Auto News 5

From GMM

Lucas di Grassi has admitted his future depends in part on Pirelli.

Since losing his race seat after a single season at Virgin (now Marussia) in 2010, the Brazilian has been a key test driver for F1's official tire supplier.

Whether or not he will continue in that role longer term, the 28-year-old is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace: "At the moment they are deciding whether they will continue (in F1) for three more years or not. After that (decision) they will establish a position."

"But other than that," added di Grassi, "I'm still talking to three teams about being a test driver and helping them with the development side."

Photo: Pirelli

He said Pirelli's 2013 tires will be notably different compared to last year.

"This year the tires are a bit softer overall, so they will be a little easier to work with as they get fewer blisters," said di Grassi.

"The shape is also a little squarer to increase the contact area, but this will not influence the tires much. But we will probably go back to having more pit stops. The teams were starting to understand the tires a little better, so they were having fewer stops," he explained.

Automakers' attempts to boost sales and profits by broadening their U.S.product lineups could backfire, billionaire private-equity investor Wilbur Ross said Wednesday.

Two German automakers and two European suppliers have delivered the best shareholder return in the industry this year, despite troubling economic conditions in Europe.

GM's top U.S. executive delivered a staunch defense of electric vehicles and the Chevrolet Volt, noting that the plug-in hybrid's sales tripled in 2012.

It's not yet clear how automakers will achieve the federally mandated 54.5 mpg fuel-economy standard in 2025, but the industry and consumers are likely -- though not guaranteed -- to adjust to the requirement.

Also in this episode: BMW introduces the 4-series and a CEO inserts his foot into his mouth

With brand competition so close these days on vehicle quality, cost and styling, the customer shopping experience online and in the store has become a key battleground for automakers, panelists from Google, Hyundai and TrueCar said at the Automotive...

The 2013 Detroit auto show demonstrates an increasing diversity in crossovers, or car-based vehicles that provide the space, styling and functionality of a truck-based sport-utility vehicle without the penalty at the gas pump.

The 2013 Detroit auto show demonstrates an increasing diversity in crossovers, or car-based vehicles that provide the space, styling and functionality of a truck-based sport-utility vehicle without the penalty at the gas pump.

Thank or blame the digital world and social media, but there's no hiding a bad dealership experience today.

Rising production in North America has forced automakers to collaborate more closely with their suppliers. And suppliers, in turn, are reaching outside the auto industry to get help.

We haven't called the local chamber of commerce to confirm it, but it seems safe to say that a significant portion of economic activity in the Phoenix-Scottsdale metropolitan is generated by private vehicle sales facilitated by Craigslist.

On the heels of this week's reveal of the

2012 Audi A7 - A Letter to the Thief

Here are a few things you should know about your new car.

To whoever now has our Audi A7:

Photo Gallery: 2012 Audi A7 - Four Seasons Wrap-Up - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Audi A7 - Four Seasons Wrap-Up - Automobile Magazine

2012 Audi A7 - A Letter to the Thief | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Automobile Takes on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

We dissect three versions of the luxury sport/utility flagship.

It's a great week when you get behind the wheel of an all-new Mercedes-Benz GL-Class. Even better when you drive three. Editor-in-chief Jean Jennings, Deputy Editor Joseph DeMatio and associate web editors Jake Holmes and Donny Nordlicht recently cycled through the GL350 BlueTec, GL450 4Matic and GL550 4Matic. Starting at $63,305, the GL350 has a 240-horsepower, 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6 under the hood. The $64,805 GL450 4Matic has a 362-horsepower, 4.6-liter bi-turbo V-8, and the $87,805 GL550 ups the 4.6 bi-turbo's power to 429 horses. All come with a seven-speed automatic and have a 7500-pound towing capacity.

Photo Gallery: Automobile Takes on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: Automobile Takes on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class - Automobile Magazine

Automobile Takes on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

News 16 Jan, 2013

A tuned Shelby Ford Focus ST has been unveiled at the Detroit show

Volkswagen has opened a new engine plant in Silao in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, the group's 100th plant worldwide.

Dyer Consequences: Showtime

I don't go to many auto shows, mainly because the Internet has killed the suspense that once enlivened the show circuit.

I don't go to many auto shows, mainly because the Internet has killed the suspense that once enlivened the show circuit. This year, for instance, the 2014 Corvette is the big deal at the Detroit show, but the major points of intrigue were dispelled months before the official unveiling. I write this several weeks ahead of the C7 debut, and I can already tell you the bore spacing on the new V-8. Bore spacing, indeed.

Photo Gallery: Dyer Consequences: Showtime - Automobile Magazine

Dyer Consequences: Showtime | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

American Honda's top sales executive chided automakers caught by federal regulators for overstating their fuel economy numbers.

A sharp focus on responding to Internet leads has allowed Chrysler Group to dramatically decrease both the number of lost leads as well as the time the average customer waits for a response, the automaker's head of United States and Canadian sales...