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The UAW's VEBA healthcare trust will lay out its argument on Monday in a legal dispute over the price Fiat will pay for the first of several incremental stakes in the carmaker.

The VEBA healthcare trust will lay out its argument on Monday in a legal dispute over the price Fiat will pay for the first of several incremental stakes in the carmaker.

Peugeot has launched the 301, a stripped-down sedan aimed at boosting sales in emerging markets. The vehicle has gone on sale in Turkey and will be rolled out in Eastern Europe, Africa and South America in the coming months.

The market for large luxury SUVs has been growing steadily and new entrants from Lamborghini and Maserati are due to launch soon, but none will match the Range Rover's off-road ability and on-road dynamics.

The prospect of European car sales this year falling to their lowest level since 1995 is not reflected in the Automotive News Europe/PricewaterhouseCoopers Transaction Services Shareholder Value Indices for the third quarter of 2012.

Mads Ostberg (Ford Fiesta) took advantage of the tricky weather conditions on the first day of Rally of Spain to take the lead ahead of Sebastien Loeb (Citroen).

The rain, totally unexpected today, took everybody by surprise, especially the leading World Rally Championship drivers who elected to start in the middle of the field after qualifying stage on Thursday.

Mads Ostberg, Ford Fiest (Photo: WRI2)

Those who started out in front benefitted from better road conditions. Mads Ostberg was able to move up into the lead after ES2. He was closely followed by Ott Tanak during the opening stages. But the young Sstonian lost time after a spin and dropped down the order.

Petter Solberg (Ford) and Thierry Neuville (Citroen) were forced to retire after they hit a rock in the very first special stage. Both men went off at the very same place, which was where Solberg went off in 2011. Neuville and Solberg will be back with rally regulation, so will be local hero Dani Sordo, who also went off with his MINI.

After a difficult start due to his starting position (he was 14th on the road), Sebastien Loeb then started to push hard, and made it up to second position at the end of the day, 27.2 seconds behind Mads Ostberg.

Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford) is third, 47 seconds behind Ostberg. The Finn is in front of fellow countryman Mirko Hirvonen (Citroen) and Ott Tanak.

Rally de Espana - Classification after day 1:
1. Mads Ostberg (Ford Fiesta) in 1h41'32''4
2. Sebastien Loeb (Citroen DS3) +27''2
3. Jari-Matti Latvala (Ford Fiesta) +47''
4. Mirko Hirvonen (Citroen DS3) +1'02''6
5. Ott Tanak (Ford Fiesta) +1'10''8
etc.

I, like hundreds of thousands of fans around the world, love the Mustang. I always have and always will. I've had GT500, SVO, GT, SVT and Cobra posters on my walls all my life (I have a GT500 poster in my garage today) and never thought I'd have a negative thing to say about the car.

I still don't.

The 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 represents the pinnacle; the top step on the Mustang's storied echelon. I need a poster of this one.


One helluva car
This car controlled me for the entire week. As Rick James said: Cocaine is a helluva drug. I've adapted the line: “The Boss is a helluva drug.” The 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 is as addictive and controlling as any illicit substance.

The most telling thing I can say about the Boss is this: I've said for a few years now that if I were to buy a $50,000 daily/weekend track car, I'd spring for a used Porsche Cayman S. Not anymore. I want a Boss.

The secret to the 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302's success lies in how all of it comes together. Unlike the vulgar-by-comparison GT, the Boss' suspension, steering, brakes and engine are perfectly matched. The GT is sloppy and sketchy where the Boss is sorted and accomplished.

My kingdom for the V8
Behind new front splitter and under the vented bonnet is Ford's 5.0L V8 which received considerable improvements in order to survive repeated track abuse. The changes include forged-aluminum pistons and upgraded connecting rods. The result is 444 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. The ponies charge in at 7,400 rpm, and torque at 4,500 rpm. Maximum engine speed is 7,500 rpm.

Alongside the V8 is a front sport-tuned suspension that annuls all unwanted weight transfers. On track, the Boss is agile and incredibly responsive. The moment the steering wheel is grasped, the full extent of Ford's electric steering (EPAS) potential is clear. Somehow, the communication with the front P255/40R-19 Pirelli tires is marvelously free of fuss.

A big favourite of mine (and a plus for the track-day enthusiasts) are the 355-mm front vented discs (rears are 300-mm) with four-piston Brembo calipers and cooling ducts.

The 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302's alcantara trimmed steering wheel's horizontal spokes, and this may be the only negative comment in this entire review, are far too wide. For optimal hold and grip, there should be thumb indents at 9 and 3, and the spokes should be slim enough so as not to hamper hand movements while negotiating a decreasing radius turn.

The result is 444 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque.(Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Sexy Recaro seats and exhaust
In the cabin, we come across superb Recaro seats. Firm, almost hard, they are the perfect accomplices to weekend track events. Their high-back configuration and harness-enabled openings prove what these seats can do.

Ever hear a 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 drive by? This car features a quad-exhaust system with two side and two rear outlets. The side outlets (located ahead of the rear wheels) are the ones responsible for the Boss' extra aurally delectable sound. The underlying gnarly guttural growl becomes a ferocious fearsome fanfare of ferrous materials at high rpms. Only those with no soul could ever discount this melody as “noise.”

The three-link solid axle rear suspension, which harbors a 3.73:1 Torsen limited-slip differential, is ready for action. As with the front, the sport suspension consists of manually adjustable dampers and large stabilizer bars. The final pieces are a pair of 285/35R tires.

Aesthetically, the 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 is quite nearly flawless. The 19” wheels are painted gloss black when I think they should be matte to match the hot reflective hockey-stick graphics.

This car features a quad-exhaust system with two side and two rear outlets.(Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

My kingdom for launch control
The 444 hp V8 comes to life with the red Track Key which unleashes the Ford Racing powertrain control software. A 2-stage launch control is the ideal way to crush all in stop-and-go racing. I managed a 4.5 second 0-100 km time with launch, and with little effort. For regular days, the silver key returns the car to a Wolverine-without-claws state.

Despite all the potential savageness, the Boss is a relatively easy car to drive. The clutch is heavy, but everything else is quite civil. Like the Cayman, the Mustang can easily double as a daily driver which makes it that much more attractive. All pedals are perfectly positioned for heel-and-toe, and the shifter requires a firm hand. Everything else is pansy-like by comparison.

The 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 starts at $48,799. The tester featured the necessary Recaro and Torsen package which added $1,900 to the final tally.

There is no substitute
The Mustang Boss has no direct competition. The Nissan 370Z and BMW 335is are all great in their own ways, but fail to the deliver the thrills and spine-tingling emotions that the Boss does.

As Ford so brilliantly put it, the 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 is an honest-to-badness masterpiece.

I love doing comparo tests. In fact, it would appear as though you readers are of the same mindset. Every time we publish one, we get tons o' traffic.

In case you didn't know, AJAC's Test Fest is the ultimate comparative test. In all, at this year's event, there were no fewer than 60 nameplates; 45 of which I personally spent quality wheel time with. Over the course of 4.5 days of driving, I experienced thrills, spills, spin-outs (purposeful, of course), and made note of a few facts.

One of which was that some automakers really put effort into presentation. Most, if not all, exteriors of the cars on hand were good, however; cabins, not so much.

This got me thinking about who makes what, and what their marketing and promotion habits are. It then dawned on me: Manufacturer Suggested Retail Pricing (MSRP) is only meant as a scale on which to perch certain cars, it is not a reflection of the actual content that lies within the confines of the car's outer shell.

Look at it this way: If a car has too low an asking price, it'll be dismissed as being cheap. If the price is perceived as “right,” value may be found. After this point, they become too expensive.

Let's take a $30k car. For that kind of money, a consumer can (and should) expect quite a bit in 2013. The fact is that in many cases, the car offered at this price is well tailored, but there are some exceptions that fall flat on their dashboards when compared back-to-back.

These later cars are the ones that will typically, 3 or 4 months after being launched, be heavily discounted in order to compete more favorably with the better appointed cars. Only here and then do they become viable contenders.

So, what does it all mean? Well, I think consumers are already onto manufacturers that are big on discounts. Real and substantial value, quality and content have all but taken over from huge banners touting massive cash discounts. Sure, they still draw attention, but not to the extent they once did.

Consider the current crop of top selling compact cars: you'll not find a “cheap” car there. And as a final point; within an automaker, some cars are built for discounting while others are not.

And no, I'm not gonna do any name dropping.

From RCR

Richard Childress Racing has partnered with General Mills for NASCAR Nationwide Series standout Austin Dillon to make his Daytona 500 debut driving the No. 33 Honey Nut Cheerios Chevrolet on February 24, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway.

The paint scheme for the 55th running of the Great American Race will also mark the NASCAR debut of Buzz, the official SpokesBee of Honey Nut Cheerios.

The 2013 season will mark the fifth year of partnership between the Welcome, N.C.-based racing organization and General Mills, which is a major associate sponsor throughout the year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on the No. 31 Cheerios Chevrolet and driver Jeff Burton.

Richard Childress Racing is a two-time winner of the Daytona 500. The legendary Dale Earnhardt and Kevin Harvick have captured victory for the team previouly.

From WTCC

The eighth season of the 2011 FIA World Touring Car Championship will come to an end next week at Macau, where twenty-nine drivers from thirteen different countries will clash on the 6.1-km Guia street circuit.

On Sunday November 18, two nine-lap races will consecrate the 2012 World Champion.

There is no doubt that Rob Huff is the great favourite in the title fight, and not only because he is currently leading the standings.

The 32-year old Englishman is also the WTCC driver with the best record in Macau, having claimed five race wins in the last four years, including back-to-back victories in 2011.

Photo: WTCC

During the previous event at Shanghai, Huff has built a comfortable margin ahead of his Chevrolet teammates Alain Menu and the reigning champion Yvan Muller.

The Macau event will award 55 points (25 per each race, plus 5 for the pole position) and Menu and Muller must recover 35 and 41 points respectively. Not an easy task, although anything may happen on the treacherous street circuit.

Menu has proved in the past that he is fast in Macau, where he won two races in 2007 and 2008; Muller - whose hopes to clinch a fourth WTCC title have been seriously jeopardized in China - has never managed to win a race in the former Portuguese protectorate.

Finland's Kimi Raikkonen is currently third in the Formula 1 drivers' standings with just two races to go. The Team Lotus F1 driver scored his first victory in F1 since returning to Grand Prix racing at the beginning of the year following a two-year stint in the FIA World Rally Championship.

His win in Abu Dhabi proved that the Lotus E20 is one of the best F1 cars in the field. “We didn't give up. We had a period where new developments for the car weren't working exactly as wanted straight away, and when you have to test new parts during practice sessions it's very difficult to make progress, but we kept pushing,” Raikkonen explained.

Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) wins ahead Fernando Alonso (Ferrari). (Photo: WRi2)

“We continued with the exhaust developments we made during practice in Korea and India and the pace was promising all weekend in Abu Dhabi. I was never out of the top 10 all weekend and with that in mind I think we had a good idea that we could be competitive if we could just get qualifying right, which has been the big issue all season long. This time though, we got it right,” he continued.

The win came only a few days after he was confirmed for next season. “Yes, it's a pretty good way to show that everyone's made the right choice. We've shown all season how good we can be, and in Abu Dhabi we showed we can win. There is more to come. I promise,” Raikkonen confirmed.

The Circuit of the Americas, home of the Grand Prix of the United States next weekend will be new to all F1 drivers.

“I have always liked to go to new places as it adds a bit of additional excitement. I'm particularly looking forward to this one. I like the American atmosphere, it's just a relaxed environment; they know how to have fun and, most of all, they love racing,” the Lotus driver said.

Photo: Circuit of the Americas

Kimi has contested two races in NASCAR, one in the Camping World Truck series and one in the Nationwide series, so he knows what racing is like in the U.S.

“Last year I tried NASCAR. I did two races on the Charlotte oval and I really liked it a lot. That was probably the experience I needed to open my eyes for racing again. After that I really wanted to come back to Formula 1, while it was a tempting idea to do more NASCAR, too. After seeing the excitement of the American NASCAR fans I hope Formula 1 gets people as eager to enjoy our racing in Texas, too,” he concluded.

From Lotus F1 Team

Iconic brands Star Wars and Angry Birds will feature on the cars of Kimi Räikkönen and Romain Grosjean in Austin, Texas next week at the forthcoming United States Grand Prix.

In order to celebrate the return of Formula 1 to America, Lotus F1 Team announced it will feature Angry Birds and Star Wars on the E20's sidepods, promoting ‘Angry Birds Star Wars', a joint game which was released to the public yesterday, November 8.


The game is a partnership between award winning programmers Rovio - founders of the chart topping ‘Angry Birds' game, downloaded more than a billion times already - and Lucasfilm - the creators of iconic films ‘Star Wars' and ‘Indiana Jones'.

Accompanying the team's promotion of Angry Birds Star Wars, an official weekly tournament game incorporating Angry Birds, Star Wars and Lotus F1 Team will run on the Angry Birds Friends Facebook fan page for a week from November 12-19.

Prizes for this Facebook-only tournament will include a one-off opportunity for a test ride in the team's simulator - courtesy of Lotus F1 Team partner Rexona - a signed replica Kimi Räikkönen helmet courtesy of Clear, as well as specifically designed Angry Birds merchandise and Star Wars items from Hasbro.

From GMM

Paul Hembery has revealed that next year's Pirelli tyres will be significantly different.

The teams will get their first taste of the Italian marque's 2013 rubber during free practice in Brazil late this month.

Photo: Pirelli

Pirelli's F1 boss Hembery told Brazilian journalists on Thursday: "The (2013) tyres will be significantly different to this year, which will challenge the teams because the cars will be virtually the same, with almost no change in the regulations."

"The difference (in tyres) from 2012 to 2013, however, will have a strong effect on the aerodynamics of the cars, and so the teams will have to work hard," the Briton is quoted by Totalrace.

He said there will also be a greater difference between the various compounds in 2013.

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) and Mazda Motor Corporation (Mazda) have just announced that Mazda's nearly completed Salamanca city, Guanajuato state, Mexico plant will jointly build subcompact cars for both manufacturers.

The plant, scheduled to begin building cars as of summer 2015, will assemble the Mazda2 and a Toyota subcompact car sharing a large number of components. The highly popular Mazda3 will also be produced here. Total annual production capacity is said to be of 140,000 units.

Toyota is therefore contributing to the production equipment and development costs. This then enables Toyota to further infuse the North American market with more small cars. As well, Mazda wins by increasing production efficiency and profitability.

A new recall by Toyota Canada affects 1,307 Scion IQ hatchbacks from the 2012-2013 model years.

In some cases, the wiring for the Occupant Classification System (OCS) may be damaged when sliding the front passenger seat fore and aft. If this occurs, the airbag light could illuminate and certain front passenger airbags could be deactivated.

Wiring damage could also cause the OCS to incorrectly judge the occupant type, causing various passenger airbags and seat belt tensioners to be improperly activated during a crash.

Affected owners are advised to take their IQ to a local Scion dealer to have it checked out.

Source: Transports Canada

Crewe, England - There's magic surrounding me. And no, I'm not at Disneyland. Although to the car enthusiast -- more specifically, a Bentley enthusiast -- this could just be one of the happiest places on earth.

Photo: Alexandra Straub

This is where dreams -- aka cars -- are made.

On an 80-acre property in Crewe, England, roughly 4,000 employees comprise the workforce behind the creation of such nameplates as the Mulsanne and Continental.

The beginning of a tour of the factory commences as David Hilton, the head of exterior design at Bentley, goes over some of the processes of how a vehicle ends up on the road. Whether it's through computer renderings or clay-model building, it's a lengthy and laborious process, to say the least. For example, from the initial sketches of the Continental up until its production, it was a period of about four years.

As I walk through the factory, I'm fascinated to see how various parts of these marvellous machines come to fruition. Our group of international media had the opportunity to visit areas that surprised me: There are humans everywhere.

Based on past manufacturer tour experiences, robots usually dominate the landscape. However, at Bentley, bustling workers are either assembling, sanding or sewing parts together. This is because the brand's philosophy still holds true today: Bentley believes hands and eyes are the best tools.

It's very apparent as human hands and eyes are marking the imperfections on the different coloured hides, making sure that all parts going into each vehicle are flawless. As for the scraps? They're recycled as opposed to thrown out.

A particularly aromatic part of the experience at the Bentley factory was when I stepped foot into the Woodshop. The pungent scent of the various veneers offered (like maple, walnut, eucalyptus, and more) fill the rooms -- and the lungs -- to the brim. Furthermore, the sound of sanding and cutting tools let you know what kind of craft is going on.

From what was mentioned, it takes approximately 120 man-hours of work (from start to finish) to complete the tree-derived parts in a Bentley Mulsanne, or approximately four weeks. This brings the term “handcrafted” to a new level in terms of car production.

However, the real magic happens in the “Living Room” where clients can sit back, relax and customize their Bentley from bumper to bumper. From the exterior coat to the interior hides to the perfectly varnished veneers, it can be as unique as the owner.

Fun factoids about the Bentley factory to impress your friends:

• 25 kilograms of paint is used on a Mulsanne. That's roughly eight coats that are both machine- and hand-sprayed;
• Six Mulsannes are built per day at Crewe, whereas 40 Continentals roll off the line;
• It takes a minimum of 500 man-hours to build a Mulsanne;
• It takes 4 hours and 40 minutes to hand-wrap and stitch a Bentley steering wheel: 5 hours and 10 minutes if it's heated!
• Crewe is the largest producer of twin-turbo, W12 engines in the world.

Photo: Alexandra Straub

From GMM

Organisers of the Brazilian grand prix are planning to send Michael Schumacher back into retirement in style.

In late 2006, the seven time world champion entered his first retirement with a pre-race celebration on the Interlagos grid involving soccer legend Pele.

Now, with the 43-year-old's ultimate trip into retirement also coinciding with a Brazilian season finale, race organisers are planning a similar send-off.

But for now, the details are top secret.

Michael Schumacher, Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

"Just beforehand we will talk with Bernie Ecclestone, so as we do not interfere with any of the other activities," Interlagos chief Claudia Ito is quoted by Agencia Estado.

Ito is also quoted by Globo: "You'll all be surprised. Even Bernie doesn't know what will happen. I am sure Schumacher will like it."

BMW has launched a limited edition BMW M3 DTM Champion Edition to commemorate Bruno Spengler's title in the DTM series this season.

(Photo: Bimmerpost)

The Canadian captured his first DTM title in October at the end of a thrilling finale held at Hockenheim, Germany.

(Photo: Bimmerpost)

The limited edition E92 M3 Coupe closely resembles Bruno Spengler's matte black BMW Bank M3 race car. Production will be limited to only 54 units - since BMW has won 54 DTM races so far.

(Photo: Bimmerpost)

Characteristics of the M3 include:

* Frozen Black (matte black paint);

* Bruno Spengler's name and Canadian flag decals at the rear windows;

* Bruno Spengler's helmet design on door sills;

* Bruno Spengler's signature on carbon fibre interior trim;

* M stripes across roof, as on DTM car;

* ZCP Competition Package, including black wheels, gloss black air inlets on bonnet, carbon fiber front splitters and carbon fiber rear spoiler;

* Production starts end of the year with first cars delivered late January or early February 2013.

(Photo: Bimmerpost)

(Photo: Bimmerpost)

(Photo: Bimmerpost)

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone has admitted that if Coca-Cola enters formula one as a sponsor, it would do so with one of its 'energy drink' brands.

It was reported earlier this year that Coke, arguably the most recognized brand name on earth, could be eyeing F1.

Sources had told the business journalist Christian Sylt that McLaren could ultimately win the deal, replacing the British team's flagging title backer Vodafone.

Asked about the rumours, Bernie Ecclestone told Eurosport: "The president of Coca-Cola is a very good friend of mine but the head of marketing has always said he didn't think formula one was good for them."

But the F1 chief executive admitted that "if they do come in I think they will come in with one of their energy drink brands, not Coke itself."

Sylt said Coca-Cola's leading energy drink brand is Relentless, which according to Wikipedia "has been compared to energy drinks such as Red Bull".

Bernie Ecclestone, however, warned: "You wouldn't want to take Red Bull on."

Relentless, the energy drink from Coke.

RIMINI, Italy - Founded in 268 BC, this coastal town was once an important Roman stronghold, the gateway between Italic and Gallic lands. Home to filmmaker Fellini, Rimini is now a sun-drenched paradise on the Italian Riviera.

Well... that may be so during the holiday season, but at the moment it's damp and drizzling with pea-soup fog that would make a Londoner feel right at home.

Not exactly the ideal conditions for driving a 550-hp supercar.


To its credit, the 2014 Audi R8 I'm piloting scarcely puts a tire wrong on the slippery cobbled tarmac. A couple of heart-stopping seconds of hydroplaning are quickly taken under control by the quattro all-wheel-drive system, although the rear end's occasional squirming adds unneeded drama on the hairpin roads.

Our destination is the mountainous principality of San Marino, and thank heavens for the navigation system whose screen resembles a plate of spaghetti thrown at a wall. The windshield wipers flail furiously on the front windscreen, but visibility is close to nil. Too bad, because the ancient, crenellated walls barely visible through the thick fog would have made a terrific photo backdrop.

It's hard to form an accurate opinion under such conditions, particularly when we're talking about a car that performs so brilliantly at high speeds.

Since its introduction in 2007, the Audi R8 has won over legions of fans for its ability to fool even the most talentless among us into thinking we're driving superstars. Civilized it may be, the R8 is still a no-compromise sports car that made even the iconic Porsche 911 sit up and take notice. And now it's back; stronger, stiffer and faster than ever. But is it better?

Extensive use of carbon fibre and aluminum result in a lighter car
The 2014 Audi R8 is certainly lighter. Thanks to an extensive use of carbon fibre on inlays, bumpers, even the mirror housings, and the aluminum "space frame" body, the R8 sheds between 75 and 105 kg (between 166 and 232 lbs).

There are a few subtle changes to the 2014 Audi R8's exterior, some slight bumper modifications and standard round exhaust pipes throughout the model range.

Those signature running lights -- the twinkly eyelashes that have since become ubiquitous across the automotive spectrum -- are gone, replaced with a full LED swath. Behind, the rump lights up with some slick taillights that illuminate sequentially outward.

That unique styling, which elevates it above other sports cars and into the realm of supercar, remains unaltered.

The twinkly eyelashes - are gone, replaced with a full LED swath. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Same engines... but more power
The 4.2L V8 returns in the 2014 Audi R8, with an output of 430 hp, while the 5.2L V10 also remains at 525. Now offered in coupe-form only, is the R8 V10 Plus that puts out 550 hp and 398 lb-ft instead of 391. The power differences come courtesy of some creative engine management software.

Enthusiasts will be happy to hear that the manual gearbox, with its snickety-snick metal gated shifter returns, unchanged. More good news: The R tronic automatic transmission that many compared to the lurching smart car's gearbox is gone, replaced with a double-clutch S tronic that rips through the gears as proficiently as Porsche's PDK unit. It has the ability to skip gears when needed, greatly enhancing powerband access for quick spurts of energy while passing.

Before we hit the drive route, we had a few laps around the Misano World Circuit in the 2014 Audi R8 V10 Spyder. A fast track roughly the shape of a crossbow, it would have been an exhilarating experience had we not been deluged by sheets of driving rain. The quattro system has the extraordinary ability to keep the R8 from going sideways through hairpin turns in two inches of water -- and I did manage speeds of up to 180 km/h in the straights. The flat-bottomed, leather-wrapped steering wheel is heavy, but is reassuringly substantial and delivers good feedback.

Surprising amount of interior space in two-seater cockpit
Our time on Rimini's cobbled roads was spent behind the wheel of a navy blue, matte-finish 2014 Audi R8 V10 Plus. Given the extreme weather conditions, we left the adaptive suspension settings on "comfort" rather than switching to "sport." Even so, the ride is very firm.

There's a surprising amount of room in the two-seat cockpit of the 2014 Audi R8, with ample space behind us for jackets and camera gear, with extra bags stowed in the beer-cooler-size front trunk.

The racing-style seats are highly bolstered and supportive, if on the hard side. Absolutely perfect for track days, probably not so much for long, luxurious cruises.

All controls are simple and straightforward, and there's a truly marvellous Bang & Olufsen sound system in the unlikely event that you tire of listening to that glorious V10 behind your back. There's even a back-up camera -- a nod towards everyday practicality.

The flat-bottomed, leather-wrapped steering wheel is heavy, but is reassuringly substantial and delivers good feedback. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Lighter, more powerful, a sublime sports car with supercar styling
Lighter, more powerful and with an impressive new gearbox, the new 2014 Audi R8 actually manages to improve on what was already a sublime sports car, while delivering almost a litre/100 km better fuel economy.

The 2014 Audi R8 will arrive in Europe this January, with North American markets to follow. While Canadian pricing has not yet been released, it should be on par with the current Coupe and Spyder.