Auto News 5

Automotive News Europe salutes the winners of the 2014 Rising Stars awards. Every day through June 3 two of the 14 winners will be featured. The Rising Star for Human Resources is Gayla Cowie of Nissan.

Tesla's bonds were assigned a B- rating, or 'junk' status from bond raters at Standard and Poor's. Companies are given junk-bond ratings when Wall Street determines there is an increased possibility of default.

PSA's Paris dealership dedicated to the upscale DS brand is much like a high-end French restaurant: cozy, understated but chic. PSA plans to replicate these traits around the world.

Former GM CEO Dan Akerson says his successor, Mary Barra, didn't know about a deadly safety defect in GM small cars when she took the job in January.

The Honda buy-in rumours started to spread yesterday as several publications said Honda was interested to buy the shares currently held by the Bahrain-owned Mumtalakat Holding company.

However, McLaren has denied the whole thing.

A statement issued by McLaren on Thursday says: "Contrary to recent media reports, Honda has informed us that it has no intention to buy into McLaren”.

"All of Honda's focus is on the development of its new Formula 1 power unit."

From wrc.com

Being able to take off and land a 300-horsepower World Rally Car is an essential skill for a WRC driver. And it's one that will be put to the test on the next round in Sardinia - a rally that features one of the biggest jumps of the year.

Lurking midway through the Monte Lerno stage, run twice on Saturday June 8, is the infamous ‘Micky's jump'. Its steep uphill approach and sharp descent offers drivers lots of scope to get it wrong.

Sebastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC. (Photo: WRi2)

So how do you get it right? We asked Volkswagen's Andreas Mikkelsen to run through his pre-flight checks:

1: Find out what's after the jump
“The first thing to say is that the fastest technique over a jump is to hit it as quickly as possible. But if it's too big to take flat-out, then the most important thing is to find out what's coming up afterwards. There are different techniques if you need to accelerate or brake on landing.”

2: The quick getaway
“If you want to accelerate away, then you'll want to brake before arrival at the jump, then hit the throttle just before take off and accelerate over the jump. This will keep the front of the car up and should help it to fly and land level.”

3: The brake and turn
“If you are straight into a braking zone or a corner on landing, then it's better to try and land on the front wheels first. In this case you'll want to be braking over the jump. It's a technique they use in motocross, and it works because landing forward like this puts lots of pressure on the front tires, and you can start to brake with force straightway.”

4: Don't panic
“When you are airborne you can feel it straightway. Everything goes quiet because there's no road noise and you hear the engine revs go up. Depending on the jump, you might only see sky through the windscreen. At this point you need faith in your recce notes and your ability to judge the correct speed.”

5: Prepare for impact
“Sometimes landings can be really hard. I find it helps to hold my breath and clench as many muscles in my body as I can until I'm down.”

Evgeny Novikov, Ford Fiesta RS WRC. (Photo: WRi2)

The Andretti Team announced it would run former Formula 1 driver, Frenchman Franck Montagny in the new FIA Formula E Championship.

Montagny becomes the first driver announced for Michael Andretti's new adventure in the fully electric FIA Formula E Championship.

Montagny brings a value bag of experience with him, having race in F1 and for Peugeot Sport in endurance racing.

The French driver recently raced for Andretti Autosport in the Verizon IndyCar series, competing in the Grand Prix of Indianapolis early May.

 

From press release

The Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour is heading to Petty International Raceway, located just outside of Moncton, New Brunswick for this Saturday's Irving Blending & Packaging 100.

The 100-lap feature marks round two of 12 for the popular regional touring series.

Approximately 25 teams from across the Maritimes are expected for Saturday's event.

Qualifying for the Irving Blending & Packaging 100 will take place at 5:10 pm with Atlantic Tiltload Time Trials, feature racing is slated for 6 pm. Tickets for the Irving Blending & Packaging 100 will be available at the gate on race day.

John Flemming (Halifax, NS) is the current point leader on the Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour, edging out season opener winner Shawn Turple (Enfield, NS). Although Turple received top points for the win, Flemming picked up five additional bonus points after taking home the Linde Most Laps Led Award, giving him a slight three point advantage over Turple in the chase for the championship after race one. Rounding out the top five in points respectively are Shawn Tucker (Fredericton, NB), Craig Slaunwhite (Terence Bay, NS) and Donald Chisholm (Antigonish, NS).

Lots of talent from New Brunswick will be on the track at Petty International Raceway this Saturday for the Irving Blending & Packing 100. Sarah McKay (Quispamsis), the Tour's only registered full-time rookie for 2014, will be looking to improve her respectable 16th place finish at the season opener and has experience at Petty.

Multi-time Pro Stock Tour race winner Lonnie Sommerville (Saint John) is expected to be the substitute pilot of the No. 87 Matt Harris entry. Joining the New Brunswick brigade will be No. 19 Tim Rodgers (Lower Coverdale), No. 85 Ken MacKenzie (Salsibury), and No. 10C Brady Creamer (Miramichi).

Mini Stock, Street Stock and Sportsman classes will race on the undercard prior to the feature Irving Blending & Packaging 100. Admission (cash only) for Petty International Raceway on Saturday is $25 for adults, $10 for youth (8-18 years old); pit admission is $30. Children 7 and under are admitted for free.

Visit www.maritimeprostocktour.com for complete event details and coverage.

One of the proposals submitted to reduce costs in Formula 1 would be to drastically reduce the number of test days.

British magazine Autosport writes today that amongst the changes that are discussed by the FIA and the teams is a revamp of the testing regulations.

The story indicated that a number of proposals are being considered, including the ban of in-season testing and the reduction of pre-season testing sessions from three to two.

The teams are divided over the relevance of the in-season test. Some says that they are essential to develop the cars while other directors claim they are an unneeded, additional expense that is a cause of stress for their employees.

Ferrari Technical Director, James Allison considers changes to the testing regulations are a more effective way to cut costs than simply changing technical rules.

McLaren's director of racing, Frenchman Eric Boullier isn't entirely convinced, though, and suggested that too many rule changes over a short period of time could have the opposite effect and rise the costs.

Team Lotus testing at Bahrain. (Photo: WRi2)

IndyCar.com has published some fascinating numbers to note from the 98th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, won by Ryan Hunter-Raey last Sunday.

1
Ryan Hunter-Reay is the first winner of the race from Florida. Overall, 21 states are represented among 49 drivers.

3
Indianapolis 500 victories for team owner Michael Andretti, who also won in 2005 (Dan Wheldon) and 2007 (Dario Franchitti).

6
Finishing position by rookie Kurt Busch, who was voted the Sunoco Rookie of the Year.

7
All seven rookies were on the lead lap and running at the finish.

19
Starting position for Hunter-Reay. The only other driver to win from the same starting position was Bill Vukovich in 1954.

20
Drivers on the lead lap at the finish for an event record.

22
Positions gained relative to his starting spot for rookie Sage Karam, who finished ninth.

28
It was the first time that car No. 28 won the race.

34
Lead changes among 11 drivers, including rookie Mikhail Aleshin.

56
Hunter-Reay led a field-high 56 laps after starting 19th. The last time a driver led the most laps of the race from a lower starting position was in 1975, when Wally Dallenbach led a race-high 96 laps after starting from the 21st position.

186.563
The winning average speed in miles per hour, the second-fastest in race history. The record was set by Tony Kanaan when he won the 2013 race at 187.433 mph.

225.191
Fastest race lap in miles per hour on Lap 182 by Juan Pablo Montoya, who also had the fastest lap by a leader at 223.858 mph.

6,105
Record number of laps completed by the 33 drivers. The record was 5,863 laps completed by the 33-car field in 2013.

2,491,194
Dollars earned by Hunter-Reay for his first Indianapolis 500 victory.

ADVERTORIAL — It's a well known fact that the majority of road accidents are caused by human error. Consequently, engineers around the world are attempting to change drivers' behaviour in order to make cars safer. In the United States and Sweden, Google and Volvo are striving to create a self-driving car. Here, insurers are trying to encourage safer driving by installing speed-monitoring devices in car engines. However, in Europe, researchers want to give your car a way of monitoring much more than just your speed... Say hello to empathetic cars that can sense your emotions!

Current research
Over the past few years, facial recognition research -- and technology -- has advanced rapidly. One of the largest research facilities in the field, the Signal Processing Laboratory 5 (LTS5), is currently developing potential applications for this technology in cars.

Why? Simply because a person in the throes of a strong emotional outburst tends to be a worse driver than a person who is calm. Irritation and fatigue are among the worst culprits and are at the root of many road accidents. Consequently, researchers at LTS5 are focused on automated facial-expression tracking for drivers. This type of empathetic car could potentially reduce the number of accidents on the road by reacting to the emotional state of its driver, and setting a temporary speed limit, for example. It must be said, however, that the technology hasn't been perfected yet. Test results so far reveal too much imprecision to allow the technology to be brought to market in the short term.

What is the advantage for drivers?
Why would drivers want a device like this in their cars? It is, after all, a tad invasive to be watched by a machine.

First of all, it could reduce your risk of accidents. It might be annoying to be told to calm down by your car, but it's catastrophically more annoying to be in a severe car accident. Secondly, this technology could open the door to insurance premiums “validated” by monitoring your facial expressions.

Discounts are already offered to people with good driving records. Now just imagine if you could prove to your insurer that you were a calm, attentive driver. There's no guarantee that insurance companies will jump on board to adapt their products to this new technology, even if it does appear on the market, but there's no question that it creates the potential for insurers to offer interesting new options. Will they want to encourage courtesy and calm behind the wheel by offering rebates and bonuses? Will they want to punish drivers for impatience and road rage? Will consumers choose to buy these products of their own free will? Only the future will tell.

Pros: Available as a coupe or convertible, the aptly named 2014 Bentley Continental GT Speed is even more powerful and faster than the “base” model. It's a stunning 2-door automobile that's capable of fast lap times, but it's a real-world supercar, not a track special. Its hand-crafted interior, which can be trimmed in a seemingly endless variety of materials, provides supreme comfort over long distances.

Cons: This car's expensive, even by luxury standards. Its sheer size requires care when driving in tight spots. At the same time, rear-seat access and room is somewhat limited. Of course, the W12 engine will suck your wallet dry at the pumps.

Photo: Bentley

2014 Bentley Continental GT Speed Price: Detailed pricing is unavailable, though it costs in excess of $260,000. Contact your local dealer.

2014 Bentley Continental GT Speed Fuel Economy: The official ratings for the Continental GT Speed are 18.1L/100km in the city and 10.4L/100km on the highway. In the real world, though, you can expect to burn a bit more than that.

Improvements and Changes: For 2014, the Speed edition is available as a convertible, too. Options and packages have been revised.

2014 Bentley Continental GT Speed Powertrain: Outfitted with Bentley's 6.0L twin-turbocharged W12 powerhouse, the Continental GT Speed generates a whopping 626 hp and 605 lb-ft of torque through an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission, which translates into a top speed of 331 km/h and a 0-100km/h dash in 4.2 seconds -- astonishing feats for a car that weighs nearly three tons. As with all Continental models, the state-of-the-art all-wheel drive system employs an advanced Torsen differential and a 40/60 rear-biased torque split.

Don't miss: The sports chassis and lowered suspension accentuate the glued-to-the-road sensation during high-speed cornering. And while nothing compares with the sound of a Bentley engine in full cry, the GT Speed's exclusive Naim for Bentley premium audio system (optional) is definitely worth listening to.

Safety: The 2014 Bentley Continental GT Speed comes standard with a full suite of airbags and electronic nannies including front, side, and curtain airbags, as well as anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control. Convertibles are fitted with automatic pop-up roll bars for added rollover protection.

Comparing the 2014 Bentley Continental GT Speed: Rivals include the Aston Martin Vanquish, Ferrari FF, Porsche 911 Turbo, Mercedes-Benz CL 65 AMG, and Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe.

During the UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid this past Saturday, Ford of Europe managed to get 500 orders for the all-new 2015 Mustang... in just 30 seconds!

A total of 9,300 people from 20 different countries had registered on a special website in hopes of securing one of the first 500 units available in Europe. Ford will contact all the buyers in the next few weeks to complete their order and point them to the nearest dealer.

These lucky customers will have to wait a couple more months, however, since deliveries are scheduled to begin in the fall. They can have their 2015 Ford Mustang in either Race Red coupe or Magnetic Silver droptop configuration.

This is the first time in the Mustang's 50-year history that the car is being sold in Europe by Ford. Previous generations were typically sold in limited numbers by third-party importers.

Source : motorauthority.com

Photo: Ford

From GMM

Felipe Massa says he is "glad" Ferrari dumped him at the end of last year.

The Brazilian drove for the fabled Maranello team between 2006 and 2013, racing alongside highly-rated champions Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso.

But Ferrari chose to sign the returning 2007 title winner Raikkonen for this year, with Massa now insisting he is not surprised the Finn is struggling alongside Spaniard Alonso.

Massa told Germany's Auto Bild he thinks Raikkonen is "maybe not quite as good" as Alonso.

In fact, the 33-year-old said he had the measure of the 'iceman'.

"In 2007 he was champion, but until Monza I was ahead of him," said Massa, recalling his battle with Raikkonen some seven years ago.

"Unfortunately, in our team we had an agreement that Monza would decide who is the number 1, and I was ahead of Kimi when I had a problem with my car.

"In 2008 I was in front of him," Massa added, "and also up until my accident in Hungary in 2009. Nevertheless, Kimi is world champion, and I'm not."

Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, Istanbul 2008. (Photo: WRi2)

However, Massa insists he has no regrets about losing his Ferrari seat for 2014 and moving to Williams.

"It was absolutely the right move," he told Germany's Sport Bild.

"Looking back now, I am even glad that Ferrari did not want me because it opened the way for coming to Williams.

"I'm pretty relaxed, motivated, the team respects me," Massa explained. "You know, sometimes a change is good.

"I'm older but I feel young again. I'm ready to fight and work hard. I regret nothing," he added.

Felipe Massa also admitted that he doesn't miss the ultra high-pressure of wearing a red suit.

"Absolutely not!" he exclaimed. "At Ferrari it was huge -- if you don't win, you have a big load on your shoulders.

"You try to use it as positive energy, but you are constantly tense. Here at Williams I think only about the racing, which is better," said Massa.

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone has had a heartening couple of days in court this week.

The latest witness to appear in Munich for F1 chief executive's bribery trial was a former colleague of the jailed Gerhard Gribkowsky.

Gribkowsky's credibility is a crucial element of the proceedings, as the former BayernLB risk officer was jailed for receiving Ecclestone's $44 million, allegedly as a bribe to influence the sale of F1's commercial rights.

A BayernLB colleague, however, described some of what Gribkowsky routinely said as coming from "the fantasy world". DPA news agency said the witness worked closely on F1 matters with Gribkowsky.

The witness recalled a dinner at which Gribkowsky apparently declared: "I feel as though he (Ecclestone) sees me as an adopted son and wants to groom me as his formula one successor".

Another Gribkowsky tale told of an Ecclestone suitcase filled with $20 million, although subsequent calculations showed that it is impossible to fit that amount of cash in a suitcase.

The BayernLB colleague explained: "Dr Gribkowsky sometimes had days when he told such things. These were the days that I had to switch off."

From GMM

Lewis Hamilton should consider apologizing to Nico Rosberg in the wake of the Monaco grand prix.

That is the claim of double world champion Mika Hakkinen, having already denounced Briton Hamilton's "sub-standard behaviour" in the Principality last weekend.

"I appreciate Nico's patience in this situation," Hakkinen was quoted by Finland's Ilta Sanomat newspaper.

"I do not like the idea of what Lewis did," he added, referring to Hamilton's accusations of sabotage and his refusal to congratulate or even look at new championship leader Rosberg after his back-to-back Monaco win.

Now, Hakkinen is not sure even time can ease the tension between the two Mercedes drivers.

"It's hard to tell if something is going to change significantly," he is quoted in his latest Hermes column.

"I don't know if Lewis would even consider apologizing for his behaviour. It is a very individual thing.

"But in my opinion, one of the characteristics of a good winner is that he also knows how to lose," Hakkinen added.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG W05. (Photo: WRi2)

The former McLaren driver, who retired in 2001 and is now 45, was at the grand prix last weekend, where Hamilton suspected Rosberg deliberately ruined his qualifying lap.

Hakkinen is not so sure.

"To me it is clear he locked his brakes at Mirabeau," said the Finn. "It is downhill there with nasty bumps and so making a mistake is easy to do.

"Nico is an honest guy," Mika Hakkinen added, "but you can also see on the computer very precisely where he hit the brakes."

From GMM

It appears Gene Haas will not have a formula one team on next year's grid.

As recently as last week, it was reported that the Nascar team co-owner's 'plan A' was to debut with a Gunther Steiner-led, North Carolina-based F1 team in 2015.

At the same time, Haas was trying to put together a 200-strong workforce.

"There are many interested parties," a source told Auto Motor und Sport last week, "but we can only hire people when we know who our engine partner is."

At the Indianapolis 500 last weekend, Haas told motorsport.com that plans to use Ferrari technology are on track. "We haven't exactly signed a formal contract (with Ferrari) but we're pretty close," he said.

And he met with likely chassis maker Dallara during the Indianapolis visit.

"They all can do it, they all want to do it, they're all very interested in helping us," said Gene Haas.

He hinted, however, that time is running out to be ready for 2015.

"I think they are looking at it as a good long-time partnership but it just comes down to you have to order things and it takes time to order things and get things scheduled. It just seems that it's taking longer to accomplish what we wanted to do than we thought," Haas added.

The latest news is that Haas has apparently now decided to target a 2016 debut rather than rush onto next year's grid.

"It's already June," he said, "so it's just seven months away and the timing issues are starting to get real crazy."

I've had a soft spot for the 5 Series for years. There's something gloriously harmonious about the 5 lineup of vehicles from BMW. Not as hotel-like and massive as the 7 Series, but just as fun-to-drive and responsive as the 3 Series, the 5 sits squarely in the middle with the best of both worlds resting on its four wheels.

Now, as if the 5 Series didn't offer enough from the 528 up to the glorious M5, the new 535d adds a dimension I've been longing for behind the wheel of a 5er: diesel torque. Is it the best BMW in the lineup? Perhaps not the best, but it's damn close.


What is a BMW 535d xDrive?
Besides the 3 Series, the 5 is one of BMW's most popular car model lines. Why? Because it offers a pleasant blend of everything one might be looking for in a luxury midsize sedan. Around since the early ‘70s, the 5 Series is now in its sixth generation. From all-wheel drive to turbo engines to hybrids and even a Gran Turismo (GT) wagon-like version, the 5 Series has had many personalities over the years.

2014 BMW 535d xDrive Price and Specs
While the base 528i sedan starts at $54,600 the larger engines across the lineup mean larger price tags, with the 535d sitting at a starting price of just below $70k. With a host of packages and extras on my tester including a Premium Package ($4,200), Technology Package ($4,500), as well as Comfort Seats ($1,500), the final price of my particular Dark Graphite Metallic and Ivory Nappa Leather (stunning) 535d xDrive was a staggering $81,100. They say there's money in oil, well apparently it costs to burn it, too -- in more ways than one.

What I wouldn't lament spending that kind of coin over, however, is the engine nestled beneath the long snout of the 2014 BMW 535d. BMW's inline-6 engines are just fantastic, and this turbo diesel unit is no exception. Spitting out 255 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, the 535d goes like the dickens when prompted. Of course, the xDrive badge means you also get BMW's excellent all-wheel drive.

Driving the 2014 BMW 535d xDrive
If you hadn't caught on already, I quite like driving the 535d. Not only can it be exceptionally comfortable (especially when left in Comfort mode), but it can also tighten up in an instant (with the press of the Sport+ button) to offer a dynamic, sharp romp behind the wheel that'll leave you grinning from ear to ear and not burning gobs of fuel as you would have in a gas-powered version.

Yes, the 535d xDrive feels heavy at times, but is taught and maneuverable under the right conditions. Body roll is nearly nil as the 535d hunkers down in corners and pulls out beautifully with gobs of diesel-driven torque. With the aforementioned Sport+ activated everything comes to life from throttle response to steering input and suspension. BMW's 8-speed automatic handles power well, and shifts can be manipulated manually via steering wheel mounted paddles.

Smooth and sophisticated when it has to be, the 2014 BMW 535d xDrive might sound a bit like a tractor from the outside, but once inside, sound-deadening materials quickly mask any unpleasant auditory diesel-ness

Auto start-stop and an Eco mode also feature BMW's Efficient Dynamics energy recovering system and make for even bigger savings at the pumps. With close to 850km on the gauge cluster by the end of the week, I'd just crossed over the 7L/100 km mark with a combination of city and highway driving (and not with a light foot).

Inside and Out of the 2014 BMW 535d xDrive
This is a seriously handsome automobile. Manly in the best way possible, the 535d looks a bit like a well-tailored Armani suit amongst a host of lesser brands when parked next to other luxury sedans in a lot. BMW's new design language is stellar, and I especially like the pointed front fascia complete with kidney grille, and hawkeye headlights with LEDs and the signature angel eyes.

Inside, my tester's Ivory Nappa Leather interior was stunning to behold, but far from practical. I always love the light colour combo with a dark exterior tone, but the light carpets get instantly dirty (as do doorsills) that I can't imagine having to live with it and not turn completely OCD about it all.

As for space, well the 535d has plenty of that, which is part of its appeal. The back seat is spacious to say the least, and included in the Premium Package featured rear sun shades all around -- perfect for my son on a sunny spring day.

Comparing the 2014 BMW 535d xDrive
Diesel is quickly becoming less of a dirty word here in North America, but competition remains limited when it comes to luxury midsize sedans that offer a diesel option. Of course, there's the Mercedes E 250 Bluetec and Audi's A6 TDI, but essentially that's it.

From GMM

Kimi Raikkonen has ruled out winning the 2014 title.

Detailing a meeting with journalists this week, Ferrari officially quoted the Finnish driver as saying it will be "very difficult" to beat Mercedes this year, "but you never know".

Raikkonen, in fact, was on a sponsor visit to Norway, and what he told the major Aftenposten newspaper was slightly less optimistic.

When asked about the 2014 title, the 34-year-old answered: "It seems to be over. The Mercedes cars are too fast.

"We (Ferrari) want to be ahead, but my challenge on the championship seems to be over for the season," added Kimi Raikkonen.

Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari F14 T. (Photo: WRi2)

He declined to talk about the high-profile spat between Mercedes' duelling title rivals Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

"I'm not interested in that," said Raikkonen. "I'm only interested in our own success and getting back to the top."

But he did comment on the new direction F1 has moved in, having switched from loud V8 engines to turbo and hybrid-powered V6s.

"From the driver's point of view, we want better grip and faster cars," said Raikkonen. "More horse power.

"Increasing the speed is difficult, but I think it would make the races more interesting and exciting.

"But we don't make up the rules ourselves, so we need to do the best we can with these cars," he added.

Meanwhile, the Ferrari website quoted Raikkonen as saying that although he would "like" to do some more rallying, "for now I'm completely focused on formula one".

Speaking to reporters in Monaco last weekend, he had said: "The problem is obviously people are more scared that you get hurt so they try to limit everything that you do.

"It's a shame because I think it would be more fun for everybody and all sports would also benefit from it, and F1."

In spite of a slew of recalls that have dogged the company for months, General Motors white-collar employees are working with high spirits, a top GM executive said Wednesday.