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Formula One is no stranger to motion. But as fast as these drivers in their cars move during the regular season, it’s in the off-season when things really get shaken up. Drivers change teams. Teams change names. Personnel come and go. Contracts are signed and terminated. But while most of the top drivers are staying put for the coming season, there have been a number of question marks left on the 2012 roster.

One of the last, however, has now been answered as the Williams team announces the signing of one Bruno Senna. If the name rings a bell, it well should: His late, great uncle Ayrton once famously hinted at his nephew’s latent talents. However after a promising start in Formula 3 and GP2, Bruno hasn’t quite been able to shine. He started out in 2010 for the backmarker Hispania Racing Team, but after failing to secure a ride for the start of the following season, was brought in by Lotus-Renault to fill in for Nick Heidfeld, who in turn was filling in for Robert Kubica.

Bruno only managed a couple of championship points last season at Lotus, which opted to pass him over in favor of Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean. Williams, however, apparently feels that Senna’s got more talent than he’s been able to demonstrate, so they’ve signed him for a one-year contract to drive for the team this coming season.

In moving in at Williams – the team at which Ayrton Senna famously died in 1994 – Bruno replaces fellow Brazilian driver Rubens Barrichello, one of the last drivers still on the grid who raced with Ayrton back in the day. Where that leaves Rubens remains to be seen, but with only a solitary seat left at HRT for next season, the elder statesman of the paddock could be looking at forced retirement.

Continue reading Bruno Senna signs with Williams F1

Bruno Senna signs with Williams F1

The 2012 Detroit Auto Show is off to a galloping start. Organizers estimate more than 750,000 people are expected to show up to take in the newest hardware from the world’s automakers. Sunday saw 102,918 people attend the exhibition, which is an increase of more than 3,800 people from last year. Likewise, Saturday turned out to be the largest opening day for the Detroit Auto Show in five years. All told, 195,024 people strolled through Cobo hall to take in the sights. This year, the show features more than 500 vehicles, so there’s plenty to see.

And it’s not just wild exotics and far-flung concepts, either. With key new reveals like the Dodge Dart, Ford Fusion and Cadillac ATS, visitors can take in models they can expect to see on the sho room floor within a few short months. Be sure to check out the roundup of our show coverage as well as our top five editor’s picks if you missed them.

Detroit Auto Show sees strongest opening weekend in years

The Abarth 695 was originally intended as a Fiat 500-based tribute to Ferrari. Hence the 695 Tributo Ferrari moniker. But this one looks more like a salute to McLaren.

Created by Japanese tuner Office-K and unveiled this week at the Tokyo Auto Salon, this special Abarth has had its Scuderia Red paint hidden under a full chrome vinyl wrap – similar to the one we reported on back in May – and capped with a tricolore racing stripe up the nose.

Otherwise, it’s mechanically the same as the stock 695, which means a 1.4-liter turbo four driving 180 little prancing stallions through a five-speed manual to the front pair of 17-inch wheels with their Brembo brakes. It also means an interior with a chunky steering wheel, Sabelt racing buckets and Abarth’s signature turbo boost gauge. Check it the chrome job in the video after the jump and the images in the gallery above.

Continue reading Abarth 695 shines in Tokyo with full chrome job [w/video]

Abarth 695 shines in Tokyo with full chrome job [w/video]

A deal has been reached to sell the Malaysian government’s controlling, 43-percent stake in Proton Holdings Bhd to Malaysian conglomerate DRB-Hicom for $410 million. Rumors surrounding the deal have been in the news for a few months, with Proton’s deteriorating profits leading to speculation about if the government would get out and who be the savior. Of course, the other big question was: what happens to Lotus in the event of a sale.

Analysts had uniformly suggested that Proton sell Lotus, citing Proton’s sales difficulties and lack of synergies as more than enough reason. DRB-Hicom has interests in various industies from automobile and car-part manufacturing to ports and aiports, but doesn’t provide any more synergies with Lotus than Proton alone.

However, with founder and head Syed Mokhtar so closely associated with the firm it could be that he decides to keep Lotus as a jewel in the corporation just because he can – Lotus could do its work in a quiet corner of the DRB-Hicom empire. The deal for Proton is expected to close in the second quarter of 2012, so it shouldn’t be long before we find out the fate of the so-close-yet-still-so-far-away Esprit.

DRB-Hicom to buy Proton

Experts have already predicted that toughened fuel efficiency standards will lead to cleaner air and help wean the United States from its reliance on foreign oil. Turns out, they could benefit consumer’s wallets too.

That’s the conclusion of the Consumers Union and Consumer Federation of America, which briefed reporters on Jan. 12 in preparation for a series of three public hearings that begin today, January 17, in Detroit on the new 54.5 mile-per-gallon standard currently under government scrutiny. That is the fuel economy average the Obama Administration wants automakers to achieve by 2025. There are two more hearings this month, one in San Francisco and one in Philadelphia.

The two consumer organizations said the new standard will save the average driver approximately $3,000 over a decade of ownership. Both groups said they would endorse an agreement between the Obama administration and automakers to implement the new standard by 2025. But there is a lot of chatter in the auto industry about whether this is a standard that American car buyers are really interested in.

On one hand, 80 percent of consumers say they are interested in owning a hybrid or electric vehicle, according to a recent study by Consumer Reports. On the other, recent sales figures show they are buying an increasing amount of SUV and crossover vehicles as they get used to gas prices hovering around $3.50 per gallon for regular.

What gives?

In the context of what happens when automakers start producing vehicles that meet toughened fuel efficiency standards, that’s a multi-million dollar question. Some skittish industry insiders fear a gap will develop between what’s being sold and what customers want.

That’s not necessarily the case, says Dr. Mark Cooper, the director of research for the Consumer Federation of America. He said the 54.5 mpg standard won’t favor smaller vehicles.

“These standards have no bias against size,” he said Thursday. “If you want to buy a big vehicle, it will be there. It will have to be more fuel efficient, and that is exactly the point. People will still love their SUVs, and they’ll love them a lot more when they get 40 miles per gallon.”

Consumer groups back 54.5 mpg standard as hearings commence

2013 Porsche Boxster, Detroit Show Editors’ Choice, Chrysler/Fiat looking for a third, Nissan NY debut, VW beats Toyota

Episode #265 of the Autoblog Podcast is here with Chris, Dan, Zach and Chris Paukert this week. Topics include the 2013 Porsche Boxster, a discussion of the Editors’ Picks from the Detroit Auto Show, a possible third partner for Chrysler and Fiat, a mystery debut in New York for Nissan, and Volkswagen beating Toyota in sales for 2011. Your questions and comments power the end of the ‘cast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. We’ve embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #265:

• VW beats Toyota
• 2013 Porsche Boxster
• Big New York debut for Nissan?
• Marchionne looking for yet another partner?
• Editors’ Choice from Detroit

In the Autoblog Garage
2012 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
2012 Cadillac SRX
2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Chris Paukert, Zach Bowman

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Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

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Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #265

Autoblog Podcast #265

Just when we were starting to think that there is nothing on television worth watching, we get our first look at Top Gear series 18. Beyond the jump is a 30 second teaser of the upcoming season, with a glimpse at more episodes filled with Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond.

The cars are there as well, including a very yellow Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series, NASCAR Top Gear style and some crazy man who jumps out of a plane with a powered wing attached to his back. Oh, and it seems Jezza attacks a trailer park in a Jaguar XJ. Interesting. Hit the jump to watch the action-packed promo for yourself.

Continue reading Top Gear teases series 18

Top Gear teases series 18

According to The Detroit Free Press, a plus-sized version of the cheeky little Fiat 500 is heading to the Geneva Motor Show in March. Olivier Francois, head of the Fiat brand, has reportedly confirmed that a five-door 500 will be shown in Geneva, and that the new vehicle will be sold here in the United States starting in 2013.

Sound familiar? About one year ago, we reported that Fiat was working on a four-door (or, five-door) 500 internally known as Project L-Zero. This larger 500 was specifically being designed to round out the automaker’s portfolio here in the U.S., though at the time, it was unclear whether or not the vehicle would be sold in other markets. Judging by the fact that the five-door 500 will debut in Switzerland, we can only assume that worldwide consumption is in the cards.

Five-door Fiat 500 headed to Geneva

Good motorsports films don’t come up terribly often, but now and again, we get lucky. In 2011, we were graced with the very fine Senna documentary, and it appears there’s another period Formula One racing piece that could be worth watching on the silver screen soon: Rush.

We’ve known for some time that this project, which chronicles the 1976 F1 season-long battle between Austria’s Niki Lauda and Britain’s James Hunt, was in the cards, and we also knew that Ron Howard had signed on as producer. Howard, you may recall, is the Academy Award-winning force responsible for such films as A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13 and Frost/Nixon. But we hadn’t heard much about filming getting underway – until now.

Thanks to these new photos taken at Germany’s Nürburgring by our friends at PistonSpy, we now see that work on the film has begun. We have to say, James Hunt’s Marlboro-liveried McLaren looks particularly fetching in these photos, and it must be a thrill to see and hear these vintage F1 cars lapping the legendary Nordschleife.

We’re already cringing in advance for Howard’s recreation of Lauda’s massive crackup at the German Grand Prix, a crash that saw him sever his right ear and suffer facial burns (you can see in-period video footage of the fiery crash after the jump). Lauda would return after missing just two races and storm back into the points chase in pursuit of James Hunt and his McLaren. Hunt would eventually win the World Championship by a single point. For dozens of additional images, be sure to check out PistonSpy at the link below.

Continue reading Ron Howard’s Rush caught filming at ‘Ring

Ron Howard’s Rush caught filming at ‘Ring

When Fiat pronounced that it was planning to sell 50,000 Fiat 500 models in 2011, we were more than a little skeptical. And now that 2011 is in the rear view mirror, it seems CEO Sergio Marchionne is ready to admit that the sales target was not very realistic.

CNN Money reports that the charismatic Fiat/Chrysler boss is now calling the 50,000 number “incredibly naive,” adding that the goal was to best Mini Cooper’s 2010 sales total of 45,644. Fiat only managed to sell 19,769 Cinquecento models for the year.

Given that Mini has been in the U.S. for a decade and the marque already has an established dealer body and marketing presence – as well as an entire range of products – critics have said that clear that Fiat’s 50,000-unit first-year goal was ambitious to a fault. Marchionne went on to add “we set ourselves up for a fall,” but the chief executive insists that the future of Fiat in the U.S. is still very strong.

Even though sales of the 500 came nowhere near 50,000 units, Marchionne says that the Mexico plant that builds the A-segment ride is still profitable. That’s because the plant also builds models for South America and China. Marchionne is reportedly hoping to sell between 25,000 and 30,000 copies of the 500 in the U.S. in 2012. While the 500 will likely be the only Fiat-branded model available in U.S. showrooms in 2012, the lineup is at least set to expand with models like the $22,000 high-performance 500 Abarth.

Marchionne admits 50,000-unit sales goal for Fiat 500 “incredibly naive”

China saw the slowest growth in the country’s auto market in over a decade last year, according to the Associated Press. Sales rose by just 2.5 percent in 2011, thanks in part to more expensive vehicles and tighter buying controls. All told, consumers brought home 18.5 million vehicles last year, compared to 18 million in 2010. Chinese buyers endured the expiration of various tax breaks and buying subsidies, changes that saw the bottom line on most vehicles increase substantially. In addition, the Chinese government installed new restrictions on car buying in Beijing, further crimping sales growth. Sales exploded by 32 percent in 2010 after China slashed sales taxes and offered hefty subsidies in an effort to push buyers toward the showroom.

By contrast, the U.S. enjoyed fairly expansive growth last year. Vehicle sales in the U.S. increased by 10 percent to 12.8 million units.

Analysts expect the Chinese auto market to continue growing in the coming years, but the pace will likely be more restrained than in the past. The country’s housing market is beginning to cool down, which typically yields slower expansion in the vehicle market as well.

Higher prices, more controls slow auto sales in China

We’re almost ready to record Episode #264 of the Autoblog Podcast. Check out the topics below and you can join us live via UStream, as well, and we’ve embedded our UStream player after the jump. Thanks for listening!

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #265

• VW beats Toyota
• 2013 Porsche Boxster
• Big New York debut for Nissan?
• Marchionne looking for yet another partner?
• Editors’ Choice from Detroit

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #265 goes LIVE at 10PM Eastern!

Autoblog Podcast #265 goes LIVE at 10PM Eastern!

In case you hadn’t noticed, sales of the Jeep Wrangler are on the rise. For those whose brains work best with hard data, Jeep sold 122,460 Wranglers in the United States in 2011, representing a 30-percent increase over 2010’s results. Outside its home market, Jeep’s 26,278 Wrangler sales marked a 10-percent increase.

While that’s great news for the Jeep brand, it makes for a lot of headaches for those in charge of keeping dealership lots full. Says Mike Manley, CEO of Jeep:

“I’m always worried about having enough Wrangler production … The orders are still coming in very, very strong on Wrangler, not just here in the United States, but worldwide. We’re working very, very closely with the plant to try and get all the orders fulfilled.”

There’s only one plant in the world that builds the Jeep Wrangler, and that’s in Toledo, Ohio. As you might imagine, that plant is nearly always running at full steam, currently running 20 hours per day, six days a week. In order to meet demand, a deal has just been reached between the automaker and the United Auto Workers union to increase Wrangler production by about 100 units per day.

A little basic math tells us that’s five more Wranglers per hour while the production line is running. A total of 50 workers will be added to the production line, taken from nonproduction duties. The increase will be in effect by June, 2012. Future options include the addition of a potential third shift.

Chrysler boosting Wrangler production to meet heavy demand

We record Episode #265 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, and you can drop us your questions via our Q&A module below. Check out our discussion topics or chime in to help determine what else the crew chats about this evening. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven’t already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #265

• VW beats Toyota
• 2013 Porsche Boxster
• Big New York debut for Nissan?
• Marchionne looking for yet another partner?
• Editors’ Choice from Detroit

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator

Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #265 LIVE

This isn’t good. Not at all. Automotive News reports that Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller has cooled on the idea of a sub-Boxster Porsche model. Mueller reportedly told German publication Wirtschaftswoche that a vehicle priced under the Boxster could dilute the brand’s image, adding that Porsche may need to “wait until the next generation of customers before the idea of a small roadster will work.”

We’ve been hearing about a roadster that slots under the Boxster for years, and in February, Mueller told AN that such a vehicle could arrive as soon as 2014.

We’d be lying if we said we weren’t disappointed by this development, as any new mid-engine Porsche sounds like a great idea to us. Porsche is, after all, still looking to launch the sub-Cayenne Cajun SUV next year. The Cajun should cost less than the base Boxster (the Cayenne is currently the lowest-priced Porsche), making it the lowest-priced vehicle in the lineup. We’re just not sure why an entry-level mid-engine roadster would be a worse idea than a second Porsche SUV.

Porsche’s sub-Boxster delayed

What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Only in this case, when we say “goose,” we mean Toyota, and when we say “gander,” we mean Lexus.

Take, for instance, the Japanese auto giant’s hybrid strategy. Leave aside hybrid drivetrains available in conventional models (like the Toyota Camry Hybrid or the Lexus GS 450h) and look directly at the stand-alone hybrid models like the Prius, which has grown from a single model into an entire range into an of itself. Now Lexus is reportedly preparing to follow suit.

Fortunately that won’t mean more vehicles like the HS, which is being discontinued, but more variants based on the CT 200h. In the coming years we could be looking at more body-styles based on the hybrid hatchback, though details remain scarce at this point.

The expansion of the CT family is only part of a larger product push for Lexus, which reportedly plans nine new or significantly updated models before the end of this year. The new GS sedan is to come first, followed by new versions of the ES, IS and LS, plus hybrid and F-Sport versions. A facelifted LX sport-ute just debuted at the Detroit Auto Show, and we could see the addition of a seven-seat crossover (to compete with the new Infiniti JX) and a new coupe to succeed the long-gone SC.

All in all it’s shaping up to be quite an ambitious campaign to propel Lexus back to the top of the luxury car market, a position reclaimed in recent years by the likes of Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

Lexus pondering CT variants, seven-seat people mover

Last year at IFA, we had a chance to check out a beta version of Gracenote’s MoodGrid, an Android tablet app that automatically creates a music playlist using a 10×10 grid with Positive, Energentic, Calm and Dark criteria placed on each axis. Select a place on the graph and it automatically creates a playlist based on your mood. Now, the app has been scaled down and ported into a Garmin head unit, which means MoodGrid could be coming to a major OEM as soon as sometime this year.

As shown at CES, the updated MoodGrid app has been halved, with a five-by-five display with the same four musical dispositions. Based on where you place the dot, it dials up the tunes to suit your mood, utilizing the tracks on your iPhone, iPod or Android device. Another tablet-based version was on hand that can also tap into subscription music services like Spotify, Rdio and MOG, making music discovery even more robust. Check out our brief hands-on video after the break.

Continue reading Gracenote MoodGrid could be in cars by year’s end

Gracenote MoodGrid could be in cars by year’s end

The mid-size pickup truck segment should get a much-needed shot in the arm when the global Chevrolet Colorado reaches our shores in the near future. We’re not exactly sure when the Colorado will be built and sold here, but thanks to its 2011 reveal we have a good idea of what it will look like. We also don’t know any specs for the North American model, and we haven’t received confirmation whether a GMC variant will follow to replace the current Canyon model.

Car and Driver reports that General Motors President Mark Reuss still won’t confirm a GMC spinoff, but he does add that if a “Professional Grade” version of the Colorado is built, it will be very different than its Bowtie-wearing counterpart. As the current Canyon is essentially a badge-swap away from being a Chevy, the idea of increased differentiation strikes us as a welcome development. We aren’t exactly sure how much different the would-be pickup might be, but we’re guessing that Reuss is referring to more unique parts than than the front fascia and minor trim enhancements that differentiate the GMC Sierra from the Silverado.

Reuss also tells C/D that the new Colorado is surprisingly large – about 90-95 percent of the size of the Silverado, and he notes the truck will feature different powertrains. We assumed that the Colorado will feature different powertrains, and we hope that a fuel-efficient six-cylinder and a diesel offering will be available under the hood.

GMC version of Chevy Colorado to look “significantly differentiated” – if it gets built

Full disclosure: Two of this author’s friends had their cars broken into in downtown Detroit last week. These incidents happened within days of each other along the same city block in the entertainment district behind Detroit’s Fillmore and Fox theaters – the exact area that this story references.

Detroit is often painted in a bad light when it comes to things like public safety, and while your author – a proud Detroit resident – will gladly shout praise for The D any day of the week, the truth is, it’s not just my friends who have been wronged. A rash of break-ins have been reported in this area of Detroit over the past couple of weeks.

So, how are the Detroit Police responding to this issue? Prohibiting street parking.

The Detroit Free Press reports that curbside parking will be prohibited in a small section of downtown Detroit just west of Woodward Avenue. Additional squad cars will be patrolling the area to not only enforce this new parking ban, but to keep a closer watch on the area in an effort to prevent larcenies.

This new initiative was started last Thursday, and according to local news site MLive.com, establishments along Park Avenue have already witnessed large amounts of cars being towed, even though no signage has been installed to inform drivers that street parking is not allowed. Thankfully, MLive also reports that these towing fees will be refunded. To help encourage this program, Detroit company Olympia Entertainment will reportedly reduce the rates on its pay-to-park lots in and around downtown.

As of this writing, it’s unclear how long the ban on street parking will be in effect. The 2012 Detroit Auto Show is currently bringing lots of people (and their cars) into the city, which could contribute to this increase of break-ins. (Remember when a BMW-owned 7 Series was stolen during the 2011 Detroit show?) In the meantime, police are advising drivers to park in well-lit or secure parking lots.

Detroit Police give up on car theft, ban street parking to curb break-ins

We’re not all that hopeful that the next generation Ford EcoSport will make its way to North America, but global markets ranging from Brazil to India should soon get their hands on a production version of this comely B-segment crossover.

It’s too bad that the Fiesta-sized EcoSport isn’t likely for our shores. We’re liking the Kinetic look and wide stance, and we’re guessing that the planned 1.0-liter EcoBoost mill should be both mildly entertaining and extremely efficient. And we’re not the only ones that are impressed with the EcoSport.

As you might imagine, Ford chief designer J Mays sounds positively smitten with the Blue Oval’s newest crossover creation, and he recently spent some time on camera to give an in-depth look at the concept’s finer design points. Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself.

Continue reading J Mays talks about Ford’s new EcoSport concept

J Mays talks about Ford’s new EcoSport concept