VW AUDI SELL 100.000 TDI DIESEL ENGINES IN 2013

IT’S OFFICIAL: Volkswagen Group of America has sold more than 100,000 TDI® Clean Diesel vehicles in 2013

Herndon, VA -  Volkswagen Group of America reported today that it has sold 100,000 TDI® Clean Diesel vehicles from the Volkswagen and Audi brands this year. This is the first time it has reached this milestone in a calendar year. Volkswagen and Audi currently offer 12 different TDI Clean Diesel powered models in the United States.

Audi and Volkswagen pioneered TDI® Clean Diesel engines and, as a result, the Volkswagen Group of America is the current market leader in Clean Diesel. Today’s Clean Diesel engines deliver more torque, better highway fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions compared with equivalent gasoline engines. As a result, Audi and Volkswagen deliver remarkable performance and impressive fuel economy.

“Selling more than100,000 TDI Clean Diesel vehicles is a significant milestone for Volkswagen Group of America,” said Mark McNabb, chief operating officer, Volkswagen of America. “We’re excited to see the increasing numbers of customers able to enjoy the reliability, durability, fuel-efficiency and power of the clean diesel engine.”

“The past year has shown that American consumers clearly recognize the benefits of clean diesel TDI vehicles,” said Scott Keogh, President, Audi of America. “They understand now more than ever that this is a technology delivering real answers to society’s concerns about fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions without compromises.”

More than 75 percent of the diesel engines sold in the passenger car and SUV segments in the United States can be found under the hoods of Volkswagen and Audi models. Ever since 1977, when Volkswagen first offered a diesel in the Rabbit, the company has sold more than one million cars and SUVs powered by these engines in this market. High-mileage, TDI® Clean Diesel Volkswagen models accounted for 21 percent of sales in November and 24 percent of sales year-to-date, the best year-to-date results on record.

In 2013, Audi showed it intends to remain at the forefront of clean diesel expansion in the U.S. by dramatically enhancing its lineup with the new Audi Q5 TDI, A6 TDI, A7 TDI and A8 TDI models. Those premium models joined the Audi Q7 SUV in the market, and next summer Audi will introduce its most fuel-efficient model, the all-new A3 TDI sedan.

The TDI models in the Audi and Volkswagen lineup deliver up to 30% better fuel economy and 12%-30% lower carbon dioxide emissions than gasoline engines and there is no need for driver behavior change except to move from one pump to the other and no need for big infrastructure changes.

Volkswagen offers Clean Diesel technology in seven different models, six of which get an EPA estimated fuel economy rating of 40 mpg or more on the highway. The models include the Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat and Touareg.

For years I have raved about the TDI clean diesel engines. I asked other manufacturers when they would resume or begin offering Diesels in their cars in North America. BOSCH has been a major supplier in the Clean Diesel market. Some of the newest players in the Diesel Vehicle world said they would not bring diesels to North America. I expect in the next few years we will see a lot of clean diesels in Cars and more trucks. Look at the Chevrolet Cruze’s success with their first diesel. BMW and Mercedes have brought back diesels and they are selling well. Now this year success is shown in small diesel engines in trucks and SUV’s from the Fiat-Chrysler group. Their Jeep Grand Cherokee and the RAM 1500 have been winning awards for the new diesel power vehicles. It was the Volkswagen Group and Audi who began this.

I still remember driving the first Volkswagen  TDI to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The power was impressive. Torque with a diesel is so great.  I met a young student from Montana who had already owned two VW TDI’s. He stated the fuel economy would allow him driving the long distances without taking all his cash.  My son wanted one but they were so popular that we could not even find one in North America.

Today VW and AUDI have proven that the Diesels they sell are so good that the buyers are demanding they offer even more vehicles with Diesel engines. Audi’s A8 with the Diesel is amazing! All the myths about noisy are history. Smoke from diesel is not true. In fact the clean diesel engines VW and AUDI produce develop less pollution than the gasoline engines. A big benefit with diesel is the torque. So quick starts are easy. In addition towing ability is the VW or AUDI vehicles is higher then that of gasoline engines with similar horsepower. Then consider (as Bosch executives have told me over and over) cost to maintain the diesel engine is a lot less than that of gasoline engines. Longevity of the diesel engine is well known. So for those who wish to own a vehicle for numerous years with low maintenance cost the diesel is the way to go.

Volkswagen and Audi have praised the Diesel engines for years.

I will itemize why the DIESEL engine is a real plus:

Diesel Engines are More Efficient than Gas Engines

• Diesel fuel contains on the order of 15% more energy content per volumetric unit than gasoline; diesel fuel has a higher energy density.
• Turbocharged diesel engines produce less waste heat through the exhaust system. Think conservation of energy - heat that is expelled through the exhaust system is not converted into mechanical energy. A turbocharger converts wasted heat energy into useful mechanical energy.
• Diesels produce higher peak torque than gas engines and do so at lower operating speeds, even under light throttle inputs.
• Diesel engines can operate at a range of air-to-fuel ratios, while a gas engine is restricted to a stoichiometric ratio of 14.7:1. Running a leaner mixture at idle and low load driving conditions reduces fuel consumption.
• An comparitively sized diesel engine can be expected to achieve 20-30% better fuel economy than a gas engine, sometimes more when towing.

 

Lower Cost of Ownership

Though diesel fuel is marginally more expensive, standard service procedures are more costly, and diesel engines are obtained typically obtained at a higher cost, diesel engines are cost effective to own in the long run.
• Lack of ignition system, diesel engines use compression ignition. Ignition coils can run several hundred dollars for a set not including replacement labor, and are a common wear item.
• Diesels have long service intervals, greater than or equal to a comparable gas engine.
• Diesel provides lubrication to fuel system components. Unlike gasoline, which is a solvent, diesel fuel lubricates any item it comes into contact with.
• Diesel engines far outlive gas engines. A diesel should be expected to operate several hundred thousand miles before major repairs or overhaul is necessary. The robust design of a diesel engine means that the engine often outlasts the vehicle that it powers! At 150,000 miles, when you gas engine is started to tire, the diesel is finally broke in.

Longevity - Diesel Engines Last Longer

• Diesel engines are robust and rugged. The larger, stronger engine components contribute to a longer engine life.
• Blow by is not of major concern to most diesels since fuel is not compressed in the cylinder, it is injected and instantly combusts. Fuel dilution is of greater concern for modern diesels, but has not proven to be as severe as in gas engines.
• Diesel engines operate at lower combustion temperatures.
• Diesel engines operate at lower engine speeds, which increases the life of reciprocating parts.

Diesel Engines Produce Peak Torque at Low RPMs

Diesel engines produce more torque than an equivalent gasoline engine, and do so at lower RPMs. Not only does this contribute to improved fuel economy, but makes the diesel engine the perfect towing machine. High torque output at low RPMs is why diesels are the preferred engine for construction, agriculture, and towing applications.

Diesel Engines Produce Emit Less CO2

Diesel engines produce very small amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), a harmful greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

BRUCE HUBBARD

BRADLEY HUBBARD

BONNIE LYNCH

BENTLEY'S TEST RACE CONTINENTAL GT3

 

(Abu Dhabi, 13^th December 2013) Bentley’s test race debut of the all-new Continental GT3 racecar with Team M-Sport achieved an impressive fourth place finish in the Gulf 12 Hours of Abu Dhabi. After completing the first six hour session of the race in third position, the second half of the race saw the team maintain that position until the final two hours, when a close fight with the Ferrari 458 GT3 of Kessel Racing was ultimately won by the more established car. The closing minutes were not without drama, with apparent damage to the underfloor, meaning a cruise to the finish line to bring the car home.

Bentley’s Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush, stated: “In running an all-new car for the first time, our main goal today was to finish the race and be consistent. We’ve achieved this, and then to finish fourth in a race with such established competition is extremely encouraging. We leave Abu Dhabi with confidence that we will have a reliable and competitive package for 2014, when the hard work really starts.”

With the car running really well throughout the 12 hour event, the team is delighted with the endurance reliability. Equally impressive is the performance of the three new Bentley Boys that each drove four hour-long stints in the desert heat. The trio of British racers in Guy Smith, Steven Kane and Andy Meyrick was delighted with the performance of the car in its first event. Guy Smith, racing a Bentley for the first time since the Le Mans win of 2003, comments: “Today has been amazing. All three of us found that we could really push the car to the limit, and when we realized we were on for a good result it encouraged us to really test its abilities. It’s given us a lot to look forward to in the Blancpain series next year.”

The team will now review the huge amount of data collected over the course of the race, and continue to develop the car in preparation for a full season of racing in the 2014 Blancpain Endurance Series, beginning at Monza on 12^th April.

 BRUCE HUBBARD

AUTO ADVISOR GROUP

2014 CHEVY SPARK IS TOP SAFETY PICK

General Motors has had a lot of wins recently. Look at the North American International Auto Show finalist for car and truck. Corvette is looking good for CAR of the YEAR. Then Silverado looks like also a winner against the superb Fiat/Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Acura MDX SUV.

GM sold all their shares that the US Government owned.

GM is bringing a BILLION PLUS to Michigan to manufacture vehicles. The story is so much more. The company will be run by two engineers. One is Mary Bara the gorgeous /brilliant engineer who has never left her internship at GM after graduation at what was then the GM Institute. She takes over for an amazing finance manager as the head of the company. Mary Barra will not only handle Global Vehicle Development but also be the CEO of General Motors.  I had the opportunity to meet this “new sheriff in town” at the media event last week. Her eyes alone told me she is determined to continue building GM’s dominance in product development World Wide.

Mark Reuss is the other brilliant Engineer to handle the recovery of General Motors. I believe that these two engineers the thousands of General Motor’s family will bring back Detroit.

Since the 1950’s GM has not introduced so many vehicles so quickly. With the engineers and their teams I expect some of the finest vehicles ever to be introduced over the next few years.

The 2014 Chevrolet Spark is an example of what GM will bring to the market. The Spark is a Top Safety Pick in its first year of eligibility, and is the only vehicle in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety minicar segment to earn the rating in 2014 model year testing.

Spark achieved highest possible "good" scores in the IIHS's moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints tests, and scored an "acceptable" in IIHS's new small overlap test, designed to replicate what happens when the front corner of a vehicle strikes another vehicle or an object like a tree or a utility pole.

"Spark's impressive performance in IIHS's most stringent test yet demonstrates the intensive efforts of our global safety team to deliver big safety in a small package," said Gay Kent, General Motors general director of Vehicle Safety and Crashworthiness. "Spark's safety structure makes extensive use of high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels and its robust passenger protection package includes 10 standard air bags."

The Spark had to meet EPA ratings. I believe that hurt it. They had to meet other D-Segment highway rating of 38 like the Nissan Altima and pretty much every B- and C-segment car. But, that was in 2012 and now in 2013 improvements with the SPARK engine and transmission, suspension have made the SPARK a great subcompact vehicle. That is in addition to it’s superb safety rating.

Other World manufacturers to receive mention included Nissan with their VERSA. NISSAN and INFINITI  have been given awards for engines, safety and more awards in the years past.

Then look at Kia and their KIA Sorento that was also given accolades for their improvements in safety. They and all other manufacturers in the sub compact market are only getting better.

The competition in the Sub Compact Segment is good and will keep GM, Ford, Fiat/Chrysler and all the others working to make the segment better.

Closing of GM facilities in Australia and Korea have affected those areas financially. Ford decided to move out of Australia and soon we expect Toyota to do the same thing. I believe the cost of production in Australia /New Zealand caused the move. I asked many GM media staff why and they were not able to comment.

GM may become a bigger player in North America as has already been promised with their expansion in Michigan.

The SPARK offers the biggest bang for the buck for the GM, Chevy, Chrysler/Fiat, Ford yet seen. But, look to the new HONDA FIT to make them to even produce better subcompact vehicles. They already have decided that the sub compact SPARK is a vehicle that their audience loves. They are going to improve the SPARK beyond what is available from CHEVY.

THE AUTO ADVISOR GROUP AND ALL THE OTHER CONSULTANTS WE DISCUSSED THE FUTURE OF GENERAL MOTORS AGREE GM HAS MADE WAVES.  AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE, AUTOWEEK, CONSUMER REPORTS, MOTOR TREND, AUTO CHANNEL AND INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINES FEEL LIKE WE DO GM IS IN A GREAT POSITION TO MOVE EVER FURTHER UP THE FOOD CHAIN.

Our group of writers/photographers/videographers and consultants are based in Florida, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Michigan and we see from these bases where consumers are going. It looks excellent for the big three/four.

BRUCE HUBBARD

BONNIE LYNCH-EDITORIAL

BRADLEY HUBBARD-RESEARCH/Photo- VIDEO

MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER AND SPORT "TOP SAFETY PICK"

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Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) has seen its all-new 7-passenger 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander named an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) "Top Safety Pick+" – the highest safety achievement designated by the non-profit vehicle research and crash test ratings agency – and its 5-passenger 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport designated the only IIHS "Top Safety Pick" model in the Small SUV category. With these accolades, Mitsubishi Motors offers automotive consumers the safest crossover model lineup available in America today.

Due to more stringent testing criteria for the IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" and "Top Safety Pick" awards, only 39 vehicle models earned either award in 2014 – a drastic reduction when compared to the 130 vehicle models that earned IIHS award recognition in 2013.

The redesigned 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander was one of only 22 vehicles to earn the IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" accolade for 2014.

In order for a vehicle to become an IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" for 2014, a test subject must not only display exemplary performance in the various stringent crash testing criteria, but it must now "have systems that can prevent or mitigate front-to-rear crashes," according to the IIHS.

The 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander's exceptional IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" rating can be attributed to the superlative engineering of its rigid, high-tensile steel body/chassis along with the availability of numerous advanced features including a radar-based Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) accident/impact reduction technology. In its evaluation of the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander's Forward Collision Mitigation (FCM) – a system that includes both audio and visual warnings to the driver as well as initiates automatic braking if necessary – the IIHS awarded the system an "advanced" rating (grades are "superior," "advanced" or "basic"). Other available next-generation safety technology features include a camera-based Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).

With a starting MSRP of only $22,995, the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander is one of the lowest-priced vehicles in the segment available with such advanced safety technologies.

For 2014, the IIHS raised the qualifying standard for the "Top Safety Pick" rating achieved by the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport as its vehicle evaluation now includes the small overlap crash test. According to the agency, the small overlap crash test "replicates what happens when the front corner of a vehicle strikes another vehicle or object like a tree or utility pole."

"We've made it more difficult for manufacturers this year," said IIHS President Adrian Lund. "Following a gradual phase-in, the small overlap crash is now part of our basic battery of tests, and good or acceptable performance should be part of every vehicle's safety credentials. We also felt it was time to offer extra recognition to manufacturers that are offering a proven crash test avoidance technology."

"Having our all-new 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander named a 'Top Safety Pick+' and our 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport becoming the exclusive 'Top Safety Pick'-rated vehicle in the Small SUV category is a testament to the precision design and engineering that we strive to instill in every one of our vehicles," said Yoichi Yokozawa, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA).

A key safety technology that helped the 2014 Outlander Sport (starting MSRP of only $19,470) attain the distinguished IIHS "Top Safety Pick" safety rating is Mitsubishi Motors' patented Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE). Engineered into every Mitsubishi Motors vehicle, RISE is Mitsubishi Motors' safety body construction system featuring integrated energy-absorbing crumple zones and engineered reinforcements strategically placed within the body/chassis that provide maximum protection to the vehicle's occupants in the event of an impact by absorbing and/or dispersing a great deal of this energy away from the cabin.

For more information on the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander and Outlander Sport crossover vehicles visit media.mitsubishicars.com and for more information on the "Top Safety Pick+" and the "Top Safety Pick" awards by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), please visit iihs.org.

BRUCE HUBBARD

BONNIE LYNCH

KIA CONCEPT TO BE SHOWN AT NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SHOW

Kia Motors America will reveal a new concept car at the 2014 North American International Auto Show.  Conceived at the automaker’s U.S. design studio in Irvine, CA, this stunning 2+2 sports car is intended to turn heads while delivering superb driving enjoyment on both road and track.

Kia and Hyundai have been delivering to North America superb products for years.  They work together only in sharing parts for manufacturing. 

BRUCE HUBBARD

 

MOTOR TREND NAMES RAM 1500 AS 2014 TRUCK OF THE YEAR

Motor Trend Names Ram 1500 as 2014 Truck of the Year

Ram 1500 Outclasses Competition with the Fuel Economy, Torque, Style and Amenities to Satisfy the Most Demanding Truck Buyers

December 4, 2013 , El Segundo, Calif. - Motor Trend has selected the Ram 1500 as its 2014 Truck of the Year®.

The announcement was made at the Chrysler Group LLC Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Michigan, the birthplace of Ram Trucks. A full report on Motor Trend’s comprehensive Truck of the Year testing will be featured on MotorTrend.com and in the February 2014 issue of Motor Trend.

Nine Truck of the Year contenders were put through an extensive battery of testing designed to evaluate virtually every aspect of each vehicle. In addition to the 2014 Ram 1500, the judges examined other all-new or significantly updated trucks the industry produced this year: the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Ram Heavy Duty, and Toyota Tundra pickups; and the Ford Transit Connect, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Nissan NV200, and Ram ProMaster vans.

To determine which truck deserved top honors, the Motor Trend judges took the nine contenders to the Continental Tire Automotive Proving Grounds in Uvalde, Texas. There, the judges tested each truck’s perfor­mance with the following exercises:

1. Standard testing (without load): 0-60 mph and 1/4-mile acceleration, 60-0 mph braking, and maximum lateral grip.
2. Limit handling (without load): closed-course cornering, braking and acceleration.
3. Tow/payload testing: 0-60 acceleration repeated with trailers attached (pickups) or payload secured (vans), loaded to 75 percent of each truck’s maximum rating (as equipped)
4. Road looping: Highway and real-world replication.

At Continental’s 5,000-acre proving grounds, the team utilized the facility’s 8.5-mile high-speed oval, 15-acre dynamics pad, 1.1-mile dry-handling road course, and multi-surfaced ride road to evaluate each truck’s capabilities and expose strengths and weaknesses. Following the team’s intensive, weeklong evaluation in Uvalde, the trucks were shipped to Motor Trend headquarters in El Segundo, California, to undergo proprietary “Intellichoice Real MPG” fuel-economy testing. Using advanced technology including a weather station, GPS data-logger, and flow-rate and gas analyzers, Real MPG measures exhaust samples every second during an 88-mile drive to record accurate real-world fuel economy.

Once testing was completed, the judges convened to determine which truck would be crowned Truck of the Year. The winner is not chosen from a direct comparison against the other contenders, but rather as a result of how each contender measured up against the award’s six criteria: Design Advancement, Engineering Excellence, Efficiency, Safety, Value and Performance of Intended Function.

With the votes cast, the Ram 1500 clearly emerged as Motor Trend’s 2014 Truck of the Year. The judges were particularly impressed with the performance of the Ram 1500’s all-new EcoDiesel V-6 engine as well as its eight-speed TorqueFlite transmission, a combination that boasts a towing capacity of up to 9,200 pounds. Further, Motor Trend’s Real MPG testing supported what the team learned in Uvalde: None of the gas-powered half-ton trucks in this year’s competition – be they V-6 or V-8, 4x2 or 4x4 – could match the EcoDiesel’s mileage. After delivering observed fuel economy of 15 mpg under extreme testing at Continental’s proving grounds, the EcoDiesel continued to impress during the Real MPG test loop, returning the following frugal stats: 19/26/21 mpg city/highway/combined for the Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 with a 3.92 rear axle and an even more notable 18/28/22 for the Lone Star Crew Cab 4x2 with a 3.55 rear axle.

The Ram’s optional air suspension system also scored high marks in Engineering Excellence, as it delivered a compliant ride and commendable handling no matter the terrain. In terms of design, the Ram 1500 impressed with its style, packaging, and interior ergonomics; notably, the Laramie Longhorn’s luxury aesthetics and real wood trim. The breadth of the lineup was another compelling factor. Whether outfitted as a basic workhorse or optioned up to a near-luxury hauler, the Ram 1500 provides all of the capability needed in a truck.

“For 2014 we had a large and highly competitive field of contenders for Motor Trend's Truck of the Year," said Edward Loh, Editor-in-Chief of Motor Trend. "At the end of the day, though, the Ram 1500 quickly rose to the top. Not only did it withstand our rigorous testing, it thoroughly impressed our judges with its vast array of standard and optional equipment, and, most notable, its fuel-efficient, segment-exclusive EcoDiesel V-6. With 420 lb-ft of torque and up to 28 ‘Real MPG’ highway, the EcoDiesel is a true game-changer. In fact it helped make Ram 1500 the Motor Trend 2014 Truck of the Year – and the only consecutive winner in the history of the award.”

"Half-ton truck customers have been asking for a diesel engine and Ram is the only truck manufacturer to answer the bell and deliver not only best-in-class fuel economy but also 9,200 pounds of towing capability," said Reid Bigland, President and CEO Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "In a brutally competitive truck industry, the Ram 1500 is the only vehicle to ever win the Motor Trend Truck of the Year award two years in a row, reaffirming the fact that we have the best truck on the road."

BRUCE HUBBARD

BRADLEY HUBBARD

BONNIE LYNCH

AUTO ADVISOR GROUP

MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS CONCEPT

Hallmark MINI style and technology lifted straight from the race track come together to mold the inimitable character of a John Cooper Works model, rendering the MINI sub-brand a byword for irresistible go-kart feeling and genuine everyday usability. And now a new contender for pole position has emerged to take this successful concept to the next stage and bring the promise of maximum driving fun to the small car segment. The MINI John Cooper Works Concept offers a look ahead to the next generation of the elite sports model. The concept car will be presented for the first time at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) 2014 and flies the flag for innovative sportiness in time-honored John Cooper Works style, with features including exclusive body paintwork in Bright Highways Grey, familiar MINI red color accents, bespoke aerodynamic features and 18-inch John Cooper Works light-alloy wheels in a newly developed design.

The thrillingly sporty driving experience on board a John Cooper Works model is the result of an overall concept developed on the back of the brand’s many years of motor sport experience. The precise interplay of the ultra-high-performance powertrain and chassis technology with the car’s aerodynamically optimized exterior features ensures that the agile and surefooted handling we have come to know as the MINI go-kart feeling shines brightly in extremely sporty driving situations as well. The result is hardcore driving fun, taken into a new dimension by the MINI John Cooper Works Concept.

Perfect basis and extensive racing expertise deliver a new dimension in extreme driving fun

The John Cooper Works Concept is based on the latest-generation MINI. Its origins are clearly recognizable in the longer wheelbase and wider track over the outgoing model, which has a direct effect on the car’s driving characteristics. The model variants of the new MINI available from launch have already shown themselves to be more powerful, punchy and agile than their predecessors. Weight savings and improved aerodynamic properties have also contributed significantly to the new car’s driving talents – and these developments likewise have a positive influence on the MINI John Cooper Works Concept.

Large air intakes – filling the space reserved for fog lights in the series-produced MINI models – and precisely formed air-channeling elements mark out the front apron of the MINI John Cooper Works Concept, which also features LED headlights and a black surround for the front grille. The model-specific John Cooper Works aerodynamic kit also comprises specially contoured side skirts and a rear apron with flaps and a diffuser element. The study car further features a roof spoiler and additional body components designed to channel air efficiently around the C-pillars for optimized aerodynamic balance at high speeds.

Exclusive body paintwork, familiar contrast color

The Bright Highways Grey exterior paint shade owes its expressive character to a special manufacturing process. The hand-polished surface layer is finished with a clear coat and the resulting lustrous sheen of the paintwork further accentuates the eye-catching structures of its pigment layer. Exuding purity and solidity, this paint finish is complemented by John Cooper Works hallmarks such as contrasting red for the roof, roof spoiler and exterior mirror caps. Also included are Sport Stripes – in Chili Red for the bonnet and boot lid, and in white for the roof. Additional red accents adorn the rim wells of the John Cooper Works light-alloy wheels, the calipers of the sports brakes, the side indicator surrounds and the contour lines of the front and rear apron. A red accent line also lends particular emphasis to the John Cooper Works logo on the radiator grille.

A further nod to the concept car’s impressive sporting focus can be found in the center of the rear apron. The MINI John Cooper Works Concept is fitted with a sports exhaust system including John Cooper Works silencer system, and the striking twin tailpipes with chrome finish also carry the John Cooper Works logo. With the new elite sports model destined to benefit from further development, these features suggest its enticingly sporting aura will not be restricted to visual features: an unmistakable engine soundtrack promises to share center stage.

BRUCE HUBBARD

BRADLEY HUBBARD

BONNIE LYNCH

AUDI R18 e-tron quattro testing at Sebring

U.S. test for new Audi R18 e-tron quattro

- Audi’s new LMP1 sports car is being tested
- Further details to be published before the end of December
- Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Ullrich: “Crucial stage has been reached”

Only a week after the World Championship winning Audi R18 e-tron quattro race car’s last run in a race, its successor is ready to hit the track. Tests of the new LMP1 sports car, which has been kept under wraps up to now, commence today on the U.S. race track at Sebring (Florida).

Audi Sport in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm has developed a fundamentally new Le Mans prototype that corresponds to the Technical Regulations for 2014 and is designed for maximum efficiency. The development started in 2012. The roll-out took place in the early fall of 2013. Starting today, the next-generation Audi R18 e-tron quattro is being tested on the race track where all new Le Mans prototypes of the Audi brand have had to prove their worth: at Sebring.

“We’ve reached a crucial stage in this project,” explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “After building the first prototype, testing on various race tracks is now taking center-stage. The tests are mainly focused on achieving high mileage, coordinating the highly complex hybrid drive systems and working out an efficiency-optimized total package that has never before been as complex as this one.”

Audi has won the manufacturers’ and drivers’ classifications in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) for the second time in succession and the Le Mans 24 Hours for the twelfth time this year. Before the end of December, Audi will present the next generation of its hybrid sports car and announce further details.

BRUVE HUBBARD

AUTO ADVISOR GROUP

BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT3

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(Abu Dhabi, 13^th December 2013) Bentley’s test race debut of the all-new Continental GT3 racecar with Team M-Sport achieved an impressive fourth place finish in the Gulf 12 Hours of Abu Dhabi. After completing the first six hour session of the race in third position, the second half of the race saw the team maintain that position until the final two hours, when a close fight with the Ferrari 458 GT3 of Kessel Racing was ultimately won by the more established car. The closing minutes were not without drama, with apparent damage to the underfloor, meaning a cruise to the finish line to bring the car home.

Bentley’s Director of Motorsport, Brian Gush, comments: “In running an all-new car for the first time, our main goal today was to finish the race and be consistent. We’ve achieved this, and then to finish fourth in a race with such established competition is extremely encouraging. We leave Abu Dhabi with confidence that we will have a reliable and competitive package for 2014, when the hard work really starts.”

With the car running really well throughout the 12 hour event, the team is delighted with the endurance reliability. Equally impressive is the performance of the three new Bentley Boys that each drove four hour-long stints in the desert heat. The trio of British racers in Guy Smith, Steven Kane and Andy Meyrick was delighted with the performance of the car in its first event. Guy Smith, racing a Bentley for the first time since the Le Mans win of 2003, comments: “Today has been amazing. All three of us found that we could really push the car to the limit, and when we realised we were on for a good result it encouraged us to really test its abilities. It’s given us a lot to look forward to in the Blancpain series next year.”

The team will now analyse the huge amount of data collected over the course of the race, and continue to develop the car in preparation for a full season of racing in the 2014 Blancpain Endurance Series, beginning at Monza on 12^th April.

 

BRUCE HUBBARD

AUTP ADVISOR GROUP

Motor Trend Names Ram 1500 as 2014 Truck of the Year

Ram 1500 Outclasses Competition with the Fuel Economy, Torque, Style and Amenities to Satisfy the Most Demanding Truck Buyers Motor Trend.

December 4, 2013 , El Segundo, Calif. - Motor Trend has selected the Ram 1500 as its 2014 Truck of the Year®.

The announcement was made at the Chrysler Group LLC Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Michigan, the birthplace of Ram Trucks. A full report on Motor Trend’s comprehensive Truck of the Year testing will be featured on MotorTrend.com and in the February 2014 issue of Motor Trend.

Nine Truck of the Year contenders were put through an extensive battery of testing designed to evaluate virtually every aspect of each vehicle. In addition to the 2014 Ram 1500, the judges examined other all-new or significantly updated trucks the industry produced this year: the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Ram Heavy Duty, and Toyota Tundra pickups; and the Ford Transit Connect, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Nissan NV200, and Ram ProMaster vans.

To determine which truck deserved top honors, the Motor Trend judges took the nine contenders to the Continental Tire Automotive Proving Grounds in Uvalde, Texas. There, the judges tested each truck’s perfor­mance with the following exercises:

1. Standard testing (without load): 0-60 mph and 1/4-mile acceleration, 60-0 mph braking, and maximum lateral grip.
2. Limit handling (without load): closed-course cornering, braking and acceleration.
3. Tow/payload testing: 0-60 acceleration repeated with trailers attached (pickups) or payload secured (vans), loaded to 75 percent of each truck’s maximum rating (as equipped)
4. Road looping: Highway and real-world replication.

At Continental’s 5,000-acre proving grounds, the team utilized the facility’s 8.5-mile high-speed oval, 15-acre dynamics pad, 1.1-mile dry-handling road course, and multi-surfaced ride road to evaluate each truck’s capabilities and expose strengths and weaknesses. Following the team’s intensive, weeklong evaluation in Uvalde, the trucks were shipped to Motor Trend headquarters in El Segundo, California, to undergo proprietary “Intellichoice Real MPG” fuel-economy testing. Using advanced technology including a weather station, GPS data-logger, and flow-rate and gas analyzers, Real MPG measures exhaust samples every second during an 88-mile drive to record accurate real-world fuel economy.

Once testing was completed, the judges convened to determine which truck would be crowned Truck of the Year. The winner is not chosen from a direct comparison against the other contenders, but rather as a result of how each contender measured up against the award’s six criteria: Design Advancement, Engineering Excellence, Efficiency, Safety, Value and Performance of Intended Function.

With the votes cast, the Ram 1500 clearly emerged as Motor Trend’s 2014 Truck of the Year. The judges were particularly impressed with the performance of the Ram 1500’s all-new EcoDiesel V-6 engine as well as its eight-speed TorqueFlite transmission, a combination that boasts a towing capacity of up to 9,200 pounds. Further, Motor Trend’s Real MPG testing supported what the team learned in Uvalde: None of the gas-powered half-ton trucks in this year’s competition – be they V-6 or V-8, 4x2 or 4x4 – could match the EcoDiesel’s mileage. After delivering observed fuel economy of 15 mpg under extreme testing at Continental’s proving grounds, the EcoDiesel continued to impress during the Real MPG test loop, returning the following frugal stats: 19/26/21 mpg city/highway/combined for the Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab 4x4 with a 3.92 rear axle and an even more notable 18/28/22 for the Lone Star Crew Cab 4x2 with a 3.55 rear axle.

The Ram’s optional air suspension system also scored high marks in Engineering Excellence, as it delivered a compliant ride and commendable handling no matter the terrain. In terms of design, the Ram 1500 impressed with its style, packaging, and interior ergonomics; notably, the Laramie Longhorn’s luxury aesthetics and real wood trim. The breadth of the lineup was another compelling factor. Whether outfitted as a basic workhorse or optioned up to a near-luxury hauler, the Ram 1500 provides all of the capability needed in a truck.

“For 2014 we had a large and highly competitive field of contenders for Motor Trend's Truck of the Year," said Edward Loh, Editor-in-Chief of Motor Trend. "At the end of the day, though, the Ram 1500 quickly rose to the top. Not only did it withstand our rigorous testing, it thoroughly impressed our judges with its vast array of standard and optional equipment, and, most notable, its fuel-efficient, segment-exclusive EcoDiesel V-6. With 420 lb-ft of torque and up to 28 ‘Real MPG’ highway, the EcoDiesel is a true game-changer. In fact it helped make Ram 1500 the Motor Trend 2014 Truck of the Year – and the only consecutive winner in the history of the award.”

"Half-ton truck customers have been asking for a diesel engine and Ram is the only truck manufacturer to answer the bell and deliver not only best-in-class fuel economy but also 9,200 pounds of towing capability," said Reid Bigland, President and CEO Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "In a brutally competitive truck industry, the Ram 1500 is the only vehicle to ever win the Motor Trend Truck of the Year award two years in a row, reaffirming the fact that we have the best truck on the road."




BRUCE HUBBARD
AUTO ADVISOR GROUP



MORE PHOTOS TO BE ADDED LATER.