Under CEO Alan Mulally's leadership, Ford Motor Co. has a simple product philosophy: Deliver vehicles that have leading-edge technology, get good fuel economy and are safe and fun to drive.
A high-performance Golf beyond the fun-loving GTI isn't a novelty. Back in the '80s, the Rallye Golf sported four-wheel drive and a 160-hp supercharged G60 engine. During the last decade, the Golf R32 had AWD, a 240- or 250-hp 3.2L VR6 as well as VW's DSG gearbox.
And now, we have the 2012 Volkswagen Golf R. Using a more powerful 2.0L turbo engine and all-wheel drive, the R is the most potent Golf to ever hit the streets.
For hardcore VW fans, this car may represent the ultimate hot hatch, the most desirable Golf and a social-status winner, as only about 600 copies will be sold this year in Canada. For the rest of us, it's just a more expensive GTI.
Buckets o' torque
Already an amazing little engine on duty in various VW and Audi products, including the Golf GTI, the turbo 2.0L four in the Golf R provides a healthy supply of power: 256 horses as well as 243 lb-ft of torque, all present and accounted for from 2,400 all the way to 5,200 rpm. A 6-speed manual is the only gearbox offered in Canada and the U.S.
However, with about 290 lbs more to haul over a base 5-door GTI, the R isn't all that much quicker. We measured a 0-100 km/h of 6.4 seconds which is fast, but not better than a DSG-equipped Golf GTI. What's really impressive is the ever present amount of torque that provides a rush of forward motion.
The Golf R always makes you feel like someone's pursuing you, and that you've gotta shake them off your tail. Despite our heavy right footwork, fuel economy over the week's test was 10.1 L/100km. (That's premium fuel, by the way.)
And while it may not be as nose-heavy as the last Volkswagen R32 we tested, the extra weight does make itself felt. The Golf R does feel more buttoned down, partly because of the all-wheel drive system which also rids the car of the front-drive GTI's admittedly minimal torque steer.
On duty in the 2012 Volkswagen Golf R, the turbo 2.0L engine develops 256 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)
Fully loaded
There are no available options for the Golf R. It includes a power sunroof, 18" wheels, an intelligent key system, navigation, a 300-watt Dynaudio sound system, and leather-clad sport seats, all of which require extra coin to obtain in a GTI.
The R also gets an exclusive alloy wheel design, unique front and rear bumpers, black brake callipers with the R logo, a stiffer suspension and centre-mounted exhaust tips. The Golf R looks hot, and certainly drew attention from VW lovers. People driving vehicles other than Volks didn't seem to care so much. Hell, they clealry had no idea that I was piloting a limited edition, high-horse Golf.
Wonderfully supportive seats keep you sitting straight when the R isn't going straight, a great driving position is easy to find, and outward visibility is only hampered by the rear-seat headrests.
What's great about the Golf R is that it's just as versatile as a $20,000 Golf. Five doors make loading up the spouse and kids a piece of cake. There's 413 litres of cargo space, which is more than you'll find in just about any sports car, and its relatively subtle looks suggest a mature sportiness. Tasteful is the word here.
Wonderfully supportive seats keep you sitting straight when the R isn't going straight. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)
Still a GTI
As wonderful to drive as the Golf R is, to me it isn't that far away from the driving experience you'll get out of a GTI. Ah, but during the snowy season the R does score many more points as pointed out by my colleague Matt following the Golf R's launch in the north of Sweden.
I like the GTI. A lot. However, I wouldn't pay extra for its optional features; a base car is fine with me. That's why I find the $10,000 price gap hard to swallow for stepping up to the Golf R. Sure, it's exclusive and VW fans -- you know, that cult -- will envy you. And sure, if leather and navigation is your cup of tea then the R is only $3,500 more. OK, worth it.
At $39,675, the Golf R is more expensive than a base Subaru Impreza WRX STI, and about two grand away from a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR. That's pretty muscular competition, and two cars that draw more attention than the VW.
The 2012 Volkswagen Golf R is, for those who can afford it, a fine piece of machinery. It may be a hero for those with affection for VWs. However, it's not enough for me to consider it over a regular, and just as fun, $30K GTI 5-door.
Drifting is a very cool craze. I, for one, am not a huge fan of watching it unfold, but must admit that I'd love to be able to do what these professional and experienced pilots can do.
As with any sport, practice is of the essence. However, it will only take you so far if you lack talent. The likes of Ken Block and Vaughn Gittin Jr have gone through countless body panels, tires, brakes - cars even - to get to where they are today. One does not master the drift overnight.
This brings me to the point of this blog. We've recently put together a massive comparison test where we pitted a number of cars, including some that are targeted, in part, to drifters and fans of the sport. In Comparo 2.0, we tracked and road tested the cars to find out what they were really about.
As you may or may not know, the vast majority of cars automotive publications evaluate belong to car manufacturers. Generally speaking, we book or have the cars offered to us for road tests and no questions are asked. When we plan on doing something out of the ordinary with the cars, we always inform the maker of our intentions.
For the track portion of our comparison, we rented Autodrome St-Eustache (ASE) for a day and permitted ourselves to push the cars, somewhat. We lapped at between 6 and 7/10, never pushing the cars too hard out of respect for the carmakers that preferred we return the cars with some rubber and brake pads.
Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre
These, then, are the reasons why you will not see or read anything about us drifting the 2013 Scion FR-S, 2013 Subaru BRZ, 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T R-Spec and 2012 Mazda MX-5, because we didn't.
This does not detract from the fact that of the five drivers that day, two have extensive track experience and one holds a current FIA pilot's license, and that we did push the cars to a level where we were able to learn much about the cars' suspension dynamics, chassis, brakes and steering.
Yes, we would have liked to drift the poop out of some of the cars, especially the Subayotas and the Gen Coupe. And, well, maybe we did pull a few stunts that you will not find in the video, but that's just between you and I.
A new version of the cheeky Fiat 500 will be added to the line-up for the 2013 model year, slotting between the 101-hp Pop, Sport and Lounge models and the 160-hp Fiat 500 Abarth.
The new Fiat 500 Turbo gets a turbocharged and twin-intercooled 1.4L engine that develops 135 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque; a hefty increase from the base versions for the minicar.
Sport-tuned suspension, steering and brakes are also part of the package. Cosmetically, the 500 Turbo receives unique front and rear fascias, side skirts, blacked-out headlight bezels, a rear spoiler and 16" alloy wheels. Seven colours will be offered, including the new Verde Azzurro (green and blue).
Also included in the 2013 Fiat 500 Turbo is a new Beats by Dr. Dre surround sound system, which includes six speakers, an 8" subwoofer and a 368-watt amplifier.
The 500 Turbo will arrive this fall in Canada with a $20,995 MSRP.
Former F1 driver Vitantonio Liuzzi simply cannot wait to make his FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) debut at the 6 Hours of Silverstone, this coming weekend.
Liuzzi, who drove in F1 for Red Bull Racing, Toro Rosso, Force India and HRT, will be at the wheel of the No. 32 Lotus entry in the P2 category.
"I am very happy to get the chance to drive at the 6 Hours of Silverstone," the 31-year-old admitted. "I know the track quite well from Formula 1 races in the past. But driving here in the Lotus LMP2 car will be different, for sure."
The Italian will share the wheel with American Kevin Weeda and local hero James Rossiter, who it turns out lives not far away from the track.
"For me it is a real home race as I live close to Silverstone," said the Briton who, much like his new teammate, is impatient to get going. "I am very looking forward to driving in front of my home crowd."
The start of the Six Hours of Silverstone, last round before the WEC heads out of Europe to South America and Asia, will be given Sunday at noon, local time.
The 2012 edition of the NAPA Auto Parts 200 held in Montreal last weekend featured highly disputed races, especially the NASCAR Nationwide race won by Justin Allgaier.
The crowd had great hopes of seeing one of its favorites win the race, a driver such as Villeneuve, Fellows, Carpentier, Tagliani or Ranger.
Jacques Villeneuve was apprently on his way to victory with just one lap to go when Allgaier went for it, bumped Villeneuve's Penske Dodge and move into the lead.
In the NASCAR Canadian Tire series, J.R. Fitzpatrick captured victory in a race filled with full-course yellows. Andrew Ranger finished second as the race finished also under the yellows.
First introduced in 2009 at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the Bentley Mulsanne was (and still is) the ultimate in luxury saloons. It is a flagship in the handcrafted vehicle class, and stands alone at the pinnacle of British luxury motoring, with a splash of sportiness thrown in for good measure.
And now the British automakers have gone and chopped the top off.
The Mulsanne Convertible Concept is set to be the world's most sophisticated and elegant convertible on the road. This vehicle will be the ideal vehicle for those seeking the ultimate in design, luxury, prestige and exclusivity.
At the zenith of automotive craftsmanship and luxury, the Bentley Mulsanne Convertible Concept is designed to further exemplify Bentley's position as the undisputed benchmark in coach-built elegance in the automotive world.
The fourth round of the 2012 FIA World Endurance Championship, the Six Hours of Silverstone will be staged this weekend in Great Britain.
TOYOTA Racing made its debut with the innovative TS030 HYBRID in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, causing a surprise by leading its very first race before an accident and technical issue respectively eliminated both cars.
At Silverstone, the team will be present with one car; the No. 7 driven by Alex Wurz, Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima. Anthony Davidson, who is recovering well after his Le Mans accident, will lend his support to the team during the weekend.
Wurz and Lapierre got ready for the WEC Six Hours of Silverstone with a two-day testing session (14-15 August) at MotorLand Aragon in Spain, where an updated aerodynamic package was put through its paces.
(Photo: Toyota Motorsport)
This update has been developed using a combination of simulation technology and the wind tunnels at TOYOTA Motorsport GmbH (TMG); the team's home base in Cologne, Germany.
It features modified aerodynamics more suited to Silverstone's 5.891km Grand Prix circuit and the remaining WEC races, delivering more downforce compared to the Le Mans specification.
Wurz and Lapierre fine-tuned the revised TS030 HYBRID's handling at Silverstone track sessions in TMG's driving simulator, which accurately recreates car behaviour.
There will be four designated braking zones at Silverstone, where the TS030 HYBRID can recover up to 500Kj of energy, stored in super capacitors for automatic release as a power boost later in the lap.
Get your cheque books out: a 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster will be auctioned off at Pebble Beach's Concours d'Elegance in California this week.
Yes, you read that correctly. One of the rarest Mercs in the world will be present at Pebble Beach and it will be for sale. Known as the Von Krieger Special Roadster, this Mercedes was built before WWII and was, apparently, Baroness Gisela von Krieger's favourite ride.
One of only 12 cars of this model left on the planet, the Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster is estimated to sell for no less than $10 million (and will likely surpass the current leader of most expensive auction price, a '57 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, at $16.4 million).
Felipe Massa has been ranked by an authoritative German magazine as the 17th best driver on the 2012 grid after half the season so far.
But the Brazilian, who is fighting to keep his seat at Ferrari after seven consecutive seasons with the famous Italian team, gave his August break a boost at the weekend by going 'P1' at his home Interlagos circuit.
He was faster than regulars including former grand prix driver Christian Fittipaldi during practice for a round of the Brazilian Copa Fiat touring car series.
"Having one set of tyres more than the others helped me but I was not expecting to be quicker than these excellent and experienced drivers," said Massa.
On Auto Motor und Sport's mid-season ranking, however, the 31-year-old was a lowly seventeenth -- 16 places behind his excellent teammate Fernando Alonso and even reportedly outclassed by drivers including Daniel Ricciardo and Vitaly Petrov.
"Many people believe this is the first time I've been in such a situation," Massa is quoted by the Russian website f1news.ru.
"It's not. It happened a lot in the series I did before formula one -- if I did not win the race then I probably wouldn't have the money to do the next one."
The Auto Motor und Sport ranking was calculated by averaging the scores given by the magazine to each driver following each of the eleven grands prix so far in 2012.
Championship leader Alonso's score of 9.09 was the highest, followed by Sebastian Vettel (7.64 out of 10), Lewis Hamilton (7.55) and Kimi Raikkonen (7.27).
Michael Schumacher is sixth with 6.73, McLaren's Jenson Button just twelfth (5.73), and Barcelona winner Pastor Maldonado second-to-last with a score of only 4.45 out of 10.
Compact cars like the seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf will have a fierce rival in the form of the all-new Toyota Auris.
Scheduled to make its world debut at the 2012 Paris Auto Show in September, the Auris features youthful styling and aerodynamic lines. Actually, the front section is fairly reminiscent of the popular Yaris. It's also 3 cm longer, 5.5 cm lower, and 40 kg lighter than its predecessor.
A pair of diesel engines (1.4L and 2.0L) will be available along with a 1.3L gasoline variant and a 1.8L hybrid system.
Production of the Toyota Auris will take place in the U.K.
Prices and specifications will be revealed at a later date, most likely around the Paris show. We still don't know exactly when and where the Auris will go on sale.
A high-performance Golf beyond the fun-loving GTI isn't a novelty. Back in the '80s, the Rallye Golf sported four-wheel drive and a 160-hp supercharged G60 engine. During the last decade, the Golf R32 had AWD, a 240- or 250-hp 3.2L VR6 as well as VW's DSG gearbox.
And now, we have the 2012 Volkswagen Golf R. Using a more powerful 2.0L turbo engine and all-wheel drive, the R is the most potent Golf to ever hit the streets.
For hardcore VW fans, this car may represent the ultimate hot hatch, the most desirable Golf and a social-status winner, as only about 600 copies will be sold this year in Canada. For the rest of us, it's just a more expensive GTI.
Buckets o' torque
Already an amazing little engine on duty in various VW and Audi products, including the Golf GTI, the turbo 2.0L four in the Golf R provides a healthy supply of power: 256 horses as well as 243 lb-ft of torque, all present and accounted for from 2,400 all the way to 5,200 rpm. A 6-speed manual is the only gearbox offered in Canada and the U.S.
However, with about 290 lbs more to haul over a base 5-door GTI, the R isn't all that much quicker. We measured a 0-100 km/h of 6.4 seconds which is fast, but not better than a DSG-equipped Golf GTI. What's really impressive is the ever present amount of torque that provides a rush of forward motion.
The Golf R always makes you feel like someone's pursuing you, and that you've gotta shake them off your tail. Despite our heavy right footwork, fuel economy over the week's test was 10.1 L/100km. (That's premium fuel, by the way.)
And while it may not be as nose-heavy as the last Volkswagen R32 we tested, the extra weight does make itself felt. The Golf R does feel more buttoned down, partly because of the all-wheel drive system which also rids the car of the front-drive GTI's admittedly minimal torque steer.
Fully loaded
There are no available options for the Golf R. It includes a power sunroof, 18" wheels, an intelligent key system, navigation, a 300-watt Dynaudio sound system, and leather-clad sport seats, all of which require extra coin to obtain in a GTI.
The R also gets an exclusive alloy wheel design, unique front and rear bumpers, black brake callipers with the R logo, a stiffer suspension and centre-mounted exhaust tips. The Golf R looks hot, and certainly drew attention from VW lovers. People driving vehicles other than Volks didn't seem to care so much. Hell, they clealry had no idea that I was piloting a limited edition, high-horse Golf.
Wonderfully supportive seats keep you sitting straight when the R isn't going straight, a great driving position is easy to find, and outward visibility is only hampered by the rear-seat headrests.
What's great about the Golf R is that it's just as versatile as a $20,000 Golf. Five doors make loading up the spouse and kids a piece of cake. There's 413 litres of cargo space, which is more than you'll find in just about any sports car, and its relatively subtle looks suggest a mature sportiness. Tasteful is the word here.
Wonderfully supportive seats keep you sitting straight when the R isn't going straight. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)
Still a GTI
As wonderful to drive as the Golf R is, to me it isn't that far away from the driving experience you'll get out of a GTI. Ah, but during the snowy season the R does score many more points as pointed out by my colleague Matt following the Golf R's launch in the north of Sweden.
I like the GTI. A lot. However, I wouldn't pay extra for its optional features; a base car is fine with me. That's why I find the $10,000 price gap hard to swallow for stepping up to the Golf R. Sure, it's exclusive and VW fans -- you know, that cult -- will envy you. And sure, if leather and navigation is your cup of tea then the R is only $3,500 more. OK, worth it.
At $39,675, the Golf R is more expensive than a base Subaru Impreza WRX STI, and about two grand away from a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR. That's pretty muscular competition, and two cars that draw more attention than the VW.
The 2012 Volkswagen Golf R is, for those who can afford it, a fine piece of machinery. It may be a hero for those with affection for VWs. However, it's not enough for me to consider it over a regular, and just as fun, $30K GTI 5-door.
Canadian Bruno Spengler captured his second DTM victory of the season when he finished first in the sixth round held Sunday at the Grand Prix circuit of the Nurburgring.
A works driver for the German car manufacturer BMW, Spengler started the meeting on a strong note, taking pole position in front of three Audi A5s.
Photos: dtm.com
Spengler, driving a BMW M3 DTM, drove a faultless race to take victory, well supported by this team which planned a perfect race strategy and executed brilliant pit stops.
"I wake up every morning and think about how I can win the next race," said Spengler after the race.
"That is what I live for - my passion - and then I actually win on this weekend, which is so special for BMW. It is unbelievable. We are celebrating 40 years of BMW M. Martin (Tomczyk), with his third place, and I have given BMW a nice birthday present. My car was fantastic today. I had to push unbelievably hard, particularly in the first stint, as the opposition really applied pressure.
"However, I was able to defend my lead. I'd like to say a big thank you to BMW Team Schnitzer. The team once again showed what it is capable of this weekend," Spengler added.
There are four races to go this season.
Race results, Nurburgring:
1 . Bruno Spengler (BMW)
2 . Edoardo Mortara (Audi)
3 . Martin Tomczyk (BMW)
4 . Jamie Green (Mercedes)
5 . Mike Rockenfeller (Audi)
6 . Gary Paffett (Mercedes)
7 . Robert Wickens (Mercedes)
8 . Filipe Albuquerque (Audi)
9 . Timo Scheider (Audi)
10 . Augusto Farfus (BMW)
etc.
Point standings:
1 . Gary Paffett (Mercedes), 103 points
2 . Bruno Spengler (BMW), 83
3 . Jamie Green (Mercedes), 81
4 . Martin Tomczyk (BMW), 69
5 . Edoardo Mortara (Audi), 49
etc.
Greg Biffle took advantage of Jimmie Johnson's blown engine and held off Brad Keselowski for his third Sprint Cup victory at Michigan International Speedway.
With the win he took the points lead.
Biffle, NASCAR's quiet man, knew he had a great car but didn't want to show his had early "yeah, I knew my car was bad ass," he said. I didn't want to say anything until I got here to victory lane."
"I know they don't talk about us much, but we're going to make a run for the title," Biffle added after his second win of the year.
Greg Biffle pulls away from Brad Keselowski as he goes on to win the Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Photo: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR
Keselowski had beaten Johnson out of the pits after the final pit stops taking the lead with 14 laps remaining. But Johnson, who had changed motors before the race, had the most powerful car of the day and retook the lead with 10 laps to go. And Biffle got by Keselowski.
With six laps to go Johnson's second engine of the weekend blew putting Biffle's Ford in the lead. But he doesn't know what would have happened without the motor issues.
"Well, I thought that I knew I would be able to get him then," Biffle added. "I was closing in on him and I don't know if I would have got him in those eight laps or not but it would have been a hell of a run to the end.
"I found some speed in the top line down there in three and four and was coming on him. I don't know if I would have got there but we will take them any way we can get them. We had a damn good car today."
Safety crews attend to the No. 5 of Mark Martin after an accident on pit road. Photo: Wesley Hitt/Getty Images for NASCAR
"Junior (Earnhardt) (who finished third behind Kasey Kahne's Chevrolet), gave me a huge push for that win," Biffle said of the final restart. "I have to thank him for that. I saw Brad laying back like always and he got a little jump on me. It probably would have been leveled out by turn one."
After the race Keselowski was laying the foundation of a verbal battle for the championship. Talking about his Penske crew's fast pit stop which got him out of the pits ahead of Johnson's he said "it's good to know they're frustrated. They should be."
"The 48 (Johnson) had a dominant car. He and the 16 (Biffle) and the 55 (Martin) had just a lot of speed. We just didn't have enough to run with ‘em. My guys on pit road and everybody on the team did an excellent job and got us out toward the front.
Dale Earnhardt Jr and Jimmie Johnson used pit strategy to put themselves at the front of the Pure Michigan 400 field at Michigan International Speedway. Photo: Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR
"I'm very proud of them for that but we just needed that little bit more speed to hold them off and we didn't have that here today with the Miller Lite Dodge."
Last week's winner, Marcos Ambrose finished fifth.
There was one tense incident on lap 65 when pole sitter, Mark Martin and Kahne came upon Juan Pablo Montoya and a very loose Bobby Labonte. Coming up on the incident at vast speed differential Martin slowed, he was hit from behind by Kahne and sent into the infield then into the pits.
Trying to straighten out and avoid the inside pit wall his car rotated. His Toyota went door side first into the end of that inside wall just behind the driver's door. The concrete wall almost cut the car in half. But Martin and the crew teams and officials were not injured.
Johnson wasn't the only one with motor problems his teammate, Jeff Gordon, and Tony Stewart, who both run Hendrick Motorsports engines, had their issues as well, making it four HMS engines blown.
As this year marks the 30th anniversary of Canadian racing legend Gilles Villeneuve, Auto123.com contacted Pierre Dupasquier, former competition director at Michelin, so he could tell us a few stories...
"Every moment spent with Gilles was great," Dupasquier, now retired, declares right away.
"I met him for the first time during a test session prior to the 1978 season at Fiorano. Before he went out, Gilles received a few instructions from Mauro Forghieri, the technical director and by the time he completed his first lap, he had spun three times. On the second lap, he did two more. When he pulled into the pits, Forghieri told him: 'Listen Gilles, this is not a Formula Atlantic car. This is a Formula 1 car and you've got to learn to manage the brakes.'
"'But I haven't even started using them yet!' Gilles answered, giving Mauro his same innocent look as always," laughs Dupasquier.
Pierre Dupasquier (Photo: WRi2)
"Gilles was excessive by nature. Whatever motorized vehicle he had in his hands, it had to be revving its guts out. He had absolute faith in his driving abilities too," he adds, before going on about how great Villeneuve also was on the technical side.
"Because Gilles was always flat out, we could rely on his lap times to be accurate. If there was a two tenths gap, we knew it came from the tires, not from him, because he was so consistent. He could go on forever lapping within an incredibly tight window. For us, that was precious. He could tell what was wrong with the tires, which ones handled good in high and low speed corners.
"Very precise he was, indeed."
Then, came Villeneuve's first victory in Formula One, at the 1978 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, on a cold October day. Dupasquier narrates how the home boy built his win.
"At the times, we weren't restricted as far as tires were concerned. Before a weekend, we chose which compounds we might need according to the track. But since we had never been to Montreal, we had no data. So we brought pretty much everything.
"Carlos Reutemann (his teammate) went to the safe side. But Gilles, bold as he was, went the other way. He took a tire we knew little about and did two laps with it in practice. Because it was so cold, we thought the soft compound might just be fine. We had a chat with him about it, he said it would be difficult, but thought it was worth a shot anyway. So off he went.
"And he won."
Pierre Dupasquier (center) with Mauro Forghieri and Jody Scheckter in 1979. (Photo: WRi2)
As everybody knows, Gilles wasn't only bold on grand prix weekends. He was just as extreme every other day of the week. Dupasquier tells the story of when he had to fly back from Spain with Villeneuve after a day of testing in Jarama.
"I had a Renault 5 rental car. We were running out of time before our flights, but Gilles was still in his Ferrari. When he finished, he got out of the car, got dressed and took my keys. Then, we both jumped in the little R5, him at the wheel.
"That was my most memorable drive ever. He was banging gears absolutely at the top of the engine's lungs, but with incredible ease. His talent was immense," he remembers.
"Two moments stayed with me forever after that drive. The first was when we caught up with a truck in our lane, and a bus coming the other way. Gilles didn't have a chance in hell of going through, but there was a grass shoulder on the right side. So that's where he went, passed the truck and somehow impeccably gathered it back up at the other end.
"Then there was that time we got to a 'T' intersection where we had to turn right. There was also a queue of five of six cars waiting to turn. Gilles, apparently, had no intention of joining the line-up. So again, he went to the right, almost fell in the ditch, and under a big sign. I thought we were going to hit it but the small car slid under no problem.
"That was pure Gilles: all dangerous, but all relax."
Michigan's unemployment was the worst in the United States at 14.2 percent in August 2009, shortly after General Motors and Chrysler emerged from a government-backed rescue, and has since plunged to 8.
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