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After making its first global appearance at the NAIAS in Detroit earlier this week, the new 2014 Acura MDX Prototype made a splash north of the border at the Montreal Auto Show.

Acura MDX 2014. (Photo: Acura)

The third generation of this seven-passenger premium crossover, which will go on sale in mid-2013 in both FWD and SH-AWD configurations, offers a more spacious interior despite a 35-mm lower roofline. That's because the wheelbase is longer, resulting in more legroom in the second row as well as easier access to the third row.

The 2014 Acura MDX Prototype also boasts a 3.5L i-VTEC V6 engine, a wide range of safety features including Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning, the cloud-based AcuraLink connected car system, and SiriusXM radio.

Acura RLX 2014. (Photo: Acura)

In another Canadian premiere, the 2014 Acura RLX full-size sedan (originally unveiled in Los Angeles last fall) appeared in Montreal. It marks the first-ever application of Acura Precision All-Wheel Steer (P-AWS), the world's first technology to feature independent and continuous control of the left and right rear-wheel steering angles.

A version of the RLX featuring Acura's new Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system, and rated at 370 horsepower, will debut later in 2013.

From GMM

Felipe Massa insists he is not worried about the apparently ever-greater influence wrought by his teammate Fernando Alonso at Ferrari.

Brazilian Massa hit such a low-point in his career early last year that, this week, he admitted that as Ferrari considered who to replace him with, he thought about quitting the team and formula one.

Ultimately, 31-year-old Massa's form improved and he was offered a new deal for 2013, but some believe Ferrari want only a competent 'number two' for Alonso.

Indeed, more evidence of the 'Alonso factor' at Ferrari apparently emerged this week, when his former McLaren colleague and countryman Pedro de la Rosa was signed as a development driver.

Felipe Massa played down that suggestion.

"It is true that there are three Spanish (drivers) on the team," the Brazilian is quoted by Spain's Marca newspaper, "but de la Rosa is coming here to improve the simulator."

The third Spaniard referred to by Massa is Marc Gene, another test driver.

Felipe Massa added: "The press likes to say these things, but I don't think that this (the presence of Spanish drivers) is a thing done by Fernando."

Felipe Massa, Luca di Montezemolo, Fernando Alonso. (Photo: Ferrari)

He said he does not worry that the 'Alonso factor' is becoming so strong that the occupant of the other Ferrari has no chance.

"I cannot imagine a team that does not help one of its drivers because he wants the other to win. There are two cars and that is important also for the manufacturers' title," Massa said at Ferrari's Madonaddo di Campiglio media ski event.

In fact, he thinks that if he simply performs better than Alonso in 2013, "I do not see any reason why he is not going to help me, as I've done for him many times."

Fernando Alonso, meanwhile, welcomed de la Rosa's arrival, but played down the significance of the news.

"The arrival of Pedro is very positive," he is quoted by El Pais newspaper. "We have signed him to optimise the simulator, which is one of the areas that we needed to improve. But anyway, there are more important signings for the car's performance than that of Pedro, who can help more for the longer team."

He is undoubtedly referring to the arrivals of well-known F1 aerodynamicists Loic Bigois and Martin Bester.

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray with the Vehicle Identification Number ending in 0001 will be offered at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona this weekend. Proceeds will benefit the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, renowned for its automotive design program.

Other exclusive cars up for bid include:

• 1958 Chevrolet Corvette offered by GM president and CEO Dan Akerson;
• 2012 Chevrolet COPO Camaro convertible (number 69 of 69);
• 2013 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Convertible Collector Edition (personalized for master chef Guy Fieri);
• 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible.

So, how much would you be willing to spend on one of these?

Photo: Chevrolet

Nine generations in and it seems the 2013 Honda Accord is entering its golden years in North America. As an all-new model, this generation of Accord offers a level of sophistication I wasn't expecting from Honda, and a driveability that had me admitting I'd gladly have one sitting in my driveway.

With a starting price of just under $24,000, the Honda Accord is an affordable midsize sedan that not only boasts Honda's longstanding reputation, but also promises to grow with you and your family. While my nearly top-of-the-line tester breaks the $30k mark, I'd say it's well worth every penny to drive the new 2013 Honda Accord Touring.


And drive, I did
Perhaps one of the best ways to test a vehicle is to take it on a long, boring road trip. Sure, twisty country roads are fun, which is why any car can be made enjoyable (somehow) on them. Take a vehicle on a straight, boring, long highway and tell me what you think about it.

So, that's what I did with the 2013 Honda Accord. I took it on a 12-hour highway trip (6 hrs there, 6 back), and after all that, I did not hate it. Not even a little bit. I didn't drive for the entire 12 hours, I was a passenger for a portion of those hours and that helped the Honda Accord's case even more. Super-comfortable passenger seats (heated both front and rear) with plenty of legroom in front and in the back, the Accord may be one of the most comfortable boring-highway cars I've ever been in.

Behind the wheel of the 2013 Honda Accord is a fantastic place to be. Piloting the 2.4L 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC four-cylinder is a fabulous thing, indeed. With just the right amount of power (185 horses and 181 lb-ft of torque in the Touring model), just when you need it, driving the Accord is pretty close to perfect. And (shock of all shocks) I really like the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) in the Honda.

I know, take that in for a moment.

The CVT is a joy. It's responsive with on-tap power when you want/need it, never second guesses itself and does just what you want a transmission to do: Drive the car smoothly. Perhaps I have Honda's G-Design Shift logic to thank for that as it is meant to help with acceleration response in comparison to other CVTs on the market.

Add to all that a little fuel efficiency (I averaged 8.2L/100km throughout the week) with Honda's ECON button that adjusts the engine to be as gas-savvy as possible, along with an Eco Assist feature (light around the speedometer that stays green if you're being good and goes white if you're being naughty) and you've got yourself a vehicle that seems to check all the necessary boxes.

Piloting the 2.4L 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder is a fabulous thing, indeed. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Smooth travelling, and looks
With a fully independent suspension firmly attached to the 2013 Honda Accord's chassis, the solid unit body ensures that every journey is a smooth, quiet and refined experience. And truly, it is.

I noticed immediately how cloud-like it was to be in the Honda Accord, no matter what the road surface. However, don't think smooth equals numb: The Accord handles extremely well, stays planted on the road and feels sportier than expected. These are all bonus points, in my opinion.

Driving smoothly is only half the battle; the 2013 Honda Accord also looks smooth, in all the right ways. Like a dapper gentleman dressed for a cocktail party with work colleagues, the Accord has an air of sophistication about it that wasn't there in previous generations. Honda managed to make the Accord look more mature, more grown-up. From LED daytime running lights to a chrome-lined grille, as well as chrome-accented front and rear bumpers, the Accord is dressed to the nines; and I like it.

Inside, the class continues: comfortable seats, mostly soft surfaces (save for a few door panels), and traditional Honda storage throughout, as well as an easy-to-use (despite the plethora of buttons) onboard entertainment system complete with two screens.

I noticed immediately how cloud-like it was to be in the Honda Accord, no matter what the road surface. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Smooth operator
Today's cars are all about technology, it seems, and this topic is not lost on the 2013 Honda Accord. From available Front Crash Warning to Lane Watch (a camera mounted in the passenger-side mirror shows you up to 50m of traffic behind you), Lane Departure Warning System, HandsFreeLink bluetooth (with the ability to answer email and text messages), and a backup camera, the Accord was built to make your life easier.

Truthfully, I turned all the warning systems off. I feel confident enough in myself as a driver to do without them. And in all honesty, the Lane Watch camera (which turns on every time you activate the turn signal to go right) is highly distracting.

But other than that, there's very little wrong with the 2013 Honda Accord.

Bravo, Honda, bravo.

This 2013 Honda Accord Sedan Touring review was originally published on Auto-Venus.com.

The new 2014 Jeep Patriot achieves 6.6L/100km on the highway with the 158-horsepower, 2.0L four-cylinder engine, and 7.0L/100km with the 172-horsepower, 2.4L unit.

Photo: Jeep

For the first time ever, the 2014 Jeep Patriot will be available with an electronically controlled, six-speed automatic transmission developed by PowerTech, allowing optimum performance and fuel economy.

The 2014 Jeep Patriot also offers new side airbags up front, Hill Start Assist, UConnect with 6.5'' touchscreen, iPod interface, power sunroof, and two articulating liftgate speakers, among other features.

Photo: Jeep

Pricing has yet to be announced for the 2014 Jeep Patriot, which is scheduled to go on sale in Canada in the second quarter of this year.

From WTCC

The Honda Racing Team J.A.S. started track activity in view of the new season of the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) with a three-day test at Valencia.

From Wednesday, Gabriele Tarquini and Tiago Monteiro are taking turns at the wheel of the Honda Civic WTCC test cars on the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. They completed 280 km on day 1 and 225 on day 2, with no technical issues says the press release. The test continues today.

This is also the first occasion for Tarquini to evaluate the progress made by the car, following Monteiro's participation in the three last events of the 2012 season.

Photo: FIA WTCC

Same weight to all cars in 2013

All cars that will take part in the 2013 FIA World Touring Car Championship will run on the same minimum weight of 1150 kilos, including the driver.

The decision was taken last week by the FIA Touring Car Committee, and a list of the eligible cars has been published in the Appendix 1 to the championship's Sporting Regulations.

The list includes BMW 320 TC, Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T, Ford Focus WTCC, Honda Civic WTCC, SEAT León WTCC and all other cars that took part in the 2012 championship.

Compared to last year, the weight of BMW and Chevrolet cars has been reduced by ten kilos, putting them on the same level with the other machines.

The only car still missing is the LADA Granta Sport, as the Committee will decide about its weight after the homologation formalities are accomplished.

The IndyCar Series has finally received applications for 22 entries which are applying to be part of the Leaders Circle program for the upcoming 2013 season.

As Auto123.com had revealed earlier, Ganassi Racing did not re-apply for its No.38 car driven by Graham Rahal in 2012 as well as KV Racing Technology did not go thru with its application for its No.8 DW-12 that was in the hand of Rubens Brichello last season.

As expected, Team Penske applied for three Leaders Circle positions even though it has announced programs for only two drivers (Helio Castroneves and Will Power).

Also applying for a Leaders Circle spot was Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (for driver Josef Newgarden) and Dragon Racing (for Sebastien Bourdais).

It is also expected that Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports will expand to a two-car program in 2013. Simon Pagenaud has already been confirmed while a second entry could be driven by either current Indy Lights champion Tristan Vautier or Ryan Briscoe.

Even though Andretti Autosport applied for its three Leaders Circle spots, we have learned that the squad is still working on a fourth entry.

Dale Coyne Racing will have Justin Wilson in one car but it still has to announce a program for the second car.

Leaders Circle confirmed applications:

Chevrolet teams
Team Penske (3): Helio Castroneves, Will Power, third TBD.
Panther Racing (1): JR Hildebrand.
Panther DRR (1): Oriol Servia.
KV Racing Technology (2): Tony Kanaan, Simona De Silvestro.
Andretti Autosport (3): Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti, James Hinchcliffe.
Ed Carpenter Racing (1): Ed Carpenter.
Dragon Racing (1): Sebastien Bourdais.

Honda teams
Ganassi Racing (3): Dario Franchitti, Scott Dixon, Charlie Kimball.
Dale Coyne Racing (2): Justin Wilson, second driver TBA.
A.J. Foyt Racing (1): Takuma Sato.
Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports (1): Simon Pagenaud.
Bryan Herta Autosport (1): Alex Tagliani.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (1): Graham Rahal.
Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing (1): Josef Newgarden.

Chrysler Group is trying to redefine a wedding ritual with "The Dodge Dart Registry," a site that lets engaged couples raise money toward purchasing a new car by asking their friends and family to chip in.

Chrysler Group is close to a deal with Spain's Banco Santander as an in-house financing arm to be called Chrysler Capital, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing unnamed sources.

Aston Martin, the British maker of sports cars featured in James Bond movies, is in talks with potential partners to jointly develop high-end engines and electronic parts to strengthen its sports-car lineup.

Chrysler close to a deal that would make Spain's Banco Santander its in-house financing arm, replacing U.S.-based lender Ally Financial.

Kia Motors America said today it has picked a new digital ad agency to revamp its online presence while the brand boosts spending on Internet and mobile marketing.

The full-size, rear-drive car battle between Ford and General Motors in Australia which has raged since 1960 looks like ending in 2016.

The hybrid wars continue after the Detroit auto show, and Ford has thrown it latest punch: the 2013 Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid.

News 18 Jan, 2013

Audi, BMW and VW ranked in the bottom 10 of a study into engine reliability

2013 Nissan Altima 3.5 SL - Bring it on, Winter

Hot seats and a cold reception for the camera.

As Michigan has settled in for the winter season, we've yet to seriously test the seasonal mettle of the Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D tires -- recommended by Tire Rack, our official supplier for such things -- that our Four Seasons Nissan Altima has been wearing since November. Drivers of our red Nissan have, however, already gotten plenty of use out of the well-optioned car's heated seats and steering wheel as well as its remote-start feature. These might seem trivial to folks who've never been chilled to the bone by a sharp February Michigan wind, but trust us -- these conveniences can significantly improve a person's commute on a chilly midwinter morning.

Photo Gallery: 2013 Nissan Altima 3.5 SL - Four Seasons Update - January 2013 - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2013 Nissan Altima 3.5 SL - Four Seasons Update - January 2013 - Automobile Magazine

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The hybrid wars continue -- much less exciting than the MyFord Touch -- after the Detroit auto show, and

President Barack Obama should tell Japan's new government that the United States will retaliate for policies aimed at weakening the yen, a group representing Ford, GM and Chrysler said today.

General Motors, seeking to revive sales of its new Chevrolet Malibu, is working on speedy design changes to the sedan -- including the rear seating -- to make it more competitive with other midsize models, two people familiar with the effort said.

News 25 Jan, 2013

Our comprehensive guide to the new cars arriving in showrooms over the next 12 months