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News 27 May, 2014

Caterham Formula 1 driver Kamui Kobayashi designs special edition Seven for Japanese fans

Former European Union Trade Commissioner, Lord Peter Mandelson, is warning the next few months are crucial for the Russian economy as volatility continues to spook both investors and consumers.

New light vehicle sales in the US (including fleet) this month are expected to reach 1,521,000 units, up 5.5% year on year and 9.5% over April 2014, TrueCar has forecast.

Hella to lead adaptive headlamp lighting research project

Porsche Automobil Holding has extended Philipp von Hagen's term on the executive board for three years from 1 March 2015.

Articles 27 May, 2014

Future BMWs won’t chase efficiency with nine or more gears, but will get three-cylinder power, according to tech chief

The Z-shaped Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in South Africa hosted some of the most dramatic Formula One racing in the 20th century. It was where Lauda beat Hunt by just 1.

-- Former Road and Track editor Dennis Simanaitis, now blissfully retired (with a Miata), discusses the

Pictures See all 3 pictures 27 May, 2014

Jaguar has released a teaser photo of its XE compact sedan ahead of European sales in 2015. U.S. deliveries will begin a year later.

Hindustan Motors, the maker of the iconic Ambassador, has halted production of the four-door sedan citing weak demand and a lack of funds. The move casts doubt on the future of a vehicle that has looked essentially the same for nearly six decades.

Automotive News Europe honors the winners of the 2014 Rising Stars awards. Every day through June 3 a pair of the 14 winners will be featured. The Rising Star for Design is Pierre Authier of Citroen.

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 Design Interiors is Fiat's Virgilio Fernandez Hernandez.

Ford intends to compete with premium automakers with high-end versions of its mass-market models in a bid to end years of financial losses in Europe. But the strategy is not without risk.

It seems that since Red Bull's massive involvement at every level of the motorsport ladder, the average age of Formula 1 drivers has dropped significantly. Is that just an impression or is it a reality?

We at Auto123.com crunched the numbers and compared the average age of F1 drivers 30 years apart, comparing 1984 (when Niki Lauda clinched his third World Championship with McLaren) and today.

Jacques Laffite and Keke Rosberg, Williams, 1983 (Photo: WRI2)

Average age of drivers in 1984: 29 years old
Average age of drivers in 2014: 26 years and 7 months old
(a drop of less than 3 years)

Youngest drivers in 1984: Mike Thackwell and Corrado Fabi: 23 years old
Youngest driver in 2014: Danill Kvyat: 20 years old
(a difference of 3 years)

Oldest driver in 1984: Jacques Laffite: 39 years old
Oldest drivers in 2014: Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button: 34 years old
(a difference of 5 years)

Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso, 2014 (Photo WRI2)

In 1984, just four drivers were 24 years old or younger.
In 2014, eight drivers are 24 years old or younger.

In 1984, 35 drivers competed in the F1 World Championship. In 2014, there are only 22 drivers.

In conclusion, we expected that the average age would be much lower than what we see here. We believed that the modern F1 drivers were much younger than their colleagues of 1984, but it's not really the case. However, today's rookies do graduate to F1 at a much younger age.

Despite press rumours to the contrary, Caterham Group is not for sale.

The reports circulating this weekend are factually incorrect, a press release issued Tuesday May 27 reads.

It is, however, true that the Group is actively searching for additional investment as it seeks to fulfil ambitious plans to develop.

The shareholders of the Group, co-Chairmen Tony Fernandes and Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, remain wholly committed to the Caterham brand.

“Caterham Group is not for sale. We love what we build and we are always looking for further investment,” said Tony Fernandes in a team press release.

“This is no different to how we started AirAsia. Yes, we are constantly challenging ourselves and making decisions on everything from the structure to projects within the Group. That is normal business. That does not mean we are selling,” he added.

Volvo today offers a first look at the upcoming new XC90, whose full external reveal is scheduled in August. It's hailed as the most luxurious SUV ever created by the Swedish brand.

“The most striking feature is a tablet-like touchscreen control console, which forms the heart of an all-new in-car control system,” said Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President Design of Volvo Cars.

This system is virtually button-free and represents an entirely new way for drivers to control their car and access a range of Internet-based products and services.

The new Volvo XC90 combines materials such as soft leather and wood with handcrafted details including a shift lever made of crystal glass from Orrefors, the famous Swedish glass maker, and diamond-cut controls for the start/stop button and volume control.

The story of the latest advancements within safety and interior air quality will be released in late July/early August, while the reveal of the technology highlights, including chassis and powertrains, will start in mid-July.

Tesla yesterday tweeted a picture showing 114 of its cars participating in what is officially the world's largest gathering of electric vehicles at 339.
The silent parade hit the road in Byrne, Norway, on May 25th.

Source: Twitter

Photo: Tesla

Hyundai Canada is recalling 39,271 Tucson crossovers from 2011-2014 due to a problem with the driver's front airbag.

In some cases, the bolts securing the airbag to the steering wheel may have been insufficiently tightened. This could allow the airbag to become loose or detach from the steering wheel, which could affect its deployment and thus increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Dealers will verify bolt torque.

Source: Transport Canada

Bentley today posted a video that shows some of the exquisite lines of its upcoming SUV, which is scheduled to enter production in 2016 and spawn a plug-in hybrid variant in 2017.

While it's just a teaser, Bentley's distinctive design is instantly recognizable.

The company is already branding its new SUV as the world's most powerful and most luxurious.