Auto News 5

The Peugeot family, the largest shareholder in PSA/Peugeot-Citroen, will meet on Monday to decide whether to give its blessing to two deals aimed at securing the French carmaker's future, a source said.

The UAW could be forced to reconsider its efforts to organize workers at foreign-owned factories in the U.S., labor experts say, as the union vowed to keep fighting after losing a closely watched vote at VV's Tennessee plant.

With as many as 22 controls, seats in a luxury sedan can befuddle the average motorist. Not to worry: Automakers and key suppliers are developing self-adjusting seats that use cameras and pressure sensors to automatically fit the occupant's contours.

Dodge is adding a model to its Journey crossover line this spring to appeal to shoppers who like all-wheel drive. Only about 15 percent of Journeys were sold last year with awd, Dodge says, compared with up to 80 percent in competitive crossovers.

Officials at the National Corvette Museum had just two bits of good news after a very tough week: The sinkhole that swallowed eight of their classics isn't getting any bigger; and General Motors is sending an ambulance for the battered Vettes.

This column started out to be an argument for changing inconsistent rules for Daytona 500 qualifying. That is until the pace car for the Sprint Unlimited burst into flames without any obvious external impact.

The 18-car field for exhibition race, which is basically for Sprint Cup pole winners, was virtually cut in half on lap 36 in after a multi-car accident. And in the weirdest moment of that event Ricky Stenhouse Jr. plowed his car into the side of a stopped Danica Patrick, his girlfriend.

But I digress.

Back to the pace car fire.

The Daytona International Speedway has seen some strange sights in recent years. Like the time a pothole that required repairs caused a lengthy red flag stoppage. And who could forget the 2012 race when Juan Pablo Montoya's car rammed into the back of the jet dryer causing a huge fire and lengthy delay to put out that fire and clean the track.

I recall the only thing that worked to clean off the unignited jet fuel was laundry detergent.

But those incidents pale in comparison to what appeared as the Chevrolet pace car spontaneously ignited.

Brad Keselowski, who ended up second, had a ringside view of the fireworks. He said that he'd seen fires (the jet fire) and wires (a cable supporting a mobile television camera) failing at Charlotte causing a race stoppage).

“I don't even know what to expect for the 500.  Seems like we always find the weirdest thing for the 500,” he said

“I couldn't exactly tell what happened.  I just saw the whole back of the car was on fire.  I thought it was a racecar.  Someone said it was the pace car.  I just couldn't help but start laughing.”

Third place, Kyle Busch, added, “I didn't get to see it. I saw the aftermath where two guys were getting out of it. Seemed like they were running for their life, scared of a little fire. Maybe they need fire suits now.”

Race winner, Denny Hamlin quipped, “they should have had a (Toyota) Camry,” like the one he drives.

One crew chief, Slugger Labbe, tweeted that an auxiliary battery pack in the trunk which supported external lights exploded, but by close to midnight Saturday night NASCAR had not made an official statement of the cause.

It was truly one of the oddest moments your humble servant has observed in decades of race coverage.

In the not odd, but not-so odd, department is an inconsistent NASCAR rule, solely in effect for the Daytona 500. Drivers Danica Patrick, Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte, will have to start at the back of the pack one week from Sunday because of “unapproved engine changes.”

The rationale is to prevent teams spending money on qualifying engines. But the problem is that except for the two fastest cars, qualifying will be determined after Thursday's qualifying “Duels”.

Thus an engine change might not alter the race lineup. And teams are permitted to change engines after those races. It seems unfair to punish a driver who drives from the back of the duels for changing an engine when such a change afterwards is permitted.

From press release

The weather was much kinder for the organizers of the 32nd running of the Grand Prix Ski-Doo of Valcourt Presented by Intact Insurance who were able to run a full day of racing on Saturday. Two major types of competitions are featured on Circuit Yvon Duhamel: the high-speed ice oval snowmobiles sanctioned by Circuit Pro Tour and the high flying snocross machines sanctioned by SCMX.

Since its first Grand Prix in 1983, Valcourt has always featured the top American and Canadian racers. Snocross competition includes riders from the Ontario-based Canadian Snocross Racing Association (CSRA), the American East Coast Series (ECS), the Québec-based Super Compétitions Motorisées XTreme (SCMX), and some of the top International Series of Champions (ISOC) Ski-Doo team members.

Malcolm Chartier wins the Pro Champ 440 on the Ice Oval Track
In the day's grand finale, Malcolm Chartier won the Pro Champ 440 race, his ninth of the season and his third in Valcourt. The Marine City, Michigan rider crossed the finish line ahead of defending Grand Prix of Valcourt Champion Nicholas Van Strydonk of Tomahawk, Wisconsin. Third was another Wisconsinite, Matt Schulz of Wausau. Top Canadian was Travis MacDonald of Winnipeg with a fourth-place finish, while local favourite Jacques Villeneuve of St. Cuthbert, Québec finished sixth.

Photo: Sébastien Desbordes

Lidman and Hayden are Kings of the Hill in Snocross
The first race final of Saturday morning, actually Friday's postponed final race, was won by Johan Lidman (ISOC) of Hill City, Michigan ahead of Maxime Taillefer (SCMX) of Laval, Québec, and Colby Crapo (CSRA) of Breslau, Ontario. Taillefer led the first six laps before Lidman took the lead with five laps to go. Travis Muller (ISOC) of Windom, Minnesota was fourth followed by Mike Bauer (ECS) of Westminster, Massachusetts.

The final snocross races of the day saw Iain Hayden (CSRA) of Holland Center, Ontario win his first-even race in Valcourt, leading home Lincoln Lemieux (ECS) of St. Johnsbury, Vermont and Colby Crapo (CSRA) of Breslau, Ontario. Fourth-place went to Danny Poirier (ECS) of St. Theodore d'Acton, followed by Maxime Taillefer (SCMX) of Laval, Québec. In the Pro Lite class, Brandon Bradbury (CSRA) of Yellowknife, North West Territory was the winner ahead of Jesse James Bonnaduce (ECS) of Somerville, New Jersey and Maxime Pepin (SCMX) of St. Julie, Québec.

More racing on Sunday
The action at the Grand Prix Ski-Doo of Valcourt continues Sunday starting at 8:00 a.m. with free practice followed at 9:00 a.m. with the first rounds of qualifying on both the oval and snocross tracks. Green flags for the Grands Prix of Valcourt will be waved at 3:30 p.m.

Tickets for the Sunday Grand Prix of Valcourt presented by Intact Insurance can be purchased at the Circuit Yvon Duhamel ticket office located at 917, Route 222 in Maricourt, Quebec J0E 2L2. Sunday's tickets cost $30 each. Children age 12 and under are admitted free with an adult holding a valid ticket. All guests, including children, must hold a pass to enter the trackside suites.

From press release

2013 Formula Ford Scholarship Champion of Great Britain, Harrison Scott has been invited to join the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) ‘Rising Stars' programme in only his second year of single-seater motor racing.

17 year-old Harrison, from Althorne, Essex, already has an impressive set of racing results under his belt. The 2007 Super One British Karting Champion, and World & European number three, maintained a succession of achievements right up until his final year of karting competition in 2012 when he won the Senior Rotax European Winter Cup and took home the third place trophy in the Senior Rotax European Championship.

Harrison Scott (Photo: Harrison Scott Racing)

Harrison entered his inaugural single-seater season in 2013 with Falcon Motorsport and became the Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Scholarship Champion and Vice Champion in the main Championship - all while attending his full time school education. He recently attended the BRSCC Awards dinner in Stratford-Upon-Avon to collect his two Championship trophies along with the ‘Joe Tandy Memorial Trophy' for Best Rookie Driver (photo above).

Scouted from trackside, the BRDC Rising Stars (24 years and under) are described as “the future of the Club, today”. From all four-wheel racing disciplines, the Rising Stars represent the BRDC in national championships wearing the schemes unique ‘blue roundel' - being in effect “junior members” of the Club.

Harrison shall contend the 2014 Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship once again with the Falcon Motorsport team which is based in Farringdon, England.

Ontario's Terry Jones drove a solid race, Saturday at the Daytona International Speedway, to finish 8th of the Lucas Oil 200, round 1 of the 2014 ARCA season.

Jones had qualified his Jones Group-JMC Steel Group Toyota 10th on Friday, and managed to keep himself on the leader's lap throughout the 200 miles of the race Saturday to cap off his weekend with a strong finish.

Mount Brydges, ON's Cole Powell also had a strong qualifying, keeping himself in the top 20. But he was involved in a crash on lap 12. The race ended there for him.

In her first ARCA race with Team Stange, Maryeve Dufault finished 18th, only one lap down on the winner Grant Enfinger.

Fellow French Canadian Mario Gosselin endured a somewhat more difficult race, which saw him cross the finish line in 23rd out of 29 classified cars.

Rallycross is pure racing.

That is the view of 1997 Formula One world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who announced last week he would take part in the new World Rallycross Championship (RallycrossRX).

"(Rallycross) is pure racing back to its roots," the French Canadian told Crash.net shortly after he signed his deal with Albatec Racing.

"It's not artificial - which I like - and it's rough and tough. It's challenging."

Jacques Villeneuve, Albatec Racing Peugeot 208 (Photo: jakobebrey.com)

Villeneuve even compared rallycross with NASCAR, which he has raced on and off since leaving F1 during the 2006 season: "The feeling I got from rallycross was a little bit more of the NASCAR aspect of it.

"It's a family of races where racing is a passion and it's not the politics that come with it. So I like that, that's why I got in to racing in the first place years and years ago."

The 42-year-old even liked the 600-horsepower Peugeot 208 he will drive in the RallycrossRX, which he tested recently.

"(The car) actually drove like a proper race car! That was a positive surprise for me," Crash.net also quotes him as saying.

From WRC

The boss of M-Sport, Malcolm Wilson, believes his new driver Robert Kubica will be able to put his early season misfortunes behind him to do well in the upcoming Rally Mexico.

The reigning WRC2 champion crashed out in Monte Carlo and finished 36 minutes behind rally winner Jari-Matti Latvala in Sweden after leaving the road three times in tricky conditions.

But the first gravel stages of the season at Rally Mexico will present Kubica with a more familiar challenge and Wilson expects the Pole to show his true potential as a WRC driver.

Robert Kubica, Ford Fiesta RS WRC (Photo: McKlein)

He said: “We saw great pace from Robert in Monte and we always felt it would be very difficult for him in Sweden if the conditions were like they were. But he's looking forward to Mexico. It's an event that tends to bring consistent road conditions and I think that will be good for him. It will give him the chance to really learn the car.”

Wilson said the former F1 race winner was ‘very much still up for the fight' and was doing everything possible to score a positive result in Mexico.

“Very few people have any idea how focused and professional Robert is when preparing for rallies,” Wilson explained. “We'll be doing a test in Spain prior to the event and that will give him time in the car in similar conditions to those we're expecting in Mexico.

“We'll simulate the expected performance and power of the car on the test - something that can be reduced by as much as 30% in Mexico. By simulating that on the test, Robert will know what to expect from the car and that will help him in competition,” he added.

Model: 2008 to 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution

Vehicle Type: Performance Sedan

The Verdict: Stick to as stock a model as possible, be sure all fluids have been changed religiously, continue changing all fluids religiously, and be on the lookout for signs of transmission trouble and excessive abuse. An on-the-hoist pre-purchase inspection at a Mitsubishi dealer is an absolute must.

Price: Pricing varies widely in the used Lancer Evolution market, even given the relatively low number of units available for sale. Expect asking prices between $20,000 and $40,000—depending on the year, trim grade and miles.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

History/Description: The current Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution launched for 2008 and has been largely unchanged since. This range-topping Lancer variant amounts to a four-door, four-wheel drive surface-to-surface missile engineered for full access to its considerable performance capabilities regardless of skill level, location or prevailing weather conditions. As something of a road-legal rally-car, the Subaru WRX STI is the ‘EVO's primary competitor.

Feature content may include navigation, xenon lights, a sunroof, Bluetooth, voice-command, automatic climate control and heated Recaro seats. On models where they weren't standard, a performance package added Brembo brakes and upgraded shock absorbers ideal for laying the smack down at track-day.

The Evolution GSR was the lower-end, entry-level model with manual gearbox and fewer toys. The Evolution MR was the loaded package with all of the goodies. A stripped-down, weight-reduced Evolution RS was available, too.

All models got the 4B11 engine—namely, a 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder with intercooler, good for 291 horsepower. That engine came teamed with either a manual or a Twin Clutch Sportronic Shift Transmission (TC-SST).

Though most driving enthusiasts would rather eat a box of roofing nails than drive a boosted, AWD sport sedan with an automatic, this optional 6-speed dual-clutch box manages split-second, paddle-shift gear changes and is only slightly less entertaining than firing an automatic weapon at a wall full of china.

End of the day, a solid used Lancer Evolution from this generation should prove absolutely track ready, and deliver virtually unbeatable all-around performance for the money.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

What Owners Like: Evolution owners love the performance, boy-racer looks, four-door functionality and all-season shenanigans enabled by their ride. The Rockford Fosgate stereo with subwoofer is rated highly too.

What Owners Dislike: Complaints include the el-cheapo cabin feel, low-budget materials, excessive wind and road noise, excessive thirst for high-test gas, and a confusingly large turning circle.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

The Test Drive: Put your used sports-car hat on when meeting with potential Evolution candidates. Start with the tires and brakes, inspecting for signs of excessive wear. Note that driving on the factory-equipment tires in wintertime is a great way to wind up high-fiving a guardrail, so budget for winter tires and wheels if they aren't included.

Be absolutely sure all maintenance requirements have been adhered to—budgeting for a full fluid change if you're unsure. Key to success at owning an EVO that lasts a good long while appears to be keeping the model ‘stock' in terms of engine tuning and power output, and keeping on top of fluid-changes and maintenance.

Some owners report ‘weak' factory clutches which wear out more quickly than expected, so ‘feel' the clutch engagement for signs of slippage and wear. If you're going with the
TC-SST gearbox, ‘feel' it for proper operation. Slippage under moderate throttle while locked into gear can be a sign of worn clutches or internal seals. Some have reported having the transmission replaced under warranty, too.

A shaky idle could be caused by the failure of a poorly installed vacuum line to stay connected to a fitting on the engine, which is an easy fix.

Finally, ask a Mitsubishi mechanic to locate the AYC / ADC pump, which controls part of the AWD system. Have the mechanic confirm that the pump isn't heavily rusted or leaking, as many owners have reported rust-related issues and pump failure.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

Volkswagen has revealed an upgraded Scirocco, which will make its world premiere at the Geneva motor show in early March.

U.S. Sen. Bob Corker on Saturday doubled down on his claim that Volkswagen AG will build a new mid-sized SUV at its assembly plant in Tennessee now that the UAW has been turned away.

A roundup of what labor experts, UAW leaders, union supporters and opponents, and others are saying about the UAW's organizing setback at Volkswagen AG's assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tenn.:

Forget that little bomb that Consumer Reports dropped on the Cherokee this week. These are heady days for Jeep. Chrysler's off-road brand has plowed through winter with ease, achieving an all-time record 4.1 percent U.S.

Luxury car buyers are getting accustomed to vehicles with smaller, turbocharged engines, but many still want their powertrains to sound like big, rumbly V-8s. Faurecia SA thinks it has the answer.

Workers at VW's U.S.

Pros: The 2014 Toyota Sienna minivan is a go-to vehicle for Canadian families. Its ride quality is only matched by its roomy and versatile interior. Fit and finish is neat. There's generous selection: seven or eight seats, FWD or AWD, etc. And like all Toyotas, the Sienna offers superb quality, reliability, and high residual value.

Cons: The cabin has plenty of hard plastics. The base model is relatively low on content for the price, so beware of pricey options. Also, if you're looking for an exciting drive, turn to competitors like the Odyssey.

2014 Toyota Sienna Price: Buyers have a choice of six trim levels ranging from V6 7-passenger ($29,120) to XLE AWD 7-passenger ($41,425).

2014 Toyota Sienna Fuel Economy: This minivan boasts ratings of 11.4/7.9L/100km (city/highway). With all-wheel drive, expect 12.6/8.7L/100km.

Photo: Toyota

Improvements and Changes: Gone is the base 2.7L 4-cylinder. However, some U.S. websites have reported that a hybrid version will use this same engine when launching this spring. Stay tuned...

2014 Toyota Sienna Powertrain: A single combo is available from now on, namely a 3.5L V6 engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Output is rated at 266 horsepower. As mentioned, all-wheel drive is optional.

Cargo Capacity: The Sienna's trunk alone can swallow 1,107 litres of gear. When all the rear seats are folded, you get a whopping 4,248 litres.

Safety: Standard features include seven airbags, stability and traction control, disc brakes with ABS, brake assist and electronic brake force distribution, as well as smart stop technology, which automatically cuts engine power and allows the brakes to take precedence over the accelerator when both pedals are pressed at the same time.

Comparing the 2014 Toyota Sienna: The minivan segment also includes the Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan, Honda Odyssey, Kia Sedona, and Nissan Quest.

Pros: It's hard to make a case for the 2014 Scion xD beyond its convenient hatchback configuration, unless your main concern is reliability (which all Toyota-derived products boast) or you want a huge selection of dealer-installed accessories to customize your ride.

Cons: The reality is that the Scion xD is little more than a Toyota Yaris in disguise. Technology is dated, and the driving experience fails to provide any type of thrills. The cheap interior looks and feels poorly designed and built. How does the company plan to sway buyers when the competition includes the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, and Hyundai Accent?

2014 Scion xD Price: A single trim level appears on the spec sheet, and it starts at $17,785. The autobox option boosts the price to $18,685.

Photo: Scion

2014 Scion xD Fuel Economy: A manual Scion xD should average 6.7L/100km, whereas its automatic counterpart should prove marginally less efficient (6.8L/100km). A 6-speed unit would definitely help increase fuel economy.

Improvements and Changes: Other than an LCD monitor and radio data system, the Scion xD is essentially unchanged for 2014.

2014 Scion xD Powertrain: Under the hood of the Scion xD is a 1.8L DOHC 4-cylinder engine producing a modest 128 horsepower.The standard 5-speed manual transmission can be replaced with a 4-speed automatic.

Cargo Capacity: The decently sized trunk expands from 297 to 1,011 litres when you fold the rear seats.

Safety: Standard features include stability and traction control, disc brakes with ABS, brake assist and electronic brake force distribution, as well as smart stop technology, which automatically cuts engine power and allows the brakes to take precedence over the accelerator when both pedals are pressed at the same time.

Comparing the 2014 Scion xD: Make sure you take a look at other small hatchbacks, like the Chevrolet Sonic, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio 5-Door, Mazda2, Nissan Versa Note, and Toyota Yaris.