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Shopping for a ride in six-digit pricing territory opens the door on a tremendous selection of posh, advanced excellent performance models, and the new BMW M6 Coupe is one of the most recent. Advanced technology, performance, and everyday usability are the big draws here.


BMW's latest M-powered rocket-sled delivers lung-squishing performance, face-peeling acceleration, locked-on handling, and killer looks in a package that's surprisingly easy to drive. Effectively, the 2013 BMW M6 is two cars in one: a comfortable tourer one moment and a fire-breathing sports coupe that's absolutely track-ready when dialed into “M” mode. It's a good thing you get two cars here because the tester, with some options, wore a sticker of $145,000.

The 2013 BMW M6 is two cars in one: a comfortable tourer one moment and a fire-breathing sports coupe that's absolutely track-ready when dialed into “M” mode. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Technicalities
The latest M-power engine motivates the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe. Specifically, it's a 4.4L V8 with targeted upgrades for durability and performance in a motorsports setting. Using turbocharging, it creates simply monstrous output as a pair of exhaust-driven air compressors blast the combustion chambers full of cooled, compressed air at a moment's notice.

The result? The 2013 BMW M6 Coupe generates a monstrous 560 horsepower, and video-game-like sound.

Drivers can expect it to dispense with 0-100 km/h in a tick over 4 seconds, followed by a non-stop flood of torque that blasts the big two-door ahead until the throttle is released. Explosive is a good word to describe acceleration. Drop your foot and after a very brief moment of turbo lag, the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe consumes the road ahead at an absolutely startling rate. If you haven't got the self-control of Buddhist monk, this thing will be the weapon of mass destruction for your driver's license. Often, the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe is just too fast for roads with speed limits.

The transmission is the engine's partner in crime: a 7-speed twin-clutch box that completes an entire gearshift in a blink at the click of a paddle, complete with perfect rev-matching in both directions. Left in drive it functions like a regular automatic, shifting gently and easily.

The 2013 BMW M6 Coupe generates a monstrous 560 horsepower, and video-game-like sound.(Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Driving the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe
Drivers can have all of the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe's performance any way they like thanks to switches that adjust the calibration of the suspension, steering, transmission, and overall system response in real time.

Fully dialed up, the shocks stiffen, the engine gets louder, and the transmission and engine become markedly more responsive. Drivers feel and hear more, and it all works to pull them into the experience right down to the steering that thickens up. Set up thusly, handling dynamics capitalize on the M6's size and weight for a stable, solid, and clamped-on agility that's big on confidence.

All the while, it fully reminds you that you'll get nowhere near the limits of its grip on a public road.

When a more relaxed drive is in order, the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe is surprisingly laid-back. It proves largely quiet and comfortable when cruising the highway in no particular rush.

Drivers can have all of the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe's performance any way they like thanks to switches that adjust the calibration of the suspension, steering, transmission, and overall system response in real time. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Ins and Outs of the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe
Complaints were minimal, as expected of a car with pricing bordering on real-estate territory. Rearward visibility is limited, as is back-seat space. Fuel consumption is very reasonable during gentle highway driving, though it can spike as high as 17L / 100km in the city if you don't watch your right foot.

Drivers enjoy the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe from a cabin lined sumptuously with carbon fibre, leather, and gadgets; and in the case of the tester, $6k worth of stereo upgrades from Bang & Olufsen. I have no idea what their stereo sounds like, however... Twin-turbo V8, and all.

Front seat space is generous, even for taller drivers. Numerous passengers throughout the week admitted to expecting a far stiffer and noisier ride, as did I.

And, on a personal level, I'm not a fan of such a huge array of tech-y gadgets in a high-performance car, but gadget-geek types will love it.

Drivers enjoy the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe from a cabin lined sumptuously with carbon fibre, leather, and gadgets (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Comparing the 2013 BMW M6
At this price range, there's no shortage of worthy options. The Audi R8 is less powerful for the money, but arguably attracts more attention than anything this side of a half-million dollars. The Jaguar XKR is more dated and not as powerful, but it's sumptuously classy and extremely attractive -- for thousands less. A Porsche 911 Carrera S is just as quick in a straight line, and feels more agile and lively to drive hard.

Ultimately, the 2013 BMW M6 will appeal highly for its size, space, high-tech flare, and all-out firepower. Having to choose a model from the above list is a nice problem to have.

From GMM

Even at the age of 71, Sir Frank Williams sees a long future for his eponymous formula one team.

Asked by La Presse newspaper to reveal the secret of his team's longevity, Williams answered cheekily: "The simple answer is that we started earlier than many other teams."

Indeed, like Ferrari and McLaren, the name Williams is synonymous with formula one, and Sir Frank has no plans to change that.

Keke Rosberg, Williams, 1985. (Photo: WRi2)

"We can dream that we will continue indefinitely, and I sincerely hope so," said the Briton.

"As long as formula one exists, we will be there, and we will bring this team back on the path of success. Everyone is fascinated by cars, boats and planes, and that will never change. Passion and competition in sport will not change, and we hope to be part of it for a long time to come," added Williams.

The current chapter in the life of the Oxfordshire based team, however, is a particularly difficult one.

Valtteri Bottas, Monaco, 2013. (Photo: Williams F1 Team)

But Williams argues: "There has never been an easy time for Williams. The time when we were winning was the least difficult, but it was still very difficult.

"The time of active suspension was very difficult, but easier than it is now, because it was possible to have a definitive advantage," he explained.

"The technological gains of the 90s and 2000s have now been somewhat replaced by gains in aerodynamics, which has made it more difficult for all of the teams."

This continues to be a huge debate. I'm closing in on 15 years working in the car bizz and, as someone who dishes out advice, I'm continually asked whether one should lease or buy.

Let me start by stating that leasing a used car without a manufacturer-backed warranty is a seriously bad idea. In fact, unless you intend on getting an insanely thorough inspection to get an idea of upcoming maintenance and repairs needed, you will not escape a brake job or some other type of expensive work throughout the course of the lease.


As a consumer counselor working at the Automobile Protection Association (APA) a few years ago, I must have faced this question thousands of times.
The short answer was always to look at the Big Picture. And this is what it was: Picking the right new car and maintaining it properly would ensure a solid 10 years of service from said car. After the five-year financing period, only average wear and tear would need financial attention. After 10 years, the car would still be worth a few grand (a 2004 Corolla goes for $6,000 on average) and its value could be applied to the purchase of a new car.

In the case of a 48-month lease on a new car, the principal advantage is lower monthly payments. That's it. At the end of the lease, you are left with nothing, so you lease again. At the end of the second lease, you are once again left with zero. Add both leases (or 96 payments) along with the “nothing” at the end and you'll have saved nothing in the long run. If anything, your out-of-pocket spending will have been greater than an outright purchase.

So, the bottom line is that leasing is far less advantageous in the long run. And that's the current state of affairs. Leasing continues to be a very popular avenue for consumers getting behind the wheel of a new car because the long run is no longer applicable. Millennials (born 1977-‘97) stay an average of 4.4 years at a single job, whereas a generation ago lifers were commonplace.

This could explain the continued trend, but either way when I see a brand new study that states leasing is the greatest deal ever, I can't help but get a little upset. Factor in the countless lease-return nightmare stories and I continue to wonder why people pay for continuous headaches.

My best piece of advice reads like this: If you can afford to purchase a car with cash, you can afford to lease. If not, finance a new car or, better yet, finance a used one. Make sure you get it inspected prior to signing anything!

From GMM

A proposal by Ferrari to ease F1's strict testing limits was voted down in Monaco.

The Italian team, the owner of the Mugello and Fiorano circuits, proposed that teams be allowed to trade wind tunnel hours, straightline testing and promotional days in exchange for more actual circuit testing.

But Germany's Auto Motor und Sport claims the proposal was narrowly defeated in a vote.

Rumours of Ferrari's proposal were soon deafened by the controversy about Mercedes' 'secret' Barcelona test, about which Ferrari and Red Bull protested.

But Ferrari is also being probed for its own Pirelli tire test, also run at Barcelona but with a 2011 car and Pedro de la Rosa at the wheel.

Red Bull's Christian Horner has defended the Italian team, saying only Mercedes' test with a 2013 car should be under the spotlight.

And O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper also quotes Red Bull designer Adrian Newey as saying: "A test with a 2011 car is legal."

The 'secret' Mercedes test is certain to be a big topic of conversation this weekend in Canada, where another good performance by the Monaco-winning team would be controversial.

Toto Wolff, Mercedes AMG. (Photo: WRi2)

Mercedes' Toto Wolff said the Brackley based team's improved performance at recent races is simply the result of hard work.

"Our car has been on pole position for the last four races, which shows our basic speed, so the focus in that time has been on improving our performance on Sunday afternoons. We managed this in Monaco, partly thanks to the unique characteristics of the circuit. This weekend will give us a more representative indication of how much progress we have made," he said.

Here is the entry list for the Formula 1 race to be held this weekend on the Gilles Villeneuve temporary road circuit in Montreal.

The Formula 1 field is made of 22 drivers from 11 teams. There were 12 teams last year but Formula 1 has lost the small Spanish HRT outfit last winter.

Entries:

1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault RB9
2 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault RB9

3 Fernando Alonso Ferrari-Ferrari F138
4 Felipe Massa Ferrari-Ferrari F138

5 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes MP4-28
6 Sergio Perez McLaren-Mercedes MP4-28

7 Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault E21
8 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault E21

9 Nico Rosberg Mercedes AMG-Mercedes W04
10 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes AMG-Mercedes W04

11 Nico Hulkenberg Sauber-Ferrari C32
12 Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari C32

14 Paul di Resta Sahara Force India-Mercedes VJM06
15 Adrian Sutil Sahara Force India-Mercedes VJM06

16 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault FW35
17 Valtteri Bottas Williams-Renault FW35

18 Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari STR8
19 Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari STR8

20 Charles Pic Caterham-Renault CT03
21 Giedo van der Garde Caterham-Renault CT03

22 Jules Bianchi Marussia-Cosworth MR02
23 Max Chilton Marussia-Cosworth MR02

With its numerous chicanes and its two hairpin corners, the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit, located on Ile Notre-Dame near Montreal is one of the most demanding circuits of the season in terms of braking power and endurance.


A lap of the 4.361km track takes just 75 seconds on average, the quickest single lap time of the season. This is due in part to the relatively short length, but also to the long straights of the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.

The straights are connected by tight hairpins where the cars brake down to a little under 60kph, so the normally aspirated V8 engines must combine good top end power with effective engine braking and pick up on the entry and exits to the corners.

Accoring to Brembo engineers, the hardest braking takes place for the Epingle hairpin corner. The cars decelerate by some 227 km/h, and 2,136 kilowatts of energy are released in the process. The drivers endure some 5.25 g longitudinally.

Gilles Villeneuve Circuit info*
Length (km): 4.361
Average Speed (km/h): 199
Top Speed (km/h): 317
% of lap at full throttle: 57
Fuel consumption (kilos per lap): 2
Fuel consumption (litres per 100km): 66
* From Renault Sport F1

Number of laps in the race: 70
Total distance: 305,270km
Lap record: Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari (2004) : 1m13,622

Previous winners:
2012: Lewis Hamilton, McLaren
2011: Jenson Button, McLaren
2010: Lewis Hamilton, McLaren
2008: Robert Kubica, Sauber

Tesla Motors will launch its smaller electric sedan in late 2016, with a range of at least 200 miles and a price point "half" of the flagship Model S, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said.

The Chevrolet SS sports sedan will carry a sticker price of $44,470, including shipping, making it Chevy's priciest sedan when it goes on sale in the fourth quarter.

May 2013 Auto Sales

Summer starts off hot.

After slowing a bit in April, U.S. auto sales are accelerating heading into summer. The annualized sales pace was back over 15 million units in May, driven by continued strong pickup truck sales, residual demand, affordable and available financing, and also some fairly hefty incentives. The industry overall beat last May by a robust 8%. With trucks a major factor -- thanks particularly to a fast-rebounding housing market -- the domestic automakers did particularly well. Nissan and Subaru also were two import brands that enjoyed a particularly strong month. But automakers that saw modest gains overall had at least something to boast about in press releases. It looks like the start of a sizzling summer.

Photo Gallery: May 2013 Auto Sales - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: May 2013 Auto Sales - Automobile Magazine

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From Russia--presumably--comes this aptly titled video, "Bear Crosses Unforeseen and is Impacted. Falling with Style Breakdance." There isn't much to say about it aside from that.

Volvo introduced the widely used three-way catalytic converter in 1976, with its four-cylinder models made for California.

Billionaire megadealer Norman Braman's two-tier pricing lawsuit against General Motors appears headed for a settlement.

Chutes and ladders seem to be par for the course at Tesla.

The Mint 400 bills itself as the toughest, most spectacular off-road race in North America. It was started in 1967 by Norm Johnson, who wanted to promote The Mint Hotel in Las Vegas.

2014 Chevrolet Impala Great Lakes Circle Tour: Lake Superior

Give me Gitchee Gumee

This is the final installment of a five-part series chronicling our Great Lakes Circle Tour in the 2014 Chevrolet Impala. We started with Lake Erie. Day two brought us around Lake Ontario. Then we hit Lake Huron. Thursday we skirted Lake Michigan.

Photo Gallery: 2014 Chevrolet Impala Great Lakes Circle Tour: Lake Superior - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2014 Chevrolet Impala Great Lakes Circle Tour: Lake Superior - Automobile Magazine

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AutoNation, the largest U.S. dealership group, said its new-vehicle retail sales rose 11 percent in May compared to last May. AutoNation retailed 26,372 vehicles last month, compared with 23,763 units in May 2012.

Mr. Smith didn't make it to Washington. He didn't even make it to West Los Angeles.

Chrysler has refused to recall 2.7m Jeep Liberty (exported as Cherokee) and Grand Cherokee vehicles as requested in a letter from NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).

Chrysler Group said today it does not intend to honor a request from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall as many as 2.7 million Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs.

Enterprise Holdings named Pamela M. Nicholson, the rental-car company's president, as chief executive, the first CEO to come from outside the founding Taylor family.