Auto News 5

The auto retail business is red hot and getting hotter as dealership profits continue to rise.

Sonic Automotive's iPad-enabled bid to reduce transaction time and transform customers' car-buying experiences kicks off in July in Charlotte.

A new round of state legislative battles between Tesla Motors Inc. and dealers looks like a draw so far.

Service orders and profit have jumped at Garber Buick in Saginaw, Mich., since the store started offering credit-card applications and interest-free credit to cash-strapped customers.

Michigan Ford dealer Ed Joliffe has been calculating the cost of getting his body shop ready for the 2015 aluminum F-150 pickup, and finds the numbers sobering.

Lexus is offering a new interactive channel through Comcast -- a first in any industry -- that it hopes will entice luxury buyers while providing a new look at the brand.

The 2015 big SUVs from General Motors feature clean, contemporary designs, a more powerful yet more fuel efficient powertrain and a hushed interior that has been improved to vanquish some key complaints about the outgoing generation.

General Motors is back -- back in crisis mode. Two months ago the company was celebrating the end of government ownership. Last week GM found itself back in the position of defending its image.

The Transit van family represents a change for Ford almost as significant as the shift from steel to aluminum in the F-150.

Fiat or its Abarth performance subbrand are likely to get a roadster from Mazda instead of Alfa Romeo, sources say. Fiat and Mazda product planners plan to meet soon to discuss the potential badge change for the MX-5-based two-seat car.

The latest issue of the Automotive News Europe monthly e-magazine is ready for you to view. This edition looks at the vehicles poised to shake up the key minicar segment.

Adapted from Pirelli

Here is an analysis of the three Formula 1 pre-season tests of Jerez and Bahrain, in preparation to the 2014 season.

As expected, the teams completed the biggest distances seen yet during the final pre-event test in Bahrain. In total, 762 laps were covered during day one, 868 laps during day two, 803 laps during day three, and 874 laps during day four. This makes a total of 3307 laps for four days, compared with 2322 at the previous Bahrain test.

The performance differences seen in the second Bahrain test between the compounds are approximately as follows: the supersoft is around 0.7s per lap faster than the soft, the soft is around 1.3-1.5s per lap quicker than the medium, and the medium is around 1.3-1.5s per lap quicker than the hard. These gaps are expected to come down as the teams improve their understanding of the tyres during the season.

The total testing distance completed so far this year, combining Jerez and both Bahrain tests is 7,099 laps and 36,974 kilometres. This time last year, the teams had completed 10,902 laps and 49,942 kilometres of pre-season testing (Jerez and two Barcelona tests 2013 combined).

Williams' driver Felipe Massa set the fastest lap of this Bahrain test, with a time of 1m33.258 on Saturday with the P Zero Red supersoft. By way of comparison, the fastest lap in Bahrain at the previous test last week was 1m33.283, set by Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes AMG. The fastest race lap at the Bahrain Grand Prix last year was 1m36.961, set by Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel. Pole position at the Bahrain Grand Prix last year was 1m32.330, also set by Rosberg.

Longest run:
19 laps on the supersoft compound
22 laps of the soft compound
24 laps on the medium compound
18 laps on the hard compound

Testing Times:

Day 1
1. S Perez  Force India  1m35.290  Soft New
2. V Bottas  Williams   1m36.184   Medium New
3. K Raikkonen   Ferrari   1m36.432  Soft Used
4. N Rosberg  Mercedes  1m36.624   Soft Used
5. A Sutil   Sauber  1m37.700  Soft New
6. K Magnussen  McLaren  1m37.825  Soft Used
7. D Ricciardo  Red Bull  1m37.908  Medium New
8. M Chilton  Marussia   1m38.610  Soft New
9. D Kvyat  Toro Rosso  1m39.242   Soft Used
10. P Maldonado  Lotus   1m40.599  Medium New
11. K Kobayashi   Caterham   1m42.285  Medium New

Sergio Perez, Sahara Force India VJM07-Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

Day 2
1. S Perez  Sahara Force India  1m35.570  Soft New
2. F Alonso  Ferrari  1m35.634  Soft New
3. D Ricciardo   Red Bull  1m35.743  Soft New
4. F Massa   Williams  1m36.507  Medium New
5. J Button  McLaren  1m36.901  Medium New
6. J Bianchi  Marussia  1m38.092  Soft New
7. L Hamilton   Mercedes   1m39.041  Medium New
8. J-E Vergne  Toro Rosso  1m39.636  Medium New
9. E Gutierrez  Sauber  1m39.976   Supersoft U
10. P Maldonado   Lotus  1m41.613   Medium New
11. M Ericsson  Caterham  1m42.516   Soft Used

Felipe Massa, Williams FW36-Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

Day 3
1. F Massa  Williams  1m33.258   Supersoft New
2. N Rosberg   Mercedes   1m33.484  Supersoft New
3. K Raikkonen  Ferrari  1m35.426  Supersoft New
4. K Magnussen  McLaren  1m35.894  Soft New
5. D Kvyat  Toro Rosso  1m36.113   Supersoft New
6. N Hulkenberg  Sahara Force India  1m36.205   Supersoft Used
7. J Bianchi   Marussia  1m37.087   Supersoft New
8. M Ericsson   Caterham  1m38.083  Supersoft New
9. R Grosjean  Lotus  1m42.166  Medium New
10. A Sutil   Sauber  no time
11. S Vettel  Red Bull   no time

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W05. (Photo: WRi2)

Day 4
1. L Hamilton  Mercedes   1m33.278   Soft Used
2. V Bottas   Williams  1m33.987   Soft New
3. F Alonso   Ferrari  1m34.280  Supersoft New
4. N Hulkenberg  Sahara Force India  1m35.577   Supersoft New
5. J-E Vergne  Toro Rosso   1m35.701  Supersoft New
6. A Sutil   Sauber   1m36.467  Supersoft New
7. M Chilton  Marussia  1m36.835  Supersoft New
8. E Gutierrez  Sauber  1m37.303   Supersoft New
9. S Vettel  Red Bull   1m37.468   Soft Used
10. J Button  McLaren   1m38.111   Medium New
11. K Kobayashi   Caterham  1m38.391  Soft New
12. R Grosjean   Lotus  1m39.302   Soft New

BRABUS will take advantage of the 2014 Geneva Auto Show to launch the iBusiness, based on a Mercedes-Benz G 65. Equipped with an 800-horsepower AMG V12 engine, this monster rides on 23'' wheels and packs a ton of new technologies in the form of the BRABUS iBusiness infotainment system, which includes a Mini Mac, Apple TV, as well as docking stations for iPod Touch and iPad Mini devices.

A custom-designed centre console features a 15.6'' LCD monitor that can be stowed in the Alcantara-trimmed headliner. The rear seats are divided by a bespoke centre console, too.

Source : brabus-mediaclub.de

Photo: BRABUS

Albatec Racing's new driver, Jacques Villeneuve puts his 600-bhp Peugeot 208 Rallycross Supercar through its paces at Lydden Hill ahead of his FIA World Rallycross Championship debut season.

The former IndyCar and Formula 1 World Champion gets to grip with him new mount, two months before the opening round held in Montelegre, Portugal.

Pictures of the all-new 2015 Jeep Renegade are now circulating across the web, and it looks... well, you be the judge.

Set to rival the Kia Soul, Nissan Juke, MINI Countryman, and other small crossovers, the 2015 Jeep Renegade is based on the upcoming Fiat 500X and shares similarities with the European-sold Fiat Panda 4 × 4. A 1.4L turbo engine is expected to provide motivation.

Look for more details and pictures at this week's Geneva Auto Show.

Source : jalopnik.com

Photo: Jalopnik

Photo: Jalopnik

From Performance Tech Motorsports

After an impressive showing at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Performance Tech Motorsports has decided to keep David Ostella behind the wheel of its Prototype Challenge (PC) car.

Ostella, 22, will become Charlie Shears' co-driver for the next two seasons of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

David Ostella hails from Maple, Ontario Canada and is the current Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada champion and the 2013 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring PC Class winner. Previous to sports car racing, Ostella spent 2012 racing in Indy Lights and other various open wheel series.

The driver has run just twice in a PC car, but with a pair of podium finishes Team Principal Brent O'Neill is less than concerned.

"We had watched David at the 12 Hour last year and were really blown away," O'Neill said.

"When the opportunity to have David join us at the 24 came up we were excited to have him. I was really impressed with his demeanor and how he got a long with everyone. Once we got him behind the wheel we were impressed with how quick he was in the car. I know Charlie is looking forward to driving with a young gun like him."

The team looks forward to working with Ostella's laid-back personality and Ostella looks forward to working in the family-friendly atmosphere his new race team provides.

"Daytona was last minute so I didn't meet Brent or the team until I got down there," Ostella said.

"But once we met Brent and everyone we instantly gelled. The team is like a huge family. For me the family atmosphere is important, so I appreciate it. I like that they all had fun together but they were still there to win which is really important to see in a team. I can't wait to start the season with them and hopefully win some races together. I'm really excited. I think the endurance races and PC car will suit my style."

Shears was thrilled to learn that he will have Ostella as his co-driver for the year. Unable to attend Daytona, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring will be the first time the two drivers will share a car.

Some people believe that lithium-ion batteries are not as safe as manufacturers claim. The folks at Autoblog Green discovered a video of a brutally tortured Nissan LEAF battery that should put their fears to rest.

Electric cars don't just automatically catch fire after crashing, and their batteries can withstand some major impacts and abuse, even preserving their charge!

Source: green.autoblog.com

No one should be surprised at Kevin Harvick's dominating win at Phoenix on Sunday.

With the victory, his fifth at the one-mile oval, Harvick becomes the winningest driver at the facility.

And he did it in only his second points' race with his new team Stewart-Haas Racing after 13-year tenure with Richard Childress Racing.

Kevin Harvick leads the pack in Phoenix. (Photo: Getty Images/NASCAR)

Just like Matt Kenseth, went on a tear last year leaving Roush Fenway Racing for Joe Gibbs Racing winning seven races and finishing second in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship, the move has fired up the driver known as “Happy”.

“Man, this just solidifies so many things and so many decisions," said Harvick.

"It's been so much work with all the time and effort that these guys have put in, but what a race car. Rodney Childers (his new crew chief) has just done a phenomenal job of putting this team together. These guys all want to win. That's why they came here. That's why I came here, too.”

Team co-owner, Gene Haas, wasn't surprised about overcoming skeptics when his and Tony Stewart's team went from two cars to four cars.

“No, this is phenomenal,” Haas, said. “I think there was a lot of skepticism last year about what myself and Tony (Stewart), what we were up to. Was there a lot of madness to this?” Haas added rhetorically.

In the end it comes down to the full support of the owners for their drivers.

“Like Gene said, there's been a lot of skepticism as we've gone through the off season,” Harvick explained. “For me, honestly you hear it, I paid attention to it during the off season obviously, but as we've gone through the first few weeks, you try to put yourself in your own little world.

“Last three days I've sat in my hotel room from about from about 7:30pm on and said, 'How are we going to mess this up, as we trying to go through everything that we could do wrong?' Rodney is probably annoyed with me as I've come in the hauler and asked about five thousand questions about probably the dumbest things he's ever heard of.

“All in all, Gene has given us every resource that you can imagine. Tony (Stewart) has been just very supportive of whatever we wanted to do. Rodney has put together a group of guys that believes in what we're doing.”

It's early days in the Harvick SHR mix; but like Kenseth both drivers put in long careers with contending teams only to leave and reach success quickly with new teams.

If Harvick can replicate Kenseth's 2013 season with JGR he'll be proof that breaking up isn't so hard to do.

Tell me what you drive, and I'll tell you who you are, eh? Using Google Autocomplete, drivers can learn what other people think of them and their car based on the most popular search items entered in the box.

For instance, when typing ''why are BMW drivers,'' Autocomplete continues with ''jerks,'' ''so bad,'' or ''so aggressive.''

Actually, pretty much every car brand is unfavourably perceived by Google users. One exception? Tesla. Go ahead and perform your own search to find out what other people think of you and your car.

^{Source : carwow.co.uk}

Please include attribution to carwow with this graphic.

The Court of Appeal of the State of California has just made it legal to use a cell phone while driving but apparently only for navigation purposes.

The judges found that the original intention of the law was to prohibit drivers from talking on the phone, not stop them from using it as a navigational aid.

This came after a man named Steven R. Spriggs was pulled over and given a ticket for ''using a cell phone'' behind the wheel, not ''talking on the phone while driving.'' For the California court, this small technicality made all the difference.

Source : jalopnik.com