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From GMM

Red Bull has turned to its fans to help it decide Mark Webber's successor.

Team boss Christian Horner recently narrowed down the selection of Sebastian Vettel's new teammate for 2014 to a shortlist of three -- Kimi Raikkonen, or a current Toro Rosso driver.

So on Red Bull's official Facebook page, a survey asking fans which of the three should get the job duly appeared.

Finn Raikkonen attracted thousands of votes, while the second most popular choice was Australian Daniel Ricciardo.

Kimi Raikkonen was not listening to the rumours on Thursday.

"It's four days ago since you probably asked last time, and nothing has changed," he said at the Nurburgring.

The always-smiling 23-year-old Ricciardo was more forthcoming.

"It's nice to hear some positive things," he said. "It would be a great position to be in but I've still got a bit of work ahead of me."

Photo: Red Bull Racing

Sebastian Vettel told a German newspaper last week that he will have a say on who is ultimately selected, but he told reporters on Thursday that Red Bull will decide.

"It's not my decision, but as he (Ricciardo) sits here, I would if I could give him the seat," said the triple world champion whilst sitting next to Ricciardo.

"But equally if Kimi was there, I would give him the seat. I think it's something decided by the team and so far we haven't really spoken about it," added Vettel.

Considered an outside chance to replace Webber is Jenson Button, particularly with McLaren struggling so much to pull out of its 2013 slump.

Asked if he might consider moving to another top team like Red Bull, Button answered: "I would, if this season was a permanent situation.

"But I am convinced that McLaren is simply having a bad year," he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

From GMM

With the threat of a drivers' strike in the air at the Nurburgring, the FIA on Friday moved further to ensure there is no repeat of the tire-exploding British grand prix.

Pirelli had complained after Silverstone that teams were swapping rear tires left to right, and running extreme cambers and pressures.

So FIA race director Charlie Whiting on Friday morning issued a statement insisting teams must now follow Pirelli's precise recommendations - including precise minimum pressures and specified camber angles - with immediate effect.

The parameters will be enforced by official scrutineers and stewards.

Photo: WRi2

Mercedes boss Ross Brawn told BBC radio on Friday morning that the drivers' boycott threat is "understandable", as he had even considered pulling Lewis Hamilton and winner Nico Rosberg out of the Silverstone race.

But Pirelli's Paul Hembery also said on Friday morning he was "surprised" by the drivers' position, having clarified the situation in a meeting on Wednesday.

Red Bull's Christian Horner, however, said F1 should "respect" the drivers' stance.

"Who can blame them at the end of the day?" he said on British Sky television.

Despite the image-damaging situation, however, Hembery said Pirelli will not let the tire chaos change its decision to stay in F1 beyond its 2013 contract.

"You don't walk away in difficult times, that's the time to work harder and make sure you do a better job," he is quoted by Reuters.

Roughly one in every three vehicles sold by Mazda is a Mazda3 (3.5 million since its launch in 2003). It is by far the most important product in Mazda's lineup so the company simply had to get this next generation right and, after attending the reveal in New York, I'm delighted to announce that they've succeeded far beyond my expectations.


Pros
The all-new 2014 Mazda3 hits the ground running with attractive Kodo styling, the latest SKYACTIV technology, together with a whole host of improvements over the outgoing model. Mazda is calling its new 2014 Mazda3 “a game-changer” I can't think of a better description for the vehicle. With availabilities such as Heads-up display, Brake Energy Regeneration systems and Mazda's impressive new advanced safety technology (i-ACTIVSENSE), it's certain to shake up the C-segment market.

Cons
There's very little not to love about the new 2014 Mazda3. However, while global power-plant options include a choice of 1.8L, 2.0L, 2.5L SKYACTIV-G gasoline engines, and a soon-to-appear Hybrid-Electric unit (Japan only at first), the big news comes in the shape of an all-new SKYACTIV-D 2.2L clean diesel-powered Mazda3. Unfortunately, we North American's will have to wait a while longer for the pleasure of driving this vehicle as the diesel Mazda3 is not yet bound for our shores.

Exterior styling
Although instantly recognizable as a Mazda product with the now familiar “face 2”, the new 2014 Mazda3 receives a slightly more muscular look, and its boldly flared fenders add to the impression of a vehicle firmly-planted on the road.

Attention to detail is evident from every angle and I particularly like the way Mazda has dressed the vehicle with stylish illumination units. The outgoing model was no ugly duckling but this is a sizable leap forward in the beauty stakes.

Drivetrain
Both the SKYACTIV-G 2.0L & 2.5L engines feature a new 4-2-1 exhaust system that increases engine output. The new 2.0L produces 155hp/150 lb-ft of torque and the new 2.5L offers up 184hp/185lb-ft of torque.

The 2014 Mazda3 will be available with a choice of the SKYACTIV-MT 6-speed manual and SKYACTIV-Drive 6-speed automatic transmissions.

Fuel Economy
No official fuel-economy figures were announced during the launch, yet the words “expect Best in Class” did tend to appear in several conversations I had with Mazda executives.

Price
No word on pricing either. However, we were told to expect prices to fall somewhere “in the hub of the segment”. Cagey perhaps, but I'm not expecting Mazda to goof up on pricing. After all, there's too much riding for the company on the success of this vehicle.

Safety
Mazda has always built safety into its vehicles but 2014 hails in a whole new era in this department. The 2014 Mazda3 introduces several all-new safety systems under the umbrella known as i-ACTIVSENSE.

It includes High Beam Control System (HBC) which automatically dips the headlamps from high to low beam, a Blind Spot monitoring System (BSM), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) and something called Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) which helps prevent/soften the impact with the vehicle ahead in city traffic.

Mazda has also made Radar Cruise Control available to the new Mazda3, although this won't be available on Canadian models at the time of launch.

Photo: Mazda

Connectivity
A new infotainment system has been designed to work with the customer's smartphone to provide an internet connection and communication functions.

Once connected, the system allows access to internet radio, together with the availability of reading emails and messages aloud via text-to-voice technology. With this system, the customer can not only receive Twitter/Facebook updates, but they can also make posts/tweets using the system's Shout function. It also makes internet search available which can be used as a GPS, although Mazda does have its own navigation system available for the new Mazda3.

Comparable models
Honda Civic, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra, Subaru Impreza.

The new 2014 Mazda3 models should start arriving at dealerships the beginning of September this year.

From GMM

Audi chairman Rupert Stadler has played down suggestions a formula one foray should be considered by the Volkswagen-owned German carmaker.

Audi's repeat successes at the fabled Le Mans 24 hour race has sparked suggestions the Ingolstadt-based marque might now consider F1, particularly as the sport has now embraced modern engine and energy-recovery technology.

Photo: Audi Motorsport

So chairman Rupert Stadler was asked by the German business magazine Wirtschaftswoche whether Audi or the similarly VW-linked Porsche might consider F1 after Le Mans.

He answered: "It's an interesting thought but, believe me, that's not how the world of motor sport functions.

"We ask ourselves, particularly in these days, whether it makes sense to be in formula one.

"Up to 90 per cent of everything discussed (in F1) is not about the manufacturers, but about the drivers.

"Much is also talked about the tires, and also the losers are discussed a lot, with pleasure.

"Only every now and then the involved automakers come into play, and not usually in a positive light," Rupert Stadler added.

Photo: WRi2

The 2013 Formula 1 season is marked by complex race strategies and numerous tire changes during each Grand Prix. For that reason, it's about time that F1 enters the 21st century in terms of television coverage.

F1 TV recently took a step forward with the broadcast of races in high definition. That was good start.

However, F1 could learn a few things from the coverage of American motorsport, such as IndyCar, NASCAR, and even the American Le Mans Series where onboard cameras are bolted to the most uncommon places on the cars.

Unless you pay big money and have access to the “clean feed” of the FOM (Formula One Management), the standard video feed of the Grands Prix is well done, but lacks innovation.

However, what bothers me most is the serious lack of retransmission of radio conversations during the races. Why? Because with the complex race strategies, if that information as share then the viewers, fans, and journalists would have a better understanding of what's really going on.

Nowadays, radio conversations are taped, monitored and then broadcast if they are not too sensitive.

During the recent running of the Canadian Grand Prix, we would have liked to hear Kimi Raikkonen's engineer tell his driver: “Kimi, fuel consumption is far greater than predicted.” We would have understood why the Finn suddenly ran at a slower pace.

This audio clip was included in the race edit posted on the Formula 1 official web site. However, it was not transmitted live when it happened.

We would have also enjoyed Lewis Hamilton telling his team: “Please guys, let me drive.”

We must admit that American television is outstanding at telling us the entire story when the race unfolds.

By hearing all the radio conversations, we could easily appreciate what really goes on during the F1 races.

I fully understand that the producer cannot broadcast every single radio call that takes place between 11 teams and 22 drivers -- that's way too much. However, to focus on the top runners would make the TV broadcast a lot more entertaining.

The FIA recently requested that teams stop scrambling their radio messages so they could be broadcast. I here ask FOM to use them at their best and make us aware of the intricacies and dramas that make Grand Prix racing so exciting.

Photo: WRI2

From GMM

A Spanish correspondent is certain James Allison is headed to Ferrari.

Briton Allison stepped down as Lotus' highly-rated technical director earlier this season, and his next move has been the subject of intense paddock speculation ever since.

But Manuel Franco, the correspondent for the Spanish sports daily AS, reported from the Nurburgring that Allison, 45, is definitely heading to Italy.

"AS is certain that Allison has signed for Ferrari," Franco wrote on Thursday. "McLaren wanted him to replace Paddy Lowe, but he (Allison) preferred to go to Ferrari."

Manuel Franco said James Allison is currently serving his six months of obligatory 'gardening leave'.

Photo: WRi2

Toyota and its dealers are quietly maneuvering to allay risks from periodic eruptions of anti-Japan sentiment in China, even as recent sales data suggest a slow but steady recovery for Japanese automakers since the latest flare-up last year.

During this week, we had the 2004 Toyota Sienna XLE, 2004 Chrysler

An easy call for me: My favorite American cars -- ever-- are the 1970 Plymouth Superbird and its stablemate the Dodge Daytona.

Chrysler will recall a total of 841,000 vehicles worldwide to fix a variety of mostly software or electronic control module problems.

Volkswagen is recalling more vehicles with a gearbox problem in China supplementing a recall of 384,181 vehicles that started in April, according to China's quality watchdog.

The labour union at GM Korea staged a partial strike for six hours on Thursday following failed talks with the management over wages and production plans.

The hybrid version of Honda's next generation Fit (Jazz in some markets) will be the world's most fuel-efficient car, beating current leader Toyota's Prius c (Aqua in Japan).

Fiat's Serbia plant in Kragujevac has lowered its annual forecast for 500L production from 180,000 to between 110,000 and 140,000 because of a delay in sales starting in Russia.

Ford China's sales in the first half of 2013 soared 47% year on year to 407,721 units, driven by continued strong demand for the Focus, Kuga and Transit, the automaker said. June sales rose 44% to 75,254.

The GM-Avtovaz joint venture in Russia said it built 27,097 in the first six months of 2013.

Sales at Geely's Volvo Car Group fell 2.6% year on year in June to 40,939 units with year to date volume off 5.5% to 209,118.

After gut-wrenching deliberation with my esteemed colleagues, I extended a confident middle finger and proclaimed the 1965 Buick Riviera GS as my top domestic pick.

News 4 Jul, 2013

Our spies have snapped an almost production ready version of the BMW i3 in Munich

News 4 Jul, 2013

Even more practical Skoda Rapid Spaceback estate set for Frankfurt Motor Show