, beating Rosberg by half a second.

Alonso was again third quickest, but almost a full second behind Hamilton.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari Photo: WRI2)

The Mercedes-powered Williams began to show their hand with Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas sandwiching McLaren's Jenson Button in fourth and sixth places respectively.

Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso), Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing), Kevin Magnussen (McLaren) and Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) completed the top 10.

Sebastian Vettel missed the entire session due to an electrical issue in practice 1, which caused damage to his RB10's Renault engine.

Jenson Button, McLaren (Photo: WRI2)

In other news, Pastro Maldonado crashed his Lotus E22 after running wide on the entry to Pouhon.

Rookie Andre Lotterer made an impression at Caterham, lapping within half a tenth of the team's regular race driver Marcus Ericsson.

2014 Belgian Grand Prix, free practice 1*:
1 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1m51.577 - 25 laps
2 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 1m51.674 - 24
3 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m51.805 - 16
4 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m52.404 - 21
5 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m52.818 - 17
6 - Sergio Perez (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m52.903 - 24
7 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m52.922 - 23
8 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m52.937 - 22
9 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m52.972 - 19
10 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m53.172 - 20
11 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m53.369 - 11
12 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m53.594 - 21
13 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m53.597 - 20
14 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m53.703 - 14
15 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m53.968 - 20
16 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m54.189 - 20
17 - Giedo Van der Garde (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m54.335 - 16
18 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m55.336 - 21
19 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1m55.782 - 19
20 - Alexander Rossi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1m57.232 - 20
21 - Andre Lotterer (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1m57.886 - 24
22 - Marcus Ericsson (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1m57.977 - 24

Andre Lotterer, Caterham (Photo: WRI2)

2014 Belgian Grand Prix, free practice 2*:
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 1m49.189 - 26 laps
2 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1m49.793 - 28
3 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m49.930 - 19
4 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m50.327 - 24
5 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m50.659 - 31
6 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m50.677 - 26
7 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m50.725 - 25
8 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m50.977 - 16
9 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m51.074 - 31
10 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m51.077 - 26
11 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m51.383 - 26
12 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m51.450 - 29
13 - Sergio Perez (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m51.573 - 28
14 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m52.196 - 25
15 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m52.234 - 18
16 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1m52.776 - 23
17 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m53.955 - 7
18 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1m54.040 - 18
19 - Marcus Ericsson (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1m54.050 - 30
20 - Andre Lotterer (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1m54.093 - 24
21 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - no time - 2
22 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - no time - 0
*Unofficial timing

From press release

Swedish rally star Ramona Karlsson will replace Jacques Villeneuve in an Albatec Racing Peugeot 208 in round nine of the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

The first female to enter the World RX arena, Karlsson will join 2011 MSA British Rallycross Vice-Champion Andy Scott in Buxtehude over the weekend of September 20-21.

Former motocross racer Ramona has an impressive pedigree behind the wheel, twice becoming Swedish Crosskart champion and Swedish junior rallycross medalist before moving into rallying in 2000.

Ramona Karlsson (Photo: Tony Welam, Tom Banks Photography)

The first Swedish woman to take part in a World Rally Championship (PWRC) event in a Mitsubishi EVOX, Ramona collected four Swedish championship podiums in 2013 in a Skoda Fabia WRC where she became the first female driver ever to win an event outright, on her way to the Rally Driver Of The Year award.

Karlsson also contested the opening rounds of the 2014 Euro RX in a Saab 9-3, but now joins Albatec Racing at the wheel of a 600bhp two-litre, 16v Peugeot 208 Supercar in a bid to break into the semi final positions.

With the support and backing of Swedol, STP, Motorlotteriet and Thoréns i Kil, Ramona will join the team at a test session at Mayenne in France, immediately prior to Lohéac, before making her World RX debut two weeks later.

Jacques Villeneuve returns to World RX action in the Franciacorta round of the series at the end of September, after missing the two rounds due to clashing television commitments.

From nascar.com

Calgary's Cameron Hayley will make his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start in the Chevrolet Silverado 250 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Ontario.

Hayley will run three races for Turner Scott Motorsports in the No. 32 Cabinets by Hayley Chevrolet Silverado.

In addition to next weekend's race, Hayley will compete in events at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Sept. 20) and Texas Motor Speedway (Oct. 31). Mike Hillman Jr. will be the crew chief for Hayley's three events.

"I'm really excited to make my NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut," Hayley said in a team release. "It's always been a dream of mine to run in one of NASCAR's top-three series, and I can't believe I'm finally getting the chance to live that dream."

Hayley later added that "having my first Truck Series start in a place I consider 'home' is everything I could've hoped for."

An alumnus of the NASCAR Next program, Hayley is currently running in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, where he is second in the standings.

From GMM

Jean-Eric Vergne says he understands why Toro Rosso has dropped him for 2015 in favour of Dutch teenager Max Verstappen.

The Frenchman said at Spa-Francorchamps that he learned of Red Bull's decision only hours before the rest of the world did.

"I have only one thing to say," he is quoted by RMC Sport at Spa-Francorchamps. "I will always be grateful for what Red Bull did for me.

"We can't forget that they gave me the same chance three years ago that they are giving Verstappen now.

Jean-Eric Vergne signs autographs as he arrives in Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix (Photo: WRI2)

"So I totally understand the decision. Toro Rosso is a team for young drivers, and I am apparently too old," laughed the 24-year-old.

"Maybe I should shave more often to look younger!"

Vergne said he is determined to stay in Formula 1, and will use the remaining eight races of 2014 to prove he deserves to.

"It will not change the way I drive," he promised.

"I think there will be more eyes on me now because this Toro Rosso label will be gone from my head and I'll be of interest to others that maybe didn't look at me before.

"It is in difficult times that you can show your best. I have a positive mindset."

Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost said on Thursday that he will "pray to Jesus Christ" that Vergne's car is reliable for the rest of 2014 so that he can prove what he can do.

Asked if Red Bull will actively help him find a new seat, Vergne said: "This is a discussion I am having now.

"Many people have called me to help me but I am convinced that the best help will be for me to get results," he added, admitting he has already had "a little bit" of contact with other teams.

To prepare for the second part of the FIA World Endurance Championship the Porsche Team has held two major test sessions.

The German test has been testing with the Le Mans Prototype Porsche 919 Hybrid for three days at the Eurospeedway Lausitz near Dresden in Germany.

The Porsche works drivers Neel Jani, Romain Dumas and Mark Webber covered 2,031 kilometres in total.

The other three LMP1 works drivers, Timo Bernhard, Brendon Hartley and Marc Lieb tested in July in Paul Ricard, South of France, where they did 2,167 kilometres.

Porsche 919 Hybrid (Photo: Porsche AG)

Team Principal Andreas Seidl explained the team have successfully tested improvements in all areas of the car. “The introduction of our new aero update was important. It provides a higher downforce level and should help to improve the 919 Hybrid's race performance for the remaining rounds of the championship,” he said.

Early in September the Porsche 919 Hybrid will undergo another test before September 20 when the fourth of eight rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship is held in Austin, Texas.

From GMM

Mercedes' Toto Wolff has admitted Lotus is close to securing F1's field-leading V6 power unit for the 2015 season.

Enstone based Lotus has struggled with Renault power this year and it is an open paddock secret that a deal with Mercedes has essentially been struck.

When asked about Lotus' expected Mercedes tie-up, with current customer McLaren switching to Honda, Wolff told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "At the moment everything is going in that direction."

It is believed dissatisfied Lotus driver Romain Grosjean is simply waiting for the Mercedes announcement before re-committing for 2015.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus E22 (Photo: WRI2)

The Frenchman told reporters in the Spa paddock that "everything is open" regarding his future.

But amid rumours he is just waiting for the Mercedes deal, Grosjean said in the FIA press conference: "The idea is to prepare the future as good as it can be for Lotus.

"They have been designing wonderful cars in the last two to four years and I don't see reason that it's not the case again in the future."

From GMM

Audi driver Andre Lotterer made his Formula 1 debut at Spa-Francorchamp, driving a Caterham-Renault.

DPA news agency said there were more journalists at the Lotterer media interviews on Thursday than there were to hear reigning quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel's thoughts.

"Andre absolutely deserves it, even if he is not sitting in the best car," Vettel admitted. "In my karting days he was one of my idols."

Officially, the 32-year-old reigning Le Mans winner's outing for Caterham - as confirmed by manager Werner Heinz - is a "one time thing".

According to Germany's Sport Bild, it is being facilitated by former grand prix driver Bertrand Gachot, whose energy drink company Hype is sponsoring him.

"Actually Gachot didn't want Hype in Formula 1, but the idea of having Andre in Belgium was too good," Heinz smiled.

Andre Lotterer, Caterham CT05 (Photo: WRI2)

The big rumour now is that Lotterer, also a star of the premier Japanese open wheeler series Super Formula, could return to the green car at Suzuka.

"I accepted Caterham's offer because I have nothing to lose," said the Belgian-raised German, who is also under contract to Audi's works Le Mans squad.

He said Audi had no problem with releasing him for a weekend that did not clash with his official duties.

"Audi came very quickly and are very happy for me," said Lotterer. "In Japan they (Team Petronas TOM's) were not so happy, because I have to miss the race in Motegi in order to be here.

"But just because I am here does not mean that I am starting to dream about Formula 1," he told Speed Week. "I will not leave Audi -- I'm not crazy."

Chrysler Group is planning an extensive facelift of its full-size Ram 1500 pickup in spring 2017, but has no firm plans to follow rivals GM and Ford in replacing steel body panels with aluminum until a complete redesign after 2020, industry sources...

Acura is advancing the social marketing spectrum with an interactive TLX launch campaign that allows Twitter users to build their own versions of the premium sedan within a tweet.

Recalls have almost no effect on vehicle depreciation rates, a new study found. Even widespread recalls that generate sweeping publicity had little to no effect on residual values, which represent the value of a used vehicle.