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From GMM

The FIA is close to completing a successful push for a bigger slice of F1's financial pie, according to a report by the expert financial source Bloomberg.

Citing 'two people familiar with the situation', the media report said the now Jean Todt-led Paris federation is set to boost its coffers to about $40 million per year.

That represents a 40 per cent revenue increase, thanks to a new deal with F1's owner CVC and much higher entry fees paid by successful teams like Red Bull.

Bloomberg said the reigning champion team, for example, will pay $3.3 million simply to enter the 2013 championship, which is ten times what it paid last year.

Runners-up Ferrari's 2013 entry bill is a reported $2.5 million.

"They (the FIA) are harvesting: they're trying to make as much money as possible while it's there," said sports marketing strategy professor Simon Chadwick, of Coventry University.

One of the unnamed sources said the new CVC agreement will benefit the FIA to the tune of about $25 million.

But former FIA president Max Mosley - Frenchman Todt's predecessor - cast doubt on suggestions F1's governing body is in dire need of more money.

He said the FIA has "always balanced the books", and kept almost $40 million in the bank.

"The FIA isn't in financial difficulty," Max Mosley insisted.

German driver, Sebastian Vettel, is just 25 years old and he's already won the Formula 1 World Championship three times in succession. Let's review some of the most important moments of his career.

Sebastien Vettel in Formula BMW in 2004. (Photo: WRI2)

Sebastian Vettel began racing the karts series in 1995 at the age of 8. Having shown early talent, he was accepted into the Red Bull Junior Team at age 11 in 1998.

He then won the ADAC Formula BMW title in 2004. In 2005, he graduated to the Formula 3 Euroseries where Vettel ranked second in the in 2006.

Formula BMW, 2004. (Photo: WRI2)

The young German competed in the World Series by Renault in 2007, and took his first win at the Nürburgring. Vettel was leading the championship when he was called up to Formula 1 to be the reserve driver of the BMW Sauber team.

He contested his first Grand Prix in Indianapolis at the wheel of a BMW Sauber F1.07 in 8th place. For the Hungarian Grand Prix, he drove for Toro Rosso.

Vettel collected his maiden F1 win at Monza during the very wet 2008 Italian GP. The following year, he raced for Red Bull Racing, and captured the world title in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Formula 3 Euroseries in 2006. (Photo: WRI2)

Contesting his first Grand Prix in Indianapolis in 2007. (Photo: WRI2)

Scoring his maiden Formula 1 win in Monza with Toro Rosso. (Photo: WRI2)

As a teammate to Michael Schumacher at the Race of Champions. (Photo: WRI2)

Winning his third World Championship in Brazil, 2012. (Photo: WRI2)

NASCAR statistics show that Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Penske Racing, Miller-Lite Dodge, earned $12,106,255 dollars this year.

Broken down into three sub-categories it was $6.2 million in race winnings, $150,000 in “special prizes,” and series sponsor, Sprint, topped it up with a bonus of over $5.7 million. Keselowski won five races.

Yet the 28-year old driver's take wasn't a record and it was less than the $12,671,071 take by Tony Stewart last year. And, of course, Stewart, as an owner, did not have to split that purse with anyone.

Photo: NASCAR

Five-time champion, Jimmie Johnson, who finished third in the standings, was second in earnings with a total of $10,469,426. Of that his race winnings of $8,129,639.00 was the most of all drivers this year. He tied Keselowski and Denny Hamlin for the most wins, five. Also he had four poles tying him at Kasey Kahne, who also had four poles.

Matt Kenseth who was third in money won, but seventh in the points, took in $ 8,802,778.50 of which $7, 528, 332 was race winnings. No doubt his win of the rain-delayed Daytona 500 (his second Daytona 500 win), worth $1.589 million helped propel him to the top of money earners. Kenseth had two additional wins and one pole.

Clint Bowyer, runner-up in the series points race, but was only fifth in money won with a total of $7,993,802 and three wins. No doubt, in part, due to less victories.

Twenty-nine drivers, down to Rookie of Year Stephen Leicht, won more the One Million dollars this year.

Canadian motorists are about to be faced with one of the most beautiful and challenging driving seasons: Winter. Temperatures and daylight levels have dropped, snow is imminent or occurring, and Mother Nature is preparing yet another concoction of ice, slush and freezing rain to challenge motorists and their vehicles at every turn.

Winter travels can be daunting and stressful or rewarding and relaxing - depending on your level of preparedness. Here are some tips drivers can take to ensure they travel safely this winter.

Photo: Matthieu Lambert

Visibility is Key
Make sure your vehicle is ready to meet the challenges of winter driving. Start with seeing and being seen. Ensure all the lights on your vehicle are working properly and that your headlamps are aimed correctly. If you can't see properly out of your car, you're asking for trouble. Consider using a quality winter wiper blade and washer fluid to help cut through the snow and ice, as well to make sure you travel safely this winter.

Emergency Kit
In addition to a bag of sand or cat litter, consider packing an emergency kit to store in your trunk to help you travel safely this winter. Blankets, candles, snacks, a charged cellular phone, and emergency road flares should all be included. Ditto for booster cables, a flashlight, and a tow-strap. Your favourite retailer sells pre-prepared emergency kits, too.

Eat For Alertness
In order to ensure you travel safely this winter, avoid heavy meals before longer trips as they can cause drowsiness. Drink plenty of water, and avoid the use of sugary or caffeinated drinks to keep you awake. Healthy snack foods that you can eat in small handfuls (as opposed to large, heavy meals) work wonders for energy and alertness levels. Remember: If you're tired or dozy, pull over and rest. Winter driving when you aren't alert is asking for trouble.

Cleaner is Safer
Washing your car to clear away ice, salt and snow, and to ensure your lights and windows are clear ahead of a road-trip is a good idea, too. A little squirt of lock deicer into each key hole after your car wash is also a good way to travel safely this winter. Don't forget to spray off the underside of your ride to remove excessive snow and sand, which can hold moisture against your floor and promote rust.

Handle a Skid
Steer into the skid? Out of the skid? Hit the brakes? There's precious little time to make a decision when your vehicle is on the verge of losing control. What's easier to remember is: Keep the steering wheel and your eyes pointed where you want the car to go. Don't stare at the tree or rock that you don't want to hit, but rather look towards the open road where you're hoping to wind up.

Don't go Hollywood-style with the steering or brakes, either. Gentle, smooth inputs are key to success during winter driving slides. Steadily, gently keep the wheel pointed in your intended direction of travel and lightly, progressively squeeze the brakes as needed.

Getting Unstuck
A bag of cat litter or sand is ideal for traction in case you get stuck this winter. Use a shovel to clear the snow away from your wheels and spread the gritty substance of your choice under and ahead of your drive wheels to help free your ride. Don't spin the tires excessively, since this can “dig” your ride further into trouble. If a little prod on the throttle doesn't get you moving, stop the car, clear more snow away, add more grit, and repeat.

Don't Get Frozen Out
Keep a bottle of lock deicer or WD-40 (with the little red straw) in your purse or briefcase to travel safely this winter. Your favourite parts store probably sells a keychain-sized bottle of either, so you can always have it handy when needed. Note that an occasional spray of either solution into your key hole (when it's not frozen) will serve as preventative maintenance.

Free Wheeling
Periodically clean out the frozen globs of slush around your front wheels, even if it means a trip to the coin-op pressure washer. In severe cases, these frozen clumps can reduce your ability to steer effectively in an emergency maneuver,-- not to mention weigh the car down to waste fuel unnecessarily.

Maintenance is Key
Is your vehicle leaking or making a strange sound? Either of these conditions can indicate a problem, so be sure to address the concern as soon as possible. Harsh winter driving conditions tend to aggravate poorly maintained vehicle components, meaning you're more likely to break down when its 30 below.

Just to ruin your trip, this usually happens on a family outing or when you're towing a heavy trailer. Your favourite mechanic can quickly perform an inspection and tune-up the next time your ride is in for an oil change just to make doubly sure you travel safely this winter.

The station wagons of my childhood were never like this
Unsung heroes of the highway, those long-forgotten barges bore the ravages and detritus of many a weekend road trip, as faithful -- and sophisticated -- as the ancient family dog.

Long since gone the way of drive-in movies, the wagon's all but vanished as primary people-movers, replaced by the minivan and SUV.

Those few that remain are generally of the premium German variety. Rather than bashed-up daily runabout, they fill the role of refined, yet practical cruiser.


The 21st century wagon
My tester, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E 350 4MATIC Wagon, is one such vehicle. I'm occasionally asked if some cars inspire a personality change, like adopting a different character upon sliding behind the wheel. Driving the E 350 wagon, I couldn't shake the feeling of respectability that came over me, as if I'd suddenly become a very pampered Stepford wife, or a respected member of the faculty.

Gliding serenely into a parking spot, I'd fantasize momentarily that my bank account had undergone the same transformation and that my past and pedigree had somehow become squeaky clean.

There's nothing sporty or sexy about the styling of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E 350 4MATIC Wagon -- heavens no. However, its clean, crisp lines create an impression of quiet elegance; and the standard-in-Canada AMG appearance package erases any hint of wagon-y frumpiness. My tester is particularly fetching in an understated pewter.

Driving the E 350 wagon, I couldn't shake the feeling of respectability that came over me. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Gadgets galore
As expected, there's plenty of gadgetry in the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E 350 4MATIC Wagon; and thankfully most of it is intuitive and easy to operate through the COMAND system.

The older I get, the more I love creature comforts and heated steering wheels get my vote for most coveted vehicle feature for cold Canadian winters. The 2012 Mercedes-Benz E 350 also boasts power-adjustable steering wheel, automatic-dimming mirrors, auto climate control (which continues to circulate warm air for a short period of time after shut-off; another nice cold-weather feature), active, self-levelling bi-xenon headlights, and rain-sensing wipers.

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz E 350 4MATIC Wagon also features a power liftgate that's activated with the key fob and head restraints that adjust at the touch of a button. The thickly cushioned leather front seats are 14-way adjustable, and the second row folds down to provide a total of 1,950 litres of cargo space -- easily ferrying a couple of friends and all their luggage home from the airport.

Lined storage bins are hidden under the front seats of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E 350 4MATIC Wagon (well hidden I might add, since I hadn't realized they were there until I looked over the manual).

Surprisingly, there's a hidden seat located under the trunk floor -- a small, rear-facing bench that flips out -- that proved a huge hit with a good friend's 9-year-old son. I wouldn't want to put anyone larger back there though, unless they're relatives who've overstayed their welcome.

Surprisingly, there's a hidden seat located under the trunk floor. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

A wagon with grunt
The E 350 received a new engine for 2012: it's still a 3.5L V6, but this one is a direct injection variant that delivers more power, but with greater fuel efficiency. It puts out 302 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque (compared to the previous model's 268/258) and is mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission with wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz E 350's fuel economy ratings of 11.2L/100km city and 7.3L highway don't exactly sound stellar in these days of ever-decreasing fuel consumption, but when you factor in the fact that the E 350 is a large, 1,945-kg vehicle with full-time AWD (hence the 4MATIC designation) that basically does the job of an SUV, those numbers sound much more reasonable. And the E 350 has a creamy smooth ride that no utility vehicle could ever hope to emulate.

Although one can switch from "Comfort" to "Sport" mode in the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E 350 4MATIC Wagon to firm up the dampers and quicken the throttle response, it feels almost disrespectful to hustle such a regal cruiser along, and for the most part I was more than content to ride in comfort. While it's very composed, no one is going to accuse this car of having aspirations of sportiness.

The 3.5L is a fairly powerful engine; and while the E 350 is never going to win any stop light peel-outs (as if!), it has no problem whatsoever achieving respectable highway speeds. The cabin in the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E 350 4MATIC Wagon boasts that typical vault-like Mercedes hush; so well-insulated is it from any road or wind noise that it's surprisingly easy to find that the speedometer has crept up to where it shouldn't be.

It's a class above the typical utility vehicle and light years beyond those saggy barges of my distant childhood. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Newness at a price
It's too easy to become accustomed to the E 350's sense of refined practicality -- you'd almost wonder why anyone would opt for one of the ubiquitous SUVs that litter the marketplace. With the 2012 Mercedes-Benz E 350's $70,000+ starting price, it's a class above the typical utility vehicle and light years beyond those saggy barges of my distant childhood.

This 2012 Mercedes-Benz E 350 4MATIC Wagon review was originally published on Auto-Venus.com.

2012 Fisker Karma EcoChic

It's pretty much impossible to overstate what Fisker has accomplished.

It's pretty much impossible to overstate what Fisker has accomplished. The five-year-old start-up has broken into one of the world's toughest and most regulated industries with a product that is more beautiful and more advanced than what's being produced by companies that have been at it for 50, 75, and 100 years. Fisker has had plenty of help from established suppliers and automakers, but the Karma's parts add up to something completely original.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Fisker Karma EcoChic - Editor's Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Fisker Karma EcoChic - Editor's Notebook - Automobile Magazine

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American Suzuki, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month, will continue to offer consumer rebates and zero percent financing to woo potential customers as the brand winds down its U.S. auto sales operations.

Fiat is holding a contest in conjunction with the release of the Fiat 500e electric vehicle.

BMW's sales in the United States rose 45 percent in November, further chipping away at Daimler's Mercedes-Benz in luxury-auto deliveries this year.

Local auto shows offer a unique opportunity to shop new vehicles without any sales pressure.

We like to poke a little fun here at Autoweek when a and#8220;newand#8221; Bugatti Veyron model comes out.

Also in this episode: Lincoln hopes to rev up sales with an advertising blitz, and the Chevy SS will tear up the trackand#8212;and streetand#8212;beginning in 2013.

New vehicle sales at both Ford Motor of Canada and Chrysler Canada made big gains in November, lifted by strong consumer demand for cars and growth in the Canadian auto industry.

Higher demand for pickups and small cars helped Ford achieve a 6 percent U.S. sales increase in November.

American Honda posted its best November ever, with sales rising 39 percent to 116,580 units. Despite the strong showing, Honda still trailed Chrysler Group by 5,985 units as the fifth-ranked automaker in the United States for the month.

Two sibling vehicles lifted November sales for Nissan North America's Nissan and Infiniti brands.

General Motors' November sales rose 3 percent, but an unexpected decline in pickup sales left GM with swollen truck inventories.

First Drive: 2013 Kia Rio SX 6MT

Hot design, lukewarm performance.

Since the Kia Rio's current generation debuted for the 2012 model year, it has gone from the butt of automotive jokes to one of the most stylish and feature-laden offerings for under $20,000. A great deal of credit for the subcompact's radical transformation goes to Kia's design chief, Peter Schreyer (previously with Audi), who bestowed the littlest Kia with the clean lines and fetching styling that permeate the brand and help this subcompact differentiate itself from the rest of the segment.

Photo Gallery: First Drive: 2013 Kia Rio SX 6MT - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: First Drive: 2013 Kia Rio SX 6MT - Automobile Magazine

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After joining the Super Bowl's ad ranks in 2011 and sitting out in 2012, Mercedes is poised to redefine its appeal to the game's massive TV audience.

Paul Everitt, CEO of The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is leaving to take up a new position outside the automotive sector at the end of January 2013.