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From GMM

Niki Lauda was in a Liechtenstein court on Wednesday, testifying against the founder of his failed former cap sponsor Money Service Group.

Last year, the triple world champion wore the logo of Michael Seidl's brand on his always-present cap, until Seidl was arrested for commercial fraud.

German language reports said Lauda appeared as a prominent witness in the trial this week, after receiving only EUR 400,000 of a promised EUR 1.2 million for wearing the cap in 2011.

It is also reported he lost EUR 500,000 when he invested in a Money Service Group fund.

The famous 63-year-old told the court he had "never been so cheated" in his entire life.

A new Porsche Panamera Platinum Edition will hit Canadian showrooms in January. Available with rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, this exclusive model boasts expanded standard features and unique details.

As the name suggests, a platinum silver metallic finish highlights the lower half of the side-view mirrors, the air inlet grille slits, the air vent grille on each side, the trim on the trunk lid, and the rear diffuser.

The Porsche Panamera Platinum Edition also features front parking assist, 19'' Panamera Turbo alloy wheels, 18-way adjustable front seats, and a standard part-leather interior package, with a full leather package available.

Technophiles will love the 7'' TFT touchscreen, the eleven loudspeakers with a combined output of 235 watts, and the standard Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system with built-in navigation.

The Porsche Panamera Platinum Edition starts at $92,800, while the Porsche Panamera 4 Platinum Edition retails for $97,400.

Photo: Porsche

An itty-bitty, Old World car in the great big New World; the Fiat 500 has been trying to win the hearts of North American drivers since its introduction in 2011.

With a small engine capacity, miniature volume and a small amount of room for backseat passengers, the 2013 version of the Fiat 500 somehow still manages to be bigger and bolder. And it's not just physical size: Both power and equipment in the 2013 Fiat 500 have been ramped up, as well. Fiat now offers a little more to whet the market's appetite: a new Turbo version is due to appear on the scene and will produce 135 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque, complete with more powerful brakes, plus sportier suspension and looks. It fills the slot between the 101 hp Sport and 160 hp Abarth versions.

For the 2013 model, it's also hold-onto-your-hats time for audiophiles who get to experience the premium Beats By Dr. Dre sound system made up of six speakers and an 8” subwoofer. Aside from this option, an Alpine system will replace Bose on all 2013 Fiat 500 models.

Powering this dimunitive dynamo is last year's 4-cylinder, 1.4L engine with an output of 101 hp and 98 lb-ft of torque. The 5-speed manual gearbox in the 2013 Fiat 500 has a slightly taller final drive, aimed at improving fuel economy. And that means ratings from 6.7/5.1L/100 km to 6.4/4.9L/100 km city/highway to better compete with the likes of Scion iQ, Chevrolet Spark and smart fortwo.

For those who love the look of Italian design, Fiat repeats the many customized options for the 2013 version of the 500. With hundreds of accessories available across a variety of trims, you can really personalize your little joyride. With such a wide selection of colours (15 in all) and trim choices, Fiat's designers have put style and pizzazz up front.

Among other changes, it's nice to see the availability of leather seating for the 2013 Fiat 500 Sport , as well as more robust carpeting and a denser sunshade.

For the bottom of the range Fiat 500 (the Pop) you'll pay $15,995 which includes fabric seats and 15” steel wheels. The Fiat 500 Sport can be yours for $18,595 and comes with sport seats and 16” alloy wheels. You can get your hands on the Lounge from $19,595 with leather seats. The Pop and Lounge versions of the Fiat 500c convertibles retail for $19,995 and $22,995 respectively. Finally, the top of the line Fiat 500 Abarth starts at $23,995. We're still waiting for prices on the 2013 Fiat 500 Turbocharged models.

Made at their plant in Toluca, Mexico (which Fiat has taken advantage of since its repurchase by Chrysler during the 2009 financial crisis) the Fiat 500 has been scheduled for an annual production run of 50,000 units. As the little train that could, sales have been steadily picking up steam since a sluggish start in 2011. Indeed, its popularity has climbed almost 30% in Canada in 2012 alone.

Finally, the top of the line Fiat 500 Abarth starts at $23,995. (Photo: Fiat)

BMW of North America is set to add the highly exclusive 2013 BMW Individual X6 Performance Edition (100 units) to its lineup, with an equal split between the X6 xDrive35i (US$81,695) and X6 xDrive50i (US$92,895) models.

Both will feature 20'' Y-spoke wheels, as well as Black Alcantara and Leather upholstery for the seats and door panels with Sakhir Orange contrast stitching.

The automaker also announced the very limited 2013 BMW 6 Series Coupe Frozen Silver Edition. The 55 units will be split between the 650i Coupe (US$99,295) and 650i xDrive Coupe (US$102,595). They will sport a Frozen Silver exterior paint, 20'' two-tone M Performance wheels, an M Sport Package, plus a Black Nappa leather and Gray Popular wood interior.

Unfortunately, none of these cars will be sold in Canada.

Photo: BMW

Not many people are aware that Québécois Bruno Spengler is on the verge of becoming the European DTM Series champion. It's unfortunate that little is known about this series and this future homegrown champion.

Photo: DTM Presse

I mentioned that this is a European championship series, but actually it's German. It's a three-way deal between Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi. Six of the 10 races are held on German racetracks. DTM promotional body, ITR, is making great strides in ''internationalising'' its feature race series.

Speaking of taking the series abroad; DTM officials visited Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal and also met with Octane boss, François Dumontier. ''Yes, DTM is capable and willing of presenting a DTM event in Montreal, but let's be clear on this: It can't happen before 2014,'' confirmed Dumontier.

Spengler really is from here. He was born in Montebello, his parents are of French-Alsatian origin, and he still holds a Canadian racing permit. Both his race suit and car are adorned with the maple leaf. If he manages to grab the championship title this Sunday, he will be the first non-European to accomplish this feat.

This isn't Spengler's first crack at the DTM title. He piloted a Mercedes for seven seasons, finishing twice in second place and another two times in third place. We must admit that his employer at the time never played the ''team'' card, letting him fend off contenders all by himself, specifically Audi, who methodically managed their drivers and strategy to come away with the big prize.

Spengler grew weary of the prevailing mood at Mercedes, and luckily answered BMW's call last fall to join their team. BMW, who are back in DTM after a 20-year hiatus, didn't expect to win a single race in 2012, never mind winning the whole deal.

Nonetheless, the M3 DTM, against all odds, is a huge success. Bruno won his second race! This was followed by two more wins, which leaves him in second place (three points behind points leader Garry Paffett of Mercedes) heading into the final race in Hockenheim this weekend.

Of course, DTM is not as prestigious as Formula 1. However, compared to most other Canadian drivers, Spengler receives a secured and steady ride, and a salary to drive. After scrounging around for sponsors for many years in Formula Renault and F3, Spengler did not need to find sponsors once he was fully integrated into the DTM series.

We would like to remind you that Auto123.com will be reporting live from the Hockenheim racecourse for Saturday qualifying and Sunday's race.

Spengler holds a special place in our hearts here at Auto123.com, as he is a regular contributor. We wish him good luck and sincerely hope that this pivotal and decisive race will be free of disreputable tactics and avoidable collisions.

Photo: DTM Presse

Canadian stock-car racer Maryeve Dufault will be back at the wheel of the's No. 04 C2M Dodge Charger for the ARCA Racing Series season finale presented by Menards event at the Kansas Speedway this coming Friday.

For this special occasion, the No. 04 livery will have both the colors of Valvoline NextGen and will also support Breast Cancer Awareness month by wrapping the cars' bumpers in the iconic pink.

Dodge Charger ARCA. (Photo: Maryeve Dufault)

For Dufault, who could only run a partial schedule this year, it will be another occasion to team-up with the C2M squad. The last time she got behind the team's Dodge Charger was at the Salem Speedway event where she finished 23rd after being hit by a lapped car while she was running in a top-10 position.

Practice and qualifying for the Kansas Lottery 98.9 at Kansas Speedway gets underway on Friday, October 19 in preparation for the 150 mile race on Friday night.

After launching the LF-LC concept in Detroit back in January, Lexus today revealed the LF-LC Blue concept at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney.

Named after its Opal Blue exterior, which is inspired by the lustrous base colour found in the naturally occurring semi-precious opal stone of outback Australia, the Lexus LF-LC Blue concept benefits from an ultra-lightweight body made of carbon fibre and aluminium alloy materials. It also sports vertical front and rear fog lights with a fading dot matrix pattern, a glass roof, and quadruple exhaust.

The Lexus LF-LC Blue concept's Advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive system features a powerful and efficient Atkinson-cycle combustion engine mated to a high-energy battery pack for an output of 372 kW (500 hp).

The technology-laden Lexus LF-LC Blue boasts twin 12.3'' LCDs controlled by a touchscreen on the centre console. Leather and suede are complemented with brushed metal and wood. Meanwhile, the racing-style steering wheel is clad in lightweight carbon fibre and contains integrated controls including a start button.

Photo: Lexus

From GMM

Ferrari raced an all-new Red Bull-style exhaust on only Felipe Massa's car in Korea last weekend, according to the Spanish newspaper 20 Minutos.

The news would explain the Brazilian driver's better pace than teammate Fernando Alonso in the sister F2012, and also the Spaniard's confidence that he is still in the running to beat Sebastian Vettel to the title despite a new 6-point championship deficit and Red Bull's recent dominance.

Indeed, 20 Minutos claims Fernando Alonso will be running the Massa-specification on his own red car next weekend in India.

The F2012 Ferrari in Korea. (Photo: Pirelli)

The report also said Ferrari is working hard in former F1 team Toyota's state of the art Cologne wind tunnel on a so-called 'double DRS' straightline speed-boosting system.

"Hopefully we make a little bit of a step in terms of performance and then we can fight for bigger things," Alonso, having finished third behind both Red Bulls, said before leaving Korea last Sunday.

Team boss Stefano Domenicali added: "It is clear that we must make a step forward in performance to respond to the one made by Red Bull. We are well aware of that and we are working day and night to succeed."

From GMM

The arrest warrant against Force India boss Vijay Mallya has been withdrawn.

With the sport now set to travel to the billionaire's native country for the Indian grand prix, it emerged last weekend that Mallya faced arrest there after cheques issued by his ailing airline Kingfisher bounced.

But reports on Thursday said Hyderabad International Airport withdrew the case because Kingfisher agreed to pay the debt.

Indian reports said the case involved a sum of about $2 million.

"The case has been withdrawn," a lawyer for the airport is quoted by the Press Trust of India as saying.

Scotsman David Coulthard will line up on the grid for the final time as a DTM driver at the DTM season finale in Hockenheim this weekend.

The former Formula 1 driver is ending his DTM career after three seasons and 33 races in order to concentrate more on his role as a Formula1 expert and commentator for the BBC, in addition to his other personal and business interests.

Coulthard will remain part of the Mercedes-Benz family as an AMG brand ambassador.

David Coulthard, Mercedes C-Class. (Photo: DTM)

He has been busy in this role at press and customer events since 2011, answering queries and chatting with guests. In addition, he has supported AMG's development team in certain test activities.

In the 32 DTM races that Coulthard has contested so far, he has secured 16 points and twice posted fastest race lap. He was in third place on the second row of the grid in Valencia last year. Coulthard achieved his best DTM result of the season with fifth place in the season's showpiece event at the Norisring.

BMW AG has shifted "tens of thousands" of cars that were originally targeted for Europe to the United States and Asia this year as sales weaken in the crisis-hit region.

Toyota said 90 2013 Scion iQ EVs are arriving in the United States today. The four-seaters will be used for car sharing and fleets, Toyota Motor Sales said in a statement. There are also a small number of the vehicles arriving in Japan

2013 Infiniti JX35 - Country crossover, city crossover

The Infiniti JX35 is back from its East Coast sojourn, but this SUV has proven too vacation-friendly to spend much time hanging around the office.

The Infiniti JX35 is back from its East Coast sojourn, but this SUV has proven too vacation-friendly to spend much time hanging around the office. Copy editor Rusty Blackwell grabbed the keys for an epic, nine-day, 1475-mile family road trip to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.

Photo Gallery: 2013 Infiniti JX35 - Four Seasons Update - October 2012 - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2013 Infiniti JX35 - Four Seasons Update - October 2012 - Automobile Magazine

2013 Infiniti JX35 - Country crossover, city crossover | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Timken has named John Law to the new position of vice president of light-vehicle systems. Law will report to Brian Ruel, who became vice president of light-vehicle, off-highway and rail operations in September.

Also in this episode: Opel debuts the Cascada convertible, which may head stateside as a Buick.

The Chinese auto supplier that previously offered to bail out A123 Systems, the electric-car battery maker that filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday, said it's still interested in taking over the company.

Opel, General Motors' financially embattled European unit, has revealed its new midsize Cascada convertible in a series of photos. The car goes on sale in early 2013.

Just like my parents used to say, and#8220;You can't get anything by us, we have eyes everywhere.and#8221; Ominous threats aside, GM's European unit Opel tried to sneak an Insignia Sports Tourer station wagon onto the roads of Michigan.

The diminutive 2013 Scion iQ EV battery-electric vehicle will join car-sharing programs in the United States.

News 17 Oct, 2012

Volkswagen has announced a new Passat Highline model, which gets extra kit and costs from £20,970