Auto News 5

General Motors and PSA/Peugeot-Citroen will co-develop four vehicle projects as part of their alliance, the companies said in a statement today.

General Motors and PSA/Peugeot-Citroen will co-develop four vehicle projects as part of their alliance, the companies said in a statement today.

The gloomy European market outlook and a worsening price war were the dominant topics of discussion at last month's Paris auto show, but the Mondial de l'Automobile also delivered a number of significant new products.

Jaguar Land Rover will follow premium rivals by opening design studios outside its UK home market, Jaguar's design chief Ian Callum said.

Auto123.com met with director of BMW Motorsport, Jens Marquardt during the meeting of the finale of the DTM at the Hockenheimring in Germany this past weekend.

BMW driver, Canadian Bruno Spengler clinched his maiden DTM title by winning the race from his main championship rival, Mercedes driver Gary Paffett.

BMW's boss of racing was obviously delighted with the outcome of the race and the season.

"With his fourth win of the season, Bruno Spengler managed to win the drivers' title in BMW's first year back in the DTM for 20 years," Jens Marquardt, BMW Motorsport Director told us.

"To be honest: we would not have dared to dream of a season like this. We have gone up against two ambitious and unbelievably strong opponents with a wealth of DTM experience. Our goal for the opening year was to learn and become competitive as soon as possible. That we have achieved far more than this and won three titles is testimony to the outstanding job done by the whole team. With the other competitors, we have treated the fans to ten excitings races and maximum tension right down to the final race. That just goes to show the concept of the new DTM has been a complete success," Marquardt added.



Marquardt was asked why the DTM was so attractive to BMW. "It is one of the most competitive series in the world," he started saying.

"We also prefer to race in a series that showcase race cars that are very similar to road going vehicles. The M3 we race here in the DTM looks like any M3 that customers can buy at any dealership," he added.

"For us the DTM is attracting because it is a fantastic marketing platform. We also really appreciate the rule changes that were applied for this year. The series has managed to reduce the costs and to make the new generation of cars a lot safer than before. We built the first carbon fibre safety cell used in a sedan, and this has been a major improvement in terms of driver safety," Marquardt said.

The DTM cars will soon be eligible to run in the Japan GT series and the new Grand-Am/ALMS series in North America. What kind of car BMW intends to run in the U.S.?

"The merger between ALMS and Grand-Am is really great news for the sport. And it's the same with the agreement DTM has found with the organisers of the Japan GT series. Very important meetings will take place between now and the next Spring with Grand-Am, ALMS and ACO officials to define the new technical package of the American series. We at BMW want to run car in that new series but we first need to look at the rules and see where we fit in there," Marquardt explained.

And what about the possibility of building a car for endurance racing and the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

"No. We've won Le Mans in the past and like I said before, we want to race cars that are similar to our road going cars. We would not build a machine such as an LMP1 for that reason. We want the fans to see race cars that are extremely similar to their street going cousins. Le Mans is certainly out of the question," Marquardt ended.

With a seventh 1-2-3 finish this current season, Chevrolet secured its third consecutive title in the WTCC Manufacturer's championship.

Stuart Cowie, Operations Manager said: "We are very pleased with the weekend. We mathematically made certain of the Manufacturers' championship, took another triple podium and collected six finishes in the points. We couldn't ask for more. I‘m happy the three cars finished the weekend unscathed, which is important ahead of the following events. This is made even more important when you are so far from home and when you have your three drivers fighting for the Drivers' title. They are managing this situation in the most professional way and I want to congratulate them for that."

Photo: FIA WTCC

Chevrolet will retire from the category at the end of the season but is already guaranteed that one of their three drivers will be crowned in 2012.

Yvan Muller, Rob Huff and Alain Menu will fight in the two final events. The first two are equal on points, while Alain Menu is 38 behind, when 110 points are still available.

Chevrolet drivers: Yvan Muller, Alain Menu and Rob Huff. Which one will be the 2012 Champion? (Photo: FIA WTCC)

Canadian race car driver Bruno Spengler captured the title of the DTM series at the end of a nail biting race that saw him keep his main rival at bay, Mercedes's Gary Paffet.

Spengler, who drives a BMW M3 DTM, scored four wins and finished the season with a total of 149 points, four points more than Paffett, a former DTM champion.

Auto123.com was on location in Germany. We attended the post race festivities with Spengler and the entire BMW Motorsport crew.

Here is a selection of the best photos of the meeting, including the sumptuous awards ceremony that took place in the paddock Sunday evening.

Photos: René Fagnan

From GMM

Red Bull, the Austrian energy drink and championship-winning F1 team owner, could be the saviour of the embattled New York grand prix.

Bernie Ecclestone has reportedly told a motor racing website that billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz should step in to fund the race, after organisation and funding shortfalls forced the delay of the inaugural event, which had been scheduled for 2013.

Sebastian Vettel in Port Imperial, last June. (Photo: Red Bull Racing)

Christian Sylt, the F1 business journalist who recorded Ecclestone's Red Bull quote, said he thinks the sport's chief executive is serious.

"In the absence of state support, I think the only way the grand prix of America can proceed is if a wealthy backer gets behind it.

"Red Bull certainly has the resources to do so and it clearly has an interest in promoting its brand in the area," Sylt told the New Jersey newspaper Star-Ledger.

"It is also worth mentioning that Ecclestone told me that if a backer comes on board very soon there is a possibility that the race could take place next year," he added.

The latest generation of the BMW 3 Series Sedan boasts excellent fuel economy, especially the 328i and Canada-exclusive 320i with their turbo 4-cylinder engines. However, the German brand isn't stopping there, and will introduce the 2013 ActiveHybrid 3 this fall.

Crowning the 3 Series Sedan lineup, the ActiveHybrid 3 will be the most powerful version of the bunch, and the thriftiest around town. Its combined fuel economy rating of 7.lL/100km matches that of the base, 181-hp 320i. It will also be the most expensive 3 Series Bimmer shy of an M3 with an MSRP of $58,300.


Turbo six meets electric motor
The 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 relies on the 335i's N55 engine, a single-turbo 3.0L inline-6 that punches out 300 hp. The electric motor produces 55 hp and 155 lb-ft of instant torque; together, they deliver a combined output of 335 hp and 330 lb-ft through the rear wheels. An 8-speed automatic transmission with wheel-mounted paddle shifters manages the whole shebang.

A lithium-ion battery pack is located in the trunk, reducing its capacity from 480 litres to 390. The battery allows the ActiveHybrid 3 to run on electric power alone at speeds up to 75 km/h, or up to four kilometres at a constant speed of 35 km/h.

The hybrid system adds about 225 lbs to the weight of the car, which offsets the increased output. As such, the ActiveHybrid 3 hits 100 km/h in a claimed 5.5 seconds, a tick slower than the rear-drive 335i automatic.

Fuel economy gain, if only around town
Since all 3 Series Sedan models get fuel-saving tricks such as automatic start/stop, brake energy regeneration and an ECO PRO drive mode, the 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 will have a hard time impressing the new-car shopper with its official fuel economy ratings.

Both the 335i and the ActiveHybrid 3 consume 5.9L/100km on the highway; however, the hybrid model is more efficient around town with an 8.0L/100km rating versus the automatic 335i's 9.1. As for the slower 320i, it's rated at 8.6/5.2 city/highway.

Same feature content as 335i
While hybrids usually offer more equipment to soften the blow of the higher price, the 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 gets the same feature content as the 335i. That includes, among others, a heated steering wheel, a 40/20/40 split folding rear seat, front sport seats, adaptive headlights, auto-adjusting high beams, a power sunroof, Dakota leather upholstery, heated front seats and a nine-speaker sound system with USB port and Bluetooth connectivity.

And just like the 328i and 335i, you can also choose between three trim lines: Modern, Luxury and Sport, which each boast their own colour and finish combinations. Premium and M Sport packages are also available, as well as plenty of standalone options.

Fast, efficient and probably rare, the 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 promises reduced fuel consumption around town. At more than $58K, however, that comes at a price.

Crowning the 3 Series Sedan lineup, the ActiveHybrid 3 will be the most powerful version of the bunch, and the thriftiest around town.(Photo: BMW)

Toyota will put nine vehicles on display at next week's SEMA Show in Las Vegas including four custom builds for the Dream Build Challenge, three cars based on the all-new Avalon, a TRD FJ Cruiser, and the "Ultimate Fishing Tundra."

For the Dream Build Challenge, four Toyota Racing drivers each picked a team to create their "Dream Build" custom vehicle. Toyota will give a total of $100,000 to their designated charities, with the winner's charity receiving half.

You can vote for the best design on the Dream Build Facebook page until Monday, October 29th .

Photo: Toyota

From GMM

Monisha Kaltenborn thinks that if Sauber can provide its drivers with a good car every season, the Swiss team can prevent them from jumping ship.

After two years with Sauber, the Hinwil based team has lost its impressive youngster Sergio Perez to McLaren, and is now expected to promote another Telmex-promoted young Mexican - Esteban Gutierrez - into the race cockpit for 2013.

"We wanted Sergio to stay, but it was not possible," team boss Kaltenborn is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace. "However, if we can (always) have a competitive car like this season, we can prevent this situation from happening again in the future."

Entirely new line-up in 2013 at Sauber? (Photo: Sauber F1 Team)

Gutierrez's teammate in 2013 is expected to be German Nico Hulkenberg, who is moving from Force India to Sauber, but has also been linked this year with a switch to Ferrari.

"We have a great history of bringing young talent into the sport and giving them all the support they need to develop, learn as quickly as possible and move forward," Monisha Kaltenborn continued.

Sauber is currently sixth in the 2012 constructors' championship, between Mercedes (5th) and Force India.

"I think what we did this year is very important for the team's strategy for the coming years," Kaltenborn insisted.

From GMM

Former Niki Lauda and Sauber sponsor Money Service Group's founder Michael Seidl has been sentenced to jail for nine years.

Last week, F1 legend Lauda testified against Seidl in a Liechtenstein court, after he lost EUR 500,000 in an investment, and was underpaid to the tune of EUR 800,000 after Money Service Group sponsored his famous cap in 2011.

Niki Lauda (Photo: René Fagnan/Auto123.com)

Seidl was tried for commercial fraud, and according to the major Volksblatt daily he was sentenced unconditionally to nine years in jail.

A court spokesman confirmed the verdict to the Austrian APA news agency, adding that Seidl has lodged an appeal.

As did Lauda, the Swiss team Sauber terminated its sponsorship deal with Money Service Group mid last year.

From press release

David Coulthard has become the latest motor sport great to sign up for the Race Of Champions at Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium on December 14-16, 2012. 


The Scotsman enjoyed a glittering Formula 1 career, taking 13 grand prix wins and finishing in the world championship top three no less than five times in over a decade at the top. He has since spent three years in Germany's DTM championship but last weekend he announced his retirement from full-time competition to focus on his other interests including his F1 commentary for BBC television.

Photo: Race of Champions

Coulthard said: “This will be my eighth ROC appearance and it's a pleasure to take part. The main draw is the camaraderie between the drivers and all the social events outside the cars but the racing is always exciting. In the ROC Nations Cup you never want to let your team-mate down, then you have the individual event. Looking at how I got on at Wembley, it seems I do better after I've just retired from something. That time I made the final so maybe this year in Bangkok I can finish the job...”

Race organiser Fredrik Johnsson added: “David has been a fantastic supporter of the Race Of Champions down the years and we're delighted that he is back in 2012. He is a real character who is always a big hit with the crowds in the stadium. Now we are thrilled to offer race fans in Bangkok one more chance to see both DC and Michael Schumacher in action.”

The end-of-season contest, which is being staged for the 25th consecutive year in 2012, brings together the world's greatest drivers from motor sport's main disciplines - including Formula 1, world rally, touring cars, Le Mans, MotoGP, Indycar and the X-Games - and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery.

Drivers pair up for the ROC Nations Cup, this year scheduled for Saturday 15 December, before the individual Race Of Champions on Sunday 16 December. 



Drivers confirmed for the 2012 Race Of Champions so far:
• Michael SCHUMACHER, seven-time Formula 1 World Champion
• Sebastian VETTEL, Formula 1 World Champion 2011, 2010
• Ryan HUNTER-REAY, IndyCar Series Champion 2012
• Jamie WHINCUP, V8 Supercar Champion 2011, 2009, 2008
• Mick DOOHAN, five-time 500cc MotoGP World Champion
• David COULTHARD, 13-time Formula 1 grand prix winner

From GMM

Former motor racing chief Andrew Craig has tipped F1's owners to "sit tight" rather than float the sport while Bernie Ecclestone is embroiled in the Gerhard Gribkowsky bribery scandal.

While German prosecutors are currently considering whether to charge F1's long-time chief executive with corruption, owner CVC has delayed the stock market floatation of its sport, ostensibly due to adverse market conditions.

But Craig, who was CEO of the now-defunct US open wheeler series CART throughout the category's premier success until 2000, has told leading F1 business journalist Christian Sylt that he sees a link between the stalled floatation and Ecclestone's legal troubles.

"CVC's best option," he told Sylt, "may be to sit tight until after the criminal case is resolved."

And that, according to widespread sources and even Ecclestone himself, could take a long time.

Bernie Ecclestone told Sylt and Eurosport: "I don't see how it (the case) can come to an end really."

Sylt quoted someone close to CVC as saying: "It's hard to know (if the prosecutors are going to press charges against Ecclestone). Bernie is pretty blase about it. It's hard to know to be honest."

It was reported in the German press earlier in October that one solution could be Mercedes recruiting other influential players in F1 to push for Ecclestone's removal as chief executive.

"We would not wait for a months-long process, but (we) would act," a Mercedes source told the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.

From GMM

Red Bull has the standout budget among F1's UK-based teams, according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Citing British companies data, the magazine said Red Bull Technology - the Red Bull Racing parent - had a budget of EUR 245 million in 2011 as Sebastian Vettel sped to his back-to-back drivers' world championship.

Auto Motor und Sport said Red Bull's budget last year was EUR 42 million higher than in 2010.

Red Bull celebrating Sebastian Vettel's second championship in Japan. (Photo: WRi2)

Brackley based Mercedes, meanwhile, reportedly spent just EUR 145 million in 2011 -- a full EUR 100 million less than Red Bull.

Lotus' 2011 budget was a reported EUR 155m, compared to Williams' 111m.

McLaren's figures are pending.

But the news about Red Bull coincides with a fresh wave of speculation in the paddock about the energy drink-owned team's defiance in the face of the teams-governed Resource Restriction Agreement (RRA).

McLaren's Martin Whitmarsh, however, fell short of accusing Red Bull of cheating.

"If they are ahead of us, it's because they've done the better job," he said.

The Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula 1 team has Wednesday announced its two drivers for the Young Driver Test in Abu Dhabi in the week following the 18th Grand Prix of the season.

Toro Rosso will run Luiz Razia and Johnny Cecotto Junior.

Razia will have two days at the wheel of the Ferrari-powered STR7 on Tuesday and Thursday.

Luiz Razia. (Photo: Team Lotus F1)

The 23-year-old Brazilian finished second in this year's GP2 series, having come up through the ranks of the usual junior formulae.

His previous experience in a Formula 1 car consists of a young driver test for Virgin Racing in 2010 and in 2011 he drove for Lotus in FP1 at the Chinese Grand Prix, as well as taking part in that year's young driver test.

Johnny Cecotto will drive on the Wednesday. The 23-year-old Venezuelan shares his name with his father, a former racer and motorcycle world champion.

Johnny Cecotto Jr. winner at Monaco. (Photo: GP2 Series)

Cecotto Junior has raced in GP2 since 2009. He finished ninth overall in this year's championship, his best result to date. Highlights of the season include a pole position and win in Monaco and another victory in Hockenheim.

Am I strange to get all excited every chance I get to drive a Sprinter? Could it be that I harbour a deep hidden desire to work for UPS or Purolator? Possibly, but I think it has more to do with the fact that it's so far off my radar of typical test cars that it's a vacation from the usual...

The Mercedes (which was Dodge in another time) Sprinter is, to put it into perspective, the German Chevrolet Express or Ford Econoline. You might expect this coming from me, but you only have to glance over at any delivery company's fleet to see that, the Sprinter is much more awesome than any American-built van.

Want further proof? Ford will shortly cut the Econoline -- after only 283 years on the road -- and replace it with the big Transit, one size up from the current Transit Connect. This European-designed van is the best selling commercial vehicle on the other side of the pond.


Mercedes knows vans
The 2012 Mercedes Sprinter is actually the largest passenger/commercial van offered by Mercedes. In other parts of the world, they have the Viano and Vito. There are others, but the Sprinter is the star of this show. All I'm trying to say is that Mercedes knows a thing, or 19, about vans.

My tester for the week was a 2012 Mercedes Sprinter 2500 High Roof with the 170” wheelbase. It was a cargo van and it was white. It was perfect. The first thing I did with a few office chums, including the Miranda, was do a few laps in the rear. Ok, pointless, but it was fun and I know you want to do the same...

Seriously, it's no small wonder why the Sprinter makes for an excellent conversion camper vehicle! The rear's square footage is superior to my basement! The possibilities are endless for all walks of professionals as well.

The Sprinter is actually the largest passenger/commercial van offered by Mercedes. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Diesel; there is no other way
All 2012 Mercedes Sprinters are powered by a BlueTEC turbo-diesel 3.0L V6 engine. This potent powerplant puts out a proper yet paltry 188 hp and prominent 325 lb-ft of torque. Between it and the rear-drive wheels is a 5-speed autobox that features a manual mode.

Let's move on to the drive: The 2012 Mercedes Sprinter looks like a bus and, well, drives like a bus if only because turning a corner requires not only a wider angle, but the steering needs to go around a few more times than a typical car.

Otherwise, the Sprinter really is simple to navigate. The brakes are immensely powerful and pedal feel is confidence-inspiring. The ride is a little jittery, but only because most of the time in the course of my week-long test, I was alone in the van. This Sprinter is designed to handle up to a total of 6,146 kg (13,550 lbs) and the suspension settles under the weight.

What blew my mind was my final fuel economy numbers at the end of the week. I rode the 2012 Mercedes Sprinter as I would have any other press car, and Miranda even managed to load it up with some renovation material. So, we did put it to work and it still managed a notable 13L per 100 km.

The turbo-diesel V6 is full of vim, and always willing to dish out the power. The 5-speed box is quick to participate, and altogether this big Sprinter can easily keep up with traffic. When loaded, the situation changes, obviously.

Despite its size and capabilities, the Sprinter still managed a notable 13L per 100 km. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Uh, really, really big
What looks like content that would fit in a woman's purse (well, Miranda's at least) is actually a dozen sheets of plywood, a few interior doors and a crap-load of 2x4s and 72 rubber floor tiles, four-square-feet each. The contents look small because the Sprinter's rear quarters are that ginormous. What surprised me was the total absence of rattles from the bare walls.

Up front in the 2012 Mercedes Sprinter, the seats are very firm and reasonably comfortable. There are tonnes of storage spaces and possibly the only complaint I could make relates to the cup-holders: they are not deep or plentiful enough.

The gauges and other controls are simple and straightforward. Oh, and the cruise control stalk is the same as in most of Mercedes' cars. Many don't like the way the stalk functions, but it's only a matter of habit.

The contents look small because the Sprinter's rear quarters are that ginormous. (Photo: Collin Styker)

Endless possibilities
The most basic cargo 2012 Mercedes Sprinter has a base price of $42,900. As tested, my 2500 High Roof with 170” wheelbase retails for $50,100. The most expensive base 3500 Super High Roof 170" with extended wheelbase has a sticker price of $55,500. Passenger versions vary from $48k to $54k. Mercedes also offers Cab-chassis and even minibuses.

I recall going to the launch of the then-Dodge Sprinter where it was explained that, given the large number of body styles, colors and configurations, it would be possible to line up 500 different Sprinters side by side and they'd be all unique.

Either way I look at it, and even if the 2012 Mercedes Sprinter is pricier than the average Econoline, Express or Savana, it's by far the better choice.

It would be possible to line up 500 different Sprinters side by side and they'd be all unique. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

From GMM

Niki Lauda revealed Mercedes AMG is working on a "completely new car" for the 2013 season.

The F1 legend and triple world champion, Niki Lauda, is Mercedes' brand new non-executive chairman -- the main link between the Stuttgart carmaker and the Ross Brawn-led, UK-based team.

With this year's W03, Nico Rosberg won in Shanghai and Michael Schumacher lapped the quickest in qualifying at Monaco, but otherwise the silver machine has often been a disappointment.

Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team

With the regulations staying essentially stable next year, ahead of the radical changes for 2014, most teams are working on evolutions of their current cars for next season.

But with Lewis Hamilton arriving from McLaren for 2013, simply evolving the W03 is not going to be Mercedes' approach, Austrian Lauda suggested to the broadcaster RTL.

"We are working on a concept for a completely new car. The current one is simply not fast enough," he said.

A recent trip to Europe landed me behind the wheel of three different diesel press vehicles. This was no accident. I know how much gas costs per litre and it hovers around the $2.00/L mark in Budapest, Hungary -- sometimes even more.

While diesel fuel is slightly higher in price (around $2.20/L), I know from experience that I can get almost double the mileage from one tank. And with all the driving I was doing, every last drop counted.

Round 1: The Mazda CX-5 Diesel

Photo: Alexandra Straub

The Mazda CX-5 is the Japanese automaker's latest crossover vehicle. It came to Canada earlier this year, but this was the first time I'd had the chance to take it for a spin. I'd heard positive comments and read rave reviews from other journalists on it and couldn't wait to try it.

Was I disappointed my first go with it? Absolutely not. In fact, it was a complete pleasure to drive. The interior is really nicely finished, it has a comfortable ride and seats five. And I needed all the space I could get since most of the time there were four passengers on board.

Making it even better was the inclusion of a 2.2L, 4-cylinder diesel engine linked to a 6-speed automatic transmission. I drove about 1,300 km, if not more, and only filled up one and a half times. Fabulous.

Round 2: The Nissan Qashqai Diesel

Photo: Alexandra Straub

Nissan's compact crossover, which is unfortunately not available in Canada, came with a 6-speed manual transmission. You don't see that very often. Although my frequent battle with city traffic made me wish I'd had an automatic transmission, I wasn't complaining.

A trait that carries over into most Nissan vehicles is its ease of use. It's not an uber fancy vehicle on the inside, but it gets the job done. This vehicle also seats five with room to spare in the trunk. It made a great companion for a weekday overnight outing with my mom and grandparents to Lake Balaton.

As for its looks? It's a cutie. And its bright red exterior really made it pop.

Round 3: The BMW X6 xDriver40d

Photo: Alexandra Straub

With this Beemer, I was livin' large -- literally. However, I didn't feel that largeness in the wallet, especially when I filled it up.

Backtracking to when we first met, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that the digital range metre showed over 900 kilometres until empty. I thought I must be hallucinating. I wasn't. My lack of hallucinations were further solidified when I filled the tank up at the end of my test period and saw 976 kilometres until empty. Wow. And for a vehicle of its size, that is beyond impressive.

Why the Love?
I heart diesels because they're efficient. I heart them because they're not smelly and not loud. Yes, the older models used to have these traits, but not anymore. With emissions laws being as stringent as they are, there is no room for black clouds of smoke coming out these modern engines. I also heart them because they have range, baby. While you might pay a tad more to fill up a tank, you can get some crazy mileage out of it in the end.

We might not have the three specific diesel models I drove in Europe here in Canada, but we do have a few to choose from, and more are on the way. Woohoo!

The days of the iconic black cabs in London may be numbered. Manganese Bronze, which builds these taxis for the city, is facing serious financial setbacks and even filed for court administration after failing to secure a bailout from minority shareholder Geely.

The black cabs have endured tough times in recent years due to increasingly strong competition and a production interruption following the recall of 400 cars with a faulty steering.

Manganese Bronze CEO John Russel remains confident that the company will emerge from the current crisis.

Source: leblogauto

Photo: London-taxis