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Nissan has announced pricing for its pure-electric

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News 9 Jan, 2014

A teaser video for the upcoming Porsche 911 Targa has been released, ahead of a Detroit Motor Show debut

Ford of Europe says it's on track to turn a profit again by 2015 after years of heavy losses. A key to the turnaround is the automaker's fast-growing lineup of SUVs, which Ford of Europe sales boss Roelant de Waard expects to earn strong margins.

Departing General Motors CEO Dan Akerson says he believes the appointment of Mary Barra as his successor instantly transformed the image of GM into that of a more progressive company.

There will be more Google in your next car and your first smartwatch might come from an automaker rather than a computer maker. Those are some of my takeaways from this year's CES.

After a season of unexpected struggle at McLaren, Mexican race car driver Sergio Perez enters a new chapter in his Formula 1 career this year, lining up at Sahara Force India.

Despite the lack of results he faced at McLaren in 2013, Perez is disappointed, but not unhappy.

“I don't regret anything: McLaren is a great team and I will always respect them. Unfortunately, for various reasons, the season did not go as expected and we ended up without a podium. The situation I am in now is different, but it's also exciting,” said Perez to Formula1.com.

McLaren boss, Martin Whitmarsh played a major role in finding Perez a new home in Sahara Force India.

“When it was confirmed that I was leaving McLaren, Sahara Force India was always my first option. It is a very good team and in the same way as me, it is hungry for success,” Perez said in the interview.

Sergio Perez and Dr Vijay Mallya. (Photo: Sahara Force India F1 Team)

“The discussions with Sahara Force India started around the time of the race in Austin. I attended a couple of meetings and held several telephone conferences before everything came to a positive agreement. The official announcement that I was going to race for Force India then came on December 10 at the Mexican Embassy in London with Vijay Mallya. It was a quite emotional moment,” he added.

The Mexican strongly believes in the potential of Vijay Mallya's team.

“It is a team that has constantly progressed - and a lot recently when they finished sixth in the constructors' championship - so I think this is a great opportunity for me. I feel confident that together with Sahara Force India we can do a good job over the winter and start the season in good shape. The team did that last year and they have been focused on the 2014 car for a long time. These are all positives,” he said.

Perez will have a new teammate to work with in 2014, German Nico Hulkenberg.

“Nico is a very competitive and experienced driver. I hope to learn as much from him as I can and I'm definitely looking forward to racing next to him,” Perez explained.

“I hope to learn as much from Nico as I expect him to learn from me, so eventually we will embark on a steep, two-way learning curve - hopefully with eyebrow raising results! I think I'm a better driver after the year with McLaren, and being strong in every area is - and always will be - my focus,” Perez concluded.

Mazda North American Operations has just announced that its SKYACTIV-D clean diesel engine won't be launched in Canada and the U.S. this spring as originally planned.

While the SKYACTIV-D can meet emission regulation requirements without the use of an NOx after-treatment system, the Japanese automaker decided that further development is required to deliver the right balance between fuel economy and ''Zoom-Zoom'' driving performance.

Further information on the launch date for North America, technical specifications, and fuel consumption numbers will be available at a later date.

Source : Mazda North American Operations

Photo: Mazda

Volkswagen is set to unveil a new Beetle Dune concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week. If the name sounds familiar, it's because the German automaker also used it for a previous concept based on the 2000 New Beetle.

This off-road variant of the Bug features larger wheel arches, beefier bumpers, two inches of extra ground clearance, and a ski rack on the roof. Derived from the Beetle R-Line, it houses a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine that produces 210 horsepower through a 6-speed direct-shift gearbox (DSG).

We'll give you more details about the Volkswagen Beetle Dune concept after its official debut.

Source : motorauthority.com

Photo: Volkswagen

On January 14th at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Lexus will reveal the new RC F coupe, whose 5.0L engine packs more than 450 horsepower, making it the most powerful V8 road-going car Lexus has ever built.

The exterior of the Lexus RC F features large 19'' alloy wheels, air ducts on the hood and front fenders, numerous carbon fibre elements, quadruple tailpipes, and the brand's spindle grille with a single F mesh section that extends all the way from the hood line to the lower lip.

Inside, you'll find exclusive gauges, seats, steering wheel, trim detailing, and pedals. Five leather trims will be available, all with contrast stitching.

The Lexus RC F is expected to go on sale by the end of 2014; the exact time remains to be announced.

Photo: Lexus

From press release

Organizers of the Honda Indy Toronto have announced the support series line-up for its 2014 event, taking place this summer from July 18-20.

The event will feature a thrilling and diverse line-up of on-track entertainment to complement the two full-points IndyCar Series races headlining the weekend.

Returning to the event after a popular debut in 2013 is Robby Gordon's SPEED Energy Stadium Super Trucks, which will feature high-powered off-road trucks racing side-by-side on the challenging street course, including huge jumps, crossovers, whoop sections and many tight corners.

James Hinchcliffe, Andretti Autosport (Photo: Paolo Pedicelli)

Exotic car racing will turn heads at the Honda Indy Toronto with the addition of the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin, the first time the series has ever raced here on the streets of Toronto.

The unique series features semi-professional drivers racing in one of the largest single-make series in North America.

Also, making its return for a second consecutive year is the Acura Sports Car Challenge featuring the Pirelli World Challenge, a competitive production based series that allows teams, manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers a chance to test their products in a race series limited to 50 minutes.

To celebrate young drivers getting their start in racing, the Honda Indy Toronto will feature Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires, the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship and, another new addition, the Formula 1600 Series - which has helped showcase some of Canada's most decorated road racing stars, bringing them to the front lines of motorsport.

From GMM

Sahara Force India will feature Telmex colours in 2014 and an unique 'hump' on the top of the monocoque, the Italian publication Omnicorse reports.

Swiss rival Sauber announced just before Christmas that, with Mexican Esteban Gutierrez staying on board for 2014, the logos of magnate Carlos Slim's brands Telmex and Telcel will still be worn by the team this year.

Sahara Force India, however, has signed McLaren refugee Sergio Perez for 2014, another Mexican driver prominently backed by billionaire Slim.

The Sahara Force India VJM06. (Photo: WRi2)

As well as some details of the 2014 livery, Omnicorse also claims to know that the Silverstone based team's technical boss Andy Green has "a few surprises" for the F1 paddock up his sleeve for when the new VJM07 is unveiled.

The unloved 'step noses' of 2012 mainly disappeared last year, when the FIA allowed teams to install a 'vanity panel' to disguise the unseemly solutions.

But with the bodywork regulations changing yet again in 2014, Omnicorse claims Green's new Force India will have a 'hump' not on the nose, but directly atop the monocoque.

The report speculates that the solution directs more air underneath the car, without compromising the amount of space necessary inside the cockpit.

Vijay Mallya-led Force India finished the 2013 constructors' championship in sixth place.

After he claimed victory in the fourth day of the Dakar rally, Carlos Sainz moved up to into the lead of the event ahead of four MINI X-Raid cars.

The Spaniard, who started the day in fourth placeoverall, won his first stage of the event aboard his buggy SMG, taking the overall lead while the MINI drivers hit troubles.

After he took race lead on Tuesday, Juan Roma lost 15 minutes as he was opening the road between San Juan and Chilecito, Argentina.

At the end of the fourth stage, Sainz was quickest ahead of the MINI X-Raids of Stephane Peterhansel, Nasser Al-Attiyah, Federico Villagra and Juan Roma.

Sainz now holds the overall lead, 2m06 ahead of Roma, 6m56 in front of Nasser Al-Attiyah, 13m08 ahead of Orlando Terranova and 18m10 ahead of Stephane Peterhansel. Driving his Toyota Hilux, Giniel de Villiers stands in 6th position.

Carlos Sainz, Red Bull Buggy SMG. (Photo: Dakar.com)

NASCAR officials have released the list of teams and drivers who will be taking part in the Sprint Cup test sessions held at Daytona International Speedway.

All times ET

THURSDAY, JAN. 9:
-- 9 a.m.-noon ET, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice
-- 1-5 p.m. ET, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice (FOX Sports 1)

FRIDAY, JAN. 10:
-- 9 a.m.-noon ET, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice
-- 1-5 p.m. ET, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice (FOX Sports 1)

NSCS DAYTONA TEST JANUARY 9-10, 2014
Car #  Team  Driver
1  Ganassi  Jamie McMurray
2  Penske  Brad Keselowski
3  RCR  Austin Dillon
4  SHR  Kevin Harvick
5  HMS  Kasey Kahne
7  TBR  Michael Annett
9  RPM  Marcos Ambrose
10  SHR  Danica Patrick
11  JGR  Denny Hamlin
13  Germain  Casey Mears
14  SHR  Mark Martin
15  MWR  Clint Bowyer
16  RFR  Greg Biffle
17  RFR  Ricky Stenhouse
18  JGR  Kyle Busch
20  JGR  Matt Kenseth
21  WBR  Trevor Bayne
22  Penske  Joey Logano
24  HMS  Jeff Gordon
26  Swan  Cole Whitt
27  RCR  Paul Menard
30  Swan  Parker Kligerman
31  RCR  Ryan Newman
32  FAS  Reed Sorenson
33  RCR  Brian Scott
40  Hillman  Landon Cassill
41  SHR  Kurt Busch
42  Ganassi  Kyle Larson
43  RPM  Aric Almirola
48  HMS  Jimmie Johnson
51  Phoenix  Justin Allgaier
52  Phoenix  Bobby Labonte
55  MWR  Michael Waltrip
56  MWR  Jeff Burton
83  BKR  Alex Bowman
87  Nemco  Joe Nemechek
88  HMS  Dale Earnhardt, Jr
93  BKR  Ryan Truex
95  Leavine  Michael McDowell
99  RFR  Carl Edwards
152 in 2013  B Keselowski  Brian Keselowski
47  JTG - not testing
78  Furniture Row - not testing
34, 35, 36, 38  Front Row - not testing
98  Phil Parsons - not testing

From GMM

Adrian Sutil has questioned Lotus' decision to sit out the opening test of the official 2014 pre-season period.

The Enstone based team - who like Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari scored more than 300 points last year - announced this week that attending Jerez late this month "isn't ideal for our build and development programme".

German Sutil will drive for Sauber in 2014, a team that like Lotus publicly struggled with its finances throughout last season.

But the 30-year-old driver indicated Sauber will definitely be at Jerez, where teams will have their first chance to put their 2014 cars through their paces, featuring all-new turbo V6 engines and energy recovery systems.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus E21. (Photo: WRi2)

"This is a very important test, and we don't have much (testing) so I think it's clear that it will be a disadvantage for Lotus. But who knows why they decided it? I would say it is definitely not good," Adrian Sutil told Reuters.

Sutil acknowledged, however, that difficult financial circumstances could also continue to hinder Sauber's progress, although he sounded confident the Swiss team will succeed.

"I think it's all in there, they have the knowledge of how to do it," he said. "If that financial part comes better and better I think this team will make a big step."

Unlike several other categories, Formula 1 cars are fitted with carbon fibre brakes that provide outstanding braking power and consistency.

These brakes come from the aerospace and aeronautic worlds, and have been adapted to serve racing purposes in the early ‘80s. Carbon-carbon material was then used to make rocket nozzles, parts of missiles as well as the brakes of commercial jet aircrafts.

Carbon-carbon is a hard material that is highly resistant to thermal expansion, temperature gradients, and thermal cycling. This is why it so well fitted for making the brakes of an F1 car.

Carbon-carbon disc and caliper. (Photo: Brembo)

Glowing red
Current F1 cars are now capable of decelerating from 300 km/h to a full-stop safely in just 4 seconds, generating a deceleration of almost 6g. The brake force - the pressure that the driver applies on the brake pedal - ranges between 40 and 160kg. Under most severe braking condition, the temperature on the carbon brake disc exceeds 1200° Celsius, making them to glow red.

Because of the complexity of the process of making carbon-carbon, very few companies produce carbon brakes. One of them is Italian Brembo, which has been involved in F1 since 1975.

Brembo supplies complete braking systems to five teams, and only the carbon material to a few other more. During the course of a full season, each team of two cars is supplied 10 sets of calipers, as well as between 140 and 240 discs, and from 280 to 480 pads.

Serious front wheel lock up on Nico Rosberg's Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

Weight saving
Another great advantage of carbon brakes is a very low weight. The corner weight of an iron brake system of a high performance production car weighs 20kg in comparison to just 6kg with a full carbon unit.

The disc has a maximum diameter of 278mm and its thickness varies between 22 and 28mm for a weight of 1400g.

The 6-piston calipers are made of an aluminium-lithium alloy, and are mono-block machined from forging. Each caliper weighs only 1600 to 1800g.

Producing the discs require a series of long and painstaking processes. It all begins with raw material consisting of filaments produced from precursor polymer, commonly rayon, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) or petroleum pitch.

The disc is preformed, molded with resin or by needling. Then, the filaments are heated to approximately 300° C in air. The oxidized material is then placed into a furnace having an atmosphere of a gas such as methane, and heated to approximately 2000° C, which induces graphitization and densification of the material, changing the molecular bond structure.

Finally, the disc is then machined to the proper, final shape.

Complete brake assembly. (Photo: Brembo)

Increased ventilation
For last season, new brakes needed to be designed to meet the challenge of the new Pirelli tires which are 2kg heavier and have softer compounds. It is now even more important to manage the car during braking to avoid the damage caused by locking up the wheels and to limit wear for tires.

To help dissipate the intense heat, the number of ventilation holes has increased dramatically. Each disc as more holes of a smaller diameter. Back in 2008, each disc only had 30 big holes. In 2012, each one had about 200 and last year, it was up to 1,000!

From press release

Based in the Canadian Maritimes, Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour announced their 2014 racing schedule.

The premier stock car racing series will make stops in five Maritime markets in its 14th season. The 12- race schedule includes six extended distance events of more than 100 feature laps.

Schedule highlights include the IWK 250, which will run on July 19th at Riverside International Speedway and the Atlantic Cat 250 which will take place at Scotia Speedworld on August 9th. Race sponsors and support classes for each event will be released in the coming weeks.

Date  Track  Laps   Location
Saturday, May 24  Scotia Speedworld  100  Halifax, NS
Saturday, May 31  Petty International Raceway  100   River Glade, NB
Saturday, Jun. 14  Riverside International Speedway  150   Antigonish, NS
Saturday, Jun. 21  Scotia Speedworld  150   Halifax, NS
Saturday, Jun. 28  Petty International Raceway   100  River Glade, NB
Saturday, Jul. 5  Speedway 660  100  Fredericton, NB
Saturday, Jul. 19  Riverside International Speedway  250  Antigonish, NS
Saturday, Aug. 2  Oyster Bed Speedway  100  Oyster Bed Bridge, PEI
Saturday, Aug. 9  Scotia Speedworld  250  Halifax, NS
Saturday, Aug. 23  Petty International Raceway   150  River Glade, NB
Saturday, Sept. 6  International Speedway  100  Antigonish, NS
Saturday, Sept. 13  Scotia Speedworld   200  Halifax, NS

The media were all over this vehicle at the recent 2013 L.A. Auto Show, and who could blame them. Up close, this concept vehicle is drop dead gorgeous, and if rumours are to be believed (the new Legacy will contain approximately 70% of what was revealed in L.A., and the production model will appear in the very near future -- possibly at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show), then Subaru could be embarking on a whole new direction for its Legacy.

Now, I know we've heard this before with concepts (the new 2015 WRX isn't exactly 100% of the concept we were first shown in New York). However, take a really close look at the photographs of this car because, in my opinion, if the finished product ends up 70% of this, then Subaru is onto a real winner here!

Let's face it, the current Legacy is a fine automobile but this concept vehicle is simply one massive collection of improvements. In my opinion, it screams top-tier and, although the current model is no ugly duckling, it isn't often considered a prestige automobile. I guess we'll just have to wait to see just how many of these improvements make the final cut.


Exterior Styling
The exterior styling of the 2015 Subaru Legacy Concept is simply wow, and we've already seen some of this working its way into production (the headlamp styling is somewhat similar to those seen on the new 2015 Subaru WRX), so let's use our imagination here for a moment and try to visualize what exactly 70% will look like.

These are my thoughts: Expect the 20” rims to be replaced with perhaps 17s/18s; the door mirrors need to be larger, and the headlamps will probably end up covered for aerodynamic reasons. I've also heard tell that the concept vehicle shown was purposely built on a slightly larger scale to better demonstrate the design, so try to picture it more along the size of the current Legacy.

Photo: Kevin Corrigan

Interior Design
The interior of the 2015 Subaru Legacy Concept is probably the area in which most of the changes will occur. After all, in its current state, it is rather Buzz Lightyear in design. However, think 70% again: The seats will probably be the first things to go. After all, I can't see a four-seater Legacy with a huge rear tunnel working for devoted Subaru customers. No, that's way too much of a stretch for my imagination, even on a good day! Plus, Subaru just replaced its fixed-headrest design in the WRX with separate adjustable units, so I can't picture those fixed headrest seats going into the production Legacy.

The dash and centre display is obviously somewhat ultra-modern, but then we've seen similar styling already on other manufacturers' products (the odd Lincoln product comes to mind), so this may alter slightly but perhaps not as much as we'd imagine.

There were two items that immediately jumped out at me on this vehicle and I hope they make the final cut -- the first is the steering wheel that I absolutely adore. The other, an item rarely considered, is the rather stylish treatment to the foot pedals. A small thing perhaps but when you see this done right, it makes a real difference!

Photo: Kevin Corrigan

Drivetrain
As I've previously mentioned, the hood was sealed and I was told there was no engine beneath the cover. Of course, this being a Subaru product, we can probably take a wild shot in the dark at what might end up under there.

Cargo Capacity
Again, a sealed trunk, yet it appeared quite sizable from the outside. Of course, we need to remember that the 2015 Subaru Legacy Concept was slightly oversized in the first place.

Comparable Models
It's a little difficult to compare a concept vehicle until we've seen the finished product. However, if the final production model ends up being 70% of what was on display in L.A. (or even somewhere close to that figure!) then I have a feeling that some of those higher-end manufacturers may start having a few sleepless nights. So, well done Subaru, I'm truly impressed!

Engineering students at Sherbrooke University in Quebec have developed an autonomous electric vehicle which they presented this week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. They also announced a partnership with Elektrobit, a Finnish company specialized in automotive software.

With a top speed of 120 km/h, the Sherbrooke VUE (Vehicule Urbain Electrique) is based on a 2006 smart fortwo and provides a range of about 64 kilometres.

The project started in 2011 with the goal of finding alternative urban mobility solutions. In the next few months, the students will focus on advanced driver-assistance technologies to make the VUE a fully autonomous vehicle.

Obstacle and road sign detection systems, a web-based remote control device, and custom-designed propulsion and battery management systems are already part of the package.

Pros: Handling response, steering precision and dynamic stability are top notch here, making the BRZ one of the ultimate driver's cars in its price range. The snarly BOXER engine is a joy to open up and drive with intent, and the overall package is exciting and fast. Fuel mileage is appreciably good, thanks to the modern two-litre engine, too.

Cons: As a coupe-only design, the BRZ offers tight rear seats and limited headroom which might preclude it from the shopping list of larger drivers. Comparable sports sedan and hatchback models offer added room and utility.


2014 Subaru BRZ Pricing: 2014 Subaru BRZ pricing works thusly: $27,295 opens the bidding for the standard model with manual transmission, while the feature-enhanced BRZ Sport-tech package is priced from $29,295 with keyless access, push-button start, heated seats, fog lamps and more. A full range of accessories is available for customization, too.

2014 Subaru BRZ Fuel Economy: Depending on the transmission selected, look for fuel economy to range between 5.9 and 6.6 L / 100km during highway cruising and between 8.3 and 9.6 L /100km during city driving. High-octane fuel is required.

Improvements and Changes: Launched just last year, there are no notable changes for the Subaru BRZ as it enters model-year 2014.

Don't Miss: The impressive real-world fuel economy. With a variety of fuel-saving engineering implements under the hood, standard 6-speed transmissions and a lightweight and aerodynamic body, the BRZ puts fuel away at a surprisingly low rate in exchange for its pleasing performance. Don't miss standard features like Navigation and HID headlights, either.

2014 Subaru BRZ Powertrain: The BRZ's engine generates a free-revving and highly-thrifty 200 horsepower thanks to Direct Injection technology and variable cam timing, but that's only half the story. The ‘Boxer' engine architecture means the engine is wide and flat, and that it can be mounted low within the BRZ's engine compartment. This translates into an ultra low centre of gravity for exceptional handling response and balance. Ultimately, the new 2-litre 4-cylinder engine gives the BRZ some thrilling acceleration figures—but also helps it handle beautifully, too. All models are rear-wheel drive and come with a 6-speed transmission in the driver's choice of manual or automatic with paddle shifters. Typically found in pricier, more powerful cars as an option, BRZ packs a standard Torsen Limited Slip Differential (LSD) for maximum traction during hard acceleration for added stability and confidence.

Safety: Proven Subaru safety attributes are all included as standard—including a crash-optimized body structure, advanced antilock brakes, a full array of intelligent airbags and high-strength front seat frames. The BRZ has been recognized as an IIHS Top Safety Pick as well, demonstrating the model's commitment to active safety and crash-impact performance. The 5-mode driver-selectable Vehicle Stability Control system and traction control system allow the driver to tailor the system to respond to outdoor conditions as well as their performance needs. With a special setting for ‘snow', traction is actively enhanced, even in the most slippery situations.

Comparables: The BRZ competes with its twin, the Scion FR-S, as well as established compact heavy-hitters like the VW GTI and Honda Civic Si.

Photo: Subaru