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Nissan is putting a one-off ''Bolt Gold'' GT-R up for bid to profit the Usain Bolt Foundation, which was established to support educational and cultural opportunities for children and young people in the sprinter's home country of Jamaica.

The ''Bolt Gold'' GT-R is painted in gold as a reminder of Bolt's many Olympic medals. It also features a gold plate embossed with his signature and autograph.

The car will be built to the performance specifications conforming to regulations in the winning bidder's country of residence and delivered in March 2013. eBay Motors will run the auction, from November 22nd to December 2nd. Bids will be limited to residents of countries where the GT-R is currently sold, including Canada.

Wouldn't that make a special Christmas gift?

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)

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

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."

RIMINI, Italy - I've got 525 horsepower at my disposal, and I can't see a bloody thing. What started this morning as a light rain has now become a deluge, and I'm blinded by the spray from the car in front of me.

A 4.064 km track shaped roughly like a crossbow, the Misano World Circuit was built to host various Grand Prix of motorcycle racing.

In 2012, it was renamed the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, to honour a local motorcycle champion killed in 2011.

This is not a comforting thought as I approach the first hairpin and back off a little to put some distance between me and the car in front. Although the wipers beat furiously against the windshield, they're fighting a losing battle against the driving rain.

What is comforting, however, is the performance of the 2014 Audi R8's legendary quattro all-wheel drive system beneath me. The powerful rear end squirms on the wet tarmac, but the torque vectoring kicks in and the car regains composure effortlessly. This is the technology that conquered a thousand world rally stages on snow and ice -- a little rain is hardly worth worrying about.

A few seconds of hydroplaning causes an intake of breath... to be exhaled in relief once grip is restored.

The 2014 Audi R8 really is a glorious beast. There are great gobs of power, but they're doled out in such rapid fire, linear progression by the dual clutch S-tronic transmission that it feels almost civilized. Almost.

That gruff bark that escalates to a banshee wail reminds me that this seemingly docile performer is a full-on supercar. There's an option to switch off the traction nannies, but I wisely decide (given the soupy conditions) that I'd be better off with them on.

The flat-bottomed, suede-wrapped wheel feels heavy in my hands, and indeed the steering is rather substantial too -- but far from leaden.

After four laps, I grow braver. Visibility hasn't much improved but I've "learned" the track enough to go a little faster. Through the hairpin and into the straight -- 140 km, 160, 184km. Hardly earth-shattering, but enough to give me a glimpse of the latent power of the car, without (God forbid) being "that guy" -- the poor soul who becomes an internet pariah by spinning, or even worse "pranging" the car.

Then I'm offered a chance to see how it's really done.

On hand is Audi Works driver, Frank Stippler, one of the winners of this year's 24 Hours of Nurburgring, with the Audi R8 LMS Ultra race car.

A stripped-down, snarling beast, the R8 LMS crackles, pops and blatts as we head out of the pits, haunches squirming at every turn. The engine reaches a deafening scream as Stippler deftly guides the R8 around the slippery course -- at times counter-steering in a slide through the hairpins on the very limit of control.

It was an exhilarating ride, and over far too soon.

Photo: Lesley Wimbush

From GMM

Charlie Whiting has played down claims Red Bull has pushed the rules further than any rival with its supposedly 'rubber' front nose.

Video footage of a mechanic removing Sebastian Vettel's damaged front nose during a recent pitstop caused alarm in the F1 paddock, as the nose appeared to bend, flex and twist as though it was made of rubber.

Caption: FOM

Reports suggested the team, famously led technically by the so-called 'genius' Adrian Newey, had pushed the envelope further than ever in the realm of flexible parts.

But subsequent reports claimed Red Bull's nose actually behaved quite normally, given the qualities of the tips of F1 cars' noses for the FIA crash-test requirements.

Indeed, Charlie Whiting, the FIA's technical chief, is quoted by Italy's Autosprint: "What happened with Vettel in Abu Dhabi was an extreme case, because the mechanic grabbed the nose and gave it a twist.

"I am sure that would also happen on any other car," he added.

As some observers of the IndyCar scene had expected, Jeff Belskus will become the new IndyCar CEO, replacing Randy Bernard who had been replaced earlier in October amidst some controversy.

Mark Miles has taken over Belskus former duties as chief executive officer of Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Hulman & Co.

Jeff Belskus. (Photo: IndyCar)

Mark Miles is not a newcomer into a major sport organisation; having spent more than 15 years as the CEO of the ATP, the governing body of men's international professional tennis.

As the most powerful member of the Kia Optima lineup, this sedan doesn't just have the look it has the drive to match. With just enough punch at the touch of the throttle, plenty of interior roominess and a look that sets it apart from the pack: the 2012 Kia Optima Turbo checks all the necessary boxes.

Knowing what you get in the Kia Optima package, the just-above $30,000 price tag for the EX Turbo trim is more than reasonable, and well worth the investment. When compared to the Hyundai Sonata and Ford Fusion (because they sport turbos too), it's a viable option buyers should most definitely consider.


Optimal response
When I'm handed the keys to an automatic (which is often), I'll admit my heart often sinks just a little. I'm just a hands-on, manual kinda girl - sorry. However, it's safe to say that the 6-speed Steptronic automatic transmission in the 2012 Kia Optima EX Turbo is nothing short of fabulous. Complete with stylish paddle-shifters on the steering wheel, this Optima is a joy to drive.

Shifts are quick, and not onces did the transmission stumble or search for a gear. In all honesty, I rarely touched the paddle shifters. So good was the 2012 Kia Optima's own system that I felt no need to override it.

Power delivery is smooth, and very little lag is felt from the turbo (which I'll get to in a moment). Merging on the highway, passing moves and generally spirited driving is done with ease.

Optimal power
Really, anything with a turbo gets me a little excited; from the spool to the blow-off to the power it provides, it's all pretty fantastic. So, when I saw the “T” on the badge in the back, that sinking feeling from the automatic almost went away completely.

Equipped with a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, the 2012 Kia Optima EX Turbo is good for 274 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque; both decent numbers for a car in its class. Nothing too scary fast, and nothing too stodgy or slow. It really is a great engine. I tried to find something bad to say about it and the only thing I can come up with is that it's a bit loud on start-up in the cold. You've been warned.

The 2012 Kia Optima EX Turbo is good for 274 hp and 269 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Optimal looks outside, and in
And then we come to the way the 2012 Kia Optima EX Turbo looks; and again I have a hard time saying anything very bad about it. On a personal level, I adore the uber-modern, mosaic-style turn signals housed in the headlights, and the chrome-lined honeycomb-style grille. It's all very upper class, all very aristocratic in an urban, cooler-than-you way.

It's just the right amount of flash to grab some attention without being so over the top that you'll get sick of the 2012 Kia Optima a few months after driving it off the dealer lot.

Subtle gills beneath the side mirrors hint at a sportier ride, as does the rear lip spoiler.

Inside the 2012 Kia Optima EX Turbo the good looks continue. While I wasn't a huge fan of my tester's light-grey leather seats, the overall design of the interior is quite pleasing. With the middle console angled towards the driver, everything is in arm's reach (even for someone with arms as short as mine).

Deeply recessed gauges housed in chrome-lined casings, again, hint at a sportier nature, and I quite like the orange-hued gauge lights.

My only qualms about the interior of the 2012 Kia Optima EX Turbo are the oversized and rather ugly seat-heater buttons (really, they have to be THAT big?), and the A and B pillars are quite large; for someone like me who has to have the driver's seat quite far forward, my visibility was hampered by them at every intersection.

With the middle console angled towards the driver, everything is in arm's reach. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Optimal space
Seating space in the 2012 Kia Optima EX Turbo is great no matter where you are. Even with a BRITAX car seat behind the passenger's seat, there was still plenty of legroom left, and the remaining two seats in the rear were useable.

The 2012 Kia Optima EX Turbo's trunk easily swallowed up a large stroller along with groceries and other shopping goods, and the self-opening trunk (controlled by the key fob) is great for full hands as it pops open just enough to make access that much easier.

Optimal
Here is a sedan that's a great family hauler, but still great to drive. Who knew?

From GMM

McLaren's battle for the 2012 drivers' and constructors' crowns is over.

But Jenson Button said the Woking based team, whose 'supremo' Ron Dennis once famously declared that second is just "first of the losers", is nonetheless determined to be runner-up.

Red Bull has now secured the constructors' title for this year, but McLaren is just 14 points behind Ferrari for second place, with just this weekend's Brazilian showdown left to run.

Britain's Sun newspaper said the difference between second and third is almost $10 million in Concorde Agreement prize-money.

McLaren targets the second place in the Constructor Championship. (Photo: McLaren)

"The constructors' title does mean a lot to me because it is a lot of money," driver Jenson Button confirmed.

"I think we can do it, but we will need the perfect weekend. It is also nice to get one over on Ferrari. We want to finish in front of them. We are a competitive team. We cannot beat Red Bull but we can beat Ferrari, which has to be our aim."

From GMM

Hans-Joachim Stuck, a former F1 driver and now president of Germany's motor racing federation DMSB, thinks Michael Schumacher is being pushed back into retirement.

After a less-than-shining three year comeback with Mercedes, seven time world champion Schumacher will retire again after his 308th and final career grand prix this weekend in Brazil.

The famous German also 'retired' in Brazil six years ago.

"It will probably be less emotional for me this time than in 2006, when we (Ferrari) were still fighting for the championship and everything was much more intense," Schumacher said this week.

Michael Schumacher. (Photo: WRi2)

Schumacher and Mercedes have gone to great lengths to counter the perception that the 43-year-old is being callously ousted to make room for 2013 arrival Lewis Hamilton.

But when asked about Schumacher's impending retirement, Stuck is quoted by spox.com: "He had no choice. Mercedes signed Lewis Hamilton and Michael couldn't find another adequate cockpit."

Hans-Joachim Stuck said he regrets that F1's most successful driver of all time will no longer be on the grid from next year.

"I would like to have kept watching him try to match up to the younger drivers," said the 61-year-old.

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