Auto News 5

BMW has begun rolling out the i8 plug-in hybrid supercar as Tesla shakes up the market for luxury cars with alternative powertrains.

New UAW President Dennis Williams said he planned to attack the wide compensation disparity between veteran auto workers and new hires during next year's contract negotiations with the Detroit 3.

Elon Musk says he wanted to name Tesla's planned third model, a compact, battery-powered sedan, the Model E.

Lenders are boosting auto sales and commanding higher transaction prices by extending loan terms. Is the industry flirting with another 2008, or is the risk limited?

General Motors' investigation into its mishandling of a fatal defect spreads blame among dozens of employees at various levels, but it bluntly says the problem began -- and remained unfixed for years -- largely because of "a single engineer."

So what's the story behind last month's unexpectedly strong sales results? Forget the fifth weekend in May, crossovers are what did the trick.

General Motors employees who showed up at a town hall meeting last week expecting to hear CEO Mary Barra talk about moving on from the company's embarrassing safety crisis were thrown a curveball.

Blake Helfman could tell that May was going to be a killer month for Jeep at his Houston dealership when customers started putting their names on SUVs that were still on the delivery truck on his lot.

Lafayette, IN -- I like a company that tells it like it is. Sure, you can spout high sales numbers and swing stats to put yourself on top for the likes of us auto journalists, but we know your tricks. So, when a company pulls up a slide openly admitting the general public, when polled, don't actually know about or consider their vehicles, it's eye-opening.

Subaru did just that with the Legacy. They admit that when a controlled group was questioned about their midsize sedan, the Legacy, that most didn't even know what it was, and for those who knew they had skewed perceptions about high prices and bad fuel economy due to AWD. However, they also associated the brand, Subaru, with reliability, longevity, all-weather capability, and rally heritage.

So, how is Subaru to overcome these perceptions with their brand new 2015 Subaru Legacy and leverage their vehicle in a highly competitive segment loaded with cars the general public readily identifies and remembers? I was sent to sunny Lafayette, Indiana to find out.


What is a Subaru Legacy?
The Legacy has been in North America for six generations now, first appearing in the mid-‘80s. Always all-wheel drive, the Subaru Legacy offered the buying public a practical all-weather vehicle that wasn't a big SUV. Of the Subaru Legacys sold over the past 10 years, 96% are still on the road today.

For 25 years the Subaru Legacy has traversed all types of roads in all sorts of weather, and Subaru is extremely proud to usher this particular vehicle into its quarter-century birthday year.

2015 Subaru Legacy Price and Specs
First and foremost: the Canadian market will get a 6-speed manual transmission option that the Americans will not. Said transmission will only be available on the base 175 horsepower 2.5i model (up 2 hp). That particular model will start at just $23,495.

The 256 horsepower 3.6R 6-cylinder comes only with the remapped and reworked CVT, and in Touring trim starts at $30,795. At the very top of Legacy ladder sits the 3.6 Limited with a Technology Package (that includes EyeSight) with a CVT for a starting price of $35,395.

Of note, the CVT will “shift” since Subaru recognized the public's need for familiarity and the desire to avoid the drone of a CVT. It will row through a fake six gears or ramp up to eight if it feels you're driving more aggressively.

All-wheel drive is, of course, standard on all 2015 Subaru Legacy models.

Driving the 2015 Subaru Legacy
Here's where it comes down to the old adage: You'll never know if you like it till you give it a go. For those who don't know about Subaru as a brand or more precisely the Legacy as a car, I implore you to get behind the wheel of this new model.

My time behind the wheel of the 2015 Subaru Legacy began at the Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. testing grounds complete with an oval speed track and slalom course for handling. Jumping from the 2.5i to the 3.6R proved one very clear thing to me: You'll be plenty satisfied with the 2.5i.

Sure, the 3.6R is peppier and “sportier” but the fake CVT shifts are a bit too harsh for my liking -- even though I did appreciate the illusion of gears. In the 2.5i the “gear changes” are much more subtle, and smooth; ideal for this segment.

The beauty with the 2.5i is that it is powerful enough for what the 2015 Subaru Legacy is all about: everyday driving. Steering is light but still felt connected, and the ride is supple and comfortable even over severely uneven surfaces at the test facilities.

Inside and Out of the 2015 Subaru Legacy
Changes to the outside of the Legacy are tasteful and just enough to make it stand out ever so slightly. The difficult thing about this segment is the fact that it wants to reach such a broad audience, and that means keeping designs in that comfortable box that everyone can agree on -- nothing drastic.

Inside, the interior is typically Subaru, and yet manages to feel upscale and even a bit on the lux side. Of note; Subaru widened and lengthened their front seats to accommodate more buyers and make them more comfortable. And heated seats are now available in the second row.

Blissfully, Subaru also upgraded and changed their HMI and entertainment system. Standard in the 2.5i is a 6.2” touchscreen, and with a Technology Package on higher trims a 7” touchscreen a la Apple (meaning pinch, slide, and scroll works) is available as well as a Harmon/Kardon speaker system.

Overall, the centre stack was nicely updated and looks sleek and sophisticated. Climate controls are well located, and the steering wheel is ergonomically sound and also a pleasure to hold.

Comparing the 2015 Subaru Legacy
The Legacy's biggest downfall is its inconspicuousness. If it had as much brand history as the Honda Accord or as much aesthetic class as the Mazda6 or even as much “Yeah, we've always had Toyotas so I'm gonna get one” as the Camry, then it would have a fighting chance.

Until model awareness grows, I'm not so sure the Legacy will beat out its Asian counterparts in terms of sales just yet, despite having a fantastic product well worth the money to drive.

GMC was the oddball when GM went through bankruptcy in 2009. With other brands easily cut from the portfolio, many believed GMC should have been ditched as well. General Motors is now proving the naysayers wrong.

The Sierra HD is the exact same trunk under the skin as its Chevrolet Silverado HD stablemate. There's virtually nothing mechanically differentiating the two models. Yet, this is one case where badge-engineering makes sense as it makes General Motors truckloads of cash.

Pickup customers, even in the HD market, are evolving. Their desire for a generic workhorse is virtually gone. Instead, consumers are looking for luxurious interiors, ingenious solutions, and comfort.

To find out everything there is to know about General Motors' updated 2500 and 3500 series Sierra, they sent us to Alberta's Waterton Lakes National Park to tow and haul some stuff around in blue-collar luxury.


What is the GMC Sierra HD?
The GMC Sierra HD is the more expensive of two offerings from General Motors with a choice of two engines and three cab configurations.

Think of the Sierra (in both light- and heavy-duty form) as the Silverado+. Mostly everything is the same; mechanicals, interior, and other features are identical. But, the Sierra looks better and can be had with some quite luxurious amenities.

Designed for professionals looking for a high-end heavy-duty, the GMC Sierra offers up comfort and technology in a clever package. Styling also takes on the same design language as the light-duty Sierra, which is definitely a massive positive.

The Sierra HD is offered in 2500 and 3500 series, with either a single rear axle or dually configuration, and a multitude of trims, including the top flight Denali trim that brings unique styling bits and technology to the cockpit.

2015 GMC Sierra HD Price and Specs
Two engines are available on the Sierra HD: a 6.0-litre gasoline-burning Vortec V8 (those hoping for the new 6.2-litre EcoTec3 V8 will be disappointed) or a 6.6-litre Duramax turbodiesel V8.

The 6.0-litre gas engine develops 360 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque in 2500 models while 3500 models make do with 322 hp. This engine is E85 FlexFuel capable while also having the option of factory-approved CNG fitment.

Those looking to tow and haul will want the Duramax, which produces 397 hp and 765 lb-ft of torque, to the tune of an extra $9,670. The available Allison 1000 transmission adds an additional $1,445.

Three different cab configurations - Regular, Double, and Crew - are also available, as are three different box setups - Short, Long, and Chassis cab.

These trucks don't come cheap. The Sierra 2500 HD 2WD Regular Cab, equipped with long box and in base trim, starts at $37,430. Those looking for the Denali treatment will see a $68,645 for the Sierra 3500 HD Dually 4WD Crew Cab, equipped with long box.

It must be said, with additional options, these trucks can easily reach close to, if not past, $100,000 when all is said and done.

Driving the 2015 GMC Sierra HD
The initial leg of our trip, from Calgary airport to our first coffee shop stop in a very stereotypical Corner Gas looking town, we were accompanied by a Sierra HD in Denali trim. I'm actually happy to say we didn't pay much attention to the truck.

Yes, we are reviewers. I even had my work boots on. But, the Sierra HD was very transparent to the overall journey. Everything from the steering wheel mounted controls and 8-inch Denali-specific instrument panel screen to the basic (but quite clever) switchgear was incredibly intuitive and worked as expected.

The 6.6-litre Duramax was quiet as any heavy-duty diesel lump can be on the highway, only bellowing when given some motivation with a heavy right foot.

Smooth, comfortable, and incredibly quiet would also describe the next day perfectly in the Sierra HD LTZ. With less equipment, it still didn't lack convenience, featuring GMC IntelliLink front and centre in the redesigned console. New inlaid doors and improved aerodynamics also make this the quietest truck in the class.

The day after our Waterton Lakes visit, our activities took us to Bar-U Ranch where General Motors laid out a comparison test between mechanically similar Ford Super Duty and RAM Heavy Duty models.

While the other trucks were slightly heavier, the Sierra seemed better at hauling at speeds above 80 km/h, eventually pulling away from its competitors.

Inside and Out of the 2015 GMC Sierra HD
While the frame remains relatively the same in GM's new big boy toys, exterior and interior designs are all-new and highlight some fantastic features.

The Sierra HD comes with a rear bumper step, inherited from its little brother, for those looking to climb into the cargo box. Movable anchors, also available on the light-duty trucks, are now available on the heavy-duty models as well. Double cab Sierra HDs no longer feature a suicide rear door, now offering a traditional front-hinged setup.

To finish things off, the interiors coming from GM's truck division are now second to none. Materials are much improved along with a renewed focus on design, providing a pleasant place to live and work.

Gone are button blanks - those spots where push-button options could be but aren't - replaced with a toggle-switch bar at the bottom of the centre stack consisting of switches that vary in length depending on the number of options equipped. And, to top it all off, everything is easy to use with a pair of thick work gloves.

Up front, the Sierra HD wears the same corporate sheetmetal as the light-duty truck with a chunkier, stronger design.

Overall, and even with the carryover frame, the Sierra HD is a worktruck with the ability to haul family and friends in comfort - at least until the next-generation trucks come along from Ford and RAM.

Comparing the 2015 GMC Sierra HD
There are only four choices in the heavy-duty segment in Canada, with General Motors providing half of them. The Silverado and Sierra HD models, available in both 2500 and 3500 series, compete for construction jobs with the Ford F-250/F-350 and RAM 2500/3500.

From FIA press release

Reigning World Champions Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia powered to victory in Rally Italia Sardegna, the sixth round of the FIA World Rally Championship. It represents the duo's fourth win of the season and their 20th world rally victory giving them a 33 point advantage in the Championship.

Mads Østberg and Jonas Andersson recorded their best result of the season with second position and Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila were lucky to claim the final podium position after dropping time changing a wheel yesterday.

In the FIA World Rally Championship, Latvala continues to be Ogier's main rival and the Volkswagen team-mates are beginning to pull ahead of third-placed Østberg. In the Manufacturers' Championship, the German marque has once again extended its advantage and has a 118 point lead over the Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team.

Italian podium (Photo: VW Motorsport)

The Polo R WRC has also now racked up 16 wins from 19 starts and the team has claimed 10 consecutive victories with the all-conquering car.

Today's route covered just four stages and it was Østberg who took the advantage in the first stage, extending his advantage over Latvala in the process. The Finn fought back in the following two stages but simply ran out of kilometres to fight for second. Behind the leading trio, Andreas Mikkelsen finished fourth for the third consecutive event and claimed his first-ever Power Stage victory ahead of both his team-mates.

Elfyn Evans had another solid rally and finished fifth ahead of Martin Prokop, who has been suffering back problems throughout the rally. Henning Solberg and Robert Kubica rounded off the top eight and local hero Lorenzo Bertelli finished ninth and took the FIA WRC 2 Championship victory, his first-ever win.

The seventh round of the FIA World Rally Championship takes the contenders to Poland (26-29 June) where competition will be fought out over stages in both Poland and Lithuania.

Final results* - Rally Italia
1. Ogier-Ingrassia (VW Polo Wrc) in 4.02'37”8
2. Ostberg-Andersson (Citroen DS3 Wrc) + 1'23”1
3. Latvala-Anttila (VW Polo Wrc) + 1'32”1
4. Mikkelsen-Floene (VW Polo Wrc) + 2'39”3
5. Evans-Barritt (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 4'41”8
6. Prokop-Tomanek (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 6'05”3
7. Solberg-Minor (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 7'15”8
8. Kubica-Szczepaniak (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 12'19”0
9. Bertelli-Dotta (Ford Fiesta S2000) + 15'22”1
10. Al Qassimi-Pattersoni (Citroen DS3 Wrc) + 16'49”3

Drivers' championship
1.Ogier 138; 2.Latvala 105; 3.Ostberg 66; 4.Mikkelsen 63; 5.Hirvonen 40, 6.Evans 36; 7.Meeke 32; 8. Neuville 31; 9.Prokop 30; 10.Solberg 22.

Constructors' championship
1.Volkswagen Motorsport 227; 2.Citroen Total Abu Dhabi 110; 3.M-Sport WRT 78; 4.Volkswagen Motorsport II 64; 5.Hyundai Motorsport 59; 6 Jipocar Czech NT 32; RK M-Sport 18.

*Unofficial scoring

From press release

Western Canada's Erica Theiring will make her NASCAR Canadian Tire Series debut at Autodrome Chaudiere on June 14.

Thiering will be racing in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Budweiser 300 at Autodrome Chaudiere, in a car sponsored by Alberta Has Energy 300 and Edmonton International Raceway in Wetaskiwin.

This will be the Canadian Tire Series debut appearance for the Sherwood Park, Alberta driver.

Erica has captured the Edmonton Int'l Raceway Track Champion and Alberta NASCAR Provincial Title five Times.

She took her NASCAR Late Model to New Smyrna Speedway to race in Speedweeks in February this year and finished eighth out of 40 competitors, the best finish ever for a Canadian racer.

Erica will also compete in the Alberta Has Energy 300 NASCAR Canadian Tire Event at Edmonton Int'l Raceway in Wetaskiwin on July 11th.

One of only 351 Toyota 2000GT sports cars ever built was recently destroyed when a 6' wide, 98' tall rotten tree fell on it. The incident took place in Gokoyama, Japan.

The 28-year-old driver came out with just a few cuts to his arms and legs, which is a miracle when you look at the scene.

But don't count it as a total loss just yet. Given that this baby can be worth more than $1 million, a restoration attempt remains a possibility.

Source : roadandtrack.com

Photo: Twitter

As the official automotive partner of the 2014 World Cup, Kia released three sexy new ads featuring Brazilian supermodel Adriana Lima... and promoting its 2015 Sorento and Optima.

Got the message, guys?

Source : blog.caranddriver.com

The Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec today launched a new awareness campaign to remind people of the many serious legal and financial consequences of drinking and driving.

Called “It's All Tied to One Decision,” and inspired by the butterfly effect theory, the campaign includes a French TV commercial, an English radio message, a Web banner, and a print ad in daily and weekly newspapers across Quebec.

Source : SAAQ

Red Bull racing driver Daniel Ricciardo became Sunday Formula 1 racing's 105th winner.

The ever smiling Australian snatched a last-gasp victory in Montreal on Sunday and in doing so became the 105th man to win a round of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship and the first new winner since 2012 when Pastor Maldonado won in Spain.

Ricciardo is the fourth Australian to reach the top step of the podium in F1, following in the wheel tracks of Jack Brabham, Alan Jones and Mark Webber.

He also joins Gilles Villeneuve, Thierry Boutsen, Jean Alesi, Lewis Hamilton and Robert Kubica in an exclusive club of drivers who claimed their first career win in Montreal.

Ricciardo's victory gave Red Bull their first victory of the season and power unit supplier Renault their first turbocharged victory since the 1986 Detroit Grand Prix when Ayrton Senna won for Lotus, and it also ended Mercedes' six-race win streak and any hope the Silver Arrows had of completing a ‘perfect' season.

Here are our photos of a great weekend of action.

Photos: Philippe Champoux

Hot on the heels of the aluminum-bodied 2015 Ford F-150, the Blue Oval is introducing the Lightweight Concept -- essentially a 2013 Ford Fusion that lost about 25% of its kilos and now weighs the same as a Fiesta!

The Lightweight Concept features lighter seat frames, a carbon fibre dashboard, an aluminum chassis and brake discs, along with polycarbonate windows. Magnesium, high-strength steel, and advanced composites were used, as well.

Under the hood is a Focus-sourced, 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine. The impact of all the lightweight components on fuel economy has yet to be revealed, however.

Photo: Ford

From GMM

Sahara Force India Formula 1 team smells something's strange, after Sergio Perez was penalised for a terrifying crash at the end of Sunday's Canadian grand prix.

As they tussled for fourth on the last lap, Williams' Felipe Massa hit the back of Mexican Perez's Sahara Force India, sending them both into the tires at high speed.

They were both transported to Montreal's Sacre Coeur hospital for checks and later released with no injuries.

Sergio Perez's Sahara Force India, Montreal (Photo: WRI2)

Both Williams and Force India pointed the finger of blame. Williams' post-race press statement said Perez "crashed into" Massa, but Force India claimed Perez was "the innocent victim".

Ultimately, the stewards sided with Massa, penalising Perez five places on the forthcoming Austrian grand prix grid.

According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, however, Sahara Force India suspects a conspiracy.

That's because, in addition to the four stewards in Montreal including former driver Derek Daly, also in the stewards room on Sunday was Adrian Fernandez.

Former IndyCar driver and Mexican Fernandez was Perez's manager until two years ago, when they acrimoniously split.

"The driver steward was Derek Daly," said Sahara Force India team manager Andy Stevenson. "I don't know why Fernandez was asked for his opinion."

FIA race director Charlie Whiting insisted: "From time to time, there are observers to the stewards.

"Fernandez will be the driver representative in Russia, so we invited him here to have a look."

Whiting said any talk of an anti-Perez conspiracy is "nonsense".

After initially forbidding Tesla from selling cars directly to consumers, the state of New Jersey has just passed a new bill in favour of the electric car maker.

The Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee unanimously allowed Tesla to start selling cars through its two existing outlets in New Jersey, and even gave them permission to open two more.

The bill isn't limited to Tesla, mind you; it also applies to all zero-emission vehicle makers, giving them the right to open up to four showrooms in New Jersey.

Will other U.S. states opposed to Tesla's business model follow the lead?

Source : techcrunch.com

From wrc.com

The devastating fire that destroyed Mikko Hirvonen's Ford Fiesta RS World Rally Car at Rally Italia Sardegna will cost his M-Sport team more than $675,000, team boss Malcolm Wilson revealed.

The Finn's car caught fire on the road section between stages 3 and 4 on Friday afternoon and within minutes it was a blackened shell.

Flames spread to the surrounding forest and the event was delayed for 80 minutes as fire crews fought the blaze.

“The financial implications to replace it are huge. You're looking in excess of £400,000 ($675,000) and we don't insure the rally cars, so that's a big hit,” Wilson told wrc.com.

Mikko Hirvonen's M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC after the fire (Photo: WRC.com)

“If you have a big crash then nearly all the mechanical components are usually OK. But with what happened here, there is absolutely nothing we can reuse. Everything is destroyed and it's a big loss.”

Wilson said that while the most important point was that neither Hirvonen nor co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen were hurt, the cause of the fire could remain a mystery.

“If it had happened on a stage then you could say something has taken an impact. But to clear the stage with a good time and for this to happen while cruising down the road section, it's quite difficult for everyone to understand.

“Mikko thinks it started from within the right rear wheel. We'll take the car back to the UK but it will be difficult to identify anything, unless something like the propshaft has broken and gone through the fuel tank. Then it will be pretty obvious, even though the car is destroyed,” he said.