Auto News 5

Hyundai has revealed images and details of the HB20, a locally-built B-segment model that will have its world premiere at the Sao Paulo motor show in October.

Renault's Slovenian unit said it will cut production this month and reduce its work force by about 4.7 percent by the end of the year due to lower demand.

Volkswagen passenger cars have increased deliveries this year to the end of August by 11.5% over the same period a year ago to 3.72m vehicles.

Even in the business of driving and reviewing cars across a huge range of prices and power levels, when you get the keys to a $290,000 hand-built 510-hp supercar, there are some expectations involved.

A more powerful version of the Volkswagen Group's 4,134cc biturbo V8 is to feature in a new version of the Porsche Cayenne. The Cayenne S Diesel supplements the existing V6-engined Cayenne Diesel. It will be rolled out across mainly European markets from January.

Pictures 13 Sep, 2012

Ford says that its third-generation hybrid system, which replaces nickel-metal-hydride batteries with lighter and more efficient lithium-ion batteries, could reduce the company's use of expensive rare earth metals by up to 500,000 pounds a year.

General Motors is planning to cut its Opel administrative staff by 30% or 1,000 jobs according to a report in a German newspaper.

News 13 Sep, 2012

Biggest engine in new Volvo XC90 will be just 2.0-litre capacity

Peugeot says the Onyx supercar concept that will debut at the upcoming Paris auto show demonstrates what sporty versions of hybrid production models will offer.

Kia Motors Europe (KME) has released images of the second generation pro_cee'd ahead of the car's world premiere at the Paris motor show.

TRW Automotive Holdings Corp., is developing a new Electronic Horn System (EHS) which is activated by touching a conductive area on the steering wheel airbag cover. It will be ready for OE fitment in 2014, the company says.

There were three Alfa 8Cs, two Alfa 6Cs, two BMW 328s (original 328s), Kurtis Kraft cars, more Mercedes 300SLs than you could shake a crank shaft at, numerous Ferraris, some Porsche 356s and a Cunningham.

Lear Corporation has announced that Kathleen Ligocki - formerly CEO of Tower Automotive - has been appointed to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.

Fiat aims to avoid plant closures in Italy by putting factories on short-time work through the autumn as Europe's auto industry struggles with weak demand and excess production, according to union sources.

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said he expects Europe's auto industry to take many years to recover from shrinking demand and excess capacity. But while Europe faces overcapacity, the region "will not see any kind of Armageddon," he said.

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said he expects Europe's auto industry to take many years to recover from shrinking demand and excess capacity. But while Europe faces overcapacity, the region "will not see any kind of Armageddon," he said.

According to Finland's MTV3, the management of the Scuderia Ferrari has invited the representatives of F1 driver Heikki Kovalainen to a meeting in Maranello in the next few days.

It is believed that the topic of the meeting will be the extension of Felipe Massa's contract with Ferrari.

Following two strong drives in the recent Grands Prix, Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has apparently agreed to extend Massa's contract for one year, closing the door on Kovalainen.

According to MTV3, Kovalainen's manager Martin Anayi is also in contact with Lotus F1 Team's boss Eric Boullier. But it is very likely that the team will retain Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean next year.

The likeable Kovalainen will most likely continue with Caterham next season. It is not sure however if Russian driver Vitaly Petrov will again be his teammate.

Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham) holding off Jenson Button (McLaren) in the streets of Monaco. (Photo: Caterham F1 Team)

According to Alex Wurz (Williams) and Mark Webber (Red Bull), to improve safety standards in F1, the FIA needs to put a stop to any dangerous behaviour in the development series such as GP2.

Romain Grosjean will be back behind the wheel of his Lotus next week in Singapore. The French driver  said he learned a lesson by watching the Italian Grand Prix from the garage.

The Lotus driver received a one-race ban following his manoeuvre at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix. Since this sanction, the debate is on regarding aggressive driving.

Former F1 driver and now driver coach at Williams, Alex Wurz told Reuters: "Things like the start collision with Romain can and will always happen."

Wurz suggested that the FIA has to make sure the same rules and penalties are applied the same way in lesser categories.

"But especially looking at GP2 races, which is the feeder series, the driver standards there are appalling - bad, very bad - and they are coming in to F1. It's something we clearly must work on that the feeder series are very strict and of the same standard as F1. And we have to achieve this and address it very quickly," the Austrian added.

Crash at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix. (Photo: WRi2)

Red Bull driver Mark Webber agrees, the newcomers need to be educated about the dangers and drive correctly.

Pastor Maldonado is another driver who has received several penalties this season. Both Grosjean and Maldonado are, interestingly, two former GP2 champions.

A new "Playstation generation" has arrived. These kids have become used to see racers walk away and escape from massive crashes.

“In the last 10 years, the level of aggressiveness has ramped up a bit just because guys know that usually they'll be able to walk away from a crash,” Mark Webber, wrote in a BBC column on Wednesday.

“But you can be aggressive and safe or aggressive and unsafe. I've always said F1 is not a finishing school when it comes to racing.”

With the new Pirelli tires and DRS system, it has become much easier to overtake in F1. According to Webber, drivers do not have to be so "desperate" to pass rivals at the start of a race.

"You do need to get involved but some guys are having more incidents than the others and they need to take that on board. We should be the best at what we do, racing in all conditions on all kinds of tracks, and driver etiquette has to match that," said the Red Bull driver.

Frenchman Jules Bianchi was back behind the wheel of the Ferrari F2012 Thursday and again set the fastest time in Day 3 of the young drivers test at the circuit of Magny-Cours, France.

Light rain made conditions tricky at the start of the day, with conditions improving as the sun came out, gradually drying the track.

Rodolfo Gonzalez, Sahara Force India (Photo: Sahara Force India)

Bianchi, who had already driven the Ferrari on Tuesday completed 138 laps, making a total of 992.47 over his two days in the F2012, while today his best time was 1m16.985.

The Scuderia sent Bianchi out for a few laps in the wet in the morning and then focused on aerodynamic measurement and set-up evaluation on a dry track.

Rodolfo Gonzalez planted the Mercedes-powered Sahara Force India VJM05 in second place.

The team evaluated different aero settings, tested the three types of tires and also carried out pit stop simulations and launches.

Brendon Hartley, Mercedes AMG (Photo: WRI2)

Former Red Bull test driver Brendon Hartley was behind the wheel of the Mercedes AMG W03. He set the third fastest time. The team took an early lunch and were then able to use the hard compound tire for set-up work over longer runs

Pos. Driver Team Time* Laps
1 Jules Bianchi Ferrari 1:16.985 138
2 Rodolfo Gonzalez Force India 1:18.018 79
3 Brendon Hartley Mercedes AMG 1:18.671 87
*Unofficial timing