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A new Porsche Panamera Platinum Edition will hit Canadian showrooms in January. Available with rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, this exclusive model boasts expanded standard features and unique details.

As the name suggests, a platinum silver metallic finish highlights the lower half of the side-view mirrors, the air inlet grille slits, the air vent grille on each side, the trim on the trunk lid, and the rear diffuser.

The Porsche Panamera Platinum Edition also features front parking assist, 19'' Panamera Turbo alloy wheels, 18-way adjustable front seats, and a standard part-leather interior package, with a full leather package available.

Technophiles will love the 7'' TFT touchscreen, the eleven loudspeakers with a combined output of 235 watts, and the standard Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system with built-in navigation.

The Porsche Panamera Platinum Edition starts at $92,800, while the Porsche Panamera 4 Platinum Edition retails for $97,400.

Photo: Porsche

Not many people are aware that Québécois Bruno Spengler is on the verge of becoming the European DTM Series champion. It's unfortunate that little is known about this series and this future homegrown champion.

Photo: DTM Presse

I mentioned that this is a European championship series, but actually it's German. It's a three-way deal between Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi. Six of the 10 races are held on German racetracks. DTM promotional body, ITR, is making great strides in ''internationalising'' its feature race series.

Speaking of taking the series abroad; DTM officials visited Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal and also met with Octane boss, François Dumontier. ''Yes, DTM is capable and willing of presenting a DTM event in Montreal, but let's be clear on this: It can't happen before 2014,'' confirmed Dumontier.

Spengler really is from here. He was born in Montebello, his parents are of French-Alsatian origin, and he still holds a Canadian racing permit. Both his race suit and car are adorned with the maple leaf. If he manages to grab the championship title this Sunday, he will be the first non-European to accomplish this feat.

This isn't Spengler's first crack at the DTM title. He piloted a Mercedes for seven seasons, finishing twice in second place and another two times in third place. We must admit that his employer at the time never played the ''team'' card, letting him fend off contenders all by himself, specifically Audi, who methodically managed their drivers and strategy to come away with the big prize.

Spengler grew weary of the prevailing mood at Mercedes, and luckily answered BMW's call last fall to join their team. BMW, who are back in DTM after a 20-year hiatus, didn't expect to win a single race in 2012, never mind winning the whole deal.

Nonetheless, the M3 DTM, against all odds, is a huge success. Bruno won his second race! This was followed by two more wins, which leaves him in second place (three points behind points leader Garry Paffett of Mercedes) heading into the final race in Hockenheim this weekend.

Of course, DTM is not as prestigious as Formula 1. However, compared to most other Canadian drivers, Spengler receives a secured and steady ride, and a salary to drive. After scrounging around for sponsors for many years in Formula Renault and F3, Spengler did not need to find sponsors once he was fully integrated into the DTM series.

We would like to remind you that Auto123.com will be reporting live from the Hockenheim racecourse for Saturday qualifying and Sunday's race.

Spengler holds a special place in our hearts here at Auto123.com, as he is a regular contributor. We wish him good luck and sincerely hope that this pivotal and decisive race will be free of disreputable tactics and avoidable collisions.

Photo: DTM Presse

From GMM

Pedro de la Rosa is definitely staying at HRT in 2013, the Spanish team's boss Luis Perez-Sala has announced.

"Pedro de la Rosa will drive for us in 2013," he is quoted by the German language Speed Week.

The Spanish veteran's current teammate is Narain Karthikeyan, but the Indian has been linked with a possible switch to Indycar.

Speed Week said the presence of Karthikeyan, 35, has not brought the expected flood of Indian sponsors to HRT.

Pedro de la Rosa staying at HRT, who will be his team mate? (Photo: HRT F1 Team)

The report named the team's Chinese reserve driver Ma Qing Hua as a candidate to replace him. But on Sky television last weekend, former McLaren driver Martin Brundle suggested the 24-year-old is "not ready" to make his grand prix debut yet.

Speed Week said Spaniard Dani Clos - another HRT 'Friday' driver this year - would be a leading contender if he had more sponsorship.

Jaime Alguersuari is another candidate, with Speed Week saying the former Toro Rosso driver and Pirelli tester has "put together an enticing sponsor package" for 2013.

And Brundle said Caterham's reserve driver Giedo van der Garde could also be in the running, saying the Dutchman has done "a good job in GP2 and apparently has some sponsorship behind him".

Canadian stock-car racer Maryeve Dufault will be back at the wheel of the's No. 04 C2M Dodge Charger for the ARCA Racing Series season finale presented by Menards event at the Kansas Speedway this coming Friday.

For this special occasion, the No. 04 livery will have both the colors of Valvoline NextGen and will also support Breast Cancer Awareness month by wrapping the cars' bumpers in the iconic pink.

Dodge Charger ARCA. (Photo: Maryeve Dufault)

For Dufault, who could only run a partial schedule this year, it will be another occasion to team-up with the C2M squad. The last time she got behind the team's Dodge Charger was at the Salem Speedway event where she finished 23rd after being hit by a lapped car while she was running in a top-10 position.

Practice and qualifying for the Kansas Lottery 98.9 at Kansas Speedway gets underway on Friday, October 19 in preparation for the 150 mile race on Friday night.

From GMM

Ferrari raced an all-new Red Bull-style exhaust on only Felipe Massa's car in Korea last weekend, according to the Spanish newspaper 20 Minutos.

The news would explain the Brazilian driver's better pace than teammate Fernando Alonso in the sister F2012, and also the Spaniard's confidence that he is still in the running to beat Sebastian Vettel to the title despite a new 6-point championship deficit and Red Bull's recent dominance.

Indeed, 20 Minutos claims Fernando Alonso will be running the Massa-specification on his own red car next weekend in India.

The F2012 Ferrari in Korea. (Photo: Pirelli)

The report also said Ferrari is working hard in former F1 team Toyota's state of the art Cologne wind tunnel on a so-called 'double DRS' straightline speed-boosting system.

"Hopefully we make a little bit of a step in terms of performance and then we can fight for bigger things," Alonso, having finished third behind both Red Bulls, said before leaving Korea last Sunday.

Team boss Stefano Domenicali added: "It is clear that we must make a step forward in performance to respond to the one made by Red Bull. We are well aware of that and we are working day and night to succeed."

BMW press release

The finale of the DTM season at the Hockenheimring on 21st October will have a prominent guest: former BMW driver Alessandro Zanardi will be at the track on the race Sunday to support the three BMW teams.

The 45-year-old lost both his legs in a crash before making his comeback with BMW and going on to win four races in the World Touring Car Championship for the Munich-based manufacturer.

In September, Zanardi won two gold medals and one silver on his handbike at the Paralympic Games in London. “I am really looking forward to visiting the DTM finale in Hockenheim,” said the Italian. “BMW has had a fantastic season so far - and I will try to give the guys as much support as possible at the finale. Maybe I'll be a lucky charm for Bruno Spengler."

Photo: DTM Presse

From press release

The Sauber F1 Team will be testing Esteban Gutiérrez and Robin Frijns at the Young Driver Days in Abu Dhabi to be held from November 6 to 8, 2012.

Frijns will be driving on the Tuesday, the first day of testing. The 21-year-old Dutchman won the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup in 2011 and this coming weekend will be contesting the title in the 2012 Formula Renault 3.5 World Series on the Circuit de Catalunya. In the run-up to the final he is five points adrift of the championship leader.

Robin Frinjs. (Photo: Renault)

For Gutiérrez, the Young Driver Days will mark his fourth test outing with the team since he first got inside a Formula 1 cockpit in late 2009.

Also aged 21, the Mexican joined the Sauber F1 Team as an affiliated driver and since 2011 has been the official reserve driver for the F1 team. He will be test-driving in Abu Dhabi on the Wednesday and Thursday.  

Esteban Gutierrez. (Photo: Sauber F1 Team)

From GMM

Luca di Montezemolo has admitted he would welcome Porsche to formula one.

The VW-brand has played down the latest rumours about a V6-powered grand prix foray on the back of its forthcoming return to Le Mans, but Ferrari president Montezemolo said: "I feel great respect for Porsche, who I consider the main rival of many of our cars.

"Competition is always welcome, especially when you're sure you will win," the Italian is quoted by Spain's AS newspaper.

But even with Porsche rejecting the latest speculation, the German newspaper Kolner Express said all the signs are pointing towards a 2016 foray for the famous sports car maker.

From GMM

Organisers of the first US grand prix since 2007 say the brand new Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, is now almost ready to host a formula one race.

The Hermann Tilke-designed track is scheduled to host the 2012 US GP in exactly a month from now.

Photo: Circuit of the Americas, released on October 16, 2012.

When the sport's impending journey to Texas was first announced, there was much scepticism about whether the event would ever take place, especially when founder Tavo Hellmund became embroiled in a legal row with the current organisers.

But the FIA's Charlie Whiting has given the track the green light, even though the Austin American Statesman newspaper reports that the facility is not quite ready.

Referring also to the crucial pit and medical facilities, project manager Braedon Box said on Wednesday: "Everything track-related is done. We could have a race right now. Everything else isn't done. I'm certain everybody would like to be a little further along and putting their feet up right now."

He insisted, however, that 'everything else' - the seating, the media centre and most other things - will be ready on time.

BMW AG has shifted "tens of thousands" of cars that were originally targeted for Europe to the United States and Asia this year as sales weaken in the crisis-hit region.

Toyota said 90 2013 Scion iQ EVs are arriving in the United States today. The four-seaters will be used for car sharing and fleets, Toyota Motor Sales said in a statement. There are also a small number of the vehicles arriving in Japan

2013 Infiniti JX35 - Country crossover, city crossover

The Infiniti JX35 is back from its East Coast sojourn, but this SUV has proven too vacation-friendly to spend much time hanging around the office.

The Infiniti JX35 is back from its East Coast sojourn, but this SUV has proven too vacation-friendly to spend much time hanging around the office. Copy editor Rusty Blackwell grabbed the keys for an epic, nine-day, 1475-mile family road trip to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.

Photo Gallery: 2013 Infiniti JX35 - Four Seasons Update - October 2012 - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2013 Infiniti JX35 - Four Seasons Update - October 2012 - Automobile Magazine

2013 Infiniti JX35 - Country crossover, city crossover | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Timken has named John Law to the new position of vice president of light-vehicle systems. Law will report to Brian Ruel, who became vice president of light-vehicle, off-highway and rail operations in September.

Also in this episode: Opel debuts the Cascada convertible, which may head stateside as a Buick.

The Chinese auto supplier that previously offered to bail out A123 Systems, the electric-car battery maker that filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday, said it's still interested in taking over the company.

Opel, General Motors' financially embattled European unit, has revealed its new midsize Cascada convertible in a series of photos. The car goes on sale in early 2013.

Just like my parents used to say, and#8220;You can't get anything by us, we have eyes everywhere.and#8221; Ominous threats aside, GM's European unit Opel tried to sneak an Insignia Sports Tourer station wagon onto the roads of Michigan.

The diminutive 2013 Scion iQ EV battery-electric vehicle will join car-sharing programs in the United States.

News 17 Oct, 2012

Volkswagen has announced a new Passat Highline model, which gets extra kit and costs from £20,970

A computer-driven car may not be commercially viable for at least another decade, but federal regulators are taking it seriously.