Auto News 5

News 30 Aug, 2016

As Samsung SDI announce battery plant investment near TT factory, Audi applies for fresh Q4 trademark that points to sporty plug-in SUV

News 8 Apr, 2014

Ford could extend Vignale brand to every model in the range, if Mondeo and S-MAX prove a success

News 9 Apr, 2014

New ‘transparent bonnet’ technology to debut on Discovery concept in New York

Private equity funds managed by Blackstone have inked a definitive purchase agreement with affiliates of Onex Corporation and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, to acquire all of the equity interests in Pinafore Holdings, parent of Gates.

Volkswagen increased sales at its core VW passenger car brand by 5 percent in March, the second-highest growth rate in the past 10 months, as recovering demand in Europe and Chinese growth outweighed declines in the Americas.

Nissan is declining to put a value on its four-year sponsorship deal of the UEFA Champions League announced yesterday (7 April), but official partners in the competition are reportedly paying GBP45m (US$75m) per year for the rights.

General Motors on Tuesday (8 April) is expected to announce a US$450m spend on the two Michigan plants that make batteries for and build the Chevrolet Volt and Cadillac ELR hybrid-electrics.

News 8 Apr, 2014

Our exclusive image reveals the next Mercedes SLK, which will have a range of engines including a hybrid

The South Korean government expects to sign a bilateral free trade agreement with Australia this week, after four years of negotiations.

Maruti Suzuki is expected to recall around 150,000 Swift Dzire compact sedans to replace a defective fuel filler neck.

There are more hopeful signs lately of gathering monentum for recovery in the European car market. Car sales in Western Europe were up by 10% in March.

Mazda's previous problem with petrol-sniffing spiders (also reported by Honda) in the US has popped up again, a UK enthusiasts' magazine reported.

Ford is to recall around 434,700 vehicles mainly in North America for two separate problems.

News 20 Apr, 2014

Peugeot has unveiled its sleek new EXALT concept car at the 2014 Beijing Motor Show

Grind your own granola, hunt your own meat, build your own Honda Fit.

Only the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain survived the challenging new small-overlap crash test for mid-sized SUVs from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety with a good rating.

Here is the schedule of on-track events of this weekend's 2014 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, round 2 of the Verizon IndyCar Series.

Friday, April 11
7:40 a.m. TUDOR United SportsCar Championship practice
8:00 a.m. Lifestyle Expo opens
10:00 a.m. INDYCAR practice
11:30 a.m. Pro/Celebrity Race practice
12:15 p.m. Indy Lights practice
2:00 p.m. INDYCAR practice
3:00 p.m. Pro/Celebrity qualifying
4:00 p.m. INDYCAR All-Driver Autograph Session in INDYCAR Paddock (open to all spectators)
4:00 p.m. Pirelli World Challenge practice
5:00 p.m. TUDOR Championship qualifying
6:00 p.m. Lifestyle Expo closes
6:45 p.m. Tecate Light Fiesta Friday Concert on Concert Stage Starring Kinky
7:00 p.m. Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge practice (Turns 9-10-11)
7:45 p.m. Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge qualifying

Saturday, April 12
7:45 a.m. Indy Lights practice
8:00 a.m. Lifestyle Expo opens
10:00 a.m. INDYCAR practice
11:00 a.m. Indy Lights practice
11:00 a.m. Autograph session with racing legend Mario Andretti (Promenade Atrium - 45 minutes)
12:00 p.m. Pro/Celebrity Race (10 laps)
1:15 p.m. INDYCAR qualifying and Firestone Fast Six
2:40 p.m. TUDOR Championship Pre-Race Ceremonies
3:05 p.m. Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase featuring the TUDOR Championship (100 minutes)
5:15 p.m. Pirelli World Challenge qualifying
6:00 p.m. Lifestyle Expo closes
6:45 p.m. Saturday Rock-N-Roar Concert on Concert Stage Starring Paul Rodgers of Bad Company
7:00 p.m. Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge Finals (Turns 9-10-11)

Start of the IndyCar race at Long Beach. (Photo: LAT/IndyCar)

Sunday, April 13
7:00 a.m. Gates open
7:20 a.m. SPEED Energy Stadium Super Truck practice and qualifying
8:00 a.m. Lifestyle Expo opens
8:00 a.m. Pirelli World Challenge warm-up
9:00 a.m. INDYCAR warm-up
9:45 a.m. Indy Lights Pre-Race Ceremonies
10:15 a.m. Indy Lights Race (1 hour)
10:30 a.m. Autograph session with racing legends Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney and Al Unser Jr. (Promenade Atrium - 45 minutes)
11:30 a.m. Mothers Exotic Car Parade
12:00 p.m. SPEED Energy Stadium Super Trucks Race
12:30 p.m. INDYCAR Pre-Race Ceremonies
1:43 p.m. "Drivers, Start Your Engines!"
1:50 p.m. Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach INDYCAR Race (80 laps)
3:55 p.m. Formula DRIFT demonstration
4:30 p.m. Pirelli World Challenge Race (1 hour)
5:30 p.m. Lifestyle Expo Closes
5:30 p.m. End of day's activities

*All times subject to change without notice

The First in-season Formula 1 test is now underway at Bahrain, less than two days after the Grand Prix. The test is held today, Wednesday and tomorrow.

Nico Rosberg is behind the wheel of the Mercedes W05 while his teammate Lewis Hamilton will then take over from the German tomorrow.

Lotus is running Pastor Maldonado, performing a series of aerodynamic-measuring devices.

Spaniard Fernando Alonso will be driving for Ferrari on both days.

McLaren changed their plans late Monday night and announced that Kevin Magnussen will test on both days in the MP4-29.

Kevin Magnussen, McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes in Bahrain. (Photo: WRi2)

The team had originally planned to run test driver Oliver Turvey on Tuesday with highly rated youngster Stoffel Vandoorne replacing Turvey on Wednesday.

It's understood that Vandoorne and Turvey will both test during the remaining three in-season tests of the year with Button happy to allow Magnussen to run on both days this week.

Bahrain in-season test - confirmed driver line-ups:
• Red Bull - Tuesday: Daniel Ricciardo; Wednesday: TBA
• Mercedes - Tuesday: Nico Rosberg; Wednesday: Lewis Hamilton
• Ferrari - Tuesday and Wednesday: Fernando Alonso
• Lotus - Tuesday: Pastor Maldonado; Wednesday: TBA
• McLaren - Tuesday and Wednesday: Kevin Magnussen
• Sahara Force India - Tuesday: Nico Hulkenberg; Wednesday: Sergio Perez
• Sauber - Tuesday: Sergey Sirotkin; Wednesday: Giedo Van der Garde
• Toro Rosso - Tuesday - Daniil Kvyat; Wednesday: TBA
• Williams - Tuesday: Valtteri Bottas; Wednesday: Felipe Massa
• Marussia - Tuesday: Max Chilton; Wednesday: Jules Bianchi
• Caterham - Tuesday: Robin Frijns; Wednesday: Marcus Ericsson

From press release

Brighton Speedway is proud to announce Ultramar CST and Benson Auto Parts will return as major weekend sponsors in 2014.

After a year away, Ultramar CST returns as the title sponsor for the Labour Day Classic weekend, featuring two full shows for the Sanderson's Tire and Automotive Southern Ontario Sprints. The two-day event runs on August 30 and 31.

In addition to the Southern Ontario Sprints, each of Brighton's five weekly divisions will also be featured throughout the weekend. Lucas Oil, Rock 107, Backyard Bouncers, and Mystical Distribution will also support the event.

Benson Auto Parts is back as the title sponsor of Applefest Shootout Weekend on September 19 and 20. The 2014 edition of the Benson Auto Parts Applefest Shootout Weekend presented by Imagefactor.ca, Cool 100, Coca Cola, Lucas Oil and VP Racing Fuels will see the top sportsman and 358 modified drivers in the Northeast compete for the title of Mr. DIRT.

"We are very fortunate to have such loyal sponsors who support Brighton Speedway," said Angela Rinaldi, Brighton Speedway co-promoter.

"Their continued support is a positive reflection on the magnitude of the entertainment and quality of racing provided at these events."

The Brighton/Merrittville Speedway Pro Stock 50-lap Duel in the Dirt will also be on the card during Benson Auto Parts Applefest Shootout Weekend. Lucas Oil and Coca-Cola present the speedway's season finale.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently posted a new video that raises awareness about the dangers of texting while driving.

Some will complain that we're constantly being hit with shockingly graphic reminders of how this reckless behaviour can have tragic consequences, but the number of related accidents suggests that too many drivers still don't get the message.

Count on ads and videos like this one to keep coming...