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Videos 29 Nov, 2012

The fourth-generation Toyota RAV4 has made its world debut in LA

Videos 29 Nov, 2012

The all-new Porsche Cayman and Cayman S have been unveiled in LA

Jaguar Land Rover's partner for Southeast Asia is in discussions with three potential dealership partners in Myanmar as the country emerges from years of western sanctions.

In this month's management briefing we take a look at the latest developments in major vehicle markets around the world. In this instalment, we take a look at the recovering US light vehicle market.

Jacques Rivoal (54) will become president of Volkswagen Group France, from 2 January, 2013. He takes over from Marie Christine Caubet (61), who is retiring.

Fiat says the 500L Trekking, an SUV-styled variant of its 500L small minivan, could account for half of overall 500L sales in the U.S. market.

Design studios build all kinds of things all the time and the vast majority of them never see the light of day. In many cases that's a good thing.

Volkswagen has reached an agreement to extend its joint venture with China's FAW Group for another 25 years after concluding that neither side infringed on technology patents.

First Drive: 2013 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition

Back to its roots.

Jeep Wrangler owners are an interesting group. Even the slightest change made in the name of creature comfort is likely to set off the die-hards. Luckily, the changes Jeep bestowed upon the 2013 Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition are functional and aimed right at the guys who would take a brand new Wrangler off-road before the first monthly payment is due.

Photo Gallery: First Drive: 2013 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: First Drive: 2013 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition - Automobile Magazine

First Drive: 2013 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

At this year's Los Angeles auto show, it seems that BMW X1s are everywhere. A cute blue vehicle I passed looked just like an X1 SUV. Actually, it was a Mazda CX-5 that resembled an X1 from the side, but had a nose and tail different than the X1.

From now to December 16th, Saab is offering car collectors around the world a unique opportunity to acquire models that have never been available for sale before. Most of them exist in only a few examples.

Among the 68 cars are two copies of the 2011 Saab 9-3 Cabriolet Independance Edition, which celebrated Saab's first year as an independent car manufacturer. The plan was to build 366 units, but only 38 ever made it out of the factory.

The company is also auctioning 18 of just 30 Saab 9-5 NEW SportCombis and 29 of 54 Saab 9-5 New Sedan models that were produced. Moreover, there are ten copies of the Saab 9-4X crossover utility vehicle including the car with chassis number 1 for the European market.

Finally, collectors can bid on one of the three existing Saab 9-3 SportCombis in Sky Blue, as well as the Saab 9-5 Aero V6 300hp automatic that was used by CEO Victor Muller.

Go to kvdauctions.com for all the action.

From GMM

Ferrari has until Friday to lodge a protest against the results of Sunday's championship-deciding Brazilian grand prix.

The possibility that Sebastian Vettel could lose his 2012 title, to the benefit of Fernando Alonso, has arisen after video footage emerged on the internet depicting Vettel overtaking at Interlagos possibly under yellow flags.

A spokesman for Ferrari admitted the team is "evaluating footage", which reportedly also includes still photography and various angles.

"Anything that threatens the credibility of the championship has to be examined," the Ferrari official added.

This year's FIA rules say any review of the outcome of the world championship must commence no later than 30 November.

The FIA has not yet commented on whether an official review is underway. But the FIA's Spanish official Carlos Gracia said: "Ferrari should not win a championship in this way."

Caption: FOM

Widespread media reports say that closer review of the evidence available publicly so far shows that while Vettel did pass Jean-Eric Vergne with the yellow lights illuminated in his cockpit, a marshal may already have waved a green flag.

Another view is that Vettel was justified in passing the Toro Rosso because of how dramatically it slowed.

"If Ferrari has not protested already, it's because they do not think it is clear," Jaime Alguersuari, a Spanish former F1 driver, told AS newspaper.

From GMM

Kamui Kobayashi has entered the frame as a potential replacement for Romain Grosjean at Lotus, Finland's Turun Sanomat newspaper reports.

Earlier, the Finnish source MTV3 said Heikki Kovalainen - at risk of losing his Caterham seat - was now a candidate for Lotus, as the Enstone based team considers whether to keep Frenchman Grosjean on board.

Grosjean enjoys the support of team boss Eric Boullier and also the team's important French backer Total, but it is believed the 26-year-old tumultuous 2012 season has sparked deliberations about whether he should keep the seat alongside Kimi Raikkonen.

Who to drive the second Lotus? (Photo: WRi2)

Writing in Turun Sanomat, journalist Heikki Kulta said Lotus owner Gerard Lopez is wondering if having a more consistent driver alongside Raikkonen would be a wiser choice in terms of securing a more lucrative position in the constructors' world championship.

"Kimi comes at a cost to us," Lopez is quoted as saying, "but on the other hand he helps us in the manufacturers' standings, bringing even more money to the team."

While Raikkonen scored 207 points this year, finishing third in the drivers' table, Grosjean is just eighth, with 96. Lotus finished fourth in the constructors' title.

Kulta wrote that Japanese Kobayashi, who has been raising money via a support website to contribute to a 2013 employer, has entered the frame at Lotus after losing his Sauber seat to Esteban Gutierrez.

"It's a shame for Romain, as not finishing his season in Brazil very well is a problem," fellow Frenchman Alain Prost told RMC Sport. "What's more important, speed or reliability? That is what Lotus must decide."

Meanwhile, the correspondent for Brazil's O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, Livio Oricchio, claims Lotus is leaving open the second race seat for now amid its negotiations with potential team investors.

Oricchio said Lotus' talks are with a group of investors involving none other than Bernie Ecclestone, who would promote a "very controversial" new team boss. "Not Flavio Briatore," Oricchio insisted.

Mission accomplished for Chrysler, who successfully transformed the lacklustre Sebring sedan into the more competitive 200. Sales have doubled in 2012 compared to the previous year, and when you add the sales numbers of the very similar Dodge Avenger, Chrysler sells more midsize sedans in Canada than any other automaker, beating out the Toyota Camry, the Ford Fusion and the Hyundai Sonata.


While numbers don't lie, they don't always tell the whole truth. The 2013 Chrysler 200 S is a quick, quiet and comfortable sedan; however, when you start comparing it against its rivals (the redesigned 2013 Honda Accord in particular), the 200 quickly loses its shine. Its lower price, before and after various manufacturer rebates, is its most appealing advantage.

The 200 ranks mid-pack in its category in regards to interior dimensions. Front and rear space isn't as generous as in the Accord and the Nissan Altima. The 200 also loses points in terms of refinement, fuel economy and resale value compared to the competition.

As this is being written, a Chrysler 200 can be had with a $3,600 discount, which compensates for its overall shortcomings. As the sales numbers suggest, a lot of people (and, admittedly, rental fleets) are looking for a good deal and not necessarily the best all-around car in a given category.

From that perspective, the 2013 Chrysler 200 is worth a look.

V6 power
Although base versions of the 2013 Chrysler 200 are equipped by a 2.4L inline-4, the smooth and powerful 3.6L V6 is the engine of choice, and it's standard when you choose the S trim. Producing 283 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, the 6-cylinder motor provides very good performance, despite some noticeable torque steer.

The 6-speed automatic shifts almost imperceptibly during full-throttle acceleration and keeps the engine in its powerband. When you press on the gas to speed up, you'll get the occasional lag in responsiveness, as if the transmission was mulling a one- or two-gear downshift before reacting.

The 2013 Chrysler 200's ride is very pleasing. The suspension overhaul Chrysler performed for the 2011 model year provides a quiet drive, while road imperfections are easily soaked up with minimal floatiness. In short, not too soft, not too firm: just right.

Fuel economy is rated at 11.0/6.8 L/100km city/highway. The gutsy V6 spins at only 1,700 rpm at a steady 100 km/h, which helped achieve a respectable 10.3L/100km average during the test. The 2.4L engine is not much better on gas.

We averaged 10.3L/100km during our test. (Photo: Michel Deslauriers)

Fit and finish trails the competition
While the material quality and assembly are much better than in the old Sebring, the general atmosphere feels subpar compared to its established rivals, especially since the Accord, the Fusion and the Altima have all been redesigned for the 2013 model year.

The general appearance is pleasing if not breathtaking, and yet there are some details that remind us of the car's sticker price; the leather seat upholstery looks like vinyl, the contrast stitching is too white, and there are exposed bolts on the seat tracks. The trunklid's wiring harness is shamelessly exposed, and there is no pull handle to close the lid without getting your hands dirty.

As for the S trim, there's isn't much to get excited about over the Limited version, because there are no performance upgrades. You get sportier looking polished alloy wheels, blacked-out headlight clusters, a black grille, dual exhaust tips as well as body-colour mirrors and door handles (instead of chrome). However, the car's drive isn't sportier. Still, no other version of the 2013 Chrysler 200 looks as good.

Interior fit and finish is good, but not quite as good as in most of its competitors. (Photo: Michel Deslauriers)

Segment price leader
Starting at $19,995 before taxes, freight and delivery charges, the 2013 Chrysler 200 is, along with the Avenger, the most affordable midsize sedan in Canada.

Our S tester, equipped with the Sun and Nav II Package, costs $30,885. You get a fair amount of features for the price, including heated front seats, a power sunroof, climate control, a power driver's seat and Chrysler's Media Centre 730N system which bundles navigation, a USB port, Bluetooth phone and streaming audio connectivity as well as a voice recognition system.

From GMM

Sebastian Vettel has hit back at critics who claim the new triple consecutive world champion is not good at overtaking.

The critics have said the Red Bull driver is good at dominating grands prix from pole position, but usually falters when he needs to do some passing en route to the chequered flag.

But German Vettel thinks his races in Abu Dhabi, when he fought through the field from the pitlane to finish on the podium, and in Brazil where he won the title despite a first-lap spin, have proved the critics wrong.

Sebastian Vettel crossed the line in a sixth position in Brazil. (Photo: WRi2)

"It's actually a little funny to look back now at the guy who can't overtake," he is quoted as saying by Brazil's Agencia Estado. "Now, after just two races, people have to change their minds."

Vettel admitted the criticism bothered him particularly in 2011, when he won many races from pole.

"You start from a good position and yet you are criticised for that," he said.

Four-time world champion Alain Prost says Vettel deserves the 2012 title.

"He has the car, the team. He does what he needs to do," the Frenchman told RMC Sport. "He had a lot of luck, especially in Abu Dhabi and Brazil. He was a lucky champion. But that doesn't mean he doesn't deserve it -- far from it."

Once again I want to write about rallying and particularly Sébastien Loeb's remarkable WRC career.

Many F1 aficionados will tell you that Michael Schumacher is the greatest race car driver of all time. NASCAR fans will counter with Dale Earnhardt, and those who crave endurance races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans will convince you that there has never been someone like Tom Kristensen.

While I'm not a die-hard rallying fan, I must admit that Loeb's accomplishments are quite mind-boggling.

The man the French call ''E.T.'' has won on all types of terrain, in all weather conditions. He has turned many Citroëns into world champions, out-performed every teammate he's ever had, and very seldom cracked under the pressure.

Sébastien Loeb, Citroën DS3. (Photo: Citroën Racing)

Heck, Loeb won a world title while he was not even racing for Citroën's official team!

Loeb also made a huge mark on road courses. He dominated in GT class and the Porsche Cup, finished second at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2006, and even drove a Red Bull F1 car without looking like a fool.

He's the quintessential driver -- fast, sure-handed and confident behind any steering wheel.

Loeb achieved all that while staying down to earth and never becoming full of himself. He's remained straightforward, accessible, friendly and respectful of fans, which is rare in today's auto racing world.

In addition to being super-fast, Loeb is extremely smart and shrewd. Rather than blindly charging ahead, he expertly flirts with the car's limits -- and his own -- without ever exceeding them.

How fitting that Loeb is partially retiring from the WRC as the undisputed leader. He's going out on top after winning the last round of the 2012 season and earning a record ninth consecutive world title.

Let this WRC win table speak for itself:

1. Sébastien Loeb, 76
2. Marcus Grönholm, 30
3. Carlos Sainz, 26
4. Colin McRae, 25
5. Tommi Makkinen, 24
6. Juha Kankkunen, 23
7. Marku Alen, 20
8. Didier Auriol, 20
9. Hannu Mikkola, 18
10. Miki Biasion, 17

Awesome work, champ!

From GMM

Alain Prost has confirmed reports France will definitely not feature on F1's 2013 calendar.

The reports had said Paul Ricard and Magny Cours both missed the deadline to apply to France's sanctioning body, the FFSA, for a request to the FIA for a 2013 calendar change.

Asked about France's chances of organising a 2013 race now, Prost - who has recently been working as an advisor to the Paul Ricard project - answered: "For 2013 it is impossible. The time is over. We will see what we can do for 2014. Now, it is technically impossible for 2013."

Photo: WRi2

Asked why the French revival efforts had failed for now, Prost told RMC Sport: "Two things. First, the real lack of desire of Bernie Ecclestone to have another grand prix in Europe. And then, of course, financially."

However, Paul Ricard boss Stephane Clair quickly contradicted Prost's comments, telling RMC that he will meet with the quadruple world champion to discuss them on Friday.

Clair insisted there is "no obligation" for a French GP project to have confirmation before December, and "no deadline" in place by Bernie Ecclestone.

NASCAR will be returning to its roots in a fashion when the Camping World Truck series makes its' dirt debut at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, the.5-mile track owned by three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart on July 24th. This event will be the first of two Wednesday night races for the series, joining Bristol Motor Speedway's popular mid-week race on Aug. 21.

“We've had talks about getting the trucks on dirt in the past,” said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. “The door-to-door racing that our truck series is known for plus Eldora's popularity and Tony's dedication to putting on great shows for the fans is a perfect fit. We'll have a maximum starting field of 30 trucks at Eldora. More details on the race format are still being developed.”

Eldora Speedway. (Photo: Getty for NASCAR)

"It has been one of the hardest things to not talk about I think in my entire professional racing career," Stewart said. "To have had the opportunity to go and do a test earlier this year with the trucks was just really a dream come true for us as a facility. I've always joked around and people say, What would you do if you could change the schedule?  I always joke around about saying, I would add a dirt race.

"Roger Slack and Steve took that and ran with it.  Now we're fortunate enough to have the Truck Series at Eldora finally.

"It's really a dream come true for us as not only a promoter, but I don't think any of us really thought, like we mentioned since 1970, the national series have never been to a dirt track.  To imagine that 42 years later we're going to be taking a national NASCAR series back to a dirt track is a huge honor for us, something that everybody, including Roger Slack, Larry Kemp, Larry Boos, everybody at Eldora, are extremely excited.”

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP), a 2.459-mile, 10-turn road course in Bowmanville, Ont., will host its inaugural truck event on Sept. 1, becoming the first road-course track for the series since 2000, and ensuring a NASCAR national series presence in Canada for a seventh-consecutive season.

"It's very important that we maintain our national series presence in Canada,” O'Donnell said. “We've accomplished that goal while also bringing a world-class venue like Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on board. The Canadian fan base is so passionate and has a high regard for NASCAR. We're excited to increase our role with our great partners at Canadian Tire while also introducing the truck series to our fans in Canada."

CTMP, which has hosted NASCAR Canadian Tire Series events since 2007, becomes the fifth different track to hold a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series road-course event, and first since Watkins Glen International on June 24, 2000.

Also beginning in 2013 as was recently announced by NASCAR, at road courses and tracks measuring 1.1 miles in length or less, the driver age restriction will be lowered to 16 years old. Currently, the minimum age to compete at the national series level is 18.

The balance of the 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck schedule, the series' 19th season, maintains a familiar feel, opening with Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 22 and culminating on Nov. 15 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Featuring slinky new styling and a condensed engine line, the 2014 Kia Forte sedan debuted Wednesday at the

Acura has a long history of concept cars that are near exact versions of the resulting production car. That is clearly evident in the 2014