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Driving a PH Sport's Citroën C4 WRC, Robert Kubica took victory win at rally di Como, Italy.

The Pole dominated the last event of the Italian tarmac rally trophy, being fastest in the first seven stages.

Despite suffering from some brake issues that cost him 40 seconds in the last stage, the former Formula 1 driver took the win, 30.9 seconds ahead of Felice Re, who driving a Citroen C4 WRC.



Kubica will face another challenge this weekend, as he will enter the Rallye du Var, last round of the French rally championship. He will drive the same Citroen C4 WRC that Sebastien Loeb drove in the World Rally Championship a few years ago.

Robert Kubica's future is still uncertain. The 27-year-old driver, who badly injured his right forearm in a rally crash in February 2011, could run a full racing program in 2013, in rally or inroad racing , although he admitted that he could not drive a single seater car in a near future.

The final and decisive round of the 2012 Formula 1 season will take place Sunday at Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo. The Grand Prix of Brazil will also mark Michael Schumacher's 307th and final F1 race.

It all started back in August 1991 when the young German had a golden opportinity to contest his maiden Grand Prix, taking the wheel of a Jordan 191-Ford at Spa-Francorchamps.

"Interlagos is the right place to round off my career because so much of the fascination of F1 is rooted there. I always enjoy the enthusiasm of the fans,” said Michael Schumacher in a Mercedes AMG press release.

“It's also the circuit that brings back my memories of Ayrton (Senna). My departure from F1 will probably be less emotional for me this time than in 2006, when we were still fighting for the championship and everything was much more intense. This time round, I will be able to pay more attention to my farewell and hopefully savour it too. I have had fantastic years in F1 and a lot of support from fans around the world, and I wish to particularly thank them for that,” he added.

Michael Schumacher in Austin. (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

“With the last race of the season in Brazil also bringing Michael's second and final retirement from F1, it will be an emotional weekend for everyone in the team,” Ross Brawn, technical director and long time friend said.

“We have both greatly enjoyed and benefitted from working with Michael over the past three years, and I would like to pay tribute to his enduring commitment, passion and team spirit. Having worked with Michael for the majority of the 21 seasons of his career, I feel that he is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, F1 drivers of all time, and we wish him the very best with his future plans,” Brawn declared.

As the most versatile of the four Prius models, the 2013 Toyota Prius v is a fuel-efficient wagon that provides more passenger and cargo room for active Canadian families.

''Toyota listened to Canadian families, who loved the Prius but wanted an option with even more versatility for their on-the-go lifestyles,” said Tony Wearing, Senior Managing Director at Toyota Canada Inc.

The 2013 Toyota Prius v offers 50% more interior space than the original Prius, and comfortably sits five adults. Under the hood is a 1.8L four-cylinder engine mated to a high-torque electric motor and high-capacity storage battery for a net output of 134 horsepower and combined fuel consumption of 4.5L/100 km.

Now on sale across Canada, the 2013 Toyota Prius v comes with an interesting list of standard features as well as three options packages. Pricing goes as follows:

• Prius v: $27,425
• Prius v Luxury: $30,410
• Prius v Touring: $33,445
• Prius v Touring + Technology: $37,120

Photo: Toyota

If you're into cute, then the 2012 Fiat 500c is definitely your ride.

The particular 500c we borrowed for this report was almost too cute. With those big, round headlights, off-white paint scheme, and deep-red retractable fabric top with matching red leather seats, it gave the impression of a red-collared white Maltese puppy wanting to be picked up and petted. How can you look into puppy eyes like that and give the thing a legitimate shake down? Well, we tried...


The natural tendency would be to compare the 2012 Fiat 500c to the VW Beetle and the MINI, who also work the retro, convertible and cute thing. However, I'm not sure the 500c is comparable. It's quite a bit cheaper, a bit smaller, and goes alone down that retractable-big-sunroof path. It's big on style, value and doing its own thing -- just like its intended audience. Thumbs up.

Not Cabrio, more cabrio-ish
Sometimes “cabrio” or “cabriolet” is synonymous with “convertible.” This is not that time. The 2012 Fiat 500c's fabric top is big and rolls down a long way, but not “all” the way down. And the roof rails remain very much up.

The 2012 Fiat 500c really has to be considered a car with a really neat retractable sunroof, and not an outright cabriolet or convertible.

The main problem with the 2012 Fiat 500c is how the fabric bunches up at the back, obscuring rear-view vision. However, get past that, and it's pretty neat. The retractable roof opens up a big space -- or a medium space, if you like -- and open-top turbulence and noise are less than you would imagine.

When the roof is closed on the 2012 Fiat 500c it's cool, too; the fabric gives the car another interesting visual texture, especially when it's in a contrasting colour. The roof seems well insulated too, road noise seemed on par with hard-top models.

The 2012 Fiat 500c's fabric top is big and rolls down a long way, but not “all” the way down. (Photo: Mike Goetz)

Zippy, but not too zippy
Cabrio's have the same powertrain and performance as other 500s, which is to say; they're zippy, but not crazy zippy. These Fiats are fun to drive, but they would be more fun with more power.

However, the Fiat 500c's 1.4L MultiAir engine, with 101 horses and 98 lb-ft of torque impresses with its civility and fuel efficiency. Our 5-speed manual car was rated at 6.7 city and 5.1 highway (L/100 km).

Shifting is a bit notchy and the 2012 Fiat 500c clearly prefers delicate and accurate manipulation.

Steering is nice and easy around the parking lot, and remains a bit too easy around the city (for me at least), but tightens up nicely at highway speeds. The Sport button in the 2012 Fiat 500c tightens the steering as well. I kept it on all the time.

The Fiat 500c handles decently, not oversteering or understeering. It doesn't quite feel like it wants to be flung around. But that's OK, it's an easy-driving city car, not a sports car.

The most surprising dynamic aspect in the 2012 Fiat 500c is its comfortable ride, especially for such a short vehicle. It makes around-town zipping a pain-free affair.

The Fiat 500c's 1.4L MultiAir engine, with 101 horses and 98 lb-ft of torque impresses with its civility and fuel efficiency. (Photo: Mike Goetz)

Inside information
The 2012 Fiat 500c interior is funky and fun.

There are no rotary dials for any of the HVAC or stereo controls, so you have to press smallish buttons to make things happen. However, everything worked well and the design was consistent and attractive.

The driver's position suited me well, even though the seat cushion is short-ish and there is no telescopic steering wheel. The roundness of the overall design nets good headroom, and the 2012 Fiat 500c actually feels spacious (up front) for its size.

The rear seating area is tight, of course, but it's definitely useable (as long as you don't play in the NBA).

There are no rotary dials for any of the HVAC or stereo controls. (Photo: Mike Goetz)

Price as tested
Fiat's Cabrio series, known as the 500c, is comprised of two models: Pop, which starts at $19,995; and Lounge, which starts at $22,995.

Standard on all Cabrio models are seven air bags, A/C, power windows and door locks, heated mirrors, cruise, Bluetooth, USB port, and trip computer.

Main elements of the Lounge package are nicer wheels, more body-coloured bits, more chrome, heated mirrors, and leather seats: cosmetic stuff mostly, yes, but bits that actually make a visual difference and add more cuteness.

Our Lounge 2012 Fiat 500c tester was optioned with TomTom nav system ($495), tri-coat paint ($300), compact tire ($200), upgraded rims ($250), and wind deflector ($150), for a grand (pre-tax) total of $24,390 -- a lot of style and kit for the money.

The image of newly crowned Sprint Cup Champion Brad Keselowski toasting an adoring crowd with an oversized glass of beer will be etched in the minds of NASCAR fans.

He brings an impression of youth and a little bit of the common man missing for the past seven years in stock car racing.

Although he's not the youngest champ at 28 years old; he's 13-years younger than Tony Stewart last year's titlist and eight years younger than five-time champ Jimmie Johnson.

Due to his penchant for Tweeting Keselowski appeals to a younger hipper segment of fans which had been lacking previously.

Ironically, all the hoopla around NASCAR premier-league title wasn't on his radar scope.

In just three years he vaulted from being the junior member of Penske Racing to a team leader.

Brad Keselowski, 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion. (Photo: NASCAR)

“I never dreamed of, at a young age, of being a Sprint Cup champion,” Keselowski said on SpeedTV. “I thought I would be doing well just to be a guy who's winning races in the Truck Series. That was as big as my goals were. But obviously, as different opportunities came up, I had the opportunity to drive for James Finch (one car team called Phoenix Racing) when they raced at Talladega, with Rick Hendrick and so forth; I started to think that big. But it's amazing how those things change. I'm living beyond what I could have ever asked for in life, and I feel very, very fortunate.”

Keselowski's father, Bob, was an ARCA series racer from the Detroit who along with brother, Brian Keselowski, gave him the start he needed to make his rather quick - in only 125 races fastest since it took 1993 champ, Jeff Gordon, 93-races- ascent to NASCAR's brightest prize.

He said it was both a help and a bit of a hindrance.

“I grew up with a family race team. When you're a part of a family, in anything you do, it's great in some ways and awful in other ways. The great parts are that you always have each other's backs. No matter what happens, you are always together; even when there are times (when) you don't want to be.

Then there's also the bad part, when sometimes you get really emotional and do things, say things and act ways that you wouldn't act around other people. What's hard for me to understand when I first got separated from my family's race team was how to be a part of that, and how to have the best of both worlds.

How to be with a group that has that respect for one and other, that you really struggle to have as a family, but also has that motivation to be behind you - you need both to be successful.”

Brad Keselowski celebrating his Sprint Cup title at Miami-Homestead Speedway. (Photo: NASCAR)

At first the move to Penske was an uphill challenge

“So I didn't understand teamwork, I didn't understand those things. The point I was trying to say after the race, and the story in general, is that to be a member of a great team, no one person is strong enough, fast enough, smart enough, but together you are.

For me, I didn't know that until I started to experience it. It's been like a drug for me, but you get a little of it and I want more for the team. I want more teamwork across the board because I know that we'll continue to be stronger as that happens. “

And his Sprint Cup rivals better start to worry as his said on Sunday night “the best is yet to come.”

The new 2014 Ford Fiesta, which is set to go on sale next year, will be the first vehicle available with a 1.0L EcoBoost engine and reportedly the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid car in North America.

Projected to deliver 123 horsepower and 148 lb-ft of torque, this small engine can already be found in more than 520,000 Ford units around the globe, a number that keeps growing and growing.

In Europe, where diesel engines are kings, the 1.0L EcoBoost now accounts for about 30% of sales in the Focus. It's also available with the B-Max, C-Max, and soon with the all-new Mondeo (Fusion's twin).

Although pricing has yet to be revealed, expect the same level of popularity in North America.

Photo: Ford

IndyCar series' regular Tony Kanaan is currently contesting the last rounds of the Copa Caixa Brazilian V8 stock cars series in his native Brazil.

Kanaan drives the No. 100 Peugeot entered by Bassani Racing.

In Round 11 of the Copa Caixa held at Brasilia, Kanaan qualified 30th (out of 32) but managed to cross the line in 19th place.

Here's a cool in-board video of a lap of the Brasilia circuit in Tony's Peugeot.

The Formula 3 Euroseries will become the FIA F3 European Championship starting next season.

The new championship will feature ten events consisting in three races each.

It will be ran during DTM events (six rounds), WTCC events (two rounds) and one during a World endurance championship event at Silverstone.

The F3 cars in action durant the recent Grand Prix of Macau. (Photo: F3 Euroseries)

The last round is still to be announced, but it would likely be presented at Hockenheim during the DTM finale.

The F3 Euroseries championship suffered from a serious lack of entries this season, and the FIA wanted to give it a boost with a brand new format. Former F1 driver Grehard Berger mastermined the introduction of the new series.

2013 schedule:
March 23-24 : Monza, Italy (WTCC)
April 12-14 : Silverstone, GB (WEC)
May 4-5 : Hungaroring, Hungary (WTCC)
May 18-19 : Brands Hatch, GB (DTM)
June 1-2 : Spielberg, Austria (DTM)
July 7-8: Norisring, Germany (DTM)
July 20-21: Zandvoort, The Netherlands (DTM)
August 17-18 : Nürburgring, Germany (DTM)
September 14-15 : Oschersleben, Germany (DTM)
October : TBA

From ROC

The 2012 Race Of Champions will feature the most successful drivers in the history of Le Mans and the World Touring Car Championship as Tom Kristensen and Andy Priaulx have joined the roll call of legends heading to Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium on December 14-16.

Denmark's Kristensen is acknowledged as the finest endurance racer in motor sport history. He has a record eight victories in the Le Mans 24-Hour race, plus a record six wins at the Sebring 12-Hour race and an American Le Mans Series title.

Priaulx is the World Touring Car Championship's most successful driver with three titles plus another in its previous guise as the European Touring Car Championship. The long-time BMW regular switched to the DTM series this year.

Tom Kristensen (on the left) and Andy Priaulx. (Photo: Race of Champions)

The Race Of Champions, which is being staged for the 25th consecutive year in 2012, brings together the world's greatest drivers from motor sport's main disciplines - including Formula 1, world rally, touring cars, Le Mans, MotoGP, Indycar and the X-Games - and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery.

Drivers confirmed for the 2012 Race Of Champions so far:

Michael SCHUMACHER, seven-time Formula 1 World Champion
Sebastian VETTEL, Formula 1 World Champion 2011, 2010
Jorge LORENZO, MotoGP World Champion 2012, 2010
Mick DOOHAN, five-time 500cc MotoGP World Champion
Ryan HUNTER-REAY, IndyCar Series Champion 2012
Jamie WHINCUP, V8 Supercar Champion 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008
David COULTHARD, 13-time Formula 1 grand prix winner
Tom KRISTENSEN, eight-time Le Mans 24-Hour race winner
Andy PRIAULX, three-time World Touring Car Champion

From GMM

On paper, Sebastian Vettel is the overwhelming favourite to seal his third consecutive drivers' crown this weekend in Brazil.

His 13-point lead over Ferrari's Fernando Alonso means he can steer his ultra-competitive Red Bull to just fourth place at Interlagos and still set off for his winter slumber with the title.

"But Alonso still must win," Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko is quoted by Speed Week. "He must take the risk. That's the important thing."

But it's not quite as simple as that. First, there is the pressure of the season finale, with Alonso a hardened, never-say-die samurai-loving competitor.

And Marko acknowledged that Brazil is often a "crazy race", even without the forecast high probability of rain.

But the Austrian insisted: "The only question mark is reliability. So no, I'm not relaxed."

Dr Helmut Marko is undoubtedly referring to Red Bull's recurring alternator failures in 2012, the latest of which struck Mark Webber's car in Austin.

Sebastian Vettel had to retire in Monza, in Italy, due to an alternator failure. (Photo: WRi2)

It was believed Renault offered Red Bull a brand new specification of the Magneti Marelli unit for the US grand prix, but in fact the reigning champions opted for the tried-and-tested previous version.

Spain's Mundo Deportivo newspaper said Red Bull will definitely use the brand new specification for the Sao Paulo finale.

"We are ready with the new one," Renault's Remi Taffin is quoted by Brazil's Globo Esporte. "Generally we feel more comfortable with something we have known for a long time, but we have tested the new design and so there's no need to be worried."

The first session of the new year will be held at the Jerez de la Frontera road circuit in Southern Spain, February 5-8, 2013.

The other two sessions will be staged at Circuit de Catalunya located again in Spain, this time up North in the country.

The second test will happen February 19-22, and the third and final one is scheduled for February 28 to March 3.

The 2013 F1 season will kick off in Melbourne with the Australian Grand Prix, March 14-17.

The 12 days of tests will be used to set up the 2013 F1 cars and come to grips with the new Pirelli tires.

Photo: WRi2

From GMM

As was rumoured before F1 arrived in Austin last week, the latest developments for Fernando Alonso's title-contending Ferrari did not work.

New pieces, including a new diffuser, were tried in a straight line at the Idiada facility in Spain, prior to the US grand prix.

It was rumoured immediately afterwards that the real-world data did not match up with what was produced in the wind tunnel.

Still, the new diffuser was fitted to Spaniard Alonso's F2012 in Austin, before he was roundly out-performed by teammate Felipe Massa all weekend.

"Yes, indeed, Felipe Massa had the old diffuser and it worked better," former Toro Rosso driver Jaime Alguersuari told the Spanish sports daily AS.

Which diffuser will be used on the Ferrari in Brazil? (Photo: Pirelli)

And Brazilian Massa confirmed to Marca newspaper: "Everything was the same except the diffuser. I had it available, but I decided I'd be better with the old one. That was the only difference."

Fernando Alonso said "It's not always the case that the latest part is the best choice".

From GMM

Jenson Button thinks Sergio Perez could struggle to fill Lewis Hamilton's winning boots at McLaren next year.

Mexican Perez has been signed to replace 2008 world champion and F1's last-start winner Hamilton for 2013 and beyond.

Currently at Sauber, 22-year-old Perez has said his 2013 target is wins and the title, but in the five races since the McLaren deal was announced, he has failed to score even a single point.

"It's going to be a tricky seat for Checo to fill," his teammate next year, Button, is quoted by British newspapers after the US grand prix.

"I have a feeling he will be competitive, but of course he doesn't have the experience and I don't think he will be fighting at the front at the start of next season. It is a massive ask but what else can you do? You need to have someone in the car and he is quick. I don't know if he will be up to it straight away but we might be surprised at the first race," added Button.

Sergio Perez celebrating his podium in Montreal with Sauber team. (Photo: WRi2)

Sergio Perez acknowledges the doubters, but said it has little to do with his black run of form at Sauber since the McLaren deal was announced.

"I am going to the best team next year, so there will always be a question mark until I constantly deliver in a McLaren," he is quoted by the BBC. "This doesn't bother me."

But the BBC claimed Perez is currently a long way from McLaren's standards, having failed to come close to Hamilton and Button in the British team's benchmark fitness test.

"I am not worried about him," insisted team boss Martin Whitmarsh. "We have the winter to prepare him."

Aleris has announced it has signed a contract with FAW-Volkswagen to provide aluminium for several Audi models to be produced in China.

Audi will begin offering 3.0-liter V-6 diesel engines in the A8, A7 and A6 cars and the Q5 crossover beginning next year. The four TDI diesel-equipped models will make their debuts next week at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

While you're invariably reading this piece on some manner of digital device, Autoweek's roots lie in a physical magazine printed on an offset press. Hell, Competition Press was our original name.

Brad Keselowski won his first NASCAR Sprint Cup title on Sunday -- along with Roger Penske's first cup title as a team owner -- with a 15th place finish in the final race of the year at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida.

A deal between President Barack Obama and Congress to avoid the fiscal cliff is critical to the United States economy's health and to Ford Motor, the company's executive chairman said today.

Noise, Vibration & Harshness: The True Cost Of Luxury

Today, the only thing limited about German limited editions is the number of buyers able to pay the freight over the typically highly competent models they supplement.

With new German high- and higher- performance models rolling out in endless procession like gaudy floats in some insanely gay parade that starts on New Year's Day and lasts until New Year's Eve, I promised myself -- after sniffing at BMW's fast and furiously expensive M6 and 640i Gran Coupe in these pages in September -- that I'd go easy on carmakers from Germany that come out with special edition after special edition from their once highly focused performance divisions. Today, the only thing limited about German limited editions is the number of buyers able to pay the freight over the typically highly competent models they supplement.

Photo Gallery: Noise, Vibration & Harshness: The True Cost Of Luxury - Automobile Magazine

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Illinois Tool Works CEO David Speer has died, the company said. He was 61. COO E. Scott Santi, 51, was named the permanent CEO today after being chosen the acting CEO last month, the company said in a statement.