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From GMM

Norbert Haug has played down the possibility Michael Schumacher will return to the paddock next year with a prominent F1 role.

The seven time world champion is returning to retirement after a three-year comeback with Mercedes, but had been tipped for a non-driving role at Mercedes.

"There will be talks after the season," Mercedes' motor racing vice-president Haug told SID news agency.

Michael Schumacher. (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

"However, I don't think Michael wants a role in formula one. He loves our brand and we would count ourselves very lucky if Michael would work with us further in the international sphere for Mercedes. There are few sportsmen who are rated as highly as he is, or loved as much. And the roots of his professional career were with Mercedes, just as the end of his active career was as well. A further cooperation could not be more authentic," added Haug.

Meanwhile, Haug denied suggestions Mercedes is ramping up its formula one budget to coincide with the arrival of Lewis Hamilton in 2013.

"I don't know where these rumours come from," said the German. "That was never the plan, and we never have nor never will complain about having too little money."

From GMM

Fernando Alonso still has a significant chance of winning the 2012 world championship this weekend.

That is the view of 1996 title winner Damon Hill, who named the Spaniard as probably the toughest challenger Sebastian Vettel could possibly face for the Interlagos showdown.

"If he had any other opponent, I would say that Sebastian would definitely win with his 13 points advantage," the Briton told the German newspaper Die Welt.

"But you can't write off someone like Fernando Alonso. He is such a clever and tough driver and he always seems to pull off something extraordinary. Anything is possible in Brazil."

Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) and Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) at Monza. (Photo: WRi2)

Nonetheless, the mainly Ferrari-loving readers of Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport concede that Alonso has only a 20 per cent chance to win in Brazil.

"He has an advantage, no question," Hill agreed. "If I had to put a percentage on it, I would say the odds at 65 per cent in favour of Vettel."

And if German Vettel does add a third consecutive title to his tally on Sunday - a feat not achieved so early in Michael Schumacher's career - Hill thinks the 25-year-old could be on the road to eventually eclipsing Schumacher's record achievements.

"Someday, he certainly could," Hill said. "It's still a long way away of course. But he could certainly venture into that territory. If Vettel wins in Brazil, then you can certainly imagine him winning two more championships -- at least."

Karl Wendlinger, a former Sauber driver, told Austrian Servus TV this week that on a dry track and in the absence of reliability problems, Vettel should easily finish ahead of Alonso in Brazil.

So that is where the sport's gaze is centred at the moment: on Red Bull and Renault's last-minute efforts to solve the recurring alternator problem, and on a forecast of almost certain rain for both qualifying and the race in Sao Paulo.

"We want to win the race," said Vettel. "Failing that, we want to be second or third."

The podium, or even a fourth place, would guarantee Vettel the title. Still, Italy is not giving up.

"Believe in yourself, Ferrari," La Gazzetta dello Sport hailed. "Believe in Fernando, the track, and the weather."

A total of 320 Volkswagen Beetles from the 2012-2013 model years are being recalled in Canada due to an incorrectly coded Passenger Occupant Detection System control module in the front passenger seat.

If the seat gets wet, the control module may not properly detect a child car seat secured on the front passenger seat (which is NOT recommended, by the way), and the front passenger airbag will not be deactivated as expected. This will increase potential injuries.

Therefore, Volkswagen Canada dealers will replace the affected modules.

Source: Transports Canada

Our cars, trucks and SUVs don't like being forced into action on a cold morning any more than we do -- let alone after sleeping outside, covered in ice and salt.

Yet, Canadians everywhere will soon begin waking up their Hondas and Dodges, and Fords and Volkswagens at 30-below, then setting off with little thought about the cruel challenges posed by the extreme temperatures.

Simply; your car is expected to perform the same way, every day of the year, cold or not.

For a closer look at how automakers ensure that's the case, I talked to Hayato Mori, Honda Canada's Manager of Product Planning.

Photo: Matthieu Lambert

Justin Pritchard (JP): How do you make sure a car will start without being plugged in at temperatures that make us cringe?

Hayato Mori (HM): For gasoline to be ignited by a spark plug, it needs to be in vapor form -- and not much evaporates in the cold.

Even before start-up, the car knows air temperature, pressure and flow, as well as engine temperature, speed and location of the engine within the cycle. This allows the injectors to spray a fine fuel mist in ideal amounts, at the perfect time, to maximize the likelihood of combustion.

And, thankfully, most of the things that make for an efficient engine, like low friction, precise measurement and good fuel control, also make for an easier cold start. Some credit has to be given to the fuel companies, too. All gasoline distributors in Canada provide a “winter fuel” to help the fuel vaporize when cold.

JP: Does Honda have a minimum standard temperature at which vehicles must be able to start?

HM: We sell cars in Russia, Northern Europe and all over Canada. The customer expectation is the same globally: “It has to start.” This is our target.

JP: Can you share any specific exercises that vehicles are put through in cold weather testing?

HM: The testing after development has been completed is focused on making sure the car works as expected in the hands of a Canadian customer. How quickly the car warms up, defrosts and starts is one example. Getting you through the drive-thru without any annoyances is one of our tests, too.

JP: Any big challenges to predict for future winter or performance testing?

HH: As engine size decreases and vehicle interiors grow, ensuring a car with a small engine and a large interior can keep the passengers warm in extreme cold may require creative solutions. But currently we have no issues keeping our Honda Fit customers warm in extreme cold with traditional, well designed and sized HVAC and cooling systems coupled to an efficient engine.

JP: Where is cold weather testing performed?

HM: Cold temperature testing starts on the tiniest clip, hinge or circuit board in “cold chambers” worldwide by suppliers before they are considered for use. Design and development groups then test vehicles in environmental chambers to make sure it all works as expected when assembled.

There's no replacement for real-world testing, and Honda engineers can be found on frozen ice roads worldwide, including northern Canada.

From GMM

Sebastian Vettel lacks "charisma", his friend Bernie Ecclestone has acknowledged.

But the F1 chief executive, who plays backgammon with the 25-year-old reigning world champion at grands prix, doesn't blame the sport's latest crop of stars.

"He (Vettel) lacks a little charisma," Briton Ecclestone, 82, told Bild newspaper, as Vettel looks set to match the achievement of greats Juan Manuel Fangio and Michael Schumacher with his third consecutive drivers' crown.

"Guys like Hunt, Rindt, Lauda, Senna were real characters, but they can't be like that anymore because they are protected by the team bosses far too much. Now the FIA gives them a muzzle," said Ecclestone.

"They're not even allowed to show their emotions," he exclaimed.

Sebastian Vettel and Bernie Ecclestone. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Rumours of 'financial difficulty' at Lotus are continuing.

Early this week, it was claimed Kimi Raikkonen's place at the Enstone based team might actually be in doubt for 2013.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said there is an issue in terms of promised bonus money in the Finn's 2012 contract, given his unexpectedly large points tally.

"I don't know where this stuff comes from. I can't say anything about it," the 2007 world champion's spokesman Riku Kuvajan was quoted by the Finnish broadcaster MTV3.

Photo: Lotus F1 Team

Now, on Wednesday, the German magazine said other staff at the Enstone based team are waiting for their pay-cheques.

Auto Motor und Sport said the team's management is holding out for the latest installment of commercial income from the sport's owners, headed by chief executive Bernie Ecclestone.

The report said Lotus is waiting for that money to "pay the wages of 493 employees and Kimi Raikkonen".

This year's Los Angeles Auto show is one of the most significant U.S. shows in years for Jaguar Land Rover, said Jaguar Land Rover North America President, Andy Goss.

Three breakthrough new products will be launched starting with the Jaguar XFR-S, the fastest and most powerful sedan the brand has ever produced.

Meanwhile, the new 2013 Range Rover is hailed as the world's first SUV with a lightweight all-aluminum body. The US-spec vehicle with the naturally aspirated 5.0L V8 will weigh approximately 380 kilograms less than the outgoing equivalent. Fuel economy will improve, as will emission control.

Lastly, visitors at the L.A. Auto Show will get to see the premiere of the all-new Jaguar F-TYPE, for the first time shown in Black Pack performance trim. This two-seat, soft-top convertible sports car is built on a front-engine, lightweight aluminum architecture with rear-wheel drive.

Release dates for the Canadian market remain undisclosed for now.

Photo: Jaguar

The DTM series will be return to Spain in 2013, and therefore next year's calendar will comprise the same number of rounds as this year.

The DTM competitors will contest 10 races in 2013, and the highlight of the season will be the maiden DTM race in Russia that will be held on August 4, a stone's throw from Russia's capital Moscow.

The traditional season finale at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg will take place as early as September 15. Just 19 weeks or 133 days after the season kick-off contested at the same venue on May 5, the Southern German circuit will be the venue of the decision in the battle for the titles.

In addition to the round at Moscow, the calendar comprises another three abroad races: on May 19, DTM will be racing at Brands Hatch/GB and two weeks later, on June 2, the DTM drivers will battle it out for championship points at Austria's Red Bull Ring - with the final race on foreign soil, the round at Zandvoort, Netherlands, being held for July 21.

The 2013 DTM calendar*
May 5 Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (D)
May 19 Brands Hatch (GB)
June 2 Red Bull Ring Spielberg (A)
June 16 Lausitzring (D)
July 7 Norisring (D)
July 21 Circuit Park Zandvoort (NL)
August 4 Moscow (RUS)
August 18 Nürburgring (D)
September 1st Motorsport Arena Oschersleben (D)
September 15 Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (D)

*Subject to approval by FIA

Organisers of the Korean Formula 1 Grand Prix revealed that they have lost a little more than $36 million.

News agency Reuters reports that the Korean race (which staged its third F1 Grand Prix last Spring) returned operating losses of $36.4 million, potentially threatening its place on the F1 calendar.

South Korean organisers claim that they are not able to attract a sufficient number of spectators during the race weekend.

They have also expressed dissatisfaction at the terms of their contract with the owner of the commercial rights of F1, particularly over the cost of race-sanctioning fees.

They declared last year they were seeking renegotiate its Grand Prix contract in a bid to keep the event on the calendar following doubts over its future.

From press release

The newly formed Qatar Red Bull Rally Team showed off its 2013 Dakar contender and driver line-up.

The Qatar Red Bull Rally Team has revealed its new buggy, which will compete at the 2013 Dakar Rally in South America this January. The buggy will be piloted by previous Dakar winners and former Volkswagen teammates Carlos Sainz, who won the rally 2010, and Nasser Al-Attiyah, who took victory in 2011.



The buggy that the duo will pilot takes its inspiration from US Baja-style desert-racers, but has combined that American durability with European engineering to create what the team believes is an innovative off-road vehicle.

Speaking of the project, Sainz, who won the World Rally Championship in 1990 and 1992, said: “There's nothing quite like preparing a completely new car for a Dakar Rally and my first impressions of this buggy is that it's a very impressive machine.

“The whole team has great hopes that we can achieve a good performance at the 2013 Dakar Rally,” he added. “It's still very early days to be saying how far up the leader board we can finish in this car but we are working everyday to make sure we get the set-up just right.”

Also in this episode: The first U.S.-market Ferrari F12 sells for $1.125 million, and the East Coast collector car community

A former GM engineer took confidential hybrid vehicle information that could lessen the automaker's competitive advantages if shared with other companies, a GM manager said today in court testimony.

For the 2013 model year mid-cycle upgrade to its CR-Z hybrid hatchback, Honda has added a more powerful lithium ion battery and on-demand power-boost feature.

Inventor, race-car driver, fighter pilot and friend John Fitch passed away on Oct. 31. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. (Eastern) on Saturday, Dec. 1, at Trinity Churchand#8212;directly across from Lime Rock Parkand#8212;in Lakeville, Conn.

We've pontificated about the Aston Martin Vanquish. We've driven the Aston Martin Vanquish.

Jason Stein, editor of Automotive News, has taken on the additional role of associate publisher.

Buick is touting the Active On-Demand all-wheel drive system in the new Encore SUV.

A Massachusetts judge has denied a request by dealers for a preliminary injunction against Tesla Motors, which will allow the automaker to operate its store in suburban Boston as the dealers' lawsuit against the company proceeds.

News 20 Nov, 2012

New Japanese-spec Leaf hints at 2013 UK model, with 80kg weight loss and new entry-level version

News 21 Nov, 2012

The new-look Peugeot RCZ will arrive in UK showrooms in January, with prices starting from £21,595