Auto News 5

Dealerships have more than bounced back from the recession. Fewer stores and the recovery in vehicle sales meant record revenues and profits for dealerships last year.

In the past five years, Sonic Automotive dealerships have slashed average response times to electronic leads to seven minutes. E-sales offices now operating in most of the chain's 105 stores have made the difference.

The launch of the redesigned 2015 Honda Fit subcompact -- built in Honda's new $800 million factory in Celaya, Mexico -- is in the midst of a nearly two-month delay because of quality-control and transport glitches.

The used-car business is hot, prompting franchised new-car dealers across the nation to pay more attention than ever to their used-vehicle operations, in some cases opening used-only stores.

Thirty years after getting his first speeding ticket, Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis is still nutty about performance. That may be why Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has consolidated its SRT line under him.

For dealers, General Motors' record barrage of safety recalls is a startling, confusing, aggravating logistical headache. It's also potentially lucrative.

Ford's Americas boss Joe Hinrichs says it would be risky to mess with the two-tier wage structure during 2015 UAW contract talks. Fiat Chrysler's Sergio Marchionne, meanwhile, says the system isn't sustainable.

Engineers have solved the technical problems that dogged the three-cylinder engine in the 1980s and early '90s. But even with turbochargers, it may take a while for the triple to outrun its historical baggage.

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 Aftersales and Service is Fiat Chrysler's Fabrizio Curci.

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 Communications is Ford of Europe's Sandra van Tongern.

From GMM

Marussia crowned its hero Jules Bianchi in Monaco, after the French driver on Sunday delivered the backmarker team its first-ever F1 points.

Maintaining the spot in the constructors' chase ahead of Caterham and even Sauber would now be worth dozens of millions of dollars in F1 prize money to the struggling team.

Ironically, however, Frenchman Bianchi's feat could also cost Marussia the talented, Ferrari-backed driver.

"It felt like a victory to me," the 24-year-old said on Sunday. "Even if it does not mean so much for others, for us this ninth place is like a win," he told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Team Marussia celebrating the ninth position of Jules Bianchi in Monaco. (Photo: Marussia F1 Team)

But Jules Bianchi also admitted that Monaco 2014 could be the turning point in his career.

"It can only help," he said, "but as for the future, we will have to see as the season progresses. I do feel ready for a top team."

Bianchi's result earned praise even from arguably the very best driver on the grid, Fernando Alonso.

"He is not only a Ferrari junior driver, but also a friend," said the Spaniard.

"We spend a lot of time together at Maranello," Fernando Alonso is quoted by Speed Week. "We play football and basketball and also travel together a lot. I am so pleased for him.

"I have no doubt that he will have a very good career and so I hope that this result helps him to find a competitive cockpit for next season," he added.

The task now for Bianchi's manager, Nicolas Todt, is obvious.

"It is often said that Monaco is a driver circuit," said the Frenchman, the son of FIA president Jean Todt and also Felipe Massa and Pastor Maldonado's manager.

"Yes, he benefitted from what happened in the race but when you see his lap times, he had the pace. My job now is to try to ride this little wave," Nicolas Todt is quoted by BFMTV, "as they do not come along every day."

From press release

Canadian Luke Chudleigh enjoyed his best showing of the season at the weekend, 24th-25th May, competing in Round 3 of the 2014 Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS Series at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.

The 19-year-old collected a fifth place finish on Saturday followed by ninth at the checkered on Sunday competing for Tech1 Racing.

The Milton racer was fast out of the box during Friday's practice sessions and carried his form over into qualifying for the opening race. Taking fifth on the grid, he then ensured he maintained his level of speed throughout the 16-lap race around the 4.3km Austrian circuit.

Luke Chedleigh (Photo: Luke Chudleigh Racing)

On pace with the top-three and successfully defending from a pack all fighting for fifth, Luke held off his challengers to score fifth at the checkered, improving on his previous best of eighth place two weeks ago at Pau.

Sunday's outing had Luke starting from seventh but another trademark fast getaway had him up to fifth by the first turn at the start. Questionable racing from Italy's Ignazio D'Agosto, notably cutting the track in an effort to try and pass Chudleigh, saw the Canadian flat-spot his tires while defending.

While D'Agosto would later be penalized for his actions, Luke's pace was compromised and he wound up ninth at the checkered, still a solid result but less than was expected given his earlier form.

Volkswagen has released the first technical details and sketches of the all-new, 8th-generation Passat, which will make its global debut in July before a public premiere at the Paris Motor Show in October.

The future Passat will be 85 kilograms lighter and 20% more fuel-efficient than the outgoing model. It will also offer extra legroom and headroom, not to mention a larger trunk.

A highlight of the Passat's new range of engines is a high-performance, 2.0L, 4-cylinder twin-turbo diesel producing 237 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque from 1,750 rpm. This engine will be available only with a new 7-speed DSG gearbox and 4MOTION all-wheel drive. A plug-in hybrid model will also be offered, with potential to travel 50 kilometres on battery power alone, and around 965 kilometres combined.

A fully configurable and interactive 12.3'' TFT display, head-up display technology, the latest Modular Infotainment System, a 360-degree Area View function, and the latest generation of Park Assist are just some of the available features on the new Volkswagen Passat.

Deliveries will begin in early 2015.

Photo: Volkswagen

After Kamui Kobayashi lost a place to Marussia rival Jules Bianchi during the Monaco Grand Prix, Caterham owner Tony Fernandes reportedly put the team up for sale for £350 million.

The Japanese blamed Bianchi for damaging his Caterham-Renault car and knocking him out of the points in Sunday's race.

Kobayashi said he felt sure to have delivered a points finish if the Marussia man had not hit him during the 78-lap race before going on to score his team's first points finish.

Caterham team owner, Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes clearly said at the launch of the 2014 car that this would be a "pivotal year" for his involvement in F1.

Caterham's factory. (Photo: Caterham F1 Team)

The Kobayashi/Bianchi incident appears to have put an end his patience with Bloomberg claiming a price of £350 million ($589 million) has been set for the F1 team and car company.

"There comes a point where coming last all the time you don't really want to do that so this is a very pivotal year," Fernandes warned ahead of the new season.

Monday May 26, citing a person it didn't identify the Edge Malaysia reports that Fernandes has put to sale the Caterham group of automotive and engineering companies, including U.K. sports car manufacturer Caterham Cars Ltd. and the Caterham Formula 1 Team.

San Franciso, CA -- The Volkswagen GTI slots itself in performance automotive history alongside the Porsche 911, the BMW 3 Series, and the Chevrolet Corvette to name a few. I'm not being facetious. The 1976 Volkswagen Golf GTI spawned a segment that quickly gained a cult following.

Every version of the GTI, starting from the MK2 introduced in 1985, set standards that many manufacturers attempted to emulate over the decades.

The latest MK7 2015 Volkswagen GTI is the most powerful production GTI ever, and it drives extremely well. This extremely competent car has now become something for everyone to enjoy, especially when the optional DSG transmission is selected.


What is a Volkswagen GTI?
A game-changer; at least it was nearly 40 years ago. The GTI was nothing more than an in-house covert experiment that turned out to be a brilliant idea.

Each new GTI brings with it the promise of heightened performance and a lifetime membership to the Cool Euro Car Club. The GTI is the hot hatch and as long as VW makes it so, it will remain the compact performance benchmark.

2015 Volkswagen GTI Price and Specs
The 2015 Volkswagen GTI will swoop in to your driveway for a cool $27,995 for a 3-door with a 6-speed manual transmission. A 6-speed dual-clutch DSG is an excellent option for an extra $1,400. The $4,000 Autobahn package includes 18" wheels, xenon headlights, Fender audio, rear-view camera, keyless entry, and rain-sensing wipers, etc.

The 5-door GTI starts at $32,895 and features the Autobahn group as standard. With the DSG, leather and technology packages, the grand total is $36,085. This is the top GTI. In fact, there will be an available Performance Pack early next year that will throw in 10 extra horsepower, larger brakes, and a limited slip differential.

The Performance Pack piles in on top of the GTI's 210 horsepower and 258 torques (!) turbocharged 2.0L TSI 4-cylinder engine. Stock brakes maintain the red calipers and an XDS or electronic differential lock that prevents wheel spin when a wheel is unloaded.

New Direct Steering varies ratios and assistance to maximize steering feel. The GTI's ESC now has a Sport Mode, but still cannot be completely deactivated.

Driving the 2015 Volkswagen GTI
I was given the opportunity to drive previous generation GTIs. The best way I can sum up the MK1, MK2 and MK3? They were mechanically honest. What you felt was what you got. Sometime around the arrival of the MK4, the precious man-and-machine connection was diluted. Volkswagen's been hard at work bringing it back with the help of today's technologies.

The 2015 Volkswagen GTI's steering is the first element I noticed. The weight felt true -- the effort required to turn the wheel somewhat reminded me of the power-less steering of the MK1...

Once underway, the GTI immediately shows how strong it's become. Off the line, the 2.0L TSI engine pushes and pulls relentlessly, which should be good, but if you're looking for an event behind the wheel of the GTI, you'll be disappointed. You see, max torque romps in at 1,600 rpm and holds on until 4,200 rpm at which point max hp blows in at 4,300 and stays on until 6,200 rpm. There is literally no flat spot in the GTI's power delivery. Acceleration is so linear that it almost feels boring...

But it isn't. The 2015 GTI boogies impressively when pushed hard. The newfound torque allows the lazy driver to forgo a downshift even in 6th. For those in tune with heel-toe-ing and rev-matching, the 6-speed GTI is a blast. The gates are tight and the shifter glides smartly to and fro. The pedals are perfectly positioned for maximum feet play.

The GTI made short work of the trickiest and sharpest corners. It features the same track as the MK6, but somehow displayed a level of grip that felt more tenacious. Squat, surefooted and solid, the GTI will only release the surface below its rubbers if the driver does something really stupid.

The non-fully-deactivate-able ESC plays a role in the prevention of disasters, which, in turn, will hamper total balls-out tracking of the GTI. I take issue with that but understand why.

Inside and Out of the 2015 Volkswagen GTI
Like the new MK7 Golf, the 2015 Volkswagen GTI has once more grown up and is now a man-racer's car as opposed to a boy-racer's dream. The GTI features distinct front and rear fasciae that are beefier than the Golf's. Wheel arches are slightly flared and specific GTI badges find their way on the rear part of the front fenders.

Red painted callipers make a comeback, as do unique wheel designs and blacked-out exterior trim. The 2015 Volkswagen GTI looks far more serious than playful and I like it like that.

I also like the car's cabin. It has also matured. The gauges are loud and clear, the centre stack is well arranged, ergonomic, and pleasant. Fit and finish are impressive.

Specific to the GTI are the superb seats, which should only be covered with the plaid cloth as opposed to leather, and red contrast stitching. The steering wheel is meaty with great feel. A proper driving position can be found quickly where all controls fall perfectly in hand. A true driver's car, this is.

New for the 2015 GTI are the MIB touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth and SiriusXM satellite radio: all standard.

Comparing the 2015 Volkswagen GTI
The 2015 Volkswagen GTI lands squarely in one of my personal-favourite segments, the compact performance category ($25k-$30k range), which holds some of my most treasured driving cars, namely the Subaru WRX, Ford Focus ST, Ford Fiesta ST, Honda Civic Si, Kia Forte Koup, and many more are likely to be added in the future.

Of the lot, as I've said, the GTI is the most “mature” and sophisticated and for these reasons will likely remain a popular choice.

From GMM

Niki Lauda has scolded Lewis Hamilton for not congratulating teammate Nico Rosberg after his second consecutive Monaco win on Sunday.

As their clash for the 2014 title exploded in dramatic style in the Principality, 2008 world champion declared his friendship with German Rosberg is over.

But it seems the breakdown is over more than just Rosberg's qualifying 'mistake' that cost Hamilton a shot at pole position on Saturday.

It emerges that Hamilton used a higher 'engine mode' - that Mercedes specifically told him not to use - en route to victory in Barcelona two weeks ago.

"We were told that we had to stay in a certain mode. Nico did it in Bahrain and I did it in Barcelona," Hamilton confirmed on Sunday.

Team chairman Niki Lauda said the matter is now closed, because Hamilton apologised after Barcelona.

"In the last couple of races we had some little fouls left and right. This is not happening ever again," said team boss Toto Wolff.

There is no doubt that Hamilton is most upset about qualifying in Monaco, even though the stewards looked at the data and did not find that Rosberg made his mistake on purpose.

"I wish you could have seen the data. I saw something late last night, and all I could do was smile," the fuming Hamilton told reporters in Monaco.

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

The big risk within the Brackley camp is that the rivalry will now spiral out of control, perhaps in an explosion of carbon fibre pieces.

Niki Lauda vowed to sort it out before the next race.

"I will go there in Montreal or before, and meet them or Lewis in this case and say 'what is the problem'," the great Austrian said.

Lauda said Hamilton is clearly a "very emotional" character in general, but he said treating Rosberg disrespectfully was not appropriate on Sunday.

"That Lewis did not shake his hand is not in order," he told Germany's Sport Bild.

"He should congratulate Nico, because Nico always did it to him, even hugged him in Bahrain where they were both really fighting each other," Niki Lauda added.

At the same time, Lauda said Hamilton does not need to be a 'nice guy'.

In fact, "You have to be a bastard if you want to win in formula one, no question. Tell me one nice guy out there -- do we start with Fernando Alonso?

"The tension is building up, no question, but we have to make sure that the team doesn't get out of hand. So if they don't say hello in the morning any more, it's out of hand," Lauda continued.

Without a doubt, Lewis Hamilton is no longer saying hello. But Niki Lauda thinks the Briton's mood will change soon.

"Hopefully he will make a good party with (girlfriend) Nicole, I will speak to him tomorrow and I guarantee you it will be fixed. We are going to work it out."

Almost certainly, Niki Lauda knows he is under pressure from fellow team chiefs Paddy Lowe and Toto Wolff to sort it out before a range of 'team orders' are strictly imposed in order to control the driver duo.

Toto Wolff admitted: "The moment it goes in the direction where we believe it is not in the spirit of Mercedes-Benz, we will act accordingly.

"We are racers. We want our drivers to race. But there are certain limits to which they must adhere," he told Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg on the Monaco podium. (Photo: WRi2)

Lauda knows exactly what 'hating' a teammate feels like.

"I had nothing against (Alain) Prost personally -- he was complicated but a nice guy. Nevertheless, I hated him and kept all the information from him. I told my engineers not to say anything to him."

Toto Wolff likened an inter-team championship battle to two men fighting over "the same woman".

"In that situation there's no friendship," he is quoted by Bild newspaper.

Dieter Zetsche, the chairman of Mercedes parent Daimler, agreed that Hamilton and Rosberg should be free to wage their battles, even though imposing 'team orders' would mean less 'grey hairs' for the management.

"This is exactly what the viewers want to see," he said. "The worst thing would be nice team orders with one behind the other.

"Ultimately, we have to be honest -- the people are interested in the brands but they care more about the people. They want to see them fight each other.

"Now we have these two young men against each other in a great car, and this is the most beautiful thing that racing can provide," added Zetsche.

From press release

Mahindra Racing Monday announced that India's own Karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna will be the team's drivers for the inaugural season of the FIA Formula E Championship.

The duo will represent Mahindra when they line-up on the grid at the start of the world's first ever fully electric championship in Beijing later this year.

Bruno Senna and Karun Chandhok (Photo: Mahindra Racing)

Neither Chandhok nor Senna are strangers to international racing fans, both having competed at the top level of the sport in Formula 1.

Preparation for the season is already underway, with the team's first car having been delivered to Mahindra Racing recently.

This brand new Formula E car has already been painted with the team's new livery - a stunning combination of Mahindra red and the colours of the Indian flag.

From GMM

Sauber on Sunday plumbed the depths of its "embarrassing situation", according to veteran Swiss correspondent Roger Benoit.

The Hinwil based team has had a dire 2014 season so far, but in Monaco Adrian Sutil and Esteban Gutierrez were among the very backmarkers, and then they both crashed out of the glamorous street race in separate incidents.

"That was certainly the most painful mistake in my formula one career," admitted Mexican Gutierrez, who clumsily clouted the barrier.

Adrian Sutil, Sauber-Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

Capitalising on the chaotic race, however, was the backmarker Marussia, whose Jules Bianchi went onto score the struggling team's first ever F1 points.

The fact Sauber still has zero points in 2014, behind Marussia, is "embarrassing" for the Swiss team, Benoit wrote in the newspaper Blick.

Team boss Monisha Kaltenborn, however, insists Sauber has in fact made a "step forward" in recent races.

"Maybe then the next discussion should be about the drivers," wondered Benoit.

"Many fans have long been demanding that Dutch reserve driver Giedo van der Garde gets a cockpit," he added.

The highly experienced Felipe Massa began his career at Sauber some twelve years ago, and he used the race seat as a springboard to his long Ferrari career.

Asked about Sauber, the Brazilian said in Monaco: "They are not in a good way," he is quoted by 20min.ch.

"It is tough times for them. What can I say? They're behind us," said the Williams driver, "so it's okay."

From WTCC

It's still Citroën ahead of everybody in the FIA World Touring Car Championship.

The French cars took two wins on the fast and tricky Salzburgring, with Yvan Muller imposing himself in Race 1 and Jose Maria Lopez in Race 2.

For both, it was their third personal success this season. 32,700 spectators visited the track over the weekend.

At the end of the weekend, though, Lopez, who was third in Race 1, went home with a 41-point lead on Muller and 45 on Loeb, while after the morning race his advantage had been reduced to 16 units.

This proved that, despite the step forward made by Lopez during the weekend, things can change quickly.

Jose Maria Lopez, Citroen. (Photo: WTCC)

Yvan Muller had an almost undisturbed journey to victory in Race 1, where Tom Coronel, at the wheel of the ROAL Motorsport Chevrolet, put the show, resisting fiercely to Lopez, who lost second after going straight through the chicane, with Loeb finishing fourth.

Race 2 was completely different for Muller, as the Frenchman had to retire following the accident at the start, which also eliminated the LADA cars of Huff and Thompson.

Honda could not use the advantage of having four cars in the first two rows, as Tarquini, who led most of the race, could not resist to Lopez. Honda still placed three Civics in the top four, with Monteiro third ahead of Michelisz. Loeb could not do better than 7th.

Franz Engstler continued his triumphant march in TC2, by taking two wins almost at home, beating in both cases Filippi and Di Sabatino.

The championship will resume at the Moscow Raceway, on June 8 for rounds 11 and 12.

Pickup trucks and environmental protection don't usually go hand-in-hand. The all-new 2015 Ford F-150 changes all that by making extensive use of recycled and bio-based materials.

For instance, recycled cotton and blue jean production scraps provide sound insulation, plastic bottles find new life in the cloth seat fabric, the wiring harness includes 10% rice hull content, while soy-based polyurethane is on the seat backs, headliners and seat cushions.

Check out this infographic and you'll see how the 2015 Ford F-150 is much greener than meets the eye.

Photo: Ford