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The 2013 Lexus ES 350 is as inherently soothing as that reliable leather sofa chair in your living room: that welcoming, supple embrace; the initial coolness of the leather against your skin; that puff of fragrant air that escapes under your weight. It's all there in this luxury sedan.


Relax
The 2013 Lexus ES 350 has comfy leather furniture, too; like, really, really comfy. The seats here are heated, chilled, and so aromatic they leave their scent on your clothing.

Add your favourite tunes to the sofa experience via a set of high-end headphones (or the 2013 Lexus ES 350 experience via the Mark Levinson stereo), and you're on your way to the ultimate in tranquil isolation.

Mark Levinson
Originally, the Lexus/Levinson partnership was intended to explore car audio systems built without cost as a constraint. The variant used in the 2013 Lexus ES 350 packs some serious power, and is ideal for those wanting to relax while having their favourite music blasted at their craniums. As with their at-home headphones, you'll hear details in your music you never knew existed.

But it's more than the seats and stereo that set ES owners up for a leisurely drive.

“Here, let me get that for you”
The engine in the 2013 Lexus ES 350 starts with the press of a button. Lights, wipers, climate control, high-beams, and even distance-guided cruise-control are all sensor-driven and auto-regulating. Steering is light as a feather. Xenon lights mean your eyes do little work to see up the road after dark. Memory seating negates the need to readjust your seat if someone else has been driving your car. The list goes on.

Translation? The 2013 Lexus ES 350 requires nothing of you.

Simply slip the transmission into “DRIVE,” steer a little here and there, and the car handles everything else. You can sit and drive, and relax and reflect, enjoy a personal getaway or some socialization with passengers.

The better part of the 2013 Lexus ES 350's relaxation-inducing features can, nowadays, be had in a Kia Optima. That's why, aside from features alone, this recently revised front-drive Lexus cruiser does the all important job of setting the stage for an unwinding drive.

The engine in the 2013 Lexus ES 350 starts with the press of a button. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Setting the stage
The presentation of the new-for-2013 cabin is rich, three-dimensional and (as Lexus tends to be) trimmed and assembled impeccably. Switches and controls all feel substantial, nighttime lighting is soft and elegant, and you'll feel like you're sitting in the business centre of a luxury hotel.

A full multimedia and navigation hub, commendable by voice or a console-mounted track-knob, help here. You can control hundreds of infotainment functions with little more than a few millimeters of index-finger movement.

The 2013 Lexus ES 350 is less busy looking than a 5 Series, more high-tech looking than an E-Class, and more upscale than a TL. Even the ceiling liner is made from something with a level of tempting suppleness somewhere between butterfly wings and baby seal fuzz. One passenger even asked, “Oh my goodness...have you TOUCHED this?!”

I had.

The presentation of the new-for-2013 cabin is rich, three-dimensional and (as Lexus tends to be) trimmed and assembled impeccably. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Cruising
On smooth pavement, the ride in the 2013 Lexus ES 350 is whisper quiet and soft, with a touch of firmness around the edges. It's gentle and forgiving, but doesn't make you feel like you're riding along on a glob of Cool Whip. Only the soft hum of spinning tires and the occasional lick of wind disturbs the experience of being disconnected from everything around you -- though some rougher roads do invade the cabin.

A 3.5L V6 sends the better part of 270 horsepower to the front wheels. The 2013 Lexus ES 350 hauls along aptly, and torque-steer scarcely presents itself as anything more than a slight tightening of the steering wheel.

Unleashed at full throttle, the engine makes a pleasingly powerful, but tastefully restrained sound as the power comes on hard towards redline. Highway passing can be handled confidently, especially with “SPORT” mode engaged for sharper (and quicker responding) throttle pedal inputs.

Combined fuel mileage over the course of my 1,800 kilometre test, including plenty of highway cruising at a good clip, landed at an appreciable 8.5L/100km.

A 3.5L V6 sends the better part of 270 horsepower to the front wheels. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

A chill car
My only gripe was a too-vague steering feel at highway speeds, which can make the 2013 Lexus ES 350 feel less locked on the road and more like its floating loosely over it. A sports car this is not, and most drivers will take no issue with the latter.

Ultimately, this is one of the most uneventful, unstimulating cars I've ever visited -- and those looking for the ultimate in vehicular relaxation should consider it a priority test drive. Pricing for the 2013 Lexus ES 350 is around $52,000 with all the toys.

Carlos Sainz (buggy) was forced to retire with a broken engine in the sixth leg of Dakar rally.

The Spaniard, who won the very first leg of the 2013 Dakar, was quite unlucky the next days, losing several minutes when searching for a way point on Sunday, then again when he suffered electrical issues aboard his buggy. Sainz was already running about 3h30 behind overall leader before Thursday's stage. He will now fly to Europe for the Rally Monte Carlo, where his employer Volkswagen is about to make its WRC debuts.

The sixth day of Dakar rally, from Arica to Calama, Chile, was dominated by Sainz's team mate (and boss) Nasser Al-Attiyah, who close the gap over Stephane Peterhansel (Mini), who still leads the race, 1mn20 ahead of the driver from Qatar.

Carlos Sainz' retirement is a big loss for the Team Qatar Red Bull of Nasser Al-Attiyah. (Photo: Dakar)

Losing my driver's license would be worse than... I'd rather not say. This small piece of plastic is my livelihood, my work, my career: my entire being. I could not, nor would I, survive without it. I would end up a hermit living under a rock on the wrong side of the tracks near the bridge. I would all but die.

For many of you, your driver's license also represents your lifeline for getting to work, to picking up the kids, shopping, and more. And so, imagine one day being pulled over by a cop and being left stranded by the highway with a $1,000 worth of tickets because both your car and your permit have been removed. The questions! The fury! The anger!

Why did this happen? Because your license was suspended, but you were not aware it had happened.

Your driving record is not spotless, however, every ticket was paid or contested, all according to the rules set forth by the governing automotive body of your province. Every communication sent over the last while was addressed with either a check or some other form of compliant response. All except one, because it never made it to you.

That's right: The one, the most important notice that would have prevented what I could only call a catastrophe, never made it to its destination. This little piece of information was willingly given by said governing body.

So, as it stands, you're facing a $1,000 impound fee plus a $1,000 ticket, and all they can say is: Sorry, we'll send out the missing notice right away. Too little, too late.

What are you to do now? Go to court. Yes. Hire a lawyer in hopes of getting your money back only to hand it over to the lawyer, if you win. At this point, there is no alternative. The government has acted -- or failed in its actions -- deal with it.

The point of this story is that no one is perfect. I certainly am not, but the government is, despite the countless times they screw up. If you're not up to speed on what's going on with your permit, I strongly suggest that you request your driving record.

If you think you've accumulated a few points over the last few years, the next one could put you in the fifth row of your favourite form of public transportation.

Nasser Al-Attiyah revealed that Sébastien Loeb have tested a buggy in december, and that he would like the frenchman to join his team for 2014 Dakar.

In an interview to french daily paper L'Equipe, the driver from Qatar, who currently runs in second position in the Dakar rally, revealed: "I invited Sebastien to visit me in Qatar. I have a buggy to have fun in the sand, and he tried it." That was not the buggy ran by Al-Attiyah and Carlos Sainz on this year's Dakar, but Nasser Al-Attiyah aims to sign the frenchman for his Dakar team for 2014.

"We talked about sport in general, I know he would like to try to run the Dakar one day, but he was with his family and that was not the time to get further in this project. I would like to run maybe five buggies in next year's Dakar. Of course, I have good relationship with my country, but also with Red Bull that backs a lot of drivers. If he wants to drive one my cars, he is more than welcome..."

Sebastien Loeb. (Photo: Citroen Racing)

Sebastien Loeb also revealed his interest in the Dakar rally in the future, saying it would be a private entry, with no link with Citroën.

This year, Sebastien Loeb will run five WRC rounds, and he will take part to the GT Sprint Series championship in a McLaren ran by his racing team. He will probably develop the Citroen WTCC car, as the french constructor is set to join the championship in 2014.

Hankook Tire announced plans for a high-tech Research and Development centre in Korea. The facility will be built by Foster+Partners, an architecture firm that's responsible for the famous Millau overpass in France and McLaren's production centre in the U.K., among others.

Featuring innovative design, the new R&D centre will put an emphasis on building the future, including a seven-story tire auto-stacking system and smart information system. It will also provide scientists and technicians with a dedicated environment to develop high-quality products.

Construction should be over by the end of 2015, with the site covering a total area of 99,175 square metres.

Ferrari enthusiasts can now go to the manufacturer's website and Facebook page to view the first official pictures of the Special Limited Series hybrid supercar that will debut later in 2013.

Accompanying these obscure images is an interview by The Official Ferrari Magazine with Roberto Fedeli, Technical Director, and Flavio Manzoni, Head of the Styling Centre.

Just enough to get all excited...

Photo: Ferrari

Photo: Ferrari

On Thursday, the very first 2013 SRT Viper (#001) rolled off the assembly line and on to its proud new owner during a special ceremony at the Conner Avenue plant in Detroit. Chrysler chairman and CEO Sergio Marchionne and SRT brand president Ralph Gille attended the event.

Scott Thomas bought the car in June 2012 during a Barrett-Jackson auction in California. All the proceeds from his winning bid of US$300,000 went to the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer.

Marchionne also unveiled a plaque in honour of former Chrysler Group senior vice president Dan Knott, who passed away last year. There's a quote on it that reads: ''Today, we are a real car company again.'' Knott, who was instrumental in the development of past Viper generations, made the statement on August 22nd, 2010, the day the 2013 Viper program was approved.

Equipped with a 640-horsepower 8.4L V10 engine, the 2013 SRT Viper is priced at US$97,395. Deliveries will begin next month.

From GMM

Williams Formula 1 team will give new recruit Valtteri Bottas at least half a season to get up to speed.

After a full season of preparation as the famous British team's reserve driver last year, practising on most Friday mornings at grands prix, 22-year-old rookie Bottas will make his full time race debut in 2013.

The young Finn can't wait.

"Well, it was mentally tough," he told the MTV3 broadcaster, referring to 2012.

"At the end of practice just when I had found a rhythm in the car I then had to give it back. And I knew that I would have kept improving if only I could have driven more," said Bottas.

"As I then watched the race, of course I thought about what I might have been able to do. It was not so easy. Especially the weekends where I could not drive at all -- they were very long," he smiled.

Valtteri Bottas, Williams. (Photo: WRi2)

The team, however, will be urging Bottas to be patient. Williams co-owner Christian “Toto” Wolff, who is also involved in the young driver's management, said the 22-year-old will enjoy some "puppy protection".

"He needs mileage and racing experience," he told Motorsport Aktuell, a Swiss weekly.

"He is very fast and extremely intelligent," Austrian Wolff insisted, "but we have to give him the right environment so that he can realise his potential.

"We can't assume that he will be on the second row in Melbourne, even if the car is capable of it," he continued. "I believe he can get the full potential from the car by the middle of the season."

Samsung's transparent display technology will play a key role during the launch of the new Toyota Furia concept on Monday at the Detroit Auto Show.

The sedan will be revealed using a custom-built structure that houses 30 of Samsung's new 46'' transparent LCD panels, marking a first for an automaker at a major international auto show.

''This technology will be used to help create a unique dramatic effect for the Furia reveal as elements can be transmitted on the clear transparent panels to partially obstruct or completely block view of the vehicle until the panels are made completely clear to show the car'', said Brian Hords, Design Director at o2 Creative Solutions, the agency responsible for orchestrating the Furia's unveiling.

Photo: Toyota

While the big theme was the beginning of the last test of the new body types before the 55th edition of the Daytona 500 there was plenty of news of all types in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

The trio of Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas led the speed charts in the afternoon session of the test which saw 34-cars take the 2.5 mile oval. Denny Hamlin (at 195.712mph) who drafted with new teammate, Matt Kenseth (at 195.389mph) and Kyle Busch was just a tick off at 195.312mph.

At the end of the session Mark Martin, who was fourth fastest in another Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing when all four Toyotas ran in a small pack.

Because of many factors, including but not limited to a dearth of spare parts for the Gen-6 new look cars, most of the drivers chose not to draft either in tandems or the big packs which made Daytona famous.

With a 500lb reduction in downforce for Daytona and Talladega the cars are supposed to be harder to drive. The cars also feature a rear spoiler that is 4 inches-by-53 inches compared to 3.5 inches-by-62 inches last year. Also to offset some of the weight gains due to the redesign of the car teams are allowed to incorporate carbon fiber into rear deck lids of the cars.

Photo: NASCAR

One of the previous Car of Tomorrow or Gen-5 car haters was triple-champion, Tony Stewart, who was very happy with the new car. “I'm glad we finally got away from the Car of Tomorrow that wasn't, I don't think, one of the best of ideas,” Stewart said. “... It is nice to get back to cars that look like production cars again.”

Still it's early days “there's a lot of work for the cars in general,” added said 2012 champion Brad Keselowski.

Hamlin left Daytona due be with the expectant mother of their first child.

In other news the simmering feud between Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer remains unsettled. The feud came to a boil at the penultimate race in Phoenix when the four-time champion intentionally wrecked Bowyer.

Coincidentally over the New Year's break they were on the same yacht owned by Hip Hop star Sean “P. Diddy” Holmes but didn't speak to each other.

“I was on the damndest boat you've ever seen in your life” Bowyer said during testing Thursday at Daytona International Speedway. “I think he (Gordon) was on that same boat. There was a big time being had. Yes, he was on there and I think it was on the same island.

“I'm pretty sure he was on there. It was pretty late, put it that way.”

But Bowyer was still angry even to talk about his feud when he added "yeah, we held hands and walked on the boat, discussed the past year and enjoyed ourselves throughout the whole vacation," Bowyer said sarcastically. "That was the one person that I definitely wanted to vacation with. Yes. I could not wait to get there for that very reason. Is that what you wanted me to say?"

Robin Pemberton, the NASCAR vice president of competition was satisfied with the first day.

“We've had some good tests this summer. Now we're in the final stages and letting the guys go to work today looked pretty good for what it was,” he said.

One of the mechanical changes seemed effective “we've been working on that for a year now, softening springs where the car will run faster by itself.

What we've learned is that we need to give (teams) them as much as they can to work with; it's not a new chassis. When we get to Charlotte next week we'll see the downforce come back and they'll hustle them around the track because the package is quite different (than Daytona).

But most, including driver Kasey Kahne who tweeted, want to see more cars draft.

Pemberton thought they will “we anticipate that they will want to run (draft) later in the day. I think it will benefit everybody to get some drafting.”

With the increased visibility brought to enthusiast-secret Caterham via their Formula One team, it only makes sense to diversify the company's offerings. Though they've diverged from the

Chevrolet is bringing some international flavor to the Detroit auto show. General Motors' biggest division will bring five vehicles from its world lineup to demonstrate its all-inclusive reach.

Hagerty and Speed TV will give away a black, one-of-a-kind

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, following through on a vow to lessen the company's reliance on expensive Japanese manufacturing and compete better in North America, has ordered output of the Murano crossover shifted to Canton, Miss.

Spectators with smartphones will be able to download the Detroit auto show's first official mobile app this year.

Mazda announced Wednesday that the 2013 Mazda 3 and the

President Obama today signed into law a bill allowing dealerships to stop stocking copies of a government booklet on insurance costs, the White House said.

First Look: 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG 4Matic

More power and new style for the flagship E-Class.

Mercedes-Benz previously provided us with details on the revised 2014 E-Class but hadn't confirmed any specifications on its AMG versions until today. Now we know that not only will the E63 AMG return in both sedan and wagon configurations, it will also include 4Matic all-wheel drive.

Photo Gallery: First Look: 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG 4Matic - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: First Look: 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG 4Matic - Automobile Magazine

First Look: 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG 4Matic | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Also in this episode: Nissan hopes a new fragrance will elevate its Detroit auto show booth, and Lexus reveals its

News 11 Jan, 2013

Pictures and details of the Renault Captur SUV, ahead of its debut at the Geneva Motor Show