Auto News 5

The Hyundai i30 Tourer starts from £16,195, and goes on sale in the UK today

BMW adds four-wheel drive, hybrid and M Sport variants to the 3 Series line-up

Automakers will have to radically change their business models to integrate into the connected transport systems predicted for the long-term future.

Automakers will have to radically change their business models to integrate into the connected transport systems predicted for the long-term future.

The chief executive of Volvo Car Corporation (VCC) has told a newswire that he is discussing plans for a US plant with several rival makers.

Chrysler says traffic delays at the Canada-U.S. border are driving up costs for the world's seventh-largest automaker, which sends 2,000 finished cars and trucks a day across an 83-year-old bridge linking Detroit to Windsor, Ontario.

Tesla survived a cash crisis in 2008 and today delivers its first electric car designed and built solely in-house. Co-founder Elon Musk will soon learn if there's enough Model S demand for Tesla to profit.

Volvo is seeking a partner that can help it build vehicles in North America. "In the medium term, five to six years, we need to find a proper solution in North America," Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby said.

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn is considering stepping down before the company's next mid-term business plan begins in about five years.

After a French newspaper reported this week that the Peugeot family was unhappy with the way CEO Philippe Varin was running PSA, the carmaker's supervisory board was quick to rally to his defense, issuing a statement of support on Wednesday.

Five companies were recognized at the Automotive News Europe Congress in Monte Carlo on Thursday, as leaders in their field who have managed to increase their shareholder value over the last 12- and 36-month periods.

Five companies were recognized at the Automotive News Europe Congress in Monte Carlo on Thursday, as leaders in their field who have managed to increase their shareholder value over the last 12- and 36-month periods.

Maybe you already own a GPS or you're planning to buy one in the near future. Here's a thought: are you allowed to mount it on your car's windshield?

Well, it depends on where you live.

Kicking Tires reported data from POI-Factory.com that shows the different US states and Canadian provinces where it is legal to mount a GPS on the windshield and others where current laws forbid you.

The map below should come in handy if you decide to embark on a cross-country trip:



Source: POI-Factory.com

AMG has been wholly owned by Mercedes since 2005, but the real romance between the two brands began 45 years ago. The adventure culminated in the creation of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG in 2009. That was only the beginning of the rest of the story.


The SLS AMG was the first car entirely designed by AMG, as opposed to “tuning” an existing Mercedes. When AMG built this car, they knew that the sky was the limit as far as versions, power numbers and racing was concerned.

Enter the new 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT, the first street-legal baby step in exploring the seemingly unlimited potential of this car.

The SLS AMG was the first car entirely designed by AMG, as opposed to “tuning” an existing Mercedes. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz)

The first element that makes this SLS a GT is its engine. The 6.2L (6,208 cc) V8 now develops 591 hp, up from 563. Torque remains identical at 479 lb-ft. The 0-100 km/h drops one-tenth of a second to 3.7 seconds. The AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7‑speed transmission, mounted on the rear axle, is unchanged physically.

What has been improved upon are the car's electronic controls. Throttle is now even more responsive as are transmission shift reaction times. When in "M" manual mode, the DCT's newly developed gear change functions and optimized transmission controls have made it possible to reduce upshift and downshift times. As well, each downshift comes with even more aural feedback.

The most important and novel feature of the new SLS AMG GT is its AMG RIDE CONTROL Performance suspension. This adjustable sport suspension forgoes the Comfort mode available in the regular SLS for a Sport Plus setting that is specifically designed for smooth tracks.

The suspension itself revolves around twin aluminum wishbones at every corner, electronically controlled dampers and stiffer springs. From Normal, Sport caters to those that love to push their SLS AMGs hard on country roads. This setting provides increased suspension travel for less-than-perfect roads, thus limiting pitch and roll, but all the while maintaining ideal controlled contact with the surface.

As one would expect, only the best is offered when it comes to crafting the SLS GT's interior. New top-end AMG designo Exclusive STYLE leather is an option but all cars are swathed in the finest hides and high-quality woods.

As one would expect, only the best is offered when it comes to crafting the SLS GT's interior. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz)

What physically distinguishes the GT from the basic car are smoked headlights and taillights. Other stunning details include AMG forged, matte black 10-spoke wheels (19” front, 20” rear) which partially hide red brake callipers. Also, the hood, fenders and front grille fins along with side-view mirrors all have a glossy finish. The all-important AMG logo now features “GT” letters.

The 2013 Mercedes SLS AMG GT will launch in October of 2012. Canadian pricing has not yet been set; however, expect the base Coupe GT to retail for 10 to 15% more than the regular $206,900 Coupe.

Porsche decided to offer its performance-addicted customers a new power enhancement kit developed for the 911 Carrera S.

Through Porsche Exclusive, owners can boost the output of the 3.8L boxer engine from 400 to 430 horsepower, which increases top speed to 306 km/h with the PDK transmission and 308 km/h with a seven-speed manual gearbox. Accelerations from 0 to 100 km/h are completed in 4.0 seconds.

Modifications and adaptations to the electronic engine management system contributed to the 7% power gain without affecting fuel economy.

The list of customization options includes a front apron, an Aerokit Cup with an additional fixed rear wing over the rear spoiler, tinted privacy glass for the side and rear windows, and interior decorative trim ranging from brushed aluminium to carbon.

Photo: Porsche

From GMM

If Thailand joins the F1 calendar in 2014, the southeast Asian country's grand prix could be staged under lights, it has emerged.

Thailand made its intentions clear recently by successfully bidding to host this December's end-of-season Race of Champions, and talks have also taken place about bringing formula one to the country.

"Our discussions with Bernie Ecclestone have gone smoothly. We expect to get rights to host a grand prix from 2014 onwards," Kanokphand Chulakasem, governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand, said recently.

Asiancorrespondent.com now quotes Chulaksem as also saying: "The race might be held at night to accommodate viewers in Europe and help earn more in sponsorship."

F1's only artificially-lit races are in Singapore and Abu Dhabi.

There is speculation Thailand's grand prix could be held on the streets of the capital Bangkok, on an upgraded Bira circuit 165km from Bangkok, or at a new purpose-built F1 facility.

From GMM

Felipe Massa has not ruled out returning to Sauber next year if he is forced to leave Ferrari.

Brazilian Massa, now 31, made his debut with the Swiss team in 2002 and then returned for the 2004-5 seasons following an interlude as Ferrari's official test driver.

He moved to the famous Maranello based team to be Michael Schumacher's teammate in 2006, but high speculation this year suggests he could be replaced at the end of the season by Ferrari's top development driver Sergio Perez.

Mexican Perez's promotion would create a key vacancy at Sauber, the Swiss team with historically political links to Ferrari and a customer of the fabled Italian squad's engine, gearbox and KERS.

Felipe Massa and Sergio Perez, will they exchange their race seats? (Photo: Sauber Motorsport AG)

Fernando Alonso on Thursday revealed he will have a say on whether or not Massa is retained in 2013.

"Fernando is very respected within Ferrari because of his results so it's natural that he participates in the decision about the drivers," Massa is quoted by Brazil's O Estado de S.Paulo on Thursday.

"We have a good relationship, I know he supports me, but what really matters is my results," he insisted. "That is what will make Ferrari either keep me or whether I will have to go to another team."

Massa refused to say if he has been in contact with McLaren, whose Lewis Hamilton is yet to renew his deal for 2013.

"My best option now is to get results," he answered.

Massa said recently he would rather "do something else" rather than sign with a "small" team in 2013.

Is Sauber 'small'? Massa answered in Valencia: "Medium."

Journalist Livio Oricchio commented: "It (Sauber) could be an option, but I don't think so. I have great relationships with the team, we travel together on Swissair -- from what I hear, it would be surprising to see Massa there."

From wrc.com

Frenchman Sebastien Loeb, driving a Citroen DS3 WRC leads his teammate Mikko Hirvonen by 4 seconds after the first full day of action at Rally New Zealand, round seven of the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship.

Ford World Rally Team's Jari-Matti Latvala was lying third until the Finnish driver collided with a fence on stage 7 and lost over four minutes trying to get his Ford Fiesta RS WRC back on the road. The incident saw Latvala drop back to ninth.

“I'm really, really disappointed. I can't remember being this disappointed for a long time,” explained a disheartened Latvala.

"It was a combination left-right corner, but everyone had been cutting there so I went for the cut as well and the cars in front must have made a hole on the inside and the front-right wheel touched the hole and spun the car into a wire fence. The wire went into the front wheel and we couldn't move anywhere. We had to wait until the farmer came with some side cutters but by that time I had lost four minutes," added the 27-year-old.

Sebastien Loeb, Citroen DS3. (Photo: WRC)

Teammate Petter Solberg had an equally troubled day after the Norwegian lost over a minute this morning after opting for hard compound Michelin tires. He finishes the day fourth overall.

After a trouble-free day in an M-Sport run Ford Fiesta RS WRC, Russia's Evgeny Novikov is third. Teammate Ott Tanak is fifth in a similar car, 7.7s adrift of Solberg in fourth.

Competing in New Zealand for the first time, Thierry Neuville is sixth for the Citroen Junior World Rally Team. The Belgian driver reported problems with his pacenotes led to a spin during stage 3 but a drama-free afternoon saw Neuville finish the day 31s behind Estonia's Tanak.

Rally New Zealand - Classification after day 1:
1. Loeb-Elena (Citroen DS3 Wrc) in 2.07'35”0
2. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Citroen DS3 Wrc) + 4”0
3. Novikov-Giraudet (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 1'31”0
4. P. Solberg-Patterson (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 1'39”3
5. Tanak-Sikk (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 1'47”0
6. Neuville-Gilsoul (Citroen DS3 Wrc) + 2'18”0
7. Sordo-Del Barrio (Mini Cooper Wrc) + 2'34”3
8. Araujo-Ramalho (Mini Cooper Wrc) + 4'36”9
9. Latvala-Anttila (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 4'56”1
10. Stohl-Minor (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 6'55"5
etc.

From GMM

The reinvigorated F1 bribery affair has raised questions not only about the viability of the sport's planned floatation, but about whether Bernie Ecclestone will lose his job or even face jail in Germany.

"Will Ecclestone go to Hockenheim?" the Die Welt newspaper, obviously musing a potential arrest now that former F1 banker Gerhard Gribkowsky has confirmed the F1 chief executive's payments to him were indeed bribes, wondered.

Gribkowsky faces years in jail, and so the question now is whether the Munich prosecutors will also go after 81-year-old Ecclestone.

"I'll wait and see how things develop," the Briton told Welt. "Now I'm getting on with my job."

Prosecutor spokesman Thomas Steinkraus-Koch told Bild newspaper: "Since 2011 an investigation of Bernie Ecclestone has been underway. For now we are now awaiting the court's verdict in the trial of Gerhard Gribkowsky."

That judgement is expected within days.

German lawyer Sewarion Kirkitadze told Bild that Ecclestone ultimately face a prison sentence of "up to ten years". "He should also expect the prosecutor to prepare an international arrest warrant and an extradition request."

For all the trouble, which Ecclestone said is based on Gribkowsky's new lies to "save himself", the diminutive Briton is threatening to sue.

"We will see if I take action against Gribkowsky. It's early days, let's have a look," Ecclestone is quoted as saying by the F1 business journalist Christian Sylt.

The F1 supremo, who insisted he is "not at all" worried the affair threatens his job or the F1 floatation, told Bloomberg news agency: "I don't know what they (the prosecutors) would charge me for."

From GMM and McLaren

Great Britain could be set to secure a second grand prix, after the newspaper Daily Telegraph reported on Friday that plans are afoot to host a race in and around London's Olympic stadium.

The story said the plan is among three other bids that have been accepted by the London Legacy Development Corporation.

But the plan was met with immediate scepticism, one authoritative source confirming that records show the company responsible for the bid was actually disolved as long ago as 2010.

The source described Friday's news as "very strange".

Bernie Ecclestone, however, confirmed he has been approached.

"They came up with a scheme whereby formula one would race around the stadium, inside it, outside it. They wanted to make sure I would be interested," said the F1 chief executive.

Asked if he is interested, Ecclestone answered: "Yeah."


Strangely, this rumour started at the same time when McLaren sponsor Santander unvieled its project of a short film showing a “virtual”' F1 race on the streets of London.

This vision - based on forensic and detailed research - is realised through cinema-standard high-fidelity CGI technology, brought alive in a four minute film featuring Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.

However, Bernie Ecclestone confirmed the Olympic stadium idea has "nothing to do" with the McLaren Santander event.