Auto News 5

GM Europe's UK unit, Vauxhall, has announced that it will create 550 new jobs in the UK as it adds a shift at the van-making plant in Luton and adds jobs at Ellesmere Port ahead of the next generation Astra model's introduction in 2015.

Fiat's founding Agnelli family may see its voting rights rise to 46 percent as part of a scheme to reward long-term investors after a merger with Chrysler and a listing in New York, a U.S. regulatory filing showed.

Porsche sold more cars in the first six months of 2014 than for any previous H1, the Volkswagen-controlled firm has announced.

News 8 Jul, 2014

Non-German registered cars would need to buy a permit to drive on all roads

Audi and Mercedes narrowed their sales gaps with global luxury-car leader BMW during the first half on robust sales of Audi's A3 compact and Mercedes' S-class flagship.

Stile Bertone, the rump of the styling and vehicle manufacturing group founded by Giovanni Bertone, has been declared bankrupt and is for sale.

Pictures See all 24 pictures 9 Jul, 2014

When Mark Kobeissi was looking for a place to put his real estate office in La Canada Flintridge, Calif., in addition to location, location, location, he wanted something else -- room to park one of his classic cars in the lobby.

PSA Peugeot Citroën has said that in the first half of 2014, its unit sales in China rose 28% in a market up 12.3% thanks to its joint ventures Dongfeng Peugeot Citroën Automobile (DPCA) and Changan PSA Automobile (CAPSA).

Continuing just-auto's series of interviews with tier one manufacturers, Matthew Beecham spoke to Han Hendriks about consumer expectations of car interiors, JCI's Interior Vision 2025 and their new operating model tailored at innovation management. Han represents JCI's Interiors business worldwide and is the innovation leader of this business.

The head of Corporate Communications for Mercedes-Benz Asia Pacific has reportedly stated that the smart brand may soon be discontinued in the Australian market. Low sales, despite price cutting, is cited as the reason.

News 8 Jul, 2014

Demand for Vauxhall Vivaro van and increased output for next year’s new Vauxhall Astra means more jobs needed

News 8 Jul, 2014

New Corsa will be first to offer hi-tech system featuring safety, security, navigation and concierge services

BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer says the cost to meet tougher EU CO2 limits due in 2021 will cost the carmaker billions of euros, but he's confident that a new engine family will allow the automaker to achieve the target.

Chevrolet's spot announcing its 72 hour sale last week went viral, coming in at No. 1 on our auto brand viral video chart with 1,469,311 views.

From GMM

Lotus' switch to Mercedes power for 2015 may be hitting a snag.

As recently as Sunday, the end of the struggling Enstone based team's Renault deal seemed a mere formality.

"I can't confirm it yet," Mercedes' Toto Wolff smiled to British television Sky at Silverstone.

It was believed the deal would be confirmed imminently.

"But there are hurdles on the way to a contract," Michael Schmidt, the respected correspondent for Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, reports.

"Lotus is bound to Renault in the medium term. And the French do not want to release their customer from its obligations so easily," he explained, adding that the potential loss of revenue to Renault is at least EUR 20 million.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

From GMM

A Swiss helicopter company has played down reports it is at the centre of the scandal involving Michael Schumacher's stolen medical report.

French authorities have traced the internet IP of a figure calling themself 'Kagemusha', who was offering confidential information about the F1 legend's health in the wake of his skiing fall to media agencies for EUR 50,000.

Reports said the IP was linked to a helicopter company in Switzerland.

A Zurich-based company called Rega admitted that, as Schumacher's transfer from Grenoble to a Lausanne rehabilitation clinic was being arranged, it was contacted and Schumacher's medical file was passed on.

But the company, reportedly the major air ambulance operator in Switzerland, told AFP news agency that it believed "patient confidentiality had been preserved".

The Rega spokesperson added that it had "no knowledge of the investigation and had not been contacted by the authorities".

20min.ch, a Swiss website, quoted Rega spokesman Philipp Keller as saying: "Rega organised transport from Grenoble to Lausanne for a patient. As part of the organisation, a medical report was provided by the hospital in Grenoble."

Philipp Keller, however, said Rega only learned of the theft of Schumacher's records from the media.

Whistler, BC -- Global bling-pushing carmakers are all over the increasingly important and emerging compact luxury CUV segment and I offer up, as proof, the launch of said MKC, the Porsche Macan, and the new NX all in under three weeks time. The stakes are very high as these vehicles are set to become the No.1 bestsellers for each brand.

Despite the global pressure, I walked away from the 2015 Lexus NX feeling underwhelmed. The scenery and the roads in British Colombia are breathtaking, but I quickly forgot what I was driving while coasting up and down the Sea-to-Sky highway. The cabin is the NX's high point, but the drive offers few remarkable elements. The vehicle's styling is sharp, but the F-Sport versions are by far the ones to consider. Then, there's the Hybrid...


What is a Lexus NX?
The 2015 NX will likely turn out to be a bestseller for Lexus, but somehow should be a better, more interesting product overall. The ex-compact RX may prove to be an issue at first given its stellar reputation. The NX's price will make all the difference.

This compact luxury crossover is aimed at the 35-45-year-old crowd looking for a versatile and efficient way to get around in style and, possibly, use as a first family car.

It shares a number of its components with the Toyota RAV4 and the Lexus CT200h.

2015 Lexus NX Price and Specs
Pricing is not yet available, nor is the NX, but is expected to hit all 37 dealerships by the 4th quarter of this year. Pricing should range between $40,000 and under $60,000 for the most lavishly equipped versions. Final details will be announced shortly before dealer launch.

There will be two versions of the NX, the 200t and the 300h. The first will be motivated by a Lexus-first turbocharged Atkinson-cycle 2.0L 4-cylinder engine that will produce 235 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. A 6-speed automatic transmission will be standard.

The 300h will borrow the ES300h's Atkinson-cycle 2.5L inline-4 pot engine that generates 194 horsepower. A CVT ‘box will work with it to get things moving.

AWD will be standard in Canada. The 200t's will split torque 100/0 or up to 50/50. The 300h will go up to a 60/40 from the 100/0.

The 2015 Lexus NX will be available in six trims for the 200t and a single uber-loaded version for the 300h.

Driving the 2015 Lexus NX
Fresh off the MKC launch and recent drive in a Macan, my expectations for the NX were high. Let's not forget that the RX is one of the best in its segment and, as such, the NX could not be “bad;” and certainly it's not, but it falls short of the expected mark. Underwhelmed seemed to be the word of the day.

I started my day with a Hybrid. Now, if a number of manufacturers are promoting hybrids as green-performance alternatives, Lexus seems to be doing the opposite. As the tested vehicles were American-spec prototypes, both my Hybrid and 200t were FWD examples. Despite this, the Hybrid felt laboured. Acceleration was adequate, if not meek-ish especially when climbing certain portions of the Sea-to-Sky. The CVT did what CVTs do, which is pin engine rpm near redline. The entire experience lacked the usual Lexus levels of refinement.

The 200t fared far better thanks in large part to the slick and smooth-operating 6-speed auto. The 2.0T pulls smartly and does not suffer from any lag, but is not especially powerful. It is no more brawny than the MKC's 2.0T and feels less powerful than the Evoque's and the BMW X3's. Bottom line: Among its competitor, it is average.

That's how the drive can be summed up, as well. The steering's nice and beefy, brakes feel OK, and the ride is not as well sorted as the RX's. There is no “fun” or enthusiasm to be found at the wheel of the new NX.

There are two F Sport versions. Sadly, I was only able to drive one for 5 minutes, and at very low speeds. The paddle shifters could have helped, as would have the sport-tuned suspension. Lexus expects that a large portion will be equipped as such.

Inside and Out of the 2015 Lexus NX
The contrast between the NX's driving characteristics and its exterior styling could not be greater. The 2015 Lexus NX features numerous exterior details, the most in-your-face being the spindle grille, which is subtly repeated in the rear. The motorcycle-inspired LED L-shaped daytime running lights (as seen on the IS and RC) are very modern and hip.

Furthermore, the flared fenders are ripe for male appeal while the fancy lit-up door handles scream female attention. I may have gone too far right there... And on the subject of the F Sport, the different, deeper, and more aggressive front bumper makes a world of a difference. Another reason to go F Sport.

The cabin is, in my opinion, the best part about the 2015 Lexus NX. The dashboard layout is contemporary, well designed and generally user friendly. The same cannot be said for Lexus' new version of its Remote Touch that now uses a touch pad as opposed to a “mouse.” I'll need more time with it.

The seats happen to be very supportive and comfortable, far more than the MKC's. Once more, the F Sport has unique seats, which are to die for. The trunk is capacious, but I do not think will hold as many golf bags (4) as Lexus says.

Comparing the 2015 Lexus NX
Currently, the 2015 NX deals with the Mercedes GLK, Audi Q5, BMW X3, Infiniti QX50, Range Rover Evoque, the Lincoln and even the Porsche Macan. The Germans are strong, and revised Q5s and GLKs are not that far off...

I expected the NX to be a fun version of the great RX, but it turned out not to be. A weeklong road test is in order.

From GMM

Jobs will be lost after Caterham's change of ownership, new team 'advisor' Colin Kolles has admitted.

"I prefer to have 200 safe jobs than 300 lost jobs," the Romanian, who has appointed former Minardi driver Christijan Albers to front the team now owned by mystery Swiss-Middle Eastern owners, told Reuters.

"Sometimes you have to make unpopular decisions," he insisted.

We reported this week that, during the Silverstone weekend, the logos of 2014 sponsor General Electric were removed from the green livery.

And on race day, the backing by Airbus - a deal clearly brokered by the now-departed aviation entrepreneur Tony Fernandes - was also blacked out.

But Colin Kolles denied that the lights are now steadily going out at Caterham, arguing instead that the former Fernandes administration was in fact "a mess".

Even the contracts in Kamui Kobayashi and Marcus Ericsson's hands are under review.

"In terms of performance we have to look into this. And we are looking into this," said Colin Kolles.

Caterham CT05-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

Kolles' German-based motor racing company is apparently still involved in the Romanian project called Forza Rossa, who are hoping to obtain the FIA's green light.

But Romanian-born German Kolles denied Caterham was bought in order to pilfer its assets or perhaps just be rebranded.

"This company (Caterham) has the entry and you cannot transfer this. If that company no longer exists you lose the entry," he said.

From GMM

Kimi Raikkonen will sit out the post-British grand prix test, after his high speed crash on Sunday.

Sharing the Ferrari duties at Silverstone instead will be Pedro de la Rosa and the Maranello marque's junior driver Jules Bianchi, who races in F1 for Marussia.

Many paddock cynics suggested the laid-back Finn Raikkonen might not be too upset with Ferrari's rest order, but a spokesman insisted: "He wanted to drive."

Ferrari says he needs to rest a bruised ankle and knee.

The injuries were caused by Raikkonen's incredible 47G impact against the Silverstone armco, after he ran off the track and then lost control trying to rejoin.

Crash of Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari. (Caption: FOM)

Raikkonen's crashed car also took out Williams' Felipe Massa, and a photograph taken by a trackside fan showed how close a flying tire from the Ferrari came to hitting Max Chilton on the head.

"It was a scary moment," the Marussia driver confirmed.

Some, therefore, have been highly critical of Raikkonen, suggesting the crash was caused because he refuses to do otherwise customary pre-race walks of the F1 circuits, noting sites of potential hazards and irregularities.

F1 legend Niki Lauda, the Mercedes team chairman, has slammed the Finn.

"He went wide, so why does he come in balls out and then crash?" the great Austrian is quoted by AFP news agency. "It was unnecessary."

But Lauda also had a wider criticism, insisting the one-hour race delay to fully repair the damaged armco was "ridiculous".

"This over-nursing of F1, being over cautious, over-controlling and over-regulating drives me mad," he said.

Indeed, Lauda's fear that television viewers would switch over to other sporting spectacles, like the Tour de France or Wimbledon, apparently proved correct, with the British grand prix recording its worst ratings since 2006.

He even slammed Sebastian Vettel for "screaming like a child" on the radio during his thrilling duel with fellow champion Fernando Alonso.

But according to Spain's Marca, Red Bull's Christian Horner said the real problem between Vettel and Alonso was "all these rules on the limits of the circuit".