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Dani Sordo is in talks with the works team Ford to replace the injured Jari-Matti Latvala in Argentina.

The name of the Spaniard, who normally drives for the MINI Prodrive team does not appear on Rally Argentina's entry list, as his team elected not to make the trip to South America for economical reasons.

Sordo, who has set great performances in his MINI previously this year (he took a podium finish in the opening round, Rally Monte Carlo in January), has been approached by team Ford's bosses. They are interested in hiring him, especially because of the experience he gained during his four seasons alongside Sébastien Loeb at the Citroen Team.

Ford Fiesta RS. (Photo: WRC)

Dani Sordo said he was interested in Ford's offer, but he wants to do a test in the Ford Fiesta WRC before he makes his final decision.

« I would be pleased to run for them in Argentina, he said. But I need the permission of the MINI Prodrive team first. We have to strike the deal quickly, because I would like to do a test session before going to Argentina. It is happens, I will give everything I can... »

If the deal fails with Sordo, Ford may choose between youngsters Mads Ostberg and Ott Tanak to assist Petter Solberg in Argentina.

Morevoer, Team MINI Prodrive has only confirmed its participation to three world rallies until the end of the season : New Zealand, Germany and Wales.

From GMM

Norbert Haug said he is proud Mercedes has reached the top of formula one in a short space of time and with a small budget.

The German carmaker's works team is often lumped together with F1's other grandees including Ferrari and McLaren, but Haug insists the Brackley based outfit is in fact "a small team, with a small budget".

Mercedes' competition boss, who on Sunday collected the winning constructors' trophy on the Shanghai podium, also said some of the team's rivals - undoubtedly Red Bull - "took five years to win".

"We have done it in two and a quarter," the German told the RTL broadcaster. "That's not bad at all. And there are other teams that still have not made it."

First victory of Mercedes AMG in China. (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

So is Mercedes now a contender for the world championship, despite Haug's earlier protestations that the team needs a few more campaigns under its belt for that?

"It is too early to make a prediction," he told Auto Motor und Sport. "I hope so, but so far we have seen three different winners in three races."

The newest of those winners is Nico Rosberg, who along with Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve are the only sons of F1 drivers to have also gone on to win grands prix.

It is a good omen for Rosberg that both Hill and Villeneuve also won titles.

Rosberg's former Williams teammate, Alex Wurz, has high praise.

"As a teammate (in 2007) he made my life difficult because he was such a fantastic qualifying driver. In the race it was then always okay. But for this (race win) he deserves praise," Wurz told the Austrian ORF broadcaster, "because he did everything after his pole position also sensationally."

But in Bahrain, there could be another winner, triple world champion Niki Lauda remarked.

"I have never before seen F1 as interesting as this," said the Austrian legend. "Every race we see another winner."

Team Dyson Racing, which planned to run two LMP1 Lola-Mazda prototypes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans has decided to withdraw its cars.

The American team, which won the title in the American Le Mans Series last season, failed to find the sponsorship needed to contest the French endurance classic event.

Regular ALMS drivers Chris Dyson and Guy Smith were supposed to drive one of the two cars.

Two teams that were on the reserve list are now allowed to race in June : Status' Lola-Judd and Murphy Prototypes' Oreca-Nissan.

Team Dyson Racing at Sebring. (Photo: Dyson Racing)

From GMM

Despite winning in Malaysia last month, Fernando Alonso is expecting a miserable weekend in Bahrain.

On the back of his surprise Sepang victory, the Spaniard qualified and finished just ninth in China, and he is not expecting a better Ferrari until next month's return to European grands prix.

"Obviously, this (result) does not leave me very optimistic for Bahrain, on a track where traction and speed are vital, exactly the areas where we are weakest," said Alonso in Shanghai.

Even more bluntly, he said the Maranello based team is "far behind" the pacesetters because the F2012 has "big problems" in aerodynamics.

Fernando Alonso abord the F2012 Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

But the bright side, Alonso insisted, is that the field of 2012 is oddly tightly bunched.

"If we improve two, three tenths then we can jump several opponents," he is quoted by Brazil's O Estado de S.Paulo. "The fight now is for fractions of seconds."

After Ferrari and Sauber were quick in Malaysia, Mercedes' Nico Rosberg dominated in China -- but many in the paddock still believe McLaren has the quickest car overall.

Indeed, Jenson Button is ruing a team mistake - a cross-threaded wheel nut during a pitstop - that he says cost him a shot at Shanghai victory.

"There can't be many more mistakes if you want to compete for a championship, definitely not," he said.

Nico Rosberg completed a perfect weekend for the Mercedes AMG Formula 1 team in China, during which both the German driver and his ‘Silver Arrows' team managed their allocation of Pirelli tires to perfection.

Photos: WRi2

Having claimed a dominant pole position by half a second, Rosberg took his debut victory and the first win for Mercedes since the 1955 Italian Grand Prix, using a two-stop strategy.

Rosberg's pace at the beginning of the Grand Prix was enough to ensure that he was able to complete his first pit stop without losing the lead and from there on he was able to control his advantage, completing the race on the medium tires.

From GMM

More wins could quickly follow for F1's newest race victor, Nico Rosberg.

The Mercedes driver began the 2012 season with more than a century of races under his belt, causing some pundits to predict he will never taste winning champagne.

But he broke through in China just a day after his maiden pole.

"I took 113 (races to win) and he's on 111," 2009 world champion Jenson Button smiled in Shanghai.

Niki Lauda thinks Rosberg's next wins will be easier.

"It (winning) gets easier, because he know you can do it, and you've proved it. The next victories come quite quickly," Niki Lauda told the German broadcaster RTL late in China.

Nico Rosberg. (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

Patrick Tambay won just two grands prix in consecutive seasons, 1982 and 1983, but he said the first one - achieved in Keke Rosberg's championship year - came with "a sense of completion".

"After that, things seem easier, especially so when you've waited 110 grands prix!" said the Frenchman.

"It will feel like a relief," Tambay told RMC Sport. "Now, he's still young at 26 but with a lot of experience; he has everything he needs to reproduce this victory. The first is the most difficult."

However, Tambay thinks Rosberg has a fight on his hands if he thinks the Shanghai victory is a springboard to a potential championship challenge.

"I see the McLaren as the best car of the season. They passed up a good opportunity for the (China GP) win," he said.

It's 2,000 metres of concrete that twists and turns like a boa constrictor suffocating its prey.

The road course at Mission International Raceway is known as an intensive, challenging track that doesn't suffer fools or their machines. Feathering a hair trigger, the utmost in concentration is needed to prevent an accidental shot with calamitous results.

At least that's how it felt to me.

At 5:30 Saturday morning I rolled out of bed with eyes that could have used a few more hours welded shut. I didn't complain.

I was headed to the track, but those simple words fail to do the long awaited day justice.

Seated next to me would be local racing legend Tony Morris Sr. Since retiring from racing in 2002, Tony has partnered with Porsche Cars Canada Limited teaching journalists how to drive and appreciate the breathtaking capabilities of Porsche products.

Photo: Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com

While Tony is an integral part of the process that elevated me from the automotive gutter to a professional track in some sort of octane-fueled version of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, it was the driving dynamics of two German rides that enabled my metamorphosis.

The morning hours of my ascension found me behind the wheel of a Porsche 991, better known as the 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S.

My lime gold metallic coupe bellowed with 400 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque derived from a 3.8L flat-six powerplant featuring direct injection and integrated dry sump lubrication.

With man and machine working in perfect synchronicity, I became the unknown variable in the gutter to glory story. And while self-doubt permeated my being and kept my ego in-check, Tony exhibited unwavering confidence and determination in commissioning my evolution from newbie to novice.

TM's first challenge upon the green flag was to find a way to relax me and calm my nerves as we were waved onto the track from pit lane. TM can see it. One look at a driver's hands on the wheel and he knows the person's mental state.

Nothing good comes of clenching the wheel like the arms of a dental chair.

I took Tony's instruction to heart, and before I realized it, I had become singularly focused. Nothing else mattered. If it didn't pertain to getting the Carrera S around the track quickly and safely, it was repressed deeper than bottle-fed scarring.

Photo: Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com

The only audible intrusion over the famed rear-engine wail was TM's instructive play-by-play.

“Only brake in a straight line,” is one of those techniques that Tony harps on. Slowing the car to the ideal speed to enter a corner must be accomplished before turning into the curve or one risks unsettling the car mid-corner, and that's not a good thing.

With speed nailed, it all comes down to the most efficient line through a turn, and that's not as simple as it may seem.

My natural driving instinct had me placing the car too tight to the inside; Tony quickly corrected that.

“Go wide - wider,” was TM's refrain as I came into number eight and tried to set the car up to exit turn nine carrying as much speed as possible. Unwinding the Carrera to the outer edge of the track through turn eight felt so unnatural but that's what my clairvoyant insisted I do.

Suddenly, I was coming out of number nine carrying velocity far exceeding that of the Ferrari 458 Italia I was chasing. As we hit the immediate straightaway, I flung Porsche's little supercar past the Italian stallion which had committed to an inferior line and was not able to ignite the afterburners as early.

With two big thumbs-up from Tony, I felt elation flood my senses and a need to chase down the next target in my sights - I've tasted blood.

At the track, everything stops for lunch. No light-headed racing here. With a full stomach, I return to my two-kilometre stretch of concrete crack but this time my ride is much bigger; we're strapped into Porsche's 2012 Panamera S Hybrid that combines battery with octane to deliver a total of 380 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque.

Photo: Rob Rothwell/Auto123.com

Accompanying the car change is a change in weather; deluged by rain, wipers waving, Tony tells me that he used to love racing in the rain. “Oh great,” I think to myself.

My racing coach isn't advising me to slow down due to the slick road surface. No. He's pushing me, and frankly, I'm a rabid dog pulling mercilessly on the leash.

Tony has revised my cornering lines to take advantage of drier portions of the track, avoiding Olympic-size pools of water that others wade through. The strategy works, and I begin reeling in some pretty impressive machinery.

I'm sure more than a few drivers were surprised to see the big four-door sled filling their rearviews as my octane-fuelled Pygmalion Story played out. My professor worked his magic over the course of the day, lifting a mediocre driver from the asphalt gutter to create a racer thirsty for the chase.

Despite TM's absence, Porsche owners or any driving enthusiast with a properly prepared vehicle, can enjoy a track day at Mission's International Raceway by registering for the Inside Line track event with Morrisport Advanced Driving at www.morrisport.com/trackdays.html.

Pictures from race day in Shanghai for the 2012 Chinese Grand Prix

Nico Rosberg wins the Chinese Grand Prix, ahead of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton

The risks posed by distracted driving -- a major regulatory debate in the United States right now -- don't deter many European drivers, according to a survey commissioned by Ford.

Lucas Luhr and Klaus Graf bested everyone at the Long Beach Grand Prix, shuffled by Friday's rain-cancelled qualifying session. The Muscle Milk Pickett Racing team maximized a pit-stop mistake of their own to take the win.

Photo: ALMS.com

As the HPD ARX-03a came in for its first pitstop, the same fuel rig that costed the team victory at Sebring started acting out again. Unsure whether it had filled the car up, they later came back in for a splash - which ultimately allowed them to race to finish without pitting.

Photo: ALMS.com

"It was not the plan for the extra fuel," Graf said. "We did a good driver change and usually by that time we are ready to go, but I'm not sure why it took so long. We weren't sure if we got a full fill, and with one yellow we knew it would be very tight. We just had to be sure we were safe on fuel until the end."

In the GT class, Corvette's Tommy Milner and Oliver Gavin fought with BMW Team RLL's Joey Hand and Dirk Müller for the victory - and won. Christophe Bouchut and Scott Tucker overcame a spin to win in the P2 class.

Photo: ALMS.com

"I learned a lot from Tommy [Milner]," Oliver Gavin admitted. "He was a bit of a Guinea pig for me today. Seeing the tires lasted, seeing it through the longer run. It was harder to get ahead of (Müller); I finally managed to squeeze through."

Photo: ALMS.com

CORE Autosport took a second consecutive LMPC win in the streets of Long Beach, thanks to Ryan Dalziel and Memo Gidley, while Damien Faulkner and Peter LeSaffre (Green Hornet Racing) edged out Leh Keen and Cooper MacNeil (Alex Job Racing) in GTC.

Photo: ALMS.com

Canadians Michael Valiante and Chris Cumming (JDX Racing) took a remarkable third in the same class.

Source: ALMS.com



Race results - ALMS Long Beach Grand Prix (Cal.)

1 - Luhr/Graf (HPD ARX-03a) - Pickett - 86 laps
2 - Dyson/Smith (Lola B12/60-Mazda) - Dyson - 86
3 - Popow/Dalziel (Oreca FLM09) - CORE - 85
4 - Guasch/Gidley (Oreca FLM09) - Pickett - 84
5 - Bennett/Braun (Oreca FLM09) - CORE - 84
6 - Gavin/Milner (Corvette ZR1) - Corvette - 84
7 - Hand/Mueller (BMW M3) - Rahal - 84
8 - Sharp/Van Overbeek (Ferrari 458) - Extreme Speed - 84
9 - Magnussen/Garcia (Corvette ZR1) - Corvette - 84
10 - Tucker/Bouchut (HPD ARX-03b) - Level 5 - 83
11 - Fernandez/Turner (Aston Martin Vantage) - Aston Martin - 83
12 - Henzler/Sellers (Porsche 997) - Falken - 83
13 - Bergmeister/Long (Porsche 997) - Flying Lizard - 83
14 - Miller/Maassen (Porsche 997 Cup) - Miller - 83
15 - Marsal/Lux (Lola B11/66-Mazda) - Dyson - 83
16 - Marcelli/Downs (Oreca FLM09) - Merchant - 83
17 - Plowman/Hansson (Morgan-Judd) - Conquest - 83
18 - Richard/Ende (Oreca FLM09) - Dempsey - 82
19 - Tucker/Diaz (HPD ARX-03b) - Level 5 - 81
20 - Neiman/Holzer (Porsche 997) - Flying Lizard - 81
21 - Brown/Cosmo (Ferrari 458) - Extreme Speed - 80
22 - Leitzinger/Junco (Oreca FLM09) - PR1 - 80
23 - LeSaffre/Faulkner (Porsche 997 Cup) - Green Hornet - 79
24 - MacNeil/Keen (Porsche 997 Cup) - Alex Job - 79
25 - Cumming/Valiante (Porsche 997 Cup) - JDX - 79
26 - Sofronas/Welch (Porsche 997 Cup) - GMG - 79
27 - Pumpelly/DiGuida (Porsche 997 Cup) - TRG - 77
28 - Faieta/Avenatti (Porsche 997 Cup) - Competition - 74
29 - Mueller/Auberlen (BMW M3) - Rahal - 71
30 - Junqueira/Drissi (Oreca FLM09) - RSR - 69
31 - Sweedler/Bell (Lotus Evora) - Alex Job - 57
32 - Kovacic/Burgess (Oreca FLM09) - Merchant - 51
33 - Pappas/Bleekemolen (Lola B11/80-Honda) - Black Swan - 45

GP3R organizers nailed a deal down with the Série Sportsman Québec, allowing the stock-car championship to race at the Trois-Rivières venue.

The icing on the cake: the winner of the Sportsman Québec race will be rewarded with a drive in the following NASCAR Canadian Tire race (NCTS).

"Sportsman Québec drivers are tomorrow's generation of professionals racers, they're youngsters and veterans who never got their big break. We're giving them that chance, but for that they have to prove their worth first," GP3R general manager Dominic Fugère said.

As soon as the news broke, karting world champion Pier-Luc Ouellette showed his interest.

Pier-Luc Ouellette was thrilled to hear the news(Photo: Patrick Moreau/SRA)

"It's a dream for every Québec driver to race in the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières," Ouellette said. "

Stock-car is the route I want to go after karting, so when you put GP3R and stock-car Sportsman Québec together, I say present. The fact that I can win a NCTS drive on top of that meant I just had to go."

The Chevrolet cars showed just as much pace in Marrakech's third round of the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) season as they did in round one and two.

Photo: WTCC.com

Alain Menu took the win in the weekend's first race, followed by his teammates Rob Huff and Yvan Muller.

Photo: WTCC.com

Spaniard Pepe Oriola bested Tom Coronel in the best of the rest, while Tom Chilton - in seventh - scored Ford's first WTCC points.

Photo: WTCC.com

The Chevrolet 1-2-3 scenario was the same in race two, except the order was change. Muller won from Huff and Menu, the trio having started seventh, nine and tenth.

Photo: WTCC.com

Tom Coronel took fourth behind the "Muller-Huff-Menu express", while James Nash scored some more points for Ford - even leading the race at one point.

Photo: WTCC.com

Race 1 results - Marrakech (WTCC)

1 - Alain Menu - Chevrolet Cruze - RML - 12 tours en 22min28.931s
2 - Robert Huff - Chevrolet Cruze - RML - 1.074s
3 - Yvan Muller - Chevrolet Cruze - RML - 1.554s

4 - Pepe Oriola - Seat Leon WTCC - Tuenti - 2.268s
5 - Stefano D'Aste - BMW 320TC - Wiechers - 5.713s

6 - Franz Engstler - BMW 320 TC - Engstler - 8.075s

7 - Tom Chilton - Ford Focus S2000 - Arena - 9.290s

8 - Tom Coronel - BMW 320TC - Roal - 16.069s
9 - Norbert Michelisz - BMW 320 TC - Zengo - 17.696s

10 - Darryl O'Young - Seat Leon WTCC - STR - 19.284s

11 - Gabriele Tarquini - Seat Leon WTCC - Sunred - 26.413s

12 - Alex Macdowall - Chevrolet Cruze - Bamboo - 38.647s

13 - Andrea Barlesi - Seat Leon 1.6 T - Sunred - 44.139s

14 - Tom Boardman - Seat Leon TDI - STR - 48.598s

15 - Alberto Cerqui - BMW 320 TC - Roal - 50.097s
16 - Aleksei Dudukalo - Seat Leon WTCC - Sunred - 50.377s



Fastest lap by Pepe Oriola 1min44.617s



Retirements

Nash (lap 1)
Bennani (lap 2)
Tutumlu (lap 3)

Ng (lap 6)

Monteiro (lap 7)
Di Sabatino (lap 8)

Photo: WTCC.com

Race 2 results - Marrakech (WTCC)

1 - Yvan Muller - Chevrolet Cruze - RML - 11 laps in 19min36.636s

2 - Robert Huff - Chevrolet Cruze - RML - 0.381s
3 - Alain Menu - Chevrolet Cruze - RML - 0.970s

4 - Tom Coronel - BMW 320 TC - Roal - 2.153s

5 - Stefano D'Aste - BMW 320 TC - Wiechers - 2.641s
6 - James Nash - Ford Focus S2000 - Arena - 5.052s

7 - Pepe Oriola - Seat Leon WTCC - Tuenti - 5.589s

8 - Franz Engstler - BMW 320 TC - Engstler - 5.610s
9 - Tiago Monteiro - Seat Leon 1.6T - Tuenti - 7.374s
10 - Darryl O'Young - Seat Leon WTCC - STR - 12.861s

11 - Aleksei Dudukalo - Seat Leon WTCC - Sunred - 13.587s

12 - Pasquale Di Sabatino - Chevrolet Cruze - Bamboo - 14.273s

13 - Mehdi Bennani - BMW 320 TC - Proteam - 14.273s

14 - Charles Ng - BMW 320 TC - Engstler - 29.173s

15 - Andrea Barlesi - Seat Leon 1.6 T - Sunred - 31.619s



Fastest lap by Alain Menu 1min45.161s



Retirements
Gabriele Tarquini (lap 1)
Alex Macdowall (lap 1)

Alberto Cerqui (lap 2)

Norbert Michelisz (lap 6)

Tom Chilton (lap 9)



Drivers' standings
1.Yvan Muller 130; 2.Menu 107; 3.Huff 97; 4.Coronel 77; 5.D'Aste 45; 6.Tarquini 44; 7.Oriola 43; 8.Engstler 34; 9.Michelisz 26; 10.Rydell 14.

Source: ItaliaRacing.net

Photo: WTCC.com

Vowing to eradicate any lingering anxieties of electric vehicles, Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada (MMSCAN) is launching its tongue-in-cheek Electriphobia Research Institute at the 2012 Green Living Show.

The fictitious “Institute” pokes fun at common misperceptions about electric cars and aims to rid Canadians of “the shocking new fear sweeping the nation.” A unique approach to electric vehicle (EV) awareness, “Electriphobia” is a web-based campaign that will debut on April 16 - highlights were showcased for media today at North America's largest green consumer show.

Electriphobia Institute "scientists" Don Ulmer and Keri Zierler. (Photo: Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada, Inc.)

Developed by Mitsubishi's agency-of-record, john st. advertising, the Electriphobia campaign tackles some common misperceptions surrounding electric vehicles - from the fear of electrocution to tailpipe anxiety to coming to grips with no engine noise. It features a reluctant test subject and the Institute's lab-coated “scientist” who prescribes various cures.

“The objective is to raise awareness about electric vehicles and share truths about the gamechanging technology in our all-new i-MiEV pure electric vehicle. Through the ‘Institute' we want to prepare EV consumers for the experience of never again visiting a gas station, having a tailpipe, or changing the oil,” said Peter Renz, director of marketing at MMSCAN.

“For Mitsubishi the campaign is timely, coinciding with the recent launch of our all-new 2012 i-MiEV hatchback. i-MiEV is one of only two pure electric vehicles available in Canada and that makes it a real technological innovation, requiring an innovative marketing approach,” he added.

Stephen Jurisic, co-creative director at john st. noted: “EVs are still largely misunderstood. We wanted Canadians to really learn about the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and, to do that, we had to get them to spend some time on the Electriphobia.com website. So making it entertaining and fun as well as informative was crucial.”

The Mitsubishi i-MiEV is gaining traction among Canadian consumers and fleet operators. Fourteen deliveries in March brought total i-MiEV sales to 69 units since mid-December. British Columbia's Saanich Police Department, the city of Calgary, Saskatchewan's SaskPower and Hydro-Québec are among the early adopters to have purchased the i-MiEV.

Far from a fleet vehicle, most i-MiEV sales have been to consumers. To date, MMSCAN has named 30 certified i-MiEV dealerships and expects that number to grow in 2012.

In order to reduce the number of accidents involving younger drivers, the zero alcohol rule is now in effect for drivers of age 21 and younger.

Young drivers that get pulled over with a blood-alcohol level equal to or under 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood (0.08) will get their license revoked for 90 days. If they are convicted, four demerit points will be added to their driving record, and they will be required to pay a fine of $300 to $600 (plus administration fees).

If a driver of age 21 or less gets pulled over with a blood-alcohol level of over 0.08, they could be prosecuted under the Criminal Code. Those who get convicted will be subject to other measures and penalties.

Mercedes-Benz B-Class 2011
37 units

On certain vehicles equipped with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), the internal transmission drive belt could fail. This would result in a loss of vehicle propulsion which, in conjunction with traffic and road condition, and the driver's reactions, could increase the risk of a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury.

Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the CVT gearbox assembly.

Mercedes-Benz B-Class (Photo: Lesley Wimbush/Auto123.com)

Jeep Compass 2012
Jeep Patriot 2012
248 units

On certain vehicles, the fuel tank roll-over valve may have been damaged during vehicle assembly. This could allow fuel leakage in a roll-over crash. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire causing property damage and/or personal injury.

Correction: Dealers will replace the fuel tank assembly.

Chrysler Town & Country 2012
Dodge Grand Caravan 2012
26 units

Certain vehicles may have been equipped with an incorrectly manufactured right rear hub and bearing assembly. Hub failure could result in wheel separation. A wheel separating from the vehicle could cause a loss of control and a crash. In addition, the errant wheel assembly could strike a vehicle, stationary object, or bystander. These issues could result in property damage and/or personal injury.

Correction: Dealers will replace the right rear hub and bearing assembly.

Ford Focus 2012
19,062 units

On certain vehicles, a seal plug may have been dislodged from the wiring harness connector to the passenger side wiper motor during vehicle assembly. This could allow water or other contaminants to enter and accumulate in the connector, resulting in an intermittent or inoperative passenger side wiper motor.

An inoperative passenger side wiper may result in reduced driver visibility in certain driving manoeuvres, which could result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Note: The driver side wiper uses a separate motor that does not use a seal plug within the connector and is not susceptible to this condition.

Correction: Dealers will inspect, clean and properly seal the passenger side wiper motor connector. Inoperative wiper motors will be replaced.

Nissan Armada 2012
Nissan Titan 2012
2,301 units

Certain vehicles fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 - Tire Selection and Rims. Specifically, the compliance label does not indicate the wheel rim size, as required by the Standard.

Correction: To be announced.

Volkswagen Passat 2012
14 units

On certain vehicles equipped with a 2.0L TDI engine, the diesel fuel filter element may not seal properly and could leak. Diesel fuel leakage may ignite on a hot surface and cause a fire which could result in property damage and/or personal injury.

Correction: Dealers will replace the fuel filter element.

BMW X6 2012
107 units

On certain BMW X6 M vehicles, the Tire and Loading Information label incorrectly indicates a vehicle seating capacity of four occupants. The actual seating capacity is five.

Correction: To be announced.

Buick Enclave 2011-2012
Chevrolet Traverse 2011-2012
GMC Acadia 2011-2012
5,810 units

On certain vehicles, if a buildup of snow or ice on the windshield or on the wipers restricts the movement of the wiper arm, the wiper arm nut may loosen and cause that wiper to become inoperative. Loss of windshield wiping capability, should it occur during a rainy/snowy day, may compromise the driver's ability to see the road and its users, which could result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury.

Correction: Dealers will tighten the wiper arm nuts.

BMW X3 2004-2013
BMW X5 2000-2013
BMW X6 2008-2012
67,771 units

Certain vehicles fail to conform to Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Specifically, the compliance label does not indicate the wheel rim size, as required by the Standard.

Correction: To be announced.

A new 4-cylinder engine has booted BMW's naturally aspirated straight-six from the powertrain roster -- and it's caused a bit of an uproar in the community.


For years, BMW used a straight-6 engine to power most of its models. BMW is known for straight-6s that sounded fantastic, loved to rev and were celebrated the world over by fans and authorities alike. It's a fantastic engine.

But thanks to constant cries for more power and better fuel mileage, the naturally aspirated variant of that old 3.0L inline-6 has been evicted from engine compartments in virtually all BMW models. It's a big deal. Imagine Dodge getting rid of the HEMI. Same idea.

The N20
Now, BMW's new "N20" engine has almost totally replaced the straight-6. A turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder, the N20 cranks out 241 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. That's more output, created using less fuel. Win-win, if you will.

The N20 has even found its way into the 528i for 2012. Admittedly, it looks a touch lonely all by itself under the hood, but it's what's on the inside that counts.

Now, BMW's new "N20" engine has almost totally replaced the straight-6. (Photo: Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com)

Efficient Dynamics
The N20 is packed with an array of advanced features that aim to deliver on BMW's Efficient Dynamics mantra.

Examples?
On-demand, electrically driven oil and water pumps. By powering these components with voltage rather than engine power, more output makes its way to the road, and less fuel is burned.

And since the water pump only starts circulating coolant once the engine gets warm, the 528i heats up more quickly when it's cold outside. That's easy to appreciate, if you like being warm.

The alternator is also on-demand. Using a clutch to control engagement, it only spins when drivers coast or brake--not while they accelerate. Less fuel is burned needlessly spinning the device, and more horsepower is available during acceleration, too.

This 'brake-energy regeneration' ideology effectively uses momentum to recharge the battery that would otherwise be wasted.

Variable valve timing and direct injection further optimize on-demand performance and fuel mileage. In effect, the N20 intends to give drivers plenty of power when needed while slashing fuel use when it's not.

There's even an auto-stop function that shuts the engine off at traffic lights, like a hybrid, though the system's action is suspended when it's cold outside.

N20 in Action
The driving experience is still pure BMW -- mostly. As turbo engines tend to be, this one sounds a little dull and boring. It can't hold a candle to the high-RPM wail of the old straight-6.

But performance is all there. The N20 hustled the xDrive equipped tester along in something of a hurry, and it's smooth and potent from just off of idle to redline. Torsos press, with some level of authority, into seatbacks when drivers jam on it.

ECO PRO
Best of all, the N20 generates enough low-end torque to ease the 528i along at very low revs during casual driving. That's key to maximizing the functionality of the 528i's ECO PRO drive mode, which encourages exploration of the model's economical side.

ECO PRO offers tips to help maximize your mileage and even shows how much range you've 'added' to your current tank of fuel by following its instructions. And you don't have to drive like a total cardigan-enthusiast to use ECO PRO, either.

ECO PRO offers tips to help maximize your mileage and even shows how much range you've 'added' to your current tank of fuel by following its instructions. (Photo: Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com)

A Gentle Cruiser
Using ECO PRO mode, one mustn't fantasize about full-throttle acceleration, burnouts, and ripping through gears like Christmas morning wrapping paper. Sitting back and enjoying the drive is, conversely, key.

The 528i makes said relaxation easy, though. Noise levels, comfort and ride quality are all world-class here -- and the tester cruised and cornered with that trademark locked-down, heavy and solid 5-Series feel. This is a machine that offers up a beautiful driving experience in any situation and on any road, driven hard or not.

Traction on icy surfaces was excellent, and even on Sudbury Ontario's poorly maintained, pothole-ridden roads, the ride stayed composed.

Further enjoyment on my test-drive came from a positively magnificent stereo system, sumptuously trimmed cabin, fantastic xenon lighting system and conversation-starting styling, inside and out.

This is a machine that offers up a beautiful driving experience in any situation and on any road, driven hard or not. (Photo: Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com)

Gripes?
Several passengers and I did notice that for the size of the 528i, it feels a little tight inside. And the iDrive controller still has a learning curve to it.

Additionally, since the tester had only done a handful of kilometers before winding up in my grubby mitts, the engine hadn't completed break-in and started achieving fantastic mileage just yet.

My test average landed at 11L/100km, with highway consumption at a good clip over hilly terrain dropping to about 9. The latter figure bordered on impressive by my standards, but owners can expect that number to improve as the engine breaks in.

End of the day, shoppers after a world-class sedan packed with world-class styling and technology employed for maximum efficiency will likely be impressed. The nicely loaded tester came in around 70 grand.

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