Rolls-Royce -- the automaker known for its Flying Lady on the hood -- forever proved to me and two others that the new Phantom is much more than just a luxury lounge on wheels.
PSA's alliance with General Motors and the French company's troubles in Europe will be in focus when PSA CEO Philippe Varin speaks at the 2012 Automotive News Europe Congress.
The sitting duck is dead; at least for Brad Keselowski at Talladega.
Using a maneuver based on “geometry” he pulled away from Kyle Busch after the final restart for his second victory at the 2.66 mile oval.
In the third turn (on the second green white checkered attempt to the checkered flag) on the last lap, the final his Dodge pulled away from Busch's Toyota to for an unchallenged win, Roger Penske's first at the high banked track.
Brad Keselowski. (Photo: NASCAR)
His secret was to “run high and turn down about half a lane. It was just enough to break apart. I've been planning that move for a year and a half,” Keselowski said. He added that he was a student of the late seven-time champion, Dale Earnhardt Sr. Noting that he watched videos of the Intimidator who was a master of the restrictor plate tracks.
Busch had helped Keselowski break away from the Roush Fenway Racing duo of Daytona 500 winner, Matt Kenseth, and Greg Biffle. “ I didn't think we got connected soon enough,” Busch said at first. But they didn't stay. His problem was that he couldn't stick with Keselowski on the final lap. “Somehow driving into turn three if he did anything he was pretty smart,” Busch added “I must have screwed something up, because we got to turn three and come unhooked. Just gave the win away over there. Not sure exactly what happened.”
Kenseth who finished third in a Ford blamed himself for not paying close enough attention and losing contact with Biffle which “just cost us a shot at the win, cost Greg a shot at the win. Just didn't do a very good job of managing where he was on that last restart.”
In some ways it was a typical Talladega race with a nine-car crash on lap 141 when Aric Almirola was slowing to pit, but, he moved up the track into Dave Blaney hitting Juan Pablo Montoya.
Photo: NASCAR
And earlier in the race there were a number of engine failures due to overheating caused by NASCAR rules to discourage last year's tandem draft.
Jeff Gordon, who was involved in that wreck not of his making, said “I want to laugh about it, but I want to cry, too. It's just ridiculous we can't catch a break."
On lap 175 Casey Mears blew a left front tire causing another multicar wreck. On the restart, on lap 184, Denny Hamlin who was directly behind Keselowski's teammate, AJ Allmendinger saw an opening between the double-file lines of cars.
Allmendinger went to block but started another wreck. Allmendinger later said “I tried to block, if Denny (Hamlin) was already there, my apology.”
After the race Keselowski also apologized to former teammate, Kurt Busch, who he turned on a restart near the end of the race.
HOOD RIVER, Oregon - "Subaru introduces its first ever RWD sporty coupe: The BRZ!" What does Subaru know about rear-drive coupes? Are they not all about AWD and safety and fuel economy? This may be true but they were already on this path before Toyota (which owns 16% of Subaru) slipped into the picture.
Both are now benefiting from this joint adventure in their quest to regain some street-cred, much-needed in Toyota's case.
The Toyota influence
The first piece of information we must remember is that the car is a Subaru, not a Toyota, and built by Subaru in Japan. Here's the breakdown: Toyota designed the outer shell and the cabin and threw in direct injection for engineering purposes. The remainder is all Subaru.
The 2013 Subaru BRZ's sheetmetal is all win. The mid-front location of the engine allows for a sharp and low hood flanked by fenders that peak up over its edges; a very classic and distinctive feature in many performance cars. The front end fascia of the car is wider than you would imagine and, other than the wheels, is the only unique physical feature of the car compared to the 2013 Scion FR-S.
It is next to impossible to criticize the car's stance and appearance. The proportions are ideal, the track is beefy and the height is kept to a minimum. In Subaru's pre-launch research, they found that "sexy" was a widely used term to describe the car's styling. The car is hot and comes in four colours: Silver, Black, White and World Rally Blue.
Although Toyota did a great job with the out, the in is not as stellar. The steering wheel is control-free and small at 365 mm in total diameter, the seats are supportive and well bolstered. The lower marks come from the awful Pioneer audio system with its annoying double-din display and the silver island of plastic surrounding it.
Amongst the cool features of this car, the one that got my juices flowing the most, was that the door-cards and dashboard are designed and assembled in such a way as to allow for a roll cage to be installed without interference.
It is next to impossible to criticize the car's stance and appearance. (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre/Auto123.com)
Subaru influence
Subaru is synonymous with Boxer or horizontally-opposed engines. The Subaru Boxer 2.0L (code named FA20) is the centrepiece of this car. Because of it, the BRZ has the lowest centre of gravity of any car below $75k. It is lower than that of the Mazda MX-5 and BMW M3. In fact, the 2013 Subaru BRZ's profile is lower than that of a Porsche Cayman.
The chassis on which rides the BRZ is all-new and evidently not based on any current Subaru. Fuji Heavy Industries used some seriously high-grade steels to ensure a very rigid body structure.
How does it all come together?
Extraordinarily well. The driving position is exceptional. Immediately, I felt a connection with the car the moment I dropped into the low seat and settled in. From this moment on, the 2013 Subaru BRZ is as damn near close to being plugged into your spine as any car has the right to be.
Right from take-off, I felt as though I wanted more power. I did begin my day of driving the optional 6-speed autobox. Although it works fine, includes paddle shifters, a Sport mode and matches revs on demand, it saps the BRZ and driver of their constitutional mojo. Honestly, it's good, but ticking the $1,200 automatic option is cruel to both you and the car.
With the Aisin 6-speed manual, heavily modified by Subaru, the 2013 BRZ comes alive and thanks you by showing you what it's made of. The engine sounds more raucous, power delivery feels stronger, palms get sweaty-er and the real pleasure begins.
The 2.0L (based on the FB20 from the Impreza) generates 200 hp at 7,000 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque between 6,400 and 6,600 rpm. To get the most out of the mill, the revs have to climb and be kept high as good times start above 5,000 rpm. The 7,450-rpm redline comes in quick after peak hp but the BRZ has a programmable shift light to keep you on your toes. Here, I no longer wanted nor needed more power.
The 2.0L generates 200 hp at 7,000 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque between 6,400 and 6,600 rpm. (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre/Auto123.com)
It can handle anything
The roads we drove between Hood River and Grass Valley demonstrated a level of poise and comfort (not a typo) that I did not expect. The low centre of gravity limits the need for body movements and therefore a strange level of serenity exists in the cabin. Strange because ground is being covered at speed and occupants are mere centimetres above the ground.
The low centre of gravity means that the car's suspension does not need to work as hard to keep it stable. Therefore, it doesn't need to be tuned as stiffly for better ride comfort and stability. That's the equivalent of Gwyneth Paltrow being available and attracted to you at the same time. The numerous switchbacks provided ample examples of the rear-end's predictable and controlled nature. The car's a real delight to pilot.
Steering is perfectly dosed, responsive, direct and highly rewarding. Turn-in is crisp but without bite. Between the engine, sweet and slick-shifting 6-speed and chassis, the 2013 Subaru BRZ is a car that brilliantly clings to driving basics through agility and unfiltered car-driver interaction.
On the highly complex yet rewarding Oregon Raceway Park track, the BRZ revelled at the opportunity to be pushed hard. At only 1,255 kg (2,770 lb) and with a 53/47 weight distribution, the car is unfazed by the trick off-camber corners. A careful right foot keeps the sporty coupe in check. An overzealous lift-off will get the rear end to swing out when stability control is deactivated. In Sport mode, the car's nannies are forgiving and pleasure is the only order of business.
A few laps of the Oregon Raceway Track at the wheel of the Subaru BRZ.
Pleasure, for the fun of it
The 2013 Subaru BRZ delivers on the promise of being a pure driving machine. Don't be thinking that Subaru threw out its usual criteria for building cars. The 6M BRZ should consume no more than 8.5L/100km on average while the 6A is expected to best it by 1L per 100 km.
With a base price of $27,295, Subaru offers up a truckload of car and is well worth it. An extra $2,000 tacks on the Sport Tech package with dual-zone climate control, fogs, a spoiler and a few other goodies. Navigation, big brakes and a limited-slip differential are standard.
Subaru calls it the soccer player in their line-up. The STI is a football player. I call the 2013 Subaru BRZ a brilliant piece of Japanese engineering that exists for all the right reasons in a time where the art of driving is constantly being threatened.
Mercedes is "on the verge" of quitting formula one.
That is the alarming claim of the London newspaper The Times, in an article written by its authoritative F1 correspondent Kevin Eason.
Eason wrote that while rival top teams Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull will get to appoint directors once F1 is floated on the Singapore exchange, Mercedes has not been extended the same offer.
"Why should Mercedes have the same deal as the others?" F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone is quoted as saying. "What have they done in formula one? They won a race and that is it."
That attitude, Eason argues, has left Mercedes "on the verge of quitting formula one", having apparently conducted a study into how its Brackley based works team could be withdrawn.
Eason also quoted Ecclestone as having "scoffed" at the suggestion Mercedes quitting could wipe 20 per cent off the value of F1's stock market floatation.
The luxury wheel market has grown at roughly the same rate as the luxury car market. With the likes of Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Lamborghini owners slapping on dubs as though they were the ultimate expression of uniqueness and standing, wheel brands have been multiplying their high-end offerings to meet the growing demand.
Fastco is joining the party with their own line of luxury wheels called Braelin. If you know anything about Fastco, you know to expect nothing but the best.
Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.TV
Braelin seeks to represent a new standard of excellence in every respect, from style to performance without forgetting the all-important fitment. Each and every wheel will be custom machined for the intended application.
The process began years ago with the measuring of a wide variety of individual vehicle parameters with their uber-cool proprietary 3D mapping system. You have no idea how much data they have collected over the years. We're talking millions and millions of bits and bites.
This data is then used to select the correct offset blank wheel, which in turn is drilled and milled on their Mazak 3-axis CNC mill to the precise required bolt pattern and hub bore specification.
Result? Perfectly engineered wheels for stance, performance, styling and bragging rights. You sir or madam, will have custom wheels, not some OTC schmutz that your neighbour can buy at the corner car-part shop.
To prove the potential of these wheels, we've gathered a pair of some of the hottest brass from Germany for some beauty shots and some driving footage.
Every week, your writer spends about 2,000 kilometres driving one of the hottest and most important new cars on the road today. And I measure fuel consumption at each and every fill-up by hand.
I also complete a day of filming, complete with plenty of full-throttle camera drive-bys, in each car I test.
Justin Pritchard isn't a hypermiler - but he is fairly consistent in his inefficient driving.
Weekly, that driving takes me home from the speedy highways of central Ontario to the Northernmost point of Highway 69 in Sudbury, and then back - after a week of in-town travelling.
In the past months, I've driven numerous fuel-efficient cars and made some interesting observations comparing their real-world overall average mileage to one another.
Maybe your drive is the same as mine. Probably not. For the sake of casual comparison, here's what I've logged lately. Remember that your numbers will vary.
Photo: Hyundai
Hyundai Sonata BlueDrive: 6.2L/100km
Quite impressed, even for a hybrid. Remember: this is a big, comfortable sedan. My extended summer test consisted of about 2,400 kilometres of highway driving at high speed and minimal attempts to drive economically.
Other Hybrids? I achieved 5.3L/100km overall in a 2010 Toyota Prius, and 5.7L/100km in a 2010 Honda Insight.
Mazda3 SKYACTIV with 6-speed manual: 7.3L/100km
I was having so much fun with the slick gearbox and tidy handling that I didn't remember to drive gently. I'd bet I could get the Mazda3 SKYACTIV to tie a Volkswagen Jetta TDI for real-life mileage if I had. This tester wore snow tires and only had a few thousand kilometres on its odometer, which means there's even more room for improvement.
Volkswagen Jetta TDI with DSG: 6.9L/100km
Mid-spring test. The TDI and I did 180 kilometres before the tank even came off of empty. And that tank emptied very slowly. At the end of a highway-intensive test-drive, I was impressed with the figure I recorded, especially given the available performance.
I thought this would be the best fuel economy I'd record all year - and it almost was. For comparison, I achieved this same figure in a smart fortwo during a mid-winter test drive. And in a Honda CR-Z on a late-summer test drive.
Chevrolet Cruze Eco: 6.0L/100km
This is the most impressed I've been with overall fuel economy lately. And the Cruze Eco isn't even diesel or a hybrid. Filling up after a lengthy highway drive at a good clip, I thought the gas pump was broken when it clicked off earlier than expected. Cruze Eco did 4.6L/100km at highway speeds above the posted limit.
That's impressive. This is the gas mileage car for folks not interested in hybrid battery packs or diesel.
Scion iQ: 7.2L/100km
This little CVT-equipped, 1.3L microcar put away a test average of 7.2L/100km. That's not terrible - though given the size and power at play, I'd expected a bit better. Engine break-in wasn't complete here, and snow tires were mounted, so there's some room for improvement. Same ballpark as a Hyundai Accent.
After his success with BMW at the Lausitzring, Bruno Spengler expressed his feelings to Auto123.com.
The Canadian driver, who gave BMW its first pole position since its DTM return, has won the race despite the huge pressure put on him by Gary Paffett and his Mercedes.
Bruno Spengler leading the race with BMW. (Photo: DTM)
"We didn't expect that," told Spengler to Auto123.com.
"We really didn't expect to be able to win already in our second race. To be the first driver to take victory for BMW for its return to the DTM series makes me feel very proud, and I feel the same way I felt after my first victory at the Norisring back in 2006."
"We thought that the Mercedes cars would be quicker during the long runs, Spengler added, and Paffett put a lot of pressure on me. But I made no mistakes, and the team made a wonderful job, and had a perfect reaction after the changes of the strategies from the Mercedes team. Plus, the pit stops were very quick. That's a great day for me and the team..."
The brand's North American branch has decided that it would stop importing Toyotas from Japan to sell them in the States, and would instead sell those units in Japan, to take profit of the strong yen.
Shigeki Terashi, president of Toyota Motor North America, said every Toyota model sold in large numbers in North America would be be built in North America - in Canada or in the States.
This decision affects the Camry, Corolla, Highlander and RAV4 models, but not the Tundra, Venza and Sienna ones, which were already solely built here.
Transition should be seamless for the Camry, of which only 11 units were assembled in Japan in 2011, but the same cannot be said of the Corolla, of which 64 000 rolled on our continent after having been born in Japan.
No date so far has been announced for the decision to come into effect.
Driving the BMW Bank-sponsored black BMW M3 DTM, Canadian Bruno Spengler won the second DTM round of the season at Lausitzring and thus secured a DTM race win for the brand from Munich after 20 years.
“I can hardly believe it. On Saturday, the first pole after 20 years, today the 50th DTM race win for BMW achieved by me. I had goose bumps all over. I will never forget this weekend”, the 28-year old winner said.
Photos: DTM
Behind the wheel of a DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, McLaren F1 test driver Gary Paffett, who had won the season opener at Hockenheim, finished second in front of Brazilian Augusto Farfus who took third place for BMW.
In total, 72,000 spectators watched the three-way battle of the car manufacturers Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the Lausitz region in Germany.
According to Italy's Quattroruote magazine, the targa-type convertible version of the Aventador will not be equipped with a folding soft top - like the one feature on the Murciélago Roadster the Aventador replaces -, but rather a removable hardtop.
The carbon fibre part will be made of the two cross-section pieces, keeping weight to a minimum.
Therefore, the Aventador should keep all of its most impressive features: the air intake, the rear pillars, the see-through engine cover are all staying. The 6.5L V12 also stays unchanged, still producing 700-horsepower going to the four wheels through a 7-speed gearbox.
Prices for the Aventador have yet to be determined, but should follow suite to the manufacturer's sky-high trends.
According to a Jeep Garage forum member, the new Dodge Durango should be launched in May 2013 - and not in July 2013 as it was planned.
The completely redesigned Durango will feature an 8-speed ZF gearbox, a new dash engineered to make room for an 8.4" radio (available with or without navigation system).
Dodge will start taking orders for the 2014 Durango in April 2013, and hopefully release more details sooner.
They have been slandered ever since they entered the market 30 years ago. So why is it that the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan account for 40% of mini-van sales in United States?
Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com
More importantly, is it time for Chrysler's president, Sergio Marchionne, to put all his eggs in the same basket - get rid of one of the two to preserve the other in these tough times the mini-van makers face?
Then, should he invest in a makeover or not? How long can the Town & Country hold on despite its higher price compared to the Grand Caravan? Can Dodge sell its more basic vehicle to the higher end Chrysler clientele?
At the moment, it is all up in the air. Unlike here, in Canada, where it was decided that only the Grand Caravan would stay.
Jean Alesi is expected to be confirmed today as the driver of a new team formed by former Indy Racing League driver Tyce Carlson, who is also co-owner of an Indy Lights team, and funded by Lotus.
Apparently, Lotus has come to an agreement with this new team, Fan Force United to prepare and run a car for former Formula One driver Jean Alesi.
A first deal with Newman-Haas Racing failed to materialise a few weeks ago. And then another one with HVM Racing also fell thru last week.
Keith Wiggins stated that he did not have enough manpower and time to prepare an additional DW12 for the occasion.
Simona de Silvestro, HMV Racing. (Photo: LAT pour IndyCar)
Carlson has two Indy Lights cars entered in this month's Freedom 100.
Alesi will follow the Rookie Orientation programme at the Speedway on Thursday along with former F1 rival Rubens Barrichello.
Carlos Sainz Jr is on course for a future in formula one.
The 17-year-old Spaniard is the son of Carlos Sainz, the former two-time world rally champion.
Sainz Jr, however, has pursued a career in open wheelers, and - now that Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne have stepped up - he is the new cream of energy drink Red Bull's junior driver programme.
And another direct link to the world of formula one for Sainz jr is his new sponsorship deal with Cepsa, the Spanish oil company that is also Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso's main backer.
Carlos Sainz Jr. (Photo: F3 Euroseries)
Sainz Jr's new Cepsa deal is for his participation this year in the British and Euroseries F3 categories, but "Our intention is to continue (beyond 2012)," Cepsa co-chairman Santiago Bergareche is quoted by Marca newspaper.
"Hopefully everything goes well and Carlos will be in that world (F1) one day," added Cepsa chairman Alfonso Escamez.
He said the deal does not guarantee Sainz Jr a future in F1.
"The sponsors have no say on the teams of the drivers. We can try to influence, to give our opinion, but we are not (able to decide) on that side. We hope that it does happen, but it will not necessarily."
On May 8, 1982, the world lost the legendary race car driver Gilles Villeneuve, a victim of his own will to win, to be the best. Villeneuve lost in life in a tragic accident that happened on the road circuit of Zolder, Belgium.
We had all watched with increasing awe his rise to the very top of Formula 1 as a member of the most iconic of all teams, Ferrari. Transcending borders, Gilles became the most spectacular and popular Formula1 driver in the world, the idol of millions around the world.
The terrible accident at Zolder during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix meant that he is no longer with us in person, but his memory lives on to this day in everyone mind.
To commemorate his passing thirty years later, the Musée Gilles Villeneuve has produced a high quality lithograph that illustrates some great moments of his career: aboard his Ferrari, in conversation with Enzo Ferrari who treated him like a son, on the podium after his first Formula 1 victory, at Montreal in September 1978.
We can also see a “Labatt” logo, the company that played an essential role in his climb to success, and the “Salut Gilles” theme that we can still see on track surfaces and in the crowd at many Grand Prix every year.
Only 1227 copies (A combination of his two car numbers in F1, 12 and 27) of the lithograph will be produced, and sold for $350.
Bernie Ecclestone denied the 2012 Bahrain grand prix and the Concorde Agreement deal were linked.
"It was nothing to do with the Bahrain race (going ahead). But McLaren liked the deal," the F1 chief executive insisted.
Intriguingly, however, F1's post-stock market floatation chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe has defended the controversial decision to push ahead with Bahrain last month.
"The race was exploited by the opposition in Bahrain, not vice versa," he told the Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung. "That was not interpreted correctly by the media. If groups want to exploit sporting events for their interests, then the worst thing you can do is give way."
Protests in Bahrain. (Photo: WRi2)
Brabeck also compared Bahrain to England.
"In what countries are there no riots?" he asked rhetorically. "A year ago there were riots in London -- should the Olympic Games now be cancelled?"
McLaren tested a higher front nose at the Mugello test last week.
Backmarker Marussia aside, the famous British team is the only team in 2012 to have resisted the temptation of running a high 'step' nose, in the wake of new safety regulations.
McLaren was the early frontrunner this season with its MP4-27 car, but Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton struggled notably last time out in Bahrain.
Oliver Turvey, McLaren (Photo: WRI2)
Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said the team quietly tested the significant nose development on the final day of Mugello testing last Thursday, with test driver Oliver Turvey at the wheel.
The report also speculated that McLaren experimented with an adjustable brake duct system at Mugello, which might be used to regulate tire temperature for the finicky 2012 Pirellis.
The system would have to be adjusted by the mechanics during a pitstop.
Nick Yelloly and Robin Frijns took wins in the two opening rounds of the 2012 Formula Renault 3.5 series in Alcaniz, Spain.
Yelloly moved up to first position after he passed poleman Arthur Pic at the start in race 1. Then, the Brit pulled away out in front, but was caught by Jules Bianchi, who put the pressure on the Brit.
Eventually, Yelloly maintained his lead until the checkered flag. Bianchi was excluded after his car failed post race scrutineering, which put Kevin Magnussen and Robin Frijns in 2nd and 3rd position.
Start of Race 1. (Photo: Renault)
Arthur Pic, brother of Marussia F1 driver Charles Pic, started Race 2 from pole position, but the Frenchman was overtaken at the start by Marco Sorensen.
However, Sorensen was forced to retire with a mechanical problem, which helped Robin Frijns to move into the lead, and win the race. The Dutch noe lead the provisional standings.
Race 1: 1 - Nick Yelloly - Comtec - 25 laps in 46'55"350
2 - Kevin Magnussen - Carlin + 12"543
3 - Robin Frijns - Fortec - 17"855
4 - Carlos Huertas - Fortec - 18"761
5 - Nikolay Martsenko - BVM Target + 19"385
Etc.
Race 2: 1 - Robin Frijns - Fortec - 27 laps in 46'38"013
2 - Sam Bird - ISR + 9"908
3 - Arthur Pic - Dams + 10"898
4 - Kevin Korjus - Tech 1 + 15"787
5 - Alexander Rossi - Arden Caterham + 21"180
Etc.
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