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The various performance winter tires in this review are all designed to provide superior grip, especially on ice. They are more suited for highway driving, which also means that they could lack traction in deep snow, although you won't feel it as much when driving AWD-equipped vehicles. Sporting the mountain/snowflake logo, these tires also meet Law 42 of the Quebec Highway Safety Code. They fit most luxury trucks and SUVs available on the market.

Check the table below to see how these performance winter tires stack up against each other.

Volkswagen China sold more vehicles (705,000) than General Motors (665,000) in the third quarter of 2012.

Leading Chinese sales for the past eight years, GM is still #1 so far in 2012. However, its German rival now trails by a mere 77,000 units.

Will GM hang on to the annual sales crown in China? The more interesting question is: How did Volkswagen get this close to the top?

For one thing, a territorial dispute between China and Japan has lead to a sharp decline in sales at Mazda, Honda and Toyota. By offering more new products than GM, Volkswagen has been better able to capitalize on the tensions.

Source: The Washington Post

This is not a joke: Britain's Air Fuel Synthesis has developed a fairly simple method to produce fuel. Using electrolysis and a sodium hydroxide solution, scientists are able to extract air from carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen gas (H2) molecules. Then, they combine the basic elements through a series of chemical operations to create the desired fuel.

So far, Air Fuel Synthesis has produced five litres of fuel that perfectly meets auto industry standards. However, according to the company, the technology will require at least 15 years to reach mass production.

Source: cnetfrance

A 1986 BMW 635 CSi customized by pop art pioneer Robert Rauschenberg will be on display at Art Toronto 2012, which takes place from October 26th to 29th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Presented in Canada for the first time ever, this car is one of the 17 rolling sculptures that make up the BMW Art Car Collection.

Since 1975, artists from around the world have transformed BMW automobiles into artwork representing a moment in time. Rauschenberg was the first to incorporate other artists' imagination by projecting their artwork onto the 635 CSi.

Photo: BMW

But I'm not crazy about it. Our recently completed 2012 compact CUV comparo put many things into perspective. On its own, the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox has much going for it, however, when compared to a concise sampling of its nearest competitors, it's not as good as it should be.


The current generation Equinox first saw the light of day as a 2010 MY vehicle and the resulting slew of sales clearly demonstrated that GM knew exactly what the core of its buyers wanted.

With better engines, modern transmissions and a mature, more determined styling, the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox has much going for it on paper.

What's more, the Equinox is rated as one of the most fuel-efficient compact crossovers, which is reason enough for it to be on every CUV buyer's shopping list. But it all comes at a certain cost.

Not aging very well
It all begins with the fact that, in a few short years, it got old. When lined up with the 2013 Ford Escape or 2012 Kia Sportage, the Equinox looks like it was on the receiving end of a botched face-lift, leaving it bloated with miss-matched eyes and uneven ears. Current crossovers are svelte and tout like the Volkswagen Tiguan or the Mazda CX-5. The Equinox looks fat.

The cabin is thankfully better, in most regards, but the dive-away-from-the-driver dashboard is ill conceived. However, the centre stack's presentation is attractive. The 7" colour touchscreen display is the high point of the cabin with sharp graphics. On the other hand, the similarly shaped and coloured, as well as clustered, HVAC and audio controls take some time to navigate.

The seats in the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox, which were immediately appreciated, lost some of their lustre on longer trips. Their soft and cushy nature provided no real support, and the material proved rough on bare skin. Although this is a letdown, the cabin's quietness at highway speeds made for a generally comfortable environment.

As for the driver's spot, finding a proper command position was easy enough. The vehicle's front visibility is seriously hampered by hefty "A" pillars and the large well designed mirrors. Take note of this before driving off the lot.

The 2012 Chevrolet Equinox's trunk was one of the least capacious of the group, which is counter-intuitive given that it was one of the largest. The reasoning lies in how narrow the space is: We noted that an average-size stroller didn't fit width-wise. That's a #fail.

The cabin's quietness at highway speeds made for a generally comfortable environment. (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre)

4 is more
The Chevy Equinox can be powered by one of two equally interesting powertrains. The optional 264 hp 3.0L V6 has got plenty of heart but is far more glutinous, downing roughly a third more black gold than the tester's 2.4L 4-pot.

At 182 hp and 172 torques, the base engine is plenty capable. The 6-speed autobox manages the power thanks to properly geared cogs and a willingness to play along. In most cases, one does not go with the other, but GM pulls a serious tour de force with the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox.

This specific Equinox was a FWD model which helped on a number of levels including fuel consumption, which averaged 8.5L/100 km over the course of the week.

Where the absence of AWD did not help was under hard acceleration when the front wheels would complain about losing traction. I'm not talking about full-on launches, therefore appropriate winter tires will be a necessity when the weather gets ugly. The full-time, intelligent AWD is an undeniable added bonus for only $1,650.

At 182 hp and 172 torques, the base engine is plenty capable. (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre)

Calm seas
On the road, the 2012 Chevrolet Equinox is supremely relaxed and this may be its other best attribute. The ride is cushy and smooth, and given the well isolated cabin the occupants will probably never feel more at ease in another compact crossover.

Laden or not, the Equinox rides with sufficient confidence thanks to minimal body-roll and a generally uneventful drive. The offset to the Zen ride is handling: it cannot be considered sporty, but by the same token won't make you sea-sick.

Like most GM products, the Equinox's brakes feel great. The left pedal remains firm under heavy effort and the pinchers never lose their composure. Steering is at all times precise, with a tad too much hydraulic assistance.

The Equinox
Chevy's compact CUV, the GMC Terrain's twin BTW, has a starting price of $26,445. As tested, my FWD 1LT with Convenience package retails for $30,850; remember that this is without AWD.

By comparison, a 2012 Kia Sportage EX sports a sticker price of $29,995 and features a number of nice-to-haves including dual-zone climate control and AWD... The only downside to the Kia is its marginally smaller trunk.

There are more expensive equivalent crossovers such as the Volkswagen, however, both of these vehicles are far more appealing visually. Our comparo test will shed more light on other members of this highly competitive segment.

In the end, it's all there but the way it comes together doesn't make it my pick in the category.

The various truck tires in this review are all designed to provide adequate grip on snow, ice, or a combination of both. As such, all of them meet winter driving requirements. With the mountain/snowflake logo, they also meet Law 42 of the Quebec Highway Safety Code. They fit most light-duty trucks and SUVs available on the market.

Check the table below to see how winter tires stack up against each other.

Robin Frijns, who clinched the Formula Renault 3.5 series' title in controversial circumstances last weekend may reach a long-term agreement with the Sauber F1 Team.

Frijns collided with title rival Jules Bianchi during the last and decisive round of the FR3.5 series in Barcelona last Sunday. After the contact, Bianchi's car ended up in the gravel trap where he retired, giving Frijns the title.

The Dutchman is scheduled to drive the Ferrari-powered Sauber F1 car for one day at the Young Driver test in Abu Dhabi early next month.

Photo: RobinFrijns.com

British magazine Autosport understands that Frijns is set for a long-term role with Sauber, provided his run in the test proves a success.


Autosport adds that they have been impresed with his performance over the past three years during which the 21-year-old has won the Formula BMW Europe, Formula Renault Eurocup and Formula Renault 3.5 title.

Frijns apparently admitted that his performance in the Abu Dhabi test could be key to the future of his career.

Tire companies are currently taking the media by storm in an effort to sway winter tire shoppers across Canada.

As mentioned in our previous article 2012 winter tires: choosing the right tire, you must first determine the type of roads you drive on, the mileage you put your winter tires through, and the number of years you plan to keep your vehicle.

Following your analysis, the team at PMCtire.com provides you with reviews of most winter tire models available in Canada, allowing you to make an educated selection based on 11 different criteria. A total of 151 tire models from five main categories have been evaluated and ranked.

Methodology
As in years past, our rankings are based on several information sources, including personal and professional road tests, feedback from customers, articles by renowned auto journalists, and a number of consumer reviews from various North American websites and message boards. Obviously, the rating system may differ from one tester to the next since everyone has their own personal expectations and driving habits.

Here are our 2012 winter tire rankings:

• Top 5 winter tires for cars
• Top 5 performance winter tires for cars
• Top 5 winter tires for trucks/SUVs
• Top 5 performance winter tires for trucks/SUVs
• Top 5 winter tires for commercial vehicles

_{*You'll notice that the gap between models is often small. That's mainly because the technology used by tire companies in the design and manufacturing process is similar.}

From GMM

Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton appear to be in the process of falling out of favour within their respective teams.

Lewis Hamilton is moving from McLaren to Mercedes for 2013, to be replaced at the famous British by Sauber's Perez.

Mexican Perez was sidelined in morning practice in India early on Friday, ostensibly due to a heavy cold. He was replaced by Esteban Gutierrez, who is tipped to move into Perez's race seat full-time next year.

Sergio Perez has told Argentine Fox television, however, that he was well enough to drive.

Esteban Gutierrez and Sergio Perez, Sauber. (Photo: WRi2)

"I am pleased that they are so worried about me," Perez said ironically. "It's obvious that I'm not 100 per cent, but I've driven in worse shape. There was no reason for me not to drive. I was ready."

Sergio Perez said his countryman Gutierrez "did a good job" in the practice session, but insisted: "I would prefer to have done the laps in the car. So we've lost a session. Now it's more difficult to set up the car for the race."

Briton Hamilton also looks to be out of favour at McLaren, with the team's sporting director Sam Michael openly telling reporters that the 2008 world champion's car was on Friday fitted with some experimental parts for 2013.

But when asked about the new parts after Friday's track action, Hamilton furrowed his brow and answered: "No, we don't have anything new."

Video game maker Codemasters does a great job producing realistic driving games such as F1 2012 and Grid.

Light-vehicle sales in the United States will rise 11 percent to 1.13 million units in October from a year earlier, J.D. Power and Associates predicted today. October's seasonally adjusted annual selling rate is expected to be 14.

Also in this episode: GM and Peugeot deepen their European alliance, and Volkswagen will

Eternity spent fixing up a

Toyota, rebounding in the United States after four years of falling sales, may report a 20 percent rise in October deliveries on demand for Camry sedans and Prius hybrids, a group vice president said.

Tenneco reported strong quarterly adjusted profits, sending the emission- and ride-control parts maker's share price up more than 14 percent, but it signaled that it will sustain losses in Europe due to slow auto sales there.

Renault lowered its full-year deliveries target after third-quarter sales fell 13 percent, weighed down by Europe's worsening market slump.

As General Motors attempts to take the Cadillac brand global, its ad spending is going digital.

Ford of Europe is emphasising capacity utilisation as one of the prime drivers behind its decision today (25 October) to close its Transit plant at Southampton, UK.

Ford of Europe has hit back at Belgian unions which claimed to have signed a deal with the automaker to keep production at the now-doomed Genk plant.

Joint venture Beijing Hyundai celebrated its 10th anniversary in China with record monthly sales, overtaking Japanese rivals whose sales slumped because of the dispute over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands.