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Autoblog Canada Autoblog Canada Production Mercedes-Benz A-Class spotted undisguised Filed under: Luxury, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Videos, Spy Photos, Geneva Motor Show We've gotten various peeks at the Mercedes-Benz A-Class for a few months now, from the patent drawings to spy shots to QR-coded teasers. Then, of all things in all places, a cyclist with a handlebar-mounted camera gets a full-on shot of the real deal while riding in Lanzarote, Spain for what we assume is a photo or video shoot. If you liked the look of the patent drawings, then you'll be happy with the glimpse here. It even looks close enough to the Concept A for us to give Mercedes props for truth-in-concept-car designing. There's debate as to whether this is the AMG A-Class, but regardless, the final version will be shown at next month's Geneva Motor Show. Until then, watch the video after the jump. Continue reading Production Mercedes-Benz A-Class spotted undisguised Production Mercedes-Benz A-Class spotted undisguised originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments BMW i3 caught winter testing again Filed under: BMW, Technology, Spy Photos Spy photographers have picked up yet another batch of photos of the BMW i3. This time, the pint-sized Bimmer was spotted during some winter testing in Norway. When we last saw the awkward-looking hatchback, it was whirring about under the power of 600cc two-cylinder range-extending engine back in November. This looks to be the same i3 REx, complete with its "Hybrid Test Vehicle" stickers slathered on both doors. That means the model you see here likely boasts a range of significantly longer than the 160 kilometres quoted for the pure EV. How much longer? That's a question BMW isn't likely to answer until the production model debuts. From what we've heard, the BMW i3 is slated hit the market in 2013 with the i3 REx surfacing sometime shortly thereafter. We'll be interested to see whether the production model rides on the same super-skinny tires as the test ride pictured above. Click through our attached image gallery for a host of snowy i3 photos. BMW i3 caught winter testing again originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Next Land Rover showing up pixel by pixel Filed under: Luxury, Europe, Land Rover, Spy Photos, SUV Our spy photographers have snagged a few fresh images of the 2013 Land Rover Range Rover as engineers put the SUV through its paces during a little winter testing. The prototype looks identical to the bruiser we saw playing around on the Nürburgring last year. Details were scarce then and they remain so now, though this batch of photos show the big Rover's interior for the first time. From the looks of things, the cabin doesn't seem to have received much in the way of an update, though there's no way to tell if this particular tester is fitted with a full production-spec interior. The next-generation Range Rover is expected to bow with a gently sloping roofline and a more aggressively raked rear window. Word has it that the vehicle will ride on the same underpinnings as the Jaguar XJ, though the luxury utility will likely undergo a serious diet before it debuts. Land Rover has made it clear that reduced mass is a top priority as governments around the world continue to push more aggressive fuel economy and emissions targets. News Source: CarPix Next Land Rover showing up pixel by pixel originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo coming next March Filed under: BMW, Coupe, Car Buying, Spy Photos In spite of the near-Pavlovian howling that commences anytime the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is mentioned, and in spite of the 5GT falling so short of its sales target that BMW has been forced to consider bringing back the 5 Series Touring, the ungainly hatch has outsold that wagon during its time on our shores. And that was before it got dressed up with an M Sport package. It shouldn't be a surprise then that the 3 Series GT is still rushing our way, with a report on BMW Blog (not connected to the company) declaring it will be here in March 2013. BMW is promoting the hatchback 3 as "the alternative to alternatives, a style conscious car with the dynamic prowess to match its looks," which smacks of PR-speak veering dangerously close to Newspeak. We'll find out soon enough, nevertheless, for the moment, the 3GT is claimed to offer the cargo capacity of the 5 Series sedan but with even more room for everyone's legs. It is predicted to wear a slightly different face than the rest of the 3 Series line and have frameless windows (the rendering on BMW Blog has frames). Power should be from the current 3 Series lineup of turbocharged four- and six-cylinder engines. News Source: BMW Blog Image Credit: CarPix BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo coming next March originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Porsche 911 Turbo caught out and about again Filed under: Luxury, Porsche, Spy Photos We've driven the new 991-series Porsche 911, and now the next chapter of the new 911 story - the 2013 Turbo - has been caught proving itself in the wintertide climate. Its most important details - the front and rear bumpers and side intakes - remain behind camo, but we now get a look at how the tail sits across the wider rump, and we think it looks quite good. When it's finally revealed, the new 911 Turbo is expected to put out more than 500 horsepower - numbers from 520 hp to 550 hp have been mentioned - from it's tri-turboed (yes, three turbos) 3.6-litre flat six. Both the seven-speed PDK and seven-speed manual transmissions should be on offer, and the lighter-than-the-last-Turbo package should be screamingly fast. Have a look at the high-res gallery to see it from just about every angle. News Source: CarPix Porsche 911 Turbo caught out and about again originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Next gen 911 Turbo seen frolicking in the snow Filed under: Porsche, Spy Photos With Winter comes cold weather testing of new models, like the BMW X5 we saw yesterday. Every Porsche 911 is special in its own right, but the 911 Turbo remains the most desirable roadgoing version for most enthusiasts, even surpassing such wunderbar models like the GT3RS. Porsche is marketing the newest 911 hard and just revealed the convertible version at the Detroit Auto Show, but still no Turbo. Until now that is. The shooters at Carscoop managed to grab some up close and personal shots of the upcoming 911 Turbo undergoing a bit of Winter Driving. We can't wait to see if it looks as angry in person! News Source: Carscoop Next gen 911 Turbo seen frolicking in the snow originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments BMW X5 test mule captured on video Filed under: BMW, Videos, Spy Photos, Winter Driving It may be a year or two from public consumption, but sightings of the next generation BMW X5 have been coming fast and furious. Last week we had a peek at the big SUV in Munich, and now the good folks at Carscoop have captured the beast in action on ice. Even clad in a psychedelic disguise, there is no mistaking the left hand driver as an X5 although it does appear to be a good bit longer than the current model. It is rumoured that BMW's newest flagship SUV will have both gas/electric and diesel/electric hybrids available in Europe, though there is no confirmation whether either of these will be available when the X5 arrives in Canadian showrooms. See the 2013 (2014??) X5 in action after the jump. Continue reading BMW X5 test mule captured on video BMW X5 test mule captured on video originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Are you the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe? Filed under: Hyundai, Spy Photos It won't be long before we see the official reveal of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe, but predictably, the Internet won't be kept waiting. Consider us unsurprised that a set of grainy photos showing what is claimed to be a badgeless redesigned Santa Fe crossover has appeared ahead of schedule. That said, we're thinking the chrome-heavy maw depicted in these shots suggests that this is probably an overseas version (ix45) - not exactly what we'll see on our shores. At least, that's what we're hoping, as the wall of frontal brightwork seems out of step not just with the market, but also Hyundai and its styling position here in North America. That said, our moles confirm that this is "some version of Santa Fe" and suggest that the image above was likely part of an illicit photo shoot taken inside the plant in Korea. We should know more in April, when the North American Santa Fe is expected to launch at the New York Auto Show. For now, however, check out AutoEvolution for a second look. News Source: AutoEvolution Tip: Thanks to all for the tips! Are you the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe? originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments McLaren MP4-12C Spyder caught on camera with its top down Filed under: Convertible, Spy Photos, Performance If you're going to make a mid-engined supercar, you've got to make a roadster version. You simply have to, and that's all there is to it. Ferrari does with the 458 Spider, just as it did with the F430, 360, 355 and 348 before it. Lamborghini does with the Gallardo. Audi does with the R8. And soon McLaren will with the MP4-12C. We know it will - it's just a matter of time. And now it appears that time is coming up soon. Caught by in spy shots by Britain's Car magazine, the MP4-12C Spyder carries a folding solid roof mechanism - not unlike that found in the 458, but unlike the Ferrari's, does not hide the engine. That's because the system is more of a targa top. It's reportedly being built for McLaren by Webasto and - intriguingly enough - Lotus, made of aluminum and plastic, and can deploy or retract in about 17 seconds while rolling at up to five mph. Otherwise it's expected to be mechanically identical to the fixed-roof version, complete with twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8 pumping 592 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. Expect the 12C Spyder to roll out some time later this year - in time for the summer, if McLaren's as smart and quick about it as it is with most things. McLaren MP4-12C Spyder caught on camera with its top down originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe caught undisguised ahead of Chicago debut Filed under: Hyundai, Spy Photos, Chicago Auto Show Here it is, ladies and gents - the 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe. The svelte new two-door will make its official debut at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show in just a few weeks, but our intrepid spy photographers managed to catch this completely uncovered prototype on the back of a flatbed truck. Not surprisingly, the new coupe relies heavily on the same Fluidic Sculpture design language of the award-winning sedan, though subtle tweaks have been made to give the two-door a bit more sporting flare. The foglight housings appear larger and more angular, giving the front end a slightly more aggressive appearance. Out back, a small lip spoiler has been added to the rear deck that both enhances the swoopy profile shape of the Elantra and adds another element of style to the rear end. As we reported earlier, the Elantra Coupe will get a sport-minded SE trim level, and all in, Hyundai hopes that the coupe will account for 20 percent of all Elantra sales. We'll have the full details in just a few weeks, but scroll through our gallery of spy shots to see naked coupe from all angles. Image Credit: KGP Photography 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe caught undisguised ahead of Chicago debut originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Porsche Panamera facelift comes into view Filed under: Luxury, Porsche, Spy Photos Porsche is busily readying a facelift for the Porsche Panamera, and our elite squad of spy photographers recently clicked a few images of the vehicle as it underwent winter testing. Details are scarce as to what, if any changes we can expect from the vehicle mechanically, but the photos clearly show an updated front fascia hidden beneath a bit of cladding. Odds are we can bet on seeing a tweaked headlight design with a reworked front valance. The vehicle's LED daytime running lights look to hang around for another few years as well. The tweaks should help the oddly proportioned Panamera age a bit better moving forward. Move to the vehicle's rear and Porsche has served up some similarly small adjustments to the rear bumper cap and taillights. The changes aren't revolutionary by any stretch of the imagination, but Porsche has never been one shock and awe with its facelifts. News Source: CarPix Porsche Panamera facelift comes into view originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Rolls-Royce Phantom facelift spotted Filed under: Rolls-Royce, Spy Photos It's been a spell since Rolls-Royce put the aging Phantom under the knife. In truth, the luxoliner hasn't seen any serious revision since it debuted in 2003, but our spy photographers have just managed to click a few photos of a vehicle that may hint at changes to come. Unfortunately for carspotters, Rolls-Royce engineers and designers appear to have cleverly hid the vehicle's new face under stickers designed to make the front end appear identical to the old model. The decal treatment makes it difficult to see exactly what Rolls-Royce has planned for the Phantom, but we'd wager the changes will remain mild. Expect to see minor updates to the vehicle's lighting out front. Indoors, parent company BMW may throw in an updated navigation system and connectivity hardare. Under the hood, the new Phantom is likely to boast a little bit more power with fewer emissions through fine-tuning, but we don't expect a wholesale powertrain swap-out. Expect the price tag to remain somewhere between lofty and ludicrous. News Source: CarPix Rolls-Royce Phantom facelift spotted originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Chevy Corvette C7 prototype spied testing! Filed under: Coupe, Chevrolet, Spy Photos, Performance The Corvette is the very definition of a halo car, and the fact that 2013 marks its sixtieth year in production is nothing short of a miracle. The seventh-generation Corvette is still a model year away, during which time Chevy plans to send off the C6 with a special edition 60th Anniversary 427 Convertible. Development of the C7, however, continues at full speed, and we have the very first shots of a prototype being tested in cold weather to prove it. The car in question is wrapped in vinyl covering, underneath which hides the familiar black-and-white swirl paint job we see so often on prototypes. Even still, we can identify some aspects of the evolution that will take place between the C6 and C7. For one, comparing profile shots of this prototype with the C6, it's apparent that the front wheels have moved farther forward, increasing the dash-to-axle ratio and likely the wheelbase. The rear end also appears to be larger, with a higher deck lid and slightly longer overhang. We also noticed that this prototype's side mirrors are a different shape than the C6's, and its dual tailpipes are positioned closer together to form a perfectly spaced line of four pipes. There's no evidence of a split rear window and a mid-engine layout is clearly not in the cards. These photos should put those wild rumors to rest, but what's under the hood and how the interior has been improved are still unknowns. Image Credit: KGP Photography Chevy Corvette C7 prototype spied testing! originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Toyota begins testing new hybrid LMP1 Filed under: Hybrid, Coupe, Europe, Toyota, Spy Photos, Motor sports, Racing The sudden departure of Peugeot from the Le Mans racing scene came as quite a shock, we know. But don't count the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship - or the famed 24-hour race at its center - out for the count before it's even started, because another powerhouse is already gearing up to take Peugeot's place. And that powerhouse is Toyota. The Japanese auto giant announced its plans to build and campaign a new LMP1 racer at Le Mans and the WEC back in October. Toyota Motorsport GmbH (which ran the company's F1 team until its withdrawal in 2009) then set about designing the car, partnering with Team Oreca to help with the logistics of entering the pinnacle of endurance racing, and hired three top pilots to, you know, actually drive the thing. With all those pieces in place, the Toyota team began testing their new prototype racer last week at the Paul Ricard test track in France. Toyota itself didn't release much in the way of details, but Alex Wurz was said to have led the shake-down, with his team-mates Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima on hand to share in the driving duties as well. And while no "official" photos were "officially" released, Toyota PR rep Scott Brownlee tweeted a couple of snapshots to whet our appetites. The result looks, predictably enough, much like the latest LMP1 racers fielded by Audi and the departed Peugeot, but as with most things, it's what's underneath the surface that will count the most. In Toyota's sake, that would be a gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain of some sort, but we'll have to wait a little while longer - as the next round of testing and the car's anticipated debut at Spa come May approach - to find out more. Toyota begins testing new hybrid LMP1 originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 3rd-gen Mini Cooper spy shots suggest retro-free interior Filed under: Mini, Spy Photos The relentlessly unconventional Mini Cooper looks to be going a lot less unconventional for its third generation, at least on the inside. A glimpse of what appears to be Mini's future was snapped by KGP Photography in the Arctic Circle, and outside, there looks to be little change except for slightly larger dimensions. Inside, though, the giant-speedo-and-toggle-switch IP looks to be binned in favor of a soberly BMW-esque dash cluster and horizontally laid-out central console. If this interior is accurate and note just an elaborate - and expensive - engineering mule bait-and-switch, then it signals a rather marked change in the Mini way of life. The theories of why it might be the real deal are, again, the testing expense, the expectation that the Mini will get a BMW 1 Series GT brother and the platform sharing necessitated more commonalities, or that designers might simply be over the still-unique first- and second-generation interior design (a retro-minded setup that both delights and enrages with its haphazard ergonomics). While we all wait to find out if the Mini cabin dream is over, you can catch more high-res glimpses of it in the gallery. 3rd-gen Mini Cooper spy shots suggest retro-free interior originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 2013 BMW X5 spied near Munich Filed under: BMW, Europe, Spy Photos It was the first day on the job for a new photographer at the Belgian site Vroom when he spied the much anticipated 2013 BMW X5 on the road near the company's headquarters in Munich. It would appear that the already large Teutonic SUV will grow in order to stand apart from the larger new X3. Apparently the gent was able to get a peek under the hood and saw a V8, along with other equipment that he thought indicated it might be a hybrid. This tester was a seven passenger version, sporting a third row seat. News Source: Vroom Image Credit: AutoMedia 2013 BMW X5 spied near Munich originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 2013 MKZ first Lincoln to get massive retractable roof? Filed under: Lincoln, Spy Photos, Sedan Our elite squad of spy photographers have managed to take a few quick photos of the 2013 Lincoln MKZ, and from the looks of things, the luxury sedan may have one very special trick up its sleeve when it hits the market: a large, retractable glass roof. Taking a close look at the vehicle's rear glass, we can clearly see a very squared-off window with visible tracks down both sides. That may indicate a mechanism capable of retracting and supporting the roof section as it moves back. If that turns out to be the case, the 2013 Lincoln MKZ will boast a roof similar to what's found on the Porsche 911 Targa. Unfortunately, the spy shots don't show the roof in the retracted position, which means we'll have to use our imagination until the vehicle gets closer to an official unveil at the 2012 New York Auto Show. News Source: KGP Photography 2013 MKZ first Lincoln to get massive retractable roof? originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Mercedes-Benz CLC snapped testing in the snow Filed under: Luxury, Europe, Mercedes-Benz, Spy Photos, Sedan Our spy photographers have caught the Mercedes-Benz CLC out for a little winter testing. Based on the same platform as the company's A and B-Class vehicles, the CLC should offer buyers a smaller alternative to the Mercedes-Benz CLS. Rumor has it the CLC will be available in both front and all-wheel drive configurations, and AMG is already humming along on a high-performance version of the four-door. The CLC AMG is likely to produce somewhere between 300 and 340 horsepower when it debuts. Otherwise, buyers can expect to find two gasoline engines on the option sheet producing 121 and 154 horsepower, respectively. Chances are Mercedes-Benz will also offer European buyers a pair of diesel options good for 107 and 134 horsepower. Regardless of engine choice, the CLC will likely put the power to its wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. News Source: CarPix Mercedes-Benz CLC snapped testing in the snow originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments This is the 2013 Ford Fusion Filed under: Ford, Spy Photos, Detroit Auto Show We've still got a few days between us and the reveal of the 2013 Ford Fusion, but a minor bug in its iPad teaser app has given us an early glimpse of the all-new sedan. As we showed you before, Ford enlisted the help of an interactive iPad app to count down the days until the Fusion's reveal. But today, an error with the app gave us a nice front-three-quarter view of Ford's new Camry-fighter, which has since been removed. We're digging the low-slung stance, blacked-out Day Light Opening (greenhouse) and pixel-perfect wheel size, but it's the fascia that's easily the most handsome, combining elements of recent Ford concepts and polishing them up for production duty (along with a fair bit of Aston Martin in that grille). We'll be seeing much more in another three days, so stay tuned! This is the 2013 Ford Fusion originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible caught enjoying the weather ahead of Detroit reveal? Filed under: Convertible, Ford, Spy Photos, Performance, Detroit Auto Show Detroit in January isn't exactly the proper place to go topless in a 650-horsepower tire smoker, but that doesn't mean rumors of the 2013 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 Convertible's impending debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show aren't accurate. And these spy shots prove that the car is very much ready for its big unveiling. We're expecting the soft-top Shelby to pack the same 5.8-litre supercharged engine as its hard-topped sibling, which means the asphalt will be punished with those aforementioned 650 ponies along with 600 pound-feet of torque. For the coupe, that power equals a top speed of over 320 kilometres per hour. So, here's the big question: Will the 2013 GT500 Convertible be the least expensive way to a wind-in-your-hair blast at supercar speeds? While we all ponder that question, let's all take a gander at the spy photos in the gallery above. And let's pray to the god of sunshine that the GT500 Convertible does indeed drop its top in the snowy climes of Detroit in January. News Source: KGP Photography 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible caught enjoying the weather ahead of Detroit reveal? originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Autoblog Canada Autoblog Canada Ebay find of the day: Lotus 18 Formula Jr. Filed under: Classics, Lotus, Motor sports, Racing If you've ever had a hankering to try your hand at vintage sports car racing (and honestly, who among us hasn't?) - here's your chance. Devotees of Colin Chapman's "just add lightness" principal will recognize this 1961 Lotus 18 Formula Junior as one of the most successful racecars of its era. Introduced in 1960, the Lotus 18 was the Prince of Lightness's first design featuring a mid-ship engine. It quickly trounced the competition, proving itself the fastest formula car Grand Prix racing had ever seen. Easily taking the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix with the venerable Stirling Moss at the wheel, the Lotus 18 left the faster and more powerful sharknose Ferraris in its wake. Listed on Ebay with a reserve bid of US$47,500,(about $47,239 Cdn) this Pennsylvania-located open-wheeler represents your chance to own a piece of racing history. News Source: Ebay Motors Photo Credits: Ebay Motors A tip of the hat to the Grassroots Motorsports fraternity! Ebay find of the day: Lotus 18 Formula Jr. originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Toyota upgrades limited TS030 Hybrid racing program to full WEC entry Filed under: Hybrid, Toyota, Motor sports, Racing, Green When Toyota announced its return to endurance sports car racing with the new TS030 Hybrid this season, the plan was to enter a handful of races, like Le Mans and Spa-Francorchamps, on an invitational basis. Plans change, though, and Toyota has now upgraded the program to a full manufacturer entry, paving the way for it to compete in the entire FIA World Endurance Championship schedule. Now, with budget constraints, it's likely that Toyota will still pick and choose which races to contest, but it does open the door. The change was apparently made in order to support endurance racing as a motorsport discipline. As part of its arrangement with the FIA, organizers at the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) need at least two manufacturers in the LMP1 category. With Peugeot's withdrawal, the series lacked the requisite level of participation, so Toyota stepped up to fill the void. Follow the jump for the full announcement. News Source: Toyota Continue reading Toyota upgrades limited TS030 Hybrid racing program to full WEC entry Toyota upgrades limited TS030 Hybrid racing program to full WEC entry originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Alain Prost wins ice-racing series in Dacia Lodgy Glace MPV Filed under: Minivan/Van, Europe, Renault, Motor sports, Racing A minivan is not what you'd expect to see winning a racing series. Nor a budget brand like Dacia. That's where Alain Prost comes into the picture. The three-time Formula One world champion isn't quite retired: he's still competing in the Andros Trophy, a French ice-racing series. After hoisting the trophy twice in a row with a snow-spec Toyota Auris rally machine, Prost switched over to Dacia, for which he has now claimed his third personal title and the first for Renault's Hungarian budget brand. The title fight came down to the last race in Auvergne, France, where the natural snow and best efforts of race organizers could not separate Prost (or his son Nicolas) from the bare tarmac. The vehicle with which he did it was a new racer (loosely) based on the new Lodgy, an MPV that doesn't make its production debut until the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. Check out the high-res photos in the gallery for a closer look and follow the jump for the full press release. News Source: Dacia Continue reading Alain Prost wins ice-racing series in Dacia Lodgy Glace MPV Alain Prost wins ice-racing series in Dacia Lodgy Glace MPV originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Audi confirms R18 hybrid as part of 2012 endurance racing program Filed under: Diesel, Hybrid, Motor sports, Racing The diesel era at Le Mans may not be over yet, but already we're seeing the emergence of a new propulsion trend: hybrids. Toyota recently announced the TS030 Hybrid LMP1, Peugeot was working on a hybrid version of its 908 prototype before it killed the race program, and now Audi has confirmed a hybrid version of the R18 TDI. Few details were released, but what we can tell you is that Audi will field four cars at Le Mans this year: two with hybrid assist and two without. One will be headlined by Allan McNish, one by Oliver Jarvis, one by Timo Bernhard and one by André Lotterer, with supplemental drivers to be announced sometime before the 80th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans kicks off in June. Audi also announced a two-car entry for the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship, with four cars to be run at select racers like Spa and Sebring. Expect more details on the R18 hybrid to be released later this month, but in the meantime you can check out the official announcement after the jump. News Source: Audi Continue reading Audi confirms R18 hybrid as part of 2012 endurance racing program Audi confirms R18 hybrid as part of 2012 endurance racing program originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 24 Hours of LeMons now welcomes driverless entries Filed under: Classics, Technology, Motor sports, Humour In an effort to stay on the bleeding edge of old crap-bucket technology, the 24 Hours of LeMons has now created a prize specifically for autonomous vehicles. The X Ceedingly Bad Idea Prize will award one million shiny new nickels to the first team that manages to pilot an autonomous vehicle to a win. We assume that carries a caveat of not killing anyone in the process. As always, the vehicle itself can't cost more than $500, though the associated technological wizardry required to keep the driverless machine on the track doesn't count toward that grand total. Madness? Probably, but we would feel more comfortable sharing the course with a computer than some of the tactically inept drivers we've seen bashing around the track in our time. The next 24 Hours of LeMons race kicks off at New Jersey Motorsports Park on April 14-15, but you need to get your application in by February 4. Get cracking, people. In the meantime, hit the jump to check out the press release. News Source: Hooniverse Continue reading 24 Hours of LeMons now welcomes driverless entries 24 Hours of LeMons now welcomes driverless entries originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Ferrari unveils new step-nosed F2012... snow be damned [w/video] Filed under: Europe, Ferrari, Videos, Motor sports, Design/Style, Racing, Performance Few things can stand between a Ferrari and the finish line. Not rain, not sleet and certainly not snow. So while the latter fell in prodigious quantities on Maranello, where Ferrari was planning to unveil its latest F1 challenger yesterday, that didn't stop the Scuderia from showing it off to the world, through the magic of this newfangled invention they're calling the "internet". The F2012 you see here is the fifty-eighth F1 car built by Ferrari, comprising a chassis and powertrain developed and produced entirely in-house: a rarity among F1 teams, particularly in these past few years since major manufacturers like Honda, Toyota and BMW withdrew from the sport. The most prominent change to the car's form over the F150°Italia it replaces is the rather aesthetically challenged but aerodynamically-optimized stepped nose, which (like the one on the Caterham CT01 and expected to follow on several more) conforms to revised FIA regulations while allowing sufficient air to pass underneath the nosecone to allow the underbody aerodynamics to do their thing. The rear section is also more tapered, leading to the rear wing with the Drag Reduction System that returns from last season. That's all well and good, of course, but what really matters is how the F2012 is going to stack up against the competition - particularly from the returning champions at Red Bull and longtime rivals at McLaren. Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa will wring out all the F2012 it has to offer, but only time will tell if they'll be able to add another trophy to the cabinet in Maranello. In the meantime you can check out their new ride in the high-res image gallery above and follow the jump for the full press release, technical details and video footage. Continue reading Ferrari unveils new step-nosed F2012... snow be damned [w/video] Ferrari unveils new step-nosed F2012... snow be damned [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Ducati heading back to Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for 2012 [w/video] Filed under: Videos, Motor sports, Motorcycle Ducati has announced that it will be back at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in July. The company will once again partner with the Spider Grips team using Multistrada 1200 machines. The Multistrada is the same bike that propelled Ducati to first and third place last year. Privateer Carlin Dunne took home a slew of titles when he conquered the mountain in 11:11.32, setting a new record for motorcycles in the process. He'll be back this year alongside Greg Tracy, a six-time Pikes Peak winner. In 2010, Tracy took the top win on the mountain astride a Multistrada of his own. To celebrate the brand's return, Ducati is inviting fans and owners to join the team in Colorado in July for a gathering that should include plenty of riding along some of the state's more impressive scenery before attending the race. Sounds like a very good time to us. Head over to the Ducati site for more information. July is still a long way off, so Ducati has been kind enough to show off a short recap film of the brand's 2011 season. Hit the jump to check out the clip as well as the full press release. Continue reading Ducati heading back to Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for 2012 [w/video] Ducati heading back to Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for 2012 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Ferrari F1 launch snowed out in Maranello Filed under: Ferrari, Motor sports If you grew up in a sufficiently northern climate, you probably remember staying eagerly tuned in to the local radio or television station, praying on a cold day that enough snow would have fallen for them to close the schools. Well that's what's happened in the Modena area in northern Italy, but while the school children may be celebrating in their jammies, the racing fans among them will be disappointed to learn that the snow has caused the launch of the latest Scuderia Ferrari single-seater to be canceled. Enough snow, as you can see from the photo above, has fallen on Maranello to not only close down the team's private Fiorano test track - which was supposed to be used for the car's first demonstration run - but also all the roads leading to and from the site, preventing the motorsport press from getting there. Ferrari will undoubtedly reschedule or make alternate arrangements to unveil the new car, but for now, the latest scarlet speedster will have to stay under wraps. Official announcements can be found after the jump. News Source: Ferrari Continue reading Ferrari F1 launch snowed out in Maranello Ferrari F1 launch snowed out in Maranello originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Watch as a Ferrari FF goes rallying in the snow Filed under: Luxury, Off-Road, Europe, Ferrari, Videos, Motor sports, Performance Ferrari has had its share of drivers who knew their way around a snowy rally course. Gilles Villeneuve, for example, was famous for the drifting techniques he picked up racing snowmobiles in his native Quebec. And Kimi Raikkonen, for another, left the Scuderia for the World Rally Championship where he exercised his Finnish roots. Thing is, both of these top drivers were gone from the Ferrari roster long before the company introduced the FF as its first all-wheel-drive car. That's where Markku Alen comes in. The former World Rally Champion took the FF up to the Arjeplog track in the north of his native Sweden, just an hour's drive south of the Arctic Circle, to stretch it out in the snow. Fortunately, he also brought a film crew along. While Ferrari's shot footage of the FF playing in the snow before, none of it came out quite as majestic as this clip. Follow the jump to check it out. Continue reading Watch as a Ferrari FF goes rallying in the snow Watch as a Ferrari FF goes rallying in the snow originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments This is what riding in an F1 car is like with loose seatbelts and no HANS Device Filed under: Videos, Motor sports Riding shotgun in a two-seater race car at speed is a lot of fun - trust us on this - but this video is headache inducing. And scary. Seems like the pit crew on hand at Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi was so concerned with starting the camera and setting its white balance that they didn't bother checking to see whether the passenger's safety harness was tight enough. And it clearly wasn't. You'll notice in the screenshot above that the passenger's helmet appears to be striking the bulkhead in front of her, which is definitely not supposed to happen. Indeed, she gets thrown around something fierce as the two-seater F1 car corners and brakes. So let this serve as a lesson to those of you who might embark on your first hot lap on a race track: Tighten up those belts until they are truly snug. Click past the jump to watch the video in its entirety. Continue reading This is what riding in an F1 car is like with loose seatbelts and no HANS Device This is what riding in an F1 car is like with loose seatbelts and no HANS Device originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments McLaren unleashes new MP4-27 on 2012 Formula One World Championship [w/audio] Filed under: Motor sports, Racing Forget about all the talk, about the contracts and the lawsuits. The real sign of the Formula One season gearing up to start is when each team unveils its new car. As you may already know, unlike most other series, each team in F1 is not really considered a team. They're called "constructors". Each is responsible for designing and crafting the cars they'll be fielding in the championship. That process got under way last week when Caterham beat all the others to the punch by unveiling its new Renault-powered CT01. And that's all well and fine, but we all know that the Caterham is far more likely to finish last than finish first. What you're bound to see taking checkered flags is the car you see here: the new McLaren MP4-27. McLaren, you see, is the winningest team on the grid this side of Ferrari. And with Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton - both world champions - performing the driving duties, the British squad is hard at work on closing that gap. The more immediate challenge, however, is overcoming Red Bull, which returns as reigning champion once again and to which McLaren finished second last season. The MP4-27 you see here is the car with which McLaren hopes to seize the lead. Although the design looks rather similar to the 2011-spec MP4-26 it replaces, McLaren insists it represents a comprehensive redesign. Fortunately that does not include the stepped platypus nose already shown on the Caterham and which is expected to proliferate across a good part of the grid. Power once again comes from Mercedes-Benz, a relationship that McLaren reiterates it is not about to terminate in favor of another supplier or building its own engines in-house. We'll have to wait and see as the season gets underway to see if the MP4-27 will be a winner for McLaren, but for now you can check out the high-resolution images from the launch in the gallery above, and jump past the break for the full press release and the sound file of the Mercedes-Benz V8 cranking over. News Source: McLaren Continue reading McLaren unleashes new MP4-27 on 2012 Formula One World Championship [w/audio] McLaren unleashes new MP4-27 on 2012 Formula One World Championship [w/audio] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Alonso and Massa get a pair of Ferrari-red Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8s Filed under: Celebrities, Ferrari, Jeep, Motor sports, SUV There's no end to the perks of being a Formula One racing driver, especially if you happen to drive for Scuderia Ferrari. As if piloting one of the fastest F1 cars on the grid weren't enough, Ferrari has gifted each of its gifted drivers his own 458 Italia, Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari and Maserati GranCabrio, to name just a few. And something tells us that if either Fernando Alonso or Felipe Massa wanted anything else from the expansive Fiat-Chrysler product range - say, a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, for example - that would hardly pose a problem. That's exactly what the talented duo got the other day at the Fiorano test track at Ferrari headquarters in Maranello, where the first two examples of the new SRT8 in Europe were delivered to the pair of stars. Certainly, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 has plenty to love, what with its 6.4-litre Hemi V8 and 5-second dash to 100 km/h, but Fernando And Felipe got more than that. These two unique examples were decked out in Rosso Corso , with matte black front grille, a black offset racing stripe, black roof, carbon fibre trim and white accents. Ride height was lowered by 1.5 inches on unique forged and painted 20-inch alloys, and the interior has similarly been decked out in red leather accents and top-stitching and even yellow dials on the instruments. Nice work if you can get it. All you have to do is convince the most victorious team in motorsport that you've got what it takes to be world champion, and you can have one too. Otherwise you can follow the jump for the press release and scope out the high-res images in the gallery above. News Source: Jeep Continue reading Alonso and Massa get a pair of Ferrari-red Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8s Alonso and Massa get a pair of Ferrari-red Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8s originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Lotus headed to Le Mans with Lola LMP2 Filed under: Coupe, Lotus, Motor sports, Racing The suitably rapid expansion of the Lotus Racing division is showing no signs of slowing down. The British marque has its own Formula One team, is supplying engines to the IndyCar Series, oversees both GP2 and GP3 teams, has competition versions of its road cars in various GT and rally championships, runs its own karting program, and offers enthusiasts top-notch trackday programs with the Evora GT and Exos/Type 125 single-seater. But that's not enough: now Lotus is gearing up to take on Le Mans. The company was planning to design its own LMP2 racer, and it had snagged the designer of the 908 HDi away from the now-shuttered Peugeot Sport racing program. But that apparently didn't go quite as smoothly as planned, so Lotus has instead opted to back an independent team to run a second-tier Le Mans prototype on its behalf. That team is Kodewa, headed up by former HRT F1 team principal Colin Kolles and his father Romulus. They'll be running a chassis built by Lola and powered by a BMW V8 prepared by Engine Developments - the same arrangement by which Lotus is powering its Indy program. The car, as you can see, features the same iconic black and gold livery as other Lotus racers, penned in this case by Daniel Simon - a former Volkswagen Group designer responsible for the Tron:Legacy lightcycles and the livery run on last year's HRT F111. Look for the Lotus LMP2 to debut when the FIA World Endurance Championship kicks off here at Sebring in March, with a second car expected to join at Spa in May. Press release after the jump. News Source: Lola Continue reading Lotus headed to Le Mans with Lola LMP2 Lotus headed to Le Mans with Lola LMP2 originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Chevrolet pulls out of British Touring Car Championship Filed under: Chevrolet, UK, Motor sports, Sedan, Racing If you, like us, were wondering how MG managed to snag Jason Plato away from Chevrolet in the British Touring Car Championship, well you had good reason to wonder. The racecar driver and Fifth Gear co-host had, after all, driven the factory-backed team to both titles in 2010 and landed himself third and his team second just this past season. But you can wonder no more, as the latest news from the BTCC paddock is that Chevrolet has withdrawn from the popular saloon racing series. The news arrives as a bit of a surprise coming from the front-running team, particularly at a time when the grid has expanded enormously in the past couple of seasons. The reason? According to Autosport, Chevrolet wants to focus its energies on the World Touring Car Championship, where the same outfit RML that ran the BTCC team fields similar Cruze touring cars - driven by Yvan Muller, Rob Huff and Alain Menu - with considerable success: The RML Chevrolet team has claimed both the drivers' and constructors' titles for the past two seasons running, making it something like the Red Bull Racing of touring cars. A longtime competitor in the BTCC, RML reportedly hopes it won't be long before it is back on the grid in the British series, and given that most of the cars in the championship are fielded by privateer teams, we wouldn't be surprised to see them return as early as next year. In the meantime, General Motors will be well represented in the series by Vauxhall. News Source: Autosport Chevrolet pulls out of British Touring Car Championship originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments João Barbosa's wife no longer wonders what he does for a living Filed under: Videos, Motor sports, Humour When you're young, no one tells you marriage is really about finding some one to have, hold and torture 'til death do you part. From playful infractions like forgetting whether your significant other hates pickles, onions or both to more serious matters like who uses more paper towels, matrimony puts a relationship and those parties involved into the world's most powerful pressure cooker. Even so, few of us get the chance to delight in the suffering of our significant others in quite the way Rolex Sports Car series driver João Barbosa does. The driver recently took his beautiful wife around Daytona International Speedway in a two-seater Daytona prototype. At 300 km/h. Mrs. Barbosa doesn't appear to take to the experience all that well. Throughout the duration of six-minute video, it's difficult to tell whether the high-pitched wail is her screams or the whine of the race car's gearbox. Impressive. In fact, it's the most fun we've had watching a racer's wife get a peek into their husband's office since racer Riccardo Patrese's better half got a little animated in the passenger seat of a Honda Civic Type-R a few years ago. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself, but just remember; what goes around comes around. Especially in marriage. Continue reading João Barbosa's wife no longer wonders what he does for a living João Barbosa's wife no longer wonders what he does for a living originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments BMW sharpens its Edge with first M3 DTM livery Filed under: BMW, Coupe, Motor sports, Racing With six cars joining the grid this year in the DTM series, BMW is sure to present wildly different liveries - largely determined by the sponsors brought on board - for each one. And this is the first. Based on a sponsorship deal with BP, this particular M3 DTM is decked out in the bright green colour of Castrol Edge motor oil and the light blue of German gas station network Aral. This car's unveiling is the first time we're seeing the new touring car in anything but flat black or BMW's trademark striped white colour scheme. To pull of its entry into the competitive German racing series and take on its rivals at Mercedes-Benz and Audi, BMW is bringing in four of its proven factory drivers (including three-time World Touring Car Championship winner Andy Priaulx) and has poached longtime Mercedes AMG driver Bruno Spengler and Audi's reigning DTM champ Martin Tomczyk. All eyes will be focused on Hockenheim where the season kicks off in late April. News Source: BMW Continue reading BMW sharpens its Edge with first M3 DTM livery BMW sharpens its Edge with first M3 DTM livery originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Pininfarina P4/5 Competizione going hybrid? Filed under: Ferrari, Technology, Motor sports Race cars are going hybrid these days. Formula One racers store regenerated brake energy. Porsche packs a KERS flywheel into the 911 GT3 R. Just the other day, Toyota unveiled its new TS030 Hybrid endurance prototype. And now even Jim Glickenhaus' one-off Ferrari-powered, Pininfarina-designed P4/5 Competizione is said to be getting a hybrid powertrain. Emerging reports from Europe indicate that the GT prototype is preparing to return to the Nürburgring-based VLN series, but this time, it'll be packing some electric boost. That bit is tipped to come from a system provided by Magneti Marelli that's similar to the Kinetic Energy Recovery System it developed for Scuderia Ferrari for use in F1. The 4.0-litre V8 will continue providing principal motivation, but the added jolt of power could be just what the team needs to conquer the Green Hell with green(er) propulsion. News Source: RacingWorld.be via Autoblog.nl Pininfarina P4/5 Competizione going hybrid? originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Formula One driver, Adrian Sutil convicted of assault in Germany Filed under: Celebrities, Motor sports, Government/Legal Formula One driver Adrian Sutil has been convicted of assault in a trial concluded this week in Munich, Germany. The proceeding revolved around a brawl at a night club in Shanghai, where Sutil slashed the throat of Genii Capital CEO Eric Lux, co-owner of the team now known as Lotus, with a champagne flute. The conviction comes with a suspended sentence of 18 months and a 200,000-euro fine (approx. $262,000 Cdn) which is earmarked towards charity. For his part, Sutil reportedly claims it was an accident and that he tried to settle the issue out of court with Lux, who in turn says he didn't get the apology he was after until the courts settled the matter. The next question is where that leaves Sutil. The driver has been with the Force India team (in its various iterations) since 2006 when he was named a driver for the team then called Midland, making his race debut the following year under Spyker management. With the trial looming over his head, the team cut Sutil from its roster for this season, leaving him without a drive as the rest of the field has all but completely filled up. News Source: Autosport Image Credit: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Formula One driver, Adrian Sutil convicted of assault in Germany originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments MOMO founder Gianpiero Moretti dead at 71 Filed under: Europe, Ferrari, Motor sports, Racing Gianpiero Moretti, driver and founder of race equipment manufacturer MOMO, passed away in his home in Milan this month after a lengthy illness. The 71-year-old began making steering wheels in his 20s, eventually translating his business into international success after Ferrari factory driver John Surtees adopted a MOMO wheel in his 158 F1 racing car in 1964. That car went on to carry Surtees to his only Formula One title, but Moretti's success blossomed. He opened a factory in Verona in 1966 and ran MOMO for three decades before selling it to a larger supplier. In the interim, Moretti tried his hand at both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Daytona 24 Hours, campaigning multiple Ferrari and Porsche models but only managing to take the checkered flag once. In 1996, he came within a minute of victory at Daytona, but lost to the Riley & Scott team. Moretti returned in 1998 to seal the deal on his 15th attempt. Moretti has left behind an indelible mark on the motorsports industry. His humble steering wheel operation grew into a mammoth race supply operation with everything from racing suits to shift knobs and the MOMO brand is synonymous with quality and style even now. News Source: Hemmings Image Credit: Momo via Facebook MOMO founder Gianpiero Moretti dead at 71 originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments McLaren denies plans to switch engine suppliers Filed under: Mercedes-Benz, Motor sports For 15 years, McLaren was the F1 team of choice for Mercedes-Benz, enjoying a near-works level of support and collaboration from the German automaker. But as you may recall, Daimler bought its own team three seasons ago: the outfit that started out as British American Racing, then became Honda before branching out as Brawn GP, was rebranded Mercedes GP under its latest management and now rechristened Mercedes AMG Petronas. And ever since, McLaren has had to deflect speculation that it was looking for a new engine supplier. Back in November, those rumors, somewhat ironically, centered around Honda, the company that once owned the team now owned by Mercedes-Benz and which was once McLaren's most victorious engine supplier. The Woking-based outfit scuttled those rumors at the time, and has now had to deny another set, this time involving PURE. The new engine supplier established by former Jacques Villeneuve manager and BAR-Honda team principal Craig Pollock (with considerable technical know-how from former Peugeot, Renault and Ferrari engineers) is hard at work designing a new engine to be used from 2014 when the new turbocharged V6 engine regulations come into effect. There's no telling which teams PURE will power at that point, but one thing McLaren is adamant about is that it won't be theirs. Instead, the brass at Woking is insistent that it is perfectly happy in its relationship with Mercedes-Benz, whose racing engine operations are linked to its eponymous racing team by little more than name and common ownership. McLaren, then, is expected to stick with Silver Star power at least through the end of 2015, if not longer. News Source: Autosport McLaren denies plans to switch engine suppliers originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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