Auto News 5

Mercedes cut into the sales lead of rival Audi last year as its growing compact-car range won new buyers to the brand.

According to a media statement issued by Mazda North American Operations, the April launch of the division's first diesel-powered car has been cancelled.

China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) says sales of new passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles reached a record 21,984,100 units in 2013.

Porsche's bringing the 997-generation 911 Targa to the

Jaguar

Last week we asked you if you'd be interested in buying a Ford Ranger now that the

A Monster Lamborghini would be a monster Lamborghini; and a monster Lamborghini, so the thinking goes, could yet still be enhanced by Monster audio equipment. If Lady Gaga drove the Monster Lamborghini Veneno, she'd be a

Chrysler Group's service, parts and customer-care brand Mopar will have its largest exhibit ever at the Detroit auto show Jan. 13and#8211;26. Measuring some 5,500 square feet, the exhibit will highlight the new Mopar Custom Shop in the Mopar Garage.

At the 2014 CES, Kia binged on three-letter acronyms with a slew of connectivity technology that culminated in the first U.S.

News 10 Jan, 2014

Leaked images reveal the V12-powered Mercedes S600 ahead of its Detroit debut

Fiat could launch a convertible bond to increase its liquidity after its merger with Chrysler, CEO Sergio Marchionne said. Fiat will also focus its European strategy on revamping Alfa Romeo and will keep production of the brand in Italy.

Forget horsepower. The connected car is becoming the hottest model on dealer lots. In-vehicle technology is the top selling point for 39 percent of car buyers today.

Carlos Ghosn expects it will take two people to fill his shoes when he leaves his position as CEO of both Renault and Nissan. He says he only took the combined job of managing both companies because there was no other option at the time.

Valeo says it will boost its position in the global automotive lighting sector by taking full ownership in its North America-based lighting joint venture.

The vehicles unveiled during the 2014 North American International Auto Show are certain to sport even higher levels of technology than their predecessors.

From press release

The Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada (VARAC) is gearing up for what promises to be the biggest, most exciting and best-attended event in its history.

The Canadian Historic Grand Prix is one of the most prestigious events on the Vintage and Historic Racing Calendar in North America and it is the largest and most popular event of its kind in Canada and counted as a "Major Spectator Event" at Mosport since 1999.

Racers from across Canada and the United States will descend on Canadian Tire Motorsport Park just north of Bowmanville, Ontario with their MGs, Triumphs, Jaguars, Porsches, Alfa Romeos, Lotus, Minis and more to challenge the world famous Mosport Grand Prix Circuit.

Mosport is one of only three true historic Grand Prix tracks in North America, along with Le Circuit Mont Tremblant in Quebec and Watkins Glen in upstate New York. Mosport is an awesome, technically demanding, fast 2.459 mile track with challenging corners and impressive elevation changes. It is the current and former host to world-class racing such as ALMS, the NASCAR Truck Series and the Formula One Grand Prix of Canada, Can-Am, Trans-Am and Formula 5000.

Moreover, it is a place for cars and drivers to come home to.

Triumph and MG Racers will be the "Featured Marques" for 2014 as VARAC steps back in time to in time to recreate the epic battle for sportscar supremacy between British manufacturers - Standard Triumph and MG Cars. Mosport's tarmac has seen that battle play out decade after decade and now, VARAC is staging what promises to be the largest ever such contest in its 2014 Triumph vs MG Can-Am Challenge.

This year, racing fans will once again be thrilled to witness a huge grid of swarming, fast Triumphs and MGs piloted by cunning and experienced drivers from across Canada and the US, returning back to claim victory as they challenge the Mosport tarmac and each other once again.

In addition to the featured Triumphs and MGs, there will be three full days of exciting racing involving full grids for all Vintage and Historic racing machines from Minis to Mustangs and Canada Class open wheelers to Can-Am cars.

There will be racing for six groups of cars including Monoposto (single seat open-wheel vintage & historic race cars), Small Bore Vintage & Historic Cars (under 2000cc), Big Bore Vintage & Historic Cars (over 2000cc), Wings & Slicks (very fast purpose-built racing cars running on slick tires), G70+ Cars (cars dating from 1973 to 1989 including all kinds of Alfas, Corvettes, Porsches, Mustangs and a host of others.

The Canadian Historic Grand Prix is about more than on-track racing! Spectators and car enthusiasts of all stripes will enjoy the scope and scale of experiences open to their participation on the weekend such as:

- The "Historic Grand Prix Tribute" hosting the "Checkered Flag Cruise" this year for the first time in Downtown Bowmanville from noon to nine on Friday, just like the world-famous street party at Watkins Glen. You don't want to miss this!

- Track Touring Sessions - On-track sessions are offered twice daily.

- Road Rally/Tour - a 100 mile rally/tour throughout the hills and dales and quaint villages of the local area, including a lunch stop on Saturday.

- "Legends of Mosport Racer's Reunion" - Canadian Champion, Gary Magwood hosts this "Meet the Fans & Press" session Sunday morning with other champions and greats like Bill Brack, Eppie Wietzes, Ludwig Heimrath, Craig Fisher, Walt Mackay and others. Open to all at no cost. Mix with old friends, racers and champions.

- "Legends of the Autobahn" Concours d'Elegance conducted by the Mercedes Benz Club of America , the Porsche Club of America and the BMW Drivers Club on Sunday

- "Mini Meet North" all weekend - Canada's largest Mini gathering,

- "Field of Dreams Car Show" - welcoming hundreds of sports cars, classics and hot-rods, owners and car clubs from far and wide featuring Canada's largest on-track parade open to car show participants and featuring discounted park admission for entrants.

- Free weekend camping courtesy Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

- Advance tickets available at: http://store.mosport.com/index.php?crn=242

Speaking at the annual Autosport International on Friday, FIA safety delegate, Charlie Whiting revealed that the FIA has moved forward to improve track workers safety in Formula 1.

In June 2013, volunteer track marshal Mark Robinson was tragically killed after the end of the Grand Prix of Canada at circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.

Mark Robinson died after tripping and falling under the wheels of a mobile crane while the Sauber of Esteban Gutierrez was recovered from the Senna corner.

Last fall, Quebec's commission for the health and safety of workers blamed the organisers for a series of safety errors.

One of the key factors to the accident was the fact that Robinson and a colleague were walking directly in front of the mobile crane, holding tethers that were stabilising the Sauber while it was being craned back to the pits.

Track marshals at work in Japan, in 2013. (Photo: WRi2)

"Since that accident, we have briefed everyone to, if you are using one of those JCB-like vehicles to lift a car, you should never walk in front of it,” said Whiting during his speech.

"The Brazilian ASN has a system which will attach two ropes to the car to hold it level [while being recovered] and it stops it twisting so you don't need people to stabilise it”.

"We are trying to make everyone aware of this sort of system in order to minimise the amount of people needed to recover a car,” Whiting added.

Hopefully, Robinson's tragic death will not go unnoticed. Race organisers must now take steps to avoiding putting marshals in the position where they could have a similar accident.

At the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Mercedes-Benz introduced an advanced navigation system that can predict a driver's destination with 80% accuracy, anticipate their route, and suggest possible alternatives.

How does it work? By taking into account the driver's starting location, the weather, day of the week, time of day, and who's in the car, the predictive system generates a set of options based on historical data and even determines the final destination.

The driver could choose to accept these proposals which significantly reduce opportunities for distraction and frustration, and over time these proposals get better, more accurate, and more personalized.

For example, if one or more kids sit in the back on a Thursday, the system understands that the driver likely wants to stop by the school.

It can also recognize the desires, moods, and preferences of the driver and passengers, and proactively predict and simplify the next operating steps, like adjusting the cabin temperature or selecting a certain type of music.

No release date has been announced for Mercedes' predictive navigation system.

Source : techno-car.fr

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

Dale Earnhardt's crew chief, Steve Letarte, will be switching to broadcasting in 2015.

The 34-year old had worked in racing for Hendrick Motorsports for 18-years.

And although the duo has not produced a championship in three previous years nor a win since their only win, in June 2012, their team seems to be steadily improving. Earnhardt was fifth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings last year.

Letarte was four-time NASCAR champ, Jeff Gordon's crew chief from 2005-2010 where they collaborated for ten victories. And Letarte was with Gordon as a crew member for all four titles.

Earnhardt was disappointed at the loss of the opportunity work with a crew chief who became a friend.

“It was hard because we are such good friends, and I really do enjoy working with him a lot. But at the same time I'm happy for him because it gives him the opportunity to spend time with his family,” said Earnhardt.

He added” I'm not worried about this season and how focused we may be. I know that he's really good at separating things and keeping things compartmentalized, as Jeff Gordon likes to say about Steve.”

And for his part Letarte said he'd miss his driver after they part ways.

“To do what we've tried to do the last three years and hopefully will do this year and win a bunch of races and contend for a championship is more than just coming to work and saying hello. We spend a lot of time away from the track together. Not just time, we're very involved in each other's lives, and I hope for that to continue past the end of 2014,” said Letarte.

“I want to thank Rick Hendrick and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports for the opportunities they have given me over the last 18 years, and I want to reaffirm my commitment to Dale Jr. and the entire 88 team to go win races and challenge for the championship in 2014,” said Letarte, who joined Hendrick Motorsports in 1995 at age 16.

Following his win in the fifth stage of the 2014 Dakar rally, Juan Roma (MINI) is now back in the overall lead after mistakes and misfortunes from his main rivals.

The Spaniard is the first to linch two stage wins in the 2014 Dakar, after being quickest on Tuesday's stage.

Thursday, between Chilecito and San Miguel de Tucuman in Northern Argentina, Juan Roma clicnhed victory ahead of Giniel de Villiers (Toyota) and American Robby Gordon (buggy Hummer).

Juan Roma, Mini ALL4 Racing. (Photo: BMW Sports Communications)

But the major news was the tough day the other main contenders endured, with several of them getting lost.

Carlos Sainz, who was the leader of the race Thursday morning, lost half an hour trying to find the right direction, then again several minutes for electronical issues on his buggy.

He dropped down to sixth position in overall classification, almost one hour behind Roma, who tookthe lead back.

Roma enjoyed a very good day, as now holds a 26-minute lead ahead of teammate Nasser Al-Attiyah, two other MINI drivers, Orlando Terranova and Stéphane Peterhansel, 4th and 5th, and then Giniel de Villiers and Carlos Sainz.

Former NASCAR driver, Robby Gordon moved up to 19th position, after a very difficult start in the first days.

Friday, the cars will continue heading North, towards the city of Salta, with 424 km of special stage, and 242 km of road section, before the rest day on Saturday.