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Nissan Motor's luxury unit Infiniti said its Decherd powertrain plant, a partnership between the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler, would start production on 26 June.

BMW Group said today that it had met with executives from Tesla to discuss potential cooperation on electric vehicles.

BMW said its managers have met with executives from Tesla to discuss ways to promote the use of electric cars.

BMW said its managers met this week with executives from Tesla to discuss ways to promote the use of electric cars.

Lockheed Martin has Skunkworks, Aston Martin has Q, and

The eagerly awaited Mercedes-AMG GT will be powered by a twin-turbocharged four-valve-per-cylinder 4.

-- Jalopnik is not hip to the jive of the

This year Beverly Hills celebrates 100 years of being Beverly Hills, California's epicenter of aspiration and royalty and lavish wealth both genuine and perceived. The city of Beverly Hills was incorporated in 1914, the same year

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn elaborated on his goal to make the alliance one of the world's top three vehicle producers, saying automakers need economies of scale to be competitive.

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn elaborated on his goal to make the alliance one of the world's top three vehicle producers, saying automakers need economies of scale to be competitive.

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn elaborated on his goal to make the alliance one of the world's top three vehicle producers, saying automakers need economies of scale to be competitive.

French supplier Valeo has opened a starter plant in Shanghai, China, IHS Automotive reported in its weekly supplier newsletter.

News 13 Jun, 2014

Mercedes shows us around the all-new 503bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that will power its new AMG GT supercar

BMW believes its i8 plug-in hybrid perfectly addresses the growing demand for powerful sports cars that are also environmentally friendly. "

Test your grasp of the latest auto industry news with our weekly quiz.

From GMM

Mercedes already understands the issue that in Canada ended the dominant team's run of one-two victories.

In Montreal, championship leader Nico Rosberg fell to second behind F1's newest winner Daniel Ricciardo, while the sister W05 of Lewis Hamilton failed to finish.

Reports this week said the technical problems with both cars began almost simultaneously, when the energy recovery systems overheated.

"We were trying a new cooling system for the first time. It seems the new software went crazy," team boss Toto Wolff told Bild newspaper earlier this week.

On Thursday, at the German team's Brackley (UK) factory, he indicated that Mercedes engineers now understand what went wrong.

"We exceeded certain temperatures, which was a miscalculation," Wolff told the Austrian news agency APA.

"We know exactly what it was. It will not happen again," he promised.

Toto Wolff said the new cooling system will be used on the silver cars once again when the racing resumes in Austria next weekend.

"The cooling itself was not the problem," he explained. "We only did not have the temperatures on the radar, not assessing them as critical.

"Now we know the limits," added Wolff.

Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG, in Canada, before the troubles. (Photo: WRi2)

Gerhard Berger, a former F1 driver and team manager, thinks that despite reigning world champion Red Bull's breakthrough win in Canada, Mercedes will continue to dominate in 2014.

"I don't think anyone can seriously challenge Mercedes," he said, "except when they have technical problems."

As for the silver title duel between Hamilton and Rosberg, dubbed by the German-language media as 'Star Wars', Berger said it will continue to be a tight battle.

"Lewis is probably the fastest driver in formula one at the moment," said the 54-year-old Austrian.

"But I also count on Nico for his better consistency, his intelligence and his more detailed work," added Gerhard Berger.

From GMM

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg will remain paired at Mercedes for at least the next two years.

That is the claim of boss and team co-owner Toto Wolff, on the heels of a wave of speculation about the future lineup of the currently dominant F1 outfit.

Earlier, Wolff played down reports Mercedes could be eyeing the frustrated Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso, while Mercedes' 2014 star Lewis Hamilton was this week spotted at Ferrari's Maranello headquarters.

Nico Rosberg's place at the silver-clad team was also in doubt until team figures declared the 28-year-old German in fact has a "long term" contract.

Also committed to Mercedes is Hamilton, Austrian Wolff told a group of Spanish reporters at the team's Brackley headquarters this week.

"Our drivers have contracts for two years, so we cannot consider any possibility," Wolff is quoted by Marco Canseco, the correspondent for the Spanish sports daily Marca.

When asked about Fernando Alonso, Toto Wolff answered: "Everyone knows that he is one of the best drivers on the grid, and one that fits with what Mercedes wants. But we already have two of the best."

Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG. (Photo: WRi2)

A new MINI Connected ready app enables GoPro cameras to be controlled in typical MINI style using the operating system, making it possible to start shooting videos or take photographs with a GoPro camera mounted on or inside the car while driving.

Incidentally, MINI becomes the first automobile in the world whose operating system can be used to control GoPro cameras.

The driver can use a menu on the on-board computer not only to start and stop the camera but also to set the shooting mode. There is a choice of video and single-image shots as well as photo series with short or long frequency.

Owners of an Apple iPhone can download the new MINI Connected ready app free of charge from the Apple App store as of June 2014.

Source: BMW Group

Photo: MINI

From GMM (Story updated, see blow)

Caterham's F1 foray could be coming to an immediate halt, if the latest rumours are to be believed.

A couple of weeks ago, team owner Tony Fernandes - who has been notably absent from the F1 paddock in 2014 - denied reports he has put the team up for sale.

"It is, however, true that the group is actively searching for additional investment as it seeks to fulfil ambitious plans to develop," Caterham said in a statement.

And a new statement issued by Caterham confirmed that it has sold its stake in the joint Alpine sports car project to Renault.

Photo: Caterham F1 Team

Now, the latest rumour - flourishing on Twitter and put in print by Speed Week - is that Caterham's F1 project is ceasing immediately, with the green-coloured team to be absent when the 2014 calendar resumes next weekend in Austria.

Speed Week referred to "budget problems" as the main issue, adding that Caterham or Tony Fernandes are yet to comment.

Speed Week said there are rumours Caterham could also pull out of the second-tier motorcycle grand prix racing category Moto2, having until now fielded a team called AirAsia Caterham.

Rumours about the F1 team were already doing the rounds last weekend in Canada, where it was whispered that sale talks took place with the prospective new outfit Forza Rossa, led by former HRT and Force India chief Colin Kolles.

UPDATE
Caterham F1 Team owner Tony Fernandes has rubbished rumours suggesting that the team might pull out of Formula 1 before next weekend's Austrian Grand Prix, saying that “there is no question” about its future.

“Caterham F1 will be racing in Austria,” he tweeted. “There is no question.”

I love acronyms; they offer up such an easy, compact way to say precisely what's on your mind without having to say much at all. Plus, you can confuse the hell outta some people if they aren't up to date on the latest and greatest in online lingo and acronyms. Don't be AMU, GYHOOYA and GWI, all the cool kids are doing it.

If you choose to only learn one acronym in your life, however, let me suggest it be the esteemed and oh-so satisfying-to-know: AMG. While it's not a shortened version of a string of swear words it is a dirty, dirty combination that means a whole lot of power and fun behind the wheel of what would normally be a rather normal Mercedes-Benz.

Since YOLO, I'd suggest you get behind the wheel of an E 63 AMG at least once because OMG it's almost 2G2BT -- but trust me it is very, very real.


What is a Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG?
The E-Class name was first "officialized" in the US of A in the early '90s in saloon, coupe, convertible and wagon body configurations. Since then, the E-Class has evolved into the luxury executive car it is today.

Add those all-important acronyms to the right-hand side of the sumptuous rear flank of the E 63 and you've got yourself an street-bound track car that sounds like nothing else and goes like the dickens when prompted.



2014 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG Price and Specs
Let's start with the 411 on the E-Class lineup: at the bottom of the ladder sits the $57,800 E 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC (diesel); and at the very top of it all sitting pretty at a starting price of $110,000 is the E 63 AMG S-Model 4MATIC sedan. That's quite the price gap. In between those two sit four other models with plenty of horsepower and amenity options. All are equipped with Merc's 4MATIC all-wheel drive system.

My particularly beastly 2014 E 63 AMG sedan started at $103,000 and with a select few options such as Merc's Advanced Driving Assistance Package as well as a Premium Package, the final price hit the $112,290 mark.

BION, I'd happily hand over that coin for a car like the E 63 AMG.

Why? Because behind that mean mug resides a V8 bi-turbo engine that spews out 550 horsepower and 531 lb-ft of torque. A 7-speed AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT automatic transmission controls the power that's pushed out all four 19" AMG-spoke wheels.

Driving the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG
Nestle into the tightly bolstered (and adjustable) driver's seat, take a deep breath and press the overly large start/stop button to the right of the perforated leather, flat-bottom AMG steering wheel; revel in the glorious bark of the V8 as it thunders to life (and know that you will wake your neighbours up every morning, especially on colder days). Let the rumble of the E 63 AMG coming to life wash over you, tingle your sense in all the right ways and excite something deep within as you grasp the stumpy AMG crest-stamped leather shift knob and select "D."

To the left of the stubby shifter is a row of important knobs and buttons. The first is Merc's drive mode selector where you can choose between C, S, S+, and M. Below that: Traction control, chassis stiffness (with two settings), and the all-important ZOMFG-it-makes-it-so-good AMG button. You can either fiddle with a combination of various settings and buttons or you can just press the last one and know that everything will be perfectly calibrated for balls-out fun behind the wheel. You can all guess what I did all week.

Here's the thing; the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG can be docile and demure, if that's the kind of thing you like. However, should you prefer a bit of bite with your bark, this puppy's got that in spades. Press your right foot to the floor and take possession of the 550 horses via the steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters, but know your breath will catch, the hair will raise on the back of you neck, and you may not stop smiling for quite some time.

Speeds are reached like a punch in the face, and with just as much gusto. The E 63 AMG makes no illusions about what it is: savage.

It'll do more than go quickly in a straight line though (it'll hit 100km in under 4 seconds), as the handling and suspension on the 2014 E 63 AMG are quite impressive. This is a heavy car, yet manages to feel nimble in the corners and hunkers down at each twisty ready to pull out hard after the apex. This thing means business.

Inside and Out of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG
Mercedes has taken a futuristic, menacing stance in terms of exterior design -- and I very much approve. The mug on the E-Class is as aggressive as it is stoic. The massive tri-star embedded in the minimalist grille sandwiched between angular, LED-trimmed headlights is both intimidating and regal.

Inside, AMG badges adorn the perforated leather seats up front and an AMG instrument cluster sits behind the steering wheel. Merc's previous-generation HMI system is present, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Front seats are highly bolstered and offer dynamic, drive-sensitive violation if desired (bolster will tighten and move depending on cornering severity).

The back seat offers up plenty of room for a child seat, plus bags for a few nights away.

Comparing the 2014 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG
It's not as E123 when it comes to choosing the E 63 over the likes of the BMW M5, Audi RS 7 or even the Cadillac CTS Vsport (#firstworldproblems indeed), however, the now 4MATIC E 63 offers gobs of grip it was previously lacking, and the new look really is PHAT.

OMG AMG FTW; nuff said.