Auto News 5

VW's 5 billion euro ($6.68 billion) cost-savings plan was hit by a major setback after labor leaders forced management to ax McKinsey, the consultants working out the cuts, three sources with knowledge of the matter said.

Lexus, which ended a two-year production run of the $375,000 LFA in 2012 after manufacturing 500 units, will build a successor to the 552-horsepower car.

Lexus, which ended a two-year production run of the $375,000 LFA in 2012 after manufacturing 500 units, will build a successor to the 552-horsepower car.

Car sales in western Europe grew by 5 percent in July to a little more than 1 million vehicles, bringing sales for the first seven months to 7.4 million, according to analyst LMC Automotive.

Car sales in Western Europe grew by 5 percent in July to just over 1 million vehicles, bringing sales for the first seven months to 7.4 million, according to analyst LMC Automotive.

BMW plans to launch a revamped X1 and an all-new X2 next summer based on the company's UKL1 front-wheel-drive platform. The SUVs will be the second and third BMW-brand fwd models after the 2-series Active Tourer.

Car sales in Western Europe grew by 5 percent in July to just over 1 million vehicles, bringing sales for the first seven months to 7.4 million, according to analyst LMC Automotive.

Rival automakers are racing to catch up with Mercedes-Benz's lead in autonomous driving. Audi, Infiniti and Jaguar have advanced self-driving features, but they are not as integrated as those offered by Mercedes.

Hyundai has given its new i20 subcompact a sleeker, sportier design to help the car compete better against rivals such as the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo.

Profits of Britain's largest car dealer, Pendragon, doubled in the first half as increased online visits helped drive up used and new car sales.

Italian brake specialist Brembo expects to conclude a supply contract with a fourth high-end Japanese motorbike manufacturer and is also expanding into the aviation sector.

Silicon Valley is making waves with news about self-driving cars. But the most-advanced vehicles that consumers can actually buy are built by Mercedes.

BMW joined Mercedes and Audi in reducing prices of spare parts in China amid an antitrust investigation into the auto industry.

Ontario's Grand Bend Motorsplex is to host two drag racing spectaculars in August.

In fact, August will be a busy month for drag racing fans as the Grand Bend Motorplex will host a pair of high-profile events.

There will be the Hot August Nights running from August 8-10 and the Thunder by the Beach taking over for a Labour Day (August 29-31) spectacular.

In action will be the Pro Modified Racing Association (PMRA), the Pro Bike and Sled Series (PBSS) and the Quick 32 Sportsman Series. Joining the regular show for the Labour Day event will be Nitro Cars and the Pro Mods.

From Albatec Racing

British rallycross ace David Binks will step into Jacques Villeneuve's Albatec Peugeot 208 Supercar at Loheac, round eight of the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

Clashing commitments for the 1997 F1 World Champion means the French-Canadian will be unable to race at the biggest event on the World RX schedule, which takes place over the weekend of 6-7 September.

“I am delighted that David is able to join the team for what is arguably the biggest event on the rallycross calendar,” said Andy Scott, Team Principal, Albatec Racing.

“More than 75,000 fans flocked to Loheac last year and while we're naturally disappointed that Jacques is unable to race in France, I'm sure David's return to race action will be well received while he is equally capable of securing a top result.”

Jacques Villeneuve. (Photo: Albatec Racing)

The $375,000 Lexus LFA's production run of 500 units is over, but the company may have plans for a new generation that would also develop more than 550 horsepower. That's what Toyota Executive Vice President Mark Templin told reporters before a ceremony for the new Lexus NX crossover in Kyushu, Japan.

“[President] Akio [Toyoda] believes that every generation deserves to have a car like an LFA, so we're building an LFA for the generation we have today,” Templin said. “At some point, there may be another special car for another generation.”

However, a Lexus spokesman, Brian Lyons, told Bloomberg that a second LFA isn't imminent, and another generation could be about 30 years in the future.

Source : bloomberg.com

Lexus LFA (Photo: Lexus)

From RIA Novosti

Russia will simplify visa regime for foreigners planning to attend the Formula 1 Grand Prix set to be held in Sochi.

That is the claim of the governor of Krasnodar Territory, Alexander Tkachev, after the meeting of the Russian Grand Prix organizing committee.

Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix will take place at the Sochi Autodrom October 12.

“Russian Foreign Ministry has decided to simplify the visa regime for those attending the sports event, according to Alexander Saurin [vice-governor of the Krasnodar Territory],” the statement said.

The Sochi F1 circuit will be put to the test September 13 and 14 by staging a round of the Russian Touring Car Championship.

Photo: Sochi Autodrom

Chevrolet will use the North American International Auto Show in Detroit early next year to unveil the all-new 2016 Volt.

No technical specs have been released at the moment. The current car offers an all-electric range of 61 kilometres.

“Volt is the perfect example of the ingenuity that drives everything we do at Chevrolet,” Global Chevrolet Chief Marketing Officer Tim Mahoney said yesterday at the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefings. “Volt fully delivers on the promises of Find New Roads and will continue to provide consumers with the transportation solutions they need and deserve in the future.”

Source: Chevrolet

The color schemes featured on the crash helmets of race car drivers are one of the best ways to recognize them when they're out on the circuit. The designs seen on the helmets of the most successful drivers have become classics.

Painting helmets became far more popular in the '70s, especially with the introduction of full-face crash helmets. Before that, drivers used to wear plain, generally unpainted, crash helmets that offered very limited protection.

Nowadays, fans might even find some F1 drivers' helmets a little too conservative in unsophisticated, solid colors. In fact, it's an unwritten rule that bike racers' helmet designs are infinitely more imaginative than their four-wheeled cousins. Yet, on the other hand, sometimes they bikers take it a bit too far!

Here's our Top 10 list of the most legendary helmet designs featured on F1 drivers' headgear.

10 Jackie Stewart Scottish Jackie Stewart, world champion in 1969-1971-1973. His white Bell helmet carried a simple strip of Scottish tartan.

Continue reading Top 10 iconic F1 helmet designs

Tesla CEO Elon Musk isn't pushing buyers towards the upcoming Model X crossover... yet. That's because this highly anticipated model is generating strong demand already, and the electric car maker doesn't want to make customers wait eternally due to short supply.

During a conference call earlier this week, Musk even said: “There are no cars available for a test drive. There is no information about the cars in our stores because we're only selling the [Model] S. In fact, if somebody comes in who wants to buy the X, we try to convince them to buy the S. So we anti-sell it.”

Musk assured that Tesla can “drive demand up at will.”

Source : businessinsider.com

Photo: Tesla