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From GMM

Martin Whitmarsh on Thursday played down reports McLaren is set to follow Mercedes and Lotus' lead by racing a 'double DRS' system this weekend at Spa.

But the Woking based team's boss did not deny McLaren designers are working on the straightline-speed boosting concept.

"We are not announcing when, where and if we are going to be introducing it," he told reporters during sponsor Vodafone's regular media teleconference.

"I think we will see different wing variants, certainly on our car along with a number of visual items as they go through scrutineering later today and hit the track on Friday.

"We will see new bits, but McLaren will not have a double DRS in Belgium," Whitmarsh said from Belgium.

He also refused to rule out a scenario where Jenson Button, who is 41 points behind teammate Lewis Hamilton's points tally with nine races to go, might eventually fall in line to support the sister McLaren's title charge.

But "It will be quite a few races before we make that decision," Whitmarsh - who insisted McLaren's long-standing policy of driver equality remained in place - said.

"There may well come a point (when team orders are used), but there are still many races left and many points on offer -- things can change quickly."

There's something to be said for German engineering. I've mentioned it before and I'll say it again: The Germans know what they're doing. From cars to kitchen appliances to schnitzel, if it's German-made, chances are it's going to be pretty good.


The Germans have not disappointed with their latest iteration of the well-known and loved Volkswagen GTI.

Slated as the odd-man-out in our latest sports coupe comparison drive (Comparo 2.0 which you'll, undoubtedly, want to check out), the 2012 Volkswagen Golf GTI proved to be a powerhouse in a lineup of equally capable vehicles. As the only front-wheel driven vehicle in the bunch, the GTI was different from the beginning, but it was the time behind the wheel, not the specs, that truly set it apart.




It's all in the drive
Usually, I would start with the outside look of the car and work my way in behind the wheel, however, this time I feel I need to start with the drive of the 2012 Volkswagen GTI. And here's why:

Equipped with a 2.0L TSI turbocharged engine that pushes out 200 hp, coupled with VW's ever-capable 6-speed DSG automatic transmission and this little hatch virtually flies. As competent on the track as it is on open country roads, the GTI is responsive, lively and oh-so fun to drive -- especially when "S" is selected on the gear shifter.

Generally, automatic cars disappoint me, especially sportier models. I'm a manual-driving kinda girl, but the DSG in the VW GTI is so sublime, if I was going to purchase a GTI I wouldn't have it any other way.

Case in point: During our comparo drive we took some seriously long and isolated country roads. On one such road, in the middle of nowhere, I decided I need to use the little girl's room after downing an entire extra-large coffee and a bottle of water (not the best idea). Well, being the only woman on the drive, I decided to wait till the next town instead of squatting in a bush on the side of the road -- and I was handed the keys to the GTI.

With urine floating round my eyeballs, I thought I'd never be able to enjoy the GTI. However, after that first shift with the steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters, exhaust barking out the back (what a sound from such a little car!), I completely forgot that my bladder was bursting and I felt I could have driven the car for another 12 hours straight, no bathroom break needed.

Equipped with a 2.0L TSI turbocharged engine that pushes out 200 hp, coupled with VW's ever-capable 6-speed DSG automatic transmission and this little hatch virtually flies. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert)

Das is good, very good
Since I'm working my way from the inside out, it's time to mention the oh-so German interior of the GTI. Well-stitched, well laid out and well-appointed, the interior of the VW GTI is pleasant from any and all of the 5 seats available.

Of all the comparo vehicles we drove that day, the GTI's seats were by far the most snug and sportiest. (Read: Anyone with a larger rear end is going to feel extremely self-conscious, or perhaps not fit at all.) Around sharp corners and in spirited driving situations, the driver seating position is fantastic.

I absolutely love the red-on-black stitching across the seats and steering wheel, and the centre console is concise, clean and easy-to-use. Add the golf-ball-like shifter knob and it's near perfect -- near.

The only complaint I have about the GTI's interior is the size of the paddle shifters on the steering wheel. Thanks to my small, girlie hands, I found my fingers barely reached the paddles when I was gripping the wheel at 3 and 9. I had to swivel my hands further around the wheel to reach them, changing my grip on the wheel. Not so hot when I was on the track.

I absolutely love the red-on-black stitching across the seats and steering wheel. (Photo: Volkswagen)

GTI goodness, at a cost
From the outside, the Volkswagen Golf GTI is just as appealing. In 5-door trim, as we had for the week, the GTI isn't just a capable family car, but also quite good looking.

Despite being "cute" and rounded, the GTI is anything but soft and cuddly, especially when seen in a rearview mirror, fast approaching. A red-lined front grille hugs the massive VW logo up front with the ever-so-subtle "GTI" letters off to the side, just to remind you what's coming your way.

Clean lines hug the car from all angles, and the 18" Detroit alloy wheels are, perhaps, one of the prettiest on the road today and suit the car perfectly.

For all the refinement and high-quality build materials, the only downfall of the GTI becomes its price tag. German engineering comes at a cost, unfortunately. Starting at a hair over $30k, the GTI was also the priciest of our comparo bunch.

Is it worth the pennies required to purchase the 2012 Volkswagen GTI? If you want a well-made, fun to drive, practical (as far as small cars go), German-engineered vehicle, then yes it most definitely is.

This 2012 Volkswagen Golf GTI Review was originally published on Auto-Venus.com.

The Auto GP series will use a new single seater from 2013, and British motorsport magazine Autosport has published a photo of the new race car.

The Auto GP series is relatively unknown in North America. This may change with a race to be held at Sonoma, California September 23.

The current car is a Lola B05/52 powered by a 550 bhp V8 3.4-litre Zytek engine. The new car will retain this basis but will feature updated sidepods and revised front and rear aerodynamics.

Auto GP organizers predict lap times to be improved by around 1.5 seconds. Initial testing is expected to begin in November.

Photo: Auto GP

Series' boss is Enzo Coloni -- who ran his own Formula 1 team between 1987 and 1991.

Former Formula 3000 champion Vincenzo Sospiri is today a talent scout and driver coach with Auto GP team Euronova Racing.

“Auto GP provides excellent training for young drivers and is good value for money compared to other championships with big cars,” he declared.

“The car is really very good to drive and well built with a really good, powerful engine. Besides this, the format of the races means that drivers have an opportunity to learn about pit-stops, strategy, overboost and how to use different tire compounds.

“All of which are very important for a professional driver. Considering that for 2013 the car will be updated to be even more competitive I would say that Auto GP is a truly complete package for young drivers,” Sospiri said.

From GMM

Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko is sure reigning back to back world champion Sebastian Vettel is still in the hunt for the 2012 title.

No longer with the season's dominant package, the 25-year-old German is 42 points behind championship leader Fernando Alonso, and he even trails his own teammate Mark Webber by a couple of points.

"The title is still entirely feasible for us," Austrian Marko, who is team boss Dietrich Mateschitz's right-hand man on motor racing matters, told Bild newspaper.

"But Vettel needs to do better in qualifying."

Indeed, after scooping 15 of the possible 19 pole positions as he cruised to last year's title, Vettel has started from the front row of the grid only 4 times so far in 2012.

His sole win so far was in Bahrain, while Fernando Alonso (3), Lewis Hamilton (2) and even Webber in the sister Red Bull (2) have all been multiple winners this year.

But the real problem is Spaniard Alonso's metronomic consistency.  In fact, the Ferrari driver can match Michael Schumacher's all-time record of 24 consecutive points finishes this weekend in Belgium.

Marko said: "Vettel doesn't need five wins, but he can't have any more failures.  Alonso's run is going to end sometime soon, and when it does we have to be there."

Marko also insisted Vettel, despite being two points behind Webber, will not receive preferential treatment as the 2012 title chase heats up.

"With us, both drivers may be world champion.  So Webber can go for the title too," he said.

Hyundai Motor has reached a tentative wage deal with its South Korean labor union leaders, which if approved by members, would allow the carmaker to avert further production losses that have threatened to slow its sales growth.

U.S. sales of certified used vehicles are likely to rise about 5 percent this year, the head of General Motors' certified used-vehicle program predicted Wednesday. But he said GM's sales will be constrained by a shortage of vehicles.

Chris Borroni-Bird has left GM, where he developed futuristic vehicles, to join Qualcomm, the largest seller of mobile-phone semiconductors, according to a person familiar with the decision.

Respect Your Elders: 1971 Datsun 240Z Vs 2013 Scion FR-S

The Datsun 240Z was the first sports car from Japan that really mattered. Does the Scion FR-S measure up?

We live in an age that is endlessly and often exclusively obsessed with the present. We crown LeBron James as the greatest NBA player of all time and forget about Michael Jordan and Bill Russell. Kids read The Hunger Games and the Harry Potter books rather than Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Facebook Timelines zoom in on the last minute and compress everything that's come before (of the year 1985, my Timeline succinctly reports, "Born"). Progress is inevitable, and it's great, but how can we properly appreciate it without the context of the past?

Photo Gallery: Respect Your Elders: 1971 Datsun 240Z Vs 2013 Scion FR-S - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: Respect Your Elders: 1971 Datsun 240Z Vs 2013 Scion FR-S - Automobile Magazine

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Also in this episode: Ferrari hopes for a record year of sales, and Bentley officially unveils the Continental GT Speed at the Moscow motor show.

Mecumand#8217;s second annual Dallas Auction starts next week on Sept. 5 and runs through the weekend.

The CAW said it may break with tradition and continue contract talks with all three Detroit automakers simultaneously, instead of targeting one of them to tackle first to set a bargaining pattern for the others.

Nissan Russia has revealed the Almera at the Moscow motor show. This small sedan will be made on a specially installed line within the giant AvtoVAZ works in Togliatti.

Sharp-eyed Autoweek reader Robert Burkhardt has sent us a photo of what appears to be a camouflaged Jaguar F-Type caught driving in the mountains near Denver.

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I think I'd go with the regular Carrera. This 2012 Porsche Carrera S seems a bit too stiff to me. Is that blasphemy? Maybe.

Hyundai Motor may miss its overseas sales target next month because of strikes at its South Korean plants, said a company executive with direct knowledge of the sales.

As automakers plan to bring out more hybrid-electric models, we hear from LMC Automotive on their forecasts for the evolution of the global hybrid market.

Fiat is to shut its troubled Pomigliano D'Arco plant yet again for another two weeks as plummeting demand continues to exact on its toll on European automakers.

Pictures 29 Aug, 2012

News 29 Aug, 2012

The updated Lexus LS saloon has been unveiled at the Moscow Motor Show

The push for fuel economy leadership will heavily influence the look and performance of Nissan's new products for the next three years.