Auto News 5

Using the data contained in the “Black Book Formula One,” we guesstimated the money Caterham will receive this winter in preparation for the 2013 season.

“Black Book Formula One” is a 300-page softbound book published in the UK by SportsPro Media Ltd.

Big battle this season between Caterham and Marussia for the 10th place in the constructor's championship. (Photo: Charles Coates/LAT Photographic)

However, can we rely on the figures it contains? During a dinner held during the week of a previous Canadian GP, I sat beside the account manager of a top Formula 1 team who told me: “Well... For people who do not have access to the contracts and the legal documents, I have to admit that their numbers are pretty close to reality...”

The 2010 edition of the Black Book disclose the approximate money each team receives, based on the 2009 constructor's championship. Only the top 10 teams receive payments.

1: Mercedes GP (from Brawn): $52M
2: Red Bull Racing: $48M
3: McLaren: $46M
4: Ferrari: $45M
(5: Toyota, but withdrew from the sport at the end of the 2009 season)
6: Sauber: $38M
7: Williams: $38M
8: Renault: $37M
9: Force India: $35M
10: Toro Rosso: $33M

This year, there was a huge battle between Caterham and Marussia for the 10th place in the constructor's championship. In the end, Tony Fernandes' Caterham clinched that magical 10th place when Vitaly Petrov crossed the line in 11th place at the end of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Cyril Abitboul, Caterham Team boss, happy with the 11th place of Vitaly Petrov after the Brazilian Grand Prix. (Photo: Charles Coates/LAT Photographic)

Best placings per team:
Caterham, Vitaly Petrov: 11th place in Brazil
Marussia, Charles Pic: 12th place in Brazil
Marussia, Timo Glock: 12th place in Singapore
Caterham, Heikki Kovalainen: 13th place in Monaco and Abu Dhabi
HRT, Narain Karthikeyan: 15th place in Monaco
HRT, Pedro de la Rosa: 17th place in Valencia, Singapore, Abu Dhabi and Brazil

So, according to the figures published in the Black Book, we can assume that Caterham should receive at least $30M in bonus from the holder of the commercial rights, in addition to the money they get from their sponsorship contacts.

From GMM

Reports that Michael Schumacher has signed up as Mercedes' F1 test driver for 2013 are wrong.

The reports were sparked when the retiring seven time world champion was quoted in English-language reports as saying: "I have signed a contract and will be active as a test driver".

In fact, the 43-year-old's interview was with Stern, the German weekly newsmagazine.

And he clarified to the Germany daily Bild that he will be a test driver in 2013 -- for the Italian kart chassis maker Tony Kart.

He explained: "I like karting. It's always been a big thing for me."

Michael Schumacher, Tony Kart. (Photos: Angelo Scaroni/South Garda Karting)

Indeed, Michael Schumacher told Stern that he is looking forward to "not thinking so much about F1" in 2013 and beyond.

One of his new passions is skydiving. "I'm still a beginner, but I am looking forward to not always having to be thinking of F1."

After teasing fans with a short video a few days ago, the Japanese automaker today unveiled the all-new, fourth-generation 2013 Toyota RAV4 at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Available in three trim levels (LE, XLE and Limited), the fully redesigned RAV4 offers bold new styling and a single powertrain option: a 2.5L four-cylinder engine rated at 176 horsepower. The V6 is no more.

The base model gets 17'' steel wheels, while the XLE stands out with 17'' alloy wheels. The top-of-the-line Limited model proudly rides on a set of 18s.

The interior of the 2013 Toyota RAV4 is all new as well. Highlights include soft-touch accents, driver-centric controls, and class-leading 73.4 cu. ft. of cargo room with the rear seats folded. In Limited trim, buyers can specify a Blind Spot Monitor system with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Pricing has yet to be announced for the 2013 Toyota RAV4, which will go on sale early next year.

Photo: Toyota

From GMM

Ferrari on Friday said the controversy about Sebastian Vettel's alleged illegal overtaking move is "now closed".

The Italian team had contemplating protesting the result of the championship-deciding Brazilian grand prix, after video footage purportedly showed Red Bull's German driver passing a Toro Rosso under yellow flags.

Ferrari sent the FIA a letter requesting "clarification".

"The federation ... informs it has replied to Scuderia Ferrari... stating that as the overtaking manoeuvre was not in breach of the regulations ... there was no infringement to investigate".

Ferrari said in a statement on Friday: "Ferrari duly takes note of the reply sent by the FIA this morning and therefore considers the matter now closed."

Red Bull responded: "We are pleased, but not surprised, that the FIA has confirmed there is no case to answer regarding the 2012 Brazilian grand prix."

Triple world champion Sebastian Vettel. (Photo: WRi2)

I love window-shopping for used cars. Many of us at the office actually scrupulously enjoy sifting through online classified ads for cool, older cars like the Acura Integra, Volkswagen GTI, Dodge Omni GLH or Saab 9-3 Viggen.

What I enjoy the most is clicking from one picture to another trying to pick out clues that the car has been repainted or even involved in an accident.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

Some are very obvious. The best examples or clues that a car's been resprayed, at least in part, are when fender and door colors do not match. It is most obvious when the car is a light shade such as silver or beige. I can't tell how often I've pointed out that an “original paint” silver Acura Integra was nothing less than 50 shades of grey, and not silver. Just look for shadows.

Obviously, a hood with a red underbelly while the remainder of the car is silver tells its own tale...

Another clue is fender gaps. If they're not even then the car's been hit, period. Nobody replaces a door for fun; the gap is uneven because the door or pillar has moved. Same goes for bumper-fender, trunk-lid and quarter-panel gaps. Cars built in the last 20 to 25 years were generally well aligned out of the box.

A further clue is overspray. Some body shops are especially lazy when it comes to fixing smashed cars. All that needs to be done is to open doors, hoods, boot lids and fuel-filler doors to closely inspect rubber seals and also look for paint ridges around the seals or paint flakes that should not be present.

Occasionally, the real slobs don't even bother covering up the back box or the struts when painting. If they show signs of overspray, say thanks but no thanks.

About hits: Consider carefully checking out door hinges and latches. If there are signs of rubbing or scratches, the door is misaligned which is often a sign of some kind of impact. Same goes for a hood latch that requires an enormous amount of top pressure to catch. Again, unless damaged or thoroughly rusted, these latches should not be so bad.

Another trick is lifting the trunk's carpeting. Most modern cars are lined with some form of insulation to prevent road noise. If this material is severely cracked or the floor is buckled, this car was once rear-ended. Also inspect the cardboard or plastic insert that sits atop the spare tire. If it is bent or cracked, same thing.

Looking under the hood can be very revealing, however, one needs to know what they are looking for. Essentially, harsh kinks, unusual bends and folds are typically not found under the bonnet of an accident-free car.

Another fun clue is license plate numbers. In most provinces, plates are issued in sequence. With a little time, one can get a clue as to when a plate was issued. This typically helps when a seller uses the old, “I've owned this for years, and have babied it from the beginning” line and you can tell that the plate is barely a few months old.

There are a number of other things to look for; however, nothing replaces a thorough inspection performed by a professional. Check out our Used Car Buying Guide for more details.

From GMM

As the candidates clamour for his seat, Romain Grosjean has acknowledged that formula one is a "world without pity".

"Yes," he confirmed to the Swiss daily Le Matin. "But that's normal for the top level. It's also the case with banking and watchmaking. There is no room for mercy. Seats in F1 are scarce; there are no presents."

The interview with the 26-year-old took place amid reports he might lose his Lotus seat after his often impressive but equally tumultuous return to F1 in 2012.

The reports suggest Kamui Kobayashi and Heikki Kovalainen are being considered by the Enstone based team.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus. (Photo: WRi2)

Dropped by Sauber, Japanese Kobayashi's chances appear to have been boosted by his race seat donation website, which so far has raised EUR 775,000 to contribute to the budget of his 2013 employer.

The money will be returned to his fans if he fails to secure a seat.

"It has been a huge show of support after a campaign of only five days," Kobayashi told the AFP news agency.

Finn Kovalainen, on the other hand, appears to have acknowledged that his chances are slim not only of staying at Caterham but of finding a seat elsewhere.

"Outside of F1, there are not many things that interest me," Kovalainen is quoted by Russia's f1news.ru. "But sometimes I'm a little surprised that more F1 drivers haven't tried rallying. Let's see what happens next year. There is life outside of F1."

In the meantime, the Swiss-born Frenchman Grosjean also has his fingers crossed.

Asked what he has learned in 2012, he answered: "A lot. More than what I thought. The world of F1 is more difficult than I imagined. When I returned, I saw that there was a mountain to climb. And once I started to climb, I saw how high it really is."

The Dodge Grand Caravan is an undeniable choice for hauling the family around in utter comfort. However, the minivan's size and versatility also make it a worthy contender for helping your business' cargo carrying needs.

For professional duty, the Dodge Grand Caravan gets a name swap to Ram Cargo Van, and can be configured in many ways for a variety of purposes. Starting at $29,845, it's also an affordable solution for professionals on the go and competes with the Ford Transit Connect.


Great capability
The 2013 Ram Cargo Van is equipped with the company's widespread 3.6L Pentastar V6, which develops 283 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy is rated at 12.2/7.9 L/100km city/highway.

The muscular powertrain provides the Cargo Van with a towing capacity of 3,600 lbs (or 1,633 kg) when equipped with the Class II tow hitch. For the 2013 model year, a trailer-sway damping system was added. It can also carry up to 4,089 litres (or 144.4 cubic feet) of cargo, and loading is easy with the rear liftgate and sliding doors on each side of the vehicle. There are no rear seats available.

Sixteen-inch wheels and covers are standard, wrapped with commercial Yokohama Avid C33 tires. The 2013 Ram Cargo Van also features a heavier-duty suspension with load levelling, an engine oil cooler and a block heater.

Solid side panels are standard; you can, however, choose a liftgate window with a wiper/washer system, and replace the side panelling with rear-quarter and rear-door glass. A concealed storage space under the cargo-area load floor can also be added, as can a cargo divider.

Decent amount of features
The standard equipment list includes dual-zone climate control, an overhead console, cloth upholstery, front-door power windows, a telescopic steering column, remote keyless entry, and cruise control.

Just because it's a commercial vehicle doesn't mean the 2013 Ram Cargo Van can't be filled with comfort and convenience features. Uconnect 430 and 730 touchscreen infotainment systems with a USB port and navigation, Bluetooth phone and streaming audio connectivity, satellite radio, a rearview camera, a power driver's seat, rear power windows, an alarm system, and rear air conditioning are all available options.

The 2013 Ram Cargo Van is on sale now, with a choice of five colours: Billet Silver Metallic, Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl, Stone White, Redline Pearl, and True Blue Pearl.

Eight young drivers tested the Audi A5 DTM at the circuit of Monteblanco in Spain.

The German car constructor had invited the following young guns : British F3 driver Carlos Sainz Jr ; James Rossiter (who drove the Lotus LMP2 in World Endurance Championship this year) ; F3 Euroseries' driver Tom Blomqvist, and GP3 drivers Nico Müller and Will Buller.

Italian GT championship driver Andrea Sovinco was also present, together with GP3 and F2 driver Miki Monras, and Johan Kristoffersson who was crown both in Superstars series (the Italian supertouring car championship) and the Scandinavian touring car championship.

Photo: Audi Motorsport

As the latest expression of the brand's ''KODO - Soul of Motion'' design language, the hot new 2014 Mazda6 made a splash today at the Los Angeles Auto Show ahead of its arrival in North American showrooms early next year.

Offering six-speed manual and automatic transmissions, the 2014 Mazda6 comes with a new 2.5L SKYACTIV-G gasoline engine. A 2.2L SKYACTIV-D diesel engine will also be available at a later date, making Mazda the first Asian manufacturer to offer a modern clean-diesel engine in a non-commercial vehicle.

The 2014 Mazda6 also features the innovative i-ELOOP brake energy regeneration system.

Final specifications and fuel economy numbers for all trim levels will be revealed closer to the on-sale date, as will standard features, optional packages and pricing.

Photo: Mazda

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone has slammed as a "complete joke" Ferrari's efforts to question the outcome of the 2012 world championship.

The controversy erupted when video footage emerged - and was circulated widely by "Fernando Alonso's management" according to Sport Bild - of Sebastian Vettel purportedly overtaking illegally under yellow flag conditions at Interlagos.

Ferrari confirmed that it asked the governing body for "clarification", and spokesman Luca Colajanni insists the Maranello team has "until tomorrow (Friday) to file an appeal".

British newspapers quote F1 chief executive Ecclestone as blasting the affair "a complete joke".

"It was a super race, a super championship. Now everyone is talking about this," he said.

Ecclestone said the subsequent furore is a "joke" because of the "fact" that Vettel overtook only once he had passed a waving green flag.

"I don't think there needs to be any action taken. It's completely and utterly wrong," he added. "It's a very silly, bad thing for anyone to do to push this because there is nothing in it. Ferrari had a great season but this was a mistake."

And he told Germany's Der Spiegel: "Vettel will suffer no consequence and will remain the 2012 world champion."

Sebastian Vettel, triple world champion with Red Bull, 2010-2011-2012. (Photo: WRi2)

Indeed, FIA spokesman Norman Howell indicated that the Paris federation will now spell out the news to Ferrari in a formal letter of response.

"Now that Ferrari has sent us a letter asking for an explanation we will give it to them," he said.

F1 race director Charlie Whiting added: "We never had any doubt that Vettel's overtaking was compliant.

"There were conflicting flags and lights," he acknowledged to Germany's Sport Bild. "It was investigated during the race, with the result that there should be no punishment."

An FIA spokesman added: "Vettel's title is not in danger. A further investigation will not happen."

However, Bernie Ecclestone acknowledged that another route open to Ferrari is civil action.

"But the case is flawed before it starts," he told the Telegraph. "Nothing is going to happen."

But what has happened already is the criticism of Ferrari and Spaniard Alonso. Germany's Berliner Kurier accused them of being "sore losers".

And the Bild-Zeitung daily said the efforts to have Vettel's championship overturned are "Unfair. Un-ferrari".

Former Formula 1 and Le Mans racer, Finland's JJ Lehto has been freed over boat crash that killed one person in 2010.

Lehto and a friend were on a boat that crashed against a bridge support pillar in southern Finland back in 2010, killing the driver's friend.

Lehto has been released from all charges of drunk driving because the court of appeal in Turku on Friday said it was not clear whether Lehto or his friend had been driving the boat at the time of the accident.

The former teammate of Michael Schumacher at Benetton F1 was sentenced last year to two years and four months in prison by a district court, which said Lehto was drunk when driving the boat.

JJ Lehto appealed the sentence, stating he was sitting in the back of the boat when the impact happened.

China's government has approved a plan by Wanxiang Group, a major Chinese auto parts maker, to acquire bankrupt U.S. battery maker A123 Systems, although a deal still hinges on the outcome of an auction next month and U.S. government approval.

Hyundai's admission that it overstated fuel economy claims on several of its top-selling cars has the industry worried, with speculation rife among executives and analysts at the Los Angeles Auto Show that more automakers may have to do the same.

News 30 Nov, 2012

Our web reporter, Tom Phillips, on the arrival of ‘CleanDiesel’ in the US

Pictures 30 Nov, 2012

Episode five of Nissan GT Academy premieres at 11:30 p.m. Thursday night on Spike TV. If you missed

Pictures 29 Nov, 2012

News 29 Nov, 2012

Market to determine whether the new Toyota RAV4 gets a hybrid model

Pictures 29 Nov, 2012

and#8220;Holy one of one, Batman! They're selling your car at Barrett-Jackson!and#8221;