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From GMM

Eric Boullier has poured cold water on Lotus' plans to introduce new tires at Silverstone later this month.

Initially wanting to race the tweaks this weekend in Canada, F1's tire supplier said instead that they will be merely tested on Friday ahead of full introduction in Britain.

But Lotus' Boullier is quoted by RMC Sport in Canada: "The (new) tires will not happen in England. Pirelli will test the tires but they need the unanimity of the teams to change the rules, or at least change the type of tires, and today they haven't got it."

Eric Boullier said the hard lobbying of some teams, notably Red Bull and Mercedes, will not make any difference.

"The rules are the same for everyone," he insisted. "They (the current 2013 tires) were tested in Brazil last season. It is a major component of the sporting and technical sides this year, so I don't see why we should change during the season."

Photo: WRi2

World champion Sebastian Vettel, meanwhile, is arguing that the tweaked tires should be pushed through immediately, because rear delamination is a clear safety issue.

"Neither is overly safe, is it?" the German answered, when told of the distinction between tires that deflate and those that simply delaminate.

"I don't want to dramatise, but we saw what can happen with Felipe Massa when the driver is struck by a flying object. I don't want a flying tread to hit my head," Vettel is quoted by Speed Week.

Long roads reveal much
It's interesting how quickly opinions are formed. However, it's the lasting impressions that matter the most. I rather liked the idea of the 2013 Toyota Venza AWD at first, but after spending an extended period with it, my affections quickly dwindled.

It's not that the Venza is a bad car, just that its shortcomings will surface sooner rather than later, and that's a bit of a shame. I really do like the idea of the 2013 Toyota Venza, if only a few tweaks were made here and there.


What is a Toyota Venza?
The Toyota Venza, first introduced in North America in 2008, is essentially a larger Toyota Camry. Based on the same chassis, the Venza falls into that lovely grey area of crossover/wagon/SUV. Personally, I think the Venza is more of a wagon than a crossover as it's more carlike, however, I know there are those who would disagree.

Offering more space and AWD, the Toyota Venza's engines have remained unchanged since its introduction, and as far as looks go, have remained relatively unchanged as well.

First introduced in North America in 2008, the Venza is essentially a larger Toyota Camry.(Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Technicalities
The 2013 Toyota Venza is available in four different trim levels: base, Venza V6, Venza AWD and the Venza V6 AWD. The base and AWD feature Toyota's 2.7L 4-cylinder engine (182 hp), while the others are equipped with a 3.5L V6 (268 hp). There are also a few packages available from a Premium Package (for enhanced seats and amenities) to a Touring & JBL Package for the audiophiles out there.

Power is managed via a 6-speed automatic across the lineup, no manual is available.

Pricing starts at a decent $28,690 for a base 2013 Toyota Venza. However, once you get into the Toyota Venza V6 AWD zone (with a Touring & JBL Package), you're looking close to $40k. My as-tested Venza AWD with Touring Package was sitting pretty at $36,545 -- a decent price for the amenities offered, in my opinion.

The base and AWD feature Toyota's 2.7L 4-cylinder engine (182 hp), while the others are equipped with a 3.5L V6 (268 hp). (Photo: Toyota)

Driving the Toyota Venza
A driver's car the 2013 Toyota Venza most definitely is not. While I appreciated the solid-feeling handling and surefootedness of the AWD (even though our winter months are blissfully behind us), that's where the likes end.

Perhaps I'd feel differently about the 3.5L V6, but the 4-cylinder just felt lazy and tired to me. Too many times the automatic transmission struggled to find the appropriate gear, and when asked to ramp up the pace for highway merges and traffic manoeuvres, the 2013 Toyota Venza AWD felt a bit out of sorts.

The brakes were also rather lacking. I hadn't really noticed it until we loaded up the vehicle to help a family member move. With a loaded trunk, the backseat full of my son, mother-in-law and even more bags, and the front with my husband and I, the empty top portion of the brake pedal seemed to grow even larger. I found myself having to stomp harder than I wanted just to bring the 2013 Toyota Venza to a stop.

Gas mileage was impressive in the 2013 Toyota Venza with my final number hitting the 9.9L/100km mark.

A driver's car the 2013 Toyota Venza most definitely is not. While I appreciated the solid-feeling handling and surefootedness of the AWD, that's where the likes end. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Inside and Out of the Toyota Venza
Where I do like the 2013 Toyota Venza is from the outside. Facelifted in 2012, the new front facia looks awesome. A touch of LED will do a car's front end wonders, and such is the case with the 2013 Toyota Venza AWD.

Inside, the 2013 Toyota Venza AWD seems comfortable, but let me explain. Sure, the backseat is quire cavernous and able to accommodate three adults comfortably or two seemingly in their own zip codes. However, it's up front where things get dicey.

Let's start with the good: I adore the centre console ripe with storage bins, sliding bits and so many ports for plugs and wires I was giddy at the thought of all the things I could charge on our 2-hour+ drive. One of the cupholders is, unfortunately, a bit close to the shift knob and so makes accessing drinks awkward. The onboard entertainment system is easy to use, as are the steering-wheel mounted buttons and controls.

Now, the bad: The seats! While seemingly comfortable at first, by the time we began return journey home my back was a mess. No matter how I adjusted the seat and lumbar support, my tailbone felt as if it were being crushed.

The backseat is quire cavernous and able to accommodate three adults comfortably or two seemingly in their own zip codes. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Comparing the Toyota Venza
The Venza stands amongst some pretty stiff competition with the likes of the Honda Crosstour, Subaru Outback and Chevrolet Equinox. Each has specific areas that clearly outshine the Toyota Venza (Crosstour: interior, Outback: AWD, Equinox: interior space); however, perhaps it's the 2013 Toyota Venza's “happy medium for the right price” that will help set it apart from the pack.

After last week-end races in Detroit, the IndyCar Series has handed out penalties to a number of drivers who showed too much bad manners both on and off the track and for technical violations in another case.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing was fined over $10,000 for technical violations discovered on James Jakes's car after qualifying for Saturday's race. It was determined that his car did not comply with specific rules regarding angles for the rear wing main plane and the height of the main plane trailing edge.

Mike Conway leading the race. (Photo: IndyCar)

Panther Racing's Sebastian Saavedra was fined more than $30,000 for his hand gestures toward Marco Andretti after the Colombian crashed out of the first race. It is a huge sum of money for a young driver but he will have the opportunity to work the fine off by making public appearances for the series over the remainder of the season.

On the other hand, both veterans Will Power and Sebastien Bourdais were both put on probation for the remainder of the season for violating the same rule as Saavedra after their collision in race two.

Power, who threw his gloves at Bourdais, was penalised for improper conduct towards a competitor, while Bourdais was punished for comments made towards an official on pit road.

Infiniti's has denied in Montreal that next year's Renault V6 turbo engines would be rebranded as so.

Infiniti, the Renault-linked Nissan's luxury division, is already Red Bull Racing's title sponsor.

A rumour emerged on May 24 about the possibility of seeing Red Bull-Infiniti F1 cars on the track next year.

Andreas Sigl, Global Director, Infiniti Formula One told Auto123.com that the rumour was not true.

“We have no intentions of rebranding the Renault V6 turbo engines next year.

"When we came into the sport, some people expected us to rebadge the current V8 Renault engine. We refused to do it because the fans and the public in general are no fools and we didn't want to create confusion with a simple rebrand.

"We certainly didn't want to put decals on the cam covers and tell the world ‘this is an Infiniti engine”, Sigl said.

Photo: WRi2

“Additionally, being the title sponsor of the Red Bull team has been highly profitable [as] it is a very good return on the investment.

"When we started in F1 in 2011, very few people outside of North America knew what Infiniti was; that it was a performance and premium brand, making luxury cars.

"This awareness has grown tremendously thanks to our partnership with Red Bull Racing”, he concluded.

From GMM

Tiregate was the predictably hot topic of conversation in the Montreal paddock on Thursday.

Mercedes issued a statement after the FIA said it will convene the international tribunal to consider the apparent breach of the sport's rules regarding in-season testing.

"Sporting integrity is of primary importance to Mercedes-Benz and we have the utmost confidence in the due process of the FIA," said the German team.

Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team

But Thursday's events in Canada showed that there are many outstanding questions about Monaco winner Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton's highly controversial running in the 2013 car at Barcelona.

Why, for example, did the drivers not wear their usual helmet liveries?

"Don't want to comment on that. Sorry," Rosberg told La Gazzetta dello Sport's Paulo Ianieri.

And there is also the matter of Hamilton's 'tweet' from Orlando, Florida, while he was actually testing at the Circuit de Catalunya. And why the circuit entrances were blacked out with cloth?

And contradictory statements.

Team boss Ross Brawn said in Monaco that the Brackley based team had no idea what tires were being tested in Barcelona.

"You are given codes. You don't know what tires you are testing," he had said.

Pirelli agreed, saying in a statement that Mercedes was "in the dark, which means that (the team) had no information on which specifications were being tested or about the goal of the testing".

But Rosberg completely contradicted Brawn and Pirelli on Thursday, revealing: "Of course I was aware of what their (Pirelli's) ideas were and what they were testing to be able to pinpoint for them what was going on and what directions are likely to be best for them".

It is not known when the FIA hearing will take place, but many voices in the paddock admitted they expect Mercedes to be penalised.

"I think it would be absolutely wrong to take Nico's victory from him, so it's more a matter of (how to penalise) the team," world champion Sebastian Vettel said.

"What do you do, exactly? I don't know but maybe (deduct) points? I don't know," he added.

Germany's Bild newspaper also mentioned the possibility of a fine, or a race ban.

From WRC

Citroen Racing's boss hails Robert Kubica's victory in the WRC 2 category of the Acropolis Rally.

The Acropolis was the Formula 1 star's second appearance in the WRC, and came just seven weeks after his first taste of competition on gravel at Rallye de Portugal. 

Kubica took the WRC 2 lead In Greece on the first stage in his Citroen DS3 RRC, and by stage nine was more than two minutes clear of the chasing pack 

He later switched to a more cautious approach, controlling his pace on the rocky gravel stages to clinch the win on Sunday by 1min 29.8sec from Ford Fiesta RRC driver Yuriy Protasov.

Robert Kubica, Citroen Racing. (Photo: WRC)

“Robert had already shown, on gravel and on tarmac, that he has genuine pace, but he still needed to learn about discipline”, refected Yves Matton, Citroen Racing Team Principal. 

“He had a great race, including the final leg when he managed his lead. I have the feeling that this may something of a turning point for him. It certainly augurs well in terms of our shared objective, which is to win the WRC 2 title.”

Kubica said: “There are many things for me to learn still, but it has been a great learning experience and a very productive weekend.” 

“Even when driving slowly, it is still easy to make a mistake when you're tackling stages for the first time, especially in tough conditions. I'm now looking forward to Rally Sardegna, where I can put what I have learned this weekend to good use.”

Toyota has finally unveiled its all-new 2014 Corolla, as foreshadowed by the Furia concept at the Detroit Auto Show in January. The model made its Canadian debut this morning in Ottawa.

The completely redesigned 2014 Toyota Corolla borrows some visual cues from the Furia and sports a large black front grille, more sculpted taillights, as well as plenty of sophisticated interior features.

Two 1.8L four-cylinder engines will be available, including 132-hp and 140-hp variants.

Photo: Toyota

Fernando Alonso of the Scuderia Ferrari set the fastest time of the first two free practice sessions of the Grand Prix of Canada on the Gilles Villeneuve circuit in Montreal.

Rain in the morning left the temporary road course wet enough for Pirelli's intermediate tires right up until the closing minutes of the morning session.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari (Photo: WRI2)

Paul di Resta made the most of his slick tires and set the fastest time in his Sahara Force India, beating Jenson Button in a McLaren and Romain Grosjean in a Lotus. Fernando Alonso was fourth in his Ferrari.

In the sole major incident of the session, Pastor Maldonado spun his Williams and damaged the nose of his FW35 in Turn 3.

The 90-minute afternoon session was run throughout on a dry track after this morning's wet-dry conditions.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG (Photo: WRI2)

Several teams made runs on Pirelli's all-black prototype tires, which should be race ready from Silverstone at the British Grand Prix.

Kimi Raikkonen was quick early on, but Mark Webber, Felipe Massa, Paul di Resta and Nico Rosberg all appeared on top of the timing sheets at one point.

Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus (Photo: WRI2)

Alonso set the fastest time before everybody began to do long runs in preparation for Sunday's race. Alonso set a 1m14.818 to beat Lewis Hamilton in his Mercedes AMG and Grosjean who ranked third once again.

Red Bull Racing's Mark Webber was fourth ahead of Monaco winner, Nico Rosberg in his Mercedes and Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus (Photo: WRI2)

World championship leader, Sebastian Vettel ranked 7th in his Red Bull, finishing ahead of Adrian Sutil of Sahara Force India, Jenson Button in the fastest McLaren and Daniel Ricciardo in his Toro Rosso, who was 6th this morning.

Grand Prix of Canada, free practice 1*, Friday:
1 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'21"020 - 10 laps
2 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'21"108 - 20
3 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'21"258 - 21
4 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'21"308 - 16
5 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'21"608 - 22
6 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'22"068 - 18
7 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'22"402 - 22
8 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'22"587 - 17
9 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'23"047 - 26
10 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'23"131 - 16
11 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'23"341 - 13
12 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'23"352 - 17
13 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'23"366 - 19
14 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'23"417 - 19
15 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'23"957 - 33
16 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'25"054 - 21
17 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'25"354 - 22
18 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'25"753 - 21
19 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'25"821 - 19
20 - Alexander Rossi (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'27"143 - 20
21 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'27"522 - 11
22 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'29"306 - 8

Grand Prix of Canada, free practice 2*, Friday:
1 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'14"818 - 48 laps
2 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'14"830 - 45
3 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'15"083 - 40
4 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'15"212 - 46
5 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'15"249 - 46
6 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'15"254 - 43
7 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'15"280 - 41
8 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'15"396 - 43
9 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'15"422 - 29
10 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'15"566 - 38
11 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'15"599 - 35
12 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'15"661 - 39
13 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'15"855 - 22
14 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'16"319 - 46
15 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'16"351 - 38
16 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'16"374 - 40
17 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'16"475 - 45
18 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'16"929 - 35
19 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'17"070 - 41
20 - Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'17"236 - 35
21 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'17"888 - 45
22 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'18"392 - 39

*Unofficial timing

From GMM

There will be a further delay in the progress with Bernie Ecclestone's bribery charges, the German news agency DPA is reporting.

We reported in mid May that more will be known about the F1 chief executive's German legal troubles in June, such as the court's decision to push ahead with a trial.

But that delay has now been pushed back to July, court spokeswoman Margarete Notzel announced.

She said the further delay is "because of the necessary (German to English) translation work".

From GMM

Tiregate was the predictably hot topic of conversation in the Montreal paddock on Thursday.

Mercedes issued a statement after the FIA said it will convene the international tribunal to consider the apparent breach of the sport's rules regarding in-season testing.

"Sporting integrity is of primary importance to Mercedes-Benz and we have the utmost confidence in the due process of the FIA," said the German team.

Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team

But Thursday's events in Canada showed that there are many outstanding questions about Monaco winner Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton's highly controversial running in the 2013 car at Barcelona.

Why, for example, did the drivers not wear their usual helmet liveries?

"Don't want to comment on that. Sorry," Rosberg told La Gazzetta dello Sport's Paulo Ianieri.

And there is also the matter of Hamilton's 'tweet' from Orlando, Florida, while he was actually testing at the Circuit de Catalunya. And why the circuit entrances were blacked out with cloth?

And contradictory statements.

Team boss Ross Brawn said in Monaco that the Brackley based team had no idea what tires were being tested in Barcelona.

"You are given codes. You don't know what tires you are testing," he had said.

Pirelli agreed, saying in a statement that Mercedes was "in the dark, which means that (the team) had no information on which specifications were being tested or about the goal of the testing".

But Rosberg completely contradicted Brawn and Pirelli on Thursday, revealing: "Of course I was aware of what their (Pirelli's) ideas were and what they were testing to be able to pinpoint for them what was going on and what directions are likely to be best for them".

It is not known when the FIA hearing will take place, but many voices in the paddock admitted they expect Mercedes to be penalised.

"I think it would be absolutely wrong to take Nico's victory from him, so it's more a matter of (how to penalise) the team," world champion Sebastian Vettel said.

"What do you do, exactly? I don't know but maybe (deduct) points? I don't know," he added.

Germany's Bild newspaper also mentioned the possibility of a fine, or a race ban.

The first Friday of June is National Donut Day -- unfortunately, only in the U.S., not in Canada, except for some retailers -- and this year, Chevrolet wanted to celebrate the occasion by creating the biggest donut... with a Camaro ZL1!

National Donut Day honours the Salvation Army women, known as "Doughnut Girls" or "Doughnut Dollies," who distributed the treats to frontline U.S. soldiers during World War I. The inaugural edition took place in 1938, and today some restaurants like Krispy Kreme offer a free donut on National Donut Day.

As for Chevy's involvement, watch this:

Ram and Warner Bros. have jointly launched a new commercial for the Ram 1500 pickup truck as part of a deal promoting the upcoming “Man of Steel” movie (in theatres June 14th).

The 30-second clip stars Superman himself along with the equally famous Ram 1500, mixing scenes from the movie and footage of the truck as the voiceover says, “Everyone has the ability to do something amazing... Some just do it on a more regular basis.”

“Truck of Steel,” anyone?

Photo: RAM

The 2014 Toyota Corolla, marking the 11th generation of the world's best-selling compact car, was introduced today at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa.

First, the media in attendance played a little Q&A game highlighting the long and rich history of the Toyota Corolla, which has been manufactured in Canada since 1986.

Toyota Canada Managing Director Stephen Beatty and President Seiji Ichii took turns on the main stage, which was strategically lit and surrounded by Canadian Pacific wagons of the 1920s. They explained how the 2014 Toyota Corolla will now become an emotional purchase rather than a rational one.

Then, following a NASA-style countdown, eight dancers from Pulse N'Limited hit the stage for a short performance. With electro music rocking the place, the 2014 Toyota Corolla made its glorious entry.

Sporting a completely revised exterior including racy headlights, a gaping front grille, and a sculpted rear, the new Corolla is sure to be a hit.

Photo: Marie-Laurence Paquin

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk intends to drive the Model S from Los Angeles to New York using the company's network of Supercharger quick-charging stations to charge the battery along the way.

While Musk claims it's nothing more than a “personal road trip,” we know better: This will serve as a formidable marketing coup for Tesla as it works to convince buyers of the car's generous range (anywhere between 335 and 427 kilometres, depending on road conditions and driving styles).

Right now, there are less than a dozen Supercharger stations across the U.S. They will charge a Tesla Model S battery to 80% capacity in about 30 minutes -- barely more than a standard highway stop, Musk says.

Tesla's goal is to have hundreds of Supercharger locations totaling 2,000 to 3,000 individual charging ports by 2015.

Source: Green Car Reports

Photo: Tesla Motors

From GMM

Mercedes is expected to face the FIA's international tribunal before the British grand prix at the end of the month, Germany's Auto Motor und Sport is reporting.

Correspondent Michael Schmidt cited sources in saying the sport's governing body is speeding up the process, which in theory could be pushed out as far as 45 days.

But "The process should take place before the British grand prix," said Schmidt from Montreal early on Friday.

Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team

Schmidt also reported on Friday that many in the paddock are surprised that former Ferrari team boss Jean Todt, now the FIA president, excused Ferrari from the proceedings.

Todt ruled that Pedro de la Rosa's Barcelona running with a 2011 car conformed to the rules, but it is believed that the Spaniard was running 2013-specification Pirelli tires.

"And apparently it wasn't Pirelli who paid for that test, but Ferrari," said Schmidt.

And engineers reportedly believe that a 2011 car, with a blown diffuser, is highly comparable to the downforce levels of this year's single seaters.

A rival voice in the paddock said: "Was it really a coincidence that Ferrari then won the Spanish grand prix on the same circuit?"

2014 Toyota Corolla First Look

Toyota's compact is no longer conservative.

The 2014 Toyota Corolla introduced Thursday evening in Santa Monica, California, is intended to bolster the nameplate's relevance in the ever-more-competitive compact car segment. The new Corolla promises to be sportier and more efficient, but away from the driving experience the big story is its styling, which adopts the heavy-breather look we know from the Avalon. This is interesting, and a big departure for the Corolla, which had been outdone in the visual interest department by disposable razors.

Photo Gallery: 2014 Toyota Corolla First Look - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2014 Toyota Corolla First Look - Automobile Magazine

2014 Toyota Corolla First Look | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

The all-new 2014 Corolla is the 11th generation of the largest-selling car in the world. Along with the

We like vintage advertisements for the photos of cars, but they're also invaluable looks back into eras that recede a bit further into the past with the passing of each year.

The

On Wednesday Ford won the 2013 International Engine of the Year for the second-consecutive time. The three-cylinder EcoBoost 1.