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Renault is to create 1,300 new jobs at its Spanish plants with two new vehicle platforms, one a derivative of the other, and shared with Nissan.

Toyota will launch two China-only brands through its two Chinese joint ventures starting next year, a senior executive said on Thursday.

Toyota will launch two China-only brands through its two Chinese joint ventures starting next year, a senior executive said on Thursday.

Toyota Motor Corp. will launch two China-only brands through its two Chinese joint ventures starting next year, a senior executive said on Thursday.

Nissan plans output of its first electric car under its China-only Venucia brand by 2015, a company executive said on Thursday.

Renault plans to create 1,300 jobs in recession-hit Spain under a scheme to boost production at its local plants and after a deal with unions, the French carmaker said.

Head-up displays are getting a fresh look as safety-alert devices. Suppliers such as Denso, Nippon Seiki, Continental and Delphi Automotive are developing head-up displays that project larger, brighter and more detailed images onto the windshield.

Automakers and suppliers are finding big opportunities in North Africa, where new-car sales are forecast to rise more than 40 percent by 2016 and where low labor costs make producing vehicles and parts cheaper than in western Europe and even parts...

Despite all the hoopla over electric cars and fuel cells, gasoline-powered vehicles will be the key powertrain for automakers that must meet the European Union's tough emission standards.

Japan's automakers are gearing up for the biggest wave of North American production expansion in a decade.

The French government's influence over PSA should remain limited despite Paris getting a spot on the automaker's top-level board. PSA provided the board seat in exchange for a 7 billion euro loan from the government to bail out its car-loans arm.

Chrysler is emerging as a leader in touch screens by letting Ford and GM jump ahead and stumble.

Most race fans are fully aware of Michael Schumacher's stunning records in Formula 1. However, we found this excellent video which illustrates Schumacher's early beginnings in Formula 3, especially as a member of the Sauber-Mercedes Sport Prototype team.

Michael Schumacher, Sauber-Mercedes C 291 Groupe C. (Photo: WRi2)

As we celebrate his last F1 Grand Prix this weekend in Brazil, let's remember the young Michael Schumacher who raced karts, Formula Konigs, Formula Fords and F3s before he was drafted by Mercedes-Benz Junior Team to compete in world endurance racing.

Michael Schumacher, Reynard 893 VW. (Photo: WRi2)

In 1990 and 1991, Schumacher drove the mighty Sauber C11 -- a monstruous Group C car powered by a 5.0L biturbocharged Mercedes V8.

We are now rapidly approaching the end of 2012 -- the year that marks the 30th anniversary of the tragic loss of Canadian Formula 1 driver Gilles Villeneuve when qualifying for the Belgium Grand Prix on May 8, 1982.

The director of the Imola circuit, Enzo Ferrari, Gilles Villeneuve and Roberto Nosetto. (Photo: Archives Nestore Morosini)

Here is a second set of rarely seen photos of his brilliant Formula 1 career, driving for the prestigious Scuderia Ferrari.

Click here to see Part 1.

Villeneuve testing the 126C2 at Fiorano with Didier Pironi looking on. (Photo: Ferrari)

Shakedown of the 126C2 at Fiorano with Villeneuve in the centre. (Photo: Ferrari)

More tests at Fiorano before the start of the 1982 season. (Photo: Ferrari)

Ferrari 312T4 of 1979. (Photo: Ferrari)

Gilles Villeneuve in the 312T4 during the French Grand Prix. (Photo: Jean-Claude Loustau)

Gilles Villeneuve, 1979, French Grand Prix (Photo: Jean-Claude Loustau)

Gilles Villeneuve, Ferrari 126CK, 1981 Canadian Grand Prix (Photo: René Fagnan)

Gilles Villeneuve piloting Walter Wolf's helicopter. (Photo: Lucie St-Jacques)

Gilles with René Arnoux (Photo: WRI2)

Veteran NASCAR Sprint Cup Driver, Jeff Burton, had successful, minor wrist surgery Tuesday afternoon to alleviate symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome according to a statement by Richard Childress Racing.

"After feeling some reoccurring symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, my physician and I decided routine surgery would be best for this situation," said Burton, who returned home soon after the outpatient procedure.

"There is no such thing as an offseason in this sport so I wanted to get it done as soon as possible to be ready for my Caterpillar Visitors Center appearance with Richard (Childress) early next month. Plus, we have many test sessions planned in December with the No. 31 Chevrolet team in preparation for the 2013 season with my new crew chief Luke Lambert. I will be ready to go."

Jeff Burton, Richard Childress Racing. (Photo: NASCAR)

RCR and Burton will bring their 2013 Chevrolet SS Sprint Cup car to their sponsor's visitor center in Peoria, Ill, on December 5th, to offer a preview of next year's new look or Gen 6 racer.

Next year will be Burton's 20th fulltime season in NASCAR's premier division. The Virginia native has scored 21 wins, 132 top-five finishes, 248 top-10 finishes, six pole awards and led 6,513 laps during his career. Burton finished 19th in the 2012 Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings with two top-five and six top-10 finishes. The RCR veteran driver qualified for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup from 2006-2008 and in 2010 with 14-time NASCAR championship winning car owner Richard Childress.

Gone are the days of smiling front fascias and jolly exteriors. As the 2013 model was rolled out in Australia in early October, Mazda has taken on a more serious, aggressive look that's got the public paying attention to their KODO-styled CX-9.


As the first major design update since its North American launch in 2007, the 2013 Mazda CX-9's new exterior look is both refreshing and eye-catching. With a more assertive front end featuring Mazda Motor Corporation's new pentagonal grille -- also seen on the latest iteration of the Mazda6 -- as well as a much sportier overall look, the 2013 CX-9 is set to turn heads again.

While the outside of the 2013 Mazda CX-9 has changed, the engine will remain the same as the outgoing model's: a 3.7L V6 coupled with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Inside, the updated 2013 Mazda CX-9 will see an upgrade in refinement and quality in terms of fit and finish. As far as technology is concerned the infotainment will feature Mazda's intuitive Human Machine Interface (HMI) controlling the latest navigation and audio voice-recognition system. Along with onboard entertainment, the 2013 Mazda CX-9 will also feature a bevy of advanced safety systems such as Lane Depature Warning, High Beam Control System, and a Forward Obstruction Warning System.

Overall, the upgrades on the new 2013 Mazda CX-9 are more cosmetic than anything else. However, that's not necessarily a bad thing. The sporty crossover was in need of a new look, and Mazda complied.

North American availability and pricing has not yet been announced.

The 2013 Mazda CX-9's new exterior look is both refreshing and eye-catching. (Photo: Mazda)

From press release

The Coca-Cola Company will return to Formula 1 in January 2013 through its global energy brand “burn” in a multi-year sponsorship of Lotus F1 Team.

Details of the sponsorship will be revealed in 2013 when the partnership officially launches.

Burn is available in more than 80 countries throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.

“We are proud that The Coca-Cola Company has chosen Lotus F1 Team as the best vehicle to represent the burn brand in its most high profile partnership,” said Eric Boullier, Team Principal, Lotus F1 Team.

“We are excited to partner with burn to build a new and innovative model for sponsorships that will combine experiences, content creation and social media ; an area in which our team has been at the cutting edge in Formula 1 for the past 18 months, recording the highest growth rate amongst fans this year."

More details about the deal will come later.

On its official web site, McLaren mentions that it has beaten the Scuderia Ferrari for the highest number of victories in Formula 1.

The British team began to race in F1 at Monaco in 1966. When Lewis Hamilton won the US Grand Prix last Sunday, he gave McLaren its 181st victory, becoming the most successful team in 46 years in the category.

Bruce McLaren, Mclaren M2B-Ford V8, Monaco 1966. (Photo: WRi2)

The web site says: "As of last weekend's victory at the USA Grand Prix in Austin, McLaren have now won more Grands Prix than any other Constructor since the team first appeared in Formula 1 at Monaco, 1966.

"McLaren now leads Ferrari 181-180 in the post-Monaco 1966 period in which both teams have been competing."

Emerson Fittipaldi, McLaren M23 Ford-Cosworth, France 1975. (Photo: WRi2)

Ferrari has raced continuously in F1 since 1950. The Italian team has contested 850 Grands Prix and has collected a total of 219 wins.

Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, McLaren MP4/4, Monaco 1988. (Photo: WRi2)

Mika Hakkinen, McLaren MP4/13, Germany 1998. (Photo: WRi2)

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren MP4-27, USA 2012. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Valtteri Bottas insists securing a contract to race a Williams in 2013 would not change his life.

The young Finn, who this year has been testing on Fridays for the famous British team, is waiting to know if he will debut as expected alongside Pastor Maldonado next year.

"I don't think it would change anything," Bottas told Finland's Turun Sanomat, when asked how a race contract would change his life.

"I would race just as I have done in other classes. Of course, I would then be racing against the very best in the world's fastest cars, but on the other hand, nothing else changes," he insisted.

Valtteri Bottas and Toto Wolff, Williams director and manager of the young driver. (Photo: WRi2)

"This year has been good in the sense that I know now what to expect through a season. I've been all over the place. Of course, it takes more energy to do more driving, and perhaps even more media work as well as more with the sponsors even in the breaks."

As for his likely 2013 teammate, Bottas said he has a "good relationship" with Venezuelan Maldonado, and thinks the pair would enjoy a competitive 2013 car.

"The rules are staying the same and so I think the balance of power will be pretty much the same as now," he said.

"Some though will make small improvements. At Williams we have been developing the car for a long time and we believe that it will certainly be better than this year."

Sia Ka Tian, a 70-year-old taxi driver in Singapore, recently made a shocking discovery after dropping off some customers: A plastic bag filled with dollar bills had been left on the back seat.

Tian initially estimated the loot at more than $200,000 SGD. However, back at the central, the department of lost items announced that the bag actually contained $1.1 million SGD, the equivalent of about $900,000 CAD!

Incredibly, Tian returned all the money to its rightful owners, a couple from Thailand. ''I don't care about the money; it doesn't belong to me. What would I do with it?'' he reportedly told The Straits Times.

Tian ended up getting a monetary reward from the couple for his good deed.

A similar story happened in 2009, with a Singapore cab driver returning $377,000 SGD worth of ingots to their owners.

Sources: Lapresse