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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.

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.

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

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."

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.

Police officers across the land are witnessing some pretty dangerous actions behind the wheel. Here are a few examples:

- A young male driver sending a text message and not noticing that his car was slowly drifting across the yellow line... until he drove head first into a truck;

- A 16-year-old female driver checking her messages while riding a scooter;

- A car driver being so distracted by the text message he was writing that he nearly hit a pedestrian on the sidewalk;

- A man texting while driving at 90 km/h on a small byroad and passing other vehicles (that got him 13 demerit points and a $2,378 fine!);

- An inattentive driver overlooking a red light and creating a three-car collision, all because of a simple text message.


Of course, people's habits and mindset won't change overnight. Take seat belts, for instance: some drivers are still ignoring them more than 30 years after they became mandatory!

''How is a text message or email more important than human life? How can you possibly choose your cell phone over your loved ones?'' Mathieu Fortin, whose girlfriend Emy rear-ended a truck and died because she was too busy texting, would really like to know.

In North Bay, Ontario, Sydney and Suzanne Soulière's 18-year-old son passed away as a result of a driving distraction. ''For his sake and all he's accomplished, we implore you to stay focused behind the wheel,'' the parents warn all Canadians. ''There is just no excuse. Distractions can kill or injure, not only yourself but also other road users. We hope that the death of our son and others who died in similar fashion will serve as a strong reminder.''

Chances are you're not among the offenders, but what about your kids and other family members? Make sure they get the message - for real. We used to live without any cell phones, emails and answering machines; why must we now stay in touch at all costs?

Driving offers a nice opportunity to escape from the daily grind and stress, so keep your hands off your phone and on your steering wheel!

From Kelly Racing press release

The Pepsi Max Crew has taken Jacques Villeneuve's iconic helmet design as the inspiration for their latest livery creation, which is sure to make the former F1 champion feel at home in his first drive for the team this weekend in Townsville.

The new livery offers a bright and glossy concoction of colours including pink, yellow, green and blue to replicate a helmet design that Villeneuve has carried with him throughout his motor racing career.

Photo: Kelly Racing

"I'm hugely excited about driving as part of the Pepsi Max Crew in Townsville this weekend and to have a livery designed specifically for me that is based on something that I've cherished my entire career only heightens my anticipation. I'm looking forward to hitting the track tomorrow and achieving something this team can be proud of," said Villeneuve.

For the Pepsi Max Crew, this will be the third livery of the 2012 season and the eighth since their entrance into the V8 Supercar Championship in 2011.

"From inception, Pepsi Max has been committed to bringing a new and dynamic approach to Australian V8 Supercars and constantly changing our look has been a testament to that commitment. This is our eighth livery since we first entered V8s and, as always, we're looking forward to hearing what motorsport fans think about the latest creation from the Pepsi Max Crew," said Adam Burling, PepsiCo.

Photo: Kelly Racing

Jacques Villeneuve will hit the track for the first time tomorrow for the Sucrogen Townsville 400 practice session.

In order to meet the growing demand worldwide, Mazda will increase SKYACTIV engine production at its Hiroshima plant from 400,000 to 800,000 annually starting in October.

The SKYACTIV-G represents a new generation of direct-injected gasoline engines. It's currently found in the Mazda Demio (Japan), Mazda3 and CX-5. The future Mazda6 will also inherit this efficient powerplant.

Meanwhile, the SKYACTIV-D is a new generation of clean diesel engines. It first appeared in the CX-5 sold in Japan, Europe and Australia. Once again, the upcoming Mazda6 will follow suit next year.

Mazda expects to sell 1.7 million vehicles in 2012, with nearly 80% of them featuring SKYACTIV technology.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

AMG, or Aufrecht, Melcher and Großaspach, is a very well-known, highly regarded tuner-cum-manufacturer that makes Mercedes-Benz cars all they can be.

All-out performance has been AMG's calling card since its inception in 1967. Although that is not about to change, AMG will be shifting a small part of its focus away from mighty V12 and V8 engines. This is part of AMG's plan to bring driving performance to the new generation.

Currently, there are 22 AMG models, from the C 63 all the way to the new SLS AMG. It would seem as though this is not enough to satisfy customers as they keep asking for more. In the first quarter of 2012 alone, sales are up 30%. Last year, 20,000 AMG-fied cars were sold, and this is but the good news.

The great news is that AMG plans to grow, and will do so thanks to its “AMG Performance 50” plan. The steps in this strategy are quite simple: more cars, more versions, more performance and more affordability by the time the company turns 50 years old.

By 2017, AMG expects to have 30 models bearing their letters, which should be good enough to increase the number of deliveries to 30,000 units, or a 50% jump.

Among the new cars to come are the recently unveiled 2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT, the CLS Shooting Brake and the very cool A 45 AMG, which I got to see. Other new versions of existing cars should include a new baller S-Class, a new G-Class and a few more. As well, AWD is being considered in many future applications, which should further heighten the appeal of these cars.

2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT (Photo: Mercedes-Benz)

Products are always the key to success, and the new A 45 will be the first to strike a serious chord with a younger crowd. Based on the all-new upcoming A-Class, which will come to Canada, the compact five-door, all-wheel-drive, 2.0L turbo car got my juices flowing. Although my eyes got to see it, cameras and phones did not.

To get an idea of what the A 45 looks like, picture a new A-Class and give it the Subaru STI treatment. That means a lower ride height, fatter flares, bigger wheels, more aggressive body panels and whopping big rear spoiler. Under the bonnet will reside an AMG designed turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder. No official specs have been released as of yet, other than torque numbers being significantly above 400 Nm or 295 lb-ft. I'm going to predict 325 hp with equal torque.

As it stands, the A 45 and the CLS Shooting Brake are not expected to come to Canada and North America. Pity.

To go along with the actual cars, AMG has added a Performance Studio where customers can have all their wildest color/material combinations come to life. The current Driving Academy will continue to grow in a number of countries as will the availabilities of AMG Sport Packages for Mercedes cars.

Furthermore and in parallel, AMG will strive to offer best-in-class fuel consumption numbers and lower emissions without sacrificing power, and participate in more motorsport disciplines including Formula 1.

This aggressive growth plan will involve a number of standalone AMG stores of which Beijing currently has the first one in the world.

What I saw in Affalterbach, Germany, was plain and simple: a company in complete control of its future. There is no doubt in my mind that they will achieve everything they put their minds to. In fact, I believe that, barring a complete meltdown of the world economy, they will surpass their goals.

From GMM

Christian Horner has emphatically denied suggestions he might be the next Bernie Ecclestone.

Already very close to the sport's 81-year-old 'supremo' Ecclestone - who is at the middle of a potentially-damaging corruption affair - the name 'Horner' is often mentioned in the paddock as perhaps Ecclestone's preferred successor.

Briton Horner, 38, a former F3000 driver, was central to the transformation of the hapless Jaguar team into the juggernaut of energy drink Red Bull's formula one domination.

He has already been linked with the top job at Ferrari, and now British newspapers are musing that Horner is in line for the very top job of all.

Writing in the Times, journalist Kevin Eason said even the FIA believes Horner is the frontrunner to replace Ecclestone.

A source at the Jean Todt-led federation said: "What more can Christian achieve as a team principal? He is too bright not to get bored with doing the same thing every year. I think he will fancy it."

Christian Horner moved swiftly to quash the speculation.

"I cannot imagine it," he said. "I wouldn't be equipped to deal with that role.

"I am totally happy with what I am doing," Red Bull's team principal insisted. "I don't think there is any one individual who could do what Bernie does. At the rate Bernie is going, it will be a long time anyway."

Jean Todt and Bernie Ecclestone.

Eason said Mercedes' chief executive Nick Fry could be another contender.

An unnamed paddock insider told the Guardian: "Eventually, I don't think there is anyone who can replace Bernie. He will ultimately be replaced by an executive board. But I think Christian can play a part on that board. Looking at the other team bosses, he is the only one."

The insider, however, said Christian Horner is not popular among his fellow bosses because "he seems to say 'no' to everything".

David Coulthard backs his former boss.

"He (Horner) has proved himself as a team principal and he's capable of going on to do something beyond that. But I'm not sure anyone could replace Bernie Ecclestone," said the ex Red Bull and McLaren driver.

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

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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