Auto News 5

After 7.5 months of driving our beloved Subaru WRX every day, with the newest edition to our family nestled in the back seat, I'm ready to change it up a bit and get back behind the wheel of the latest automotive models on the market. Time to get back in the cubicle and back out on the road while my husband plays Mr. Mom for the remainder of the year (I still can't believe he agreed to this).

Over the past few months I've come to realize this: Never wear white when you have a newborn, and I don't think I could ever quit my job.


Here's the thing; not only am I fairly passionate about my work, but I also enjoy the novelty of driving a new vehicle every week. A lot of people I know (mostly older family members) balk at the idea of getting behind the wheel of a brand new vehicle every seven days. The thought of learning where buttons and knobs are, friction points and vehicle size throw them off. They'd rather settle into one car and not have to worry about learning all the ins and outs over and over again.

But I love it.

I love the unknown of a new car. Discovering the car's quirks (good and bad); getting a feel for a new clutch, gear ratios and acceleration; I revel in it. I welcome the frustrations, the elation and the letdowns. It's all part and parcel when it comes to testing. Which is why I could never stop doing what I do. This was made painfully clear to me while I was on maternity leave. While I loved every moment at home with my son, I also painfully wanted to be out trying new cars.

Don't get me wrong, I couldn't be happier with my WRX. Actually, I could be happier (if it had more room in the back seat for a baby and a larger trunk), but that's a subject for another blog. The Rex has been a fantastic car, and I was glad to have AWD over the winter months with a newborn in the back. But at the same time I couldn't help but sigh a little in disappointment each morning when I got behind the wheel, thinking to myself: “This car, again?”

Instead of taking the opportunity to bond with the Rex, I ended up being more annoyed with it than anything else. From a steering U-joint breaking to the radio going on the fritz, it seemed the car disliked being with me as much I did it. It was time for us to go our separate ways before things got any worse.

So, I've decided I will work until I croak behind the wheel. Either that, or become so rich and famous that I can afford to purchase a brand new car every week or so. One way or the other, you're all going to have to put up with me for quite a bit longer.

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone has played down reports the calendar could be set to explode in 2013.

There have been rumours the F1 chief executive was open to expanding the schedule to no fewer than 26 races next season.

"Not next year," he told DAPD news agency. "There will be 20 again. No new races."

That doesn't bode well for New Jersey, which is scheduled to join the 2014 calendar.

For 2014, Russia is set to host a grand prix at Sochi, while Argentina is reportedly close to a deal.

"I hope we don't have to remove any existing races," said Ecclestone.

Circuit of Sochi, Russia.

The Aventador LP 700-4 celebrated an important milestone today, as the 1,000th unit just rolled off the assembly line. The vehicle was purchased by Hans Scheidecker, a Bavarian architect who is passionate about Lamborghini's, and already owns a Diablo. Lamborghini CEO Stephen Winkelmann personally handed him the Aventador's keys.

Production at Lamborghini's Sant'Agata plant has increased considerably these past few years. By comparing Aventador and Murciélago production output, we find out that it took two years and five months for the Murcielago to hit the 1,000 mark attained in February 2004, while Aventador production numbers hit that same milestone in just one year and three months, for an average output of 4.5 cars per day.

Photo: Lamborghini

Buick and director Andrew Filippone Jr.

On July 19, Lamborghini built the 1,000th Aventador.

GM said Thursday it will build the Chevrolet Trax compact crossover and a new generation of big pickups at plants in Mexico.

Also in this episode: Germany's legendary Nürburgring is bankrupt, General Motors moves out of New York City's GM Building and we take a look at a

Opel's new caretaker chief has said he will honour commitments made to unions and employees as part of a turnaround plan.

Volkswagen is considering launching a new bid for Malaysia's Proton as Europe's largest automaker aims to tap growing southeast Asian markets in its quest for global dominance, sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

A meeting of Renault's top management today (19 July) has been told the automaker's former second in command, Patrick Pelata, will leave the company next month following last year's spy scandal in which three top executives were wrongly accused of espionage.

News 20 Jul, 2012

New MG Roadster will be based on the Icon concept, with classic MGB touches - and our exclusive images show how it could look

Pictures 20 Jul, 2012

An arbitrator today dismissed the UAW's long-standing 'equality of sacrifice' grievance against Ford, ruling the company was not contractually obligated to roll back concessions with hourly workers at the same time it restored bonuses...

Lexus is joining the social teasing party by uploading a darkened, smoky image of the redesigned 2013 Lexus LS sedan.

GM's underfunded pension plan has found a buyer for some of its private equity assets -- the Chinese government, which is willing to pay between $1.5 billion and $2 billion, the Financial Times reported on its website.

Driven: 2012 Nissan Murano

Although this early adopter could use better fuel economy, it remains a great choice.

First introduced in 2003, the Nissan Murano was on the vanguard of the move to crossovers, with buyers not so much coming out of SUVs but passenger cars. Trailing in its wake came the Toyota Venza, the Ford Edge, and the Honda Crosstour, to name a few. Redesigned for 2009, the Murano's styling became more, well, pronounced -- with a pointy, shovel-faced grille and a rounded rear -- but it retained the same general proportions.

Photo Gallery: Driven: 2012 Nissan Murano - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: Driven: 2012 Nissan Murano - Automobile Magazine

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Johnson Controls has reported that net income in the quarter ended June 30 rose 17% year-on-year to US$417 million.

2012 Honda Fit Sport

The Fit is one of the best -- and most entertaining -- vehicles to drive in an urban environment.

A lot has changed since we last named the Fit an All-Star in 2009. Back then, the Fit wowed us with its sophistication, efficiency, and dynamic competence. Honda brought smart engineering to a segment that had once been notable only for its low price tags.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Honda Fit Sport - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Honda Fit Sport - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

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A123 Systems signed a deal with BAE Systems to supply lithium ion battery packs to be used in buses as well as other commercial applications.

Faurecia has purchased the automotive business of Sora Composites. The division specialises in the manufacture of composite plastics and the use of glass and carbon fibre for automotive applications.