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Sep
13th

Contest: Win a TW Steel Lotus F1 Team watch!

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Auto123.com Racing started its third contest of the year! This time you have the chance to win a stunning TW Steel watch, Lotus F1 Team edition!

As you probably know, TW Steel watches are a partner of the Lotus Formula 1 Team which runs Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean.

TW Steel
Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

TW Steel has recently launched this Lotus special edition of its TW 678R model. It is highlightened by the use of black and gold in reflection of the team's sporting livery. The Pilot editions stand out with the bold black dial and white numbering.

F1 Lotus
Photo: Lotus F1 Team

The watch features a 48mm case sandblasted PVD black coated steel case, precision chronometric movement, hardened mineral crystal, leather strap and is 5 ATM water resistant. The watch will be delivered to the winner in a superb metal casing.

F1 TW Steel
Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

To enter the contest, simply visit our Facebook fan page by clicking here.

Good luck to all! And hurry up, because the contest will end on October 1st!



Sep
13th

F1: Jules Bianchi is fastest again on final day of young driver test

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Frenchman Jules Bianchi was back behind the wheel of the Ferrari F2012 Thursday and again set the fastest time in Day 3 of the young drivers test at the circuit of Magny-Cours, France.

Light rain made conditions tricky at the start of the day, with conditions improving as the sun came out, gradually drying the track.

Rodolfo Gonzalez, Sahara Force India
Rodolfo Gonzalez, Sahara Force India (Photo: Sahara Force India)

Bianchi, who had already driven the Ferrari on Tuesday completed 138 laps, making a total of 992.47 over his two days in the F2012, while today his best time was 1m16.985.

The Scuderia sent Bianchi out for a few laps in the wet in the morning and then focused on aerodynamic measurement and set-up evaluation on a dry track.

Rodolfo Gonzalez planted the Mercedes-powered Sahara Force India VJM05 in second place.

The team evaluated different aero settings, tested the three types of tires and also carried out pit stop simulations and launches.

Brendon Hartley, Mercedes AMG
Brendon Hartley, Mercedes AMG (Photo: WRI2)

Former Red Bull test driver Brendon Hartley was behind the wheel of the Mercedes AMG W03. He set the third fastest time. The team took an early lunch and were then able to use the hard compound tire for set-up work over longer runs

Pos. Driver Team Time* Laps
1 Jules Bianchi Ferrari 1:16.985 138
2 Rodolfo Gonzalez Force India 1:18.018 79
3 Brendon Hartley Mercedes AMG 1:18.671 87
*Unofficial timing



Sep
13th

F1: Alex Wurz and Mark Webber slash the ”Playstation generation”

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According to Alex Wurz (Williams) and Mark Webber (Red Bull), to improve safety standards in F1, the FIA needs to put a stop to any dangerous behaviour in the development series such as GP2.

Romain Grosjean will be back behind the wheel of his Lotus next week in Singapore. The French driver  said he learned a lesson by watching the Italian Grand Prix from the garage.

The Lotus driver received a one-race ban following his manoeuvre at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix. Since this sanction, the debate is on regarding aggressive driving.

Former F1 driver and now driver coach at Williams, Alex Wurz told Reuters: "Things like the start collision with Romain can and will always happen."

Wurz suggested that the FIA has to make sure the same rules and penalties are applied the same way in lesser categories.

"But especially looking at GP2 races, which is the feeder series, the driver standards there are appalling - bad, very bad - and they are coming in to F1. It's something we clearly must work on that the feeder series are very strict and of the same standard as F1. And we have to achieve this and address it very quickly," the Austrian added.

F1 grand prix de Belgique
Crash at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix. (Photo: WRi2)

Red Bull driver Mark Webber agrees, the newcomers need to be educated about the dangers and drive correctly.

Pastor Maldonado is another driver who has received several penalties this season. Both Grosjean and Maldonado are, interestingly, two former GP2 champions.

A new "Playstation generation" has arrived. These kids have become used to see racers walk away and escape from massive crashes.

“In the last 10 years, the level of aggressiveness has ramped up a bit just because guys know that usually they'll be able to walk away from a crash,” Mark Webber, wrote in a BBC column on Wednesday.

“But you can be aggressive and safe or aggressive and unsafe. I've always said F1 is not a finishing school when it comes to racing.”

With the new Pirelli tires and DRS system, it has become much easier to overtake in F1. According to Webber, drivers do not have to be so "desperate" to pass rivals at the start of a race.

"You do need to get involved but some guys are having more incidents than the others and they need to take that on board. We should be the best at what we do, racing in all conditions on all kinds of tracks, and driver etiquette has to match that," said the Red Bull driver.


Sep
13th

F1: Heikki Kovalainen to visit Ferrari in Maranello

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According to Finland's MTV3, the management of the Scuderia Ferrari has invited the representatives of F1 driver Heikki Kovalainen to a meeting in Maranello in the next few days.

It is believed that the topic of the meeting will be the extension of Felipe Massa's contract with Ferrari.

Following two strong drives in the recent Grands Prix, Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali has apparently agreed to extend Massa's contract for one year, closing the door on Kovalainen.

According to MTV3, Kovalainen's manager Martin Anayi is also in contact with Lotus F1 Team's boss Eric Boullier. But it is very likely that the team will retain Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean next year.

The likeable Kovalainen will most likely continue with Caterham next season. It is not sure however if Russian driver Vitaly Petrov will again be his teammate.

F1 Caterham Heikki Kovalainen Jenson Button McLaren
Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham) holding off Jenson Button (McLaren) in the streets of Monaco. (Photo: Caterham F1 Team)


Sep
12th

2012 Scion iQ

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2012 Scion iQ
2012 Scion iQ - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine
Upon being handed the keys to the itty-bitty Scion iQ, we immediately thought about the brand's viral series of "PARK!"

Upon being handed the keys to the itty-bitty Scion iQ, I immediately thought about the brand's viral series of "PARK!" videos involving funny parking situations for the iQ. My quest was to find the smallest spots that I could squeeze the city car into, but discovered that small parking spots are hard to come by in the Midwest.


Photo Gallery: 2012 Scion iQ - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Scion iQ - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine


Sep
12th

Jay Leno looks at the Hoffman X-8 in detail

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While the Hoffman X-8 may have been unfairly left out of the winnerand#8217;s circle at
Sep
12th

Opel to cut 1,000 German administrative jobs, report says

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General Motors' ailing Opel business in Europe plans to thin its administrative ranks by 30 percent, or 1,000 jobs, in its Ruesselsheim headquarters in Germany, newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported, citing two unnamed board...
Sep
12th

GM’s Opel to cut 1,000 German administrative jobs, report says

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General Motors' ailing Opel business in Europe plans to thin its administrative ranks by 30 percent, or 1,000 jobs, in its Ruesselsheim headquarters in Germany, newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported today, citing two unnamed board...
Sep
12th

Peugeot Onyx concept to debut at Paris motor show

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Despite
Sep
12th

Deep Dive: Mercedes-Benz Baby G-class

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Deep Dive: Mercedes-Benz Baby G-class
Deep Dive: Mercedes-Benz Baby G-class - Automobile Magazine
Mercedes contemplates a bonsai version of the Gelaendewagen.

The Mercedes-Benz model range currently contains three iconic products: the S-class luxury sedan, the SL roadster, and the G-class SUV. The S-class paved the way for the C-class and the E-class; the SL was the role model for the SLK, the SLS, and the SLR. Now the G-class is set to get its own spin-off, called the GLG.


Photo Gallery: Deep Dive: Mercedes-Benz Baby G-class - Automobile Magazine


Sep
12th

GM, Chrysler bailouts draw ire of former AIG chairman

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Harvey Golub, the former chairman of AIG, said President Barack Obama "violated every bankruptcy principle known to man" in the rescue of GM and Chrysler. Criticism of the $63.
Sep
12th

Kia Pro_cee’d revealed

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New Kia Pro_cee'd
News 13 Sep, 2012

First pictures and details of the all-new Kia Pro_cee’d, ahead of the Paris Motor Show

Sep
12th

Bill would restore salaried Delphi retirees’ pensions

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An Ohio senator wants to give $1 billion from a General Motors stock sale to salaried Delphi Automotive retirees who lost much of their pension coverage during the supplier's bankruptcy proceedings, but the Delphi Salaried Retirees Association says...
Sep
12th

Coda cranks up battery-car sales after California ‘soft’ start

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Coda Automotive, the Los Angeles-based electric-car maker, is boosting production of its namesake sedan and building a 30-dealer network to compete with larger competitors in the slow-growing rechargeable vehicle market.
Sep
12th

Former Tower CEO, Ford exec Kathleen Ligocki joins Lear board

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Seating and electrical system supplier Lear said former Tower Automotive CEO and longtime Ford executive Kathleen Ligocki has joined its board of directors. Ligocki, 55, is currently the CEO and director of Next Autoworks.
Sep
12th

Nissan brings electric crossover to Paris show

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An electric-powered crossover concept that uses fuel-cell technology will debut on Nissan's stand at the Paris auto show in late September.
Sep
12th

New Ford Galaxy spied

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2014 Ford Galaxy MPV mule front
News 12 Sep, 2012

Our spy photographers have caught the next-generation Ford Galaxy MPV on test in Europe

Sep
12th

New Kia Pro_cee’d pictures

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New Kia Pro_cee'd frontNew Kia Pro_cee'd rearNew Kia Pro_cee'd interior Pictures 13 Sep, 2012
Sep
12th

Volvo offers 250 Polestar Limited Edition C30s for U.S.

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The 2013 Volvo C30 Polestar Limited Edition will be available in the United States in limited numbers for a sticker price of $32,445, including $895 in destination.
Sep
12th

Cincinnati tunnel to hold eighth Scion Exposed party

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Scion is holding its eighth annual Scion Exposed event in a half-mile-long tunnel in downtown Cincinnati on Sept. 15.
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