Click here to read AUTO #20 online!

Dear reader,

The cover story in this issue of AUTO deals with the topic of urban mobility and the challenge it presents. Erik Solheim, executive director of UN Environment, recently said: “We are moving towards electrical vehicles in cities very fast. The biggest killer of all humans is now pollution, affecting our hearts, causing cancer and other diseases. So we need to fight pollution.” To see how cities are dealing with this and other issues, AUTO spoke to experts and administrators in three major urban centres – Accra, Montréal and Paris.

Our series of exclusive interviews with some of the most important personalities in the motor industry continues with Dr Andy Palmer, CEO of legendary British sports car marque Aston Martin.
In motor sport, we speak to Robert Kubica, who recently made an emotional return to Formula One action – something that seemed highly unlikely after a serious accident in 2011 – and Kalle Rovanperä, a talented youngster impressing experts in rallying.

Since 2014, Formula One cars have been powered by hybrid engines, which have delivered an amazing step forward in terms of efficiency. They are highly sophisticated pieces of technology and yet they and their creators do not get the recognition due. We wanted to put this right, by talking to the engine chiefs of the constructors currently involved in the top category of motor sport, to highlight how the current powertrains can also be beneficial in terms of the development of engines for road-going cars.

One of the leitmotifs of 2017 has been the road safety advertising campaign run by the FIA in partnership with JCDecaux. In this edition, we hear from campaign spokesman, Olympic superstar and 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk on why caring for others at the wheel is key to staying safe on the world’s roads.

In the usual section on heritage, we focus on one of the great sports car racers, Hans-Joaoachim Stutuck, and we also look at the
sports car that put Japanese auto manufacturers on the global map – the iconic Datatsun 240Z.

On the subject of Japan, the Japan Autoutoutomobile Federatation, which is hosting the 25th FIA Mobility Conference, is featured along with its Canadian opposite number in the section dedicated to our clubs. We hope that you enjoy these features and more besides and, as usual, we welcome ideas and suggestions to make AUTO even better.

Enjoy the read!

Jean Todt