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From GMM

There would be "no bullshit" in the Red Bull garage if Sebastian Vettel is paired with friend Kimi Raikkonen in 2014.

Amid speculation Red Bull is considering the Finn as a potential replacement for Mark Webber next year, world champion Vettel suggested he would be happy with that choice.

"I don't care who my teammate is," German Vettel told Sport Bild. "If you want to win, you have to beat everyone. But if Kimi was my teammate: fine! We have no problem with each other and we're mature enough to deal with it even in a difficult situation."

"I get along well with him," Vettel, whose tetchy relationship with Webber fell to an all-time low with the recent 'Multi-21' affair, continued, still referring to Raikkonen. "He's just very honest. There's no bullshit with him."

Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel happy on the Bahrain podium. (Photo: WRi2)

Kimi Raikkonen has also spoken glowingly of Vettel, even though he has been careful to drop no hints about his plans beyond his Lotus contract.

"We trust each other in a duel to not do anything stupid," said the Finn. "We're both open and honest. If we were to crash, we would probably complain about each other, but that's just normal."

Pros and Cons*
Pros
Behind the wheel of a 2013 smart fortwo cabrio, you can enjoy the sun, easy driving, a surprisingly roomy passenger cab... all at an affordable price. This is topped, of course, by the car's unique look.

Cons
However, this mini-car is sold at the same price as a compact. The cabrio has a few more let-downs: it has a small trunk, it's a little anaemic power-wise and it's susceptible to crosswinds.

Price
The basic model, starting at $20,500, is generously equipped, including its 15-inch light alloy wheel rims, power windows, diurnal LED lighting, automatic climate control, silver grille and rear window defroster.

The brabus model is available for $23,900 with 15-inch alloy wheels in front and 17-inch in the back as well as a leather upholstered dashboard and heated seats.

Many exterior, interior, audio, safety features as well as operational and electrical equipment are also available.

Photo: smart

Fuel Economy
In the city, the 2013 smart fortwo cabrio has a fuel consumption of 5.9 L/100 km. This rating goes as low as 4.8 L/100 km on the highway, so overall, it averages around 5.4 L/100 km.

Exterior Styling
The mini-car measures just 2.69 metres in length. Front headlights, along with its two large rear lights, give it a striking demeanor. Fully automatic, the Tritop textile soft top comes in three different colours. With its black side air inlets and distinctive C pillars, the 2013 smart fortwo cabrio can't be missed.

Powertrain
The mini-car's engine is mounted in the back. The 1-litre 3-cylinder engine delivers 70 hp and 68 lb-ft of torque. The engine is coupled with a 5-speed automatic transmission which features a manual mode.

Cargo Capacity
If you're just looking at the trunk, the storage area is only 220 litres. If you pile your groceries up to the roof, you'll get an 120 additional litres, so, 340 litres overall.

Safety
The 2013 smart fortwo cabrio is equipped with four airbags, an Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with hill start assistance, anti-lock brakes, an emergency brake assist, an automatic door-closing system and a crash sensor which activates the hazard lights..

Comparable Models
Fiat 500c

Photo: smart

*References
Gélinas Gabriel, Le guide de l'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions de l'Homme, 2012, p.542
Crépault Michel, L'annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal Transcontinental, 2012, p.534
www.thesmart.ca

As if adding a Lamborghini Aventador wasn't enough to scare speeding drivers, police in Dubai can now also count on a brand new Ferrari FF to patrol the city's popular tourist areas.

The car, which sports the green and white of Dubai law enforcement, will be driven by female cops only.

Similar to the Lamborghini, however, the Ferrari will essentially do promotional work and won't actually chase down offenders; that job still belongs to a fleet of Camaro SS coupes.

Police in Dubai also have the support of powerful German sedans and Japanese-branded 4x4s -- a sign of the city's luxurious and prosperous living.

Source: libération

Williams Grand Prix Holdings has posted a £5million loss for 2012, despite winning the Spanish Grand Prix with Pastor Maldonado last season.

The group recorded a loss of 0.6mn for Williams Grand Prix Engineering, but increased its turnover by 21.5% to £124.3mn.

Despite team boss Sir Frank Williams admitting that his team still has a way to go to meet its on track targets, its performance last season had been encouraging for the business' future.

“At the end of the year the Williams F1 Team finished 8th in the constructors' championship. There is still a way to go for the team to get to where we should be, but improvements on previous seasons are evident,” said Williams.

“2012 saw Williams make encouraging progress on and off the track.

The win [at the Spanish Grand Prix] was a particular highlight and we continue to develop strong sponsorship partnerships and engineering relationships.”

Photo: Williams F1 Team

Alex Burns, the team's chief executive officer, was equally as encouraged as Sir Frank and claimed that £9.4mn had not been included in the accounts; had they been, then the group would have posted a profit.

“Strong turnover in the year of £127.0 million reflects our revenue from Formula One and our ability to earn commercial returns from diversification,” said Burns. “During the year the Group made an overall loss before taxation of £5.0 million.

“[A] revenue of £9.4 million, received under the Bilateral Agreement with Formula One World Championship Limited, the sport's commercial rights holder,” he continued, “has not been included in these results because of the technical interpretation of today's accounting standards.”

Despite the team's optimism, Williams has yet to score a point in 2013.

Toyota Racing press release

TOYOTA Racing's 2013-specification TS030 HYBRID will make its race debut at this weekend's 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, Round 2 of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Photo: Toyota Racing

After finishing third and fourth in the 6 Hours of Silverstone earlier this month with the 2012-specification TS030 HYBRID, the team will bring one updated car to Belgium.

The No. 7 car of Alex Wurz, Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima - competing for TOYOTA Racing for the first time in 2013 after missing Silverstone due to Super Formula commitments in Japan - will drive the updated car.

Following their podium at Silverstone, the No. 8 line-up of Anthony Davidson, Stephane Sarrazin and Sebastien Buemi will again participate with a 2012-specification car.

Photo: Toyota Racing

The updated TS030 HYBRID features modifications to chassis and powertrain, with increased performance, reliability and serviceability the priorities.

A revised aerodynamic package, including an updated monocoque, delivers improved performance whilst minimising the impact of updated regulations in 2013 which an increase of the minimum weight for manufacturer LMP1 cars by 15kg.

Photo: Toyota Racing

The TOYOTA HYBRID System - Racing powertrain again uses a unique super capacitor to deliver 300hp of boost automatically, on top of the 530hp generated by a 3.4-litre, normally-aspirated V8 gasoline engine.

Ahead of a completely new development for 2014 due to regulation changes, TOYOTA's Motor Sport Division in Higashifuji has fine-tuned the powertrain to improve power, efficiency, management of component usage and reliability.

Together with Siemens, Volvo has developed a new 22 kW fast charger that allows the C30 EV to fully charge in just 1.5 hour using a three-phase outlet. The car also benefits from a more powerful electric motor and offers a total range of 164 kilometres according to the NEDC certification driving cycle.

Starting this summer, European leasing customers will drive and evaluate an upgraded demo fleet of 100 Volvo C30 EVs.

The new Siemens motor has a peak power output of 89 kW (120 hp) and a torque rating of 250 Nm (184 lb-ft), with 0-70 km/h acceleration in 5.9 seconds.

“Adding the innovative fast-charging solution will radically improve the time and mileage for the daily usage of the car. [...] A quick 10-minute plug-in adds power for another 20 kilometres of driving,” says Lennart Stegland, Vice President, Electric Propulsion Systems, Volvo Car Group.

Photo: Volvo

From McLaren

As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations, McLaren will showcase a selection of legendary models from the company's heritage collection at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed, including the stunning M8D.

Alongside some of the most famous race- and championship-winning models from the brand's illustrious past will be the latest model from McLaren GT which echoes a name with significant links to McLaren - the 12C GT Can-Am Edition - which will thrill crowds as it takes part in the run up the Goodwood Hill.

Photo: McLaren

The McLaren name is synonymous with Can-Am racing throughout the 1960s and 1970s, with the McLaren Racing team claiming five back-to-back world championships between 1969 and 1974, making it the most successful team in the history of the championship.

Photo: McLaren

The original McLaren Can-Am racers were campaigned by great names from motorsport history including Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme, and are the inspiration for the 12C GT Can-Am Edition.

Photo: McLaren

The track-only 12C GT Can-Am Edition will be produced in strictly limited numbers, with no more than 30 being built globally. This exclusivity is fitting for the most powerful 12C produced to-date - a worthy tribute to the first McLaren model to wear the Can-Am name since 1972.

Honda claimed its first WTCC win when Gabriele Tarquini crossed the finish line of race 1 in first place at the Slovakia Ring.

Honda's WTCC squad had a tough beginning of the season in Monza and Marrakech, but was dominant in the third round of the season in Slovakia, claiming 1-2-3 in qualifying with Gabriele Tarquini, Tiago Monteiro and the semi-private Honda Civic driven by Norbert Michelisz.

Gabriele Tarquini, Honda Civic (Photo: WTCC)

The race ended in the same order for the three Honda men.

In race 2, Tom Coronel started from pole position, and drove his BMW 320TC to the win, ahead of Yvan Muller (Chevrolet) and Tarquini. Yvan Muller still leads provisional championship classification, 24 points ahead of Tarquini.

President Barack Obama is expected to nominate Charlotte, North Carolina, Mayor Anthony Foxx, a Democrat, to lead the Transportation Department. Foxx would replace Ray LaHood, who is stepping down.

Nissan is joining General Motors and Tesla Motors, the largest sellers of rechargeable autos in North America, in promoting the money-saving benefits of battery-powered cars over saving the planet.

Volkswagen may cut temporary posts in response to Europe's weak market but won't close factories or reduce its permanent workforce, CEO Martin Winterkorn said.

Danish driver Kevin Magnussen drove a superb race on the Aragon circuit, to win the first of two Formula Renault 3.5 races presented this weekend in Spain.

It was Magnussen's first win of the season.

The son of former F1 driver Jan Magnussen dominated the race, leaving the others scrambling for second place, which went to Will Stevens, thanks to late pass on Arthur Pic.

Championship leader Stoffel Vandoorne could only managed eighth, behind Sergey Sirotkin, Norman Nato, Nigel Melker and Christopher Zanella.


Race 1 results - Aragon, Spain (Formula Renault 3.5)
1 - Kevin Magnussen - Dams - 27 laps in 46'15"323
2 - Will Stevens - P1 by Strakka - 19"933
3 - Arthur Pic - AV Formula - 21"266
4 - Sergey Sirotkin - ISR - 23"601
5 - Norman Nato - Dams - 24"398
6 - Nigel Melker - Tech 1 - 26"094
7 - Christopher Zanella - ISR - 34"943
8 - Stoffel Vandoorne - Fortec - 35"419
9 - Marco Sorensen - Lotus - 36"065
10 - Mikhail Aleshin - Tech 1 - 37"973
11 - Oliver Webb - Fortec - 41"520
12 - Nikolay Martsenko - Pons - 42"016
13 - Antonio Felix Da Costa - Arden Caterham - 42"609
14 - Lucas Foresti - Comtec - 1'04"474
15 - Yann Cunha - AV Formula - 1'15"586
16 - Matias Laine - P1 Motorsport - 1'17"124
17 - Zoel Amberg - Pons - 1'18"185
18 - Jazeman Jaafar - Carlin - 1'23"597
19 - Marlon Stockinger - Lotus - 1'25"368
20 - Carlos Huertas - Carlin - 1'31"909
21 - Daniil Move - Comtec - 1'31"909
22 - Matheo Tuscher - Zeta - 1'45"147

Fastest lap: 1'42"011 (Kevin Magnussen)

Reigning vice-champion Gary Paffett believes Audi will enjoy a much better time in 2013 than it did in 2012.

Audi actually finished second in the 2012 manufacturers' championship, but no team or driver representing Ingolstadt was never really in contention for the top honours.

The best-placed Audi driver was Mike Rockenfeller, and he only finished fourth in the standings, some 64 points behind champion Bruno Spengler.

It was not the best year for the four rings.

Audi is ready to bounce back (Photo: Audi Motorsport)

Paffett, a Mercedes driver who fell only a few meters short from the 2012 crown, believes Audi is on its way up.

"I imagine that Audi will be a lot stronger this season," he told The Checkered Flag. "They had a couple of good races last year, but were too inconsistent.

"They aren't stupid, and will have sorted out their problems, to ensure that they come back fighting.

"I expect 2013 to be a really close year."

An Israeli startup by the name of Phinergy claims it could launch by 2017 a metal-air battery technology that would provide a range of 1,600 kilometres. The struggling electric car market sure could use such a boost to win over potential customers.

However, since these new batteries are less convenient to charge/replace, they must be combined with traditional lithium-ion batteries. Still, some automakers have already shown interest. Tesla Motors, for one, has filed eight patent applications that reference "metal-air" batteries.

Whereas Phinergy talks about consumable batteries, Tesla is apparently looking to develop a specific charging system for metal-air batteries. The latter could use metals such as aluminum, iron, lithium, magnesium, vanadium, and zinc.

Sources : greencarreports.com

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

Kevin Harvick blasted from seventh to first on a two-lap dash to the checkered flag on Saturday night in Richmond.

It was his first points win of the year. He won the non-points Sprint Unlimited at Daytona in February.

"That was a heck of a first lap of the restart," the Richard Childress Racing driver said. "I thought that the outside line might have the advantage because it had a couple of guys with new tires in the second row, and lined up on the outside.

"But the two tires - these cars drive a lot off the left rear - and we only took two tires, and they didn't get that great of restart but my car launched, and I was able to drive it in the first corner and hope for the best down there. I figured four, eight, 12...how many ever tires that were on the outside of me would be better than none. It all worked out, and here we are."

Kevin Harvick, Richmond International Raceway (Photo: Kevin Harvick)

The race all-but-belonged to ex-Formula One driver, Juan Pablo Montoya, who was still looking for his first oval win in NASCAR until Brian Vickers smacked the wall with two laps to go bringing out the final caution which erased his lead.

All the Colombian native could do was laugh it off. "Yeah, we made the right calls when we pitted and when we stayed out and everything, but we got that caution at the end and it was a no-brainer to take tires," said Montoya.

"And I think what hurt us is we restarted on the outside and when you restart on the outside and people got really bad tires, everything packs up. And when you're on the outside, you can't; you know, where are you going to jump?"

Montoya had been holding off Kurt Busch who was having one of the best runs the one-car Furniture Row Racing has had. But Harvick got around Busch before the last caution on fresher tires.

''I was in an awesome run, waiting for the race to come to us. ... That green-white-checkered at the end, it's just chaos," Busch said. Busch bumped Tony Stewart and there was an after the-race exchange of words between the two former NASCAR champions.

Clint Bowyer was strong all night but used up his tires chasing pole sitter Matt Kenseth just before he got passed by Montoya. He finished second in a Toyota followed by the Ford of Joey Logano and Montoya who ended up fourth.

Bowyer was a little surprised at his late race comeback. "I think I was ninth on the final restart," Bowyer said. "There was a ton of chaos behind me, Tony got pissed and I ended up second. I would have liked to win but I'll take that."

Jimmie Johnson, who finished 12th , continues to lead by 43 points over Carl Edwards who finished sixth. Kasey Kahne, who crashed with Mark Martin, was running 21st at the checkers and is third in the standings three points behind Edwards.

Model: 2010 to 2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Vehicle Type: Sport Coupe

The Verdict: The used Hyundai Genesis Coupe, so far, appears to be a safe buy in a used sports coupe that's suffering from only minimal issues that are easily identified and remedied. Shop for as new a model as possible, with factory warranty remaining, for maximum confidence.

Price: An early Coupe with the 2.0T engine and some miles can be had for as little as $12,000. Pricing for a unit carrying moderate mileage will land around $15,000 to $17,000. A newer model with the 3.8L engine should run in the mid-$20,000 range.


What Owners Like: Handling, style, and overall performance are rated highly by Hyundai Genesis Coupe owners with this generation of vehicle, while affordable access to a lengthy features list and plenty of horsepower helped seal the deal. Despite its two-door configuration, this sports car is also surprisingly roomy in terms of front seat space, even for full-sized adults.

What Owners Dislike: Common gripes include limited rear visibility, poor gas mileage with the V6 engine, and the wish for some richer interior materials. Models with the 2.0T engine are said to have a dull, boring exhaust note, and some drivers wish for a tighter, more precise-feeling shifter.

Photo: Justin Pritchard

History/Description: The Hyundai Genesis Coupe launched for the 2010 model year and recalled great Japanese rear-drive sports cars from the ‘90s -- even though it's Korean. Sleek styling, affordable driveability, and real performance-car moves all helped put Hyundai on the performance car map.

All models were rear-wheel drive and had a 6-speed transmission in the driver's choice of automatic or manual. Engine options were a 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder with 210 horsepower, or the snort-y 3.8L, 306-horsepower V6 that powered models wearing the 3.8GT designation.

Feature content included push-button start, navigation, available Brembo brakes, a Limited Slip Differential (LSD), and an Infinity audio system.

Photo: Justin Pritchard

Common Issues: A scan of owner forums and discussion boards indicates that shoppers after a used Hyundai Genesis Coupe have a few minor checks to make before signing over their hard-earned cash.

First, check for proper operation of the air conditioner, all windows, all power seats, and all remote keyfobs. Have a good walk-around of the body, and make sure to inspect for misaligned panels, particularly where the hood and fenders meet.

At speed, listen for any rattles and squeaks from the sunroof, interior panels or seats, and check for the presence of all interior panels and trim bits. Many owners reported that tightening up a few of the bolts -- particularly the ones that hold the seats to the floor -- will stop rattle-related issues.

Note that the push-button start system should fire the engine up the instant it's pressed. Any delay or sporadic operation could indicate a problem with the button or ignition switch attached to it.

Bear in mind that clunking or grinding noises from the suspension or steering typically indicate a problem. Be sure there are no check-engine lights, no grinding sensations during gear shifting, and that there's no smoke coming from the tailpipe during hot or cold idle -- or during hard acceleration.

Photo: Justin Pritchard

Many Hyundai Genesis Coupes in the used market will have performance upgrades installed, and simple intake and exhaust upgrades are generally safe. Extreme caution should be exercised if the former owner has set the engine up to run more boost from the turbocharger, modified the engine electronics, installed nitrous or upgraded engine internals. Improper execution of any of the above could turn the engine inside out with little notice.

Robert Kubica admitted he tried Mercedes' F1 simulator, multiple reports have confirmed.

It appeared last week that the popular driver, who is now in an advanced phase of his rehabilitation, travelled to Mercedes' base in Brackley to try the German marque's F1 simulator.

The news however was left unconfirmed by the involved parties until today, when Kubica himself confirmed the trip, without revealing any detail.

Whether to former grand prix winner, who has been active in WRC2 this season, is feeling better in the confines of a single-seater cockpit remains unknown.

Aside from rallying, the 28-year-old tested a Mercedes DTM car.

Audi is eagerly waiting the 2013 24 Hours of Nürburgring.

The Ingolstadt firm won the weekend's second round of the VLN championship, considered by many as a dress rehearsal of the great 24-hour race.

Marcel Fässler and Frank Stippler were the drivers behind the wheel of the winning G-Drive Racing Audi R8 LMS. Fässler and Stippler mastered tricky weather conditions, which at the Nürburgring are no rare sight.

Markus Winkelhock, Audi R8 LMS (Photo: Audi)

Meanwhile, fellow Audi drivers Markus Winkelhock and Johannes Stuck were attending a press conference in Cologne, presenting the fleet of Audi cars entered in the race next month.

The 41st edition of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring is to be held May 19-20.

The Formula One road show will be stopping in Jerusalem this June, the Associated Press confirmed.

Jerusalem residents will be treated to a spot of F1 on June 13-14, when the "Jerusalem Peace Road Show" takes place.

Former grand prix driver Giancarlo Fisichella and bikers Max Biaggi and Chris Pfeiffer will be on hand for the display, in front of a crowd of 100,000 spectators, the AP report says.

Giancarlo Fisichella and Nir Barkat (Photo: Ferrari)

City mayor Nir Barkat has labelled the event as apolitical, in the hope F1 brings Israelis and Palestinians together.

The Treasury Department froze some 2013 pay for top executives at General Motors and Ally Financial, two companies yet to repay money received under special bailout terms during the financial crisis.