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Car names are about to become extinct. You know, names that mean something; names that provoke fear, that exhibit raw power, that bathe us in soothing elegance and that remind us of one of God's graceful creatures roaming the earth.

Today, we get 1, 2, 200, 3, 300, 370Z, 5, 500, 6, 7, 911, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, B, BRZ, C, C30, C70, CL, CLS, CR-V, CR-Z, CT, CTS, CX-5, CX-9, E, ES, EX, F-150, F-250, F-350, FJ, FR-S, FX, G, GL, GLK, GS, GTI, GT-R, GX, i, ILX, iQ, IS, JX, LFA, LR2, LR4, LS, LX, M, M3, M5, M6, MDX, MKS, MKT, MKZ, MKX, MX-5, NV, Q5, Q7, QX, R, R8, RAV4, RDX, RLX, RX, S, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, S60, S80, SL, SLK, SLS, SRX, SX4, tC, TL, TSX, TT, X1, X3, X5, X6, xB, XC60, XC70, XC90, xD, XF, XJ, XK, XTS, XV, Z4 and ZDX.


I'm probably forgetting another hundred or so, but I think you get the picture.

Some now-discontinued model designations were worse. Try telling your brother-in-law “hey, I just bought me a two point five tee ell.” That name couldn't get any clumsier tripping off your tongue. “Uh, I bought an Acura.”

Or a Lincoln. Or a Mercedes and/or Benz. Or an Audi. Or a Mazda. Or a Suzuki. I know that MKS and MKZ are sedans and that MKT and MKX are crossovers, but does the average consumer know that? Who cares, really, as long as you know which brand of vehicle you have purchased.

Very few manufacturers still use real car names, although some are just kind of made up and don't really mean anything, like Passat, Altima, Elantra or Impreza. But Mustang, Challenger and Viper, those are names you'd want to flaunt. Hell yeah.

Bottom line is that manufacturers now prefer that their customers name the brand instead of the model. For certain brands, especially luxury brands, that marketing strategy's been working for decades; I never hear anybody say “I got a bee two hundred” or a “see three fifty four matic.” Nah, they'll say “I got a Mercedes.”

Then again, a name doesn't successfully define the automobile in every case. An impala is a fast, light and agile animal that lives in the savannah; the Chevy Impala is a big, boring sedan with a front bench seat.

Good thing some brands haven't given up on real names that actually evoke something other than a craving for alphabet soup. Keep ‘em coming.

From GMM

There are rumours in the paddock that Porsche is considering a formula one foray, according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

The VW-brand Porsche is returning to Le Mans, but the magazine said rumours are swirling that the project is merely "a warm-up" for F1.

Auto Motor und Sport said Porsche is busily signing-up personnel with F1 experience, including Fritz Enzinger, Alex Hitzinger, Mike Krack and recent Sauber engineer Urs Kuratle.

And the report said Porsche is also expressing interest in people from teams up and down pitlane.

Alain Prost, McLaren Tag Porsche turbo, 1984. (Photo: WRi2)

Porsche is establishing its Weissach facility as a state of the art motor sport factory complete with wind tunnel, while the marque's drivers are reportedly having hours booked in the McLaren simulator.

"The formula one paddock wonders whether the expense is really intended only for Le Mans," said Auto Motor und Sport.

2013 Ford Mustang GT Review

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2012 Toyota RAV4 Sport 4WD Review

Other very interesting topics:

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• Beware of counterfeit airbags

Juha Hanninen had a particularly impressive crash in his Skoda Fabia S2000 during Rally San Remo.

The 2010 champion of the Intercontinanteal Rally Championship, Hanninen went off the road during the first day of the Italian round of the IRC, his car rolling down the road before its ended up on top of a house.

Giandomineco Basso (Ford Fiesta) secured the victory. Andreas Mikkelsen (Skoda Fabia) remains however on top of the point standings.

The brand new Peugeot 208, which made its racing debuts at San Remo, took victory in the R2 class with Bryan Bouffier.

Total Car Score recently surveyed more than 900 car and movie enthusiasts on Facebook to find out which James Bond car is the most popular of all. Answer: the Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger (1964).

Second is the Aston Martin DBS from Quantum of Solace (2008), followed by the Aston Martin Vanquish from Die Another Day (2002).

For the complete Top 10, visit Total Car Score.

Photo: RM Auction

From GMM

Michael Schumacher has ruled out falling back on two wheels as he prepares once again for F1 retirement.

The great German raced in the German superbike series at times during his three-year 'sabbatical' in the wake of his Ferrari career, and narrowly escaped serious injury in one particular spill.

Schumacher told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper that racing motorbikes is "great fun", but he also acknowledged that it is "definitely" more dangerous than F1.

"I am very willing to learn," he smiled. "What that means is that I will not do any more motorcycle racing."

NOTE:
Wild rumors circulating on the web suggest that Michael Schumacher could end up racing in the Australian V8 Supercar champonship (now that Mercedes has decided to enter cars in that series), or even in the DTM, joining (or replacing!) his brother Ralf at Mercedes-Benz. Stay tuned!

Honda introduced the first Insight in November 1999. Twelve years and 11 months later, the Japanese automaker has sold one million hybrid vehicles worldwide.

At the time, the Insight became the industry's most fuel-efficient production car with a consumption of under 3L/100km. Honda has kept improving its Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) technology, adding seven new models in the process, and claims that hybrid powertrains will play an increasingly important role in the future.

Honda currently sells eight hybrid models in approximately 50 countries around the globe. A new two-motor hybrid system will soon be introduced for midsize vehicles, while a high-output, three-motor hybrid system (known as Sport Hybrid SH-AWD) will be applied to the future Acura NSX.

By the way, Toyota has sold more than four million hybrids since launching the Prius in 1997.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

Volkswagen allocated 500 copies of the limited-edition Golf R to the Canadian market in 2012. For 2013, only 250 will be available.

Based on the five-door GTI, this ''Super Golf'' with all-wheel drive boasts a 256-horsepower, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and a 6-speed manual gearbox. It stands out with exclusive 18" Talladega wheels, high-performance brakes, a lowered sport suspension, and a full body kit (aggressive front fascia, side skirts and rear diffuser).

Inside, look for leather-wrapped sport seats, colour-keyed trim items, and a RNS 510 touchscreen navigation system.

The 2013 Volkswagen Golf R is priced at $39,675, just like the outgoing model. Stay tuned for a release date because it will sell out in no time!

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

A soon as the words “electric vehicle” are uttered, inevitably the question arises: “What's the range?” Undoubtedly, this question plagues every manufacturer boardroom once an EV release is planned. No one wants to be stranded on the side of the road while their gas brethren zoom by.

Photo: Michel Deslauriers

While manufacturers have devised a way to prevent this from happening through customer screening (stringent background checks of where you live, how far you travel to work, that sort of thing) before the purchase of an EV even happens, it seems the question still arises.

The thing is, it's not just about range anymore, but about overall liveability. And that's where we decided to come into the whole EV debate.

With three EVs lined up and ready to go, Matt, Mike and Miranda set out to live a day in the life of an EV owner. Granola-chewing, hemp-using, planet-saving, greenie jokes aside, we wanted to see whose electric vehicle could stand up to the onslaught of a typical day of running errands, going out for lunch and doing a little sight-seeing later in the afternoon. You didn't think we'd do this without a little bit of friendly competition, did you?

With Mike behind the wheel of the Nissan LEAF, Matt piloting the brand new Ford Focus Electric and Miranda bringing up the rear in the Chevrolet Volt, we began our test... a week before we got the cars.

You see, we discovered that a major part of owning an electric vehicle isn't just thumbing your nose at gas-guzzlers, it's planning. From calling various malls and restaurants to enquire about charging stations to calculating distances throughout the city, we needed to ensure our cars really could do what we wanted them to do. And we wouldn't be remiss to do the same if we actually owned the vehicles we were driving.

Owning an electric vehicle isn't just about changing your driving habits, it's often about changing your routine as well. Always shopped at a specific mall? Well, what if they don't have charging stations, but another a town over does? Chances are, you're going to change your routine and go to the other mall from now on so you can charge while you shop.

So, from city driving (which included a bit of highway) to plenty of stop-and-go routes, as well as hill climbs galore, and a final stop in the park to feed the squirrels (read: sea gulls) we took our EVs a total of 80 km (free of A/C, sans radio tunes and with the windows up for optimal drag reduction) throughout the day with only two charging station stops: one for approximately 1.5 hours at lunch, and another for 25 minutes in the afternoon.

Whose car rose to the position of top EV? Read on to find out.

Continue reading Electric Vehicle Comparison Test

A third consecutive victory for Red Bull Racing driver Sebastian Vettel, following on from his success in Singapore and Japan, has made the drivers' championship even closer heading into the final four rounds of the season.

Vettel, driving a Red Bull-Renault RB7, started the race from second on the grid using the Pirelli P Zero red supersoft tires, and then carried out two stints on the yellow soft tire to win from his teammate Mark Webber, having taken the lead at the start.

Photos: WRi2

The German's fourth victory of the year has given him the drivers' championship lead, while third and fourth places for Ferrari, thanks to Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa respectively, moves the Italian squad up to second in the constructors' championship.

In a press release, Ford of Europe announced on Monday that it will reduce its commitment to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) at the end of the current season.

This means that Ford will no longer be the title sponsor of the world rally team entered by M-Sport.

The car manufacturer explained in the press release it made the decision as part of a 'review of its European business in the current difficult economic environment'.

“Ford has a long and proud history in the WRC and this was not an easy decision,” said Roelant de Waard, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford of Europe.

“At this time, however we determined that it was better for the company and the Ford brand to reduce our commitment to the WRC and deploy our resources in other areas,” he added.

Ford's long-term business partner, M-Sport, meanwhile plans to continue competing in WRC with the Fiesta RS WRC.

The American car manufacturer is in discussions with the Malcolm Wilson managed team to provide 'continued vehicle and engineering support', including for the recently announced Fiesta R5 for the new-for-2013 WRC-2 series, and the Fiesta R2 for grass-roots national and regional driver programmes.

This news will probably confirm Jari-Matti Latvala's departure to the new Volkswagen team for 2013 as a teammate to Frenchman Sebastien Ogier.

From GMM

Fernando Alonso will focus intensely on the final four races of the season amid a 'media muzzle', according to the German newspaper Bild.

The report said Ferrari's Spaniard - who finally lost his championship lead as his on-form title rival Sebastian Vettel won a third consecutive grand prix on Sunday - will not give any more interviews as the 2012 season draws to a close over the next six weeks through India, Abu Dhabi, the US and finally Brazil.

Bild also said Alonso will even curtail the time he will spend with Ferrari's sponsors between now and the season finale in late November.

Podium of the 2012 Korean Grand Prix. (Photo: WRi2)

Fernando Alonso looked disappointed on the Korea podium on Sunday, but he insisted that while making up the now 6-point deficit will be "extremely tough", it is not over yet.

"The important thing is to be first when you are crossing the line in Interlagos," he is quoted by El Mundo newspaper.

Fernando Alonso suggested German Vettel cannot continue to expect to experience "perfect weekends" as he did in Singapore, Suzuka and Korea.

"Congratulations for that (the wins), but when everything goes smoothly for so long, inevitably sooner or later something has to happen," he said, referring to his Red Bull rival.

Inevitably, off-track psychological elements like that will tinge the intense battle over the final races, but Vettel revealed that - even privately - Alonso was noble in defeat on Sunday.

"He said 'Well done', that's it," the 25-year-old told Bild. "He just congratulated me very fairly. Mark (Webber) too. I like fairness like that, showing respect even when we are fighting one another and giving each other nothing. There are days when you are beaten, that's part of it."

Asked if he has Alonso's phone number, Sebastian Vettel admitted: "No, but I don't have too many other drivers' numbers either!"

From press release

Ander Vilarino wrote a new page in the history books last Sunday by becoming the maiden EURO-RACECAR NASCAR Touring Series' champion at Le Mans, France.

The Spaniard has dominated the 2012 season with six wins, eight top-fives and 11 top-10 finishes, as well as three pole positions for sprint races and two in endurance events.

The stakes were high ahead of the series' trip to the Le Mans Bugatti circuit and the season finale did not disappoint.

In a change from the previous five rounds, Vilarino (No. 2 TFT-Banco Santander) took points rather than wins at the French venue, knowing that victories were not essential in his quest to clinch the crown.

Ander Vilarino (Photo: EURO-RACECAR / Stéphane Azémard)

Instead he was solid, finishing seventh and 10th respectively in the weekend's two races.

“I focused on not making a mistake,” said the new champion.

“I didn't want to be involved in an accident or a suffer a mechanical failure. During the endurance race I listened to every sound the car was making! When I returned to the pits I was crying with emotion. I want to thank my TFT-Banco Santander team who have done an incredible job throughout the season."

Since the signing of a long-term agreement with NASCAR, and as a reward for his title-winning exploits, the series' first champion will contest the Daytona Battle at The Beach in February 2013.

ELITE Championship:
1. Ander Vilarino (#2 TFT-Banco Santander), 2. Romain Thievin (#99-Still Racing-Exotics Racing), 3. Javier Villa (#64 Gonneau Racing), etc.

From GMM

Ferrari and Red Bull on Monday separately denied reports Sebastian Vettel is destined for the great Italian team in 2014.

With Felipe Massa set to be re-signed for next year, the BBC claimed in a media report that Red Bull's double world champion Vettel is probably Maranello bound for the season after.

Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko told Bild: "That's false. That report is wrong, plain and simple."

The German newspaper said Vettel, 25, has a contract with Red Bull that includes 2014, but the deal includes 'get-out clauses'.

Ferrari motor-home in the F1 paddock. (Photo: WRi2)

But Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni rubbished the Vettel link.

"It's not the first time this year we've heard it, and it will not be the last."

That's not exactly a denial, but Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo - speaking on Italian radio Rai - was much clearer.

"I've always said that I don't want two roosters in the hen-house," he said. "I don't like that and it creates instability in the team."

GM CEO Dan Akerson was not a fan of GM's model lineup and thought the automaker was one of the most poorly managed companies when he became a director in 2009, his predecessor, Ed Whitacre, says in a new book.

News 14 Oct, 2012

Sebastian Vettel takes the lead in the drivers' championship with a dominant win in Korea

Fiat has agreed to build a factory in Russia to build Jeep models and will finalize the deal for the $1 billion plant by the end of the year, sources said.

From GMM

Eddie Jordan has predicted Force India will make one driver change ahead of the 2013 season.

The former F1 team owner and boss's words are carefully listened to these days, after he recently correctly predicted that that Lewis Hamilton would move to Mercedes next year, pushing Michael Schumacher back into retirement.

Now, when musing Force India's next lineup, he said of the current duo Nico Hulkenberg and Paul di Resta: "One of them is going to leave that team."

With Hulkenberg tipped to move to Sauber, it is being reported in the German press that Silverstone-based Force India could go back to the future in 2013 by re-hiring Adrian Sutil.

The 29-year-old lost his seat after the Eric Lux assault affair, but his manager Manfred Zimmermann told Auto Bild: "Force India knows that Adrian is on the market.

"We know each other well."

Blick newspaper said Sutil still carries the significant sponsorship of his sponsors Medion and Capri-Sun.

The Swiss publication's correspondent said that could be bad news for Sebastien Buemi, who was hoping to return to the grid next year with Force India.

Force India, meanwhile, is hoping it can hold on to both Hulkenberg and di Resta.

"We've served our options on them and now have a period of time before coming back to us," deputy team boss Bob Fernley is quoted by the Sun.

"If there are changes, then we'll deal with it."

Adapted from GMM

Leaving McLaren is not a 'risk' because the British team he grew up with has not been that successful in recent years, Lewis Hamilton has told the Spanish sports daily AS.

"There is no risk," the McLaren protege told the newspaper, when asked about his impending move for 2013 to Mercedes.

"At McLaren we haven't won the championship since 2008 and I haven't won too many races recently," he insisted.

"Every team has its ups and downs, but 2014 will be a pivotal year with the rule changes."

Meanwhile Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali agreed the moving from McLaren to Mercedes was the right things to do for the 27-year-old.

Told by an interviewer it might not be the wisest choice for the 2008 world champion, Domenicali answered: "Mercedes has enormous potential.

"It has invested heavily in the past three years and has not achieved the results it expected.  But it is doing everything in its power to win," he told El Pais newspaper.

"Hamilton has seen this potential that has not yet materialised.

"What is clear," added the Italian, "is that McLaren has lost a tremendous asset.

"After Fernando (Alonso), Vettel and him are the fastest ones."

Clint Bowyer kept his title hopes alive with a win in a fuel mileage run at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday night.

Bowyer took his third victory of the year because Denny Hamlin, who finished second, and Jimmie Johnson, who finished third, both, had to conserve fuel in the 500 mile race. 

“I mean realistically we're still in the things,” a smiling Bowyer said. “After Talladega what a way to bounce back.” Looking ahead to next week he called his home track, Kansas, “maybe a wild card,” due to the recent repave.  Bowyer is now fourth, 28 points behind Brad Keselowski who finished 11th after making a late race pit stop to top off with fuel.

This was Bowyer's first win at the 1.5 mile track and eighth career victory in 248 starts in NASCAR's premier series.

Jimmie Johnson, who finished third, is now in second place seven points behind Keselowski; Hamlin is third 15 points back.

“It was good to have a fuel-mileage race somewhat go our way, and Darian made the gutsy call to bring us in and lose all of our track position in the middle of the race, which I was kind of frustrated with,” said Hamlin who finished .417 seconds behind Bowyer.

“But obviously he knew what he was doing and we saved the fuel that we needed, and we slowed down just enough to finish second. We just needed one more lap. We'll take second and move on.”

Five-time Champion Johnson should have been pleased that he halved the points he needed to catch Keselowski, but, he jokingly showed his annoyance when asked about his race.

“Went in a bunch of circles, and we're done, and I made it on fuel,” Johnson said. Then he explained “Well, it's just weird running so long, saving fuel like we had to at the end, and the two segments' worth.  But there's some tracks and some conditions where that's just the game you have to play.”

It was Keselowski's first setback in the ten-race Chase. Typically his crew chief Paul Wolfe gambled on a fuel strategy and won. On Saturday night an attempt to stretch fuel backfired. “It was like playing blackjack,” Keselowski said “you can't win them all. I led a bunch of laps (he led a race high 139-laps).”

Bowyer's crew chief, Brian Pattie acknowledged that the only way to championship was with wins at this points. “We're going for trophies that's the only way you'll beat the 2 (Keselowski), 48 (Johnson) and 11 (Hamlin).”

Greg Biffle, the pole sitter finished fourth in a Ford and is sixth in the standings 43 points
behind. He said “It's amazing that those guys can go that far on a tank of gas.”

Kasey who now is fifth in the points, 35 down to Keselowski finished eighth.

The Sprint Cup series moves on to Kansas where the drivers are being given extra track time because of the recent repave.