Auto News 5

Kurt Busch, who was suspended by NASCAR for one race, is keeping his ride with James Finch's Phoenix Racing.

The 2004 Sprint Cup champion was penalized for verbal abuse of a media member while he was already on NASCAR probation. And, in addition to the suspension, his probation was extended until the end of the year.

Finch, who runs a one-car Chevrolet team with Hendrick Motorsport equipment, sounded fed up with his driver last week saying, on SiriusXM Satellite radio, that he would have a “come-to-Jesus,” meeting with his turbulent driver this week.

Apparently after a meeting in South Carolina on Tuesday some oil has been spread on the troubled waters so to speak.

In a statement released on Tuesday Finch said “We have met with Kurt. At the end of the day, we are racers so we're going racing together with Kurt and the No. 51 Phoenix Racing Chevrolet. We know adjustments have to be made but how we fix that is between Kurt and myself. We're going to go to the track, work hard, race hard and work on trying to attract a sponsor -- and we're going to do that together.”

The last time Busch missed a Sprint Cup race happened in 2005 when he was released from the Roush (now Roush Fenway Racing) team two races before the end of the season. Busch had been with Penske Racing from 2006 until last year.

David Reutimann, who usually drives for Tommy Baldwin Racing, filled in for Busch last week at Pocono International Raceway finishing 21rst. Busch now stands 27th in the points as the Sprint Cup series heads for Michigan International Speedway this weekend.

It's the claim BMW made today, confirming the 3-cylinder engine would be built exclusively at the Hams Hall factory, in the Birmingham area.

Photo: BMW

"Our Hams Hall engine plant, which last week celebrated production of the three-millionth engine since the plant was opened in February 2001, will make an important contribution to the future success of the new BMW i brand and the company's strategy for achieving sustainable mobility," said BMW's Ian Robertson.

He added the 3-cylinder engine will set new performance standards in terms for fuel-efficiency and low carbon emission vehicles.

The 2+2 seater i8 concept is a contemporary sport car with hybrid technology, which combines petrol and electric power. Total power output is 349 horsepower, 0-100 km/h is reached in 5 seconds, all with 3.0L/100km fuel consumption figures.

No news yet as to how much the car will cost, or when it will go on sale.

Ander Villarino set another dominant performance as he clinched his fourth Racecar Touring Series win out of five races in Sprint Race at Spa. Meanwhile, Romain Ianetta claimed his maiden win in Endurance Race.

Villarino, the point standings' leader, clinched pole position, He maintained his lead after the start and pulled away out in front.

The Spanish driver took the victory, leading his main championship rival Romain Thievin, while female driver Carole Perrin took her first podium finish.

Photo: Racecar Touring Series

On Sunday, Villarino was gain on pole position for Endurance Race. But this time the Spaniard was passed by Romain Ianetta, who made a great start from his fourth position on the grid.

Both drivers had a great fight for the lead, but the Frenchman man aged to stay ahead and took his first victory this season. Javier Villa took third place behind them.

Meanwhile, that was a bad day for Romain Thievin, who dropped down the field after a contact on the first lap. The incident allowed Villarino pull away on top of the standings.

Toyota, Honda and General Motors have confirmed they plan to integrate Siri, Apple Inc.'s voice control technology used on the iPhone, into connectivity systems of upcoming vehicles.

First Drive: 2013 Ford Focus ST

We finally sample the spiciest Focus on the global Ford menu.

The spiciest Focus on the menu was prepared by the chefs of the Global Performance Vehicle Group in close cooperation with Ford of Europe's Team RS and the American Special Vehicles Team, SVT. "It's a one-fits-all-markets concept," explains the project leader, Dieter Schwarz. "Design, engine specification, chassis calibration, and tire choice are exactly identical, regardless of whether the car is sold in Beijing, Los Angeles, or London. We are convinced we have found a global setup that fuses performance and comfort with practicality and affordability."

Photo Gallery: 2013 Ford Focus ST First Drive - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2013 Ford Focus ST First Drive - Automobile Magazine

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Allied Systems is back in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Decatur, Ga., vehicle transporter and 18 subsidiaries entered into bankruptcy protection on Sunday after some lenders last month submitted an involuntary Chapter 11 petition against the company.

Having recently gone on sale in markets throughout Asia, the Pacific Rim and North America, the fourth generation Lexus GS will soon reach dealers in Europe and Russia. Yoshihiko Kanamori, the car's chief engineer, spoke to just-auto at a media preview drive event in Austria and Germany.

Buick, Chrysler and Kia improved the most this year while Infiniti took the top spot from Lexus on Total Car Score's list of Best Scoring Car Brands of 2012.

The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2012 was under way on Monday at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, where Apple CEO Tim Cook has announced that the Siri personal assistant will soon be in the car.

The Ford F-150 joins the likes of the Taurus and the Explorer in offering a package aimed specifically at those who protect and serve.

A version of Volkswagen's 2013 Beetle with a turbocharged diesel engine and direct injection will start at $24,065, including shipping -- about $3,500 more than the base model -- when it goes on sale in August, the company said today.

Chrysler has expanded a recall regarding corrosion on Jeep Liberty SUVs to include the 2006 and 2007 model years after recalling the 2004 and 2005 model years in March, federal safety regulators and Chrysler said today.

Also in this episode: Porsche plans a high-powered Macan, Chrysler and GM look at

The diesel-powered 2013 Volkswagen Beetle will carry a sticker price of $24,065 including $770 in destination charges when it arrives in dealerships in August.

The

2012 Volvo C70 Inscription

The C70 is beautiful. Its sensuous curves have not aged a day.

The C70 is beautiful. Its sensuous curves and well-proportioned body have not aged a day in my eyes. It probably helps that the streets are hardly thick with them even after six years on the market.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Volvo C70 Inscription - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Volvo C70 Inscription - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

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Online auto shopping service and lead provider Autobytel is working with media giant E.W. Scripps to provide editorial content for Scripps' TV station Web sites.

Sales of new passenger cars in the Czech Republic increased 6% year on year to 76,093 units in the first five months of 2012, led as usual, by local Volkswagen group unit Skoda Auto, which took a 31% share.

Driven: Jeep J-12

A truck inspired by the past gives us hope for the future.

Mopar Underground team members affectionately referred to the J-12 concept as the Old Man Truck during its hasty ten-week build. It only takes a glance at the finished product to understand why. This basic pickup looks just like your grandpa's old truck: no extended cab, no bucket seats, and a fishing pole hanging in the rear window.

Photo Gallery: Driven: Jeep J-12 - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: Driven: Jeep J-12 - Automobile Magazine

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Infiniti will trim the G sedan model lineup for the 2013 model year while adding some extra power to the EX and FX crossovers in the form of the 3.7-liter V6 found in the G37.