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From GMM

F1 is not mandating titanium be fitted underneath next year's cars solely to create sparks, the governing body insists.

After tests on a couple of cars were carried out during Austrian grand prix practice last month, the FIA has now committed to introducing new rules for 2015.

It was reported that the sole reason for adding titanium to the skid blocks was to create the kind of spectacular sparks that characterised the 80s.

But, in the wake of criticism that F1 is too often reverting to 'artificial' rules to inject excitement, the FIA insists the new skid block rules are in fact to "ensure they are made from a lighter material and are better contained".

"The skids have formerly been made of a heavy metal, which has been very resistant to wear, and they (the teams) put the skids around the points in the plank where thickness is measured," said F1 race director Charlie Whiting.

"This metal is extremely heavy and when pieces detach they can be extremely harmful. We saw two punctures in Spa previously because of bits of this metal that lay in a kerb and caused damage," he added. "In a worst case scenario they could fly off and hit someone."

Sauber C33-Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

So Charlie Whiting said the FIA is mandating the use of titanium next year primarily for safety reasons.

"Secondly," he explained, "the titanium wears some two to 2.5 times more quickly than the metal currently used. Thus cars will have to be run a little bit higher to manage wear and teams won't be able to drag them on the ground quite as much as they have in the past.

"The third effect is that you will see a lot more sparks, which some people think will look a little more spectacular," Whiting acknowledged.

Vienna, Austria -- I suspect that some of you, if you are regular visitors to our site, may start finding the “brand” angle a little tiresome. The truth of the matter is that the vast majority of us are all about brands. Audi is one of those brands that sees us lusting and wanting, much like Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, and so on.

All prospective hybrids, say under the $60k mark, are marginally (if at all) interesting. The only exception that comes to mind is the Infiniti Q50S Hybrid, but then we come across the whole brand debate again...

What you need to know about the 2015 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron is that it drives as good as any A3, better even, and as a rare treat, the driver has much control over what the car does. Through Drive Select and various hybrid/EV modes, the A3 e-tron can be as green or not so green depending on the driver's will. This is one cool hybrid.


What is an Audi A3 Sportback e-tron?
The A3 is Audi's current compact gateway car in North America and has recently undergone a complete makeover. In hopes of attracting more buyers in the US, Audi decided to only offer the sedan whereas the A3 has historically been solely available as a hatchback. The coming of the A3 Sportback e-tron is a sign of a change in policy.

Audi's Tron program involves a number of sustainable energy sources for powering cars. The A3 g-tron and R8 e-tron are two such examples; however, the hybrid A3 e-tron is the best suited for real world use.

2015 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron Price and Specs
Pricing for the 2015 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron has not yet been fixed, however, we were told to assume that the MSRP would reflect that of the new BMW i3, in other words, around $40k.

The Audi A3 e-tron's hybrid powertrain consists of a turbocharged 4-cylinder 1.4L TFSI internal combustion engine mated to synchronous electric motor. The 1.4L generates 150 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. The combined system output is a not inconsiderable 204 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.

The electric motor is housed in Audi's dual-clutch 6-speed S tronic transmission, which sends the power to the front wheels. The A3 e-tron's electric range is 50 km, and the total range reaches an impressive 940km. Its average CO2 emissions are as little as 35 grams per km (56.33g/mile). In North America, this translates into an impressive 1.5L/100 km.

The A3 e-tron is a plug-in hybrid that requires roughly 2 ½ hours to fully recharge its 8.8 kWh capacity batteries.

The 0-100 km sprint goes by in 7.6 seconds on the way to a top speed of 222 km/h. Top speed in EV mode is 130 km/h.

Driving the 2015 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron
Here's where I really get onboard. The A3 e-tron is one of the best sorted PHEVs I've ever driven. It all begins in large part because of the A3's well sorted chassis and nimble outer dimensions. This car is actually three-in-one: a sporty compact car, a sophisticated hybrid, and an electric car.

The A3 e-tron's steering is superbly direct and well weighted. The car feels extremely solid. In fact, its integrity is perhaps one of the best I've experienced from Audi in a while. From this point on, Audi's Drive Select and the intelligent hybrid management system make all the difference.

The 2015 A3 e-tron starts up in EV mode by default assuming that most commutes are typically less than 50 km. Should the day call for a longer drive, you may leave the A3 in EV and it will drop into Hybrid Auto mode once the batteries are depleted. Said mode can be selected before hitting the road as well.

Should you live right near the highway, the Hybrid Hold mode will keep battery power off until desired by the driver. Lastly, the Hybrid Charge mode will put the emphasis on the recycling the A3's kinetic energy back into the battery.

In EV mode, only when braking does any energy return to the batteries. In this fashion, the transmission's clutch decouples from the engine thus allowing free coasting, maximizing range, and limiting throttle requirements.

The 2015 A3 Sportback e-tron also highlights Audi's Drive Select which enables the driver to select between a further four drive modes: comfort, auto, dynamic, and individual. I can foresee one issue with this multitude of driving options and that is that most will simply set the two menus to “auto” and forget about it...

Should this not be the case then the driver will be able to maximize the driving experience that can be provided by this remarkable car. Under hard acceleration, the torque-y powertrain makes the A3 seem far quicker than the numbers indicate. The S tronic masterfully punches from one gear to another with nary a glitch or hiccup, as we've come to expect from all of the VAG's dual-clutch boxes. Sporty only barely begins to describe how good the car feels.

With a brilliant engine-tranny combo and nearly infallible driving characteristics, the A3 Sportback e-tron is truly good fun.

Inside and Out of the 2015 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron
The revised A3 is grown up and very mature, but with a tastefully youthful flare. In e-tron guise, the A3 includes unique front and rear bumpers, and wheels. Its cute butt also features exclusive reflectors and a tasteful diffuser.

The charging port is located in the Singleframe grille behind the four rings, which folds out to the side revealing where the plug goes. Other specifics include e-tron badges and I must say that for a hybrid, it's quite the subdued, sporty looker.

The same can be said when climbing aboard. Audi cabins are typically clean and well executed. The Sportback e-tron is all business with a few buttons (EV) that typify the e-tron from the regular e-tron.

Seats are supportive and work in harmony with the steering column helping create a perfect driving position. The overall feeling behind the wheel of the new A3 is tailored, and I like it a lot.

Comparing the 2015 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron
The A3 e-tron is the sportiest of compact hybrids. The Lexus CT200h is the closest in terms of bodystyle and sporting aspirations, but cannot match the A3 drive-wise. Other possible contestants include the Acura ILX hybrid, the Volkswagen Jetta hybrid and the Infiniti Q50 hybrid.

Of the lot, none can match the 2015 A3 Sportback e-tron's evolved state of being such a pleasure to drive and so efficient. I am really taken by a hybrid. There's a first for everything.

The 2014 Grand Prix of Germany will be presented this weekend on the Hockenheimring. It will be Round 10 of the season, and it will be held on the short 4.574km long circuit.

Thursday July 17
Formula 1 Press Conference - Press Room 15:00

Friday July 18
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 - Press Room 16:00 - 17:00
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Practice Session 16:45 - 17:30
GP3 Practice Session 17:50 - 18:35

Saturday July 19
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 (38 Laps or 60 Minutes) 15:40 - 16:45
GP3 First Race (18 Laps or 30 Minutes) 17:20 - 17:55

Sunday July 20
GP3 Second Race (18 Laps or 30 Minutes) 09:25 - 10:00
GP2 Second Race (27 Laps or 45 Minutes) 10:35 - 11:25
Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup Race (14 Laps or 30 Minutes) 11:45 - 12:20
Formula 1 Race (67 laps) 14:00

BMW wants to increase electric car sales by at least 20-30% within the next two years, which is why the company has extended its partnership with Samsung SDI.

The Korean giant will supply batteries not only for the i3 and i8, but also for BMW's future hybrid models including the X5 Plug-in Hybrid.

Klaus Draeger, BMW's purchasing chief, acknowledged that one of the challenges for battery electric cars is the limited driving range that leads to "range anxiety."

"This is why the whole industry is still looking very much at fuel cells because it is not clear what is also happening on the side of the electric infrastructure," he said, adding that BMW is also doing a research on a fuel cell vehicle system.

Source : nytimes.com

Photo: BMW

This weekend's Honda Indy Toronto features a 2.84 km (1.755 mile), 11-turn temporary street course located in downtown Toronto, Ontario.

The track is constructed throughout and around Exhibition Place grounds and utilizes Lake Shore Boulevard as the backstretch.

Here is the complete schedule of on-track events for this weekend*.

Friday, July 18
GATES OPEN 8:00am - 6:30pm
8:05am - 8:25am PRACTICE Toyo Tire F1600 Championship
8:30am - 9:00am PRACTICE Cooper Tire US F2000
9:15am - 9:45am PRACTICE Acura Sports Car Challenge
10:00am - 10:45am PRACTICE Verizon IndyCar Series
11:00am - 11:30am PRACTICE Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
11:50am - 12:15pm PRACTICE Off-Road
12:30pm - 1:00pm PRACTICE Acura Sports Car Challenge
1:15pm - 1:45pm PRACTICE Cooper Tire US F2000
1:55pm - 2:40pm PRACTICE Verizon IndyCar Series
3:00pm - 3:35pm PRACTICE Indy Lights
3:50pm - 4:20pm PRACTICE Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
4:35pm - 5:10pm QUALIFYING Acura Sports Car Challenge
5:25pm - 5:45pm QUALIFYING Toyo Tire F1600 Championship
5:50pm - 6:20pm QUALIFYING Cooper Tire US F2000

Saturday July 19
GATES OPEN 7:30am - 7:00pm
7:30am - 8:00am QUALIFYING Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
8:15am - 9:00am PRACTICE Indy Lights
9:15am - 9:45am RACE #1 Toyo Tire F1600 Championship
10:00am - 11:10am QUALIFYING RACE #1 Verizon IndyCar Series
11:25am - 12:15pm RACE #1 Acura Sports Car Challenge
12:30pm - 1:15pm RACE #1 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
1:30pm - 2:05pm QUALIFYING Indy Lights
2:20pm - 2:50pm RACE #1 Off-Road
3:00pm - 6:00pm RACE #1 Verizon IndyCar Series
6:15pm - 6:55pm RACE #1 Cooper Tire US F2000

Sunday July 20
GATES OPEN 8:00am - 7:00pm
9:05am - 9:45am RACE #2 Cooper Tire US F2000
10:00am - 10:30am QUALIFYING RACE #2 Verizon IndyCar Series
10:45am - 11:45am RACE Indy Lights
12:15pm - 1:05pm RACE #2 Acura Sports Car Challenge
1:20pm - 2:05pm RACE #2 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
2:20pm - 2:50pm RACE #2 Off-Road
3:00pm - 6:00pm RACE #2 Verizon IndyCar Series
6:15pm - 6:45pm RACE #2 Toyo Tire F1600 Championship

* Schedule subject to change without notice.

Jaguar Land Rover has unveiled a brand new virtual windscreen concept that serves as an augmented-reality display for the road.

It includes virtual racing lines that change colours to indicate optimum braking positions in dangerous corners, as well as virtual cones placed along the road in real-time to help train novice drivers.

"The virtual windscreen is a concept at the moment, as the technology doesn't exist today to utilize the entire windscreen as a HUD [heads-up display]," a Jaguar Land Rover spokesperson told Mashable. "We are working with our suppliers to develop the technology, and are estimating it has potential to reach production in around 10 years."

Source : mashable.com

From press release

Move Motorsports Management (Canadian formula car series promoters) and Lubrico Warranty jointly announced a sponsorship agreement of the popular Toyo Tires Formula 1600 Championship.

The partnership aligns the Series - a launching pad for young Canadian racing talent - with Lubrico, one of Canada's most respected warranty service providers to new and used car dealers and car buyers across the country.

In addition to the series partnership Lubrico will be named the presenting sponsor of the series participation in the Honda Indy Toronto, July 18-20.

Lubrico is no stranger to motorsports. Since 1990 the company's President, Terry Fletcher, has been competing in and supporting GT racing in Canada.

Most recently he created the Lubrico Warranty V8 Trophy Race Series, a club level series for any V8 powered car competing at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.

Since 1977, Lubrico Warranty has been providing a wide range of warranty service products to new and used car dealerships across Canada. With a network of over 4,000 dealerships and over 2,500 authorized repair centres Lubrico is the leading warranty provider and prides itself on unparalleled level of reliability, service and product development.

In a recent survey of more than 200 researchers in the field of autonomous vehicles, the majority of respondents believed rearview mirrors, horns, and emergency brakes will be removed from cars by 2030, while steering wheels and gas/brake pedals will follow by 2035.

Over 75% of respondents also indicated that all 50 U.S. states would pass legislation permitting use of driverless vehicles within this time period.

"We've seen incredible growth in the driverless vehicle industry over the past few years, both in technological advancement and manufacturer acceptance, that has dramatically affected the consumer adoption timetable," stated IEEE Fellow Alberto Broggi, professor of computer engineering at the University of Parma in Italy and founder of VisLab. "The scientific community and car manufacturers have been working together to incrementally include autonomous features in modern day cars, with the intention of producing driverless vehicles in the near future. For mass adoption, it's important that we begin trusting this technology."

Advancements in technology will be the most instrumental in the continued development of driverless vehicles, with more than half (56%) of respondents believing that sensor technology is most essential, followed by software (48?), advanced driver assistance systems (47%), and GPS (31%).

Roughly three out of four predict that a complete digital map of the world will exist within the next 15 years.

Back To The Future II may have been way off the mark, but clearly the future is already here.

Source: IEEE

Summer is that time of the year when we hear tragic news of young children being left in cars under a blazing sun. Well, here's a different story: A 3-year-old boy in Tennessee helped save an old man who was trapped inside a hot car.

After receiving numerous cancer treatments and suffering from two strokes in the past six months, Bob King, 68, was “in very bad shape” and “could barely see anything” according to his wife. He tried to grab the door, but was too weak to push it open.

It was 33 degrees Celsius outside, and the temperature inside the car had reached over 50 degrees. With no car key, King couldn't even start the air conditioning.

When little Keith Williams walked by, the man knocked on the window repeatedly. The toddler, who was barely three feet tall, was not strong enough to open the car door by himself, so he ran over to Pastor Jack Greene in the nearby church and kept saying “locked, locked, locked.”

It just so happens that Keith's mother had educated him about hot car safety a few days before this event occurred.

After a few tries, Greene finally opened the door and brought King inside the church where there was air conditioning, fed him water, and fanned him until King looked better.

Congratulations to Keith, and may this serve as another reminder of the dangers of being in a hot car.




_{Source: ABC News}

Pros: The 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque is a posh, practical, and polished luxury crossover with fantastic looks, comfortable interior space, and rugged off-road capability.

Cons: On the other hand, visibility is mediocre, and once accessorized to your liking the price can jump a bit too high for the segment.

Photo: Land Rover

2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Price: Buyers have plenty of selection from the base Evoque Pure at $47,695 to the high-end Evoque Prestige at $61,295.

2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Fuel Economy: Based on Natural Resources Canada's new 5-cycle testing procedure to determine fuel consumption ratings, expect to burn 11.3L/100km in the city and 7.9L/100km on the highway with your Range Rover Evoque.

Improvements and Changes: There are no changes to the standard specification on any model. However, the company has adjusted pricing on a number of packages and options to remain competitive within the segment.

Back in March at the Geneva Auto Show, Land Rover introduced two distinctive new limited editions to the acclaimed Range Rover Evoque lineup: The luxurious Autobiography tops the range, complemented by the more powerful, more agile Autobiography Dynamic. Both models feature enhanced dynamic body styling, 20” forged alloy wheels, and premium leather interior details with Autobiography embossed headrests. The former will go on sale in December 2014 as a 2015 model, while the latter will debut in Canada next year as a 2016 model.

In other news, a striking premium metallic body colour called Phoenix Orange makes its debut. Enhancing Land Rover's existing suite of connected-car technologies, the world-first Land Rover InControl Apps enable vehicle-optimized smartphone apps to be displayed and controlled with their original look and feel from the centre touchscreen.

2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Powertrain: Just like the LR2, the 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged engine under the hood of the Range Rover Evoque produces a healthy 240 horsepower (around 280 in Autobiography Dynamic trim) along with 250 lb-ft of torque. However, it's mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. Of course, Land Rover's all-wheel drive system and acclaimed Terrain Response technology are part of the mix, too.

Cargo Capacity: The Range Rover Evoque's trunk can hold up to 575 litres of gear. However, you can get as much as 1,445 litres when you fold the rear seats.

Safety: The 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque comes standard with seven airbags, ABS, brake assist, electronic brake force distribution, hill descent control, traction control, and stability control with rollover mitigation. Semi-autonomous parking, a surround-view camera system, and a blind-spot monitoring system with closing vehicle sensing and reverse traffic detection continue to be available.

Comparing the 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque: In this luxury CUV segment, you'll also find the Mercedes-Benz GLK, BMW X3, Audi Q5, Volvo XC60, Porsche Macan, Lexus RX, and Infiniti QX50. None are more competent off the beaten path than the Landie, of course.

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone on Tuesday told his corruption trial in Munich that he made a $44 million payment to avoid bankruptcy.

Prosecutors allege the F1 chief executive paid Gerhard Gribkowsky so the banker would agree to sell the sport's commercial rights to his preferred buyer and retain power.

But Ecclestone, 83, said he paid the millions because Gribkowsky was alluding to alerting the British tax authorities about his personal affairs.

First, the diminutive Briton testified on Tuesday, Gribkowsky was pressuring him to invest a whopping $250 million in a joint real estate business.

"I told him that I was not interested," Ecclestone said.

But then Ecclestone, who said Gribkowsky's constant pressure made him "a little nervous", made a counter-offer.

"I asked him: how much do you need to do what you want to do, but don't push it. I was a bit sarcastic when I asked him if 50 million would help," he testified.

"It was the cheapest insurance policy I have ever seen."

However, he said he would not necessarily describe Gribkowsky's actions as "extortion".

"That is a very serious allegation," said Bernie Ecclestone.

But he said Gribkowsky's actions were giving him pause to fear a tax investigation that could cost him billions.

"I would not have had the money to pay two billion pounds," he said. "I would have been bankrupt and without a wristwatch at the age of 76."

From press release

Andrew Ranger scooped up his second consecutive victory in the No. 27 Mopar Parts Dodge last Friday and if he can snag another this Wednesday night at Auto Clearing Motor Speedway in Saskatoon during round number five of the NASCAR Canadian Tire series, he'll make it a natural hat-trick with his third straight win.

The string of victories began for Ranger at Circuit ICAR in his home province of Quebec and the native of Roxton Pond has continued to ride the wave out west.

“We were struggling a bit at first in Edmonton and you have to be right on with the set up for ovals” explained the driver.

“The team made a little adjustment during the race and it made a big difference” he added.

Alex Tagliani (No. 18) battling with Andrew Ranger, Edmonton 2014. (Photo: Mathew Murnaghan, Getty Images for NASCAR)

Ranger last raced at the track in 2012 scoring a top ten result. Heading back to the high banks at Auto Clearing Motor Speedway has Ranger excited for this Wednesday's event. “You can really race side by side there,” said the driver. “It's a fun track to race at and I'm looking forward to getting back there”.

With back to back wins in the No. 27 Mopar Parts Dodge Ranger has also climbed to third in the overall standings just a dozen points from top spot.

“The wins have been great and given us a boost, now we have to keep getting the results if we want to have a chance at that third championship” said the driver.

Action begins with practice in the afternoon and qualifying Wednesday at 5:15pm. The 250-lap race will start at 7:30pm local time.

The sons of former Formula 1 World Champions James Hunt and Niki Lauda are to re-enact their fathers' legendary Formula 1 challenge by racing against each other in this year's MRF Challenge.

Freddie Hunt and Mathias Lauda will compete as teammates at M&N Racing in this series series that will feature Formula 3-style Dallara-Renault chassis.

Freddie Hunt. (Photo: Facebook)

Freddie Hunt, who competed in British Formula Ford in 2007 and ADAC Formel Masters in Germany in 2008 and '09, has not raced a single-seater since then.

Mathias Lauda, who raced in the GP2 series and in DTM, is currently contesting the Euro NASCAR series.

Mathias Lauda. (Photo: WRI2)

Autosport magazine writes that the MRF Challenge, which is heavily subsidised for drivers and also offers prize money, is likely to kick off at Qatar's MotoGP circuit, before supporting the Bahrain World Endurance Championship round and finishing at Chennai in February.

From GMM

The word on everyone's lips ahead of the German grand prix weekend is 'Fric'.

In the days before scrutineering on Thursday, the biggest questions are: will teams continue to use the newly controversial technology, and will their rivals lodge protests?

The issue arose after Silverstone, when Charlie Whiting wrote a letter warning that the 'front and rear interconnected' suspension systems may in fact be illegal.

It has not been banned, but the FIA official said some teams may choose to lodge protests which could be upheld by the stewards.

In a move to calm the situation, efforts have been made to circulate an agreement to stave off the protest threat in 2014 before a ban is put in place for next year.

But Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that Whiting's efforts to get all eleven team principals to sign the document have failed.

Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari, Lotus and Williams reportedly committed orally to postponing the ban until 2015, but that is all.

The report said the team most likely to lodge a protest is Caterham.

"Let's see if anyone has the courage by Thursday to protest Fric," an FIA source is quoted as saying, referring to the preferred deadline for a race weekend protest.

In reality, however, the lack of unanimity on the issue leaves teams running sophisticated Fric systems little choice but to remove the technology immediately.

The first to show its hand is McLaren.

"McLaren does not currently intend to run a Fric suspension system at the German grand prix," said a spokesman for the Woking based team.

An EPA proposal would require automakers to road test vehicles to verify mileage figures before they are published on window stickers and other sources, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing EPA officials.

What is it?

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and former 'Tonight Show' host Jay Leno will be among the keynote speakers at the 2015 National Automobile Dealers Association Convention and Expo in San Francisco.

German industrial gases maker Linde AG opened what it said was the world's first production line for hydrogen fueling stations today, in a bid to boost support networks for eco-friendly cars.

Honeywell is merging its transportation systems unit into its aerospace division to take advantage of similarities between the businesses.

South African employers are warning of the consequences of an 'indefinite strike' as the country's huge metalworking walk-out now enters its third week, slashing automotive component availability.