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Polish driver Robert Kubica missed out on a certain win at the recent Rallye du Var because of a mistake made by his co-driver.

Emanuele Inglesi, who was calling the notes to Kubica aboard their Citroën C4 WRC, called the wrong corner, causing the pair to crash and the car to perish in the ensuing fire, as Citroën boss Yves Matton confirmed to Autosport.

The sad end to Kubica's outing at the French rally has not diminished Matton's admiration for the former F1 driver.

"He was beating his rivals on every stage and all the time he was so motivated," the British publication is quoting him saying.

"In the end, he crashed because of the wrong pacenote - he was 40km/h too fast and it was impossible to take the corner. Unfortunately, the car is finished because it caught fire."

BMW development driver Marco Wittmann will make his race debuts in DTM next season as he was promoted by the german squad.

23-year-old Marco Wittmann made his racing debuts in German Formula BMW that he ran in 2007 and 2008. He moved up to F3 Euroseries the following year, and finished runner up of the series in 2010 and 2011.

In 2012, the young german driver worked as test driver at the wheel of the BMW M3 DTM.

Wittmann will drive the seventh M3 DTM in next year's championship. To drive the 8th and last car available, BMW tested Italian driver Luca Filippi last week. Alessandro Zanardi too tried the M3 DTM, adapted to his handicap, at the Nürburgring.

According to Citroën Racing, Robert Kubica refused an offer to drive in DTM for BMW next season.

Tough choice: When a high-end luxury sedan is so beautiful, so powerful and so soothing to drive, would you prefer being seen in the backseat or behind the wheel?

In the 2013 Bentley Mulsanne, both choices are right.


Hand-built in Bentley's factory in Crewe, England, the Bentley Mulsanne is the brand's flagship, replacing the Arnage last year. This car is big: it stretches more than 18 feet long, and weighs just under 6,000 lbs. With a base price of $358,160 CDN, it's also quite expensive -- depending on what you do for a living.

If the 2013 Bentley Mulsanne must be described in a single word, it would be: “smooth.” There is nothing violent, aggressive or hard-edged about the car, either in the way in drives, the way it flaunts its curvaceous sheetmetal or in the way people will perceive it as it serenely slips through the scenery.

The 6¾ Litre V8 lives on
Introduced way back in 1959, Bentley's traditional 6.75L V8 keeps on going after another round of modifications. Force-fed by two turbochargers, the engine develops 505 hp, a stump-pulling 752 lb-ft of torque, and redlines at just 4,500 rpm. The 0 to 100 km/h dash takes 5.3 seconds and (believe it or not) this mastodon can reach 296 km/h.

The V8 also features modern technology such as cylinder deactivation and camshaft phasing, while being managed by an 8-speed automatic transmission with wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Fuel economy in the 2013 Bentley Muslanne is rated at 20.4/11.9 L/100km city/highway, and Bentley actually touts the latest version of the V8 to be 15% more efficient than the one in the retired Arnage, Azure and Brooklands models (which is true), but you probably don't care, and neither will buyers. The engine can also run on E85 ethanol; again, I'm going to assume no one gives a flying -- ah, Spur -- about that.

What's amazing about the engine is the way it fluidly dishes out its prodigious amounts of torque. Power delivery comes on in a silky rush, yet is never violent. You wonder how you got up to speed so quickly, without feeling the car's thrust.

That's nice; after all, if you want neck-snapping, nosebleed-inducing acceleration, I don't think you'd be shopping at Bentley anyhow.

The 0 to 100 km/h dash takes 5.3 seconds and (believe it or not) this mastodon can reach 296 km/h. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

High-fashion cockpit
Step inside the 2013 Bentley Mulsanne and you'll be welcomed by an orgy of wood, scented leather and chrome. Like sitting in a bank vault, closing the door seals you off from the outside world: all you hear is the ticking of your watch.

Press the engine start button, and you'll barely feel the Mulsanne quiver as the big V8 spins to life. Even on the highway at 100 km/h, the engine is sleepwalking at 1,400 rpm, so the cabin remains oh-so silent.

Those used to sitting in Audi products will recognize the MMI multimedia system in the 2013 Bentley Mulsanne. The 8” screen hides behind a motorized and wood-trimmed cover, a nice touch for preventing modern technology from clashing with the old-school elegance of the dashboard. The switchgear is easy to operate for folks of all ages.

Rear-seat occupants are treated just as well, with an excellent amount of legroom and separate climate controls. As in our tester, you can get veneered fold-down picnic tables for cheque signing on-the-go. They cost $3,070, but hey, that's pocket change, right?

Like sitting in a bank vault, closing the door seals you off from the outside world. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Put it on my tab
I don't think anyone walks into a Bentley showroom and asks for a base, no-options, stripped Mulsanne. This one is no exception: as tested, it retails for more than $394,000 CAD. The Maybach brand is going away, so that's one less competitor to think about; the only other true rival is the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

That's lot of dough for a car. Actually, that's a lot of dough for a house, especially in my town. You'd expect some kind of magic to happen while driving the 2013 Bentley Mulsanne, but it doesn't. It doesn't get your adrenaline pumping, and it doesn't entice you to drive four cities away just to pick up a quart of milk.

What the 2013 Bentley Muslanne does do is exclusivity. You get a lavishly sumptuous, painstakingly crafted work of art that is perfect for soothing, relaxing commutes whether you're sitting in the back seat or the front one.

Thank you to Bentley Montreal (www.decarie.com) for making this test drive possible.

BMW's factory team in the American Le Mans Series, BMW Team RLL, will be using Z4 GT3 cars starting next year.

BMW Team RLL had introduced the brand's former GT competitor, the BMW M3 GT, to the ALMS scene back in 2009, and earned both the manufacturers' and teams' titles in 2010 and 2011, on top of the drivers' title in that last year.

BMW's outgoing M3 GT (Photo: ALMS.com)

"This change in model shows that we are focussing fully on the BMW Z4 as an all-encompassing GT car," explained Jens Marquardt, as quoted from BMW-Motorsport.com.

"The BMW Z4 GT3 has been very successful on the GT3 scene in recent years, and has proven its ability to win races. I am confident this car will also play a major role as a GTE car in the ALMS."

In the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) though, BMW ambassadors will continue to use Munich firm's 320 TC model, such as the one Norbert Michelisz drove to the title in the 2012 Independent's Trophy.

Rolls-Royce aims to increase its global dealerships to 120 from 105 within five years to target millionaires in markets like Chile, Thailand and Vietnam, who are unfazed by Europe's debt crisis.

Ford Canada has issued a recall on 1,098 Fusion sedans from the 2013 model year due to a problem with the headlamps.

Apparently, the low beam projector coating may not have properly cured during the manufacturing process. Over time, this could cause the coating to become hazy, reducing the brightness of the low beam lamps and affecting visibility on the road.

Ford dealers will therefore replace the headlamp assemblies on all affected units.

Source: Transports Canada

Photo: Lesley Wimbush

From GMM

Moves are afoot to revive the defunct Turkish grand prix.

Formula one raced at the Hermann Tilke-penned Istanbul Park - featuring the famous four-apex Turn 8 corner - between 2005 and 2011.

Bernie Ecclestone and race organisers could not agree a new race fee for 2012 and beyond.

But late last week, British journalist Bob Mackenzie, of the Daily Express, revealed that the F1 chief executive is "pushing for a return" of the Turkish event, "after ruling out a French race".

Greek website gocar.gr said the decision will be made in the coming week.

Turkey's change of fortune is due to a local businessman, Vural Ak, buying the circuit's management rights.

"I've known Bernie Ecclestone for many years," he said.

Ak, who is willing to pay $5m out of his own pocket, said Ecclestone is asking for a $26 million fee for the race.

He said the Turkish government is willing to put in $13.5 million, "So we are close to the sum of about $20 million a year".

Ecclestone said: "It is an issue that we would be happy to discuss with those responsible.

"We would very much like to return to Turkey."

Mazda announced it would race a diesel-powered Mazda6 in the new GX class at the 2013 24 Hours of Daytona.

Never before has anyone raced a car with a diesel engine in the Grand-Am history.

The GX class was created ahead of the next season for the expressed purpose of promoting innovative pieces of engineering, such as the SKYACTIV-D clean diesel engine that will power Mazda's Mazda6.

Mazda's SKYACTIV-D (Photo: Grand-Am.com)

Sylvain Tremblay, Jonathan Bomartio, James Hinchcliffe and Marino Franchitti will share the wheel of the No. 70 entry at the twice-around-the-clock race.

On the back of a strong performance during the series' last collective tests, Norman Nato earned himself a drive at DAMS for the 2013 Formula Renault 3.5.

The 20-year-old Frenchman, who previously raced in karting, Formula 4 and Formula Renault 2.0, will be making his debut in the championship.

Norman Nato during his Formula Renault 2.0 days (Photo: Norman Nato)

"It's a pleasure to have Norman onboard with us," said Jean-Paul Driot, team manager.

"He has had a remarkable career in karting and quickly progressed through the racing ladder. His test with us was impressive. He was fast and communicated well with the engineers.

"I'm sure he will be racing for wins in no time at all."

DAMS has not yet announced who will race alongside Norman.

Adapted from Aston Martin

The Racer's Group (TRG) and Aston Martin Racing announced today the formation of a partnership to bring a factory-supported Aston Martin Racing program to North America starting in 2013.

The partnership commenced with TRG-AMR North America's acquisition of 10 brand new race cars to compete in varying North American sports car series. The Aston Martin Vantage GTE will be unveiled at the American Le Mans Series' annual Winter Test on Feb. 7-8 in preparation for the March 16 running of the 12 Hours of Sebring.

In the GRAND-AM Rolex Series and Pirelli World Challenge, the highly competitive Vantage GT3 is in its final homologation stages and will be ready to race for new customers after the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The new Vantage GT4, running in the Continental Tire Challenge, will debut at the January test days and will be ready to race in support of and alongside the highly successful Multimatic team already running in the championship.



TRG has a legacy of motorsport success that dates back to the 1990s with extraordinary wins and championships that include the Rolex 24 At Daytona (four times, once overall), the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Petit Le Mans, four championships and more than 50 major racing victories.



Equally, Aston Martin Racing is rich in heritage. It began racing in 1949 and by 1951 the DB2 had swept the podium in class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Aston Martin returned to GT racing as a factory team in 2005 with the DBR9 GT1, which went on to record back-to-back victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2007 and 2008, as well as winning the 2011 FIA GT1 World Championship.

Model: 2008 to 2012 Honda Accord
Vehicle Type: Sedan

History/Description: The 2008 model year marked the Honda Accord's entry into its eighth generation. The Japanese automaker's popular model had, by now, earned a very solid reputation for reliable operation, sensibility, and long-term value.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

For this particular generation, it was available in both coupe and sedan variants with several engine and transmission combinations, and a slew of trim-levels and options. Look for upscale features like heated leather seats, voice-command navigation, a sunroof, steering-wheel mounted controls, dual-zone climate control, wood trim and plenty more. Accord “LX” was the basic model, while “EX” and “EX-L” or “EX-L Navi” represented midrange and top-line, respectively.

Under the hood, Accord boasted a 2.4L 4-cylinder engine tuned for 177 or 190 horsepower, depending on the model in question. A 3.5L V6 created 268 horsepower. Coupe models got either the up-level 4-cylinder or the V6, either of which could be teamed with a manual or automatic gearbox. Accord V6 sedan models only came with the automatic.

What Owners Like: On-board storage space, fuel economy, overall comfort and also the model's reputation were typically cited as key purchase factors by owners of 8th-generation Accords. Intuitive controls and a safe, solid road feel were also noted.

What Owners Dislike: Common complaints include the use of cheap interior materials, uncomfortable and stiff seats, the lack of a manual mode on the automatic transmission, and bland styling.

Common Issues: Thousands of owners complained of premature brake component wear. Signs of this include a “pulsation” during moderate braking felt through the pedal, or a “squealing” sound during coasting or light brake application. Be sure to have the brakes inspected on any used Accord you're considering.

Oil consumption is another well-documented issue with this generation of Honda Accord, especially those with the V6 engine and automatic transmission. Every engine will “use” some oil between oil changes, but shoppers are advised to check the oil in the model they're considering (while the engine is cold) to ensure it's fresh and full. This issue was likely caused by a side effect of Honda's cylinder deactivation system, and a software update available at your dealer was released to help fix it.

Listen for a “whine” or “hum” from the power steering pump while you steer at a low speed, or while stopped. If any unusual noise is noted, it's likely caused by a faulty o-ring which allows air to enter the system. This is a relatively easy fix.

On board, check the condition of the leather seats, if equipped, for signs of excessive wear, tearing, fading or abrasion.

Note that Accord models with extensive modifications to suspension or engine control systems should be avoided. Intake and exhaust upgrades are typically safe if the parts and installation are of high quality.

The Verdict: Largely, it looks like the Accord is one of the most reliable, no-nonsense vehicles in today's used market. Buy confidently if the model you're considering shows none of the common issues and has a thumbs-up from a Honda mechanic during a pre-purchase inspection.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

Manthey Racing will be Porsche's official representative team in 2013, fielding two 991-type Porsche 911 GT3 RSR race cars in the upcoming World Endurance Championship (WEC) season.

2013 marks the 911's 50th anniversary, making it the perfect opportunity to introduce the new generation of racers, according to Hartmut Kristen, head of motorsport at Porsche.

Porsche, the manufacturer, has not raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans since its overall win of 1998.

Moreover, the comeback is actually part of Weissach's plan to return to the LMP1 category.

Porsche's official team will be known as Porsche AG team Manthey.