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"The latest 3 Series is good. It has to be, as it's the bar by which all others are measured. Problem: The latest F30 may be far too good."


In most cases, cars are identified as being part of a brand. Others define the brands but fewer still, transcend brands all together. The Corvette is one such car that rises above its Chevrolet roots, yet it does not stand as the brand's image.

Allow me to give a different perspective. Take the subject of this review, the BMW 3 Series. This car needs no introduction, no make association; in fact, it defines its manufacturer. This fact is even more surprising given that, up until a few years ago in North America, it was the entry-level car. Such stand-out cars have rarely been basic cars; in fact, I can think only of the Fiat 500 and Volkswagen Beetle as having similar stature.

The latest 3 Series therefore has another huge pair of shoes to fill, as has always been the case since the earliest E21 3 Series from the mid-1970s. Every subsequent generation brought something more to the table and the F30 is no different except that it's completely different.

The latest 3 Series is good. It has to be, as it's the bar by which all others are measured. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

BMW steel and leather
The most recent cars to leave the Munich-based company are on the absolute cuff of automotive design, constantly leaving most other makes scrambling back to their drawing boards. There must be something in the water in that area of Germany, as the same comments apply to Audi.

As I was saying, the new BMW 3 Series is stunning, monstrously sexy and determined to win over hearts and maintain its statute of a highly-desirable car. It does. The longer and wider car looks longer and wider which is partially tragic, as this is the first time the 3 Series has substantially grown within the segment in which it competes and operates.

The immediate benefit to the occupants is the increase in total volume that especially affects the rear-seat area. The trunk also grows and all of this combines to make the new 3 Series hospitable, comfortable, cozy and agreeable. These adjectives were once reserved for Lexus...

BMW has a iPhone connectivity system it calls ConnectedDrive which generated mixed comments. My colleague Olivier wrote a review on the system.

The seats are still top-notch, incredibly supportive and just as capable holding humans in place on a track or on a country drive. The dashboard has joined the current world of BMW with two horizontal pods of controls nestled in a far busier and angled jumble of plastics and leathers. The look, particularly the tested Sport model with its three-tone aluminum/red/black inserts, is attractive despite sacrificing ergonomics for design.

The dashboard has joined the current world of BMW with two horizontal pods of controls nestled in a far busier and angled jumble of plastics and leathers. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

335i
As with the previous E90 3 Series, the 2012 BMW 335i sports a turbocharged 3.0L inline six-cylinder engine. This silky smooth and brilliant motor still produces an even 300 hp and equal torque but is now far more fuel efficient.

Of note, a new 320i is now the base car and features a turbocharged 2.0L inline-four. It is rated at 181 hp and the 328i, which carries the same 1,997cc engine, delivers 241 hp. All trims can be delivered with a snickity 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission.

The combination of the two sixes, cylinders and gears, make for a quick Bavarian rocket, capable of launching the 1,620-kg (3,571-lb) RWD sedan to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. Quick on paper and very much so on the road, the BMW 335i has all the attributes of a hugely competent ground-covering machine.

In any circumstance, the new F30 is supremely at ease and this savoir-faire permeates up to the driver, making him or her believe that the faultless carving of corners, lane changes, bursts of speed and perfect braking are the doing of the driver. This is only partially the case.

As with the previous E90 3 Series, the 2012 BMW 335i sports a turbocharged 3.0L inline six-cylinder engine. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Driving Experience Control
Among the range of drive modes available using the console-mounted rocker switch, the EcoPro mode makes you feel good about doing more to save fuel; however nice, this is not in character with what this car is about. Cycling through to Sport steadily enhances and sharpens the BMW 335i's reflexes.

The car suddenly develops all 300 hp, the suspension tightens up like a bodybuilder in the middle of 1,000 reps, steering becomes scalpel-like, and you immediately you find yourself knocking back gears and lanes as though injected with adrenaline. The car more than delivers, making you feel like Sebastien Loeb in the middle of the Dakar Rally.

The Bimmer's near-perfect 49/51 weight distribution shines as the driver is boss. Unfortunately, the driver has done nothing to deserve this sentiment. This is fantastic for average drivers and tragic for those that have always bought BMWs, because the car's abilities allowed real driving enthusiasts to fully express themselves.

The EcoPro mode makes you feel good about doing more to save fuel; however nice, this is not in character with what this car is about. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Too good
The new 2012 BMW 3 Series Sedan is, as always, a phenomenal car. In a time where today's youth isn't as excited at the thought of driving as, say, I was 20 years ago, such a generally perfect car that is poster-worthy and has a starting price of $35,900 is ingenious.

This price includes auto start/stop, which is another brilliant move. Although mildly annoying at first, you will smirk when stuck in traffic while the BMW is "off" and most other cars are needlessly running. It all works as I averaged an impressively low 9.5L/100 km.

My tested 335i Sport topped out at a rapid-blink-inducing $62,100. In fact, the only option it did not have was the autobox.

It's tough to bitch about this car because it is so proficient, so flawless. This is, in the end, its greatest fault, but what do I know?

From GMM

Former F1 banker Gerhard Gribkowsky on Wednesday finally admitted he received millions in bribes from the sport's chief executive Bernie Ecclestone.

The news from Germany follows recent speculation Gribkowsky, who now faces years in jail, would make the admission as part of a deal with prosecutors to minimise his sentence.

Ecclestone, 81, has claimed he paid Gribkowsky the millions amid F1's sale some years ago because the former BayernLB risk officer 'shook him down' by threatening to cause trouble with UK tax authorities.

But DAPD news agency on Wednesday quoted Gribkowsky as telling the Munich state court that the bribery charges were "essentially true".

And Germany's Auto Motor und Sport quoted him as saying the amount offered by Ecclestone was "a huge pile of money".

He recalled a meeting with Ecclestone in which the diminutive Briton asked him to "give me numbers".

Gribkowsky said 50 million and ultimately received that amount, although the former banker admitted he had only expected perhaps $10m.

Next week:
(Part 2 of 3)Education campaigns.

Drunk driving is a criminal offence, and using a hand-held cell phone behind the wheel is illegal, too. Yet, thousands of people keep talking and texting while driving, endangering the lives of many in the process. Ironically, Quebecers insist that driving distractions are their biggest road safety concern!

Some facts
Shocking ad campaigns, police operations and the latest movie by Paul Arcand (Dérapages) all aim to educate people on the dangers of bad or reckless driving. Since the provincial government passed a bill to prevent the use of SMS by drivers, more than 100,000 tickets have been given to offenders according to the Quebec Ministry of Transport. These tickets carry a minimum fine of $80-$100 and three demerit points.


A US study has shown that nearly 30% of American adults send or receive text messages while driving. The numbers across Quebec remain unknown, but it should be safe to assume that they're pretty similar.

Did you know that you're 23 times more likely to suffer an accident when texting behind the wheel, whereas driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 only increases the risk by 10-15 times? Did you know that you're travelling a distance of 56 metres in the time it takes you to check your phone at a speed of 50 km/h - and 100 metres at 90 km/h? That's like driving the entire length of a football field with your eyes closed!

Who's more to blame?
According to both the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), teenage girls are particularly guilty. In fact, a study by the AAA showed that teenage girls are twice as likely as their male counterparts to use cell phones or other electronic devices while behind the wheel. Overall, they're 10% more likely to be engaged in other distracting behaviours.

The Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) begs to differ, however. Even though they represent 54% of all young drivers, teenage boys received 61% of the 1,519 tickets that were given to this specific group in 2010. Is it just because girls did a better job of not getting caught?

When Rick Hendrick announced that crew chief, Steve Letarte, would shift over to the #88 team from Jeff Gordon's it was the beginning of Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2.0.

In computer terminology that round number means a new version.

“I think the most important thing we did, when Mr. Hendrick made the changes to the race team (at the end of 2010), we started with a blank sheet of paper,” said Letarte.  “We didn't take any preconceived notions of what Dale's strengths or weaknesses were.  I personally didn't listen to anybody else's opinions on Dale.  I learned a lot from Mr. Hendrick on how to deal with people and with relationships, and the most important thing is to create your own relationship firsthand.  Dale and I did that.”

That switch didn't pay off immediately because it really was the rebuilding of Dale Earnhardt Jr. as a driver, a contender, and finally a winner. He admitted that he felt for the fans that stood by him during a 143-race winless drought.

That renovation was a lengthy process you might even say frustrating.

“It was trying on our patience when we started to see success last year.  Of course, we wanted to push harder. But I was very proud at the patience everyone in the race team had.  Mr. Hendrick has a tremendous amount of patience and allowed us to do everything we could to improve, giving us every tool possible.  It's taken a while but we feel now we're kind of hitting our stride,” Letarte added.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Steve Letarte celebrating their victory in Michigan. (Photo: NASCAR)

Hendrick is a keen observer of human nature. The key to the Hendrick Motorsports enviable record has been the teaming of great drivers with great chiefs. And Letarte may turn out to be the guy for Earnhardt Jr. even more than Junior and Tony Eury, Jr. his former crew chief.

“Chemistry is so important.” Hendrick said.  “Sometimes you never hit the right combination.  But, man, I look back and I think we're very fortunate.  Didn't have any idea it was going to be this good.  But I think that the chemistry between these two guys, and I've been doing this for 30 years, is as good as or better than any I've ever seen.”

Although the headlines will blare about Junior's first victory in four years statistics tell an even more impressive story. His average finish this year is 7.4, with six-top five finishes and 12 top-10 finishes in the first 15 races this year. Only four points behind Matt Kenseth Junior is poised to make a serious challenge for the coveted Sprint Cup and he knows it.

Hendrick said he's confident that he's got a new driver now. “When he came out and said, ‘I'm getting the job done, I'm the A horse in the stable right now,' and felt good about saying that, that just showed me that he was at max confidence, and that's what he needed, that's what he needs.

When he gets that little stride, that little smile, that kind of notch in his step, he's starting having fun with it, and he starts playing with the guys on the radio when he's leading the race, that kind of reminds me of his dad.  I love to see that.”

Omland Engineering Associates announced in a press release its participation in designing the Grand Prix of America at Port Imperial race course in Weehawken and West New York, New Jersey.

Beginning in June of 2013, the race will be held annually for the next ten years.

Omland has been collaborating with German engineering group Tilke GmgH to design the race course and the areas surrounding the track. Part of Omland's role was to provide detailed surveying and mapping of the track and adjacent areas.

For areas surrounding the course, an ongoing challenge for Omland has been creating smooth transitions with minimal disruption to intersecting streets, sidewalks, parks, utilities, and traffic controls. After design is complete, Omland will be applying for the major permits and approvals for the project.

Sebastian Vettel last week in New Jersey. (Photo: Red Bull Racing)

The press release says that the 3.2-mile course will run on existing public streets starting at the Weehawken Ferry Terminal.

The course climbs up, and travels along the edge of the Palisades, 160 feet above the Hudson River, all with New York City as its backdrop. On the straightaways between a hairpin and several 90-degree turns, drivers are expected to reach speeds of nearly 200 miles per hour.

From GMM

Mercedes has tweaked the design of its rear wing 'DRS' system following Michael Schumacher's latest technical glitch in Canada.

Team boss Ross Brawn revealed that the redesign was done despite the fact it was a one-off failure on a "very well proven part".

Regarding Schumacher's mysterious run of technical problems, the German squad is under immense pressure at a sensitive time, as the seven time world champion's contract is expiring.

"I don't believe in fate, but it has been peculiar," Brawn admitted.

The situation surrounding Schumacher's race seat is also intriguing, given that the cockpit is regarded as perhaps the only realistic alternative for Lewis Hamilton, who is still arguing about money with McLaren.

Michael Schumacher, Mercedes AMG. (Photo: WRi2)

But 43-year-old Schumacher insisted the technical problems will not influence his talks with Mercedes about 2013.

"I will certainly not be driven by emotion regarding my future in formula one," he told the Swiss magazine Motorsport Aktuell. "That applies in both the negative and positive sense."

He joked that at times in 2012 he has felt like Mercedes' "test driver", but insisted he maintains his faith in the Brackley based team and "will not just give up".

Michael Schumacher has just 2 points on the board in 2012 but he thinks his performance in a silver car has never been better.

"Since mid 2011 I have been on a par with Nico (Rosberg) in the race and now and then even better," he insisted.

But the great German also confirmed that his future is unclear.

"If the team and I believe that all the important factors are in order, we will be talking about a further cooperation," he said.

Boss Norbert Haug insisted: "There is no time pressure and we will talk with Michael first of all."

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone has revealed he thinks Sebastian Vettel is "too young" to switch to Ferrari.

The F1 chief executive is famously close to Red Bull's 24-year-old double world champion Vettel, who according to recent speculation could move to Ferrari in 2014.

"Not now. He's too young. Normally you finish your career with Ferrari," 81-year-old Ecclestone said in a joint interview in Germany's Sport Bild with Stefano Domenicali.

Should Vettel make the switch, however, Ecclestone said he doubts the young German would clash with Ferrari's beloved number one, Fernando Alonso.

"There shouldn't be a problem," said the Briton. "Both of them are racers who are constantly looking for new challenges.

"Both of them would think he could beat the other, because they're both very confident," added Ecclestone.

Sebastian Vettel and Bernie Ecclestone. (Photo: WRi2)

The 'F1 supremo' also mused about his sport's rules, sympathising with those who are accused of skirting too close to the boundaries of legality.

"If I were a team boss," said the former Brabham owner, "I would definitely try as best as I could to exploit the rules as well as I could."

He also threw a barb at F1's governing body.

"I really understand hardly any of the FIA's decisions," said Ecclestone. "I think the technical rules should be written so that even someone like me can understand them."

Ferrari team boss Domenicali agreed: "The fans do not understand why a car is legal today and illegal the next, which for the sport is a problem for the credibility."

From GMM

2012 has been described as 'topsy-turvy' and a 'lottery' that has ended the domination of formula one's usual greats.

But according to a detailed analysis by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, F1's old guard is still at the very top of the timesheets.

The analysis shows that McLaren and Red Bull, respectively, have been the best teams overall when it comes to pace in the all-out 'Q2' qualifying segment, and the actual grands prix.

McLaren garage during a qualifying session. (Photo: McLaren)

The second best team in qualifying, however, has been Mercedes, whose average Q2 laptime is less than two hundredths of a second slower than the leading MP4-27.

Another few hundredths back, the third best average Q2 laptime belongs to Lotus, followed by 2011 qualifying dominator, Red Bull.

Fifth, sixth and seventh in the Q2 analysis are Ferrari, Williams and Sauber, with all of the top seven teams separated by a mere four tenths.

Red Bull has been more than a tenth adrift in qualifying, but according to Auto Motor und Sport's analysis, the reigning champions have had the best overall race pace.

The second-best team on race pace has been Sauber, with a cumulative average laptime over the seven grands prix so far less than a tenth slower than the leading Red Bull.

Lotus trails by a couple of tenths in third place.

Toro Rosso STR7 in Montreal. (Photo: WRi2)

The major surprise of the race-pace analysis is Toro Rosso: only half a second adrift big-brother Red Bull and ahead even of the 'qualifying champions' McLaren.

The result is in stark contrast to the Faenza based team's qualifying performances, with the Ferrari-powered Toro Rosso better only than the bottom-three stragglers on Saturdays.

Another big surprise in terms of race-pace is Mercedes, who despite Shanghai winner Nico Rosberg's claim that the W03 is the very fastest car in 2012, ranks only ahead of Caterham, Marussia and HRT in the grands prix.

"Not even traffic and Michael Schumacher's many problems can explain" Mercedes' almost one second per lap deficit, the analysis written by journalist Michael Schmidt said.

The officials of the Circuit Paul Ricard in France Wednesday issued a press release that is clearly targeted to those who'd like to see the return of the French Grand Prix to happen at the circuit of Magny-Cours.

The former French goverment of Nicolas Sarkozy almost reached an agreement with the FOM to stage the return of the French Grand Prix at the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit in southern France. But that was before the presidential elections...

The new socialist government of France would rather see the F1 race to take place at the Magny-Cours circuit. However, the FOM is against this idea as it claims that the rural circuit does not have adequate infrstructures and is located away from a major city.

On May 14, Charlie Whiting, F1 Race Director and F1 Safety Delagate for FIA visited the Paul-Ricard circuit and wrote a letter to the track officials.

“The circuit and its facilities are very remarkables and answer at the most strict standards: track surface, run off, walls, barriers and wire protections are in a perfect condition,” Whiting wrote.

In a detailed report, the FIA circuit commission renews with no reservation the approval of Degree 1 of the French track until July 2016.

Photo: Circuit Paul-Ricard/DPPI

This approval confirms the Paul Ricard Circuit is allowed to host F1 free and official testing sessions and F1 international competitions, on three different tracks solutions and without supplementary construction.

"Thanks to the latest laying out on the pitlane, with the installation of high wire protection and secured posts for marshals around the track, the Paul Ricard Circuit answers to all the latest regulation evolutions," said Stephane Clair, Circuit Director, in a press release.

"The quality of our technical facilities - timing, telemetry, video network, stands - and our receptive facilities - 3 and 5 stars hotels, conference rooms, grandstands and VIP terraces - allow us to welcome the most exacting teams, and this with a mediterranean weather all year. Without forget the fact that here the environment is respected with 350 ha of preserved pine forest,” he added.

The exploding popularity of iPads and increasing sales of hybrid cars is driving up prices of lithium used for batteries.

First Look: 2013 Aston Martin Vanquish

A debonair DBS replacement with a familiar name.

Remember the special edition Aston Martin DBS Ultimate? It turns out its nomenclature wasn't simply marketing hyperbole. Not only did that small batch of sports cars celebrate the end of the DBS model, but also the end of the DBS name: Aston has instead chosen to call its successor the 2013 Vanquish.

Photo Gallery: First Look: 2013 Aston Martin Vanquish - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: First Look: 2013 Aston Martin Vanquish - Automobile Magazine

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Cologne-based TMG announced as Toyota's official AMG-rivalling tuning arm

Cologne-based TMG announced as Toyota's official AMG-rivalling tuning arm

Aston Martin has revealed its stunning replacement for the DBS, and it's powered by a 565bhp V12 engine

New Continental GT Speed is the fastest-ever Bentley with a top speed of 205mph

Ford, working to fix glitches in dashboard touchscreens, said the software upgrades offered to customers came too late to improve quality scores in J.D. Power's new-vehicle quality survey scheduled to be released Wednesday.

2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 vs 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 - On Track

Maximum muscle cars duke it out on the road course.

Editor’s note: This is the first installment of a three-part comparison test between the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and the 2013 Ford Shelby GT500. Tomorrow, we’ll run the two cars at the drag strip to record quarter-mile times and consistency. The third installment will explore on-road behavior and render our final verdict.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 vs 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 - On Track - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 vs 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 - On Track - Automobile Magazine

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Toyota will cut its production capacity in Japan by more than 10 percent from current levels to about 3.1 million units by 2014, continuing to reduce its domestic output, the Nikkei said on Wednesday.

The Volkswagen Tiguan.

The Volkswagen Tiguan. Tiguan doesn't just stand apart from the competition, it blows right by.
Photo Gallery: The Volkswagen Tiguan. Tiguan doesn't just stand apart from the competition, it blows right by.

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Canada, the largest U.S. trading partner, was invited to join nine nations negotiating a Pacific-region trade agreement, a day after Mexico received a similar offer.