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Daimler AG is investing in the world's leading ridesharing network, carpooling.com GmbH.

Continental has opened a new Research & Development Centre in Singapore to support its growing business with Asian OEMs.

News 31 Jul, 2012

More practical, front-wheel-drive BMW 1 Series GT is set to make its debut at the Paris Motor Show

News 31 Jul, 2012

New Porsche 918 Spyder will be offered in the firm's iconic Martini Racing livery, made famous at the Le Mans 24 Hours

Pictures 31 Jul, 2012

Pictures 31 Jul, 2012

Germany's car market is in recession, but few outside the industry would know it, thanks to a controversial sales practice that inflates official statistics and paints a flattering picture of demand. While official figures show a 0.

Sometimes maligned, sometimes acclaimed, the continuously variable transmission is poised to snap up more North American market share in coming years.

First Drive: 2013 Chevrolet Malibu 2.5

Chevrolet is finally rolling out the rest of the 2013 Malibu line.

Chevrolet introduced the all-new 2013 Malibu at the start of this year, but we've only been able to test the Eco model until now. Starting this summer, the midsize sedan will have another frugal engine option: a 2.5-liter I-4.

Photo Gallery: First Drive: 2013 Chevrolet Malibu 2.5 - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: First Drive: 2013 Chevrolet Malibu 2.5 - Automobile Magazine

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From GMM

Jenson Button insists he is not ready to fall in line behind his teammate Lewis Hamilton's championship bid.

In Hungary, Felipe Massa - who is pushing to stay at Ferrari next year - vowed to help his teammate Fernando Alonso seal the drivers' crown in 2012.

In fairness to Button, however, the situation at McLaren at the mid-point of the 2012 season is quite different.

While Alonso is leading the championship and is a massive 139 points ahead of Massa, Jenson Button has been a race winner in 2012 and is only 41 points behind Hamilton.

So Briton Button answered "no" when asked if he will move over for Hamilton if he sees the sister McLaren in his mirrors.

"If I am leading a race, then I want to win that race," Button is quoted by British newspapers. "I will not be asked to do anything but if there comes a time in this championship when I can't win, then I will obviously help my teammate."

Jenson Button not ready yet to sacrifice his season for Lewis Hamilton. (Photo: WRi2)

From Pirelli

Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli has announced the first three tire nominations for the second half of the 2012 Formula 1 season.

At Spa, the home of the Belgian Grand Prix, the P Zero Silver hard and P Zero White medium tires will be nominated, allowing the drivers to meet the demands of a circuit that puts plenty of energy through the tires.

Just like Spa, Monza - Pirelli's home race - is characterised by high speeds and fast corners, meaning that the P Zero Silver hard and P Zero White medium is also the perfect choice for the Italian circuit.

At Singapore, the action returns to street racing again but this time at night, and Pirelli will bring the P Zero Yellow soft and P Zero Red supersoft combination as used in Monaco and Canada.

The 2012 rules stipulate that under normal circumstances each team will receive six sets of the harder compound and five sets of the softer compound for the race weekend, which can now be used at any point from free practice one on Friday onwards.

Pirelli will also bring its Cinturato Green intermediate tyre for damp track conditions (four sets per driver) as well as the Cinturato Blue rain tire (three sets per driver) to each race.

From GMM

Eric Boullier has revealed he "definitely" plans to keep not just Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus in 2013, but also the Finn's impressive rookie teammate Romain Grosjean.

The Enstone based team's boss has dismissed speculation Raikkonen could return to Ferrari next year, where he won the 2007 title before he was ousted at the end of the 2009 season.

"It's nice that Ferrari is in the newspapers," Eric Boullier is quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, "but to my knowledge Kimi has no intention of going back to Ferrari."

When asked if he also wants Grosjean to stay in 2013, Eric Boullier answered: "Definitely. There is no reason why either of them should leave us."

Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean on the podium again, at Hungaroring. (Photo: WRi2)

Rival teams have been impressed by the former Benetton and Renault squad in 2012.

"Their car has been quick all year, and they have two good drivers, so Kimi is a factor in the drivers' championship," Red Bull chief Christian Horner is quoted by AFP news agency.

From GMM

Mercedes AMG has started a process of restructuring its technical team, Italy's Autosprint reports.

The report said the Brackley based team's aerodynamics chief John Owen is moving up to be technical director.

Owen's role is being filled by a new signing, Mike Elliot, who has joined from Lotus.

Autosprint wonders, however, "What will happen with the trio (Aldo) Costa, (Geoff) Willis and (Bob) Bell?"

At last count, the well-known trio held high-ranking technical roles at the carmaker-owned squad.

Autosprint said Mercedes could be scaling-down.

Mercedes AMG team. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Pastor Maldonado insists it is not fair if he is gaining a reputation as a 'crash driver'.

Sauber's Sergio Perez was furious with the Venezuelan after their clash at Silverstone, which was one of just several incidents blamed on the Williams driver so far in 2012.

Barcelona winner Maldonado's latest run-in was with Paul di Resta in Hungary, earning him a drive-through penalty.

"There was a small contact, but this is racing," he is quoted by Sapa-AFP news agency. "I saw Raikkonen and Grosjean (battling) and it was more or less the same."

Pastor Maldonado's Williams after his crash with Sergio Perez (Sauber) at Silverstone. (Photo: WRi2)

Maldonado also told the online GP Week magazine: "They're normal mistakes. If you look at other drivers, they've done the same in the past."

He also suggested the spotlight has been shining more brightly on him since becoming a grand prix winner earlier this year.

"Before I won the race nobody was here, now everyone is here," said Maldonado, referring to the big media-scrum surrounding him in Hungary. "I made a couple of mistakes, that's it."

British magazine Autosport has learned that the infamous double DRS system will be banned for tnext year in Formula 1.

Mercedes AMG caused a surprise at the beginning of the 2012 season when it ran its W03 fitted with a system that stalled the front wings when the normal DRS, the Drag Reduction Systeme was activated by the driver.

This is designed to increase the top speed of the car on the main straights.

The Lotus double DRS system. (Photo: WRI2)

Lotus also designed its own double DRS system that was tested at Hockenheim during the Grand Prix of Germany.

The Technical Working Group discussed the matter recently, and sources have revealed that a majority of teams agreed for a change in regulations that will ensure they cannot incorporate double DRS into their cars for 2013.

It is understood the changes to the technical rules will be made official by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council later this season.

The automaker has revealed the first images of the 2013 Pathfinder on the Nissan Facebook page. Fans have been able to admire the concept design since initially shown at the Detroit Auto Show last January and there is little difference between the upcoming showroom model and the original concept.

Photo: Nissan

More of a SUV than a 4x4, this fourth generation Pathfinder seats 7 passengers and is built on the same platform shared with the new Altima and Infiniti JX. For the rest, Nissan had plenty to say, notably boasting that the new Pathfinder's engine will be 25% less gas hungry than its predecessor, without actually going into details about the fuel consumption rating.

Nissan should be coming out with more information soon.

Veteran Italian race car driver Giorgio Pantano will fill in for Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing driver Charlie Kimball in the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio this weekend.

Kimball fractured the fifth metacarpal in his right hand in a testing incident at the road course July 26.

Evaluation in Indianapolis revealed Kimball would not be ready to return for the 85-lap race on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn road course.

Pantano, the 2008 GP2 series' champion competed in three late-season road/street races for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in 2011 (best finish of 16th at Twin Ring Motegi) as a substitute for the injured Justin Wilson.

He made his first two starts in the IZOD IndyCar Series with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2005 at Sonoma and Watkins Glen (started second, finished fourth).

Sauber F1 Team offers a unique interactive 360° movie to fans who already miss Formula 1 action!

The Sauber web site features a lap on the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona with Mexican Sergio Pérez at the wheel of the Sauber C31-Ferrari.

While ‘Checo' is driving and in the pits with the mechanics working on the car, users can change the angles they view from by using the mouse or the arrows on their key boards.

Pérez and and Kobayashi enjoyed playing with the new gadget. Pérez said: “This is amazing, I can look over my own shoulder while driving!” Kobayashi added: “I had seen things like this before in photographs, but with this one even as a driver you get to see things at full speed you have never spotted before. Get on board and have fun!”

Here you can jump onto the 360° driving experience: www.sauberf1team.com

After it's tremendously successful Montreal launch, the TAG iPhone App (taxi assigned by geo-location) is being launched in Trois-Rivières. The service locates callers using GPS, which makes address and location mix-ups a thing of the past.

The service, offered in collaboration with Taxi Coop de la Mauricie, allows Trois-Rivières residents who download the App to hail cabs according to special needs such as oversize luggage, pets, and other specific criteria. Furthermore, cab users are asked to rate the service at the end of their trip.

TAG taxi is currently working with other taxi industry stakeholders in Québec and elsewhere in North America in order to expand its current network. An Android TAG taxi App will be available this fall.

Paying tribute to the Martini Racing team, whose epic triumphs in the 70s have gone down in racing history, Porsche has painted the 918 Spyder in the team's signature livery.

Photo: Porsche

The 918 Spyder consumes only 3 litres per 100 km, thanks to its high-performance heat engine along with its two electric engines, producing a combined power of 770 hp.

Buyers will be able to purchase the 918 Spyder in Martini Racing colours in 2013, when it is slated to make its launch appearance on the market.