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The Hyundai Accent is not particularly fast, nor is it the first thing that comes to mind when we're looking for an autocross car.

Those heading to Indianapolis this weekend for the big race should keep a sharp eye on their rearview mirrors.

New MINI Rocketman has been spied on a video shoot in London

Mazda and Alfa Romeo announce plans to co-develop a new roadster, based on the next MX-5

Lada, which has been the dominant brand in Russia for decades, is under pressure to defend its lead as major automakers push into a market poised to become Europe's largest by 2014.

Fiat Group and Mazda plan to develop and build a new roadster for the Mazda and Alfa Romeo brands, the companies said. The model will be a successor to the rear-wheel-drive MX-5/Miata and will have distinct styling for each brand.

Fiat Group and Mazda plan to develop and build a new roadster for the Mazda and Alfa Romeo brands, the companies said. The model will be a successor to the rear-wheel-drive MX-5/Miata and will have distinct styling for each brand.

The Peugeot 208 features a rear bumper from Plastic Omnium that is made from 100 percent recycled materials. In total, 25 percent of the 208 is made using recycled or natural materials while its predecessor, the 207, contained just 7 percent.

With Mazda, Alfa Romeo may finally have found the right partner to help it replace its front-wheel-drive Spider roadster.

Insurance black boxes under fire for logging speeding offences that never happened

New McLaren P12 and Ferrari Enzo will take the fight to the Porsche 918 Spyder, as the hybrid supercar battle hots up

From GMM

There is trouble afoot at Monza, the scene of the famous and historic Italian grand prix.

On Tuesday morning, Italy's finance police the Guardia di Finanza entered the Autodromo Nazionale to investigate seven people involved with the operation of the circuit.

According to Il Giorno and La Repubblica, the Monza prosecutor suspects tax offenses, false invoicing and other discrepancies in relation to Sias SpA, the circuit operator, between 2007 and 2012.

Among the suspected offenses is the issuing of invoices for non-existent transactions in order to show a positive balance sheet for the running of some events.

The officers raided the Sias offices and also the home of the circuit director, Enrico Ferrari, and other high ranking officials.

From GMM

Ross Brawn revealed on Wednesday he missed the recent Spanish grand prix to have checks on his heart.

After handing over to his Mercedes AMG deputy Nick Fry in Barcelona, fellow Briton Brawn is back in action as the team boss in Monte Carlo.

Rumours hinted there was more to the story, but Ross Brawn insisted to a German newspaper earlier on Wednesday that he was simply advised by doctors to take the weekend off after a night in hospital for checks.

He then told reporters in Monaco his symptoms had been "arrhythmia", or an irregular heartbeat, insisting he is "back to normal now".

Ross Brawn, 57, joked the heart problem was triggered by watching an exciting football game on television.

From GMM

Formula one is worth about $8 or $9 billion, as the sport's owner CVC confirmed it has this week sold a 21 per cent stake to new investors.

News of the sale coincided with the launch of pre-marketing ahead of one of the biggest ever sports floatations, data by the financial experts Thomson Reuters shows.

"It's cheap compared to Facebook," chief executive Bernie Ecclestone told reporters on Tuesday, confirming that the Singapore IPO looks set to go ahead soon "with no dramas".

"All the things that have to happen have happened. It will be finished by the end of June," the 81-year-old is quoted by the Telegraph.

F1's new one-fifth owners are US managers Waddell and Reed, the powerful Blackrock and Norway's central bank Norges.

"It's a great way to start the IPO and lets investors know what they can expect," said Ecclestone.

The diminutive Briton said he is keeping his 5.3 per cent stake, and staying in charge. His former wife Slavica controls another 8.5pc, the news agency Bloomberg said.

"You might as well have asked Frank Sinatra who he would appoint to replace him," Ecclestone insisted.

CVC said in a statement that it remains F1's biggest and controlling shareholder.

The guy wasn't exactly your typical detective, at least not like the ones we'd been used to seeing on television. He didn't adorn himself with fancy threads like those from Miami & Hawaii, but rather preferred to don a scruffy trench coat (which always looked slightly too big for him) and a battered fedora hat which had obviously seen better days.

Photo: Universal Television

In fact, in one episode I remember, he actually got mistaken for a vagrant while attempting to locate a witness at a homeless shelter! That was perhaps his real charm and a large part of the reason fans loved the show.

Yes, Columbo (Peter Falk) might have been a strange and, in many ways, unkempt detective, yet he always seemed to nail the bad guys even if the process did involve confusing everyone around him.

Mind you, that was half the fun of watching the show, as he would slowly and surely set about investigating the crime and, although often appearing more confused than the guys he was interrogating, he would eventually fathom it all out and somebody would be heading off to jail.

Of course, it wasn't simply his choice in clothing which set the man apart from the other TV detectives. For a guy who often bumbled around like the proverbial nutty professor, Columbo wasn't about to be seen swanning around town in a pretty Rockford-style Pontiac Firebird or one of those fancy Italian Ferrari jobs some others chose to drive. Oh no, that would never do for Lieutenant my-entire-body-needs-ironing Columbo.

No, he wanted a vehicle which blended with his onscreen persona, so he chose a suitably well-loved yet worn oddity, his 1959 Peugeot 403 Cabriolet. It's rumoured that the actor chose the vehicle personally after seeing one parked in the studio car park.

Perhaps not the smartest of choices for a police detective to drive, though. After all, the classic drop-top boasted a maximum speed of around 80 mph and a 0-60 time of over 20 seconds. And that was when it was brand-spanking new!

Still, the car suited his character and fans loved his quirky admiration of the vehicle. In one episode, he's heard explaining how there were only 3 of these cars in North America. Now, whether that was true or not is anyone's guess but it may well have been, as the French manufacturer only produced about 500 units in 1959, and most of those were obviously sold in Europe.

Yeah, an oddball detective, driving an oddball vehicle while wearing oddball clothing. That's probably how most will remember the character Peter Falk, who passed away last year at the age of 83, created. Personally, I view him as much more than that.

To me, Lieutenant Columbo bucked the typical trend of Hollywood. He demonstrated that you didn't need to be a dapper-looking pretty boy in a flash automobile to be one of television's great detectives. He was strange in many ways, but we bought into his character and viewers loved the show. Will they ever do a remake of Columbo? I hope they don't. He was a one-of-a-kind and in my mind, he should remain just that!

Photo: Universal Television

From GMM

It is believed static electricity could have sparked Williams' garage fire two weeks ago in Barcelona.

Even in the Monte Carlo paddock, the huge Spanish blaze was still a hot topic.

The British team and the FIA conducted investigations, but there has been no definite finding about the cause of the fire.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reported suggestions simple static electricity, caused by the specific weather conditions and the fact a container was not grounded at the time, was the culprit.

Williams has scrambled to be ready for Monaco, but the only obvious sign of the fire on Wednesday was one missing mechanic, who is still recovering from burns.

"He's on the road to recovery," said co-owner Toto Wolff.

It is believed the mechanic was pumping fuel from one container to another when the fire started.

Wolff confirmed the static electricity theory.

"This is extremely rare. The weather may have played a role, as we had low pressure over Barcelona that day," he explained.

Auto Motor und Sport said Williams lost mainly computers in the fire, but the crucial data survived. Of the team's 150 radios, only 40 were intact.

Photo: WRi2

Wolff said Bruno Senna's chassis survived because of the partitions at the back of the main pit area.

"They are flame retardant," he confirmed. "This meant the fire did not come beyond the back (area). The walls melted in the heat, but they didn't burn."

And financially, the Oxfordshire based team is completely undamaged, due to insurance.

From GMM

Marussia needs a KERS system to catch up with its direct rivals.

That is the admission of team boss John Booth, who told the Russian website championat.com that he is looking into adding the energy recovery technology to next year's Marussia package.

"First of all, I want to say that while it is said it (KERS) is a 'green' technology, in reality it's just a serious waste of money," he said.

"But in our situation it's time to start thinking seriously about KERS. Of the gap to Caterham, five or six tenths is due to KERS," added Booth. "So we are thinking seriously about it for 2013, but so far there is no decision."

Photo: Marussia F1 Team

John Booth admitted the start of the 2012 season has been a disappointment so far for Marussia, which in its first two years was called Virgin.

He said the team has recently completed a phase of serious restructuring.

"We had a good team of people before, but now we have a good team of designers. Though we have been in F1 for three years, I have the feeling that we were actually born in July 2011."

John Both is undoubtedly referring to the split mid last year with former technical chief Nick Wirth, and the relocation to a new headquarters.

"Time to man up."

Gone is the dash-mounted flower vase in the latest version of Volkswagen's Bug. Gone too is much of its cutesiness, replaced by a notable degree of sportiness intended to broaden the Beetle's target market by attracting male attention.

The trick here is to lure the Y-chromosome in such a way that it doesn't alienate the double-X buyer, who to date dominate the Bug-owning demographic.


New, sleeker shell
Volkswagen has built a great deal of eye-catching sleekness into the 2012 Beetle without sacrificing its ode to the original rear-engine Bug for which many of us harbour a latent fondness.

Perhaps the purchase of a new turbo Beetle is a means of easing one's repression while also addressing modern-day performance expectations. In many ways, the 2012 Beetle Sportline is a nostalgic version of the highly capable Volkswagen GTI.

So what can those buyers expect?

The trick here is to lure the Y-chromosome in such a way that it doesn't alienate the double-X buyer, who to date dominate the Bug-owning demographic. (Photo: Rob Rothwell)

TSI + DSG = exhilaration and acceleration
The heart of the Beetle Sportline is its turbocharged, intercooled direct-injection 2.0L TSI 4-cylinder powerplant that releases 200 hp to the Bug's front wheels along with 207 lb-ft of torque.

For the record, that's the same engine hustling the GTI into the hearts of driving enthusiasts. And like the GTI, the Beetle turbo is equipped with a 6-speed manual stick or VW's optional 6-speed DSG automatic gearbox featuring shift paddles.

My tester was a DSG-equipped version of the hot Bug, which suited me just fine. The race-inspired gearbox performed lightning-fast shifts without wasting engine revs the way a conventional automatic transmission tends to.

For performance-minded drivers, the DSG is proving its worth although some of us still long for that third pedal and a stick. Nice to know that the Beetle Sportline offers both.

The heart of the Beetle Sportline is its turbocharged 2.0L TSI that releases 200 hp to the Bug's along with 207 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Rob Rothwell)

On the road with the mighty Bug
Any doubt about the Beetle's ability to compete in the sports arena is instantly dispelled with a stab of the throttle. The full delivery of torque is encountered at just 1,750 rpm, which is barely off idle, meaning that this Beetle leaps to life from the get-go.

With the early wallop of torque to the front wheels, traction becomes an issue. An all-wheel-drive configuration would elevate the Beetle to Audi performance standards but nonetheless, the vehicle is remarkably fast off the line, and with little torque-steer to detract from the experience.

The thrust of forward momentum doesn't dissipate as the turbocharged Beetle quickly dispatches cog after cog while emitting a deep refined growl that's quite uncharacteristic of a Beetle. Using the steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles engages the driver in the performance process, adding to the sensation that something more than a Beetle is at hand.

The "something more" includes exceptional steering response and handling.

The full delivery of torque is encountered at just 1,750 rpm, which is barely off idle, meaning that this Beetle leaps to life from the get-go. (Photo: Volkswagen)

Sportline includes 18-inch rubber
Tossed through a series of curves, the Beetle turbo feels just as composed, predictable and tenacious as its GTI cousin.

My tester's Sportline trim set it apart with distinctive 18-inch wheels that projected a beefy appearance and kept the Beetle affixed to the road. Sportline grouping also includes alloy sport pedals, red painted brake calipers, revised front grille, black-out trim, leather seating, carbon fibre cabin trim and a rear spoiler.

Performance-related Sportline assets include dual exhaust, sport suspension, and electronic differential lock (EDL) along with Volkswagen's anti-slip regulation (ASR) and electronic stability control (ESC).

My tester was further equipped with Fender premium audio, navigation and keyless entry with keyless start and stop.

My tester's Sportline trim set it apart with distinctive 18-inch wheels that projected a beefy appearance and kept the Beetle affixed to the road. (Photo: Rob Rothwell)

Wrapping the performance Bug
The base 2012 Beetle is the nicely equipped Comfortline edition, which is tagged at $21,975. My Reef Blue Metallic Sportline rocket held an MSRP of $29,025, which I thought was quite reasonable given its level of content and sophistication along with its inspiring performance capabilities.

The turbo Beetle is slightly less expensive than the three-door Golf GTI, and it provides greater content - such as leather seating - for fewer bucks. This makes it an interesting, and financially prudent, alternative to the GTI.

Since manning up, the Beetle has become exponentially more fun and rewarding to drive on those backroads that we so look forward to; yet, it remains a sensible city car with more rear cargo capacity than I imagined thanks to a wide-opening hatch and a deep cargo floor.

The Beetle has manned-up. Have you?

MINI Cooper S coupé

Fiat Abarth

Mazda MX-5

Sci-fi and K2000 TV series fans have been dreaming of a car that listens ever since David Hasselhoff's Kitt made it to the screen in the middle of the 1980's.

Voice activated technologies have come a long way in the last few years, but Nuance technologies takes the game to a whole new level with its latest Dragon Drive system.

"What are the best Indian restaurants in the neighbourhood?" you may wonder. Just ask and your Dragon Drive-equipped car will tell you. Say: "Take me to dad's" and it will map the way for you, given your father's address was entered beforehand in your phone.

The system, which works thanks to a telephone hook-up - be it USB or Bluetooth connectivity -, can also pick songs and give out information about traffic and weather conditions. You may also use Dragon Drive if your car is fitted with a Suscriber Identity Module (SIM), which is the case for certain GPS-equipped vehicule.

It's still not enough for you car to pick you up at the mall, but at least Dragon Drive enables you to keep both hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road at all time!

No price or launch date has been announced yet.


_{Source: CNET}

On Tuesday, Toyota became the latest company to show off their new for 2013 Sprint Cup Car.

The unveiling took place at took place in the Toyota Racing Development in Salisbury, NC.

Photo: Toyota Racing Development

"We're thrilled to finally unveil our new 2013 Camry and we think NASCAR fans will really appreciate that our new on-track Camry looks like the one in their driveways," said Ed Laukes, TMS vice president of marketing communications and motorsports. "Our 2013 Camry looks more like the production vehicle than ever before, and we hope this helps revitalize the long- standing relationship between fans and manufacturers in NASCAR.  Never before have we had a Camry competing in NASCAR that looked so similar to its production counterpart."

For years the manufacturers, and fans, clamored for race cars which looked more like the ones they owned rather than the current "COT".

Photo: Toyota Racing Development

"We're extremely proud of the new Camry and the development of the car was truly a unique process," said Lee White, president and general manager of TRD. "NASCAR and all four manufacturers were brought together to guide the direction of the new cars. We all worked together to put the 'S' back in NASCAR -- we all wanted race cars that look more like our stock, production models -- and together we accomplished that.  Our new Camry for 2013 is a great looking race car.  Everyone at Toyota is eager to have our drivers in a race car that more resembles the street Camry."

Photo: Toyota Racing Development

Last year NASCAR rules allowed manufacturers to roll out Nationwide Series cars which looked more like street cars. Now it's the senior division's turn.

"When everyone at Toyota first saw the design of the 2013 Camry, the first reaction was, 'They're actually going to let you race a car that looks like that?'," said Andy Graves, TRD's vice president of chassis engineering. "That just demonstrates how excited everyone was about the new design of the Camry stock car."