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From GMM

Valtteri Bottas has been accused of "unsportsmanlike" behaviour in the dying moments of the Monaco grand prix.

In the last two laps, when Kimi Raikkonen was seething through the field on fresh Pirelli rubber following his late pitstop, the Finn managed to salvage a solitary point by making up three places to finish tenth.

One of the cars he passed was countryman Bottas, who appeared to pull over for the title-charging Raikkonen.

Photo: Williams F1 Team

That allowed the Lotus driver to stroll past Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg, who on worn Pirelli tires that were showing the steel belt beneath therefore missed the final championship point by mere metres.

To Blick newspaper, Sauber team manager Beat Zehnder slammed Bottas' behaviour towards the charging Raikkonen as "unsportsmanlike".

Team founder Peter Sauber added: "He (Bottas) stole a point from us."

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, however, claims Bottas told reporters after the race that he only pulled over for Raikkonen because he thought the black Lotus was the leader.

From GMM

Sahara Force India team owner Vijay Mallya has backed his deputy in claiming F1's biggest teams are pushing their small rivals out of the sport.

Deputy team boss Bob Fernley issued a furious attack on F1 owners CVC last weekend, saying he suspected the odds are being stacked in an apparent bid to "get rid of teams".

"Everything we're doing at the moment is about increasing costs. Everything is now moving in the way of the (biggest) four teams," he said.

Bob Fernley said CVC has done an "awful" job and is "the worst thing that has ever happened" to F1, and one report even quoted him as accusing CVC of "raping" the sport.

According to CVC's Donald Mackenzie, however, Fernley apologised for that.

"He said sorry, that he didn't mean what he said, that he just wanted to get a headline," said Mackenzie.

Vijay Mallya and Bob Fernley. (Photo: Sahara Force India)

But Indian businessman Mallya backed his deputy, accusing the biggest teams of backpedalling on earlier cost-cutting agreements and ramping up their spending.

"On the one hand FOTA, when it was in full force, decided that we needed to cut costs in F1. But instead of reducing costs, one or two teams decided that winning at any cost was more important than the sustainability of the sport," he is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace.

"I think F1 also needs the independent and the smaller teams."

Bernie Ecclestone agreed that the teams themselves are to blame for spiralling costs.

"They are the ones who control these things. They spend the money," said the F1 chief executive. "The amount of money I've said the teams receive is enough to run a successful business."

The Jean Todt-led FIA, criticised by some for not getting involved in cost-cutting, has a similar view.

"The FIA has supported the resource restriction agreement but that failed because the teams could not agree," a spokesman told the Guardian.

"The FIA would still like to help teams to cut their costs," he added, but he said the matter of much higher engine costs for 2014 "is between the constructors and their customers".

Photo: Sahara Force India F1 Team

Because every movie star gets nipped and tucked eventually, right? Well, it looks like not even the Autobots are safe from the effects of Hollywood and the need to look younger, more vibrant, and more relevant.

Well, pictures from Michael Bay's fourth installment of the blockbuster Transformers series have been released, and along with a few new Autobot members (which we'll get to in a moment), it looks like Optimus Prime has had a few nips, tucks, and highlights put in. The heavily customized Western Star truck looks just as you'd expect Optimus to look: intimidating, strong and like he'll transform into a robot at any moment...

As for the mystery Autotbots, no word on their characters, but we know they're a 1,200 horsepower Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse and a modded version of the 2014 C7 Corvette Stingray.

Yup, we'll be lining up to see this one.

Source: Yahoo

Photo: Michael Bay

Photo: Michael Bay

Photo: Michael Bay

Are any of the prevalent niggling doubts regarding the purchase of an electric vehicle rational?

A quick tour of the various EV websites confirms that there are a number of recurring questions and doubts regarding these much talked about, but relatively little-known vehicles.

2013 Chevrolet Volt (Photo: Chevrolet)

EVs are too expensive
If cost is your main preoccupation, take a peek at our Calculating your EV ROI article and discover how the purchase of a Ford Focus Electric costing an extra $11,220 more than the gasoline-powered model will provide sufficient savings to finance a week-long trip down south after only two years.

Charging station safety
While one end of the charging station can be plugged into a standard wall outlet, the charging plug itself has been standardized. Charging cannot commence unless the plug is completely inserted. Furthermore, it is impossible to start your electric vehicle while still connected. Don't expect to see images of a distracted EV driver dragging a charging station behind his vehicle on the web.

Am I exposed to any additional risks in an accident?
Your EV is equipped with an emergency cutoff system. The on-board computer is programmed to shut down the different systems in case of a major impact. First-responders and firefighters have received specific EV training that helps them identify and deal with potential issues than could occur in an accident.

Are EVs safe?
They go through the same IIHS collision tests. If your vehicles crash-safety rating is an area of concern, go to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website, it is both free and easy to navigate. You will find detailed descriptions and various videos explaining the different tests, as well as the IIHS safety-rating for your vehicle.

Do EVs function well in cold weather?
Of course, and if the term ‘fires right up' could apply, it would be the most accurate description! Autonomy is reduced, due in large part to the added strain of heating the passenger compartment as well as the diminished battery capacity that comes with cold weather. Want to find out more? Consult the What about an EV in colder weather? article in our Green File!

What is an EV's top speed?
You can easily push your EV into ‘speeding ticket' range. Even if some EVs are ‘limited' to 130-140 km/h, zipping around on a racecourse, overtaking slower traffic, and brisk acceleration are readily available to those who are looking for speed.

How is EV range calculated?
The much-publicized 160 km Nissan LEAF range varies according to individual driving habits, speed, and outdoor temperature. So, how did they come up with this figure?

Photo: EPA.gov

EV range figures are based on the American EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) LA4, or 'city' test. The 1,369 second (nearly 23 minute) test, which includes 18 stops, is performed for 11.9 kms on a dynamometer at 31.3 km/h. This test wreaks havoc on gasoline-powered vehicle fuel ratings, while heavily favoring EVs.


Sources:
IIHS.org
CAA
Nissan.ca
Communauto
Government of Ontario
EPA.gov

I recently read a study that described a noticeable reduction in miles travelled in the U.S. over the last few years. There are numerous possible reasons for this calculated drop, and one of them is technology and how it's shrinking the world around us.

We've all heard that the world is a small place, and never has it been truer than in the 21st Century. When I was 17, I borrowed my parent's car and went to the video store to rent a movie. If I wanted a book or to buy shoes, I jumped in the car and drove myself downtown.

Nowadays, everybody orders stuff online -- be it movies, clothing or books. Increasingly, leaving the house is becoming less of a necessity and more of a burden. Factor in strip malls with grocery stores that are popping up all over the place within a 10-minute walk from the house and the only wheels anyone will every require in the near future will be those on a bicycle or skateboard. Working from one's abode has never been more realistic, either.

Does this mean that the 20-somethings will never leave the house? Is it because all manner of entertainment and basic needs are at one's fingertips that they will never purchase a car?

No.

So long as there are those who prefer outdoor activities to video games, cars will be required to get around. Going to grandma's place in the country with the 1.15 kids (Canadian stats) and dog cannot be done online.

The current trend is that fewer miles are being travelled, not necessarily that fewer cars are being purchased. Still, this tendency could progress to the point where car ownership becomes less of a necessity, what with car-sharing programs and constant improvements being made to public transit.

This may frighten some people (including me), but I've come to the conclusion that the car business has nothing to worry about. Needs are evolving and car makers will go with the times and find ways of integrating technology into all cars.

The bottom line will always be that there is no better or cheaper way to freedom. Cycling is great -- I love it -- but if I want to explore new areas it goes in the car and my automobile takes me to a new place. Plane tickets are expensive and planes, well, are out of reach for most. This leaves the car.

Cars are changing, and will continue to evolve, but they will always remain.

Design is key. Design makes something desirable. Something ugly or unpleasant to the eye is typically undesirable, and that's typically the key to failure.

It has been proven that attractive things usually get more attention, at least for a longer period of time. Beautiful people like Jay-Z and Beyonce are always in the press and under a good light. Others, like Kathy Griffin, get occasional attention but it's always short-lived and never very flattering.

Ugly cars will get much attention, but not the desirable type, and most likely this type of press will be detrimental to the car.

Here's a top 10 list of some of the cars that are suffering (or will soon suffer) from their unfortunate styling:

2013 Lincoln MKZ

Photo: Lincoln

Original ideas often get good press, but not always. The new MKZ is certainly original, but from angles such as the ¾ rear and square-on the rear, this baby's back is whack. Unfortunately, once those seeking an original design have purchased the MKZ, few others will be charmed into one.

Continue reading Top 10 Ugliest new cars

Pros and Cons*
Pros
Loads of cargo room, comfort, dynamic ride in sport mode, choice of engines and standard all-wheel drive are just some of the great features to consider in the BMW X5, which can accommodate up to seven passengers.

The M version offers noteworthy performance and handling.

Cons
Some of the less attractive aspects include its high MSRP and maintenance costs along with its overabundant weight and questionable reliability. The over-the-top fuel consumption drives home the fact that this is not a rational choice for a vehicle.


Price
The base xDrive35i starts at $61,800. As for the xDrive50i, the starting price is $75,700.

The diesel-powered xDrive35d has a MSRP of $64,300.

The top-of-the-line M version starts at $98,500.

Fuel Economy
The frugal diesel version has fuel economy ratings of 10.9 L/100 km city and 7.6 L/100 km highway.

The 35i consumes an estimated 13.1 L/100 km city and 8.5 L/100 km highway.

As for the 50i, the V8 engine consumes 15.3 L/100 km city and 9.9 L/100 km highway.

M version ratings are estimated at 16.9 L/100 km city and 11.9 L/100 km highway.

Exterior Styling
This 6-year old crossover remains quite contemporary. Its rounded extremities betray its sporty intentions. 18, 19, or 20-inch alloy wheels are standard equipment according to the desired version.

Drivetrain
The diesel version consists of a twin-turbo 3.0 litre 6-cylinder engine that produces 265 hp and 425 lb-ft torque.

The 35i is equipped with a 3.0 litre turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine that pumps out 300 hp and 300 lb-ft torque.

The xDrive50i comes equipped with a 4.4 litre twin-turbo V8 that produces 400 hp and 450 lb-ft torque.

As for the M version, the twin-turbo V8 under its hood produces a whopping 555 hp and 500 lb-ft torque.

Power is transmitted to all four wheels through either a 6 or 8-speed automatic transmission according to the selected version.

Cargo Capacity
The cargo capacity of the BMW X5 ranges between 620 and 1,750 litres.

Safety
Passenger safety is provided by an array of passive and active security features along with six standard airbags.

Comparabe Models
Acura MDX, Audi Q7, Cadillac SRX, Infiniti FX, Land Rover LR4, Lexus RX, Mercedes-Benz Classe M, Porsche Cayenne, Volkswagen Touareg, Volvo XC90

X5M : Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, Porsche Cayenne turbo

Photo: BMW

*References
Rufiange Daniel, L'annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal Transcontinental, 2012, p.142
Gélinas Gabriel, Le guide de l'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions de l'Homme, 2012, p.178
www.bmw.ca

Spectrum chassis' factory team in Canada, Exclusive Autosport, came out strong in the first round of the 2013 Formula Tour championship, presented last weekend in Mont-Tremblant.

Rookies Jack Mitchell Jr., Tristan DeGrand and Thomas McGregor swept the podium in the season's first race, aboard their Honda-powered Spectrum cars.

Sunday, for the second event of the weekend, Jesse Lazare managed to slip past the Exclusive Autosport trio in his Van Diemen-Ford. Mitchell Jr. and McGregor completed the podium.

Crowd favourite Didier Schraenen bagged a duo of top 10 finishes, driving his refurbished CMV chassis.

Exclusive Autosport brought home a lot of silverware (Photo: Exclusive Autosport)

From Williams

Williams Grand Prix Holdings PLC has announced that Mike O'Driscoll will become Group CEO with effect from today.

O'Driscoll, formerly Managing Director of Jaguar Cars (2007 - 2011) and ex-President of Aston Martin Jaguar Land Rover in North America (2001 - 2007), has been appointed Group CEO to guide the long term future of Williams.

The newly created role will see the Williams F1 Team and Williams Advanced Engineering united under one management structure and will enable O'Driscoll to provide support to Sir Frank Williams, founder and Team Principal and to work in partnership with Claire Williams, Deputy Team Principal.

O'Driscoll will lead the Executive Committee who will report to him and in turn he will report to Sir Frank Williams and the Williams Grand Prix Holdings board.

Alex Burns, previously Chief Executive Officer of Williams Grand Prix Holdings PLC, will leave the company with immediate effect. “Williams thanks him for the significant contribution he has made to the business and wishes him well in his future endeavours,” says the press release.

Photo: Williams F1 Team

From GMM

Tweaked Pirelli tires will not debut next time out in Montreal, it emerged on Wednesday.

Previously, it was believed Bernie Ecclestone had pushed through the planned changes for the Canadian grand prix, despite the opposition of some teams.

"I did it like the old days," the F1 chief executive was quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. "I told the teams that they should be united.

"Pirelli will modify its tires as planned," Ecclestone added.

Photo: Pirelli

But the 82-year-old was speaking prior to the explosion of the Mercedes 'secret' tire test scandal, where the German squad apparently tried the proposed changes at Barcelona just after the Spanish grand prix.

Red Bull and Ferrari lodged a formal protest, many other teams are furious, and the FIA is not ruling out penalties.

Pirelli is defensive. "Most of the tires that were tested (by Mercedes) were not relevant for this season," a spokesperson is quoted by German website motorsport-total.com.

"Mercedes had no advantage in Monaco."

Nevertheless, Pirelli spokesperson is also telling publications on Wednesday that the tweaked tires - reportedly featuring a kevlar belt rather than a steel one to minimise rear delaminations - will now not debut in Canada.

Instead, two "experimental" compounds will be tested by teams on Friday, which will then "hopefully" make their qualifying and race debut at Silverstone.

"We are taking this step for the sake of sporting equality," said the spokesperson.

UPDATE
Pirelli's move to merely test rather than race its tweaked tires in Canada is almost certainly due to the refusal of some teams to agree.

"We will not race tires that we have not tested first," Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez was quoted on Wednesday by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

"And we will not allow tires that change the sporting hierarchy -- that would be simply unfair," he insisted.

"If there is suddenly a team winning that previously had problems with the tires, then the people at home would feel fooled and turn off the TV."

Lopez also said Lotus does not accept the changes on the grounds of safety.

"A tire that loses its tread is safer than a tire that bursts," he insisted.

"I don't see it (the safety aspect) as such a big deal -- it's still all about money and politics. But the spectators are not fools. If we are making decisions not on the race track but in offices and committees, then one day there will be no spectators left," added Lopez.

He also said Pirelli should stand tall rather than be defensive.

"Actually, they should stand up and say 'We built a good tire, a tire that was requested, so the teams will just have to adjust and build reasonable cars'," said Lopez.

Aston Martin announced their brand new V12 Vantage S, and it's a doozy. Besides the One-77, the new V12 Vantage S, which will replace the outgoing V12 Vantage, will be the fastest road-legal Aston Martin available for purchase.

What kind of power are we talking about here? Well, the AM28 6.0L V12 engine will pump out 565 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque, and will reach a top speed of 205 mph. And all that power is managed via Aston Martin's hydraulically actuated 7-speed Sportshift III AMT (automated manual transmission). With paddle-shift gear changes, optimal performance can be reached on or off the track.

Of note, the exhaust system on the new Aston Martin V12 Vantage S comes from the One-77 hypercar and so is much smaller and offers up even more aural pleasure than the outgoing Vantage.

If it takes five times longer to recoup the additional expense of a ''plug-in'' EV versus the standard EV, then why should we buy one?

Involved environmentalism
It's obvious that by driving an electric vehicle we reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses by 100 %. Choosing a ''plug-in'' EV also helps reduce our negative environmental impact. We are looking at a reduction of CO2 emissions in the neighborhood of 75 % versus a traditional combustion-engined vehicle.

2014 Chevrolet Spark EV (Photo: General Motors)

By choosing a hybrid vehicle that consumes 4 to 5L/100km, we are cutting the fuel consumption of the average vehicle by half. A ''plug-in'' EV will reduce the fuel consumption of a hybrid by half. These little steps add up in the end to big reduction in CO2 emissions.

If we were to whip out the old calculator, we could ring-up some very interesting numbers as far as the environmental impact of plug-in EV's is concerned. Let's start with these assumptions: the average vehicle travels 18,000 kms annually, and the plug-in EV will be recharged once a day.

Compact: Consumption: 8,5 L/100 km; CO2 emissions: 3,6 metric tons
Hybrid: Consumption : 4,5 L/100 km, CO2 emissions: 1,9 metric tons
Plug-in Hybrid: Consumption : 0 L/100 km for 25 km, and 4,5 L/100 km thereafter: CO2 emissions:

Complicated ROI calculation for plug-ins
If calculating your ROI is easy for an EV, because there is no fuel being used, trying to figure out the ROI for a plug-in EV is a whole other ballgame. Not only are plug-ins less user-friendly, with their reduced autonomy, ironically, they end up being quite similar in fuel economy to their hybrid-only cousins. One would need to recharge the batteries as soon as required and run almost exclusively in electric mode.

2012 Ford Focus Electric (Photo: Ford)

A plug-in hybrid equipped with the new lithium-titanate batteries developed by Hydro-Québec could be recharged in only a few minutes, thousands of times, without any negative consequences. This technology could open new horizons for plug-in EV's as they would do more than just provide limited all-electric power for the first few kilometers of your day.

A few kilometers of daily driving among an entire years' worth of travelling about are not sufficient to help you recoup your plug-in investment in a hybrid that already consumes very little fuel. But, what if these few kilometers did make a difference? Obviously, we don't regularly bump into people who are ready to dish out more money to save our planet... They tend to think of their wallet first. But this more ''involved'' attitude and behaviour is enough to move the 'green'' cause forward.

Investing in health
City-dwellers are quite familiar with smog. The Canadian Government estimates that air pollution is responsible for 5,000 premature deaths annually. Knowing that transportation is the principal factor that causes smog, investing in a fleet of plug-in vehicles is a nod to everyone's health.


Sources
www.pollutionprobe.org
www.zeroges.com

Numbers are finally out on the 2014 Sierra 1500 Denali pickup from GM, and they're pretty impressive for a light-duty truck.

Available with a 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 the third-generation 2014 GM Sierra 1500 Denali's engine will push out 420 horses and 450 lb-ft of torque. These numbers ensure the Sierra can offer the most power and torque amongst the light duty trucks currently on the market.

The 2014 Sierra Denali also offers a host of technological luxuries including an available 8” Customizable Driver Display, as well as a standard 8” Colour Touch navigation radio featuring GM's Intellilink. Other features include projector headlights with LED daytime running lights, Bose audio, heated steering wheel as well as front and rear seats, and a power-sliding rear window.

Photo: GMC

Because every movie star gets nipped and tucked eventually, right? Well, it looks like not even the Autobots are safe from the effects of Hollywood and the need to look younger, more vibrant, and more relevant.

Well, pictures from Michael Bay's fourth installment of the blockbuster Transformers series have been released, and along with a few new Autobot members (which we'll get to in a moment), it looks like Optimus Prime has had a few nips, tucks, and highlights put in. The heavily customized Western Star truck looks just as you'd expect Optimus to look: intimidating, strong and like he'll transform into a robot at any moment...

As for the mystery Autotbots, no word on their characters, but we know they're a 1,200 horsepower Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse and a modded version of the 2014 C7 Corvette Stingray.

Yup, we'll be lining up to see this one.

Source: Yahoo

Photo: Michael Bay

Photo: Michael Bay

Photo: Michael Bay

From a total purse of more than $12,020,065, $2,353,355 will go directly to the 97th edition of the Indianapolis 500 winner Tony Kanaan, the rest being divided amongst the other 32 drivers that took part in the May classic.

Kanaan also set a record with a winning speed of 187.433 mph, breaking the 185.981 set by Arie Luyendyk in 1990. Kanaan won for the first time in 12 career starts, tying an event record for earning a victory latest in a driver's Indy 500 career.

Photo: John Cote/IMS

Andretti Autosport' s Carlos Munoz was awarded the Chase Rookie Of The Year Award. The Columbian qualified second and finished second and earned $964,205, which included a $25,000 bonus from Chase.

Reigning IZOD IndyCar Series champion and Munoz teammate, Ryan Hunter-Reay earned $583,005 for driving his No. 1 DHL Chevrolet for Andretti Autosport to a third-place finish.

Marco Andretti, fourth, was awarded $469,755 while Justin Wilson (Dale Coyne Racing) earned $337,805 for finishing fifth.

Pole sitter Ed Carpenter, who led the race six times for a race-high 37 laps in his No. 20 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, finished the 10th Indianapolis 500 of his career in 10th position. He received $405,955, which included $100,000 for earning the Verizon P1 Award as pole winner.

This one's addictive
The MAZDASPEED3 carries its name quite well, and for a number of reasons: Every MAZDASPEED car I've ever encountered -- from the first SPEED Protegé to this latest SPEED3 -- has all but turned me into an addict. Get it? Speed? Addiction? Drugs?

Speed is also exactly that. MAZDASPEED Mazda cars have always been about taking a regular car to the next level performance and handling. A SPEED of the Mazda type is about progression at a rapid rate of velocity.

The 2013 MAZDASPEED3 is unapologetic about being what it is: It's brash, loud and wickedly fast, not especially comfortable, but satisfyingly utilitarian enough to pass off as a multipurpose mode of transportation.


What is a MAZDASPEED3?
A 2013 MAZDASPEED3 is one of the few remaining sport compact cars that were once all the rage. These cars were once my religion. The SPEED3 is the top trim of Mazda's hugely popular MAZDA3 compact car.

The MAZDASPEED3 is directly aimed at the tuner crowd who find that with a few simple modifications (such as an exhaust system upgrade and an ECU flash) much power and fun can be had with this superb little car.

The MAZDASPEED3 is directly aimed at the tuner crowd who find that with a few simple modifications. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Technicalities
The 2013 MAZDASPEED3 is a simple car. The main ingredient to this SPEED is a turbocharged 2.3L 4-cylinder engine. It pumps out a fashionable 263 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque thanks to a Warner-Hitachi K-04 turbo and its 15 psi of boost. To it all is bolted a 6-speed manual gearbox that contains a delightful limited slip differential.

The 2013 MAZDA3's pricing starts at $15,995. The SPEED3 tips the price scale at $29,995. With the as-tested Technology package, the final tally is $32,635.

The main ingredient to this SPEED is a turbocharged 2.3L 4-cylinder engine. It pumps out a fashionable 263 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque thanks to a Warner-Hitachi K-04 turbo and its 15 psi of boost. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Driving the MAZDASPEED3
To start a cold 2013 MAZDASPEED3 is to immediately get a sense of what this car can and will do for the driver. At once strong and thick, the idle settles and first gear is selected, but only with firm gestures. The clutch pedal's weight and friction point are sharp, but once mastered the fun begins.

Despite the presence of a torque-sensing conical limited-slip differential and equal length half-shafts, the SPEED3 will pull to one side upon side-stepping the “man” pedal. Being prepared to shift quickly is the best way to snap the 0-100 km sprint in roughly 6.5 seconds. The MZR 2.3L's power band is fairly narrow and is best between 2,800 rpm and near 5,500.

The 2013 MAZDASPEED3's ride is a direct result of the car's vocation. That is to say that the SPEED3 is committed to handling apexes on a track, controlling body roll, and keeping all four wheels on the tarmac at all times. To say that the car is uncomfortable on an uneven urban road is pointless; it is the compromise made when selecting a car that is this hunkered down and ready for battle with a track.

To match and defeat the SPEED3's pace, Mazda attached fittingly larger disc brakes and calipers that work brilliantly in both city and track settings, having done track time with a few MAZDASPEED3s over the years.

The car's electro-hydraulic power assisted steering (EHPAS) is well judged, both in weight and precision. Feedback trickles in sufficiently in order to get a good picture of what the front wheels are up to.

As for fuel consumption, I averaged a respectable 11L/100 km over a week.

To match and defeat the SPEED3's pace, Mazda attached fittingly larger disc brakes and calipers that work brilliantly in both city and track settings. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Inside and Out of the MAZDASPEED3
There isn't much to write about where the 2013 MAZDASPEED3's cabin is concerned. There are few differences between it and a regular 3. The most notable are the leather- and cloth-covered red and black MAZDASPEED sport seats. They are not as special as they sound, but still hold occupants well enough in place.

Aluminum-alloy pedals and footrest, and digital boost gauge round out the upgrades. The remainder is functional and ergonomic.

I have no love for the overburdened steering wheel. The grip is good, but the countless controls are not only in poor taste aesthetically but I found that they interfere with rapid wheel-hand movements.

As for the 2013 MAZDASPEED3's outer shell, it gains notable items that make a world of difference. As nothing more than an “appreciator” of the 3's overall shape and grin, the addition of black 18” wheels, a large rear spoiler, and hood scoop save it.

There are few differences between it and a regular 3. The most notable are the leather- and cloth-covered red and black MAZDASPEED sport seats. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Comparing the MAZDASPEED3
The 2013 Mazdaspeed3 is a car I attempt to drive every year. I find solace in the existence of this car; its near brutal and unforgiving nature is a sign that not all is lost in the modern car world.

Competition lies in the Volkswagen GTI/Golf R, Honda Civic Si and Subaru Impreza WRX. All of these cars are “softer” than the SPEED, but I'm thankful for the sheer fact that they all exist.

Production of the Dodge Journey is set to move from Toluca, Mexico back to metro Detroit by 2016 according to a published report. While Chrysler has not confirmed this will actually happen, but if it does it means that the Journey will be built alongside the Chrysler 200 sedan at Chrysler's Sterling Heights Assembly plant in Michigan.

The Dodge Journey is built in Toluca, Mexico in order to keep cost down for the rebadged Fiat Freemont model assembled at the same plant and exported to South America and Europe. If production is moved to the USA, it would result in a higher price for the vehicle in those locations.

The Toluca plant is also responsible for building the North American version of the Fiat 500, however, it's also been reported that the upcoming 500 will move production to its plant in Tychy, Poland.

Source: www.autonews.com

Photo: Dodge

Red Bull Racing's designer, British engineer Adrian Newey will be back behind the wheel of a race car this weekend.

Newey will compete alongside Autosprint's magazine editor in chief, Alberto Sabbatini in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo to be held at Silverstone this week-end.

The duo will be sharing the wheel of the No. 1 VIP Lambo.

Newey is a talented amateur racer, having contested in the past the 24 Hours of Le Mans Classic race, some Ginetta Cup events, a Lamborghini Super Trofeo race and also tested a Red Bull Formula 1 car.

From GMM

F1 could be about to be rocked by a penalty on the scale of the 'spy scandal' of 2007.

The FIA is expected to convene a meeting of the international tribunal, to consider the matter of Mercedes' 'secret' Pirelli tire test.

Ferrari, along with Red Bull, filed the official protest in Monaco.

"You might expect a sporting penalty," Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali told the Associated Press.

"But because it is not really clear what could be the effect on the race weekend, it may be bigger than that. Because there is no precedent, I have no idea what should happen," he added.

Photo: WRi2

Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko, however, believes there is a precedent.

"There will be a hearing, although I do not know when and where. It is in the direction of the spy scandal of 2007 between McLaren and Ferrari," Marko told Bild newspaper.

The outspoken Austrian is referring to 2007, when the FIA considered banning McLaren but ultimately excluded the British team from the constructors' championship and issued a record $100 million fine.

Marko makes the 'spygate' comparison because he alleges Mercedes' advantage from the exclusive 1000km test with its 2013 car and race drivers will be far-reaching.

"A test like that is even more of an advantage if it is immediately after a race, because you have all of the comparative data, so you can make very decisive improvements. Until now the tires have had a steel (internal) belt but now it's going to be kevlar, which is the tires that were tested," he is quoted by Swiss newspaper Blick.

"That is what we are going to have in Montreal, so Mercedes does not only have an advantage for Monaco," added Marko.

From GMM

Sebastian Vettel has admitted he defied his team's instructions in Monaco due to boredom.

In the dying stages of the race, the Red Bull driver picked up his pace behind winner Nico Rosberg, earning a rebuke for smashing the fastest race lap.

"Just satisfaction instead of going slow for 77 laps," replied the German.

"No satisfaction for us though," added Vettel's race engineer Guillaume Rocquelin.

Photo: Red Bull Racing

On seeing just how much faster the Red Bull driver was capable of going in Monaco, having conserved Pirelli's fragile tires all race, BBC commentator David Coulthard called the current situation in F1 "rubbish".

Vettel added: "I'm not trying to do something silly, and I apologise for quarrelling with my engineer on the radio.

"But it's a reflection of how the racing is today, when you can be three seconds a lap faster," he is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace.

"I know that the drivers are not enjoying the races as much as they would like," he added.

"The show is good up to a point, but if it's a matter of following one another and waiting for the chequered flag, I'm not sure if that is what people want to see."

Vettel said he hopes the changes being made by Pirelli for the next race in Canada and beyond will help the situation.