Auto News 5

Marussia Formula 1 will be providing Alexander Rossi with the opportunity to make his Grand Prix debut at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps.

Rossi will race alongside Jules Bianchi, substituting for Max Chilton while contractual issues are resolved.

American Rossi joined the Team as Reserve Driver last month, the announcement coming at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

He has taken part in a number of Friday morning Free Practice 1 sessions with his previous team but this weekend will see him ‘racing' a Formula 1 car for the first time.

“Although it was not our intention to offer Alexander the possibility to race this season, in light of the circumstances we are pleased to be providing him with the opportunity to make his Grand Prix debut at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Franchorchamps. Naturally we hope to resume normal service with respect to our established race driver line-up as soon as possible, but for now we wish Alexander well for the weekend ahead and we look forward to seeing him in action,” said John Booth, Team Principal.

“It goes without saying that I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to race in Formula 1 for the first time and I cannot thank the Marussia F1 Team for the faith they are demonstrating in me,” said Rossi.

“It's a very big moment for me and there's a lot to prepare in a short space of time, but on the other hand I have felt ready for this for quite a while now. It is also exciting to be given this opportunity at such a fantastic and historical circuit as Spa-Francorchamps. I can't wait to drive the MR03 from tomorrow and I hope to reward the team with a solid race weekend.”

From press release

The Toyo Tires F1600 Championship season is winding down and the points' battle is heating up.

This weekend the teams head to the beautiful Calabogie Motorsports Park, located just west of Ottawa, ON for the Motorsport Club of Ottawa's Ted Powell Memorial event.

Twenty-five competitors from all over North America will take to the track in rounds 9 and 10 of the Toyo Tires F1600 Championship.

The top spot has been held for the entire season by Eureka, MO's Tristan DeGrand. His 7 wins in 8 races has him at 740 points to Brampton, ON's Chase Pelletier at 606 points.

Pelletier is on a roll lately, sweeping the Super Series finale in Trois-Rivieres two weeks ago.

The Britain West driver also proved you never hand the trophy over until the last lap has been run as he came into the weekend with a mathematical chance, needing two solid finishes and some bad luck to befall DeGrand. He got both and walked away the Champion.

There will likely be a big shakeup in the top 10 this weekend as Craig Willis, Max Hanratty, Reid Arnold and Bruno Chapinotti look to make some gains with Jeff Kingsley not attending as he is competing in the ASN Karting Nationals.

Hometown racer Zacharie Robichon is on the entry list and driving the brand new Piper out of the Brian Graham Racing shop so he will be looking for a great result.

The team is using the event primarily as a test session for the new chassis but the BGR experience coupled with Robichon's credentials they are expected to be at the front.

Bryson Schutte will make his Series debut this weekend and is in a championship caliber car with Exclusive Autosport, taking full advantage of the spot opened up by Kingsley's absence.

Last week-end, Bugatti enthusiasts could admire for first (and last) time all 6 Bugatti Legend models at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance event.

Indeed, the renowned automaker put the cherry on top with the world premiere of the ‘Ettore Bugatti' the sixth and final model in this series, which pays tribute to key personalities and vehicles from the company's long and distinguished history. Other Legends in the series include: the ‘Jean-Pierre Wimille', the ‘Jean Bugatti', the ‘Meo Costantini', the ‘Rembrandt Bugatti' and ‘Black Bess'.

Each of the 6 Legends was limited to three vehicles and now all 18 vehicles have been sold to wealthy clients around the world.

“The Legends edition is a great success,” stated Wolfgang Dürheimer, President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S., at the presentation of the Legends models. “The edition shows that history can be authentically clothed in contemporary design. In addition, we have the technical excellence and luxurious comfort of a modern Bugatti. The Bugatti Legends have already proven to be highly-valued collectors' items.”

Source : Bugatti

Photo: Bugatti

From GMM

Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso is the best driver in Formula 1 today.

That is the claim of F1 legend and triple world champion Sir Jackie Stewart, who said the Ferrari-driving Spaniard is in fact the only "genius" on the 2014 grid.

Asked by the Spanish sports newspaper Marca to name the best driver in F1 today, the 75-year-old Scot said: "Mentally, probably Alonso. The fastest is perhaps Lewis Hamilton.

"Rosberg is definitely one of the best, more consistent, and on the same level I think is Vettel. Those are the best," said Stewart.

"In the world there are hundreds of millions of drivers, several thousand make their living from it, a few hundred live very well.

"There are 22 grand prix drivers, maybe six of them are really good, three exceptional, but there is only one genius. So if I had to choose the most complete driver I would say Alonso," he explained.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F14 T (Photo: WRI2)

And not only that, Stewart thinks Alonso, at 33, is in the prime of his racing life.

"I think it's the perfect age," he said. "He has lived the good, the bad and the ugly."

Arguably, however, the present is one of those 'ugly' phases for Alonso; highly paid but missing a third career title ever since he switched to Ferrari in 2010.

"I don't know if he should change teams," Stewart said, "but what I do know is that he will have to make that decision in the next six to eight weeks."

The Kelley Blue Book has published its honour roll of the 10 best hi-tech 2014 cars that money can buy for less than $20,000 for base models.

"Many inexpensive new cars now feature technology that was unavailable at any price just a few years ago," pointed out Jack R. Nerad, Executive Editorial Director and Executive Market Analyst for Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com. "Today budget-conscious car buyers can purchase an affordable sedan with amenities like a rearview camera, Pandora radio integration and full infotainment systems, items previously only available in top-of-the-line models."

2014 Models: KBB.com's 10 Best Tech-Savvy Under $20,000

1. Mazda3
2. Honda Fit (2015)
3. Honda Civic
4. Dodge Dart
5. Nissan Versa Note
6. Toyota Corolla
7. Kia Forte
8. Ford Fiesta
9. Hyundai Elantra
10. Chevrolet Spark

Source: Kelley Blue Book

From GMM

The Nurburgring's sale has hit a fork in the road.

In March, the financially embattled German grand prix host was bought for a reported EUR 77 million by a Dusseldorf based automotive group called Capricorn.

Capricorn has since been successfully negotiating with Bernie Ecclestone about a new long-term race contract.

But Rhein Zeitung newspaper has now claimed that Capricorn has not paid the second due instalment to the Rhineland-Palatinate state.

Citing sources, the report said the amount of 5 million euros became due on July 31. To date, Capricorn has only paid one instalment in the same amount.

"It is assumed that Capricorn's financing from banks has come to a standstill because the European Commission has postponed several times the decision on the legality of the sale," Rhein Zeitung reported.

Race start at the Nürburgring (Photo: WRI2)

A spokesman for the financial recovery experts in charge of the Nurburgring insolvency said: "We have a timescale shift for the second purchase instalment.

"We still expect the sale to go ahead," he is quoted by Speed Week.

And Capricorn chief Robertino Wild told Auto Bild it is "untrue" the payment delay is in fact due to the company's own financial problems.

"This is a completely normal process. The operation of the business is going very well," he added.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- At a recent taste-testing experience of Nissan's entire current lineup, we were able to get a first-hand impression ranging from the tiny Micra to the mighty Titan pickup. Needless to say, the waiting period to climb into any of the available GT-R sports coupes was a lengthy one. Persistence pays off, however, and we were rewarded with a short but sweet 45-minute drive in the 2015 GT-R Nismo -- the most ferocious of them all.


What is the 2015 Nissan GT-R Nismo?
Nissan's two-door sports coupe, which replaced the iconic Skyline, first rolled off the production line in 2007. Promptly nicknamed "Godzilla" by salivating fans, the GT-R was an instant hit for its raw power and uniquely Japanese design. Notching it up even more, Nissan's performance arm just released a Nismo GT-R: a genuine track-worthy supercar that's equally at home on the road.

2015 Nissan GT-R Nismo Price and Specs
Under the Nismo GT-R's aggressively carved nose lies a twin-turbo 3.8L V6 delivering an eye-popping 595 horsepower and 463 lb-ft of torque -- that's 50 hp and almost 20 lb-ft over the regular version. The single transmission choice, as with the regular GT-R, is a 6-speed dual clutch automatic with manual shift control that delivers the power to all four wheels. Suspension upgrades include Bilstein DampTronic shocks, stiffer springs, retuned front links for better cornering stability, and beefier sway bars. The reinforced chassis is 8% stiffer. While Canadian prices have yet to be released, the GT-R Nismo will start at $151,585 in the U.S.

Inside and Out of 2015 Nissan GT-R Nismo
Our white tester carries a lot of visual impact with its black and red trim, aggressive front fascia and racecar wing. The reworked face, which includes a lower front bumper, large wing, and side cladding help improve aerodynamics and downforce. Taillights were redesigned to form four-ring circles.

The driver-focused cabin boasts red-stitched Nismo seats with aggressive bolstering and suede trim to help keep you planted during spirited driving manoeuvres. The fat and grippy steering wheel is racecar derived, with proper thumb indents and a red maker to indicate top dead-center.

While our tester was basic black with red accents and carbon look trim, there's a two-tone ivory option or a Premium Interior package with Red Amber semi-aniline leather, with red accents throughout. The 11-speaker Bose audio system also features active noise cancellation.

Driving the 2015 Nissan GT-R Nismo
Previous drives of the GT-R left me feeling that although it was a car that was undeniably thrilling, one could quickly grow tired of its gnashing and whining, frantic pace, and rather punishing ride.

Re-engineered for 2015, the GT-R has evolved into a superb sports car that still offers exceptional performance without sacrificing road manners.

Over some fairly twisty Tennessee roads featuring crumbling shoulders and patchy asphalt, the GT-R Nismo proved compliant and settled -- despite its increased stiffness.

Extra insulation, along with the Bose noise cancellation, help with road noise reduction -- there's still the thrilling aural symphony accompanying hard downshifts, but less drone during regular driving.

Steering has been recalibrated to require less turning effort at low speeds. Fortunately, it doesn't appear to be overly boosted and felt just heavy enough to impart a sense of confidence through the serpentine back roads. Shod with Dunlop tires, the GT-R Nismo stuck like glue to the pavement. Admittedly though, we had no opportunity to really push it.

The dual-clutch transmission shifts with the hard accuracy of a Gatling gun: it's thrilling and guttural all at once.

While previous versions of the GT-R seemed like super-modified tuner rockets, the 2015 GT-R Nismo has matured into a genuine supercar that's actually pleasant to drive.

Comparing the 2015 Nissan GT-R Nismo
In terms of competition, the GT-R Nismo stares down its racecare nose at the likes of the Porsche 911 Carrera, Audi R8, and to a lesser degree, BMW Z4 M.

Ford plans to introduce a new hybrid gasoline-electric car in late 2018 to compete against the Toyota Prius, Reuters reported. The compact car will be Ford's first "dedicated" hybrid, rather than a variation of an existing gasoline model.

Ford plans to introduce a new hybrid gasoline-electric car in late 2018 to compete against the best-selling Toyota Prius, Reuters reported, citing two sources with knowledge of the company's plans.

Chinese police have arrested three people in connection with an explosion at an auto parts plant that killed 75 people in China's worst industrial accident in a year, state media reported.

Hertz investor Fir Tree Partners, which holds more than 3 percent of the stock, is urging the company's board to replace CEO Mark Frissora because the firm disapproves of how he's running the car-rental provider.

NEVS has presented a Saab 9-3 Electric Vehicle designed and produced as part of a prototype series in Trollhättan.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau fined subprime auto lender First Investors Financial Services Group nearly $3 million for knowingly providing inaccurate information to credit reporting agencies for at least three years.

Despite Cadillac being a serial underachiever outside North America, GM is investing heavily in its one would-be global luxury vehicle division.

Automotive belt and pulley supplier Dayco Products today named John Bohenick as its new CEO. Bohenick will replace James Orchard in the position.

In the full year 2014, Argentina, Brazil, India, Russia, Thailand & Turkey are set to become an even greater drag on global light vehicle markets than in FY13, declining by at 9.1% or 1.1m to 11.13m units. In the previous five years and during the global financial crisis they were key drivers. Sabine Blümel considers the implications for the industry. This first part is an overview.

Environmental campaigners are bracing to take on big business over whether Europe should include road transport in the EU carbon market, a move that could bring down the costs faced by the auto industry to reduce emissions from new cars.

LG Chem says it has won an order from Audi to supply batteries for the automaker's growing plug-in hybrid car lineup.

An 8-speed automatic transmission debuting in the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette boosts fuel economy by 3.5 percent over the six-speed it replaces and gives the General Motors long-running sports car an EPA highway rating of 29 mpg, its highest rating ever.

EU regulators are pushing for legislation that will require vehicles to be tested on roads rather than in laboratories in a bid to close loopholes that allow carmakers to exaggerate fuel-saving and emissions credentials.