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Toyota's Indian unit has lifted a week long lockout at its production facilities ordered amid a heated dispute over wages and allegations of sabotage.

Looking at U.S. sales through the first half of March, forecasters don't see a surge in sales strong enough to rescue first-quarter results.

Mike Cimino, vice president of Phil Long Dealerships in Colorado Springs, Colo., says his group has made a lot of changes in the way it runs its used-vehicle department in recent years.

Stung by rising warranty costs, General Motors decided in the mid-1990s to pull design work for ignition and turn-signal switches from suppliers.

A new-car showroom without a reception desk? No cubicles or desks for salespeople, and no offices for managers?

Toyota's $1.2 billion settlement of claims by the Department of Justice that it suppressed what it knew about safety flaws brings it a step closer to closing the door on four years of public humiliation and criticism.

For some consumers, shopping for a used vehicle online can be a lot like dating online: The photos tend to showcase the positive and finding a perfect match is tough.

Cadillac's latest effort to gain a toehold in Europe involves test-drive centers, stand-alone service facilities and pop-up storefronts -- ideas that could make their way to the United States.

Mark Rechtin, West Coast editor for Automotive News, won a first-place prize in the 2014 Jesse H. Neal Awards, a prestigious journalism contest that recognizes the nation's finest business-to-business media.

Car loan terms are getting longer. But 12 years?

Louisville, KY -- Motivation itself is one of the great motivators. Motivation mixed with passion is a recipe for success, at least it should be. Chrysler has demonstrated passion and enthusiasm for decades, and in the process have created some game-changing products, as well some that did little but fill dealer lots only to be heavily discounted to move.

One such product line has been the Sebring/Avenger duo that, although popular, has never left a mark on its segments other than being a fleet star. Although good for the bottom line, Chrysler turned their attention to one of their bestselling nameplates to make it better (much better) and more importantly, something that you and I would want to own.

The all-new 2015 Chrysler 200 is actually a car I wouldn't mind seeing parked in my driveway. I wouldn't be ashamed of it. Visually, the car looks proper and the cabin is a smart evolution from what Chrysler has been putting together recently. As for the drive, it impresses in every respect. The sole issue is the highly touted 9-speed automatic transmission, which worried me with its often-erratic behaviour.


What is a Chrysler 200?
The 2015 Chrysler 200 is Chrysler's bread-and-butter midsize sedan. Previously known as the Sebring, this car has long been the entry into the brand's line of affordable luxuriously appointed cars.

The previous 200, introduced in 2010, was based on the Sebring's platform which was limited in its possibilities. The new car is assembled atop the Fiat-Chrysler Compact Wide platform that also underpins the Dart and new Jeep Cherokee.

2015 Chrysler 200 Price and Specs
As one of the most affordable luxury midsize cars in the business, the 2015 Chrysler 200 LX has a starting price of $22,495. The volume star will be the Limited and it retails for an extra $2,500. The “S” comes in at $26,995 and the top-line C, for a supplemental grand.

Returning to the plate as the proposed powerplants, although heavily revised, are the Tigershark 2.4L 4-cylinder which develops 184 horsepower and 173 lb-ft of torque. The optional V6 is the 3.6L that produces 295 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. The latter is a $2,000 option on all trims, save for the LX.

To both engines is bolted a 9-speed automatic transmission. With the V6 equipped cars, a highly advanced AWD system with rear-wheel disconnect is available as a $2,500 option for the S and C.

Driving the 2015 Chrysler 200
It's actually far more pleasant than most of you would think. Let's begin by how a Chrysler product should be -- the new 200 is quiet, smooth, and very comfortable. On these three aspects, Chrysler has scored some serious points. Here's where it gets better.

Meant as no offence to Walter's namesake, the 2015 200 gives the impression that it is not a Chrysler when being driven. From my POI, this is a huge pro. Unlike all the Sebrings, Avengers (discontinued) and 200s I've evaluated in the past, the 2015 was responsive and (dare I say it?) fun to drive.

The 200's ride quality is what stands out the most. The revised suspension, now comprised of aluminum components, stiffer bushings, and sportier tuning proved to be adept at negotiating tight and twisty roads in Louisville's surrounding rural areas. If the Mazda6 is the handler of the segment, the 200 comes in somewhere around the Accord, which would be 3rd or 4th.

Steering is light and reasonably precise. Chrysler 200s equipped with the V6 (thus the Sport mode) will notice more weight behind the wheel when engaged, among other things. Brakes are on par with the category.

I tested both a 2.4L and a V6 AWD. Respectively, they are lively and plenty powerful. The 4-cylinder will dominate the take rate and few will ever require more power. The 3.6L growls healthily under load and doesn't fear being pushed. Unfortunately, the transmission gets in the way.

The 9-speed automatic transmission comes off as more of a marketing gimmick than anything else. From 6th to 9th, all gears are overdrives, questioning the reason for their existence. Gearing from 1st to 5th is not especially tight and functions no differently than an average 6-speed ‘box. What's more, the tranny hates to be rushed, and I'm referring to any type of acceleration over a snail's pace.

Like the 2014 Cherokee, the 1-2 shift is dry and clunky as it takes place. Subsequent shifts were frequently jerky and on a few occasions, worrisome... This behaviour was more apparent with the 2.4L than the V6. Going from “R” to “D” also created unfortunate shudders and even delays.

Inside and Out of the 2015 Chrysler 200
Chrysler's come up with some fascinating designs over the decades, some were actually far ahead of their time. In the 2015 Chrysler 200's case, the car's styling is a little of everything that's good about today's modern, flowing body lines.

Depending on the angle, the new 200's got equal parts Audi, Ford (Fusion) and a little Lexus, and it all comes together rather well. Even the base trims don't look as though they belong in a car park. Clearly, the S and C 200s are far more exciting to look at.

The 2015 Chrysler 200's cabin is, with little doubt, one of the nicest in its segment. Packaging and ergonomics are, in a word, exceptional. The tactile 8.4” screen is a model to follow and the easy access to HVAC controls should also be mimicked. Fit, finish and materials gain equal praise.

The seats are comfortable and supportive and overall interior space is decent to good. The centre console is brilliant thanks to a rotary gear selector that frees up space for extra storage below. Some of the available interior trims are truly upscale and complement the impression that this is not a typical Chrysler product.

Comparing the 2015 Chrysler 200
Chrysler's game certainly has changed with the arrival of the new 2015 200. Although a big seller, the 2015 Chrysler 200's job is now to change people's opinion of what the car represents. In other words: that it's no longer a rental car.

Going up against the Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Honda Accord and a few others is a daunting task on the best of days. This time around, the 200's got what it takes. It's now up to buyers to see it in a different light.

Mazda is working on the second and third generation of its SKYACTIV-G engine, and the latter (expected to launch by 2020) will have even lower well-to-wheels CO2 emissions than current electric motors, according to the company.

Mazda's SKYACTIV engines already rank among the cleanest and most fuel-efficient on the market, and can help meet the new emissions standards without the use of a hybrid system.

Photo: Mazda

Mazda's SKYACTIV engines already rank among the cleanest and most fuel-efficient on the market, and can help meet the new emissions standards without the use of a hybrid system.

Their compression ratio will reportedly increase from 14:1 to 18:1 with the second generation. Mazda will also employ homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI), a system that works pretty much like a diesel engine, using piston compression rather than a spark plug to ignite the mixture in the chamber.

Meanwhile, the third generation of SKYACTIV will adopt adiabatic combustion to prevent the loss of heat in combustion, dropping well-to-wheels CO2 emissions to around 60g/km on average.

But that's not all: Adding a mild hybrid system based on the current i-Eloop device could further reduce well-to-wheels CO2 emissions to just 50g/km, which is the equivalent of a pure electric model, according to Mazda's calculations.

Source : autocar.co.uk

From GMM

Adrian Newey's pre-season fears about 'submarining' formula one cars may have been realised.

Red Bull's criticism of F1's all-new era had to be heard amid the depth of the reigning world champions' winter crisis after four consecutive seasons of dominance.

Designer Newey, however, had expressed alarm about the new, low front noses, arguing not only that they are ugly, but they might also be dangerous.

The reduced height minimised the risk of cars being launched into the air, but "I am concerned the opposite may now happen, that cars now (will) submarine effectively," the Briton had said.

Indeed, an alarming image of the crash involving Kamui Kobayashi and Felipe Massa at the first corner in Melbourne has now emerged.

The photograph depicts precisely what Newey had feared -- the low front of Kobayashi's Caterham 'submarining' under the diffuser of Massa's Williams, which is lifted perhaps a foot off the Albert Park tarmac.

A similar incident at a higher speed could foreseeably result in contact between the elevated rear-end and the head of the 'submarining' driver.

Crash of Kamui Kobayashi (Caterham) at the start of the Australian Grand Prix. (Photo: WRi2)

The all-new 2015 Nissan Murano will make its world debut on April 16th at the New York International Auto Show, and we have a teaser that's sure to excite the fans.

Photo: Nissan

The company says the 2015 Nissan Murano features innovative styling, a spacious, premium interior, as well as advanced, purposeful safety and connective technology.

Proudly flying the Canadian flag in open-wheel racing competition, Ontario's Luke Chudleigh will contest the 2014 Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS Series.

Aspiring to follow in the footsteps of Canadian Grand Prix heroes Gilles and Jacques Villeneuve, Europe's open-wheel racing ladder was a lure too strong for Chudleigh to ignore.

The 18-year-old from Milton, Ontario totally immersed himself in the experience, underlining his commitment to success by relocating from Canada to France full-time to both work and drive for Tech1 Racing, while learning the language of his new environment also.

“Welcome to my first column for Auto123.com! I'm excited to have this opportunity to share my European racing adventures with you and hopefully give you a bit of a snapshot into my life living and racing on the other side of the Atlantic.

Luke Chudleigh (Photo: Luke Chudleigh)

The 2014 Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS Series kicks off in a couple of weeks so with my pre-season test commitments, charging around the likes of Spa and Monza, I've finally found some time to get this column fired out.

I'm headed into my second year of car racing and also second season in Europe. I'm happy to say the decision to race there, and not in North America, is courtesy of my relationship with Robert and Trevor Wickens. Until I met them, I hadn't even considered the possibility of a career in Europe and the goal of Formula 1.

My family wasn't familiar with racing at all. Playing racing games sparked my love for it to be honest; I never even used to watch F1 on TV! I just wanted to experience that sensation for real. I found my way into karting and that's where I first met Robert and Trevor.

Robert's experience in Europe, having competed and won in the likes of GP3, F3, F2 and winning the Formula Renault 3.5 Series title in 2011, is brilliant for me to be able to tap into.

Luke Chudleigh (Photo: Luke Chudleigh)

Of course he's still over there now racing in the DTM Series (as a factory Mercedes driver) but as an advocate for going down the European path to kick-start my career, he was massively influential and has been a tremendous mentor since I started racing there in 2013.

Trevor, in turn, got me karting and has worked closely with me not just on the driving front but on all the other things a driver has to focus on outside of the car. These are all things I've been putting into play both last year and as I look ahead to this year racing with Tech1 in Formula Renault 2.0.

The biggest decision I made for 2013 was to move to France to live full-time in Toulouse to be close to Tech1 Racing's base. Needless to say that brought many challenges, especially having to learn French, which I'm happy to say I've fully embraced.

It matured me a lot going over there on my own. I didn't have a support team around me, and while I have a great relationship with the team, that's business and they're not there to be my personal cheerleading squad!

Luke Chudleigh (Photo: Luke Chudleigh)

It's obviously tough when things aren't always going as you'd like on-track but despite being there independently, I never struggled for motivation. You take all these things as learning opportunities and it definitely made me stronger taking on that challenge in France.

I'm doing the same thing again this year, living in an apartment to be close to the team and to fully immerse myself in the experience.

Between races you can find me hanging out at the team's workshop, going over data, running simulator work for them and generally doing whatever's required.

Pre-season testing's been going well and I'm literally now counting down the days to the start of the 2014 season. The calendar consists of races at Imola, Pau, Red Bull Ring, Spa, Monza, Mugello and Jerez! Who wouldn't be happy to be racing at tracks like that? I can't wait to get going!

Luke

To follow Luke:
www.lukechudleigh.com
@LukeChudleigh

This week at the Vancouver Auto Show (March 25-30, 2014), Toyota will present a Camry Hybrid Special Edition and FJ Cruiser Trail Teams Special Edition alongside the Tacoma X-Runner Special Edition, the recently unveiled 2014 Toyota Highlander, the latest iterations of the Corolla, RAV4, Avalon and Tundra, and more.

"Special Editions showcase design and sportiness, and those attending this month's Vancouver International Auto Show will be among the first in Canada to see two very new, very special editions first hand," said Larry Hutchinson, Vice President at Toyota Canada. "But like all Special Editions, these unique versions of the Camry Hybrid and FJ Cruiser will be available in limited quantities, so speak with a Toyota Dealer to get the best selection."

Source : CNW

Here is the schedule of on-track events of the Grand Prix of Malaysia, second round of the 2014 Formula 1 season.

The race will be held this weekend at Sepang International Circuit, near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

From GMM

Jean Todt has urged his Ferrari successor to buck the criticism and keep pushing Ferrari to the front in formula one.

Before Todt - currently the FIA president - handed over Maranello's reigns to Stefano Domenicali, he guided the Italian team to six drivers' titles; five with Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen's in 2007.

Since then, in Domenicali's reign, Ferrari has failed to win a title and the new turbo V6 era has got off to a shaky start with a mere fourth for Fernando Alonso in Melbourne.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F14-T. (Photo: WRi2)

But Jean Todt urged Stefano Domenicali, 48, to ignore the criticism.

"I was always criticised, even when we won a lot," Frenchman Todt said.

"They criticised us for winning too much and making the championship boring," he reportedly told the Italian broadcaster Rai.

Jean Todt said Ferrari has usually been competitive during the Domenicali years.

"In the past years Ferrari was always one of the protagonists even if they did not win a championship, but I am sure they will again. All I would say to Domenicali is that he should keep his feet on the ground and his focus on the real problems, not on what others are saying," he added.

Lotus Formula 1 team's technical director Nick Chester said the new E22 has good potential, but it will take some time to turn it into a race-winning machine.

The Australian Grand Prix turned into a big test for Lotus.

“Everyone understood that there are so many new parts and so much new technology for 2014, so we knew that it was going to be difficult for everything to work straight away and achieve a positive result. We are now addressing these issues one by one and making clear, quantifiable progress,” Nick Chester said in a team press release.

Lotus E22 (Photo: Lotus F1 Team)

The British engineer says from what they have seen on the chassis in terms of measurements, particularly on the aero side, it still looks very strong.

“We know that there is good potential with the E22 and we need to get the whole package operating properly. Some issues we confronted were associated with software, the fixes for which can be quite time consuming,” Chester explained.

“The E22 is much more complicated in terms of how you operate the power unit and how it interacts with other systems on the car. This is something we need to improve on; and there is a lot of time to be found in this area,” he added.

“There are clear, identifiable areas where we can find big chunks of time. We are still producing new bodywork and have some good upgrades coming for Malaysia in all areas around the car. I'm certainly hoping for an improvement for Malaysia and then some more in Bahrain, although as they are back to back it is likely to be small steps. It may well be Barcelona before we are in a more stable position and compete at the level we want to be at,” Chester concluded.

From GMM

Lewis Hamilton's 2014 title campaign is still on track.

The Melbourne polesitter had to retire at Albert Park after his Mercedes engine - among a mere allocation of just five for the entire 19-race campaign - dropped from six to five cylinders in the early stages of the race.

"While I wanted to keep going," Hamilton said in Australia, "we had to play safe and save the engine."

But it appears that Mercedes' efforts to 'save' the turbo V6 'power unit' have at least paid off.

The Mercedes' engine, installed in the W05 chassis. (Photo: WRi2)

The Mirror newspaper reports that the 2008 world champion, whose teammate Nico Rosberg is leading the drivers' standings, has not yet lost the Melbourne-specification engine from his allocation for the season.

"The fortunate thing is that we did stop when we did," Hamilton said in Kuala Lumpur, explaining that "something went wrong with the wiring" in Australia.

"I didn't want to stop I have to say," he admitted. "The car was going but not very fast. I am keeping my fingers crossed and I think it (the engine) is going to be usable."