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BMW today disclosed details of the Paceman coupe, the seventh model in the expanding lineup of the automaker's Mini brand.

BMW today disclosed details of the Paceman coupe, the seventh model in the expanding lineup of the automaker's Mini brand.

German markets regulator BaFin has dropped its investigation into whether Porsche SE violated disclosure rules when it informed shareholders in July about selling its sports car business to Volkswagen.

Visteon is leaning toward naming interim Chief Executive Officer Tim Leuliette to the post permanently after ousting its CEO last month, people familiar with the plans said.

Italy's Industry Ministry confirmed that talks continued with potential buyers of the De Tomaso sportscar brand including BMW, a trade union said in a statement on Thursday. The ministry aims to start a sale process by mid-October.

From GMM

Ross Brawn has revealed he is not planning to retire for at least a few more years.

The 57-year-old, who soared to success in past decades as a leading engineer at Benetton and Ferrari, is now the team boss at Mercedes, three years after selling the title-winning 'Brawn GP' outfit in 2009.

Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team

And amid rumours Lewis Hamilton could switch to the Brackley based camp for 2013, Brawn has told the Daily Mail he is not going anywhere for now.

"I am not planning to retire at the moment," he said.

Also being reported at present is that Michael Schumacher could be close to signing a new at least one-year contract extension for 2013.

Brawn said he is motivated by F1's switch to radical new engine rules in 2014.

"I am very excited about this 2014 engine programme," he said. "I think it is quite a game-changer in F1. I still have a strong engineering passion, so having such a different engine and different package in 2014 is exciting and developing the team is exciting. For how long, who knows? But I have no interest in stopping in the near future."

From GMM

Fernando Alonso has backed Lewis Hamilton as the 2008 world champion considers leaving McLaren at the end of the season.

After just a single season alongside then-rookie Hamilton in 2007, Spaniard Alonso left the British team.

This week during a media event in Spain, the now Ferrari driver said leaving McLaren "was the best decision of my life".

"So if Hamilton is also evaluating that option, I don't see why anyone should say it (Hamilton leaving) is not possible. McLaren is a great team, but they won the world championship in 2008 only at the last corner of the last race. If we remove that title, you have to go back a long way to find another one," added Alonso.

Alonso and Hamilton clashed infamously as teammates in 2007, but it is clear the pair now have a great respect for one another.

Alonso confirmed: "I have said he is the only one capable of winning without having the best car. The others win if the car is good, and when it is not (good), they do not (win)."

Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) leading Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) at Montreal. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Amid all the hype about Lewis Hamilton's supposed move to Mercedes, the German squad appears to be preparing to extend Michael Schumacher's career.

The major German daily Bild said 43-year-old Schumacher's negotiations about 2013 and beyond are now "in full swing".

The report claims Mercedes AMG is offering the seven time world champion a new contract for 2013, while Schumacher is apparently pushing for a unilateral option that would allow him to decide to keep racing in 2014 as well.

The carmaker's motor racing president Norbert Haug said: "There is still no decision. We are continuing to negotiate."

Michael Schumacher, Mercedes AMG. (Photo: WRi2)

With Nico Rosberg already under contract for 2013, a new deal for Schumacher would appear to lock out McLaren's Hamilton, who according to Bild is demanding EUR 25 million per year from his next employer.

But Rosberg's name has also been connected with McLaren in recent days, raising the prospect of a Schumacher-Hamilton driver lineup at Mercedes in 2013.

Mercedes engines might also be playing a big role in the whole affair.

With former works partner McLaren now needing to pay the Stuttgart manufacturer for its power units, a cartoon at motorsport-magazin.com depicted Haug telling Martin Whitmarsh: "Kein Lewis, Keine motoren" (No Lewis, no engines).

I am darn glad that the GMC Sierra Crew Cab 4X4 Short Box showed up when it did and I'm even happier that it came with a drop-in bedliner. Anything after that was gravy! The reason for all the joy was that my son was finally coming to get the rest of his stuff after moving out.

The only drawback to using this Sierra 1500 as a moving truck was the fact that it had a short box. Some of the furniture didn't fit as well as it could have. Mind you, the Ford F-150 and the Ram 1500 would have the same issues. On the other hand, it wasn't hard to tie everything down. All we had to do was pop the covers off the corner tie-down hoops and use a few knots that my son hadn't seen since cubs and scouts.


Interior
The back seat came into service for passengers on one trip, and for that it was excellent. The seatback was adjustable for rake and the seat cushion was long enough to provide leg and thigh support. Foot space was very good.

On the second round, I folded the back seat down out of the way and loaded four or five two-cubic-foot boxes in. They stacked up quite well and made the trip to my son's place without issue.

Up front, heated seats may be available, but they weren't installed on my cloth-seated tester. That didn't stop the bucket seat from being very comfortable over a wide range of roads, with the ability to provide good lateral and lumbar support without being restrictive.

One area where the 2012 Sierra 1500 shines is that just about every control is large enough to be worked with gloves on. Someone has finally figured out that controls need to be used even when it is real cold out. Still on the large front, both the tach and speedometer are big enough to be easily seen, even in direct sunlight.

One area where the 2012 Sierra 1500 shines is that just about every control is large enough to be worked with gloves on. (Photo: General Motors)

Getting In
Being able to enjoy all the creature comforts offered was a bit of work. Running boards are optional and the driver's side does not have an entry assist handle. The only item close enough to provide an assist for that giant leap was the steering wheel.

Once firmly in place, you can drive away in comfort. Front-seat passengers have a much easier time since there is a handle for them to grab onto to get in.

On the road
Suspension upgrades are pretty much a necessity if you go far off pavement. GMC has a couple of different packages that tend to build on each other. Some competitors such as the Toyota Tundra and the Nissan Titan make their heavier-duty suspension packages part of trim packages.

With the Sierra, the basic building block is the Z71 off-road suspension which includes a locking differential, larger diameter monotube shocks and a larger sway bar. If you need more, it is available, but this covers the basics and does a good job of getting engine power to the ground when needed.

The 5.3L V8, which develops 315 hp and 348 lb-ft of torque, got the job done quite nicely and this is where you need to pay attention to the order sheet because there are several engines that can be ordered. In the Crew Cab 4X4 version, a 302-hp 4.8L V8 is standard and a 403-hp 6.2L V8 is also optional.

Driving in town was no big deal because just about everyone knows what trucks are like and that they take up space, so other drivers tend to give you the room you need. Parking is the only issue since many parallel spaces are about the same length as the truck.

Angle spaces seem to be easier to get in and out of, mall spaces are usually long enough, but a bit on the narrow side. Parallel parking requires practice and longer spaces than the average city provides.

With the Sierra, the basic building block is the Z71 off-road suspension which includes a locking differential, larger diameter monotube shocks and a larger sway bar. (Photo: General Motors)

Market Position
GMC positions the SLE trim as a bit upmarket from the entry-level work truck, although it does still have a “truck interior.” To get into the lap of luxury, you have to step up to the SLT or Denali trim levels. My SLE Crew Cab 4X4 tester with the short box starts at $39,935.

Following GMC's declaration that Sierra is a “Professional Grade Truck,” the option list of individual items for each trim level is long, as is the list of packages available. Adding “packages” is often the best way to get the truck you want, but you do have a choice and you can really tailor the 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 for what you want it to do.

Team Toyota was fastest in the first free practice sessions ahead of the Sao Paulo Six Hours, fifth round of the World Endurance Championship.

Nicolas Lapierre set the fastest time aboard his TS030 Hybrid LMP1 prototype, with a lap in 1'23''272.

The frenchman was quicker than his team mate Alex Wurz, who will share the car with him during the race, alongside Kazuki Nakajima.

Photo: Toyota Motorsports

Newcomer Luca di Grassi, who replaces Dindo Capello in the Audi R18 Ultra prototype, set the third best performance. The former F1 driver will make its prototye debuts alongside Alan McNish and Tom Kristensen.

LMP2 class was dominated by Olivier Lombard's Oreca-Nissan Signatech. The Aston Martin Vantage driven by Darren Turner was the quickest of the GTE cars.

From GMM

Fernando Alonso insists Ferrari must plan to win more grands prix in 2012 if it wants to win the title.

The Spaniard said recently it might be possible for him to defend his 37 point lead in the drivers' chase simply by remaining on the podium at the remaining races of the season.

But he said during a media event in Spain this week: "Managing this points gap is going to be hard, because I think everyone is going to be on the attack. The whole situation can change in one race that goes wrong. So we have to keep developing, working hard, trying to win races. We can't be thinking about being fourth or fifth, or doing podiums, or how to manage (the points gap), we have to be thinking of winning races."

"37 points is nothing," he insisted.

Photo: Ferrari

Fernando Alonso said Ferrari is bringing developments to the F2012 package not only next weekend in Singapore, but also the subsequent races in Japan and Korea.

The 31-year-old was, however, reluctant to talk about the future, even when asked what his relationship is like with Sergio Perez.

Reports had linked the young Mexican with a move to Ferrari next year.

"I have nothing to say, especially in response to a report or a newspaper. The relationship (with Perez) is great, as it is with everyone else," said Fernando Alonso.

For the first time since Sid Watkins' death, Bernie Ecclestone pays tribute to his friend.

"What Sid Watkins did in the way of safety in Formula One was incredible. He gave his whole life to that cause, to make sure that it could be as safe as it possibly could be. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for his caring and commitment," explains Bernie Ecclestone on the F1 official website.

"When I invited him to join Formula One as its official doctor partway through the 1978 season, we discussed many aspects of safety and medical issues. We agreed that we needed a proper hospital at the track in the form of a fully equipped medical centre to stabilise injured drivers with immediate treatment, and a helicopter to transport them subsequently to specialist facilities, and that the helicopter pad had to be as close to that trackside hospital as possible.

"Sid carried all of those things through, and many more. After the accidents to Jochen Rindt and then Ronnie Peterson, I suggested that he should have a medical intervention car and that he should take responsibility for taking drivers into medical care.

"We always talked things through and worked together, and he then took care of all the medical things which I knew nothing about.

"I am pretty sure that he is irreplaceable. You only meet somebody of his calibre once in your lifetime."

A futuristic superhero-inspired design, a 3.7 liter centrally-mounted hybrid V8 that develops a whopping 600 hp, a six-speed sequential gearbox, and a huge array of electronic technology: Peugeot has gone all-out in developing their Onyx concept-car. Visitors at the Mondial de Paris, which runs from September 29th to October 14th will certainly take notice.

The front-fenders and doors are covered by a stylishly designed copper sheet, while the remaining exposed outer-skin is dressed in black carbon-fiber. According to Peugeot officials '' the outer copper door-skin separates itself from the door-frame, therefore leaving an opening of a few centimeters, before pivoting around its rotational axis.'' It would be best to witness this on site in order to comprehend...

The interior is an ode to leather and felt; while the seats...what seats? They form a single solid structure with the carbon-fiber, very surprising! There are multiple cameras integrated into the outside rear-view mirror, the rear end and the headrests; what's more, the Onyx captures the kinetic energy and redistributes it during acceleration, adding an extra 80 horsepower.

Source: turbo.fr

Photo: Peugeot

If any vehicle is ready to enter the production phase, it's the Peugeot RCZ. The automaker is already claiming that its new baby could rival the Audi TTS and other cars of its kind. Equipped with a 260 HP, 1.6 L THP engine, the Peugeot is the most powerful model in its class after the Peugeot Onyx, a concept car also unveiled at the Paris Motor Show.

With tighter, more robust styling than the previous model, the latest RCZ R is fitted with a Torsen limited slip differential, new wheels as well as a larger rear spoiler. Better yet, CO2 emissions for this powerful RCZ R are estimated at only 155g/km. Unveiled along with the Onyx at the Paris Motor Show, the RCZ R will be available sometime in 2013.

Source: caradisiac.com

Photo: Peugeot

Alongside the new CR-V crossover and a Civic showcasing the company's new 1.6L diesel engine, Honda will introduce its revised CR-Z at the upcoming Paris Auto Show.

The 2013 CR-Z will get exterior and interior styling revisions for a sportier appearance. More importantly, both the gas engine and the electric motor will get power increases, but Honda states that fuel economy and exhaust emissions will remain the same.

There isn't much more info right now, as specific details will be announced at the show.

As for that diesel engine in the Civic, it will produce 120 PS or metric horsepower and help achieve a combined fuel economy rating of 78.5 mpg, or 3.6 L/100km. Let's hope this engine eventually comes to Canada.

Photo: Honda UK

Canadian stock-car driver Maryeve Dufault will be back in action this week-end for the presentation of the ARCA Racing Series event in Salem, Indiana.

For Dufault, this coming race will be only the second one, after Pocono earlier this summer, in which she has participated this year. Last year, she took part in most of the ARCA schedule for Tony Marks Racing.

For this event, she will drive the No.04 Dodge owned by Carter 2 Motorsports.

Maryeve Dufault. (Photo: ARCA)

Dirk Werner's BMW M3 set the best performance in the first free practice session on Friday afternoon in Oschersleben, 8th round of the DTM championship.

The BMW, which never hit the track at Oschersleben before, had a good beginning of the weekend, as the german manufacturer put four M3 DTM in the top 7 positions with Werner (1st), Augusto Farfus (3rd), Andy Priaulx (4th) and canadian driver Bruno Spengler, who set the 7th best performance.

Dirk Werner, BMW. (Photo: DTM)

Championship leader Gary Paffett (Mercedes) was second quickest with a gap of 0,265 seconds over Werner, who set his best lap time in 1'22''132. The best Audi was the A5 driven by Timo Scheider, who stands 5th, half a second slower than the best time.

Robert Wickens, from Toronto, was 15th aboard his Mercedes.

There comes a time when a family man has to assume himself. He can stay in denial for a while, but at some point, he'll have to take full responsibility for his fertility and choose a transportation device that will haul his kids and their stuff -- and leave room for Poochy the golden retriever.


Oh sure, the family man was a hustlin' ladies man back in the day, cruising around in his Mustang or Prelude, but that time is over. His new set of wheels isn't a chick magnet, but boy, does it ever make his life easier.

The family man is now strutting his stuff, or what's left of it, in a minivan.

There aren't many to choose from anymore since your typical family man might sacrifice space and versatility for a trendy crossover vehicle instead. However, Toyota thinks their Sienna has just what the family man needs, especially in the, um, sporty SE trim.

No, it's not really a sports car
Does Toyota really think you can fool a family man? Even with 19” alloy wheels, more aggressive front and rear fascias, a “sporty” front grille, a rear spoiler, and smoked headlight clusters and taillamps, the 2012 Toyota Sienna SE doesn't look macho, and it never will. Call it a Swagger Wagon if you want Toyota, but it's still a minivan.

Yet it looks good, sophisticated if you will. The SE would probably be the family man's choice because it's the last, albeit faint, indication that there's still life inside of him. One day, when the kids are old enough to stay home and sit in front of the Playstation all day long, chances are the family man will ditch the minivan for something more, ah, personalized. And it likely won't be an Avalon.

The eight-passenger Sienna SE does get a fair amount of features, however: power sunroof, three-zone climate control, fabric sport seats with leatherette inserts, leather-wrapped wheel and shift knob, a 6-speaker stereo with a USB port and Bluetooth connectivity, a backup camera, as well as power-sliding side doors and a power liftgate. The family man gets a fair amount of gadgets to cheer him up.

The 2012 Toyota Sienna SE gets model-specific front and rear fascias as well as smoked headlight clusters and taillamps. (Photo: Toyota)

Hold on to your Happy Meal
Today's minivans are equipped with high-horsepower V6 engines, as if they're trying to be forgiven for being unfashionable transportation devices. The Sienna is no exception, boasting a 3.5L V6 that belts out 266 hp and 245 lb-ft of torque.

Poochy better be lying down and the kids better be firmly strapped in their booster seats when the family man hits the accelerator because the 2012 Toyota Sienna SE rips to 100 km/h in 8.8 seconds -- not bad for a 4,460-lb vehicle. Mash the throttle, and the front-drive Sienna's tires will screech as if they're trying to tell the family man: “Hey, what's your problem, dude? Have you forgotten what you're driving?”

Fuel economy is rated at 11.3L/100km around town and 7.9 on the highway. We family men recorded an average of 11.7L/100km with four on board and a cargo area filled with photo and video camera gear, on a recent round trip from Montreal to Toronto. Could've been a little lower, we think.

With no kids on board -- at least from an age standpoint -- there were no ice cream spills or fighting, but the classic “are we there yet?” was heard on more than one occasion since we didn't find the second-row seats very comfortable over the long trip. We did, however, manage to get coffee stains in most of the Sienna's 12 cupholders.

The Sienna's 3.5L V6 produces 266 hp and 245 lb-ft of torque, and allows a 3,500-lb towing capacity. (Photo: Toyota)

Lots of space for the offspring
This is why the family-man-in-denial breaks and buys a minivan. With 4,655 litres of total passenger space, the Sienna is a living room on wheels. Having that much volume is great, because there's less chance that the kids will be rubbing shoulders. And nagging. And arguing. And screaming.

And the family man hates playing trunk Tetris. Not because he isn't up for a challenge, but because he's wise enough to know that when it's time to head for the cottage or to the in-laws, his wife will pack everything that isn't bolted to a wall or that can't get through the house front door. In short, all that stuff will fit by simply throwing it in the 2,466-litre cargo area. To hell with the golden, he can just lay on top of the pile.

With 4,655 litres of total passenger space, the Sienna is a living room on wheels. (Photo: Toyota)

The family man's wallet got thinner
A 2012 Toyota Sienna SE is listed at $36,825. A decent price for what you get, and a couple grand cheaper than the equally “sporty” Dodge Grand Caravan R/T.

Although the family man has to cope with the emasculation process in owning a minivan, at least he knows the Toyota Sienna won't require any other major sacrifices. Peace of mind is not a bad thing to have when you have a family to take care of.

From GMM

Charles Pic's management is reportedly shopping around for a better car for the French rookie.

Pic, 22, has had a solid formula one debut this season alongside the experienced Timo Glock, but their 2012 Marussia single seater is among the very slowest in the field.

Charles Pic made his debut this year with the substantial backing of the family business Groupe Charles Andre, a leading European transport company.

"There is the technical help from McLaren," he is quoted by Le Dauphine Libere, "but it takes time to develop a young team like Marussia."

Pic said he is "happy" with the first half-season of his F1 career, having set the target of getting close to the pace of his teammate Glock "as soon as possible".

Charles Pic working with his engineer. (Photo: Marussia F1 Team)

According to paddock rumours, the next step could be a move to a faster team.

French broadcaster TF1 last week mentioned Caterham as one possibility for 2013, given Vitaly Petrov's reported funding problems.

Another rumour is that Sauber could be an option for Pic.

Asked about the speculation, Pic answered: "I'm focused on what I have to do to get out 100 per cent of the potential of my car. Of course it (the future) is open, and Olivier Panis and Didier Coton, who take care of me, are talking with teams, but that's normal at this stage of the season."

"We'll see," he added.

From GMM

Christian Horner thinks Brazilian Luiz Razia deserves a place on the formula one grid in 2013.

With one round to go, the 23-year-old is chasing Davide Valsecchi for this year's GP2 championship.

Earlier this week, he tested for the Force India team at Magny Cours.

Luiz Razia driving the Sahara Force India this week, at Magny Cours. (Photo: WRi2)

In GP2, he drives for Red Bull team boss Horner's Arden team.

"I think he deserves a chance in F1 next year," Briton Horner is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace.

In a collaboration with Mark Webber, Horner's other junior team, MW Arden, has wrapped up the 2012 GP3 championship with New Zealander Mitch Evans.

Asked about his role with Arden, Red Bull team principal Horner answered: "It's very limited. I'm still the owner, but I'm a bit like Ron Dennis (with McLaren)," he smiled.