Auto News 5

From Cornwall Motor Speedway

It was Ladies Night Sunday at Cornwall Motor Speedway as gorgeous weather greeted race teams and fans as a complete race program for all five divisions was on tap as Alexandria Home Hardware sponsored the evening.

Rookie contender Gabriel Richer took the early lead in the 30-lap Jiffy Auto Services Modified feature but Chris Raabe quickly passed him on lap 3. While Raabe pulled away, Richer faded to fifth as Tim O'Brien, Luke Whitteker and Kyle Dingwall were now in front of him.

A serious crash occurred in turn 3 on lap 9 as Laurent Ladouceur landed on his roof in turn 3 and sustained severe damage, Laurent was ok. Raabe ran away as the feature got back to green with Whitteker now running second and Brian McDonald now in third. Raabe was able to survive to other cautions to pick his first win of 2013 at Cornwall in front of Whitteker, McDonald, Dingwall and Kayle Robidoux rounded out the top 5.

In the 20-lap Alexandria Home Hardware Pro-Stock Feature race, Dave Seguin led the way as Charles-David Beauchamp was second. Beauchamp got to the lead on lap 2 as PJ Peters followed the leader in second. Beauchamp resisted to charges from Peters as 4 cautions slowed the feature race in the middle portion. Beauchamp survived a late charge from Peters to win his first feature in his career over Peters and Marc Lalonde.

Terry Ladouceur led the way in the 20-lap Tracy Wheeler Storm Realty Sportsman Feature as Mike Stacey and Billy Cook completed the top 3 after 4 laps.

After a caution, Ladouceur was the leader as Jessica Power was now in third. Power got the lead using the inside lane just before Bill Mullin and John Mills got together as the feature got to halfway point. While Power was in front, Joey Ladouceur and Chris Herbison were now in the top 3. Power leads the final circuit to win her first event in Cornwall over Ladouceur and Herbison.

The 15-lap Evans Bus Lines Semi-Pro Feature closed the evening as Adam Delormier grabbed the early lead. An early caution gave the opportunity to Derek Cryderman to grab the lead. Cryderman led the final portion to win his third feature in a row.

In the 12-lap Baxtrom YIG Mini-Stock feature, Elizabeth Gauthier landed on her roof in turn 1, she was ok. When the green flag was back out, Pierre Robidoux gained the lead but lost power giving the top spot to Mike Gaucher with Justin Desrosiers running closely. Gaucher was able to resist claiming his third feature in a row over Desrosiers and Dudes Thompson.

Do not miss next week as on the biggest shows of 2013 is finally here with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car series in town, with the fastest cars on DIRT! The best drivers in that category will be in Cornwall to compete for the coveted $10,000 to win!

From GMM

Eddie Jordan has tipped Red Bull to pick Daniel Ricciardo as Sebastian Vettel's new teammate for 2014.

Lotus team boss Eric Boullier said as recently as last Friday that he is doing "everything we can" to convince Kimi Raikkonen to stay next season.

Eddie Jordan, a former F1 team owner turned broadcaster for British television, thinks the Finn will ultimately decide to turn down Red Bull's admitted strong interest.

"At first I was pretty sure that Raikkonen will replace Mark Webber," Jordan told Russia's f1news.ru.

"But now I'm ready to change my mind. Sebastian Vettel is staying until 2015 and so it's probably not the best time to become his teammate," he admitted.

"I think Red Bull will opt for Daniel Ricciardo. I don't think Raikkonen wants to get into an extensive programme at Red Bull, with all the marketing, the work with the sponsors, the photo shoots and so on. That's the sort of work that every driver for that team has to do. Red Bull has a marketing programme, but Kimi Raikkonen just wants to race. I doubt they will find common ground," added Jordan.

Kimi Raikkonen. (Photo: Lotus F1 Team)

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher, however, thinks Raikkonen should snap up Red Bull's offer.

"In his situation," the former Williams and Toyota driver said, "I would go to Red Bull without hesitation -- not for a second.

"It's true that we don't know every detail, like what kind of agreement Sebastian Vettel has," the German is quoted by Finland MTV3 broadcaster.

"But if the team gives both drivers the same equipment, it would be a great opportunity for Kimi, because he's a great driver."

As they say, the show must go on.

For those who worried how the bankruptcy of Detroit would affect the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), Executive Director Rod Alberts confirmed that the 2014 edition (January 13-26) will take place no matter what.

The Cobo Center is independent of the city, and is managed and operated by a regional authority, so no funding from the city is needed for Cobo. The NAIAS is also an independent organization and will not be impacted in its operation or funding.

Detroit's NAIAS each year brings more than $350 million in economic impact to the Southeastern Michigan region.

Photo: NAIAS

The auto industry is currently undergoing a monumental shift - definitely one of the biggest in its long and rich history which dates back to more than 100 years ago.

Up until the end of the 20th century, people didn't really bother with fuel economy given how cheap liquid gold was. Things have dramatically changed in the new millennium, with skyrocketing prices forcing budget-minded and environmentally conscious drivers to turn to more fuel-efficient alternatives.

Barely ten years ago, green cars were a pretty rare sight on the road; in 2013, consumers have a host of models to choose from in various segments: highly efficient gasoline engines, diesel engines, hybrids (including plug-in hybrids), extended-range electric vehicles, and 100% electric vehicles. Automakers have fully embraced this new trend, and continue to make sizable efforts to reduce your bills at the pump and our collective dependence on fossil fuels.

In this section you will find anything and everything about today's green vehicles. Enjoy!

	Green Car Reviews and Comparisons These reviews will help you understand the benefits, the joys, and the limitations of these all-new vehicles that are rapidly growing in popularity among Canadian drivers... Read more
	Green Car Previews The “Green Car Previews” section of the Auto123.com Green Car Guide contains a list of previews and reviews of most hybrid, all-electric, diesel, and highly... Read more
	All-Electric Cars 101 The "All-Electric Cars 101" section of the Auto123.com Green Car Guide is an introduction to the fascinating, yet confusing world of all-electric vehicles... Read more
	Green Car Buying Guide Fourty years ago, right after the second oil crisis, regular unleaded gas was selling for 12 cents per litre. At that price, a run-of-the-mill 6-cylinder-engined vehicle that burned... Read more

From GMM

Sergey Sirotkin's current boss, Igor Salaquarda, thinks the Russian teen's formula one opportunity has come way too early.

Sirotkin, not yet 18, is in line to make his grand prix debut next March with Sauber, as his father is linked to the Swiss team's new Russian partners.

But Speed Week reports that, amid the new F1-fueled fanfare surrounding Sirotkin as he raced in Austria at the weekend, his boss Salaquarda "shook his head".

"All this hype is not good for him," the owner of the Czech team ISR was quoted as saying at the Red Bull Ring.

"That's way too much pressure -- he's only 17! He is definitely too young (for F1)," Igor Salaquarda continued. "I don't mean that he can't do it physically -- anyone can drive a formula one car today. It's much harder to cope with the enormous pressure of the world championship."

Sergey Sirotkin. (Photo: Renault Sport)

Salaquarda compares Sirotkin with Daniel Ricciardo, the Australian who drove for ISR in 2011 before he made to the leap to formula one with HRT.

"Daniel came from British F3 and was then in the World Series for two years," he said. "But Sergey has only driven in Formula Abarth - a series I don't know - and Auto GP and Italian F3, but in both those series he had little serious competition. As such, he was fast. But if anyone is expecting him to win here right now, it's simply too much to ask. Already in the Eurocup 2.0 there is a great deal of competition, same as the (European) F3 championship, but Sergey skipped both those steps. He should spend more time in the 3.5 litre class to gain more experience."

Igor Salaquarda also questioned Sirotkin's approach to motor racing this year.

"Daniel (Ricciardo) was always alone at the tracks, spending the whole time with the team," he said.

"But Sergey comes with a whole entourage; sometimes it's hard for us to catch up with him. These guys should concentrate on working with the team," he insisted.

BMW Canada today announced that its first-ever all-electric production car will go on sale in the first half of 2014 starting at $44,950. The BMW i3 is scheduled to make its world debut next Monday at simultaneous events in New York, London, and Beijing, as well as online via YouTube.

BMW i3 products and services will be sold via a multi-channel sales model comprised of authorized BMW i partners, a Customer Interaction Center (CIC), as well as an online platform. Customers will be able to personalize their entire purchasing process to suit their needs.

Some markets will also introduce a mobile sales force, a sales team which will be available to customers outside the traditional showroom.

Moreover, BMW will provide the following services with the i3:

• Domestic charging station (''Wallbox'') installation;
• Partnerships with public charging providers ;
• DriveNow car sharing, which has over 130,000 members;
• ConnectedDrive apps and roadside services such as mobile recharging equipment

Photo: BMW

From PMRA

Reigning series champion Eric Latino won his first race of the season in the Pro Modified Racing Association in an event held during the 14th Annual IHRA MOPAR Nitro Jam Nationals presented by Parts Canada held over the weekend at the Grand Bend Motorplex.

The win was the second in a row at the prestigious IHRA national event for the Team Green 1969 Chevy Camaro Pro Modified driver from Whitby, Ontario.

Latino, who qualified number two with a 6.103-second, 240.08-mph pass, bested three-time PMRA champion Bruce Boland of Stoney Creek, Ontario with his 1953 Corvette Pro Modified in the final round.

Latino eliminated Steve Legere of Trois Rivieres, Quebec and then Kenny Lang of Manitoba to advance to the final.

Meanwhile Boland, who qualified number four in the field (6.218, 230.92), eliminated Jack Grainy of Basom, New York and number one qualifier (6.080, 239.31) Rocky De Lecce of Mississauga, Ontario to meet up with Latino the final.

Other PMRA racers out in the first round included Sam Andreacchi of Toronto, Ontario and Tim Martin of Barrie, Ontario.

Presently leading the PMRA Championship Point Award Series is Di Lecce with 1357. Second is Grainy with 1194 points, and Boland is third with 1132. Derek Hawker of Corbyville, Ontario is fourth with 1113 points, and Paolo Giust of Osgoode, Ontario is fifth with 757 points.

This was the fifth of seven races on the 2013 PMRA schedule.

Next event for the Pro Modifieds is August 9-11 at the Stratford Spectacular Hot August Nationals presented by Ideal Supply & NAPA Auto Parts to be held at Grand Bend.

In order to showcase the robust quality and reliability of its vehicles, Mazda will send 8 all-new 2014 Mazda3 cars on a unique endurance trip from Hiroshima, Japan, to Frankfurt, Germany -- in time for the auto show that opens on September 10th.

All of these Mazda3s will be powered by a 118-horsepower SKYACTIV-G gasoline engine mated to a 6-speed SKYACTIV-MT manual transmission.

After taking a ferry across the Sea of Japan, the main overland portion of the adventure will begins in Vladivostok, with 3 legs separating the drivers from Krasnoyars. The 7 ensuing legs of the tour will take between 3-6 days each to cover.

Overall, the 2014 Mazda3 cars will cross 9 time zones, 5 countries, and 2 continents.

This will be the third time that Mazda models have taken part in such an extreme test drive. In 1977, German reporters drove Mazda 323 hatchbacks from Japan to Frankfurt. The expedition was followed up successfully in 1990, when 4 Mazda 626s crossed the former Soviet Union.

Photo: Mazda

It was the end of an era as the American Le Mans Series raced for the fifteenth and last time at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (CTMP) this past weekend.

Next year ALMS will merge with the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series to form the new United Sports Car Series - which has yet to announce whether their race card will include CTMP.

HPD ARX-03a Muscle Milk (Photo: René Fagnan)

It was a perfect finale, the oppressive heat having lifted for a glorious day of exciting racing at the former Mosport circuit located east of Toronto.

Scoring their fourth consecutive ALMS LMP1 victory was Muscle Milk Pickett Racing, driven by Klaus Graf and Lucas Luhr. Only the crowd favourite, the No. 0 DeltaWing driven by Andy Meyrick and Katherine Legge even came close to threatening Muscle Milk's total class domination early in the race, until engine trouble forced it to drop out.

DeltaWing LM12 (Photo: René Fagnan)

Asked to comment on the recent changes to the track's surface Graf remarked that if anything, the "new asphalt patches gave them a lot of grip so they were much faster", yet he didn't feel that the track was any more dangerous thanks to all the extra safety measures.

Graft said the demanding circuit was a favourite among the drivers. "Obviously, we don't know the schedule yet, but we really hope for us, for the fans and for our colleague Ron Fellows that we come back to this great track."

Corvette C6 ZR1 (Photo: René Fagnan)

The GT class provided the most excitement of the race, with the battle for first raging right down to the wire. The No. 4 Corvette driven by Tommy Milner and Oliver Gavin, charged ahead of the No. 91 Viper GTS-R driven by Dominik Farnbacher and Marc Goossens to take the win by only 0.267 seconds.

It was an impressive showing by the SRT Viper team, returning from a ten-year hiatus to take the second and third place finishes.

HPD ARX-03b P2 (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Level 5 Motorsports took their third straight win in the LMP2 class with Marino Franchitti and Scott Tucker driving the No. 551 HPD ARX-03b. They finished second overall, 4 laps down the winning Muscle Milk LMP1 car.

CORE Autosport scored the podium in PC, driven by Colin Braun and Jon Bennett.

Taking the top honours in GTC class was Alex Job Racing's No 23 WeatherTech Porsche 911 GT3 driven by Jeroen Bleekemolen and Cooper MacNeil.

SRT Viper GTS-R (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Consumption competition
Sometimes, change is necessary. It might not always seem like the best idea, or even be easy, but sometimes it's needed. A change can be refreshing it can even be enlightening. Sometimes, sticking to the same-old, same-old is just that: the same old.

Such is very much the truth when it comes to automobiles. Change brings about new technology, inventions, and designs. Change means customers have more to choose from, other options; sometimes better options.

What does all this have to do with diesel vehicles and our latest comparison drive? Well, when we suddenly got our hands on a brand new 2014 Chevrolet Cruze 2.0TD (powered by a diesel engine), we immediately wanted to pit it against the name tried and tested in the auto industry, in North America, when it comes to diesel: Volkswagen.

It's no lie that Volkswagen is the leader in diesel cars in our market, and that's not necessarily because they're the best, but more because they are the only option. Besides the American diesel trucks, there are very few options in North America when it comes to affordable diesel-powered family sedans.

However, the time has come for Volkswagen to have some serious competition, and not just from the likes of Chevy. Mazda is lining up the Mazda6 diesel, and Honda is teasing with a diesel Accord. Finally, we'll have a few more options.

But do we want them?

Well, that's what we set out to discover. While we tried out best to get our hands on a Jetta TDI, we had to settle for a Golf TDI which we knew was identical in all specs to the Jetta and nearly every point to the Chevy Cruze diesel (vehicle weight, price, space, engine), despite the segment difference.

So, we set out on a daylong drive -- covering close to 375 kilometres on open highways and country lanes and some traffic laden city settings. Who proved more efficient? More pleasant to drive? More economical overall? Did we prove that VW still holds the diesel crown or are they about to be dethroned by the newcomers?

Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre

Continue reading VW vs. Chevy: The diesel Comparison Drive

From GMM

Andy Webb, the Marussia team chief executive, insists he is not disappointed F1 rival Sauber landed the major Russian sponsor deal.

Reports on Sunday indicated the value of Sauber's new Russian investment could top an incredible half a billion dollars.

But, already flying Russia's flag on the grid, might Marussia - the team with the smallest budget in formula one - have expected to secure the deal?

"First of all," Webb told Russia's Championat, "I don't think the deal with Sauber is actually finalised. Some aspects are yet to be completed.

"In any case, in my view, the higher the interest in formula one in Russia, the better. I don't think the agreement between the Russians and Sauber will be the last thing like that we will see (in F1).

"I think Russia is more and more interested in formula one and supports it more and more. I can only welcome that," Marussia's Webb added.

Photo: Marussia F1 Team

Sauber's Russian tie-up will also bring a Russian driver - the teen rookie Sergey Sirotkin - to the grid.

Andy Webb admitted Marussia is also open to signing a Russian driver.

"We've been aware of him (Sirotkin), of course," he told the Ria Novosti news agency. "We want a Russian driver, but we want a Russian driver there on merit. There's the obvious one, (Vitaly) Petrov. But it's very difficult to find the next one coming through."

From GMM

Michael Schumacher has singled out a quartet of drivers as the very best in formula one at present.

The great German, who with 91 wins and seven titles is the most successful driver in the sport's history, finally called time on his long career at the end of last season.

Now, watching on, the 44-year-old Schumacher said he is most impressed by a group of four.

"Vettel, Alonso, Raikkonen and Hamilton are the best at the moment," he told the Italian Sky programme I Signori della Formula 1.

"They're all human, of course, so they all have their weaknesses, but they all work hard to hide them. But that is also the secret to always-better results and to not making mistakes. I am not going to analyse it further -- I think the best one wins," Schumacher smiled.

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) leading Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) in Montreal. (Photo: WRi2)

The former Ferrari and Mercedes driver was also asked to comment on the 2013 season, and unsurprisingly, it didn't take long before the 't'-word was uttered.

"The season is not so much different from the previous one," he said, "except perhaps when it comes to the problems with the tires. I already said last year after Bahrain that something is not working quite right, that there are problems, but now everyone has noticed.

"On the other hand, as always, the best one wins. And that is rightly so," added Schumacher.

"The biggest problem for me is that the tires should be compatible with the majority of the teams, not just a few cars as has happened in these last two years," he said.

I was chatting with Miranda recently about some of our memorable drives and how those memories related mostly to the cars we were driving. In the course of the conversation, I came up with my three favourite 2013 model year cars I had the chance to drive.

The list is a little odd, to say the least, but it all makes sense -- at least to me. If you've read any of Auto123.com's material, mine in particular, you'll have probably noted that the Ford Mustang Boss 302 and Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 have left indelible marks on my psyche.

These two cars embody everything that the car business represents in my books. They are magnificently efficient and rapid ways to cover ground in a whirlwind of sights and sounds. As I write these lines, I'm developing goose bumps thinking about the two cars -- or is that because I'm listening to Portishead?

It is then fairly easy to understand why these cars are on my list; they're fast, sexy, and freakin' fast! Wait, did I say that already? But the third car?

The last member on this list is the 2013 Volvo XC70 T6 AWD. How's that for a contrast?

If the ‘Stang and ‘Maro are young and “hip” cars; the Volvo is the exact opposite. It's a station wagon (which I absolutely love), and, well, it's a Volvo... Tack on the fact that my tester was brown and the image is complete.

You see, here's a car that with 300 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque can really move and can also cover ground at quite the clip.

This is how we got on the subject as I took the XC70 to New York City in the spring for the Auto Show. A part of the road to get there from my hood crosses the Adirondack Mountains and I could not think of a better road trip car with space, luxury, comfort, lots and lots of comfort, and power other than the XC70.

Truth be told, I'd probably take the Volvo XC70 over the other two if I could only pick one... Nah, I wouldn't... Or would I?

Tastes are a matter that cannot really be discussed and many are often baffled by my often ridiculous or off-the-wall discriminations, but I'm of the opinion that variety is the spice of life.

Tastes come in all shapes and sizes. Clearly, this applies to me. Now, if Porsche built a pickup, my list would have to grow to four units...

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

From GMM

Kevin Magnussen has admitted he wants to make his formula one debut in 2014.

The 20-year-old Dane, whose father is the former F1 driver Jan Magnussen, is a leading figure in McLaren's driver development programme.

He impressed in the Woking based team's 2013 car last week, topping the times at Silverstone as he spent Wednesday at the 'young driver test'.

But McLaren's 2014 driver lineup seems locked up, as Jenson Button has vowed to stay put, and Mexican Sergio Perez will surely get another chance.

Kevin Magnussen. (Photo: McLaren F1 Team)

"My goal is to compete in F1 as early as 2014," Magnussen told Italy's Italiaracing.

"If I can't do it with McLaren, we'll try it with another team," he added.

"That wouldn't mean that the relationship with McLaren is affected, as there are other similar situations in F1 that are going smoothly."

Magnussen was surely referring to Jules Bianchi, who made his grand prix debut this year with Marussia, despite featuring in Ferrari's driver 'academy'.

This month's management briefing considers the latest developments in automotive interiors. In this instalment, we include questions to Harman about its new product for BMW, and take a look at global HVAC shares. Exclusive extracts are provided from our QUBE intelligence services.

A new Korean plant built by Toyota affiliate Denso, which will supply Hyundai and its sister enterprises, underscores a shift in the auto parts industry, from suppliers linked closely to one automaker to a handful of global giants that assemble...

Nissan plans to start selling more China-inspired cars around the world in a nod to the growing importance of China's auto market and the country's up-and-coming design talent. GM and VW are also using China as a springboard for global design.

The “Green Car Previews” section of the Auto123.com Green Car Guide contains a list of previews and reviews of most hybrid, all-electric, diesel, and highly efficient gasoline models available in Canada.

Compact/Sub-compact

	2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX Energi In the lead up to the 2012 show in Detroit, Ford released a few more specifications for the upcoming Ford C-MAX Hybrid and its plug-in variant, the Ford C-MAX Energi... Read more
	2013 Honda CR-Z The CR-Z is virtually in a class of its own at the moment. Certain non-hybrid models can be considered as potential rivals such as... Read more
	2013 Honda Insight The 2013 Honda Insight is equipped with 6 airbags, traction control, vehicle stability assist, and immobilizer theft-deterrent... Read more
	2013 Lexus CT 200h There are no major changes to report for 2013. However, the CT 200h now offers a 4-way power adjustable passenger seat, along with a centre armrest... Read more
	2013 Toyota Prius c Pleasant driving dynamics, a wind-slicing silhouette, and great fuel economy are some of the key attributes of the 2013 Toyota Prius c, the most... Read more
	2013 Toyota Prius v The 2013 Toyota Prius v is one of the most economical family vehicles in the industry. Its spacious interior offers 50% more overall room than the original Prius 5... Read more

Mid-size

	2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 Fast, efficient and probably rare, the 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 promises reduced fuel consumption around town. At more than $58K, however, that comes at a price... Read more
	2013 Buick LaCrosse eAssist According to various experts, the Buick LaCrosse sets itself apart by its excellent build quality, fit and finish, quality materials and spacious interior... Read more
	2013 Buick Regal eAssist The eAssist version of the Buick Regal has a direct injection 2.4 litre 182 hp ECOTEC engine, an electric generator/motor, stop/start technology, and a 115 volt lithium-ion battery... Read more
	2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid The 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, which is more powerful and economical than its predecessor, can now be driven in 100% all-electric mode longer and more often than... Read more
	2013 Kia Optima Hybrid The 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid is equipped with a multitude of safety features including 6 airbags, ABS brakes, rear vision camera, automatic brake system... Read more
	2013 Lincoln MKZ hybrid The 2013 Lincoln MKZ hybrid is a luxury 4-door sedan that comfortably seats five. The stunning MKZ exterior and interior design is based on Lincoln's... Read more
	2013 Toyota Camry hybrid The ride and handling of the 2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid are identical to its gasoline-powered sibling. It offers a spacious interior, creamy-smooth ride and superb fuel economy... Read more

SUV

	2013 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid The Cadillac Escalade is the only hybrid-powered full-size luxury SUV in the market. Its combined fuel-economy rating of 9.5 L/100 km may raise some eyebrows, but... Read more
	2013 GMC Yukon / Chevy Tahoe Hybrid The 2013 GMC Yukon hybrid (along with its Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid twin) can tow between 2,586 and 2,812 kg depending on choice of models. This amounts to... Read more
	2013 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid The Porsche lineup has included an SUV for over 10 years now. The environmentally-friendly Porsche Cayenne S hybrid was introduced in 2011. A 333 hp VW-Audi engine and... Read more

Luxury/Full-size

	2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 5 The 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 5 is an intermediate luxury sedan that was launched as a production model back in 2011 at the Tokyo Motor Show. This elegant, dynamic sedan sells... Read more
	2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 The 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 uses the same inline 6-cylinder motor as the 740Li xDrive, but now features a synchronous electric motor which, when combined with... Read more
	2013 Lexus LS 600h L There seems to be a consensus among journalists that the Lexus LS 600 hybrid is a veritable mobile 'cocooning' unit on wheels. The obsessive soundproofing and exceptionally... Read more

Diesel

	2013 Audi A3 TDI Although the Audi A3 TDI shares its platform with the Volkswagen Golf, and although the TDI engine under the hood can also be found in the Golfs, Jettas, and Passats... Read more
	2013 Audi Q7 TDI The 2013 Audi Q7 TDI is almost an exact copy of the 2012 model, displaying elegant and sober lines. It comes with standard LED headlights and tail lights... Read more
	2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK 250 BlueTEC This year, 2013, marks the introduction of the 250 BlueTEC version of the famous GLK mid-size luxury SUV. This version is powered by a 4-cylinder twin-turbo diesel engine... Read more
	2013 Mercedes-Benz R350 BlueTEC The Mercedes-Benz R350, which falls somewhere between an SUV and a minivan, has yet to find its way into the hearts and minds of consumers, with just 515 units... Read more
	2013 Volkswagen Touareg TDI 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... Read more

Electric

	2013 Fisker Karma This car was certainly the talk of the town in 2013. It was a fixture in even the smallest and remotest auto shows across North America. Initially launched as a concept... Read more
	2013 Mitsubishi i-MiEV The i-MiEV battery recharges in approximately 22 hours when plugged into a standard 120 V outlet, or 7 hours from a 240 V outlet. The optional CHAdeMO ultrafast... Read more
	2013 Nissan LEAF The all-electric Nissan LEAF was launched in the Canadian market back in 2011. It has a best in class 120 to 160 km autonomy. The LEAF is well equipped to face our... Read more

Grey area

2013 Mazda3 SKYACTIV As a sedan or as a hatchback, the Mazda3 has been a very popular choice for several years now. For the 2013 model year, this little Japanese winner has come up with... Read more

From Press release

Mathias Beche and Pierre Thiriet at the wheel of Thiriet by TDS Racing ORECA03 finished the third round of 2013 ELMS season on the first step of the general podium at Red Bull Ring in Austria, ahead of n°36 Signatech Alpine of Pierre Ragues and Nelson Panciatici.

Natacha Gachnang and Franck Mailleux driving n°43 Morgan Judd of Morand Racing climbed onto the third step of the podium.  The overall podium was a carbon copy of the top three finish at round 2 held at Imola in May.

Photo: TDS Racing

In the LMPC Category Gary Hirsch and Paul Loup Chatin win for the second time of the season at the wheel of Team Endurance Challenge FLM09 n°49, ahead of teammates Alex Loan and Nico Verdonck in the n°47 FLM09.Algarve Pro Racing FLM09 n°46 claimed third place in the class on the series debut.

In the LMGTE category, Ram Racing sandwiched the n°66 JMW Motorsport Ferrari F458 Italia of Andrea Bertolini and Joel Camathias, with Johnny Mowlem and Matt Griffin in n°52 on the first place, and n°53 Ferrari of Gunnar Jeannette and Frank Montecalvo, third.

SMP Racing Ferrari F458 GT3 claims victory for the second consecutive time after Imola, with Imola race victors Fabio Babini, Viktor Shaitar and Kirill Ladygin winning in the n°69 car. N°62 AF Corse Ferrari driven by Andrea Rizzoli, Stefano Gai and Lorenzo Casé finished second, while the only BMW Z4 of Ecurie Ecosse (Ollie Millroy, Andrew Smith and Alasdair McCaigh) finishes third of the class.

From press release

Marco Sorensen claimed his first pole position in the Formula Renault 3.5 Series, before driving to an impressive victory on Saturday at the Red Bull Ring.

The Dane finished ahead of Nigel Melker (Tech 1 Racing) and Kevin Magnussen (DAMS), with the latter regaining the championship lead following the retirement of Stoffel Vandoorne (Fortec Motorsports).

Marco Sorensen (Lotus) took his maiden FR 3.5 Series pole on Saturday morning, qualifying ahead of fellow Dane Kevin Magnussen (DAMS) and Nigel Melker (Tech 1 Racing). The trio lined up on the grid ahead of Will Stevens (P1 by Strakka Racing) and Arthur Pic (AV Formula).

Photo: Marco Sorensen/Facebook

In an eventful start to the race, Nigel Melker slipped through into second to wedge himself between race leader Marco Sorensen and third-placed Kevin Magnussen. A chaotic first lap saw Stoffel Vandoorne fall back to 12th, while Pietro Fantin (Arden Caterham), Mikhail Aleshin (Tech 1 Racing) and Nikolay Martsenko (Pons Racing) all had to retire.

The safety car was introduced on lap 10 to allow Riccardo Agostini's car to be removed. The Zeta Corse man had spun and stopped on track during an attempt to overtake Matias Laine (P1 by Strakka Racing).

The safety car was called into action again a short time later after contact between Norman Nato (DAMS) and Sergey Sirotkin (ISR). Stoffel Vandoone, meanwhile, returned to the pits and subsequently retired from the race.

Unruffled by events around him, Marco Sorensen eventually took victory ahead of Nigel Melker and Kevin Magnussen. Will Stevens finished fourth, followed by Arthur Pic and best-placed rookie William Buller (Zeta Corse). Buller finished sixth after overtaking Antonio Félix da Costa (Arden Caterham), seventh, in the closing laps.

Marlon Stockinger (Lotus) and André Negrão (International Draco Racing) followed, with Jazeman Jaafar (Carlin) also finishing in the points after fighting his way from the very back of the grid.