Auto News 5

Herbie, the popular VW Beetle from a series of Disney movies, has inspired the German automaker to launch a special Edition 53 model featuring the signature stripes, colours and number.

Of course, don't expect its performance to match that of the Hollywood star. Still, the Volkswagen Beetle Edition 53 rides on 17'' wheels and is available with a six-speed DSG. Engine choices include a 1.2L TSI, 1.6L TDI, and 2.0L TDI.

Unfortunately, the car will remain exclusive to Spanish customers for now. Keep your fingers crossed just in case!

Source: Autoblog

Photo: Volkswagen

According to reports, the IndyCar Series and Lotus are on the verge of an agreement that would allowed both parties to go their separate ways without having to go thru a long and difficult judicial battle.

Lotus has had its shares of problems in its first year of IndyCar competition, having being plagued by numerous issues both financially and performance wise.

Along with Chevrolet and Honda, Lotus had entered the series as an official engine supplier and it had, at one point, signed agreements with four different teams for the 2012 season.

Right on the outset, Lotus was underprepared, underpowered and underfunded. Such a situation led to more and more problems on the track, so much so that all Lotus teams asked the series officials to release them from their contracts with Lotus.

Only HVM Racing remained as a Lotus-powered team but the team's owner Keith Wiggins paid the price for being unable to get out of this alliance.

If everything gets resolved to the satisfaction of everyone involved, an announcement is expected to be made in December.

Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing maintains its financial backing

Good news for Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing as its main sponsor, Quaker Chemical Corporation, has renewed its sponsorship for 2013 IZOD IndyCar season.

This will allow the team not only to focus on keeping the young and talented Josef Newgarden on board, but also to try and figure out a way of putting a second entry on the starting grid.

Sebastian Bourdais confirmed at Dragon Racing

Jay Penske, owner of the Dragon Racing squad, was pleased to confirm that he had re-signed for a full-time effort Champ Car champion Sebastian Bourdais who will be back this time to drive the team' Chevy-powered car.  


A few timely adjustments by his crew chief and a cooling track helped Kyle Busch win the pole in Phoenix at a record speed.

"Dave (Rogers, crew chief) made some really good adjustments there from qualifying practice to now and the car drove exactly like it needed to for those two laps," said Busch after notching his  10th career pole, second of the season and second at PIR.

Busch averaged  138.766 mph at the reconfigured one-mile oval topping Martin Truex Jr. at 138.217 mph. Denny Hamlin completed a top-three sweep by Toyotas at 137.578mph.

In the all-important Chase Brad Keselowski qualified 14th, ten spots ahead of series points leader Jimmie Johnson who is down in 24th. This was the third time, out of the eight previous Chase races, that Keselowski out qualified the five-time champion.

Johnson went out fairly early in the line of qualifiers when the sun was out and the track was hotter and slicker.

"Wasn't so good but we've been fighting a little bit in qualifying trim," Johnson said.

"But, we've got a great baseline race setup to go off of. For me it was really turn one.  The glare was pretty bad getting into the turn then getting the power down was tough for me up off of (turn) two.  (Turns) three and four were pretty good I felt like on both of my laps, but I struggled oddly enough down there this time."

Keselowski said that his job was "running to win, whatever that means," he said. "Win the race and things become a lot easier. You don't have to worry about those things."

"It was good lap -- definitely a good lap for our NAPA Toyota," said the second-place Truex.  "We had a really good practice today.  We had good speed all day long.  Obviously, the late draw was something that we knew was going to be big.

"We were fortunate enough to be able to get that and go out late, put down a good lap.  It wasn't good enough, obviously, but nonetheless a good starting spot for Sunday and hopefully we'll be able to turn that into something big."

Hamlin agreed that the later a driver went the better chance a driver had.

"It was treacherous, for sure.  It seemed like if you went later it was definitely an advantage to qualifying.  But -- just really the track and tire combination -- it's really hard.  So, it takes a long time for it to get going."

History/Description: With a high size-to-price ratio, a flexible interior, available all-wheel drive (AWD) and a slew of different options and trim levels, Dodge made sure there was a Caliber for any need or budget. The entry-level model in the automaker's lineup replaced the Neon when it hit lots for model year 2007, and has since been replaced by the Dart.

Look for Caliber with options like a premium stereo, flip-down tailgate speakers, a built-in flashlight, cruise, power accessories and a chilled glove box for keeping your road-trip drinks and snacks cold. Fog lamps, alloy wheels and various cosmetic styling tweaks helped set the Caliber apart on the road. And up-level features like a heated power driver's seat, auto-dimming rearview mirror and satellite radio could be specified, too.

All models were five-door hatchbacks that featured 4-cylinder power and either a manual or Continually Variable Transmission (CVT).

Photo: Justin Pritchard

What Owners Like: Flexibility, versatility and a slew of thoughtful touches were all highly rated by Caliber owners. This is a machine that's easily set up for a wide range of activities from passenger-hauling to camping to shopping and anything in between. Generous at-hand storage, a commanding driving position and confident AWD traction were also highly rated.

What Owners Dislike: Some owners wish for a more pleasing engine note, a more high-quality feel to the Caliber's cabin, and better fuel economy on models with the larger engines. Additionally, some owners report high wind noise levels and “floaty” handling.

Common Issues: Start your test drive of a used Caliber by “feeling” its suspension. Numerous owners reported premature wear from ball joints, control arms, bushings, tie-rods and struts. The Caliber should track straight down the road, and rebound gently but firmly after hitting a bump or dip. Any clunking or popping noises in the process, or any “slop” in the ride or steering, is likely a sign of a problem. Have a Dodge mechanic inspect the suspension on the model you're considering to be sure it's safe, and not in need of expensive repair.

Watch for any “Check Engine” lights in the instrument cluster, which could be the result of a faulty engine control sensor, or a problem with the electronic throttle. Additionally, ensure the model you're considering pulls smoothly while accelerating both moderately and at full throttle. A “scan” of the Caliber's computer network by a mechanic can reveal any potentially hidden problems.

No major issues were apparent with the relatively unproven CVT transmission, though shoppers are advised to be sure the factory maintenance schedule was adhered to for maximum long-term reliability.

Finally, on models with a sunroof triple-check for water leaks, noting any moisture in the footwells, ceiling liner or around the dome light. This may be accompanied by a mildew-like smell, and is typically caused by plugged sunroof drain tubes.

The Verdict: Lower-than-average resale values, decent reliability and higher-than-average size for the money make the Caliber a worthy choice for a used-car shopper after plenty of flexibility, space and selection.

Photo: Justin Pritchard

Kevin Harvick is likely to be leaving the only team he's raced for starting in 2014 according to a report on ESPN.com. The story says Harvick will join three-time champ Tony Stewart's Stewart Haas Racing after 2013.

Although Harvick made the Chase, he's hardly been a factor and numerous times before he's looked at other teams before re-signing with Richard Childress Racing. But Childress' grandson, Austin Dillon, currently a rookie in the Nationwide Series, will be making his Daytona 500 debut next year and likely be moving up to Sprint Cup in 2014.

The next biggest question is: will Harvick take the Budweiser sponsorship - currently on the #29 Chevy - with him to Stewart Haas Racing?

Shortly after the news broke Friday afternoon, both Harvick and Stewart-Haas issued statements about the report.

"Stewart-Haas Racing's driver lineup is all set for 2013, but if you're talking about 2014 and if Kevin Harvick is available, that's something the team would have to look at," SHR team spokesman Mike Arning said in a statement. "Any team in this garage would do the same."

"From the moment Stewart-Haas Racing was formed, becoming a four-car team is something it's been striving for. They have the infrastructure to accommodate a fourth team, and if everything aligns properly, it's something they'll do. So, if a driver the caliber of Kevin Harvick is available, it's something they would pursue."

Harvick's statement said: "Once I know what my future plans are I will make sure everyone is brought up to speed, but as of right now I am focused on finishing this season on a strong note, and continuing to build our program going into the 2013 season at RCR with the ultimate goal of winning a championship."

In his weekly "behind-the hauler-interview" Stewart said "I'll tell you this: When we have something to tell you guys, we'll tell you," he said. "I've always said that, so you guys can throw darts - and when we've got something to tell you that's different than what we've got going on, we'll obviously tell you."

Ally Financial is nearing a deal to sell its auto financing operations in Europe and Latin America for around $4 billion, with GM emerging as the lead bidder if the company decides to sell those operations as a whole, two sources familiar with the...

First Look: 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series

Affalterbach’s "real monster" finally emerges.

By most stretches of the imagination, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is already a monstrous car. After all, it boasts 563 hp, 479 lb-ft of torque, a 0-60 mph time of 3.7 seconds, and an exhaust note that could wake the dead several states away. The new SLS AMG GT is even more so, thanks to a 20-hp increase applied for the 2013 model year.

Photo Gallery: First Look: 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: First Look: 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series - Automobile Magazine

First Look: 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

The week kicked off on a low note as Suzuki announced that it would be pulling out of the U.S. auto market.

About 800 Ford vehicles will need to be scrapped from Superstorm Sandy damage, mainly at dealerships, Ford's chief sales analyst, Erich Merkle, said today.

What is it?

Ford has tripled the number of dealerships it has certified to sell its growing fleet of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles, the company said today.

What Is It? It's more Mini than ever before, at least for the street. The Mini Challenge race car has more performance but you can't drive it to work every day. The

The next U.S. Transportation secretary -- whether it's Ray LaHood or someone else -- will confront a highway system starved for cash and financed by a gasoline tax almost no one wants to raise.

Suzuki today projected an increase in sales this fiscal year as stronger demand from southeast Asian countries offsets a slump in China. The Japanese automaker also said it has already booked an impairment loss of 12.

Also in this episode: Mazda will build a Mazda 2-based subcompact for Toyota, and

News 9 Nov, 2012

Reports claim that Aston Martin's majority shareholder, Investment Dar Co, is looking for a buyer for the firm

What Is It? In marketingese the Mini Paceman is, and#8220;The first Sports Activity Coupe in the premium compact segment.

News 29 Nov, 2012

The carbon fibre-roofed Lamborghini Aventador Roadster has made its world debut at the Los Angeles Motor Show

Caterham Cars in the United Kingdom is adding to its range of open-wheel,

Toyota and its affiliates plan to invest about 7 trillion rupiah ($727 million) in Indonesia over the next five years, in addition to recently announced plans totaling 6 trillion.