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News 4 Oct, 2012

The Land Rover Discovery 4 has been revised for 2013, with more luxury equipment and new body colours

Pictures 4 Oct, 2012

Hyundai said its global sales returned to growth in September, rising 3.4 percent to 371,743 from a year earlier, after strikes at South Korean plants ended and as it benefited from boosts to U.S. and China production.

Hyundai said its global sales returned to growth in September, rising 3.4 percent to 371,743 from a year earlier, after strikes at South Korean plants ended and as it benefited from boosts to U.S. and China production.

News 4 Oct, 2012

The Tiguan R-Line is making its return to the UK line-up, featuring 18-inch alloys and sporty styling

Pictures 4 Oct, 2012

News 4 Oct, 2012

Production-ready Volkswagen Golf GTI and Polo R will debut at the Geneva Motor Show next year

Pictures 28 Nov, 2012

Volkswagen favors using its factory in Puebla, Mexico, as another production site for the new Golf, CEO Martin Winterkorn said. "The decision will be made this year," he said.

Volkswagen favors using its factory in Puebla, Mexico, as another production site for the new Golf, VW CEO Martin Winterkorn said.

Supplier Visteon announced the resignation of Executive Vice President and CFO Martin Welch.

French supplier Faurecia plays a key role in the bold front end of the new Citroen DS5.

Following IndyCar series' driver Rubens Barrichello announcement to compete in the Stock Car Million Race in December, his good friend Tony Kanaan said that he would join him.

Barrichello, who competed for years in Formula 1, will drive for Team Medley/Full Time in this round of the Copa Caixa Brazilian stock car series to be held at Interlagos Circuit in Sao Paulo.

Photo: Copa Caixa

The two friends accepted to donate all their prize money to Institute Barrichello Kanaan.

Grupo Petrópolis will sponsor Kanaan's car for that race, entered by Bassani Racing.

Kanaan will test his new mount November 9 during the free practice session of the Brasilia race.

The Copa Caixa attacted some very talented drivers with F1 or IndyCar experience, such as Max Wilson, Luciano Burti, Antonio Pizzonia, Vitor Meira and Ricardo Zonta.

From GMM

A new task on Martin Whitmarsh's busy job-list for the rest of 2012 will be to "protect" Lewis Hamilton after the long-time McLaren protege decided to leave the great British team at the end of the season.

"Clearly there will be cause to be distracted in the next days and weeks," McLaren boss Whitmarsh admitted.

He is referring to Hamilton's bombshell news about Mercedes.

Whitmarsh must now ensure the 27-year-old's focus remains on trying to win this year's titles in a McLaren, even though success for the Briton would mean Hamilton takes the coveted 'number 1' to the nose of a different silver car in 2013.

Lewis Hamilton and Martin Whitmarsh, still friends for six races. (Photo: WRi2)

He admitted there will be new distractions around Hamilton as a result for the all-important final six races of his McLaren career.

"We've got to try and protect him from that," said Martin Whitmarsh. "He's assured me that he's a McLaren man for the rest of this year and that he's going to be completely focused on winning and we are going to try and create as much protection of him and the environment in which he can do that."

Whitmarsh also denied that, despite his championship contention, McLaren might begin to walk away early from Hamilton, including by flowing the bulk of the development items to his teammate Jenson Button, and locking him out of discussions.

"Lewis is a McLaren driver, he will be the recipient of the development items that we have for this year's car," he insisted.

"He will have every single development for instance in Japan and beyond. In that regard, he will be involved in the development at the race circuit, although clearly he won't be involved in the development of next year's car," explained Whitmarsh.

The 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Cars were turned loose on the 2.66 mile Talladega Superspeedway on Wednesday, the first test of the new cars on a restrictor plate track.

While no lap times/speeds were recorded NASCAR officials said that “the new-look cars turned competitive laps while drafting and in single-car runs.”

“With a different car, we'll look at what it's going to take for [restrictor] plate size and some other things, but the main concern is how the cars draft, how they react in the draft, and obviously to get more one-on-one racing,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition. “All of the input that we have from the drivers and the teams so far has been pretty good.”

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s numberless Ford leads Sam Hornish Jr. (12), Juan Pablo Montoya (42) and Brian Vickers (15) during drafting practice in the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup car test at Talladega Superspeedway. (Photo: Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images for NASCAR)

Seven teams, among the three manufacturers, took part in the test.

Chevrolet brought their 2013 SS model in a dazzle-type paint job because the final production car has not yet been introduced to the public. Teams included Richard Childress Racing's Jeff Burton, Hendrick Motorsports' Kasey Kahne and Earnhardt Ganassi Racing's Juan Pablo Montoya. Kahne also liked the appearance of the new car. “I think the cars are unique because they look different. They have a fresh look, and it resembles the manufacturer's car, which is great for the fans, who ought to be able to go out and buy a similar car.”

Jeff Burton leads fellow Chevrolet driver Kasey Kahne during the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup car test at Talladega Superspeedway. (Photo: Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images for NASCAR)

“NASCAR's working really hard to make them drive better and make the races more exciting,” Kahne added. “Right there, we had five or six of us out there and it was actually pretty dicey and pretty exciting. We're definitely going in the right direction and that's great from a drivers' standpoint because we're going to be able to race and pass more, and it's awesome from a fans' standpoint because they're going to get a much better show all the time.”

Ford Fusion's driven by Roush Fenway Racing's Ricky Stenhouse Jr. who will be making his move up to the Sprint Cup level, and Penske Racing's Sam Hornish Jr.

“It seemed pretty racy out there when we got in the seven-car packs,” said Stenhouse. “The two-car tandem could catch the group, then kind of stall out, and a single car could run right there with them.”

Engineers and crew pore over data from the No. 15 Toyota from Michael Waltrip Racing during the NASCAR 2013 Sprint Cup Series car test at Talladega Superspeedway. (Photo: Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images for NASCAR)

Toyota was represented by Joey Logano driving the 2013 Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing and Brian Vickers at the wheel for Michael Waltrip Racing.

The new car design will kick off the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup season during Speedweeks next February at Daytona International Speedway with opening points event, the Daytona 500, on the 24th.

The six-hour test was extended by 30 minutes after morning fog delayed some teams' arrival.

Brian Vickers puts the No. 15 Toyota Camry from Michael Waltrip Racing through its paces during the NASCAR 2013 Sprint Cup Series car test at Talladega Superspeedway. (Photo: Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images for NASCAR)

According to British motorsport magazine Autosport, the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile has performed revised deflection tests during the technical inspection of the Formula 1 cars in the paddock of the circuit of Suzuka in Japan.

A rumour started to circulate after the Grand Prix of Singapore, saying that teams McLaren and Red Bull Racing were using front wings that could rotate backward on their axis at high speed, reducing aerodynamic drag. The tricky wings were apparently able to pass the standard deflection tests.

McLaren MP4-27 front wing. (Photo: WRi2)

The FIA therefore decided to introduce new tests in Japan to ensure that no teams are using these moveable front wings.

Sources have confirmed Autosport that the FIA has moved where a test load is applied to the front wing. The magazine understands that all teams passed the tests that were conducted at Suzuka.

However, it is unclear whether or not modifications had been made from previous designs that some teams had been using, as they were pre-warned about the new tests.

From GMM

Having contested three minor Italian rallies since returning to active competition recently, Robert Kubica has revealed he is now eyeing "the track".

The Pole has not yet driven a single seater since returning to health, because the long-term injuries to his right arm make full movement inside the cockpit currently impossible.

But Kubica, rated as one of the best F1 drivers through his BMW and Renault career until the end of 2010, has admitted he has targeted a return to F1-style circuit running in the near future.

"When I think about the future, I see myself 70 per cent on the track and 30 per cent in rallies," he is quoted by Autosprint magazine.

The 27-year-old announced that he wants to contest a full-time motor racing series "of the highest possible level" in 2013, with a 2014 return to F1 the obvious next target.

But he insisted: "Talking about F1 now is very premature. I'm pretty much starting from scratch. Rallies are useful for the adrenaline and the tension, but the track requires more concentration.

"So I want to switch between the two. I am planning a series of tests on tracks," Robert Kubica revealed.

The next-generation Volkswagen Beetle Convertible will officially make its debut at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, but the automaker today unveiled images that show a sportier, more dynamic interpretation of the iconic design.

Based on the Beetle coupe, the new Volkswagen Beetle Convertible relies on a traditional soft top (rather than a folding hard top) that takes a little over 10 seconds to drop down or move back in place at the touch of a button.

Two rollover bars are concealed behind the back of the rear bench seat, activated by the computer that deploys the airbags in the case of a crash.

Inside, designers of the new Volkswagen Beetle Convertible retained the most popular elements such as the body-coloured dashboard and the stylish gauges and trim.

Pricing for the U.S. will be announced closer to launch, which occurs in the last quarter of 2012.

Photo: Volkswagen

Top up or down, the rear-wheel drive 2012 Lexus IS 250C turns heads.


A fiery red leather interior and a sexy black exterior have people ogling over this Japanese-made hardtop.

Summer wouldn't be complete without some drive time behind the wheel of a few hot convertibles. The 2012 Lexus IS 250C falls under the category of "hot" convertible, so the world is in order. Or at least for now it is!

I'm Special
For 2012, thanks to the addition of the Special Edition package, the IS 250C is that much more interesting. It builds on the already existing Navigation Package which, by its name, means you're getting a voice-activated HDD Navigation System. You also get clearance backup sensors and a backup camera. The backup camera is especially helpful when parking with the top up. Visibility out the rear is a little tricky, but is made more liveable because of this feature. Also added are a sleek set of 18" alloys and red leather seating.

Oh, Those Seats
There's no mistaking the interior of the IS 250C with the Special Edition package. They're red. Very red. And I love it. While I don't normally gravitate to a cardinal red hue, it looks really well positioned with the dash and centre console. Furthermore, the Obsidian exterior makes the leather-appointed seating surfaces pop even more. Kudos to Lexus for spicing this convertible up. Muy caliente.

They're red. Very red. And I love it. (Photo: Alexandra Straub)

Insider's Perspective
There's no need for a map to navigate the 2012 Lexus IS 250C's interior. Buttons and gauges are very clearly marked and so are the controls on the touchscreen. Speaking of the touchscreen: if CSI ever needed to lift a print from the car, they wouldn't be hard to find since your finger markings are quite visible against the black screen. Keeping a special cleaning cloth in the glove compartment for the occasional wipe might be a good idea.

The black dashboard is then accompanied by a black leather steering wheel with a dash of red stitching. Furthermore, there are some metallic accents around the centre stack and then a faux woodgrain-like trim along the centre console area. Put together, it makes for pleasing cabin to look at.

Shape-Shifter
In about 20 seconds, the Lexus IS 250C goes from a coupe-like form to a convertible. The three-piece, fully retractable hardtop is controlled by one button located to the left of the steering wheel. At first, it took me a few seconds to find its location. Normally, the top up/down button is located near the centre console or sometimes even inside the centre console. However, when I eventually found it, there was no stopping me from going topless when the weather permitted.
Vroom Vroom

While stopped at a light, with the car's top down, a fellow commuter on my left rolled down his window, leaned over a bit and commented: "Nice car. But why didn't you get the 350?" My initial reaction was to give him the spiel about my job and why I had the Lexus. I decided against it for brevity purposes.

Instead, I thanked him for the compliment and answered his query with: "Because the 250 does the job and does it well." He accepted the answer, then the light turned green so off we went.

When I say the 250 does the job well, I meant that the 2.5L V6 under the hood with its 204 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque is just fine for everyday use. It still has a good punch to it and won't land me in trouble with the law as quickly! Being a fan of beefier engines, and having driven the 3.5L V6 variant in the past, the 306 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque is great to have, but price is one reason why people don't opt for the IS 350C (with a starting MSRP of $57,000 compared to $49,100 for the 250).

Top up or down, the rear-wheel drive 2012 Lexus IS 250C turns heads. (Photo: Alexandra Straub)

Shift It
The 2012 Lexus IS 250C comes standard with a 6-speed manual transmission. Woohoo! Fortunately and unfortunately, the drop top I tested had the optional 6-speed, Super Electronically Controlled automatic transmission with steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters.

It's fortunate because braving city traffic is always a lot more bearable with an automatic tranny. Then again, there's something to be said for making your own shifts, complete with the third pedal. I just find a vehicle more engaging when you have more control over your gear selection. That said, up and downshifting can be done effectively through the paddle shifters or via the gearbox.

Drive Time
With the IS 250C, there's a good balance between Lexus' touring style suspension (meaning, it's nice for the long haul, but not always inspiring on a track) and a sporty infusion. Its driving dynamics are great for a long cruise, but it also has enough going on underneath its pretty sheet metal to not make you feel so relaxed that you want to take a nap. The lively engine combined with a stiffer suspension makes this four-seater convertible a capable and endearing package.

Up and downshifting can be done effectively through the paddle shifters or via the gearbox. (Photo: Alexandra Straub)

Room for Four
Inside the cabin there's room for four. There's also 306 litres (10.8 cubic feet) of trunk space. Drop the top and it's like having a bag of candy in front of me while I work. It gets consumed faster than I'd like to admit. Like most retractable hardtops, if you need room for stuff don't count on the trunk when the top is down. That is unless your items are small (i.e., tennis racquet small). Use the rear seats if possible, or get an RX 450h to do the trick!

Price Tag
The 2012 Lexus IS 250C has a starting MSRP of $49,100. With the Special Edition package ($3,400) and the optional 6-speed automatic ($1,600), the MSRP comes in at $54,100 (excluding taxes and destination charges).

This 2012 Lexus IS 250C review was originally published on Auto-Venus.com.

From GMM

Heikki Kovalainen appears headed for the exit at Caterham.

The Finn arrived at the 2010 startup with a battered image after his formative years with Renault and McLaren, but he is now linked with a move to a more competitive team for 2013.

He has also been in talks with Caterham, but team boss Tony Fernandes said when asked about Kovalainen's future in Singapore: "Well, it's ... I don't know."

Under the Singapore lights, Caterham lost its lucrative tenth place in the constructors' championship to Marussia, having always previously enjoyed the status as clearly the best of F1's three youngest teams.

Heikki Kovalainen. Caterham. (Photo: WRi2)

Heikki Kovalainen has now told Turun Sanomat newspaper that, indeed, Caterham's advantage over its immediate opposition has narrowed in recent times.

He explained that the safety car helped Timo Glock to secure Marussia's season-best 12th in Singapore.

"Before, there was so much (of a gap) between us that even with something like the safety car we were still able to beat them," said Heikki Kovalainen.

A further sign that Kovalainen's Caterham tenure is coming to an end is the news that Dutchman Giedo van der Garde - the team's well-backed GP2 driver - will drive Kovalainen's car in Friday morning practice at Suzuka this weekend.

In Singapore recently, the 27-year-old revealed that his supporters were pushing hard for a grand prix debut in 2013.

"We will do everything to make it happen," van der Garde is quoted by De Telegraaf newspaper.