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From GMM

According to strong paddock rumours, Sunday's Brazilian grand prix will be the last lap for ailing backmarkers HRT.

Publicly looking for a buyer, it is reported that staff have actually already been served with pending redundancy notices that will come into effect after the chequered flag waves on Sunday.

"None of us know what will happen," team driver Pedro de la Rosa, who was expected to stay at the Spanish team in 2013, admitted to reporters in Brazil.

Photo: HRT F1 Team

When asked about the redundancy notices, he answered: "All I know is that we are here and that everyone here has not received anything."

"What happens after is unknown," added Pedro de la Rosa. "I hope the team continues but at this moment in time I cannot say any more."

The Swiss Sauber F1 Team has finalised its line-up for the 2013 season: Esteban Gutiérrez is confirmed as the team's second race driver.

The 21-year old Mexican will be driving alongside Germany's Nico Hülkenberg.

Robin Frijns, from the Netherlands, who is only two days younger than Esteban, has been taken on board as the team's test and reserve driver.

Kamui Kobayashi, who spent the last three years with Sauber, is now looking for a new job.

Esteban Gutiérrez began his career in karting. He raced in the Formula BMW USA series in 2007 and then went on to win the Formula BMW Europe crown a year later. After a spell in the Formula 3 Euro Series, he switched to the GP3 Series in 2010 and stormed to the championship title with five race wins.

Esteban Gutierrez. (Photo: Sauber F1 Team)

Two seasons in GP2 followed, the second of which in 2012 saw him collect three victories and finish third in the standings. Gutiérrez was given his first chance to test for the BMW Sauber F1 Team in 2009 and further opportunities have followed since then. His most recent outing in the Sauber C31-Ferrari was at the Young Driver Days test in Abu Dhabi on 7th and 8th November.

Robin Frijns is going to be the Sauber F1 Team's new test and reserve driver. The 21-year old Dutchman also started his career in karting. In 2008 he entered single seater racing, improved constantly and went on to win the Formula BMW Europe title in 2010 by taking six race wins.

One year later he took the title in the Formula Renault Eurocup before going on to win the title in the highly competitive Formula Renault 3.5 Series in 2012.

Robin Frijns. (Photo: Sauber F1 Team)

Marcus Ericsson set the best performance in the first day of GP2 collective testing in Jerez, Spain.

Ericsson, who ranked 8th in the GP2 championship this season, set the best lap time Thursday, with a lap in 1m26''717 during the afternoon session. Felipe Nasr was fastest of the morning session.

Marcus Ericsson, DAMS. (Photo: GP2 Series)

GP3 series' champion Mitch Evans drove a Team Arden car and took 7th position on Thursday morning. Formula 3 Euroseries champion Daniel Juncadella made his GP2 debuts with team Rapax.

The collective tests will resume Friday.

Jerez - Thursday morning:
1 - Felipe Nasr - Carlin - 1'26"810
2 - Stephane Richelmi - Trident - 1'26"898
3 - Stefano Coletti - Rapax - 1'26"926
4 - Marcus Ericsson - Dams - 1'26"934
5 - Johnny Cecotto - Carlin - 1'27"110
etc.

Jerez - Thursday afternoon:
1 - Marcus Ericsson - Dams - 1'26"717
2 - Alexander Sims - Addax - 1'26"883
3 - Kevin Giovesi - Lazarus - 1'27"043
4 - Adrian Quaife Hobbs - Arden - 1'27"059
5 - Stephane Richelmi - Trident - 1'27"111
etc.

In the realm of the sub-compact, the Honda Fit will always be a queen for me. Its decent resale value, unbeatable Honda engine and its "go-anywhere" good looks are all qualities I associate with the brand. With stingy gas consumption and well-sorted mechanicals that make it a pleasure to drive, the Fit LX does, indeed, boast many assets. That being said, it will still leave some fans of the latest hi-tech gadgetry feeling somewhat dissatisfied.


Small pleasures
The lively little 1.5L engine produces 117 HP and 106 lb-ft of torque. That may sound modest, but makes perfect sense as the driving force of this sub-compact, mainly meant for city driving. Although the VTEC system's work is discreet and is only felt when the engine exceeds 6,000 rpm, aficionados will certainly appreciate the extra kick, again, something appropriate to the brand.

The 5-speed manual transmission is fantastic with great response and excellent engagement. It makes driving a joy. As for the stickshift, I've experienced smoother shifting on earlier Honda models. Still, although you can't change gears with your little finger, it's in line with the current market, and remains flexible and easy to use.

I got an awesome fuel economy of 5.8 L/100km. But I have to say that this was in summer and with not much use of the A/C. Nevertheless, vehicles in this same category list consumption rates that generally fall somewhere between 6.5 to 7.5 L/100km.

This little beast's suspension stays true to the manufacturer's mantra, namely, very clinical. Mind you, we're not talking Honda Accord level luxury and sweetness, but the ride is pleasant nonetheless. The suspension is giving, without being too soft, and hunkers down, as well as it is able to, when cornering; the Fit doesn't pretend to be a sports car. The electric rack and pinion raises no problem and steering is honest and straight.

The lively little 1.5L engine produces 117 HP and 106 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Marie-Andrée Ayotte)

A beauty, both inside and out
This is a small car - nothing surprising in the world of sub-compacts. Unlike the Toyota Yaris, interior sound damping is good. At least you don't imagine yourself inside a rattling cookie tin as you barrel along.

Better yet, there's plenty of room! With a high roofline and lots of headroom, seating is generous and comfortable. Excellent legroom came as a pleasant surprise to both front and backseat passengers. I remember a much tighter squeeze in a Chevrolet Sonic and I'm only 5'3".

There's nothing complicated about the Fit's cabin. Seats are neither heated, nor electric. And the steering wheel is not heated either (unlike that of the Kia Rio SX). Steering wheel buttons have been reduced and no 25 wiper functions, as in the Ford Fiesta. Controls in the Fit are simple and uncluttered...all part of an attractive cabin that includes a 3-spoke steering wheel with matte metallic finish reminiscent of the one found in the Honda Civic SiR.

As for storage place, you'll love it: the rear seats fold away for a flat floor configuration. For me, that means no more tearing my hair out finding space for boxes, grocery bags or stashing equipment from the local hardware store.

I liked the excellent visibility, thanks to the enormous windscreen. Plus, the "A" pillar windows let in a lot of light and give great all-round sightlines. Where you get a little lost is getting a good view out the rear window - a common problem in many hatchback models.

At Honda, user-friendliness is on top of the list: the back seat headrests can be lowered all the way down, becoming perfectly integrated, flat with the seat tops, providing a much better view out the back. That's a step ahead of Ford whose headrests sprout like mushrooms in the Fiesta!

Better yet, there's plenty of room! With a high roofline and lots of headroom, seating is generous and comfortable. (Photo: Marie-Andrée Ayotte)

It's time for long-term thinking
You'll find the 2012 Honda Fit LX manual offered at $16,980. That may seem less expensive than competitors who also offer heaps of options, including a sunroof, keyless entry, heated seats or sound systems to rock your socks off. But it's simply not the case.

Here's what the 2012 Honda Fit LX's competition goes for: the Ford Fiesta SE at $15,999, the Hyundai Accent GL for $15,599 $ and finally, the Toyota Yaris at $15,990.

But keep in mind that the Honda Fit's resale value is superior to that of the Hyundai Accent and the Toyota Yaris.

This 2012 Honda Fit LX review was originally published on Auto-Venus.com.

From GMM

Red Bull chose not to use a new specification of alternator last weekend in Austin, it has emerged.

Engine supplier Renault's Magneti Marelli units have been troublesome in 2012, and Red Bull team figures were scathing last weekend when Mark Webber had to retire from the US grand prix.

At the Circuit of the Americas, designer Adrian Newey referred to the alternator as a "ticking time bomb".

"It has been on the Renault engine since about 2005 and it has been failing since 2005 as well," he said.

Photo: WRi2

But as far as Renault is concerned, the solution for the crucial season finale in Brazil this weekend was simple.

"We go for the new spec," said the French marque's F1 track boss Remi Taffin. "It has passed all the tests."

Indeed, it had already passed those tests prior to Austin, when other Renault-powered teams on the grid began to use the new, improved alternator.

But why didn't Red Bull choose to fit the new units in Austin?

"Because they are human beings and at some point as humans they have some feelings," Taffin is quoted by Australia's Sydney Morning Herald.

"Sometimes you go into a shop and there are two different things and your head says you should buy this one but your heart says you should buy the other one," he explained.

Rookie driver Stoffel Vandoorne was quickest in the third day of Formula Renault 3.5 collective test at Alcaniz, Spain.

After Kevin Magnussen emerged fastest Wednesday and Thursday, Stoffel Vandoorne, from Belgium set the best performance on Friday. He set the best time in both session.

This season, Vandoorne contested the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup.

Stoffel Vandoorne, DAMS. (Photo: Renault)

Carlos Sainz Jr, Norman Nato and Marco Sorensen were the other top drivers of the day.

Friday morning:
1 - Stoffel Vandoorne - Fortec - 1'39"362
2 - Carlos Sainz - Dams - 1'39"432
3 - Norman Nato - Dams - 1'39"588
4 - Daniil Kvyat - Fortec - 1'39"637
5 - Marco Sorensen - Lotus - 1'39"780
etc.

Friday afternoon:
1 - Stoffel Vandoorne - Fortec - 1'39"085
2 - Carlos Sainz - Dams - 1'39"446
3 - Nico Muller - Draco - 1'39"547
4 - Marco Sorensen - Lotus - 1'39"592
5 - Norman Nato - Dams - 1'39"773
etc.

On Friday, Lewis Hamilton of the McLaren-Mercedes team set the best time on both free practice sessions of the Grand Prix of Brazil in Sao Paulo.

Hamilton, who will contest his final Grand Prix for McLaren on Sunday, set the fastest time in the morning practice session. The Briton set the best time in 1m14.131 with the MP4-27 fitted with a set of 2013 Pirelli prototype tires.

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren (Photo: WRI2)

Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull Racing was second-fastest on a set of the current hard tires, just 0.009 second down to Hamilton.

Vettel's teammate, Mark Webber, was third quickest, also on a set of hard tires. Jenson Button was fourth, followed by Vettel's championship rival, Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, Felipe Massa (Ferrari) and Romain Grosjean (Lotus).

It got hotter during the afternoon session as the air temperature reached 33 degrees.

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull (Photo: WRI2)

Hamilton was quick out of the box, but Massa and then Vettel went even faster.

Grosjean was the first driver to run on medium tires, and he set the best time.

Hamilton retook first place before he began a series of long runs, as did most other drivers. We saw several drivers locking up the wheel under braking.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari (Photo: WRI2)

Hamilton was slightly quicker than Vettel and Alonso during the long runs.

The McLaren driver classified first again in front of Vettel, Webber, Massa, Alonso, and Michael Schumacher (Mercedes AMG), contesting the very last Grand Prix in his career.

Grand Prix of Brazil, Sao Paulo, Friday's first practice session*:
1 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'14"131 - 33 laps
2 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'14"140 - 35
3 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'14"198 - 34
4 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'14"217 - 31
5 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1'14"392 - 28
6 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1'14"716 - 29
7 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'14"719 - 33
8 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'14"738 - 34
9 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'15"015 - 37
10 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'15"050 - 32
11 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'15"114 - 36
12 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'15"255 - 31
13 - Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'15"396 - 32
14 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'15"413 - 23
15 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'15"587 - 35
16 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'15"701 - 16
17 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'16"048 - 35
18 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'16"315 - 36
19 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'16"460 - 32
20 - Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'16"506 - 31
21 - Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'16"617 - 30
22 - Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'17"234 - 26
23 - Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'17"678 - 15
24 - Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'17"895 - 13

Grand Prix of Brazil, Sao Paulo, Friday's second practice session*:
1 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'14"026 - 35 laps
2 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'14"300 - 40
3 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'14"523 - 37
4 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1'14"553 - 37
5 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1'14"592 - 37
6 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'14"654 - 36
7 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'14"669 - 40
8 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'14"883 - 40
9 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'14"994 - 37
10 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'15"129 - 39
11 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'15"131 - 40
12 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'15"371 - 39
13 - Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'15"432 - 45
14 - Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'15"542 - 35
15 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'15"839 - 43
16 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'15"902 - 39
17 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'15"953 - 47
18 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'16"048 - 40
19 - Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'16"126 - 39
20 - Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'16"665 - 42
21 - Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'17"244 - 15
22 - Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'17"675 - 42
23 - Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'18"127 - 31
24 - Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'18"139 - 15

*Unofficial timing

BMW released a video that shows how you can create postcards using a BMW M6 coupe as a printing press. Seriously.

A trunk-mounted, pressurized ink system sprays the rear tires. All the driver has to do is to roll over pieces of paper that are placed in straight lines, and voilà!

These one-of-a-kind postcards will be cut and sent to BMW M6 fans around the world.

From GMM

Ron Dennis did not attend a farewell party for Lewis Hamilton last week in Austin, and he will not be in Brazil for his former protege's last race for McLaren.

The news adds to the perception that Briton Hamilton - who was nurtured through his formative years by the McLaren supremo and brought into F1 in 2007 - has fallen out badly with Dennis over the 27-year-old's Mercedes switch.

Referring to a farewell party in Austin last weekend, Daily Mail journalist Jonathan McEvoy wrote: "Dennis instead chose to attend what a team spokesman described as 'an important cocktail reception hosted by Exxon Mobil executives at which he was guest of honour'."

But after Hamilton won the US grand prix, Dennis refused to wear McLaren's customary 'rocket-red' victory t-shirt.

And the 65-year-old "has decided not to travel to Sao Paulo for Hamilton's farewell race", McEvoy revealed.

Team McLaren, except Ron Dennis, celebrating Hamilton's victory at Austin. (Photo: WRi2)

Ron Dennis said in Austin last week: "Obviously the media thinks there's some issue between Lewis and I -- there's absolutely no issue between us.

"Sometimes the circumstances in a relationship don't balance, don't match," he told the British broadcaster Sky.

But there are rumours Hamilton and Dennis fell out very badly over the negotiations for a new driving contract for 2013 and beyond.

"I do know what has happened," an unnamed 'senior figure' told the Daily Mail. "Everyone makes mistakes and Ron made a mistake. Everything went pear-shaped and I don't think it would be fair to say any more than that."

A McLaren spokesman responded: "Ron and Lewis plan to get together socially in the near future, as they've both said a number of times recently."

During a special demo at the Big Science Summit in California, a team from the Center for Automotive Research at Stanford (CARS) pitted its autonomous Audi TTS against a professional driver.

The latter won the race, but only a few seconds ahead of the driver-less car, proving the extraordinary advancements of the technology.

Fear not, autonomous cars won't replace race car drivers anytime soon. They're just further demonstrating how capable and safe they can be in real-world settings.

Toyota Canada announced a safety recall on approximately 9,000 Tacoma pickup trucks from the 2001 to 2004 model years.

During manufacture, the spare tire carrier lift plate underneath the rear bed may not have received adequate rust protection. The lack of phosphate coating combined with prolonged exposure to high road salt use and other environmental factors may contribute to the development of more than normal corrosion of the lift plate on some vehicles.

Over time, and in limited cases, a rusty lift plate could break and result in detachment of the spare tire from the vehicle.

Affected owners will receive a notification letter by mail starting next month. Any authorized Toyota dealer will inspect the spare tire carrier lift plate and provide a remedy if necessary, all at no charge.

Starting at $26,100, the 2013 Toyota Prius comes standard with seven airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system and Toyota's Star Safety system.

Three options packages are available:

Panoramic Roof Package ($29,350): solar panels, navigation, XM satellite radio and more;

Touring Package ($29,655): auto-levelling LED headlights, 17'' alloy wheels, navigation, XM satellite radio and more;

Technology Package ($34,185): dynamic cruise control, pre-collision warning, navigation, JBL premium audio and more.

The 2013 Toyota Prius is now on sale across the country.

Photo: Toyota

BMW expects to sell one million cars in China by the end of 2014. Is it too ambitious? Not exactly.

"It is realistic unless the market deteriorates. If conditions remain as they are, then yes, it is a fair estimate," a Germany-based spokeswoman said, referring to the comments of Duan Jianjun, deputy sales chief at BMW's JV with Brilliance China Automotive.

The luxury car market in China has slowed after years of rapid growth. Yet last month, BMW's Chinese sales jumped 52% to 27,828 units.

By comparison, BMW Canada sold 31,703 cars... in all of 2010.

Source: Automotive News

Richard Petty Motorsports confirmed its current drivers, Marcos Ambrose and Aric Almirola, have re-signed for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.

Almirola, driving the No. 43 Ford continued a late-season charge by starting fifth and finishing seventh in the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway last Sunday. And he would have finished higher if he hadn't run out of fuel on the final lap.

Next year, Ambrose will enter his third season driving for the organization. He will again be behind the wheel of the No. 9 Ford with partners Stanley and Dewalt.

The two RPM drivers, Aric Almirola and Marcos Ambrose. (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)

Almirola will begin his second season as the driver of the No. 43 Ford with primary support from partner Smithfield Foods and its family of brands, Smithfield, Eckrich, Farmland and Gwaltney. In addition, long-time Petty sponsor, STP, will also continue as a primary partner of the No. 43.

RPM previously announced its continuing relationship with Ford Racing and the addition of crew chief Drew Blickensderfer. Also confirmed earlier this season, RPM will continue to field the No. 43 Pilot/Flying J Ford in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with driver Michael Annett.

All-Wheel Drive Cars

All the AWD on sale now. No trucks, SUVS, or crossovers allowed.

With the winter months approaching, many Americans are looking for the safety and stability provided by all-wheel drive. Sending power to all four wheels can help a vehicle gain traction in all weather conditions. Luckily for all-wheel drive shoppers, there are many options to choose from without venturing into the realm of high-riding trucks and SUVs. Although the advantages of four driven wheels are obvious in slippery road conditions, the technology usually comes at a cost - both upfront and at the pump. We've indicated the extra cost of the all-wheel-drive option, or the cost differential compared with the equivalent two-wheel-drive model, as well as its EPA gas mileage ratings, and the fuel economy penalty versus the two-wheel-drive version of the same car for every vehicle on our list.

Photo Gallery: All-Wheel Drive Cars - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: All-Wheel Drive Cars - Automobile Magazine

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2013 Nissan GT-R Black Edition

Although the GT-R might appear to be unchanged since its launch in 2009, a lot has been going on behind the scenes.

Although the GT-R might appear to be unchanged since its launch in 2009, a lot has been going on behind the scenes. In 2010, it gained five horsepower, a revised launch control system, and an updated navigation system. For 2011, Nissan tweaked the suspension tuning, and added conveniences like automatic wipers and a USB audio input. Bigger changes came in 2012, when the GT-R gained a new front fascia (dig those de rigeur LED running lamps!), another 45 horsepower, new dampers and revised suspension geometry, and a new top-spec Black Edition model. Alas, Nissan still wasn't done. The 2013 GT-R is almost identical to last year's model, save for the fact the twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6's output has been cranked up another 15 hp to 545 hp.

Photo Gallery: 2013 Nissan GT-R Black Edition - Editor's Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2013 Nissan GT-R Black Edition - Editor's Notebook - Automobile Magazine

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Videos 22 Nov, 2012

Hyundai has created a Need For Speed-style race using the new Veloster Turbo... and some Lego

VW Group's supervisory board is expected to increase planned investment in new vehicles and factories as it looks beyond a European slump to its long-term goal of being the world's largest carmaker by 2018.

Volkswagen's supervisory board is expected to increase planned investment in new vehicles and factories as it looks beyond a European slump to its long-term goal of being the world's largest carmaker.

VW Group's supervisory board is expected to increase planned investment in new vehicles and factories as it looks beyond a European slump to its long-term goal of being the world's largest carmaker by 2018.