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Ford and GM delete the weight of some heavy parts, such as spare tires and rear bumpers, in calculating the maximum payload of some profitable pickups. The practice is raising questions of confidence.

Kia Motors America wants to cut its outsize dependence on third-party shopping sites for online sales leads. Now, 80 percent of the online leads Kia sends to dealerships come from third-party vendors or sources other than its retail Web site.

Acura expects its improved, next-generation all-wheel-drive technologies in two upcoming sedans to help make up lost ground from a delayed product launch as the brand chases a full-year U.S. sales increase.

The latest issue of the Automotive News Europe monthly e-magazine is ready for you to view. This month's edition looks at the potential risks and rewards facing Porsche as it strives to achieve global sales of 200,000 vehicles a year.

Porsche sales are booming as the carmaker looks set to hit a target of 200,000 annual global sales before a 2018 deadline, but some industry watchers worry that too much emphasis on volume jeopardizes the brand's exclusivity.

From Formula1.com

Williams' technical director Pat Symonds says the British team success across the first half of the 2014 Formula 1 season will not prove short-lived.

Frank and Claire Williams' team has scored three podiums so far this season - all through Finland's Valtteri Bottas and currently lied fourth on the constructors' standings.

That renaissance led some in the paddock to say that Williams' form was track-dependent.

The vastly experienced Symonds believes the team have a genuine claim to being the third best on this year's grid, and expects success to continue over the final eight races.

“There is an element of it - always has been, always will be,” Symonds told Formula1.com when asked about McLaren's Eric Boullier's view that track layout was a major factor in Williams' results.

Valtteri Bottas, Williams FW36-Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

“Our objective is to design a car that works equally well on all 19 circuits, but none of us achieve that, not even Mercedes.

“But I do think that is a bit of wishful thinking from Eric [Boullier] as well. Don't get me wrong, I do recognise the differences for us at places like Austria, but I still believe we have the third quickest car, and if we use it and develop it properly we will be third quickest at most circuits,” Symonds continued.

“It is very close this year - no one will say anything other than Mercedes AMG is the best car, in my opinion Red Bull Racing is second, and then you have Ferrari, Sahara Force India, Williams and McLaren. That is quite a tight bunch, (but) arguably we have the third-best car at the moment,” he explained.

Symonds warned, however, that Williams' fortunes would not just hang on the FW36's underlying pace, but also the team's efficiency and ability to avoid mistakes.

“I don't believe up until Austria that we performed or achieved what we should have, for all sorts of reasons,” Symonds said.

“What makes it difficult this year is that 43 points are taken by Mercedes AMG at pretty much every weekend, which means the rest of us are fighting for a lot less.

“The difference between finishing third and sixth overall might be quite small. If we are the third-best team, we ought to finish third in the championship - but in 2005 [when Symonds was executive director of engineering at Renault] we won the championship with Fernando Alonso despite McLaren having the better car. We were a better team and we won by our racing,” Symonds declared.

From press release

The 10th annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals weekend at Ohsweken Speedway is coming up in less than two months, and preparations are well underway for the track's signature event.

The 2014 Canadian Sprint Car Nationals weekend will kick off with a Test & Tune session on Thursday, September 11, while racing will commence Friday, September 12 with the "Night Before the Nationals" presented by Burger Barn, and finish with the 10th annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals presented by Arrow Express on Saturday, September 13.

This year's "Night Before the Nationals" again includes Twin 15 lap features for the 360 Sprint Cars, plus the Ohsweken Shootout, Dave McLeod Memorial "Mr. Sprint Car Challenge" 1-on-1 match races, and the HRW Automotive Mini Stock division.

Each Twin 15 winner will be guaranteed a starting spot in the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals A-Feature. The Ohsweken Shootout features drivers qualified drivers from the Empire Super Sprints, Patriot Sprint Tour, and Southern Ontario Sprints challenge events held at Ohsweken in 2014, and the Corr/Pak Merchandising 360 Sprint Car feature on August 29, plus the top drivers from Sprints on Dirt and the National Racing Alliance.

The 10th annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals will include group time trials for the 360 Sprint Cars, plus 6 heat races, 3 B-Feature races, a dash race for heat race winners to determine the top 6 starting positions in the A-Feature, the 15 lap "Little Feature", and the 35 lap A-Feature which will pay the winner $12,000 from the lucrative purse.

While the format remains largely the same as in recent years, one small change has been made, as starting positions 7-18 in the A-Feature will now be lined up by passing points. The Affordable Towing & Recovery Thunder Stocks will be the support division for the 360 Sprint Cars on Saturday, September 13.

Jaguar Land Rover will unveil three performance models during this year's Pebble Beach Automotive weekend (August 14-17, 2014), kicking things off on Thursday at the famous Concours d'Elegance.

The first one is a 550-horsepower Range Rover Sport SVR (global debut), which last week became the world's fastest SUV by completing the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife in 8 minutes and 14 seconds. SVR, by the way, is a new designation which will be worn by all future Jaguar Land Rover high-performance models.

Next up is the U.S. production version of the Jaguar F-TYPE Project 7, an all-aluminum, fully road-legal two-seater roadster with bespoke carbon-fibre aerodynamic aids. It also features a sleek fairing inspired by the D-type (2014 marks the 60th anniversary of the iconic Jag). Similar to the Range Rover Sport SVR, Project 7 was created by Jaguar Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations division.

Finally, Jaguar will unveil the prototype of the new Lightweight E-type — of which six customer cars will be built (18 were initially planned) and sold at about £500,000 ($920,000) apiece.

Land Rover will also feature its full product lineup including the long-wheelbase Range Rover, the Range Rover Evoque Autobiography, and the “Great Divide” past and present 1990 and 2014 edition vehicles.

Source: Jaguar Land Rover

A 31-year-old Latvian driver named Marina Usaceva has been sentenced to six years in prison after ramming her Jaguar X-Type into Sukhdeep Singh Johal's Peugeot 206, causing the death of the 27-year-old biomedical science graduate.

Usaceva was texting on two separate phones while driving at 110 km/h before the fatal crash. Witnesses argue she was driving even faster than that when she violently hit the brakes to avoid getting caught by a speed camera. She wound up rear-ending the Peugeot and causing a 3-car pileup.

A police examination found Usaceva had used a Sony phone to send and receive text messages right before the accident occurred.

Judge Sean Enright called texting while driving a “plague on society,” and took away Usaceva's driving licence for eight years in addition to giving her six years in jail.

The woman had previously been caught twice using her phone behind the wheel.

Darwin must be rolling over in his grave...

Source : independent.co.uk

Ford today announced Canadian pricing for its all-new 2015 F-150, which will arrive at dealerships across the country in late 2014. The lineup includes five models -- XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, and Platinum -- with prices ranging from $21,399 to $66,999.

Lets not forget that the F-150 has a body made ​​entirely of aluminum, which reduces its weight by 700 pounds over the outgoing model.

XL Reg. Cab 122 Inch Wheelbase 4×2	$21,399
XL Reg. Cab 141 Inch Wheelbase 4×2	$21,799
XLT Reg. Cab 122 Inch Wheelbase 4×2	$32,399
XLT Reg. Cab 141 Inch Wheelbase 4×2	$32,699
XL Reg. Cab 122 Inch Wheelbase 4×4	$32,699
XL Reg. Cab 141 Inch Wheelbase 4×4	$32,999
XLT Reg. Cab 122 Inch Wheelbase 4×4	$36,899
XLT Reg. Cab 141 Inch Wheelbase 4×4	$37,199
XL Super Cab 145 Inch Wheelbase 4×2	$33,899
XL Super Cab 163 Inch Wheelbase 4×2	$36,999
XLT Super Cab 145 Inch Wheelbase 4×2	$36,399
XLT Super Cab 163 Inch Wheelbase 4×2	$38,899
Lariat Super Cab 145 Inch Wheelbase 4×2	$48,099
Lariat Super Cab 163 Inch Wheelbase 4×2	$48,099
XL Super Cab 145 Inch Wheelbase 4×4	$38,399
XL Super Cab 163 Inch Wheelbase 4×4	$41,999
XLT Super Cab 145 Inch Wheelbase 4×4	$40,399
XLT Super Cab 163 Inch Wheelbase 4×4	$43,499
Lariat Super Cab 145 Inch Wheelbase 4×4	$52,299
Lariat Super Cab 163 Inch Wheelbase 4×4	$52,799
XLT Super Crew 145 Inch Wheelbase 4×2	$38,199
XLT Super Crew 157 Inch Wheelbase 4×2	$39,499
Lariat Super Crew 145 Inch Wheelbase 4×2	$49,399
Lariat Super Crew 157 Inch Wheelbase 4×2	$49,399
XL Super Crew 145 Inch Wheelbase 4×4	$43,099
XL Super Crew 157 Inch Wheelbase 4×4	$43,099
XLT Super Crew 145 Inch Wheelbase 4×4	$41,549
XLT Super Crew 157 Inch Wheelbase 4×4	$43,349
Lariat Super Crew 145 Inch Wheelbase 4×4	$53,799
Lariat Super Crew 157 Inch Wheelbase 4×4	$54,299
King Ranch Super Crew 145 Inch Wheelbase 4×4	$64,999
King Ranch Super Crew 157 Inch Wheelbase 4×4	$64,999
Platinum Super Crew 145 Inch Wheelbase 4×4	$66,999
Platinum Super Crew 157 Inch Wheelbase 4×4	$66,999

Source : www.autos.ca

A new study of American drivers reveals that nearly 70% have driven while drowsy, while millions have engaged in other risky behaviour that put the lives of road users in danger.

According to CarInsurance.com, U.S. drivers routinely use vehicles that should either be parked or repaired. More than 60% have overlooked a “Check Engine” light, while 30% have headed out on a winter morning when they couldn't see through snowy or icy windshields.

What's more, 10% of drivers have driven cars whose doors had to be held closed because of faulty locks.

Drowsy driving is causing one in eight highway deaths, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Experts caution that the problem could be under-reported because motorists may not realize when they've experienced a second or two of so-called “micro-sleep.”

Fatigue is not the only cause of “impaired” driving, mind you. The CarInsurance.com study indicates that 53% of drivers hit the road despite having a headache, while 35% did so when they were sick enough to be in bed. A full 23% admitted driving because they were less drunk than a friend, while 16% got behind the wheel without the contact lenses or glasses they normally should wear.

While the study was conducted in the U.S., it's safe to assume Canadian drivers are no different.

Source : thedetroitbureau.com

Nissan and Mitsubishi have partnered to build and sell a small, affordable electric vehicle by 2016-2017, according to the Japanese newspaper Nikkei. It would be priced at around 1.78 million yens, or $16,000.

Both Nissan (LEAF) and Mitsubishi (i-MiEV) already have one electric car in their portfolios. They've also formed an alliance to develop the Dayz and Dayz Roox microcars in Japan, among other projects.

Nissan told AFP that further details will be announced at a later date, but insisted that the company is moving as fast as it can to bring this new electric vehicle to market.

Source : auto.lapresse.ca

From GMM

Mercedes has vowed to stick with Michael Schumacher as the F1 legend continues his recovery from a skiing fall last December.

In June, as Schumacher remained in intensive care, one of the great German's personal sponsors - the bottled water brand Rosbacher - said it would end its advertising deal with the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver.

Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche, however, said Mercedes-Benz is not looking to terminate its contract with brand ambassador Schumacher despite the seven time world champion's continuing recovery in a Swiss rehabilitation hospital.

"We are pleased with the positive development," Zetsche, referring to the reported improvement in Schumacher's condition, told Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

"We hope fervently that it continues," he added.

When asked about Mercedes' commitment to Schumacher despite his injuries, Zetsche answered: "We have given no thoughts to changing something in the contract."

He said he had not visited Schumacher in hospital or rehabilitation since the skiing accident due to his "highest respect" for the family's privacy.

Michael Schumacher. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz)

From GMM

Mere days after officially leaving Ferrari, Luca Marmorini looks set to take another high-profile job in formula one.

The 53-year-old's departure was interpreted as the latest rolling head at Ferrari amid the fabled Italian team's poor start to the new turbo V6 era.

Marmorini, formerly Ferrari's engine and electronics chief, could now take some of his closest colleagues at Maranello with him to another struggling F1 engine supplier, Renault Sport F1.

That is the claim of the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, reporting that Marmorini's arrival is part of a restructuring at Renault after also erring with its first turbo V6 prominently supplied to reigning world champions Red Bull.

The newspaper said the news could be announced officially within days.

Luca Marmorini, Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

And although the period of summer 'shutdown' is now beginning, there are also prominent developments elsewhere in formula one.

Italy's Autosprint reports that the well-known Toro Rosso engineer Laurent Mekies is on the move.

Reportedly arriving at the Faenza based team, meanwhile, is Jody Eggington, Caterham's technical boss who was among 40 staff controversially axed by new advisor Colin Kolles.

From GMM

Niki Lauda says F1 should "welcome" the news that Bernie Ecclestone looks to have settled the high-profile corruption case that threatened his role at the top of the sport.

Suddeutsche Zeitung has reported that the 83-year-old Briton has agreed with prosecutors and the Munich court that a $100 million compensation payment will see serious criminal charges - which could have left him in jail - dropped.

"On behalf of formula one, Mercedes and all the other teams, I would only welcome it if Bernie can concentrate on formula one and together with the teams solve the existing problems," the newspaper quoted Lauda as saying.

"If Bernie stops, it would have been a disaster for formula one," the triple world champion and Mercedes team chairman added.

"He has built everything up over three decades and is the only one who knows everything -- the business, the details of the teams. Everything is in his head," said Niki Lauda.

A guilty verdict would have seen Ecclestone, F1's chief executive and long-time 'supremo', almost certainly ousted from his position by CVC chief Donald Mackenzie.

"If all the allegations are gone from the table, then Bernie has done everything right," Niki Lauda insisted.

"Then all the speculation ends. Continuity is very important at the top of formula one for the future," he added.

From GMM

Timo Glock has admitted he has all but given up on the thought of returning to formula one.

After Toyota withdrew from F1, the talented German raced for Virgin/Marussia for three years until he accepted a plum works BMW seat in the premier touring car series DTM last year.

And Glock, now 32, told the German news agency DPA that he is not thinking about mounting a bid to return to F1.

"It is pretty clear that in the current situation there are just three or four teams who can choose and pay for their drivers," he said.

"The rest look for how much money the driver can bring. In my eyes, that's not the purpose of the sport. That's why at the moment I don't see a future and don't waste thoughts thinking about it," Timo Glock added.

He said he is happy with BMW in the DTM.

"At the moment I'm having a lot of fun so I would be happy if I could continue for a few more years," said Timo Glock.

Timo Glock, BMW. (Photo: DTM)

From WTCC

The WTCC Race of Argentina was a sweet dream for both the numerous Argentine fans that flocked to Termas de Rio Hondo and local hero Jose Maria Lopez.

In front of a huge crowd - 50,000 over the two days according to the official figures released by the circuit - the Citroen driver took a double victory, becoming the first driver this year to win both races in the same weekend, and bringing his personal number of successes this season to seven.

The emotional side of Lopez's triumph added something special to a weekend that won't be forgotten by anyone present at Termas in a very hot Sunday.

Lopez's perfect weekend started with the pole position and a lights-to-flag win in Race 1, while Race 2 saw him battling to emerge from the middle of the group and taking the lead seven laps from the end.

With Yvan Muller finishing third twice, Lopez has now extended his lead in the standings to 60 points.

The Argentine round had other and unexpected heroes: the LADA Sport Lukoil team that ended the weekend with its first WTCC podium ever, three other point finishes and having led a WTCC race for the first time since their involvement in the championship.

Rob Huff started from the reverse pole in Race 2, led for eight laps and finished a brilliant second, being beaten only by Lopez. The Russian team duly celebrated the achievement of the much-improved Granta cars.

Now the championship faces a two-month break before resuming at Beijing's Goldenport Park, China, on October 5, for rounds 17 and 18.

From GMM

A leading contender to become a test driver for Honda's F1 return has emerged.

The publication Racer said Honda-powered IndyCar frontrunner Simon Pagenaut is in talks to make his F1 test debut with Japanese power next winter ahead of Honda's works McLaren foray for 2015.

"I've been in touch with some people, some promising things are happening, so we'll see," the Frenchman said.

Asked if Honda will support his push to test a formula one car, Pagenaut laughed as he answered: "I hope they would ... why wouldn't they?"

Simon Pagenaud is reportedly in the last year of his current contract with the IndyCar team Schmidt Peterson.

Simon Pagenaud, IndyCar driver. (Photo: Simon-Pagenaud.com)

Adapted from GMM

Max Verstappen, the 16-year-old son of former F1 driver Jos Verstappen, in the midst of a meteoric switch from karting to junior single seaters, recently visited the paddock on the invitation of several Formula 1 teams.

Father and son sat down with the boss of Red Bull's prolific driver development programme, Dr Helmut Marko, but reportedly ultimately decided to sign with Mercedes.

As the Red Bull Ring hosted the latest F3 round, the Verstappens apparently had a "long meeting" with Marko.

Marko has reportedly promised Max, who will be a mere 17 at the time of the 2015 season opener, his F1 race debut in a Toro Rosso next year.

Verstappen would most likely take the seat currently occupied by Jean-Eric Vergne, who has been at Toro Rosso for three years but is being overshadowed in 2014 by the 20-year-old rookie Daniil Kvyat.

However, it was believed Vergne's seat would be filled for 2015 by another Red Bull-backed hotshoe, Carlos Sainz jr.

As the 'silly season' shapes up, however, there are other possibilities.  Perhaps Verstappen and Sainz will be paired at Toro Rosso, while Russian Kvyat moves to Red Bull Racing.

"Daniil has been sensational so far," Red Bull team boss Christian Horner is quoted by the Spanish sports daily AS.

Jos and Max Verstappen at the Formula 1 German Grand Prix. (Photo: WRi2)

With McLaren pushing hard to sign a top driver like Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull could pair its on-form surprise of the 2014 season, Daniel Ricciardo, with Kvyat.

Horner, however, played down the possibility of a driver change for 2015.

"We have 100 per cent the best driver pairing in formula one," he told Sport Bild.

"Seb is comfortable with us, trusts us.  He has won 38 races with us and you don't forget that easily.

"And I don't think Seb actually wants to go somewhere else," Horner insisted.

From GMM

Toto Wolff began his summer break in hospital, the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag reports.

During a pre-Hungary team building exercise, Mercedes' team boss broke his arm in several places in a high speed road cycling pileup.

Wolff, 42, had surgery to repair the damage but nonetheless made it to the paddock for the Hungarian grand prix.

But just days after the race at the Hungaroring, Wolff was due to travel to London for a meeting with fellow team chiefs.

The meeting was reportedly cancelled because the Austrian fell ill.

In fact, he was in hospital.

"After the race in Budapest I suddenly had a fever and had to return to the clinic," Wolff confirmed.

The newspaper said the doctors ordered that his mobile phone be switched off for at least 48 hours.

"I just had to rest as the injuries were easily inflamed," Wolff explained.

But his period of rest did not prevent him from lashing out at the cloud of 'negativity' that is sweeping F1, particularly after the crowd numbers at Hockenheim recently were so low.

"Just because Hockenheim had lower numbers doesn't mean the sport is bad," he exclaimed.

"I can't stand this permanent bad-talk about formula one. It is simply wrong. We haven't had so much overtaking in the last 20 years. We have Alonso keeping Ferrari in there with his amazing performances. We have the exciting question of whether Ferrari throw Kimi Raikkonen out. We have Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel desperately fighting back after four world championships. And we have our two drivers fighting freely for the title," said Toto Wolff.

Nonetheless, the cancelled crisis meeting has been rescheduled.

"We do not need a revolution, but an evolution," Toto Wolff insisted.