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Daimler's first-quarter operating profit more than doubled as its expanded compact car range and demand from China and the U.S. boosted vehicle sales to record levels.

Daimler's first-quarter operating profit more than doubled as its expanded compact car range and demand from China and the U.S. boosted vehicle sales to record levels.

Supplier TRW, which counts on Europe for nearly half of its global sales, reported a 23 percent increase in first-quarter earnings. The company also raised its full-year revenue forecast.

Magna International is expanding its powertrain operations in Mexico with a $75 million plant to produce all-wheel-drive systems for Audi.

Supplier Tenneco, which counts on Europe for about a third of its global sales, saw its first-quarter net income slip 15 percent to $46 million because of one-time restructuring costs.

Volvo and Google have begun testing self-driving cars on city streets, a crucial new phase in the quest to make the technology a standard feature in automobiles.

From GMM

The nuclear lobby is powering Simona de Silvestro's push for a Sauber race seat in 2015.

That is the claim of the Swiss newspaper Blick, as it revealed some of the secrets behind the 25-year-old female driver's recent F1 test debut at Fiorano.

Former IndyCar driver de Silvestro is now an "affiliated driver" of the Hinwil based F1 team, and she got her duties started over two days last weekend at Sauber engine supplier Ferrari's private test circuit in Italy.

Sauber has confirmed that she will be back in action in the two-year-old car at Valencia in June.

And that is not all. Blick said de Silvestro's 2014 campaign will total no fewer than 10 full test days, including a trip in August to the US grand prix venue in Austin.

Simona de Silvestro, Sauber C31-Ferrari, at Fiorano. (Photo: Sauber F1 Team)

So what is powering arguably one of the most comprehensive driver testing programmes seen in formula one for some years? Renewable energy.

We reported this week that the man fronting the project is Imran Safiulla, a wealthy Indian industrialist who even bought into de Silvestro's IndyCar employer, KV.

Now, he has bought the use of a two-year-old Sauber and the Swiss team's time and resources, and has even liveried the C31 in bespoke white, blue and green colours.

Among the 'Clean Air Energy' and 'Hybrid' decals seen on the car at Fiorano were the names of some key companies.

One was Entergy, a New Orleans-based electric power company that operates more than 40 power plants, including nuclear ones.

Another is Areva, a French multinational and the world's largest nuclear company.

Simona de Silvestro, IndyCar in 2013. (Photo: LAT for IndyCar)

Blick estimates the cost of de Silvestro's 2014 Sauber campaign at more than $3 million.

"It is a programme in collaboration with Sauber that we are paying for. So the (livery of the) car is designed according to my wishes," Safiulla, also de Silvestro's manager, confirmed.

"We want to show the advantages of clean energy and how it can be associated with mobility," he explained. "The future of the motor car is hybrid, which is exactly what formula one is doing (with its new regulations) now," Safiulla added.

Blick said Safiulla's obvious goal is to have Simona de Silvestro on the grid in 2015, but three conditions must first be met.

First, she must obtain a mandatory super license, and then de Silvestro's sponsors will need to come up with about $25 million to pay for the seat.

Finally, she will have to displace Sauber's existing sponsored drivers, including the Mexican-backed Esteban Gutierrez, the 'rescue deal'-linked Sergey Sirotkin and the McGregor-sponsored Dutchman Giedo Van der Garde.

From GMM

Formula one is pushing ahead with efforts to make its new V6 engines louder.

After decades of screaming, naturally-aspirated V12s, V10s and V8s, the markedly lower volume of this year's energy-recovering turbo 'power units' was a shock.

"I did not find it exciting," said former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya, as he explained to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport why he watched only the first five laps of the recent Chinese grand prix on television.

"And I missed the noise," the Colombian added. "At least on TV. I don't know how the engines sound in reality, but I think it is definitely not close to the screams of the high-revving V10s from my time."

The Bahrain Grand Prix new format. (Photo: WRi2)

Also unhappy is F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, who recently said Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault will work on making the 1.6 litre 'power units' sound better.

The first meeting to discuss potential solutions was in Shanghai, and Italy's Autosprint reports that more meetings are taking place away from the paddock this week.

"We're at the beginning of a consultative process," confirmed Renault's Rob White.

"I think we need to be realistic about the scope of any action that we might take but of course we're sensitive to the subject and we'll certainly participate in any of the studies that might lead to actions being taken," he added.

Given the fundamental infrastructure of the new engines, with the turbo collecting energy that would otherwise be heard as noise, it has been suggested one of the only things that can be done is a change to the exhaust pipe design.

Autosprint correspondent Alberto Antonini said an Italian company is on the verge of being commissioned to look into possible solutions.

Sometimes there's a concept car on display at an auto show that catches your eye. You walk by, but you just have to go back for a second look.

At the North American International Auto Show in 2013, Nissan had such a concept named the Resonance. It was a showcase of the design language and direction the Japanese brand wanted their crossovers to go.


Fast forward to April 2014. It's a blustery day outside and temperatures mimic that of winter. However, inside the walls of the Jacob Javits Center in New York City, the third generation Murano is heating things up.

Why? Because it has an uncanny resemblance to the Resonance Concept and it's darn cool-looking. Atop the stage, the Murano can certainly be described as bold. From the front, you'll notice the V-motion front end, LED boomerang lights, and the unique “floating” roof.

Nissan remarks, “As the halo vehicle for Nissan's expanding range of bold crossovers and SUVs, the latest Murano also expresses a new Nissan design direction.”

It's not style alone that will get crossover buyers excited about this third generation, five-passenger vehicle. The Murano will come equipped with a 3.5L DOHC V6 internal combustion gasoline engine with an output of 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft torque. It will then be matched with an Advanced Xtronic transmission, which is the company's continuously variable transmission (CVT.) The 2015 Murano will also be available with front- or all-wheel drive configuration.

Fuel economy results have yet to be published, but Nissan is confident in their new vehicle. It's projected to be enhanced by approximately 20% versus the current generation Murano, due to the approximate 130lb overall weight reduction, enhanced aerodynamics, and engine/transmission efficiencies.

Giving the driver and passenger the comfort they'd like while in the cabin, this crossover will ride on a lightweight four-wheel independent suspension; independent strut front, multi-link rear.

Getting back to the cabin, Nissan uses the words “social lounge” to describe the interior environment. That translates into a cabin that is designed to be a comfortable place in which you can relax and enjoy yourself. And, of course, enjoy the company of others joining you for the ride.

In regards to the social lounge feel, can you expect a refined lower-height instrument panel, wide centre console, advanced NASA-inspired Zero Gravity front and outboard rear seating, and the airy atmosphere created by the large windows and available oversized Power Panoramic Moonroof. Centered between the outer wings is a large information and control centre with a standard 8” colour display with multi-touch control including NissanConnect with Navigation and Mobile Apps.

The 2015 Nissan Murano will be offered in four grade levels when it goes on sale in late 2014: S, SV, SL, and Platinum.

Another cool factoid about the 2015 Murano is that it will be assembled in the United States (the previous two generations were produced in Japan), becoming the ninth model in production at the Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant in Canton, Mississippi. The Murano will be exported from Mississippi to more than 100 markets around the world.

Photo: Alexandra Straub

Several medias, including the respectable Autosport, report April 30th that Azerbaijan will host a Formula 1 after having signed a deal with Bernie Ecclestone.

Bernie Ecclestone, President and chief executive of Formula One Management and Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan's Minister of Youth and Sports signed the agreement.

"We have signed the deal with Bernie Ecclestone and will announce it officially with an event in Baku shortly," Rahimov declared in the feature posted on “Inside the games” business magazine.

The race is set to take place in 2016 and should be called Grand Prix of Europe.

The city of Baku has a street circuit that is already the scene of some motorsport action.

For the last two years it has staged The City Challenge Baku, an event for GT3-cars, which takes place on a 4.4-kilometre circuit around Crystal Hall, the venue built to host the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, and the National Flag Square.

From NASCAR.com

Juan Pablo Montoya will drive the No. 12 Penske Racing Ford Fusion in the June 15 race at Michigan International Speedway, and again July 27 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Montoya has 253 career starts in the Sprint Cup Series, with two wins, 24 top-fives and 59 top-10s. All of his races came for Chip Ganassi, with every start but one in the No. 42. He was a full-time driver in the Sprint Cup Series from 2007-13.

"It will be fun to get back behind the wheel of the Cup car," Montoya said in a team release.

"It's hard to believe, but Roger Penske has never won the Brickyard 400. I think that Brad (Keselowski), Joey (Logano) and I will give Roger and Team Penske a great opportunity to check that off the list and we should be strong at Michigan as well."

Ganassi announced late last season that Kyle Larson would pilot the No. 42 in 2014.

Montoya, a former open-wheel champion, drives for Roger Penske in the IndyCar Series.

"Juan is a proven winner in multiple racing disciplines and he is one of the most versatile racecar drivers competing today," Penske said in the release. "Michigan and Indianapolis are two important races for Team Penske. We know Juan has the ability to race for wins in both of those events."

From Mercedes-Benz

Canada's Robert Wickens has a new sponsor as he embarks on his third season in the DTM.

Starting with the first race of the 2014 campaign at Hockenheim this weekend, FREE MAN'S WORLD, a new magazine title published by Burda, will be wooing readers via the livery of the Canadian's DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé.

Wickens and his FREE MAN'S WORLD Mercedes AMG C-Coupé are also contributing to a good cause.

Robert Wickens' FREE MAN'S WORLD Mercedes AMG C-Coupé (Photo: Mercedes-Benz)

The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation currently operates 13 social projects, benefiting more than 50,000 children, helping them to a better life and improving their social conditions through the medium of sport.

The language of sport is universal and, in combination with expert social and educational input, it can teach children and young people that they all have individual worth, restoring their self-esteem and giving them hope for a better future.

Children participating in the scheme discover their talents and skills, and they develop values such as self-discipline, respect, fair play, team spirit and perseverance - qualities that will help them in everyday life.

"Wow, what a great design! My new car looks really good. I just can't wait to get my FREE MAN'S WORLD Mercedes AMG C-Coupé out on the track for the first time this week at Hockenheim,” said Robert Wickens.

“I think the magazine is cool. Adventures, dreams, emotions - that just about sums up motor racing for me. I can identify one hundred percent with that concept. The connection with the Laureus Foundation is also a very positive thing. As a sportsman, supporting disadvantaged youngsters and giving them hope for a better life through the medium of sport is something very close to my heart,” Wickens added.

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve took the wheel of his Honda-powered Dallara DW12 Tuesday during a refresher on the Indianapolis super speedway.

Much has changed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and in the sport since 1995, when Villeneuve won the 79th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.

But the 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval remains the same -- challenging and fun.

Jacques Villeneuve (Photo: IMS)

Villeneuve recorded 83 laps in the No. 5 Dollar General-sponsored car for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports with a best of 217.742 mph as part of his refresher test.

The first practice session for the 2014 Indy 500 is May 11, with qualifications May 17-18.

Jacques Villeneuve (Photo: IMS)

"It took a while to get there. The first few laps were surprising because it felt like I was going fast and I looked and it was 180 (mph)," Villeneuve said.

"I thought, 'There's still a long way to go,' and then 190. And another 10 laps I started getting in the rhythm, and once you start going flat all around it becomes easy. I think your brain, your vision just needs to get used to driving at speed."

Jacques Villeneuve (Photo: IMS)

In addition to demonstrating car control, placement and consistent driving pattern, the refresher program consists of 30 laps that constitute the second and third phases of the Rookie Orientation Program at speed intervals based on track and weather conditions.

Jacques Villeneuve (Photo: IMS)

"When I came here last time, I had already driven on ovals at high speed," said Villeneuve, who was the 500 Rookie of the Year in 1994 when he finished second.

"It felt crazy fast back then and it felt crazy fast today. We weren't trimmed out yet, but there was no point with the (25 mph) wind and the track was very green. At the end, we even managed to work on the mechanical set-up of the car and that made it nicer.”

Jacques Villeneuve (Photo: IMS)

If Jacques Villeneuve qualifies for the race, he'll set a record for the biggest gap between starts held by Cy Marshall and Roland Free between 1930 and 1947.

Jacques Villeneuve (Photo: IMS)

Jacques Villeneuve (Photo: IMS)

Tesla's Fremont plant has now reached half capacity due to increasing demand for the Model S.

When the electric car company initially purchased the 5.4 million sq.ft. facility, some non-believers predicted that it would largely go to waste. As it turned out, Tesla operations expanded at such a rate that CEO Elon Musk decided to acquire an adjacent track to conduct testing.

Tesla also had plans to build a giant battery factory, but it now looks like one will not suffice. Various locations in Texas, Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico have been proposed, and two or more could eventually be home to a Tesla battery plant.

Source : greencarreports.com

The 2014 season of the DTM will start this weekend at the Hockenheimring in Germany.

Three German car manufacturers, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz will fight for victory.

Reigning champion Mike Rockenfeller will contest his first DTM race with the No. 1 plate of the defending champion on his Audi RS5 DTM.

‘Rocky' is one of the ‘Magnificent Seven' - the seven champions on the 2014 DTM grid.

Apart from the reigning champion, his fellow Audi drivers Timo Scheider and Mattias Ekström, the BMW pairing Bruno Spengler and Martin Tomczyk as well as the Mercedes-Benz aces Paul Di Resta and Gary Paffett also have won DTM titles, in the past.

In addition to Di Resta, who makes his comeback in the most popular international touring-car series after three years in Formula 1, there are four completely new faces on this year's DTM grid: Switzerland's Nico Müller races for Audi, Belgian Maxime Martin and Portugal's António Félix da Costa will represent the Audi camp and Mercedes-Benz' new signing Vitaly Petrov is the first Russian driver in the DTM history.

New rules for 2014
The regulations have been changed in several areas. The qualifying will consist of three instead of four phases, with the fastest eight drivers battling it out for the pole in Q3. There will be only one instead of the previously two obligatory pit stops and this stop has to be made in the second third of the race.

The option tire provided by DTM's exclusive tire partner Hankook still must be used once in a race but mustn't be used for more than 50 percent of the race distance.

The DRS now also may be used on the final three laps of a race. Also new are the performance weights.

All the drivers will contest the season opener at Hockenheim with 10kg performance weights aboard their cars and depending on the race results of their brands in the coming races, they will have to add a maximum of up to another 10kg performance weight or get rid off a maximum of up to 10kg.

2014 DTM entry list:

Race number Driver Constructor Team Car
1 Mike Rockenfeller Audi Sport Team Phoenix Audi RS 5 DTM
2 Timo Scheider Audi Sport Team Phoenix Audi RS 5 DTM
3 Augusto Farfus BMW Team RBM BMW M4 DTM
4 Joey Hand BMW Team RBM BMW M4 DTM
5 Christian Vietoris Original-Teile Mercedes AMG DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
6 Paul Di Resta Mercedes AMG DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
7 Mattias Ekström Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline Audi RS 5 DTM
8 Miguel Molina Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline Audi RS 5 DTM
9 Bruno Spengler BMW Team Schnitzer BMW M4 DTM
10 Martin Tomczyk BMW Team Schnitzer BMW M4 DTM
11 Gary Paffett EURONICS Mercedes AMG DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
12 Robert Wickens FREE MAN DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
15 Edoardo Mortara Audi Sport Team Abt Audi RS 5 DTM
16 Adrien Tambay Audi Sport Team Abt Audi RS 5 DTM
17 Timo Glock BMW Team MTEK BMW M4 DTM
18 António Félix da Costa BMW Team MTEK BMW M4 DTM
19 Daniel Juncadella Petronas Mercedes AMG DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
20 Vitaly Petrov Mercedes AMG DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
21 Jamie Green Audi Sport Team Rosberg Audi RS 5 DTM
22 Nico Müller Audi Sport Team Rosberg Audi RS 5 DTM
23 Marco Wittmann BMW Team RMG BMW M4 DTM
24 Maxime Martin BMW Team RMG BMW M4 DTM
25 Pascal Wehrlein gooix Mercedes AMG DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé

French designer Anthony Colard has completed work on a Porsche concept he named ''921 Vision,'' sort of a modern interpretation of the Porsche 928 with its long hood and racy looks.

It's a rear-wheel-drive car with a front-mounted engine. Although we're talking about an independent design study, the Porsche 921 Vision looks like the stuff dreams are made of.

Source: autoweek.com

Photo: Porsche

Twenty years on from the death of Ayrton Senna, Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo reflects on his memories of the three-time Formula 1 World Champion, Ayrton Senna.

Ayrton Senna (McLaren) fighting Nigel Mansell (Ferrari), 1990 Monaco Grand Prix (Photo: WRI2)

“I always appreciated Ayrton's style of racing. As with all great champions, he had an incredible will to win and never tired of seeking perfection, trying to improve all the time,” said Montezemolo on Ferrari's official web site.

“He was extraordinary in qualifying, but also a great battler in the races, when he always fought tooth and nail”.

Montezemolo continued, saying that he had talks with Senna.

“He wanted to come to Ferrari and I wanted him in the team”, the president explained.

“When he was in Italy for the San Marino Grand Prix, we met at my home in Bologna on Wednesday 27 April. He told me he really appreciated the stand we had taken against the excessive use of electronic aids for driving, which didn't allow a driver's skill to shine through. We spoke for a long time and he made it clear to me that he wanted to end his career at Ferrari, having come close to joining us a few years earlier,” he said.

“We agreed to meet again soon, so as to look at how we could overcome his contractual obligations at the time. We were both in agreement that Ferrari would be the ideal place for him to further his career, which to date had been brilliant, even unique.

“Unfortunately, fate robbed all of us of Ayrton and Roland Ratzenberger over one of the saddest weekends in Formula 1 history. Of Senna, I remember his kindness and his simple almost shy nature, which was in complete contrast to Senna the driver, a fighter always aiming for the best,” Montezemolo concluded.

Here is the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab Special Service Vehicle (SSV) that will join the brand's growing police vehicle lineup this summer.

Available on Silverado 1500 Crew Cab models in 1WT or 1LS trim, the SSV package includes a 5.3L EcoTec3 V8 engine rated at 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. Active Fuel Management helps deliver the highest fuel economy for a 2WD V8-powered full-size pickup.

The Silverado SSV is also equipped with a standard 170-amp high-output alternator and 730-CCA auxiliary battery, which allows officers to operate lights, radios, computers, cameras, and other equipment while parked with the engine turned off.

Photo: Chevrolet

From GMM

Mercedes AMG may now be at the front, but little has changed in the world of Formula 1.

That is the view of former driver Juan Pablo Montoya, who left the paddock halfway through the 2006 season to begin his foray in the American series NASCAR.

Now 38, the Colombian has switched to IndyCar, where between his races at Long Beach and Alabama he sat down to watch the Chinese Grand Prix on television.

"I watched for five laps and then switched it off," the winner of 7 F1 Grands Prix told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Montoya said he did not find the Shanghai spectacle "exciting" enough, adding that part of the problem is the loss of the high-revving, screaming engines of the past.

But the main issue, he explained, is that IndyCar is simply better racing.

"This has nothing to do with the rule changes in F1," said the former Williams and McLaren driver. "Formula 1 has always been very technical.

"As a driver you are so dependent on the car. Do you really think Alonso and Vettel have forgotten how to drive? It's just bad luck for everyone who is not in a Mercedes.

"And that's not going to change much this year," Montoya warned.

DRS makes passing too easy
He was also quoted recently as being heavily critical of the DRS overtaking system in F1, saying the sight of a great driver passing a rival just because his rear wing is wide open is "like giving photoshop to Picasso".

Montoya explains: "As a driver I don't like it because it makes overtaking too easy. You just have to get within one second of the guy in front, press the wing button and drive past.

"For the spectators it's great," he added. "What do you want in sport? A good show, and DRS makes the show better, no question."

Volvo and Google have begun testing their autonomous cars on city streets, a major step toward bringing the futuristic technology to the masses.

The Swedish automaker is starting with 100 cars on the streets near its headquarters in Gothenburg.

“The test cars are now able to handle lane following, speed adaption and merging traffic all by themselves,” Erik Coelingh, technical specialist at Volvo, said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Google is turning to the streets after several years of testing autonomous cars on highways.

Nissan, Volkswagen, Daimler, and Toyota are also busy testing self-driving vehicles with the goal of selling them by 2020.

Source: Autonews

Photo: Volvo