Auto News 5

Skoda expects to return to sales growth this year thanks to a build-up of orders and signs of recovery in many of its markets, the carmaker said after posting a 25.5 percent drop in 2013 profit.

Volkswagen will expand its production of the Tiguan compact SUV to its Hanover factory in northern Germany to boost capacity utilization at the site, sources said.

Hyundai Motor admitted on Monday the fuel economy of its updated Sonata sedan was less than it had previously stated, an error that could further undermine the South Korean automaker's reputation after a number of fuel economy-related lawsuits in North America.

BMW will recall an unspecified number of vehicles proactively in China following consumer complaints over a potentially defective engine part.

There's a reminder in the news today of the importance of product in the automotive industry. Yes, market geography accounts for a lot in this business. Being present in markets that are booming is vital, but just being present is not enough on its own.

Hyundai said today the fuel economy of its revamped Sonata sedan was less than it had previously stated, an error that could further undermine its reliability after a slew of mileage-related lawsuits.

Renault and alliance partner Nissan detailed plans to integrate key operations and pursue greater economies of scale.

Renault and alliance partner Nissan detailed plans to integrate key operations and pursue greater economies of scale.

Pictures See all 6 pictures 17 Mar, 2014

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is entering the Myanmar market following the appointment of Capital Automotive Ltd as its local distributor.

A new blimp comes around only once in a while, and Goodyear slowly replacing its fleet is cause for fanfare.

The above dealer video breaks down the entire 1973 Opel lineup for Buick dealers devoted to selling "intriguingly foreign" GM captives. Look at that Manta corner! When it

A 1969 Shelby Mustang that has been stored in a garage for 40 years will be sold at an estate auction.

-- Combining Los Angeles' proud traditions of flashy cars and breathlessly exciting high-speed pursuits, the Los Angeles Police Department has picked up

PSA says it will add a night shift at its Sochaux plant in response to high demand for the new Peugeot 308, creating 600 new jobs.

Nissan is so confident about the new Qashqai that its production capacity is three times that of the first-generation crossover.

Showing increasing confidence in the pace and durability of the recovery, automakers are spending to restock depleted departments in core areas, such as sales, marketing, distribution, product planning and administration.

The push to improve fuel economy has shaken up the auto industry's once-cozy world of turbocharger suppliers.

From GMM

Fernando Alonso insists he is "very happy" to have a "strong opponent" to fight against at Ferrari this year.

Some believe the Spaniard cannot possibly have supported the team's decision to replace the subordinate Felipe Massa with the former Ferrari champion Kimi Raikkonen.

But Alonso insists Massa was no pushover.

"Sometimes he was even faster than Michael Schumacher when they were together," he told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper. "But my four years were fantastic with Felipe, so I expect nothing other than my coming years with Kimi to be fantastic too."

Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso, a Shell event in Australia. (Photo: WRi2)

Finn Raikkonen had a poor race return with Ferrari in Australia, but Alonso tipped him to get up to speed quickly.

"He's very, very fast, perhaps the fastest of us all, or at least he is considered as such by some," he said.

"Last year, he battled for the title with a Lotus, an achievement I rate highly because I do not think Lotus are so strong. I have a very strong opponent in the team and I am very happy about that, whether you believe me or not," Alonso added.

He said all the recent speculation about their relationship was "understandable", given the new season and a "winter in which nothing much happens".

"This has become a routine for me, especially since I've been with Ferrari, because it was also said it would be very difficult for me with Felipe," said Alonso.

We've been promised that the outside temperature will eventually climb over the freezing point and simply because of this, the time has come to consider your summer tires.

Buying a new set of tires continues to be a complex undertaking given that countless new “inexpensive” brands persist to flood the market with new makes and models, all seemingly affordable and flawless. Needs, expectations, budget, and most importantly safety are important factors that must be met. The following list of top recommendations, per price point, has been devised to help you along with selecting your best summer tire option.

Compact cars remain very popular in Canada, as such, I've selected the following P205/55R16 size as the benchmark.

As well, I've included P225/45R17 tires on the list, as it has become a common standard and optional performance tire size. The below recommendations apply only to those marked as “performance” and the price ranges increase by $40 to $60 per tire.


Here are the picks:

Best tire in the $100-$150 range (P205/55R16)

• Dunlop Signature II (touring) - High-mileage tread designed for comfort
• Continental PureContact (performance) - A high-mileage, DWS rating*, low-rolling resistance tire with a “V” rating
• Pirelli P7 A/S Plus (performance) - Comfort biased, good handling, low-rolling resistance with a “V” rating
• Toyo Extensa A/S (touring) - High-mileage tread, good handling

Best tire in the $150-$200 range (P205/55R16)

• Toyo Proxes 4+ (performance) - A fairly high-mileage performance tire with a “V” rating
• Michelin Pilot A/S 3 (performance) - Good low-temp and wet grip, excellent dry, strong lateral grip
• Michelin Premier (touring) - High-mileage tread, good wet traction, EverGrip Technology**
• Yokohama Ascend (touring) - Eco low-rolling resistance technology, high mileage and quiet tire
• Bridgestone Turanza Serenity + (touring) - Quiet, comfort biased, good handling

Best tire: $225+ (P225/45R17)

• Michelin Pilot Super Sport (summer performance) - Fairly high-mileage ultra-high performance, good wet traction
• Michelin Pilot A/S 3 (all-season performance) - Good low-temp and wet grip, excellent dry, strong lateral grip
• Bridgestone Potenza RE97 AS (all-season performance) - Quiet, comfort biased, superior handling
• Yokohama ADVAN Sport V105 (summer performance) - Ultra-high performance, decent wet traction

* DWS stands for Dry, Wet & Snow and indicates the tire has sufficient tread depth for dry conditions, as well as wet roads and light snow. After the "S" has worn away, the remaining "DW" indicates the tire only has sufficient tread depth for dry and most wet road conditions. And after the "W" and "S" have both worn away, the remaining "D" indicates the tire has appropriate tread depth for dry conditions only. (From Tire Rack)

** EverGrip Technology is the "emerging grooves" -- more than 150 rain grooves located along the tire's shoulder. These extra grooves, which lie hidden beneath the outer layer of compound, emerge as the tire wears to provide a boost in wet traction later in the tire's life.