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Let's go back to the incident that happened in the pit lane after the NASCAR Nationwide race at Road America on June 24th.

On the last lap, Jacques Villeneuve hit the back of Danica Patrick's car and sent her spinning around. Her team director wanted some explanation from Villeneuve, who said what he had to say and then turned his back. Interviewed live immediately afterwards, JV told the reporter that he had nothing to do with it and that he didn't care.

These words didn't sit well with the folks at Discount Tire, the main sponsor of his #22 Dodge Penske car. They issued a press release to distance themselves from the Quebec driver's statements and lack of fair play.

It's the second time that the 1997 Formula 1 champion leaves a mark for the wrong reasons behind the wheel of a Penske car. The first came in Montreal last year when he completely screwed up after a race interruption and slammed into Marcos Ambrose.

Photo: NASCAR

The almighty Roger Penske isn't one to tolerate that his own driver gets blamed by a sponsor. It may be fine behind closed doors, but not when all the fans are watching, in which case he'd rather break ties with the driver than with the company that provides millions of dollars.

A driver's public image has become infinitely important, especially in the communication-obsessed world we now live in. Several NASCAR drivers have been chastised and penalized for their harsh and heated words off the track.

The Busch brothers go berserk faster than their V8 engine revs up. Kyle is creating one controversy after another, and Kurt was disciplined last year for his rant about a member of the media.

Others like Tony Stewart, Boris Said, Juan Pablo Montoya and Kevin Harvick sometimes let their temper flare as well, especially when they're still high on adrenaline. Problem is, with cameras and smartphones more present than ever, anyone can immortalize these altercations and ill-advised comments almost as soon as they happen.

Marketing and PR folks must now teach those drivers to cool down and take a deep breath before they open their mouth. Their careers are at stake because, like I said, there's always someone watching.

From GMM

Nico Rosberg has admitted Mercedes' is not the fastest car in 2012, but insists he is in the running for this year's title.

The German won his first grand prix in more than a hundred attempts this year in China; a breakthrough also for Mercedes after a 55-year victory drought.

27-year-old Rosberg said recently that the W03 car is perhaps the fastest overall on the 2012 grid.

Was he correctly quoted?

"No, no. It's not the fastest car," he said in an interview with Marca newspaper, conducted with Rosberg in Spanish.

"It's a good car, and in some races it's the fastest, and anyway we're in a good situation.

"We have to take a small step forward and then, yes, we can fight to win every race," said Rosberg.

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes W03. (Photo: WRi2)

His optimism might raise a few eyebrows, but perhaps they shouldn't, given he is only being beaten in the drivers' standings so far by grandees Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.

Why, then, is he not considered a real 2012 championship contender?

"Because the others are with teams that have won championships, while I'm with ... we are a team that is growing," said Rosberg.

"If we can win again then people will start looking at us as contenders."

The interviewer pointed out that at a team featuring multiple title winners Ross Brawn and Michael Schumacher, it is "curious" that Rosberg is the one best poised to succeed now.

"Curious?" Rosberg answered. "I was sure that I could do well with this team, but I'm not happy to be ahead of Michael. He is having much less luck than me.

"His car has not reached the finish line four times this year even though he is driving very well -- better than the other years."

Arguably most importantly for Mercedes, however, is that the former Brawn team is now being once again regarded as a leader in F1 innovation, chiefly because of the novel F-duct system seen in 2012.

But Rosberg insists that there are other "very smart things" on the W03 as well.

"That's the difference between this year and previous years," he said. "Before we were copying and now we are inventing things that are working very well for us.

"Ross is still very smart," smiled Rosberg.

So perhaps Mercedes and Rosberg will be fully equipped to win the championship together in 2013?

"Perhaps this year," the German smiled again. "We are close; we are very close."

Along with our Top 10 Corvettes of all time, we could not pass up the opportunity to tally our favorite Vette prototypes and concepts from the last 60 years.

This exercise proved to be even more difficult as the sheer number of prototypes surprised us all. We all remembered the Mako Shark and CERV cars but few of us recalled having ever seen a picture of the car that topped our list

Our Top 10 prototype Corvettes are as follows:

10. 1990 CERV III

Photo: General Motors

Continue reading Top 10 Chevrolet Corvette prototypes and concepts

The Rogue is on its way to celebrate its best-selling year since Nissan introduced it in the fall of 2007. Ironically, the Rogue is more popular than ever despite being about a year away from a redesign. We've seen this trend happen to other cars before, however, and the message is clear for the manufacturer: don't mess up the next generation.


It's not easy getting some elbow room in the compact crossover category. Virtually every mainstream manufacturer's got one, so competition is really tough. The Nissan Rogue seems to be a hit due to its just-right size, its comfortable interior and high level of available features at a decent price.

4-cylinder efficiency, in theory
Like the Honda CR-V, only one engine and transmission combo is offered in the 2012 Nissan Rogue. The company's 2.5L inline-4, mated to a continuously variable automatic, develops 170 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. It's enough get-up-and-go for most small crossover buyers, and clears the 0-100 km/h dash in 8.9 seconds.

On the other hand, the Rogue AWD's city/highway fuel economy ratings of 9.6 and 7.7L/100km are among the worst in its class. The Nissan isn't a gas hog, mind you, but other compact crossovers have raised the bar in recent years. Our average over the course of the week is a reasonable 10.5L/100km.

The CVT gearbox includes a Sport button on the centre console that, when pressed, quickens its reactivity, and it works well at keeping the engine in its power band; however, it makes the engine moan and groan.

Like many all-wheel-drive systems in the category, this one spins the front wheels under normal driving conditions, and sends engine torque to the rear ones when wheel slippage is detected. You can press a button on the dash to lock the system in AWD mode for a little more confidence behind the wheel on slippery surfaces, but once you reach highway speeds, the system reverts back to its auto mode.

We've driven the 2013 Nissan Altima with its revised 2.5L engine and CVT gearbox; it's more refined and fuel-efficient, and we assume (hope) they will turn up in the next Rogue.

The company's 2.5L inline-4, mated to a continuously variable automatic, develops 170 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Michel Deslauriers)

Straightforward dashboard
The Rogue looks rather simple inside, with a dash that isn't scarred by panel gaps and with a minimum of silver-painted trim. With rotary dials for the climate control system and a double-DIN stereo module with touchscreen navigation, you can't get more straightforward than this.

When you choose the SL AWD version, you also get a 360-degree camera system, a bird's-eye view of the perimeter around the Rogue. Using front, rear and lateral cameras mounted under the side mirrors, the system is very useful for lining up straight in a parking space; you can also choose a curbside camera view to help your parallel parking abilities.

The leather upholstery, another exclusive feature of the SL trim, gets red-coloured perforations in its surfaces as well as red contrast stitching, a nice sporty touch for a crossover that doesn't really feel sporty. There is ample room for everyone, front and rear, although the middle portion of the rear seat cushion is too padded to be truly comfortable.

Among the other minor complaints, the front doors lack a handle at the rearward extremity of their armrests, and the steering column doesn't telescope.

With a cargo volume of 818 litres (rear seats up) or 1,639 litres (rear seats down), there is a lot of space for your belongings. Still, the heavy hitters of the segment, such as the Honda CR-V, the Toyota RAV4 and the new Ford Escape, can carry much more than the Rogue.

The Rogue looks rather simple inside, with a dash that isn't scarred by panel gaps and with a minimum of silver-painted trim. (Photo: Michel Deslauriers)

Getting old
While the 2012 Nissan Rogue doesn't necessarily look or feel old, the new players in the compact crossover category are serving up more equipment and more technology, as well as more muscular and efficient powertrains.

At a base price of $23,778, the Rogue is competitively priced, edging out the automatic Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson, yet more expensive than the base versions of the Dodge Journey and the Ford Escape.

However, our loaded Rogue SL AWD rings in at $34,278, and in my books, that's paying too much for a compact crossover or SUV, no matter how much equipment you get. I think the vast majority of Rogue buyers would be happy with the $28,678 SV AWD.

Our loaded Rogue SL AWD rings in at $34,278. (Photo: Michel Deslauriers)

The Rogue is a spacious and well-equipped crossover; however, it's got tough competition, and when you compare it to the newest rivals of the segment, it could use a little extra refinement from its engine and transmission combo, and should be more fuel-efficient. The next-generation of the Rogue should address these issues.

From WRC

Chris Atkinson will make a shock return to the FIA World Rally Championship in Finland next month, driving a Citroen DS3 WRC for the Qatar World Rally Team in place of Nasser Al-Attiyah who is competing at the Olympic Games in London.

Atkinson, from Australia, is one of the WRC's fastest drivers but has only managed two appearances in the series since former employer Subaru withdrew at the end of the 2008 season.

One of those outings was in a Citroen C4 WRC on Rally Ireland in 2009 where he finished fifth overall. He made a strong impression with the French squad as Citroen Racing Technologies head Benoit Nogier explained.

“Ever since Chris Atkinson took part [on] Rally Ireland, we have kept in touch and maintained good relations with him. As Nasser's Citroen DS3 WRC was available for [Finland] we offered Chris the chance to lease the car and compete for the Qatar World Rally Team. We are therefore very pleased to have him back with us in one of our customer racing teams for one of the championship's flagship events.”

Photo: Qatar World Rally Team

Atkinson, who has scored six podiums in 68 starts at world level, last competed on Rally Guanajuato Mexico in March where he drove a Monster World Rally Team Ford Fiesta RS WRC.

He said: “Competing in the best rally in the championship in the best World Rally Car is a superb opportunity and I can't wait to test the car to share my feeling for it with the team and give them my initial feedback. We don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but we have got everything it takes to go after a good result here.”

Belgian Stephane Prevot will co-drive Atkinson, who finished third in his last appearance on Neste Oil Rally Finland back in 2008.

July has just begun, summer is in full swing and our second contest of the year is over, meaning we can finally announce the name of the winner!

Congratulations to Mr. Cedrick Delisle, who wins a new set of wheels built by the top company in the field and that will be turning heads everywhere he goes this summer without spending a penny!

The team at Auto123.com would like to thank everyone who entered our ''Suit up your toy for the summer with Fast Wheels'' contest.

Great news: A brand new contest will take place in August, so stay tuned to Auto123.com as well as our Facebook page to get all the details!

The Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster was supposed to make its official debut later this week, but a leak on v12vantageroadster.com just gave us the first pictures of the almighty convertible, which boasts a 510-horsepower V12 engine and a number of modifications to ensure that aerodynamics and body stiffness match those of the coupe.

Judging by the serialized plaque, only 101 units will be built. Production is expected to start this fall. As for pricing, early information suggests that the Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster will retail for about £150,000 ($237,000).

Photo: Aston Martin

For the first time, a NASCAR series race will be presented on a oval track in Europe, with the Euro Racecars in Tours, on a track that will be specially built for the event.

600 meters long and 30 meters wide, the Tours Speedway will be surrounded by FIA-homologated walls. The Euro Racecars drivers will be back, among them Ander Villarino, Romain Thievin, and Javier Villa, who lead the provisional championship classification.

Photo: Racecarseries.com

Some other racing drivers will join the event, as WTCC three-time champion Yvan Muller will also take part to the race, alongside reigning champion Eric Helary, who will be back at the wheel this week end.

NASCAR officials will also be present in Tours, for this great premiers, that will be organized during the traditional Country Bike and Rock Festival that takes place every year in Tours.

Volkswagen, which already owned a 49.9% stake in Porsche, will buy the remaining 50.1% on August 1st. The deal is worth €4.46 billion ($5.66 billion).

The two parties had agreed in 2009 to merge by the end of 2011, but legal obstacles came in the way. Now that the road is clear, Volkswagen will inch closer to becoming the largest automaker in the world. The group already owns Bugatti, Bentley and Audi, among other brands.

''With Porsche, Audi and Bugatti, Volkswagen AG will now account for 40% of the global luxury car market,'' said Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen.

The move will somewhat disappoint Porsche, which tried to take over Volkswagen in 2008 but ultimately failed. Still, Porsche is widely expected to benefit from the group's technologies and economies of scale.

Source: bbc.co.uk

From GMM

Convicted former F1 banker Gerhard Gribkowsky has lodged an appeal against the Munich court's ruling, according to media reports.

The 54-year-old German was sentenced to eight and a half years in jail for receiving millions in bribes from Bernie Ecclestone, raising the prospect that F1's high-profile chief executive could also be pursued.

But Gribkowsky's lawyer told Bloomberg news agency on Wednesday that they are appealing, and may also seek his release from custody on bail.

The lawyer, Daniel Amelung, said a new verdict is unlikely until 2013.

German news agency DAPD agreed that the appeals process in Germany takes several months.

Vehicle sales in Canada rose nearly 3 percent in June from a powerhouse month the year before, when industry incentives helped spark a rush of demand. Lifted by a strong appetite for import brands, sales of cars and light trucks in Canada rose 2.

Volkswagen agreed to buy the 50.1 percent stake in Porsche SE's automotive business that it doesn't already own for 4.46 billion euros ($5.6 billion), ending a seven-year takeover saga that divided two of Germany's most powerful families.

Volkswagen agreed to buy the 50.1 percent stake in Porsche SE's automotive business that it doesn't already own for 4.46 billion euros ($5.6 billion), ending a seven-year takeover saga that divided two of Germany's most powerful families.

Volkswagen agreed to buy the 50.1 percent stake in Porsche SE's automotive business that it doesn't already own for 4.46 billion euros ($5.6 billion), ending a seven-year takeover saga that divided two of Germany's most powerful families.

Scott Bailey founded Automobile Quarterly in 1962. The hardbound publication became a respected voice on all subjects automotive and an important chronicle of automotive history.

Driven: 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible

For the sixth-generation Corvette's swan song, Chevrolet has finally fixed the car's biggest flaw.

For the sixth-generation Corvette's swan song, Chevrolet has finally fixed the car's biggest flaw. No, not the seats or the interior controls. Those are still terrible. We're talking about the need for more power. Although the car has engine options aplenty, the convertible -- arguably the essence of the Corvette -- has until now featured only the 430-hp, 6.2-liter LS3 V-8. Apparently that's not enough for some buyers.

Photo Gallery: Driven: 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: Driven: 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible - Automobile Magazine

Driven: 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Spy shots show Aston Martin is working on a hotter four-door model called the Rapide S

Our reader catches the all-new Ford Mondeo testing in the UK, ahead of its March 2013 release date

Fiat gave an unexpected sneak preview of a crossover variant of its 500 minicar. The model will go on sale in Europe in early 2014 and shortly after in North America.

Fiat 500 owner was told 'book' time for work was 1.5 hours - but the garage charged for 2.3 hours