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From GMM

Still among F1's grandee teams, there are signs McLaren needs to up its game if it wants to win its first title since 2008 in the near future.

Indeed, the British team is losing its last champion, Lewis Hamilton, to Mercedes next year, leaving Jenson Button as the senior driver.

But Button said in Abu Dhabi: "Since I've been here, this has been the worst year. It's been tricky, even on good weekends.

"We've had a problem pretty much every weekend lately. We need to stop it. I don't get it," he added.

"I'm not happy with where it is at the moment. But hopefully next year will be perfect."

Lewis Hamilton was leading the race before his retirement. (Photo: WRi2)

On Sunday, pole sitter Hamilton's MP4-27 failed as he commandingly led in Abu Dhabi, but team boss Martin Whitmarsh blamed the problem on engine supplier Mercedes.

Hamilton, however, said there have also been "failures and issues with pitstops and so on".

"If my car was as reliable as Sebastian (Vettel)'s or Fernando (Alonso)'s I would be right up with them now," he insisted. "Maybe ahead, who knows."

The man who will replace Hamilton at McLaren next year is Sergio Perez, who according to Whitmarsh earned the seat due to his "giant killing" performances for Sauber this year.

But since the Mexican's 2013 deal was announced, 22-year-old Perez's form has slipped dramatically.

Sauber boss Monisha Kaltenborn played down the link between Perez's recent struggle for points and his impending team switch, describing it as a "coincidence".

"There's nothing we can reproach him for because he's trying his best to do something good for the team before he leaves," she is quoted by the Independent.

"But we definitely will talk to him."

Indeed, Whitmarsh admitted there is no guarantee Perez will thrive once he is thrust under the spotlight at McLaren.

"There have been drivers who have talent, can live with that pressure and deliver, and others that can't," he said.

"It would be foolish of me to sit here and say that in taking a very young driver there is not an element of risk."

Button agreed, saying: "Obviously it's very difficult to know what he (Perez) brings to the team, because he's not there yet.

"With Lewis leaving, obviously the team loses a very fast driver. It is a big loss but things change and you move on and adapt.

"I think Sergio will be fast but I really don't know," he added.

As we all know, hybrids are the “cool” trend in the car industry right now. From more powerful batteries to making them drive as close to a gas-powered vehicle as they can, hybrids are the “it” models; and Ford's decided to take on one of the founding fathers of the movement with their brand new C-MAX Hybrid.

Starting at just below $30k, the 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid is a viable option to the long-standing and already well known Toyota Prius: Yes, finally you have another fuel-efficient, planet-saving option.


It's all about the battery
As is the case with all hybrids, the battery is the most important element. An air-cooled 1.6 kWh lithium ion battery works together with a 2.0L Atkinson cycle I-4 gas engine to give the 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid a combined 188 horses. Coupled to Ford's electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (e-CVT), the Ford C-MAX is actually quite pleasant to drive and feels relatively peppy.

While driving it on the road with colleagues who were in other cars, it did tend to lag behind (despite my best efforts), but then that's the point of the 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid. Fuel efficiency is the name of the game here, and with an EPA in the 4.0L/100km range, that's already better than the Prius. With the ability to hit 100 km/h on battery alone, the Ford C-MAX isn't just a slow-moving hybrid. This vehicle is meant to function in everyday situations be that on the highway or on small city streets.

An air-cooled 1.6 kWh lithium ion battery works together with a 2.0L Atkinson cycle I-4 gas engine to give the 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid a combined 188 horses.(Photo: Michel Deslauriers)

More car than hybrid
Here's the thing: Hybrids and EVs are often so styled and so design-y that they're just a bit much. Looking at the 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid you'd be hard-pressed to guess its green origin until you noticed the “hybrid” badge on the side and back. And that's a good thing.

With dimensions close to that of the largest Prius family member, the v, the 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid is bred to be a family car for city dwellers. With roomy front seats and a good-size backseat as well, the Ford C-MAX seems practical enough. That is, until you sit in said backseat. In all my years testing vehicles, I have never sat in a backseat so uncomfortable: with barely any padding and a very upright seatback, the rear of the C-MAX is not where you want to be for any length of time.

However, as far as interior looks go, the 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid is a winner, especially when compared to other hybrids on the road today. Instead of fancy buttons and knobs and unconventional shift gears, the C-MAX sticks to tradition with a proper gear lever. The middle stack looks rather futuristic, but then so do most across Ford's current lineup. With SYNC and MyFord Touch available as well as a host of other tech gadgets such as Ford's SOS Post-Crash Alert System, Rain-Sensing Wipers and an 8” display screen.

As interior looks go, the 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid is a winner, especially when compared to other hybrids on the road today.(Photo: Michel Deslauriers)

A hybrid by any other name...
As you all know by now, I am not a fan of the way hybrids drive. Stunted and held back, hybrids are not driver's cars by any stretch of the imagination. And that's fine. I don't need to like it because I am not in the market to drive one. However, those in the market for a hybrid will most definitely enjoy the 2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid, this I can guarantee.

With a decent starting price, a design that appeals to at larger audience and an interior that's not so futuristic that it will go out of style in the coming six months, and a drive that's both decent and fuel-efficient, there's very little not to like. Some might call Ford brave for taking on the likes of the Prius clan; I think they're smart to do it because they are doing it the right way, with a viable product that could possibly dethrone the founding father of it all.

You Want Me to do What?
When I was asked to take a few teenage girls for an overnight camping trip as a youth group activity, my initial thought was: "Ahhh!" I love kids, but teenagers can be a handful, especially girls (I used to be one; a handful, that is) -- and they didn't all know each other. Then I thought that the combination of city girls roughin' it in the bush on an island might be a recipe for disaster.


Luckily, it was only for one night and I had heard they were all pretty great. So I accepted.

My next mission was to find appropriate transportation. I needed something with third-row seats, something that could accommodate backpacks/gear, something that was safe and something that would perform the task. The 2012 Honda Pilot came to mind. And with its refreshed looks, we'd be roughin' it in the bush in style. Oh yeah.

What's New?
For 2012 there are a few upgrades to Honda's popular-selling SUV. From the front, it sports a new fascia complete with a three-bar, chrome-style grille. You'll also find reconfigured multireflector halogen headlights and a new front air dam. Alloy wheels, 18" and with a six-spoke design, garner the exterior.

Inside, there's a more intuitive button setup on the centre stack. Thank goodness. I used to feel like I was swimming in a sea of buttons in previous Pilot models. It was almost like the car drove me! Now, there are still a few to pick from, but everything is nicely organized. They're grouped by function (i.e., climate, audio, navigation, etc.). It's a lot more user-friendly and didn't overwhelm me as it has in the past. Kudos to Honda for making a good SUV even better.

From the front, it sports a new fascia complete with a three-bar, chrome-style grille.(Photo: Alexandra Straud)

Pack Up and Pack In
Behind row three is 589 litres of trunk space. And yes, every single litre was put to good use. Backpacks, duffle bags, water bottles, anything a gal can load up went in the back and in various storage nooks throughout the cabin. Also, the third row has a 60/40 split so there can be passengers on one side and gear on the other.

And for the items that you really want hidden, or when you just need that extra little bit of room, the cargo area has a hidden storage well that gives an additional 79 litres of space. It can either be used alone or combined with the above floor capacity.

Other dimensions include 1,351 litres behind the second row and 2,464 litres of storage space behind the front seats.

Behind row three is 589 litres of trunk space.(Photo: Alexandra Straub)

Room for Eight
Included on all the Pilot models is a third row of seats which, in total, accommodates for eight people. Granted, behind the second row, legroom is on the sparse side for adults or taller individuals, kids seem to love it.

And when there was a carload of happy campers -- quite literally -- I couldn't ask for more.

Sing Louder
Now equipped on the Touring model is a 650-Watt AM/FM/CD Premium audio system with MP3/Windows Media Audio playback capability and 10 speakers, including subwoofer and 5.1 Surround Sound Theatre Mode. That's a mouthful to say, however, it sure sounds good when the musical stylings of One Direction's "You Don't Know You're Beautiful" is blaring with the girls singing even louder. I should have brought earplugs. Then again, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Not sure why I just admitted that, but the song is really cute. Don't judge me, please.

Back it Up
With an SUV jam packed to the ceiling with personal items, it's hard to get a clear view -- let alone any view -- of what's going on behind when backing up. However, thanks to the multiview rear camera, which comes with such settings as wide, normal and top-down view, it makes reversing into the campground stall a lot easier.

Power Talk
The combination of a 5-speed automatic transmission in the 2012 Honda Pilot with Grade Logic Control and a 3.5L V6 engine helped all of us arrive at our overnight destination promptly and smoothly. There's a total of 250 horsepower and 253 lb-ft of torque generated from its engine and it seemed sufficiently adequate for the type of daily driving that the Pilot can be used for. Additionally, the Variable Torque Management 4-wheel drive system (VTM-4) makes on- and off-the-beaten-path driving a lot easier.

The fully independent suspension in the 2012 Honda Pilot created confidence behind the wheel. Its stability is noteworthy, with or without a gaggle of gals inside. I also particularly like the ease at which the power-assisted, rack-and-pinion steering moved the vehicle.

With all the systems combined, Honda's estimated fuel economy results are 12.3L/100km in the city and 8.2L/100km on the highway.

There's a total of 250 horsepower and 253 lb-ft of torque generated from its engine and it seemed sufficiently adequate for the type of daily driving that the Pilot can be used for.(Photo: Alexandra Straub)

Safe and Sound
Honda's Pilot comes standard with their Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, which helps reduce the amount of crash energy through the passenger compartment. Among a host of other safety features keeping your loved ones safe are a 4-wheel Antilock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®) with Traction Control, a variety of airbags throughout, and more.

When it comes to the sound part of "safe and sound," improvements have been made to the vehicle's overall noise, harshness and vibration to keep the cabin hushed in moments of driving tranquility.

Quiet Time
The trip was a success. Not only because the girls had a great time but because we could fit all their gear in a good looking vehicle and ride comfortably. And I still have my hearing, although the echo of a teenage boy band song still haunts me today.

Price
The 2012 Honda Pilot Touring has an MSRP of $48,520.

This 2012 Honda Pilot Touring  was originally published on Auto-Venus.com.

From GMM

The cost of a formula one driver's mandatory FIA 'super license' is going up, the Times newspaper reports.

It emerged in Abu Dhabi last weekend that teams have been told by the governing body that the price of their official entry fees for the 2013 season are definitely increasing significantly.

Journalist Kevin Eason said Red Bull's success this year is likely to earn the team a more than $3 million FIA bill for 2013, while even straggler HRT is facing a minor increase to the flat rate.

"(FIA president Jean) Todt is on a mission to fill the FIA's coffers and is thought to be trying to raise an extra $40 million," he wrote.

Jean Todt, FIA President. (Photo: WRi2)

F1 drivers will also have to contribute, with Eason saying the cost of their super license is facing "massive hikes".

Jenson Button reportedly paid $200,000 for his credential when he won the title in 2009, but this year's champion looks set to pay "twice that amount", Eason revealed.

Despite being in this crazy world I call “work” for more than 7 years, I'd yet to attend the yearly gathering of Canadian automotive jounalists known as AJAC's Test Fest. This year marked my first attendance; and I have no idea why I waited so long to participate.

Nestled away between vineyards and gloriously winding country roads sits an airport in Ontario's Niagara-on-the-Lake district. A serene, picturesque location with The Falls just a short drive away, the airport serves as a central location where all the cars are kept, as well as our home base for car changes and meals.

As the leaves continued their annual transformation and the backdrop was splashed with autumnal hues, a sea of brand new vehicles in a rainbow of colours stretched before me. Kid in a candy store? You have no idea. After completing my assigned categories and submitting my votes towards AJAC's Canadian Car of the Year, it was time to have a little fun - meaning, I could finally drive cars I'd yet to test throughout the year.

That's the beauty of AJAC's Test Fest: it gives journalists the opportunity to clock wheel time in vehicles they'd probably never get to drive due to scheduling conflicts, lack of press vehicles in their location, etc. And our inability to drive everything hinders our ability to properly evaluate the cars we drive.

And so, I just had to take out a Porsche 911 Carrera S, with Matt in tow behind the wheel of a Corvette 427.

There's something about the openness and freedom that comes with driving along country roads. Flat and winding, they're enticing to a fault and thrilling (if you make them so). With vineyards on either side as far as the eye could see, blue sky above and the temperature hovering in the mid-20s, it was the ideal setting to really experience the vehicles we chose to pilot.

From 911s to Sentrass and everything in between, I was handed key after key to explore random back roads, kick up multicoloured leaves, dodge wild turkeys and stop short to watch two young deer step from a vineyard to stare doe-eyed at me in my Acura ILX.

And it would seem that AJAC's Test Fest is about more than just the cars. This is the only time of year us Canadian auto journalists are together in one place, under one roof -- eating together, driving together, chatting together -- and it gives us all a chance to pick each other's brains, discover our opinions on the year's cars and to really put our evaluations to the test as we choose the Canadian Car of the Year.

From new friendships to new love affairs (it's rather telling that I chose to drive the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 more than once and not the MINI Cooper S Roadster...), my first Test Fest experience was one I'll surely never forget. And really, any event that allows me to cherry pick from a lineup of vehicles that includes a Mercedes-Benz SL550, Camaro ZL1, Fiat 500 Abarth and Ford Focus ST is one I'll not miss again.

Photo: Philippe Champoux

From GMM

Robin Frijns has revealed he once turned down an offer to join F1 world champion Red Bull's young driver development programme.

Actually, "I twice said no to Red Bull," the 21-year-old Dutchman, who in 2012 won the Renault World Series at his first attempt, is quoted by De Telegraaf newspaper.

This week in Abu Dhabi, he will test for Sauber, and is tipped to become the Swiss team's new reserve driver for 2013, probably taking over from Esteban Gutierrez who has been linked with the race seat.

But Frijns will also drive Red Bull's championship-leading RB8 as Yas Marina, as his prize for winning the aforementioned Renault-powered Formula Renault 3.5 category.

Robin Frijns said no to Red Bull. (Photo: Renault)

He has, however, ruled out joining Red Bull's junior programme, which has produced the likes of Sebastian Vettel, Jaime Alguersuari, Sebastien Buemi, Daniel Ricciardo, Jean-Eric Vergne and others.

"I know their games," Frijns is quoted as saying.

"You cannot decide what you want to do, and if you don't do what they want, you're out. They treat you like a dog," he insisted.

"In my career I've always made my own choices and I want to continue to do that. I need people around me who I can trust, and so Red Bull is not for me, even though I have won more than Vettel did before he made his name in formula one," he ended.

American Suzuki Motor Corp., beset by low sales, cutthroat competition and unfavorable foreign exchange rates, said it will pull out of the U.S.

American Suzuki Motor's automotive run in the United States began in 1985 with its Samurai subcompact SUV. And although the Samurai was a smash hit out of the gate, subsequent bad press and legal snarls derailed the brand permanently.

American Suzuki, rocked by a plunge in volume while the industry continues to climb back from a deep recession, is ending U.S. auto sales after nearly 30 years.

American Suzuki, rocked by a plunge in volume while the industry continues to climb back from a deep recession, is ending U.S. auto sales after nearly 30 years.

American Suzuki, rocked by a plunge in volume while the industry continues to climb back from a deep recession, is ending U.S. auto sales after nearly 30 years.

Hyundai and Kia face a federal lawsuit seeking class-action status and unspecified damages for consumers who bought vehicles with overstated fuel-economy labels.

Merrilee Patterson Crain -- secretary and board member of Crain Communications Inc., publisher of Autoweek -- died Friday. She was 69.

Fuel economy for new vehicles sold in the United States rose to an all-time high in October, University of Michigan researchers said in a monthly report.

Nissan revealed the next iteration of the Japanese-spec GT-R supercar last week.

October 2012 Auto Sales

Slowed by Sandy

As anyone in the vast area affected by Hurricane Sandy could have guessed, the sprawling super-storm had a major dampening effect on new-vehicle sales. Consumers had other things on their mind, and flooding and power outages also kept buyers out of showrooms. As a result, the new-vehicle sales rate, which had been steaming along in the high end of the 14-million-unit range, dropped down to 14.3 million units. Industry totals for the month still managed a 7% increase over 2011 -- not bad, but not as good as September's 13% increase. Some industry watchers, however, see a silver lining for auto sales in the Sandy-related destruction: All those cars and trucks ruined by flood waters or crushed by falling trees will have to be replaced, which could mean that what Sandy taketh away in October, she could giveth in November.

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Photo Gallery: October 2012 Auto Sales - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: October 2012 Auto Sales - Automobile Magazine

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The $64,000 Question

High-strung BMW, high-tech Audi, or high-drama Mercedes-Benz? Or maybe we could interest you in a Porsche.

Three 400-plus-hp coupes jostle to occupy the same space and win the same buyers. They exist in an automotive sweet spot, delivering luxury, performance, style, and excitement at an attainable price. Spend more money, and you'll face diminishing returns. Spend less, and you'll have less of a car.

Photo Gallery: The $64,000 Question

Photo Gallery: The $64,000 Question

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Domino's Pizza recently put out a call to its fans to design the ultimate pizza-delivery vehicle. Those fans answered the call, and the winner was Anej Kostrevic of Slovenia.

Wanting a larger chunk of

News 5 Nov, 2012

Volkswagen has refreshed the Amarok, with new options, improved economy and a power boost