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Volkswagen Group has inaugurated a new plant for Shanghai Volkswagen (SVW) in Yizheng, Eastern China. The plant has an annual production capacity of 300,000 vehicles.

Daimler AG is investing in the world's leading ridesharing network, carpooling.com GmbH.

Continental has opened a new Research & Development Centre in Singapore to support its growing business with Asian OEMs.

News 31 Jul, 2012

More practical, front-wheel-drive BMW 1 Series GT is set to make its debut at the Paris Motor Show

News 31 Jul, 2012

New Porsche 918 Spyder will be offered in the firm's iconic Martini Racing livery, made famous at the Le Mans 24 Hours

Pictures 31 Jul, 2012

Pictures 31 Jul, 2012

Germany's car market is in recession, but few outside the industry would know it, thanks to a controversial sales practice that inflates official statistics and paints a flattering picture of demand. While official figures show a 0.

Sometimes maligned, sometimes acclaimed, the continuously variable transmission is poised to snap up more North American market share in coming years.

First Drive: 2013 Chevrolet Malibu 2.5

Chevrolet is finally rolling out the rest of the 2013 Malibu line.

Chevrolet introduced the all-new 2013 Malibu at the start of this year, but we've only been able to test the Eco model until now. Starting this summer, the midsize sedan will have another frugal engine option: a 2.5-liter I-4.

Photo Gallery: First Drive: 2013 Chevrolet Malibu 2.5 - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: First Drive: 2013 Chevrolet Malibu 2.5 - Automobile Magazine

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British magazine Autosport has learned that the infamous double DRS system will be banned for tnext year in Formula 1.

Mercedes AMG caused a surprise at the beginning of the 2012 season when it ran its W03 fitted with a system that stalled the front wings when the normal DRS, the Drag Reduction Systeme was activated by the driver.

This is designed to increase the top speed of the car on the main straights.

The Lotus double DRS system. (Photo: WRI2)

Lotus also designed its own double DRS system that was tested at Hockenheim during the Grand Prix of Germany.

The Technical Working Group discussed the matter recently, and sources have revealed that a majority of teams agreed for a change in regulations that will ensure they cannot incorporate double DRS into their cars for 2013.

It is understood the changes to the technical rules will be made official by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council later this season.

Thanks to our friends at StatsF1.com, here are some remarkable race statistics abou the prestigious Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 team.

Ferrari is the only F1 team that has competed in every season of the World Championship since its creation in 1950.

Alberto Ascari, Ferrari 375, 1951 (Photo: WRI2)

In its 63 years of history, the Scuderia Ferrari has:

Contested 842 Grands Prix
Had a total of 107 drivers
Ran 68 different models of F1 cars
Won 219 races
Scored 207 pole positions
Set 227 fastest race lap
Finished 659 timeson the podium
Clinched 81 1-2 finishes

Wolfgang Von Trips, Ferrari 156, 1961 (Photo: WRI2)

Ferrari has also:
Scored 5 053.5 points in the World Championship, for an average of 6.00 points per GP, or 80.21 points per season.

The Ferrari cars also:
Completed 13,542 laps in the lead
Covered 70,555 km in the lead (the equivalent of 1.76 times 'round the globe!)
Completed a total of 96,151 race laps, which translate into 493,892 km (or 1.29 times the average distance that separates the Earth from the Moon!)

Niki Lauda, Ferrari 312T, 1975 (Photo: WRI2)

Ferrari won the World Constructors' Championship in 1961, 1964, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008.

Ferrari won the World Dirvers' Championship in 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961, 1964, 1975, 1977, 1979, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007.

NASCAR officials have given the green flag to test all four of its' Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) based aerodynamic test results.

In its most ambitious project since the unloved Car of Tomorrow; NASCAR gave permission to the OEMs to produce race cars which more closely resemble showroom models. Still the sanctioning body had to insure that one manufacturer did not have an unfair advantage over another.

The vehicles types are the 2013 Ford Fusion, Chevrolet SS, Dodge Charger and Toyota Camry.

“We commend the manufacturers and our team at the R&D center on all the hard work they've put into this new car,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “With all the designs and surface areas of the car now approved, manufacturers can now move forward with building the components needed to outfit their cars. The wind tunnel testing we've had with the manufacturers over the past several months has given us the timely and necessary data we needed to come to this confirmation. We believe the new car is going to be a milestone opportunity for our sport, one that our fans will embrace.”

Photo: Ford

“This is a monumental moment for the sport, for the fans and for us as a company with our participation in NASCAR,” said Jamie Allison Ford's racing director. “The fans have clamored for the return of cars that look like cars in their driveways and NASCAR, alongside us as manufacturers, have listened to that request.

We are very proud of all the hard work and collaboration between NASCAR and the OEMs that was completed with the submission test, and now we are ready to go forward with the new face of NASCAR that is the 2013 Fusion.

I can tell you that the completion of the submission test would not have been possible without the trust that has developed between NASCAR and the OEMs together. Ultimately, we all wanted to make sure that although the cars would all look different that on the track, we retained the competitiveness that exists today. Consequently that required trust, collaboration, and adhering to a specified target set by NASCAR. While we are focused on the rest of the season, we are very excited about what is upon us for 2013.”

“Why would anyone ever turn it off,” asked my teenage boy in reference to the button that activates the Sport exhaust setting in the 2013 Porsche Panamera GTS and a number of other Porsche performance machines. And in a way, his testosterone-fuelled assertion makes sense.

Why suppress the auditory bliss so fundamental to the car's raison d'être? It's not unlike Mick Jagger and the Stones suddenly going unplugged. It's still the greatest rock band ever but where's the power behind Charlie's manic drumming and the energy behind Keith's screaming guitar?

2013 Porsche Panamera GTS (Photo: Rob Rothwell)

This week's Panamera GTS tester is a good example of what I mean. Its 4.8L V8 powerplant produces 430 horsepower and a whole lot of acoustics that leave me near breathless. The sound is so integral to the full GTS experience.

Let me ask this: Would Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream speech carry the same degree of influence and inspiration if the words were only read by the masses, not heard? Probably not.

Obviously, I'm getting a little melodramatic and carried away with my argument - and having some fun doing so - but I think you see my point. What's a performance car without the performance sound?

That said, there were a few times during my week with the GTS when I went stealth by deactivating the sport exhaust. It was only for a few blocks though, and mostly near my home out of respect for neighbours and the furry creatures that prowl at night.

If the novelty of the GTS and its Opus in Twin Pipes were to wear off, I might opt to mute the notes but I doubt it. I may be well past a half-century in existence but I'm not dead or deaf (entirely), so play on Mick and my twin pipes.

The automaker has revealed the first images of the 2013 Pathfinder on the Nissan Facebook page. Fans have been able to admire the concept design since initially shown at the Detroit Auto Show last January and there is little difference between the upcoming showroom model and the original concept.

Photo: Nissan

More of a SUV than a 4x4, this fourth generation Pathfinder seats 7 passengers and is built on the same platform shared with the new Altima and Infiniti JX. For the rest, Nissan had plenty to say, notably boasting that the new Pathfinder's engine will be 25% less gas hungry than its predecessor, without actually going into details about the fuel consumption rating.

Nissan should be coming out with more information soon.

From Pirelli

Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli has announced the first three tire nominations for the second half of the 2012 Formula 1 season.

At Spa, the home of the Belgian Grand Prix, the P Zero Silver hard and P Zero White medium tires will be nominated, allowing the drivers to meet the demands of a circuit that puts plenty of energy through the tires.

Just like Spa, Monza - Pirelli's home race - is characterised by high speeds and fast corners, meaning that the P Zero Silver hard and P Zero White medium is also the perfect choice for the Italian circuit.

At Singapore, the action returns to street racing again but this time at night, and Pirelli will bring the P Zero Yellow soft and P Zero Red supersoft combination as used in Monaco and Canada.

The 2012 rules stipulate that under normal circumstances each team will receive six sets of the harder compound and five sets of the softer compound for the race weekend, which can now be used at any point from free practice one on Friday onwards.

Pirelli will also bring its Cinturato Green intermediate tyre for damp track conditions (four sets per driver) as well as the Cinturato Blue rain tire (three sets per driver) to each race.

From GMM

Paul di Resta's recent split with his former manager Anthony Hamilton is heading to the courts, the Telegraph has revealed.

The British newspaper said Hamilton, who is McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton's father, has filed papers in London's High Court for wrongful termination and loss of earnings.

In his defence papers, Force India's di Resta said he fired Hamilton because he was misled about an energy drinks sponsorship with a company called 'Go Fast'.

Scot di Resta, 26, brought the EUR 5.5 million deal to Hamilton and was told by his former manager that buying his drinks sponsorship rights from Force India would cost 2 million.

Paul di Resta reportedly fired Hamilton after he approached the Silverstone based team himself and found that buying the rights from Sahara Force India actually cost only EUR 1m.

Anthony Hamilton and Paul di Resta would not comment.

But the row could have a wider effect, with di Resta now working with the Sports Partnership, a management firm headed by Jenson Button and his manager Richard Goddard.

Jenson Button is Lewis Hamilton's teammate at McLaren.

Journalist Tom Cary wrote: "It is thought most likely that both parties (Paul di Resta and Anthony Hamilton) will agree to settle" before the case reaches court.

From GMM

Jenson Button insists he is not ready to fall in line behind his teammate Lewis Hamilton's championship bid.

In Hungary, Felipe Massa - who is pushing to stay at Ferrari next year - vowed to help his teammate Fernando Alonso seal the drivers' crown in 2012.

In fairness to Button, however, the situation at McLaren at the mid-point of the 2012 season is quite different.

While Alonso is leading the championship and is a massive 139 points ahead of Massa, Jenson Button has been a race winner in 2012 and is only 41 points behind Hamilton.

So Briton Button answered "no" when asked if he will move over for Hamilton if he sees the sister McLaren in his mirrors.

"If I am leading a race, then I want to win that race," Button is quoted by British newspapers. "I will not be asked to do anything but if there comes a time in this championship when I can't win, then I will obviously help my teammate."

Jenson Button not ready yet to sacrifice his season for Lewis Hamilton. (Photo: WRi2)

Veteran Italian race car driver Giorgio Pantano will fill in for Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing driver Charlie Kimball in the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio this weekend.

Kimball fractured the fifth metacarpal in his right hand in a testing incident at the road course July 26.

Evaluation in Indianapolis revealed Kimball would not be ready to return for the 85-lap race on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn road course.

Pantano, the 2008 GP2 series' champion competed in three late-season road/street races for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in 2011 (best finish of 16th at Twin Ring Motegi) as a substitute for the injured Justin Wilson.

He made his first two starts in the IZOD IndyCar Series with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2005 at Sonoma and Watkins Glen (started second, finished fourth).

To raise funds for the American Cancer Society, Ford has donated a Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca to the 10th Anniversary of the Cattle Baron's Ball Auction, held on September 29.

The Candy Red Mustang was customized for the event to attract the highest bids from collectors and raise the most money for cancer research.

2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca (Photo: Ford)

“Like many people, my family has been personally affected by the challenges of cancer and I am proud to chair the Cattle Baron's Ball in Detroit,” said Jim Farley, Ford Motor Company Group Vice-President, Global Marketing. “As a fan of the powerful, historic Mustang, I am especially pleased to provide this American icon for this worthy auction.”