Auto News 5

Hyundai and its affiliate, Kia, will take "global action" to fix a potentially faulty brake light switch, after they said they planned to recall almost 1.9 million cars in the United States.

General Motors' Opel unit has found no evidence in a crash test on its new Mokka small SUV that a controversial air conditioning refrigerant made by American auto suppliers could catch fire in a collision and release toxic fumes.

From GMM

The calmer tones of F1's new-generation turbo V6 engines could be artificially enhanced, according to Bernie Ecclestone.

The F1 chief executive is worried the sport will lose some of its appeal to fans when next year's engines fail to live up to the dramatic noise of the current V8s.

The grand prix circuit promoters, led by Australia's Ron Walker, are also worried.

"As Bernie will attest," Walker told F1 business journalist Christian Sylt, "it (the V6) sounds like a lawnmower engine, and we will be fighting this tooth and nail."

V6 engine. (Photo: Mercedes)

Less publicly worried are the engine makers themselves, who see the new regulations as a welcome step into the automobile's modern era.

It is also expected that Honda could now return to F1, amid rumours Volkswagen and Toyota are also interested in the V6 rules.

But Ecclestone thinks the radical change of regulations is actually a risk for the suppliers.

"The danger is that what will happen is what always happens with the manufacturers, which is that if it doesn't work they will stop," he told Autoweek.

And another risk is that the 'lawnmower' tones of the V6s will also drive the spectators away.

"What Ron (Walker) is saying is that you have to make sure that the engines will make it to 16,000 revs," said Ecclestone. "That was agreed and now we know they won't rev to anything like that. The fuel flow has been agreed so even if you have big tanks it still can't rev (to 16,000)."

Admitting it is not his preferred option, Bernie Ecclestone nonetheless revealed that artificially enhancing the V6 engine sound is a possibility.

"Maybe we can make them sound like the current engines," he said.

Ron Walker added that in 2011, "(FIA president Jean) Todt told me in Australia that the next thing is they are going to have a hybrid. I said 'what about the noise' and he said they will put a squeak box on the back of the car. God almighty!"

On Tuesday, April 2nd, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed the bill that officially repeals a controversial law forcing Canadian drivers to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) on the roads of the Sunshine State.

The law initially came into effect without notice, resulting in a backlash from Canadian tourists. Authorities agreed to defer enforcement of the law before finally opting for a repeal.

“Effective immediately, Canadians in Florida can go back to doing what they have always been able to do: Drive with peace of mind using their provincial driver's license,” said Jeff Walker, CAA Vice President of Public Affairs. “CAA is pleased that the voices of its members and others were listened to by state officials, and that the state of Florida has removed any uncertainty.”

Source : CAA

Several IndyCar drivers will conduct tests at Pocono next week which will be used for tire evaluation by supplier Firestone. This will mark the first time that Indy-type of single seaters has been at the Pennsylvania trioval in more than 20 years.

Will Power, Dario Franchitti, Marco Andretti and Simon Pagenaud will be on hand on the fast race track which will join the Indianapolis 500 and Fontana in comprising the series' Triple Crown.

The series last visited the circuit in 1989 in its CART series' days before concerns over safety standards forced Pocono out of the schedule. It has since undergone significant upgrades and remains a regular stop on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule.

Photo: Pocono Raceway

Ana Beatriz
Meanwhile, Brazilian Ana Beatriz will remain behind the wheel of the second Dale Coyne Racing car until at least the Indianapolis 500. This coming weekend will mark her first race at the Alabama circuit.

Stefan Wilson was supposed to be at the wheel of the No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Dallara for the Alabama round but the Briton has been unable to put together a deal in time, but remains optimistic of being able to race later in the year.

Detroit Electric is making a comeback after an absence of over 70 years. Its all-new SP:01 electric sports car, based on the Lotus Exige, will be limited to 999 units and priced at $135,000 in the U.S. when it goes on sale this August.

This zero-emission two-seater reportedly offers a range of 288 kilometres. A full charge takes 4.3 hours through a 240V power source. As for performance, the SP:01 sprints from 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds before reaching a top speed of 249 km/h. The 201-horsepower electric motor draws energy from a 37kWh lithium-polymer battery pack.

Inside the SP:01, the Smartphone Application Managed Infotainment (SAMI) system provides access to a wide range of functions, including music, phone, navigation, regenerative braking adjustment, and interior lighting adjustment. Users can also check the vehicle status on their smartphone.

No word yet on the SP:01's Canadian availability.

Photo: Detroit Electric

Attention, Canadian drivers: Hyundai and Kia are now recalling 254,784 and 106,098 vehicles, respectively, because the stop lamp switch may fail and cause intermittent operation of the brake lights.

Failure of the brake lights to illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed could result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Consequently, Hyundai and Kia dealers will replace the switch.

Affected models include:

• 2007 Kia Sedona;
• 2007-2012 Kia Rondo;
• 2007-2010 Kia Sportage;
• 2007-2011 Kia Sorento;
• 2010-2011 Kia Soul;
• 2011 Kia Optima;
• 2007-2009 Hyundai Accent;
• 2007-2010 Hyundai Elantra;
• 2007-2011 Hyundai Santa Fe;
• 2007-2009 Hyundai Tucson;
• 2008-2009 Hyundai Veracruz;
• 2010-2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe;
• 2011 Hyundai Sonata

Source: Transports Canada

Photo: Matthieu Lambert

Price Range: $26,190

Description: As Canada's best-selling passenger car for 14 consecutive years, the Civic returns for 2013 with a host of design upgrades and an onslaught of new standard features while maintaining the efficiency and value that have made it a household name.

The range-topping Civic, called the Civic Si, stands for Sport Injected. It's a badge that's been worn by the hottest factory Civic models for generations.

In its latest application, the Si treatment sees the best-selling Civic model fitted with various suspension, styling and chassis upgrades to handle the duties of high-performance driving. Track-validated brakes, tires and suspension components are all on board the 2013 Honda Civic Si.


Visual upgrades include a spoiler, special wheels, a sunroof, unique badging, and plenty more. The 2013 Civic Si is available in both two- and four-door configurations, both of which capitalize on the recent redesign and update of the Civic family. Look for 17” wheels, red contrast stitching, sport-tuned exhaust, and sport-tuned suspension. A full complement of airbags and a Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) system are both standard on the safety front.

Drivetrain: With motivation from a high-revving 2.4L V-TEC engine, the upgrades are no empty threat. The furious K24 engine under the 2013 Civic Si's hood generates 201 horsepower while spinning eagerly to its 7,000 rpm redline. When drivers enter the upper limits of the engine's rev range, the V-TEC system engages a more aggressive camshaft profile to ramp up power output and sound effects.

2013 Honda Civic Si models are available exclusively with a 6-speed manual gearbox featuring a lightweight and compact design and excellent shift-feel. Power is sent to the front wheels through a helical-style Limited Slip Differential (LSD) that helps increase handling potential while reducing wheel-slippage when powering out of tight corners.

Consider it if: you like the idea of a fun, efficient little sports car you can drive every day of the year, or if you're after a reliable nameplate with a proven reputation for no-nonsense ownership. The 2013 Honda Civic Si also makes a great starting point for custom tuning, visuals and other modifications. With two body styles, there's plenty of selection. Resale values are relatively high, too.

Skip it if: you're after all-out firepower for your dollar, or if you need an automatic transmission since one isn't available.

Other Notes: Feature content includes:

• Navigation
• Premium audio
• Remote keyless access
• Slick driver computer system

Full multimedia connectivity is also on board the 2013 Honda Civic Si, as are specially embroidered sport bucket seats.

Premium fuel is recommended.

Don't Miss: the V-TEC meter! As the system dials up engine power, a small meter with LED indicator lights comes to life, with more lights activating across the meter as the system is worked harder. The final light, achieved at redline, is a shift indicator that blinks quickly just ahead of the rev-limiter to advise drivers that an upshift is required.

Photo: Honda

From GMM

India is facing a long wait for another formula one driver, Karun Chandhok has warned.

Not too long ago, both Chandhok and Narain Karthikeyan were representing the populous nation on the grid.

Now, they have been priced out of the market.

Karun Chandhok testing for Team Lotus in 2011. (Photo: WRi2)

"F1 is F1, everyone knows the financial situation," Chandhok, who now races in Le Mans-style sports cars, told the Press Trust of India.

"F1 is difficult at the moment unless you have millions."

The 29-year-old lamented that, while he and Karthikeyan are locked outside of F1, there are no countryman poised to take their place in representing India.

Narain Karthikeyan, racing driver for HRT in 2012. (Photo: HRT F1 Team)

"(The) next F1 driver from India? At the moment don't see anyone else," said Chandhok.

"If any Indian has to be in F1 in future it would be either me or Narain. To be able to do well in F1, you need to win in Europe and so far only I and Narain have been able to win in GP2, A1GP and Formula 3. No other Indian has been able to do it. Have you seen anyone in the junior ranks? There are a few but no one is winning," he added.

Being green has never been trendier, as evidenced by the growing presence of highly efficient automobiles on the road. These include vehicles powered by alternative energy such as clean diesel, electricity, hydrogen, natural gas, and propane.

Here, we'll focus on electric cars.

100% electric cars
These models are completely emission-free since they make do without any combustion engine or gasoline-powered generator. They rely exclusively on an electric motor and battery, and their range can exceed 100 kilometres with a full charge (depending on traffic conditions and driving habits). That makes them ideal for daily commutes around town.

Charging electric cars can be done at home or at one of the hundreds of charging stations across the country. Three affordable models are currently available:

• Nissan LEAF
• Mitsubishi i-MiEV
• Ford Focus Electric

If money isn't really an issue, or if you're looking for the most luxurious EV around, consider these two:

• Fisker Karma
• Tesla Model S

Extended-range electric cars
In this case, a gasoline engine/generator can charge the battery that feeds the electric motor. So, whenever the battery is about to run out, the generator kicks in to extend the range - anywhere from about 60 to 500 kilometres. The only model that fits this description right now is the Chevrolet Volt.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

Adapted from GMM

Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion turned TV pundit, thinks Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen would be a good bet for this year's championship.

"I said before Australia that it would be Alonso and Hamilton for the title, now I think I would bet everything on the Spaniard and the Finn," he is quoted by France's Auto Hebdo.

"This could be Ferrari's year," the French Canadian added in the Italian media. "The car is fast, although maybe it's a bit difficult to drive. Perhaps he will also have the support of Massa this year."

The Enstone based team, however, had a much less impressive weekend in Malaysia, just a few days after Raikkonen's Melbourne win.

"It's true, we didn't have a good race at Sepang," technical boss James Allison is quoted by Speed Week.

"But the damage was done in the first few laps, when we fell half a minute behind, but Romain (Grosjean) was only 35 seconds behind Vettel at the end. Sepang didn't show what our car can really do," he added.

Photo: Lotus F1 Team

However, Grosjean and Raikkonen have both spoken about how good the black E21 is, whilst expressing fears Lotus might not be able to keep up with the development pace of the better funded top teams.

James Allison insists: "The most expensive thing is bringing the car to the track, not developing it. We've also noticed that it is relatively easy for us to find promising developments in the wind tunnel. And we have lots of ideas about how to develop mechanically."

Team boss Eric Boullier told Brazil's Totalrace: "I think Romain has all the same upgrades as Kimi for China. We have parts arriving for every race and will keep working hard. It will be interesting."

Electric car buyers have to consider a number of things, such as the location and availability of charging stations in their immediate area. There's been a real proliferation of charging stations across Canada in 2012. One company in Ontario, Sun Country Highway, even set out to build the ''World's Longest Greenest Highway'' by electrifying Canada from coast to coast. There are currently charging stations every 1 to 230 kilometres along the Trans-Canadian Highway and (best of all) they are free.

• Map of Sun Country Highway charging stations

In Quebec, the Electric Circuit offers electric car owners access to charging stations at various partner locations. All you need is a prepaid card.

• Map of Electric Circuit charging stations

Moreover, Electric Mobility Canada, in collaboration with Plug'nDrive Ontario and CAA, developed a comprehensive map of all charging stations from various providers across Canada.

• Canadian map of all charging stations

VERnetwork (Vehicles Electrically Rechargeable), developed by Add Énergie, covers both Quebec and British Columbia. A membership is required.

• Map of VERnetwork charging stations

United States
South of the border, you'll find a vast network of charging stations for electric cars. The U.S. Department of Energy has a map that points to the location of over 11,000 stations, all identified by energy type (electricity, propane, hydrogen, ethanol, etc.).

• Map of charging stations in the U.S.

Europe
Planning a trip across the pond? Regardless of your destination, you can find thousands of charging stations to dispel your range anxiety. Take a look at:

• EV-Charging Station: (U.K., Germany, Spain, Austria, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Poland, Denmark, and other countries);
• France Mobilité Électrique: (France, Spain, U.K., Italy, Germany, and more);
• Chargemap.com: Over 13,000 charging stations for electric cars on both sides of the Atlantic.

Photo: Chevrolet

British magazine, Autosport says Formula 1 teams may get an extra test session to fine tune the new 2014 V6 hybrid turbo engines.

Normally, only three test sessions are held in preparation for a new season. But due to the immense task of developing these totally new 1.6-litre engines, teams have been lobbying for an extra test or for an early first test.

Autosport talked to Rob White, Renault Sport F1 deputy managing director who confirmed that the teams have asked for an additional test session but the format and the location were still undecided.

Photo: Renault Sport F1

There also had been suggestions of an engine test being held this year, but according to White it would be too late to schedule such an early debut. It takes a lot of time to manufacturer all the components, and a test in October would be way too early.

"We're still designing pieces and some pieces that we're designing are not yet made. On the current project timing, it's just not possible to put a representative engine in the car by October,” said White.

The three engine suppliers - Renault, Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari - will continue to bench test the V6 engines to confirm the design of the new V6s.

"It's going to be a very intense pre-season in 2014,” White concluded.

Price Range: $57,300 and up

Description: The first machine to wear Infiniti's new Infiniti Performance Line (IPL) badge is the popular G37 Coupe. Alongside its sedan and convertible siblings, this hopped-up luxury sports car benefits from upgrades intended to make things faster, tighter, more powerful, and more exclusive.

Designers applied discreet upgrades to the body including sports appliqués for the fascias in front and rear. Larger exhaust outlets, special badging, unique wheels, side-sill extensions, and other upgrades quietly convey the IPL model's sportier intentions.


Revised spring rates, a higher-performance braking system, and performance tires are also fitted on the 2013 Infiniti G37 IPL. Beyond that, much of the G37's refined, high-luxury motoring experience remains unchanged.

Drivetrain: The sole powerplant available in the 2013 Infiniti G37 IPL is a highly acclaimed 3.7L V6. Tuned extensively to punch out 348 horsepower, shoppers can choose between a 6-speed manual transmission and a 7-speed automatic with paddle-shift. The automatic transmission offers a fully automatic mode, but also shifts instantly via the steering-wheel-mounted paddles if the driver desires.

Power delivery is smooth and linear during city driving, and there's a notable ramp-up in forward momentum as the variable valve timing helps the engine in the 2013 Infiniti G37 IPL breathe all the way towards its 7,500 rpm redline.

The engine features dual low-restriction intakes, the Variable Valve Event and Lift (VVEL) cam-timing system, low-friction piston coatings, and re-mapped engine management software for full optimization of the upgrades.

Drivers can expect added sound effects from under the hood, as the IPL-tuned powerplant gains some of its power boost by way of a low-restriction, high-performance exhaust system. All 2013 Infiniti G37 IPL models are rear-wheel drive.

Consider it if: you want a discreetly dialed-up version of a best-selling sports coupe for a discreet amount of additional money. The G37, even in IPL trim, is arguably equal parts luxury and performance thanks to the presence of upscale feature content, and a world class cabin. Sport suspension or not, the 2013 Inifniti G37 IPL is ready for long-haul comfort or track-day sessions, as well as anything in between.

Skip it if: you're after some pedigree or a reputation from your performance-branded premium coupe as the IPL badge is still largely unproven. The upgraded performance doesn't match that offered by moving into a BMW M car or a Mercedes AMG model. If you want the G37 with AWD, it's not available in the IPL.

Other Notes: A harddrive navigation system, Bose audio, backup camera, automatic everything, power memory seating, and seat heaters are all on board. Ditto for a keyless access system for maximum convenience in the 2013 Infiniti G37 IPL. Rear seats are small, but present.

Don't Miss: When you power-tilt the steering wheel, the instrument cluster moves with it, enhancing visibility. The VVEL cam-timing system works the engine in an ultra-efficient mode during highway cruising, which turns in relatively decent fuel economy as far as 348 horsepower coupes go.

Photo: Infiniti

From wrc.com

Volkswagen Motorsport driver Sebastien Ogier has been forced to withdraw from Saturday's Fafe Rally Sprint in Portugal on medical grounds.

The World Rally Championship driver had planned to take part in the show event near Porto with co-driver Julien Ingrassia in preparation for Portugal's round of the FIA World Rally Championship that starts on April 11.

“Unfortunately I have been laid low by an influenza infection, leading my doctor to insist that I withdraw,” Ogier explained.

“I would really have liked to participate in this unique event, but my World Rally Championship commitments must take precedence. I hope the fans understand that.”

Sebastien Ogier, Volkswagen. (Photo: WRC)

With Ogier sidelined, VW will be represented at the Rally Sprint by Andreas Mikkelsen who will drive a Polo R WRC alongside co-driver Mikko Markkula as a warm-up before his World Rally Car debut with the team next week.

Volkswagen says the Nordic duo will give it their all in front of the 100,000 spectators who are expected to pack the 6.34 kilometre course on April 6.

Note: This preview is for the base Lancer sedan, only. Please refer to our spec sheets for information about the Lancer Ralliart, Lancer Evolution or Lancer Sportback.

Highlights*
The ninth-generation Mitsubishi Lancer offers lively steering, pleasant handling, great ride quality, and proven reliability from its powertrain components.

Lowlights*
This compact sedan lacks interior refinement as fit and finish leave a lot to be desired. What's more, sporty driving enthusiasts are no doubt disappointed that the manual gearbox is not available on all-wheel-drive models.


Pricing
The front-wheel drive Mitsubishi Lancer starts at just $15,998 in DE trim. Next up is the SE at $19,198, and then the GT at $23,998. Variants equipped with the brand's All-Wheel Control system retail from $23,098 (SE AWC) or $27,998 (GT AWC).

Fuel consumption
A manual 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer has ratings of 8.3L/100km in the city, 5.7L/100km on the highway, and 7.1L/100km combined. The optional CVT is a bit more fuel efficient with a rating of 7.9, 5.8, and 7.0L/100km, respectively.

AWC comes with a larger-displacement engine, so expect 9.2L/100km in the city, 6.9L/100km on the highway, and 8.2L/100km combined.

New for 2013
A special “10th Anniversary” edition of the Lancer is available this year. At $19,998, buyers get 5-spoke, 16” alloy wheels, a power sunroof, fog lights, a rear spoiler, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, an exhaust finisher, and a “10th Anniversary” badge.

Styling
With an aggressively styled nose, the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer continues to turn heads. The wide, horizontal headlights and menacing grille combine with slanted taillights for a sporty-looking exterior.

Cargo room
The sedan's trunk has a maximum cargo capacity of 348 litres, which is only slightly less than rivals such as the Honda Civic (353).

Powertrain
The aluminum-built MIVEC engine that powers FWD Lancers is a 2.0L 4-cylinder unit rated at 148 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque. As mentioned earlier, the standard 5-speed manual transmission can be replaced by a CVT.

Meanwhile, AWC-equipped versions of the 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer get a 2.4L variant that produces 168 horsepower and 167 lb-ft of torque exclusively through a Sportronic CVT with paddle shifters.

Safety
Lancer occupants stay on the right track thanks to stability and traction control, along with ABS and brake assist. Seven airbags come standard, as well as a tire pressure monitoring system.

Warranty
The 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer boasts a 5-year/100,000-km comprehensive limited warranty, a 10-year/160,000-km powertrain warranty, plus five years of roadside assistance.

Competitors
Dodge Dart, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Forte, Mazda3, Nissan Sentra, Subaru Impreza, Suzuki SX4, Volkswagen Jetta

Photo: Mitsubishi

* Based on expert reviews.
Lachapelle Marc, Le guide de l'auto 2013, Montreal, Les éditions de l'homme, 2012, p.476
Joubert Antoine, L'annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montreal Transcontinental, 2012, p.458
mitsubishi-motors.ca

From GMM

Jean-Eric Vergne has hinted just how high the stakes are at Toro Rosso this year.

His teammate Daniel Ricciardo came out fighting in 2013 by declaring his friendship with the Frenchman is over as he pushes to "blow it apart" this season.

Vergne, 22, is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace as admitting the stakes at Toro Rosso - the 'junior' Red Bull-owned team - are high.

While Mark Webber's contract at the senior team is running out, a new crop of Red Bull-sponsored youngsters are knocking loudly at Toro Rosso's door.

Jean-Eric Vergne admitted: "If my performances are good, I'll get a spot at Red Bull (Racing). Otherwise, they will replace me and I'll lose my place. But I am in Toro Rosso at the moment, I deserve my place and I have to prove it to everyone by getting results."

Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso STR8. (Photo: WRi2)

Highlights*
The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe XL stands out from the regular, short-wheelbase Santa Fe Sport with a new 60/40-split third-row seat that boosts seating capacity to seven while increasing versatility. It can also tow up to 5,000 pounds.

Lowlights*
The lone engine option with the Santa Fe XL is a 3.3L V6 which means buyers can't take advantage of the Santa Fe Sport's 264-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder.


Pricing and equipment
Starting at $29,999, the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe XL comes standard with heated front seats, sliding and reclining second-row seats, 7-passenger seating, and 18” alloy wheels. AWD models retail from $34,999. The top-of-the-line model is a 6-passenger Santa Fe Limited ($42,899), which replaces the middle bench with individual captain's chairs. Equipment includes premium items such as 19” wheels, HID headlights, a proximity key with push-button start, a 4.2” TFT display screen, and a 10-speaker Infinity audio system. A Saddle Leather “version” is also available, with limited exterior colour choices (only three), and a saddle leather interior, of course, for an extra $300 only.

Options
Customers can add to their 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe XL luxurious optional amenities such as heated/cooled front seats, heated rear seats and steering wheel, a power liftgate, and a panoramic sunroof, just to name a few.

Fuel consumption
The bigger Santa Fe XL remains a fuel-efficient crossover, with ratings of 11.7L/100km (city), 8.0L/100km (highway), and 10.0L/100km (combined).

New for 2013
The Hyundai Santa Fe was completely redesigned and re-engineered for 2013. This latest generation hit the market last summer with the smaller, 5-passenger Sport variant (a direct evolution of what we used to know), while the Santa Fe XL is freshly arriving in showrooms.

Styling
Despite riding on a 215-mm longer wheelbase, the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe XL's proportions look just right. Save for the larger wheels and newly designed fog lights, exterior styling is basically a carbon copy.

Cargo capacity
The trunk of the Santa Fe XL can hold 383 litres of cargo when all seats are occupied. Fold them down, and you wind up with an impressive 2,265 litres of space for goodies.

Powertrain
As mentioned earlier, the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe XL exploits a 3.3L V6 with gasoline direct injection (GDI), and all-wheel drive is optional. Output is rated at 290 horsepower, while maximum torque amounts to 252 lb-ft. It's all handled by a 6-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual mode.

Warranty
The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe XL comes with a 5-year/100,000-km comprehensive limited warranty, identical coverage on the powertrain, plus three years of roadside assistance.

Safety
In the U.S., the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe XL with a 5-star crash rating. Look for safety features such as seven standard airbags, ABS with electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability and traction control, downhill brake control, and hill-start assist.

Competitors
Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Explorer, Ford Flex, Honda Pilot, Mazda CX-9, Nissan Pathfinder, and Toyota Highlander

Photo: Hyundai

*Based on expert reviews.

In his first interview since his injury at Auto Club Speedway driver Denny Hamlin said he hopes to return two weeks earlier than the six week period his doctors mentioned previously.

The Virginia-born native is aiming to return to racing by the spring race at Richmond International Raceway. There are two obvious reasons, first it's his “home” race track and second he wants and needs points to make NASCAR's playoffs called “The Chase.”

Denny Hamlin, 32, who drives for Joe Gibbs Racing, said “I'm being very optimistic and I'm not following orders, but I'd like to be back in it at ... Richmond would be a target week I'd love to get back in the car.  I think it would be a great thing to be at my home track and back in the car, but obviously it's a little sooner than the timetable set for me.  I'm going to physically feel fine.  Unfortunately there's things going on inside my body that aren't going to allow me to get in the race car until they're ready.”

Caption: NASCAR.com

In a television interview on SpeedTV the driver didn't appear in any discomfort. “I feel not completely back to normal but I at least can walk around and be a little bit more mobile,” said Hamlin.  “I'm past the physical hurdles that this injury has given me.  It's just now the mental of not being able to get in the race car for the next six weeks.”

He was asked to explain about his ongoing feud with former JGR teammate, Joey Logano, who tangled with him on the closing lap of Auto Club Speedway.

“I ultimately spun him out at Bristol,” Hamlin said of the incident the week before. “I did not intend to spin him out.  It was a mistake. I said it was mistake.  Said I was sorry on the radio when it happened.  That was in retaliation to being chopped off twice and it frustrated me and I intended on bumping him, and then I did and it spun him out.  He crammed us on the restart and it made our day bad.  Blew a tire and we finished 25th.  In my opinion, he retaliated at Bristol, and it was over at that point.  I didn't realize going forward that it was going to continue.  Obviously he still had a good finish and I ended up 25th and flying to the hospital.”

On Monday Logano said the last lap accident was not intentional; it was just hard racing. “Obviously I know who I'm racing against and what happened a week before but going into turn three on the last lap, I remember ‘I'm going to win the race.'” Logano said on television. “ My number one goal is to go win a race. So did I intentionally wreck him? No, I did not intentionally do that. If I was going to do that I would have hit him in the left-rear tire. I hit him in the door. It's hard racing at that point. I hate that he got hurt.”

In NASCAR custom following an incident at the track drivers may communicate with each other to short cut bad feelings. Apparently a text exchange between the two drivers was not satisfactory to end the feud.

“I'm upset that things just couldn't be let go,” added Hamlin.  “We had a great opportunity at the end of that race to let bygones be bygones.  I literally played out in my mind that if he wins this race, I was going to shake his hand right there on pit lane and congratulate him and tell him, ‘This is how we should be racing each other.'  Unfortunately, it didn't play out for either one of us.  I was upset that we had an opportunity to change how we race each other and he just didn't let it go.”

Lotus F1 Team driver, Frenchman Romain Grosjean answered some funny questions about himself and his career.

The ‘Finishing Line' questionnaire of Formula1.com is designed specifically to provide an alternative insight into the minds of today's Formula 1 stars? Read on to find out...

The sportsperson I most admire is...
Romain Grosjean: I have many that I admire: (tennis player) Roger Federer, (skier) Didier Cuche, (rally driver) Sebastien Loeb and (former tennis player) Yannick Noah.

The best actor in the world is...
RG: Jean Reno

Romain Grosjean being interviewed by his wife, reporter Marion Jolles. (Photo: WRI2)

The most memorable overtaking move of my career was...
RG: It was in GP2 at Barcelona in 2011. I overtook three cars in two corners at Turns 4 and 5. Two around the outside and one on the inside.

My favourite song of all time is...
RG: I like the songs of Adele.

The best thing about the off-season is...
RG: You can sleep as much as you want.

The last time I lost my temper was...
RG: It happens sometimes, yes. The last time, I guess, was in December. I dropped almost everything I had on me - my phone, my wallet...

My first pet was...
RG: It was a Jack Russell dog by the name of Milou.

My most treasured possession is ...
RG: My wedding ring.

The funniest person I know is...
RG: Hughes Trevennec from Mumm champagne.

My favourite drink is...
RG: Champagne on the podium.

You would never catch me wearing a...
RG: Pants made from floral fabrics.

The best excuse to give your team boss after crashing the car is...
RG: Sorry, I've got the wrong pedal...

The last time I lost something was...
RG: Touch wood, I almost never lose anything.

My favourite holiday destination is...
RG: Mauritius.

My favourite time of the day is...
RG: Dinnertime.

The strangest rumour I've ever read about myself was...
RG: That my wife was pregnant two years ago which was not true at the time. She is now...

The best present I've been given by a fan is...
RG: A mini model of myself carved from wood and painted.

The best cure for a hangover is...
RG: Time!