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From GMM

Kimi Raikkonen has delivered another punchy quote to his legions of fans, after his run-in with Sergio Perez in the Monaco grand prix.

Furious about being run into by the McLaren driver at the exit of the tunnel, Finn Raikkonen initially called his Mexican rival an "idiot" and "stupid".

"We've lost a lot of points to Sebastian (Vettel) in the championship and you can't afford to lose ground like that," said Raikkonen.

Asked if he will seek Perez out for talks, Raikkonen insisted: "No, that won't help."

Asked what will, he suggested: "Maybe someone should punch him in the face."

Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) and Sergio Perez (McLaren) in Monaco. (Photo: WRi2)

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso also had trouble with Perez in Monaco, skipping the chicane after an attack and having to give the place to his rival.

"Only McLaren has to be happy with him," former McLaren driver Alonso said coyly afterwards.

Team boss Martin Whitmarsh, however, insisted McLaren is indeed happy with the feisty 23-year-old, saying run-ins are "what happens in Monaco occasionally".

"I am happy with his spirit and his challenge," he said.

"You can over push sometimes but I think he did some great overtakes. I have got to be pleased that he is there, he is committed and racing," added Whitmarsh.

Ferrari has confirmed that Felipe Massa's accident in Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix was the result of a suspension failure.

The Brazilian shunted heavily at Sainte Devote for the second successive day on Sunday, and despite the first incident in Saturday's free practice session being put down to driver error, the team has announced on its official website that Massa's race ending incident was due to suspension failure.

'The findings validated the first impressions of the engineers, confirming that the accident was caused by an element of the front left suspension breaking,' the statement read.

Photo: WRi2

Team principal Stefano Domenicali also confirmed that Massa has some slight muscle pain, and his driver has had no side effects as a result of the accident.

"The best news to come out of the Monaco weekend is that Felipe is fine.

"Two big accidents, just over twenty fours apart and all he has to show for it is a bit of muscle pain.

“Fortunately there were no other injuries."

Poor Saab; as if their demise in the auto world weren't enough, their name was once again dragged through the press gutters when Saab Automobile AB's then-chariman, Mr. Victor Muller was accused of tax evasion in 2010-2011.

Rumours of him pocketing money from the company via Latin America Tug Holding NV, a tugboat company registered in his name, circulated and the Swedish authorities began investigating the matter. Also, Muller's $773,000 salary at Saab raised some eyebrows.

By association, Spyker has been dragged through the media gutters as Victor Muller is their current CEO, however, they released a statement today stating that Spyker is and was in no way involved in this tax evasion matter.

Source: Email following story from Spyker and Autoblog

If you require autonomy that battery-powered electric vehicles can't provide, you should look towards other green-vehicle solutions before throwing in the towel.

Hybrid vehicle savings
Hybrid vehicles provide definite fuel economy savings when compared to their combustion-engined counterparts. Consider the gas-powered Toyota Camry vs. the hybrid version. While the traditional powertrain drinks 7L/100km, the hybrid drinks just 4.7L/100 km (combined driving for both, according to Toyota). Pricing for the gas-powered Camry starts at $23,700, while the hybrid chimes in at $27,710. That's a $4,010 price difference, but fear not; you will recover the cash after driving 130,000 km.

Choosing a hybrid will provide long-term savings. The more you drive, the more you save, so they say!

Toyota Camry Hybrid (Photo: Toyota)

Plug-ins, the best of both worlds... Except for the price
You need to carefully analyze your driving needs before jumping to any conclusions. Will a plug-in hybrid make a difference in your specific case?
I was in for quite a surprise when I decided to nose around the Ford website and compare standard hybrid model prices to their plug-in counterparts. The Ford C-Max plug-in hybrid retails for nearly $10,000 more than the base model! Is it really worth it?

For starters, plug-in hybrids have a 25-35 km battery-only autonomy. In an ideal world, you would travel 25 kilometres to get to your job, plug it in then come home with a full charge. This would be the equivalent of having an electric vehicle, but with the added convenience of extended-range driving for your weekend wanderings.

2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid (Photo: Ford)

In reality, average daily commutes are in the 65 km range. Subtract 25 km (for a vehicle that consumes 5L/100km) and you end up saving 1.25 litres of gas per day; at $1.35 per litre you have just pocketed $1.69. If you drive every single day of the year, you will wind up saving $617 annually. You will therefore recoup your initial $10,000 investment after 16 years.

Vehicle Type: Mid-size Diesel-powered Luxury SUV

Pros and Cons*
The 2013 Touareg TDI has excellent fuel-economy ratings for both city and highway driving conditions. It has a comfortable, quiet cabin and exhibits superb road handling characteristics. Its luxurious, understated interior can compete with any other mid-size luxury SUV on the market.
Unfortunately, the sport suspension and 20-inch wheels tend to spoil its exemplary ride, and its steep starting price is out of the reach of the average buyer.

Price
The Touareg TDI is available in three models:

• The Comfortline, which starts at $53,975;
• The Highline, which starts at $59,970;
• The Execline, the most luxurious version, which starts at $63,800.

(Photo: Volkswagen)

Fuel Economy
Fuel economy ratings are an estimated 10.8/6.7 L/100 km (city/highway), and the fuel tank has a 100-litre capacity.

Exterior Styling
In spite of its imposing stature, the Touareg TDI, with its sober lines and familiar front grille, still manages to resemble the Passat. It comes equipped with standard foglights, rain-sensing wipers, integrated side-mirror turn-signal lights, LED lighting and remote hatch release. An optional electric sliding panoramic sunroof is also available.

Interior
The elegant interior offers comfortable seating and smooth, soft surfaces for its five occupants. Dual-zone electronic climate control, navigation system with 8-inch high-res touchscreen, multifunction trip computer, Bluetooth connectivity and keyless access are some of the features available in the Touareg TDI.

(Photo: VW)

Cargo Capacity
The Touareg offers a generous 909 litres of storage space, which can be expanded to 1,812 litres when rear seats are lowered.*

Drivetrain
All three Touareg models come equipped with the standard 240 hp 3.0 litre V6, along with standard 8-speed Tiptronic transmission and 4MOTION all-wheel drive.

Safety
The Touareg features the following standard safety systems:

• Rearview camera
• Front airbags and supplemental restraint systems
• Driver and front passenger side airbag supplemental restraint system
• Side Curtain Protection head airbags, front and rear
• Rear-impact-optimized head restraints - driver and front passenger
• 3-point safety belts, all seating positions, height-adjustable for driver and front passenger
• Emergency locking retractors for all seating positions
• Front seat safety belt pre-tensioners with load limiters
• Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS)

Comparable Models
The Volkswagen Touarag is part of an elite crowd that includes the BMW X5, Audi Q7, Volvo XC90 and, with the Execline version, the Porsche Cayenne.

*Sources and testimonials;
www.vw.ca

Pros and Cons*
Pros
A choice selection of models, a powerful - yet frugal - 4-cylinder engine, all-wheel drive option ... just a few of this well-balanced Coupe's many advantages.

Cons
However, the two-door C-Class has some things working against it, namely its lack of a manual transmission, the unavailability of a diesel engine in Canada and its tight-fit backseat. Moreover, the C-250 cannot be set up in all-wheel drive and the price of certain models are uncomfortably close to the E-Class.


Price
Delivered with 17-inch wheels and a power tilt and telescoping steering column, the basic model, the C 250, starts at $40,800. A choice of option packages are also offered: the AMG Sport Performance Package for $3,000, the Driving Assist Package for $800, the Bi-xenon Headlights Package for $1,000, the Sport Package for $1,900 and the Premium Package for $3,000.

The C 350 is available for $49,900. Along with 18-inch wheels, the price includes the Dynamic Handling Package with adjustable suspension and continuously variable damping, the Sport Package and the Heated Mirror Package.

You can order, as an option, the Premium Seating Package for $2,200, the Sport Package for $1,200 and the Premium Package for $4,000.

The C 350 is also available in permanent all-wheel drive (4MATIC) for $51,400, that is, $1,500 more than the rear-wheel drive model.

The most powerful model, the C 63 AMG, has many extra features, including AMG carbon fibre mirror covers, a double-lamella radiator grille, 18-inch, 5-twin-spoke, light-alloy wheels, a sports exhaust system with two tailpipes, flared front fenders, side skirts, leather sports seats and sports pedals...all yours for $67,700.

The Performance Package is sold as an option for $6,000 and includes red brake calipers, electronic speed limiter deletion, limited-slip rear differential, a carbon fibre trim and an extra 30 hp (totalling 481 in all).

Fuel Economy
The Mercedes-Benz Coupe C 250's 4-cylinder engine consumes 9.6 L/100 km in the city and 6.2 L/100 km on the highway. The C 350's V6 is rated at 10.7 L/100 km - city and 7.2 L/100 km - highway. The C 350 4MATIC is almost rated the same, with a 0.1 L/100 km difference.

The C 63 AMG is more fuel hungry at 15.8 L/100 km - city and 10.1 L/100 km - highway.

New and Improved for 2013

• Some style modifications of the 2012 model
• Some standard equipment now optional
• ECO start/stop function on V6 versions

Exterior Styling
Defined by elegance and refinement, this two-door, sports coupe features deep-set air inlets bordered by headlights and a double-lamella grille, an iconic marker of the brand. The Coupe makes its presence known with LED-lined rear lights.

Drivetrain
The C 250 is equipped with a turbo, 4-cylinder, 1.8-litre engine delivering 201 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque. The rear wheels are coupled with an automatic 7G-TRONIC PLUS engine.

The C 350, available in two-wheel or all-wheel drive, is propelled by a 3.5-litre, V6 engine that packs 302 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, also coupled with a 7-speed automatic transmission.

Under the hood of the Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG, you'll find a 6.2-litre V8 engine which yields 451 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. The 7-speed, SPEEDSHIFT MCT AMG transmission powers the rear wheels. With the Performance Package, the C63 reaches 481 hp.

Cargo Capacity
The Coupe provides 450 litres of trunk space.

Safety
ATTENTION ASSIST, brake assist, an adaptive braking system and NECK-PRO headrests, along with seven airbags, protect the Coupe's passengers and drivers.

Comparable Models
">Audi A5, BMW 3-Series Coupé, Infiniti G Coupe

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

*References
Brière Francis, L'annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal Transcontinental, 2012, p.418
Duval Jacques, L'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions La Presse, 2012, p.406
http://www.mercedes-benz.ca

Technically, it was my second car. Before that I had a 2002 Dodge Neon SXT, but that was a short-lived experience because it was essentially a beater.

2013 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG

Effortless, immense power from a twin-turbo V-12.

The CL65 AMG is the epitome of a German grand tourer, a unique beast that's half sybaritic sled, half sport coupe. Good God Almighty: There's so much torque on tap from the twin-turbo V-12 engine, it can barely get to the ground, especially if the 20-inch Dunlop tires are cold. You'll be lighting up the rear tires with just the slightest misapplication of your right foot to the accelerator. Forward thrust belies the vehicle's 5000-pound curb weight, and the CL65 hungers for open freeways where it can hurtle along effortlessly at triple digits. Despite our test example's matte paint, this is still a pretty understated car compared with competitors like the Bentley Continental GT. A new S-class is coming soon, and not far behind it will be a new S-class coupe (Mercedes is going to dump the CL badging). There's no word yet whether this wonderful twin-turbo V-12 powertrain will still be offered, so if you've been wanting to join the twelve-cylinder club, there's no time like the present.

Photo Gallery: 2013 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2013 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

2013 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

There's some song, it's an old song -- and#8220;you don't know what you got till it's gone, da da-da da, da-da-da da-da and#8230;and#8221; Well, that's how I feel about the 1996 Jeep Cherokee Classic you see here.

There's a picture of it in a shoebox somewhere, freshly painted red, parked next to our Candian family friends' prized first-generation Mustang.

The 1991 Saturn SL2 wasn't my first car. Those honors go to a 1980 Ford F-150 with a and#8220;

The claim of 'an all-new platform' by Kia Motors was something I challenged when the company first made this statement last year. To the credit of Kia Motors' UK importer, the facts did indeed seem to stack up: the floor was lowered and there are additional front, side and rear structures as well as a more rigid monocoque (torsional stiffness is said to be improved by 18%).

Glenn Brooks tries the latest Sorento and considers the arrival of the era of the £35,000 Kia.

Glenn Brooks tries the latest Sorento and wonders if almost GBP40,000 is too much for a Kia?

Other editors are remembering their long-lost first rides. I still have mine: a 1951 Packard 200 Deluxe Touring Sedan.

Full disclosure: This is my second Supra. My first car ever was a white 1983 model that I foolishly sold. I got seller's remorse and, about a year later, bought this 1984 Supra that came in on trade at the Dodge dealership where I worked.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has reaffirmed her target to bring 1 million electric cars onto German roads by 2020, despite weak interest from consumers.

Renault is ending a five-year partnership with Better Place LLC after the operator of electric-vehicle charging stations announced plans to shut down. The two companies have worked together in Israel and Denmark since 2008.

SENIOR ONLINE EDITOR RORY CARROLL: I can't think of a modern front driver I've had more fun in. What a joyful car. If it were all-wheel drive, I'd be lusting after one.

There is no parking lot outside the Volkswagen and Audi stores that opened side by side last year in Manhattan's main dealership district. Parking on the street, for those lucky enough to find a spot, means popping $3.50 an hour into a parking meter.