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A diesel-powered version of the Chevrolet Cruze will make its debut at the Chicago Auto Show this week.

Called Cruze Eco-D, it's the first General Motors passenger car to feature a diesel engine in the U.S. for more than 20 years. It will likely serve to gauge consumer interest before other models follow suit.

Actually, GM is expected to add a diesel option to its all-new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks.

For the time being, we don't know anything about the Chevrolet Cruze Eco-D's performance, fuel economy or pricing. Look for it to arrive in U.S. showrooms this spring as a 2014 model. Canadian availability remains unknown.

Source: The Detroit Bureau

From press release

As the new Silver Arrow, the Mercedes W04, completes its first laps this morning at the Jerez circuit, the team is delighted to announce a significant new partnership agreement with BlackBerry.

As the Official Mobile Computing Partner for the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, BlackBerry will collaborate with the team on technical and marketing opportunities.

The new partnership sees the iconic BlackBerry branding featured prominently on the chassis and headrest of the F1 W04 Silver Arrow, the racesuits of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, and on the team's racewear kit. As the Official Mobile Computing Partner, BlackBerry and MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS will be working closely together to develop the team's use of the BlackBerry 10 platform at the team's headquarters and at each Grand Prix.

BlackBerry featuring on the new Mercedes W04. (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

Ross Brawn, Team Principal at the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team commented: “On the day that our new Silver Arrow, the F1 W04, is launched, we are very pleased to announce our partnership with BlackBerry. We are looking forward to embracing the new BlackBerry 10 platform at both a technical and operational level, as well as collaborating with the team at BlackBerry to bring new mobile innovation to MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS. It is especially pleasing to be able to launch this exciting partnership today as our latest Silver Arrow takes to the track with BlackBerry branding.”

Frank Boulben, Chief Marketing Officer at BlackBerry, said: “Formula One is all about precision engineering, design and innovation - three values that mirror the approach that's gone into creating BlackBerry 10. It is a natural fit for BlackBerry to partner with the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team to deliver value through technical and marketing collaboration. We have built BlackBerry 10 to keep people moving, and we believe the essence of this will be delivered at many levels through our partnership”.

Auto advertisers were back in force in the 2013 Super Bowl with commercials that were funny and touching -- with a few that just fell flat.

Bosch has announced that its clean diesel technology will be featured in four new Audi TDI models now on sale in the US - the Audi A8, A7, A6 and Q5. It also forecasts that diesel volumes in the US will rise sharply.

Germany remains on track to have a million electric cars on its roads by 2020 according to a study by Horvath & Partners and the European Business School.

Due to a lack of confidence in the global business environment, the percentage of automotive companies planning to pursue acquisitions within a year fell to 19 percent, according to an Ernst and Young survey.

The surge that provided a strong end to 2012 continued into January as US light vehicle sales rose 14.2% to about 1.04m. The seasonally adjusted annualised rate came in at 15.29m, off just slightly from December's 15.37m, and well ahead of the 13.98m figure reported in January 2012.

OMG! They're back! Vin, Paul, Jordana and Michelle, the Our Gang of the underground criminal import racer scene return for -- yes, you're about to read this right -- the sixth time! May 24 the silver screen reignites with what Universal is calling...

ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: I enjoyed the last Tacoma we had in the office and I remember saying it felt trucky.

Suzuki has failed to post a profit for its European operations in four years and cannot say when it will cease posting losses, its regional chief told a German business magazine.

Chinese brand Qoros will debut its GQ3 compact sedan at the Geneva auto show in March ahead of a European launch later this year.

Chinese brand Qoros will debut its GQ3 compact sedan at the Geneva auto show in March ahead of a European launch later this year.

Suzuki has failed to post a profit for its European operations in four years and cannot say when it will cease posting losses, its regional chief told a German business magazine.

Jean-Philippe Dayraut (MINI) has taken his third Trophée Andros title at this weekend's final round, presented at Superbesse, and won by Jean-Baptiste Dubourg (Renault Clio III).

Dayraut came into the final round at Superbesse with a huge lead, which he just converted to a third crown. Benjamin Rivière and Olivier Panis are respectively second and third in the standings.

In the race, Rivière took second behind Dubourg (there was only one race scheduled this week end), while Bertrand Balas (MINI) completed the podium ahead of teammate and new champion Dayraut. Jacques Villeneuve (Citroen) placed fifth, tied with Panis.

From GMM

Sauber has revealed the first major technical innovation of the 2013 season, and according to Germany's specialist Auto Motor und Sport it could be a masterstroke.

Reportedly, designer Matt Morris got the idea for the C32's ultra-narrow sidepods when Sergio Perez's sideways-crushed car got back to the Swiss team's garage after his huge Monaco shunt in 2011.

"If the trick works, the competition has a problem," said correspondent Michael Schmidt.

Schmidt said the C32's sidepods are 10 to 15 centimetres narrower than those on the 2012 Sauber.

The shrunken sidepods of the Sauber C32 (Photo: Sauber F1 Team)

The benefit is clear: reduced drag and air disruptance to the diffuser and rear wing, and more scope for redirecting the flow to the most beneficial places.

"We endorsed the concept in July last year, because it influences the chassis and the crash structures," said designer Morris.

He explained, however, that the biggest problem was not the crash tests, but accommodating the radiators, electronic boxes, wire harnesses and other parts in the drastically reduced space.

"A nightmare," grinned Morris.

But arguably the biggest advantage of all is that, if Sauber has pulled off a masterstroke from left field, the competition will not be able to copy the innovation -- to do that, rival teams would have to build a new chassis.

Meanwhile, unlike McLaren, Sauber has not followed Ferrari's lead by introducing novel 'pull-rod' front suspension.

"There is probably an aerodynamic advantage," Morris admitted, "but to optimize the benefits and minimize the mechanical disadvantages would require a really complicated programme that goes beyond our capacity.

"This is a project for the 2014 car," he added.

Adapted from GMM

Luiz Razia, a 23-year-old Brazilian, looks set to secure the Marussia race seat for 2013 recently vacated by salaried driver Timo Glock.

Brazil's Globo said Razia, the 2012 GP2 runner-up, had secured the place "after months of negotiations".

The driver's management however did not confirm the deal when contacted by the British broadcaster Sky.

"At the moment we have made no decision," a spokesman said.

Luiz Razia (Photo: Alastair Staly/GP2 Media Service)

Racing for Marussia in F1 therefore remains a "dream" of Razia for now.

A dream helped, nevertheless, by the $15 million the Brazilian has in sponsorship money, according to Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat's numbers.

As far as race seats are concerned, Marussia has so far only confirmed rookie Max Chilton, who will debut the team's new MR02 car at Jerez next Tuesday, when "the rest of the testing schedule will also be communicated".

Infiniti Red Bull Racing has lifted the veil over its 2013 racer, the Red Bull RB9, today at the team's Milton Keynes base in the UK.

Photo: Red Bull Racing

The car, another creation of renowned designer Adrian Newey, is again powered by Renault Sports's normally-aspirated 2.4-litre V8 engine.

Photo: Red Bull Racing

It will be driven by reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel and his teammate Mark Webber.

Photo: Red Bull Racing

You can also watch this short film, put together by the team, of the RB9 being built.



Source: Red Bull Racing

Red Bull's chief designer Adrian Newey has spoken of the newly-launched RB9 as "an evolutionary car".

"It was difficult trying to continue developement of last year's car while also doing research into the RB9. Obviously it worked for us, but it gave us a very tight timeframe to design and manufacture this car," Newey he is quoted saying on the team's website.

"RB9 is an evolutionary car," he concludes.

According to Newey, the most significant change on the Red Bull car doesn't actually have anything to do with the car.

The Red Bull RB9 (Photo: Red Bull Racing)

"Probably the most significant change is not the regulations, but the new Pirelli tires. We had a quick test with those in practice ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix but in truth we didn't learn a lot because of the conditions."

The continuity theme also featured in the words of team principal Christian Horner: "We're fortunate that we've been able to maintain continuity within our group," he said.

"We got continuity throughout all of the technical teams and all the key areas."

Mark Webber will be shaking the RB9 down for the first time Tuesday at Jerez, in the first pre-season test of 2013. Webber will be at the wheel again Wednesday, before making room for his teammate Sebastian Vettel, on duty for Thursday and Friday.

Taras Lesko, who was already famous for building an Audi A7 and Bugatti Veyron using nothing but paper, scissors and glue, has just added a Pagani Zonda to his unique garage.

All of these creations are carbon copies of the real cars and required hundreds of hours of painstaking work. The results are pretty impressive, and there's even a video that shows how he did it.

So, if you were dreaming of owning a Pagani Zonda, here's your chance to buy one for as little as $1.95. Of course, you'll need to download the instruction manual and arm yourself with patience!

Source: Visualspicer.com

Subaru Canada's Pat Richard and his new co-driver Brit Rob Fagg have made the most out of Antoine L'Estage early retirement at the Perce-Neige rally, opening up the season with a win in Maniwaki, Québec.

All Richard had to do was stay out of trouble, as the two other contenders for the win, L'Estage and Leo Urlichich, retired.

L'Estage's day ended when the crankshaft under the hood of his Mitsubishi Evo X failed, on stage 3.

Pat Richard carving his path (Photo: Keith Morison/CARS)

Urlichich lasted longer, until the night. But eventually, his old "Crazy" self peered through. He went off the road, pushing a shock absorber right up the hood is Subaru.

Steeve Hobbs and co-driver Jean-Mathieu Tremblay (Subaru Impreza WRX), and Ugo Desgreniers and co-driver Érik Kirby (Subaru Impreza WRX) finished second and third respectively.

Paul Hartl and Chuck Storry won the two-wheel-drive class in their Volkswagen.


Final results Rally Perce-Neige Maniwaki 2013
1) Patrick Richard - Robert Fagg (Subaru Impreza WRX) - 2h12'19,5"
2) Steeve Hobbs - Jean-Mathieu Tremblay (Subaru Impreza WRX) - 2h14'21,6"
3) Ugo Desgreniers - Érik Kirby (Subaru Impreza WRX) - 2h16'17,8"
4) Simon Losier - Brian Maxwell (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo.8) - 2h18'49,1"
5) Maxime Losier - Philippe Poirier (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo.8) - 2h19'11,0"
6) Alexandre Béland - Lyne Murphy (Subaru Impreza WRX) - 2h19'19,5"
7) Max Riddle - Aaron Neumann (Subaru Impreza WRX) - 2h24'18,4"
8) Jeremy Norris - David Coles (Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS) - 2h27'41,6"
9) Alexandre R. Ouellette - Nicholas R. Ouellette (Subaru Impreza WRX) - 2h30'48,2"
10) Hardy Schmidtke - John Hall (Mitsubishi RKT Evo.9) - 2h32'49,8"
(...)