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We told you last week about Nissan's mysterious, genre-defining concept that was specifically designed for the Brazilian market. Today, the automaker released a couple of pictures along with a name -- Nissan Extrem.

With ultra-sporty looks and a unique Solar Cortex paint treatment, the Nissan Extrem aims to embody the vibrancy, colour and excitement of Brazil.

Available in FWD and AWD configurations, this 2+2 vehicle rides on 19'' six-spoke alloy wheels and exploits a 1.6L gasoline engine that shares its technology with the innovative Nissan DeltaWing Le Mans race car. Performance figures and other specifications remain unknown.

The Nissan Extrem will be officially introduced at the Sao Paulo Auto Show, which kicks off on Wednesday, October 24th.

Photo: Nissan

From GMM

Red Bull, the Austrian energy drink and championship-winning F1 team owner, could be the saviour of the embattled New York grand prix.

Bernie Ecclestone has reportedly told a motor racing website that billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz should step in to fund the race, after organisation and funding shortfalls forced the delay of the inaugural event, which had been scheduled for 2013.

Sebastian Vettel in Port Imperial, last June. (Photo: Red Bull Racing)

Christian Sylt, the F1 business journalist who recorded Ecclestone's Red Bull quote, said he thinks the sport's chief executive is serious.

"In the absence of state support, I think the only way the grand prix of America can proceed is if a wealthy backer gets behind it.

"Red Bull certainly has the resources to do so and it clearly has an interest in promoting its brand in the area," Sylt told the New Jersey newspaper Star-Ledger.

"It is also worth mentioning that Ecclestone told me that if a backer comes on board very soon there is a possibility that the race could take place next year," he added.

Auto123.com met with director of BMW Motorsport, Jens Marquardt during the meeting of the finale of the DTM at the Hockenheimring in Germany this past weekend.

BMW driver, Canadian Bruno Spengler clinched his maiden DTM title by winning the race from his main championship rival, Mercedes driver Gary Paffett.

BMW's boss of racing was obviously delighted with the outcome of the race and the season.

"With his fourth win of the season, Bruno Spengler managed to win the drivers' title in BMW's first year back in the DTM for 20 years," Jens Marquardt, BMW Motorsport Director told us.

"To be honest: we would not have dared to dream of a season like this. We have gone up against two ambitious and unbelievably strong opponents with a wealth of DTM experience. Our goal for the opening year was to learn and become competitive as soon as possible. That we have achieved far more than this and won three titles is testimony to the outstanding job done by the whole team. With the other competitors, we have treated the fans to ten excitings races and maximum tension right down to the final race. That just goes to show the concept of the new DTM has been a complete success," Marquardt added.



Marquardt was asked why the DTM was so attractive to BMW. "It is one of the most competitive series in the world," he started saying.

"We also prefer to race in a series that showcase race cars that are very similar to road going vehicles. The M3 we race here in the DTM looks like any M3 that customers can buy at any dealership," he added.

"For us the DTM is attracting because it is a fantastic marketing platform. We also really appreciate the rule changes that were applied for this year. The series has managed to reduce the costs and to make the new generation of cars a lot safer than before. We built the first carbon fibre safety cell used in a sedan, and this has been a major improvement in terms of driver safety," Marquardt said.

The DTM cars will soon be eligible to run in the Japan GT series and the new Grand-Am/ALMS series in North America. What kind of car BMW intends to run in the U.S.?

"The merger between ALMS and Grand-Am is really great news for the sport. And it's the same with the agreement DTM has found with the organisers of the Japan GT series. Very important meetings will take place between now and the next Spring with Grand-Am, ALMS and ACO officials to define the new technical package of the American series. We at BMW want to run car in that new series but we first need to look at the rules and see where we fit in there," Marquardt explained.

And what about the possibility of building a car for endurance racing and the 24 Hours of Le Mans?

"No. We've won Le Mans in the past and like I said before, we want to race cars that are similar to our road going cars. We would not build a machine such as an LMP1 for that reason. We want the fans to see race cars that are extremely similar to their street going cousins. Le Mans is certainly out of the question," Marquardt ended.

With a seventh 1-2-3 finish this current season, Chevrolet secured its third consecutive title in the WTCC Manufacturer's championship.

Stuart Cowie, Operations Manager said: "We are very pleased with the weekend. We mathematically made certain of the Manufacturers' championship, took another triple podium and collected six finishes in the points. We couldn't ask for more. I‘m happy the three cars finished the weekend unscathed, which is important ahead of the following events. This is made even more important when you are so far from home and when you have your three drivers fighting for the Drivers' title. They are managing this situation in the most professional way and I want to congratulate them for that."

Photo: FIA WTCC

Chevrolet will retire from the category at the end of the season but is already guaranteed that one of their three drivers will be crowned in 2012.

Yvan Muller, Rob Huff and Alain Menu will fight in the two final events. The first two are equal on points, while Alain Menu is 38 behind, when 110 points are still available.

Chevrolet drivers: Yvan Muller, Alain Menu and Rob Huff. Which one will be the 2012 Champion? (Photo: FIA WTCC)

Am I strange to get all excited every chance I get to drive a Sprinter? Could it be that I harbour a deep hidden desire to work for UPS or Purolator? Possibly, but I think it has more to do with the fact that it's so far off my radar of typical test cars that it's a vacation from the usual...

The Mercedes (which was Dodge in another time) Sprinter is, to put it into perspective, the German Chevrolet Express or Ford Econoline. You might expect this coming from me, but you only have to glance over at any delivery company's fleet to see that, the Sprinter is much more awesome than any American-built van.

Want further proof? Ford will shortly cut the Econoline -- after only 283 years on the road -- and replace it with the big Transit, one size up from the current Transit Connect. This European-designed van is the best selling commercial vehicle on the other side of the pond.


Mercedes knows vans
The 2012 Mercedes Sprinter is actually the largest passenger/commercial van offered by Mercedes. In other parts of the world, they have the Viano and Vito. There are others, but the Sprinter is the star of this show. All I'm trying to say is that Mercedes knows a thing, or 19, about vans.

My tester for the week was a 2012 Mercedes Sprinter 2500 High Roof with the 170” wheelbase. It was a cargo van and it was white. It was perfect. The first thing I did with a few office chums, including the Miranda, was do a few laps in the rear. Ok, pointless, but it was fun and I know you want to do the same...

Seriously, it's no small wonder why the Sprinter makes for an excellent conversion camper vehicle! The rear's square footage is superior to my basement! The possibilities are endless for all walks of professionals as well.

The Sprinter is actually the largest passenger/commercial van offered by Mercedes. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Diesel; there is no other way
All 2012 Mercedes Sprinters are powered by a BlueTEC turbo-diesel 3.0L V6 engine. This potent powerplant puts out a proper yet paltry 188 hp and prominent 325 lb-ft of torque. Between it and the rear-drive wheels is a 5-speed autobox that features a manual mode.

Let's move on to the drive: The 2012 Mercedes Sprinter looks like a bus and, well, drives like a bus if only because turning a corner requires not only a wider angle, but the steering needs to go around a few more times than a typical car.

Otherwise, the Sprinter really is simple to navigate. The brakes are immensely powerful and pedal feel is confidence-inspiring. The ride is a little jittery, but only because most of the time in the course of my week-long test, I was alone in the van. This Sprinter is designed to handle up to a total of 6,146 kg (13,550 lbs) and the suspension settles under the weight.

What blew my mind was my final fuel economy numbers at the end of the week. I rode the 2012 Mercedes Sprinter as I would have any other press car, and Miranda even managed to load it up with some renovation material. So, we did put it to work and it still managed a notable 13L per 100 km.

The turbo-diesel V6 is full of vim, and always willing to dish out the power. The 5-speed box is quick to participate, and altogether this big Sprinter can easily keep up with traffic. When loaded, the situation changes, obviously.

Despite its size and capabilities, the Sprinter still managed a notable 13L per 100 km. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Uh, really, really big
What looks like content that would fit in a woman's purse (well, Miranda's at least) is actually a dozen sheets of plywood, a few interior doors and a crap-load of 2x4s and 72 rubber floor tiles, four-square-feet each. The contents look small because the Sprinter's rear quarters are that ginormous. What surprised me was the total absence of rattles from the bare walls.

Up front in the 2012 Mercedes Sprinter, the seats are very firm and reasonably comfortable. There are tonnes of storage spaces and possibly the only complaint I could make relates to the cup-holders: they are not deep or plentiful enough.

The gauges and other controls are simple and straightforward. Oh, and the cruise control stalk is the same as in most of Mercedes' cars. Many don't like the way the stalk functions, but it's only a matter of habit.

The contents look small because the Sprinter's rear quarters are that ginormous. (Photo: Collin Styker)

Endless possibilities
The most basic cargo 2012 Mercedes Sprinter has a base price of $42,900. As tested, my 2500 High Roof with 170” wheelbase retails for $50,100. The most expensive base 3500 Super High Roof 170" with extended wheelbase has a sticker price of $55,500. Passenger versions vary from $48k to $54k. Mercedes also offers Cab-chassis and even minibuses.

I recall going to the launch of the then-Dodge Sprinter where it was explained that, given the large number of body styles, colors and configurations, it would be possible to line up 500 different Sprinters side by side and they'd be all unique.

Either way I look at it, and even if the 2012 Mercedes Sprinter is pricier than the average Econoline, Express or Savana, it's by far the better choice.

It would be possible to line up 500 different Sprinters side by side and they'd be all unique. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

From GMM

Red Bull has the standout budget among F1's UK-based teams, according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Citing British companies data, the magazine said Red Bull Technology - the Red Bull Racing parent - had a budget of EUR 245 million in 2011 as Sebastian Vettel sped to his back-to-back drivers' world championship.

Auto Motor und Sport said Red Bull's budget last year was EUR 42 million higher than in 2010.

Red Bull celebrating Sebastian Vettel's second championship in Japan. (Photo: WRi2)

Brackley based Mercedes, meanwhile, reportedly spent just EUR 145 million in 2011 -- a full EUR 100 million less than Red Bull.

Lotus' 2011 budget was a reported EUR 155m, compared to Williams' 111m.

McLaren's figures are pending.

But the news about Red Bull coincides with a fresh wave of speculation in the paddock about the energy drink-owned team's defiance in the face of the teams-governed Resource Restriction Agreement (RRA).

McLaren's Martin Whitmarsh, however, fell short of accusing Red Bull of cheating.

"If they are ahead of us, it's because they've done the better job," he said.

The latest generation of the BMW 3 Series Sedan boasts excellent fuel economy, especially the 328i and Canada-exclusive 320i with their turbo 4-cylinder engines. However, the German brand isn't stopping there, and will introduce the 2013 ActiveHybrid 3 this fall.

Crowning the 3 Series Sedan lineup, the ActiveHybrid 3 will be the most powerful version of the bunch, and the thriftiest around town. Its combined fuel economy rating of 7.lL/100km matches that of the base, 181-hp 320i. It will also be the most expensive 3 Series Bimmer shy of an M3 with an MSRP of $58,300.


Turbo six meets electric motor
The 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 relies on the 335i's N55 engine, a single-turbo 3.0L inline-6 that punches out 300 hp. The electric motor produces 55 hp and 155 lb-ft of instant torque; together, they deliver a combined output of 335 hp and 330 lb-ft through the rear wheels. An 8-speed automatic transmission with wheel-mounted paddle shifters manages the whole shebang.

A lithium-ion battery pack is located in the trunk, reducing its capacity from 480 litres to 390. The battery allows the ActiveHybrid 3 to run on electric power alone at speeds up to 75 km/h, or up to four kilometres at a constant speed of 35 km/h.

The hybrid system adds about 225 lbs to the weight of the car, which offsets the increased output. As such, the ActiveHybrid 3 hits 100 km/h in a claimed 5.5 seconds, a tick slower than the rear-drive 335i automatic.

Fuel economy gain, if only around town
Since all 3 Series Sedan models get fuel-saving tricks such as automatic start/stop, brake energy regeneration and an ECO PRO drive mode, the 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 will have a hard time impressing the new-car shopper with its official fuel economy ratings.

Both the 335i and the ActiveHybrid 3 consume 5.9L/100km on the highway; however, the hybrid model is more efficient around town with an 8.0L/100km rating versus the automatic 335i's 9.1. As for the slower 320i, it's rated at 8.6/5.2 city/highway.

Same feature content as 335i
While hybrids usually offer more equipment to soften the blow of the higher price, the 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 gets the same feature content as the 335i. That includes, among others, a heated steering wheel, a 40/20/40 split folding rear seat, front sport seats, adaptive headlights, auto-adjusting high beams, a power sunroof, Dakota leather upholstery, heated front seats and a nine-speaker sound system with USB port and Bluetooth connectivity.

And just like the 328i and 335i, you can also choose between three trim lines: Modern, Luxury and Sport, which each boast their own colour and finish combinations. Premium and M Sport packages are also available, as well as plenty of standalone options.

Fast, efficient and probably rare, the 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 promises reduced fuel consumption around town. At more than $58K, however, that comes at a price.

Crowning the 3 Series Sedan lineup, the ActiveHybrid 3 will be the most powerful version of the bunch, and the thriftiest around town.(Photo: BMW)

Tesla Motors is facing quite a storm this month. The legitimacy of its factory outlets (mostly in shopping malls) came into question, and now dealer associations in Massachusetts and New York are suing the electric car manufacturer for operating illegal stores.

According to the National Automobile Dealers Association, 48 states prohibit or restrict factory ownership of dealerships. Tesla argues that its locations serve only as showrooms and that shoppers must still go to its website to purchase a car.

Dealer associations don't agree, claiming that Tesla is bypassing the dealer system to save money and sell vehicles at a lower price.

"They claim they're operating under the guise of a non-sales showroom, and we call that out as an outright scam," said Robert O'Koniewski, executive vice president of the Massachusetts association.

He believes that the Massachusetts store, which opened on September 28th, violates the state's licensing, consumer protection and franchise laws. In his opinion, Tesla's business model could leave consumers unprotected by the state's lemon law, which forces automakers to buy back or replace a vehicle that can't be repaired.

We'll keep you updated as new developments arise.

Source: Automotive News

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

From press release

David Coulthard has become the latest motor sport great to sign up for the Race Of Champions at Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium on December 14-16, 2012. 


The Scotsman enjoyed a glittering Formula 1 career, taking 13 grand prix wins and finishing in the world championship top three no less than five times in over a decade at the top. He has since spent three years in Germany's DTM championship but last weekend he announced his retirement from full-time competition to focus on his other interests including his F1 commentary for BBC television.

Photo: Race of Champions

Coulthard said: “This will be my eighth ROC appearance and it's a pleasure to take part. The main draw is the camaraderie between the drivers and all the social events outside the cars but the racing is always exciting. In the ROC Nations Cup you never want to let your team-mate down, then you have the individual event. Looking at how I got on at Wembley, it seems I do better after I've just retired from something. That time I made the final so maybe this year in Bangkok I can finish the job...”

Race organiser Fredrik Johnsson added: “David has been a fantastic supporter of the Race Of Champions down the years and we're delighted that he is back in 2012. He is a real character who is always a big hit with the crowds in the stadium. Now we are thrilled to offer race fans in Bangkok one more chance to see both DC and Michael Schumacher in action.”

The end-of-season contest, which is being staged for the 25th consecutive year in 2012, brings together the world's greatest drivers from motor sport's main disciplines - including Formula 1, world rally, touring cars, Le Mans, MotoGP, Indycar and the X-Games - and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery.

Drivers pair up for the ROC Nations Cup, this year scheduled for Saturday 15 December, before the individual Race Of Champions on Sunday 16 December. 



Drivers confirmed for the 2012 Race Of Champions so far:
• Michael SCHUMACHER, seven-time Formula 1 World Champion
• Sebastian VETTEL, Formula 1 World Champion 2011, 2010
• Ryan HUNTER-REAY, IndyCar Series Champion 2012
• Jamie WHINCUP, V8 Supercar Champion 2011, 2009, 2008
• Mick DOOHAN, five-time 500cc MotoGP World Champion
• David COULTHARD, 13-time Formula 1 grand prix winner

SiriusXM, which has equipped 50 million cars and light trucks with satellite radio service, said CEO Mel Karmazin is stepping down on February 1.

Lower supplies of BMWs pinched average new-vehicle gross profits for Sonic Automotive during the third quarter, but inventory levels are returning to normal.

Asbury Automotive Group is ready to pursue major store acquisitions with the expectation annual U.S. auto sales will recover to 16 million vehicles in 2015.

The chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association today criticized manufacturers for "intrusion" into dealers' operations by requiring facility renovations and creating two tiers of pricing for retailers.

If youand#8217;ve ever wanted to get your hands on a World War II-era Daimler-Benz DB10 12-ton Prime mover, the Auctions America event on Dec. 8 may be your only chance.

Also in this episode: GM will roll out the new Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra on Dec. 13, drag-racer Antron Bron

Hyundai and Kia plan to add more turbocharged gasoline engines and new transmissions to their powertrain lineups in the United States and elsewhere, Hyundai Motor Group said today.

Lotus is adding its Intelligent Precision Shift automatic transmission to the supercharged version of the Evora for the 2013 model year.

GM engineers and scientists believe they have made a big step toward the expanded use of magnesium in vehicles by heating the lightweight metal so it can be formed into precise, rigid shapes needed for auto parts.

More than half of consumers who use smartphones to research a vehicle before buying do so while at a dealership, J.D. Power's 2012 Automotive Mobile Site Study found.

Driven: 2013 Lincoln MKS

Better living through technology?

With the departure, finally, of the Town Car, the vehicle that has defined Lincoln for years, Ford's luxury brand is now in the process of building a new identity. It won't be that of a European-style luxury carmaker, as Ford won't devote the necessary resources to develop a rear-wheel-drive chassis. Instead, Lincoln will continue to adapt front-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive Ford platforms. Other than styling -- which also is in flux, at least until the arrival of the new MKZ -- Lincoln is relying on technology to give it the premium imprimatur the brand too often has lacked.

Photo Gallery: Driven: 2013 Lincoln MKS - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: Driven: 2013 Lincoln MKS - Automobile Magazine

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