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The super-luxury brands owned by Germany's Volkswagen and BMW groups both posted healthy sales growth in 2012. VW's Bentley announced global growth of 22% year on year to 8,510 cars, following the worldwide dealer count rising 10%, while BMW's Rolls-Royce said it booked a "record" 3,575 cars but did not provide a 2011 comparison.

Opel has no plans for further factory closures at the moment, interim CEO Thomas Sedran said, adding that the weak European car market may shrink by 4 percent this year.

Daimler's Mercedes-Benz has launched integration of Siri, Apple's 'intelligent assistant' that allows users voice access to apps, into the new E-Class but only for drivers using the iPhone 4S and not the recently released iPhone 5.

Opel started production of the Adam minicar at its Eisenach plant in Germany today as it strives to win back European customers amid the worst regional auto industry downturn for nearly two decades.

BMW Group sales in 2012 totalled 1,845,186 units worldwide, up 10.6% year on year. All three brands - BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce posted records last year.

The European Union must cut emissions from diesel vehicles as part of a drive to reduce air pollution, which causes nearly half a million premature deaths a year, EU officials said.

GM Europe and PSA have distanced themselves from speculation the French automaker could buy GM's Opel/Vauxhall, with Russelsheim insisting the GM/PSA commercial alliance is "cast in stone."

Renault may build vehicles in France for partners Nissan and Daimler if domestic employees agree to work an average 6.5 percent more, the carmaker told unions.

BMW Group predicts 2013 will be an even better sales year than 2012, during which it sold a record 1.85 million vehicles worldwide.

BMW Group predicts 2013 will be an even better sales year than 2012, during which it sold a record 1.85 million vehicles worldwide.

VW and BMW are the favorites to add market share in the global auto industry over the next five years, according to a survey of top automotive executives.

Italy car sales last year fell 20 percent to 1.4 million units, the country's worst result in 33 years. Back then, domestic automakers had a dominating 61.7 percent share of the market, in 2012 they controlled just 29.7 percent.

No one expects the European car market to be a source of good news this year, especially for volume brands. Optimists predict flat sales while pessimists foresee a decline of up to 5 percent. Here are 10 stories to watch in 2013..

Long-time team manager and veteran paddock member Phil LePan has passed away in late December but the news was only made public on Tuesday of this week.

The Canadian started out his career working for Colin Chapman's Lotus Formula 1 team in the later ,70s before moving back to North America and forging a long career as a championship-winning Indy car team manager.

His name was associated with the famous Player's/Forsythe Racing team where he won the 2003 championship with Paul Tracy. Before that he was involved with Team Green where he was part of the team that 1995 Indy 500 with Jacques Villeneuve.

Most recently, LePan worked with Dale Coyne Racing where he earned his final IndyCar win with Justin Wilson at the Texas 550 last year.

Meanwhile, Bryan Herta Autosport announced the return of Barracuda Networks as their primary sponsor for the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Season.

With Barracuda's involvement secured for 2013, the team is close to finalizing Alex Tagliani's return to pilot the Honda-powered No. 98 car.

Los Angeles, CA - The all-new fourth generation 2013 Toyota RAV4, which had its global debut at the LA Auto Show, was charged with meeting changing customer expectations in the compact SUV segment, as well as Toyota President Akio Toyoda's directive of creating more emotionally engaging products.

The new expressive look was conceived at Toyota's head design studio in Japan; while the interior design came from Calty Design Research, the automaker's studio in Newport Beach, California.


Calty president, Kevin Hunter, was on hand for the debuting festivities in LA, and told us that in the past, Toyota had some of the more “serious looking” SUV designs; “They were trying to mimic big SUVs, just scaled down a bit. So, now we're trying to present a more fun image.”

He added that both the exterior and interior are designed to communicate that the new RAV4 is a “true crossover” and not at all “truck-y.”

“They're a lot of fun to drive, and we wanted the interior and exterior to reflect that.”

Here then, are some of the more prominent details and features which created this all new and refocused 2013 Toyota RAV4.

The only power-source is one borrowed from Camry; 176-hp, 2.5L I4 mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission with two overdrive gears (5th and 6th). There is no V6 option.

Toyota promises a more rewarding driving experience in the 2013 Toyota RAV4, with optimized electric power steering, double wishbone rear suspension and a Sport Mode setting, which re-jigs the steering, engine and transmission parameters, and “blips” the throttle on downshifts.

Here then, are some of the more prominent details and features which created this all new and refocused 2013 Toyota RAV4. (Photo: Toyota)

Three models will be available: LE, XLE and Limited.

The 2013 Toyota RAV4's new (and optional) all-wheel drive system has Dynamic Torque Control, which can switch torque to the front and rear wheels as needed.

There are three AWD settings: Auto, Lock and Sport. In Auto the vehicle tries to stay in FWD to save fuel. For traction in a jam, Lock mode sends power to all four wheels -- but only up to 40 km/h. As in the FWD models, Sport mode does its thing with the steering, throttle and shifts, but can also send torque to the rear wheels in a corner, to aid handling.

Front-drive 2013 Toyota RAV4 models were rated at 8.7 City and 6.4 Highway (L/ 100 km); while LE and XLE all-wheel drive models rated at 9.1 City and 6.8 Highway (L/100 km).

176-hp, 2.5L I4 mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission with two overdrive gears. (Photo: Toyota)

The 2013 Toyota RAV4 loses its trademark side-hinged rear door in favour of a roof-hinged liftgate. The spare tire is now stowed in the cargo area, which has a low liftover height and over 73 cu.-ft of storage capacity (2,080 litres) when the 60/40 rear seat backs are down -- high for its class.

There is seating for five and no third row seat option in the 2013 Toyota RAV4; and there are eight standard air bags.

The LE is outfitted with 17” steel wheels, while the XLE rides on 17” alloys, and the Limited rides on 18” alloys.

The exterior design of the 2013 Toyota RAV4 features more body sculpting and a very aerodynamic looking front end. It retains little kink at the D-pillar. To these eyes, it looks quite good, but not easily memorable.

The inside design and materials on the RAV4 look fantastic, and are a considerable upgrade over the last generation (all show models were trimmed in leather). There is lots of soft touch fabrics and faux silver trim, to impart the much-desired “premium” feel. An “Acoustic” windshield is one of the moves made to create a quiet cabin.

The inside design and materials on the RAV4 look fantastic, and are a considerable upgrade over the last generation. (Photo: Toyota)

Front seat backs in the Toyota TAV4 are slim to create more rear knee room. It's roomy back there, but I couldn't slide my feet totally under the front seat. The rear seats also recline a bit.

The dash panel in the 2013 Toyota RAV4 is more driver-centric with blue illumination at night. A 6.1” LCD screen is available on all models. A rearview camera is now standard on all models.

High-end options include: navigation, satellite radio, advanced voice recognition, premium sound system, Blind Spot Monitor, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

The 2013 Toyota RAV4 will arrive on the Canadian market in the beginning of the new year, starting at $23,790.

From CIK-FIA

Two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso first drove a kart at the tender age of 3, and he quickly showed how gifted he was.

At the age of 7, Fernando won the children's Championship of the Asturias (where he was born). And he did it again the two following years, while also landing several championships in neighbouring regions!

Fernando Alonso, who comes from a modest background, was quite aware of the sacrifices made by his family but clang to his dream.

While his father was finding it more and more difficult to finance his son's races, the Spaniard Marco Genis decided to take him under his wing. He also talked about the little prodigy to Mike Wilson, who quickly saw that Alonso had something special in him.

Fernando Alonso leading the race in Parma, Italy. (Photo: WRi2)

When he was only 12, Fernando was entirely taken under the wing of Wilson and of the IAME works team, and he accumulated brilliant results: unbeatable in Spain, where he took six consecutive national crowns, he also shone at the international level, climbing on his first podium at the CIK-FIA Cadets' Rainbow Trophy in 1995.

His reputation was definitely established in 1996 when he landed the CIK-FIA 5 Continents Juniors Cup at Genk. One year later, on the same Belgian track, Alonso easily dominated the European ICA Championship.

He prevailed in his eight qualifying heats and the prefinal, took the best start in the final and then... did made a huge mistake! Stepping slightly too generously over a kerb on the fourth lap he was hurled out of the track. For Fernando this was a huge disillusion... But it is the kind of experience which makes a champion even stronger.

He then continued his career in Formula A (vice-European Champion in 98) then in Formula Super A (the day's top category). Alonso finally made his car debuts in 1999.

On 4 March 2001, one year and a half after participating in his last World Karting Championship, Fernando Alonso took the start of the Australian Grand Prix at the wheel of a Minardi.

Nine teams have confirmed their entry to the new GT Sprint Series which will replace the GT1 World Championship this season.

Teams that have entered the serie are : Vita4One (BMW), WRT, Phoenix and Novadriver (Audi), Reiter (Lamborghini), Charouz (Mercedes), Prospeed (Porsche) and Rodrive/Lambda (Ford).

Sebastien Loeb Racing will join the field, running two McLaren GT. Each team will run two cars.

The GT Sprint Series features GT3-spec cars.

Audi R8, GT3-spec. (Photo: Blancpain)

The newly formed Pro Mazda Championship announced its 2013 schedule, which will feature 16 races at nine high-profile events.

Drivers will have the opportunity to continue to hone their skills at three road course, four street circuit and two oval tracks, with five rounds held in conjunction with the IZOD IndyCar series.

Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires 2013 schedule:

March1-2 Races 1-2 Circuit of the Americas Road c. GRAND-AM
March 23-24 Races 3-4 St. Petersburg Street c. INDYCAR
May 25  Race 5 Lucas Oil Raceway Oval  USAC
June 15 Race 6 The Milwaukee Mile Oval INDYCAR
July 13-14 Races 7-8  Toronto Street c. INDYCAR
July 20-21 Races 9-10 Canadian Tire Motor Park Road c. ALMS
August 3-4 Races 11-12      Mid-Ohio Road c. INDYCAR
August 10-11 Races 13-14 Trois-Rivieres Street c. NASCAR Canada
October 5-6 Races 15-16 Reliant Park Houston Street c. INDYCAR

Ford and Citroen revealed the colours of the new cars they will run in the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship.

Ford launched the new livery of its Ford Fiesta RS WRC sponsored by Qatar WRT Thursday at the Autosport motorsport show in Birmingham, UK.

Photo: M-Sport

M-Sport's future in WRC was placed in doubt following the withdrawal of Ford at the end of 2012. However, Malcolm Wilson has been able to to sign a major deal with Qatar that allowed M-Sport to continue in the sport.

Photo: M-Sport

Citroen Racing also released photos of the 2013 DS3 WRC. The cars will be sponsored by Abu Dhabi.

Photo: Citroën Racing

The 2013 season of the World Rally Championship begins January 15-20 in Monte-Carlo.

Photo: Citroën Racing

Former Renault Formula 1 driver, Robert Kubica is set to contest ten rounds of the new European Rally Championship behind the wheel of an M-Sport's Ford Fiesta RRC.

The FIA approved the introduction of a sequential gearbox activated by a semi-hydraulic system destined to help the Pole, whose right hand was badly damaged in a rally crash two years ago.

Ford Fiesta RRC (Photo: Ford)

Robert Kubica will make his ERC debuts at the third round of the calendar, Rally Islas Canarias, 21-23 March.

The round held in his native Poland, which is also part of the ERC calendar, will be presented in September.