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ASSOCIATE WEST COAST EDITOR BLAKE Z. RONG: This 2013 Ford Focus ST is a joy, an absolute blast to unwind. Where to begin? Well, the steering is direct, communicative, well weighted.

ASSOCIATE WEST COAST EDITOR BLAKE Z. RONG: This 2013 Ford Focus ST is a joy, an absolute blast to unwind. Where to begin? Well, the steering is direct, communicative, well weighted.

ASSOCIATE WEST COAST EDITOR BLAKE Z. RONG: This 2013 Ford Focus ST is a joy, an absolute blast to unwind. Where to begin? Well, the steering is direct, communicative, well weighted.

ASSOCIATE WEST COAST EDITOR BLAKE Z. RONG: This 2013 Ford Focus ST is a joy, an absolute blast to unwind. Where to begin? Well, the steering is direct, communicative, well weighted.

ASSOCIATE WEST COAST EDITOR BLAKE Z. RONG: This 2013 Ford Focus ST is a joy, an absolute blast to unwind. Where to begin? Well, the steering is direct, communicative, well weighted.

Toyota minicar unit Daihatsu is adding 200,000 units of passenger car engine capacity at Astra Daihatsu Motor in Indonesia. The extended line is scheduled to run from summer 2015.

General Motors has slashed US$5,000 from the price of the Chevrolet Volt, meaning after allowing for a federal tax credit, the car could cost US$27,495.

Renault wants to return to the Iranian market as soon as the political situation eases. Iran was Renault's eighth-biggest global market by sales in 2012, above Italy and Spain.

Former Volvo styling chief Steve Mattin was hired to transform Lada's dull designs. Mattin says future Ladas will look simple and robust but must also excite potential buyers.

GM is cutting the Chevrolet Volt's price by $5,000 amid price pressure from rival electrified vehicles. The sticker price on the 2014 Volt, which will arrive at dealerships this month, will be $34,995, including an $810 destination fee.

The Tata Nano borders on psychedelic with its new "Celebrate Awesomeness" campaign, where actors change gender, burst into colorful balls, and disappear with a snap of the fingers.

The average age of all light vehicles on the road now stands at a record high of 11.4 years. That's up from 11.2 years last year, and 10.9 years in 2010, according to data released today from R.L. Polk.

Former Volvo styling chief Steve Mattin was hired to transform Lada's dull designs. Mattin says future Ladas will look simple and robust but must also excite potential buyers.

From GMM

Troubling signs of financial weakness are emerging from Lotus.

The authoritative German website motorsport-total.com reports that, although in the hunt for the 2013 title, the Genii-owned outfit is "struggling to survive" under EUR 120 million in debt.

For example, although Kimi Raikkonen is second only to Sebastian Vettel in the chase for the drivers' championship, development of the 2013 car is apparently all but over.

Asked also about rumours of 'money problems', leading Lotus engineer Alan Permane admitted to Auto Motor und Sport: "We have not much more in the pipeline for 2013. What was planned has already been developed and will be used in the corresponding race."

It is a worrying sign for a team fighting for a world championship, and pushing to keep lead driver Raikkonen on the books for 2013.

Lotus E21. (Photo: René Fagnan)

Indeed, amid rumours Red Bull and Ferrari are bidding to sign the Finn for 2014, Kimi Raikkonen admitted mere days ago that he is still waiting to be paid.

"This happened last year, now again so it is not ideal," said the 33-year-old.

Lotus owner Genii announced in June that a consortium called Infinity Racing has bought 65 per cent of the Enstone based team.

But reports soon followed that the deal is not actually done, with the subsequent delay having left Lotus - and Raikkonen - waiting for the money.

"We are going to reorganise the financial process of the company," team boss Eric Boullier is quoted by the Finnish broadcaster MTV3.

"We are expecting a large financial investment, which is part of the team's future plans. There may be some delays, but it will be repaired within a few days. It is part of the discussions and we will give Kimi all the answers," said the Frenchman.

Photo: WRi2

Eric Boullier said he is hopeful the money issue will not cause Raikkonen to jump ship.

Asked how close a deal is, he insisted: "We are not very far from it. The package that ensures the future of the company is completed slowly, but we'll get there. He will get all the answers and be able to take a decision within a few weeks."

From GMM

A 24-year-old Briton is on track to becoming the next rookie in formula one.

As the sport prepared to enter the August break, Sahara Force India driver Adrian Sutil admitted in Hungary that he is not sure he will stay with the Silverstone based team in 2014.

"When I'm ready, I will speak first with (team boss) Vijay (Mallya)," he was quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

German Sutil's teammate Paul di Resta has also been linked with moves elsewhere.

At the very same time, rumours were building that James Calado, a frontrunner in the feeder series GP2, is close to filling a vacancy as Sahara Force India's 2013 reserve driver.

James Calado at Silverstone during the Young drivers days. (Photo: Sahara Force India F1 Team)

The BBC said there is a chance the Briton will appear for the team during Friday morning sessions later this year.

And a Force India spokesman admitted there is a "good chance" the deal will be done.

After that, the next step would be succeeding either Sutil or di Resta as a 2014 race driver.

"I can't hide that we are having discussions with Sahara Force India," Calado admitted to Britain's Sky broadcaster. "My manager Nicolas Todt is talking to them now, and it's hopefully likely that things will happen in the near future."

From GMM

Mark Webber, retiring from formula one at the end of the season, has admitted he will not miss his teammate Sebastian Vettel.

The Australian appeared on the BBC's highly popular British motoring programme Top Gear this week, where he admitted the sport is now "very different" to when he debuted over 200 grands prix ago.

Asked about the era of heavily-degrading Pirelli tires, Webber told presenter Jeremy Clarkson: "But that's the way it is. We've got to learn and get on with it, but you've got to be able to push. In formula one it's about us boys being absolutely on the limit all the time. Or it should be."

Photo: Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber, who turns 37 later this month, also admitted he will not miss reigning triple consecutive world champion German Vettel, his teammate at Red Bull.

"Um -- am I going to miss Seb?" he pondered. "Probably not a huge amount, no. I think in a competitive environment, there's always going to be a bit of needle; there's a lot of history between us as well."

That 'history' came to a head in Malaysia this year, when Vettel disobeyed a team order and passed Webber for victory.

The 2013 Malaysian podium. (Photo: WRi2)

Asked by Clarkson if he felt like punching Vettel afterwards, Mark Webber said: "My dad always says you shouldn't hit boys, mate."

Revenge on the track is sweeter: Webber did a lap in Top Gear's famous 'reasonably priced' Suzuki Liana, and pipped Vettel's best time.

Horizon Fuel Cell is introducing the second version of its water-fuelled remote-controlled car, the i-H2GO.

Water poured into the refuelling station is electrolysed by power from a solar panel, and the hydrogen that comes out of it is converted into electricity to drive the RC.

The i-H2GO is controlled by an iOS app (Android is reportedly in development), either via on-screen buttons or a "Gyro Mode" that turns your smartphone into a steering wheel.

Deliveries of the i-H2GO will begin on August 15th. Buyers will have to pay $180 for the car, refuelling station and charging panel.

Source : www.horizonfuelcell.com

Tony Stewart, the three-time Sprint Cup champion and track owner suffered broken bones in an open wheel sprint car wreck at Southern Iowa Speedway. He had surgery at a local hospital but the necessity for a substitute for this week's upcoming race in Watkins Glen is yet to be determined.

According to a team release he broke the tibia and fibula bones in his lower right leg.

Stewart's accident, away from his main job in NASCAR, was not the first this year. He also flipped last week at Ohsweken Speedway in Ontario, Canada, and at Canandaigua Motorsports Park on July 16.

Caption: NASCAR.com

Earlier this year the NASCAR community was shaken by the death of Jason Leffler at another sprint car race. In light of that development Stewart was asked last week about his non-NASCAR crashes where he was not injured.

"You mortals have got to learn," the 42-year old Stewart said. "You guys need to watch more sprint car videos and stuff. It was not a big deal. It's starting to get annoying this week about that, so that was just an average sprint car wreck. When they wreck they get upside down like that. That was not a big deal."

Stewart is 11th in the NASCAR point standings with one victory, (with five races remaining before the reset in the Chase). The top 10 drivers qualify for the Chase along with the next two drivers in the top 20 who have the most wins.

NASCAR's dream of holding a Sprint Cup race in New York City came to a final conclusion with International Speedway's (ISC) sale of Staten Island property for $80 million to Marine Development, LLC.

ISC, is the parent company of Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway, this week's upcoming event at Watkins Glen and other tracks is a publicly owned company - NASCAR is privately held.

The 676 acre (274 hectare) complex on an outer borough of metropolitan New York was purchased in 2004 in hopes of erecting an 80,000 seat stadium for major league stock car racing in the US's largest market.

Years earlier Bill France Jr., son of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. and then CEO had attempted a joint venture with New York millionaire Donald Trump to find a property where, according to France, “you could stand on your tiptoes at the track and see New York City.”

Although the proposed race track had union support local groups, worried about traffic and noise, blocked the construction of the facilities.

There were two, possibly three, deals before this sale was completed.

Photo: NASCAR

In a statement, released to the Wall Street Journal and others ISC said:

“The Company, as a result of the sale, expects to receive a cash tax benefit of approximately $41.5 million, based on its current corporate tax rate, that combined with the net proceeds will provide ISC with approximately $117.7 million in incremental cash flow. In addition to the sale proceeds, ISC has already received $4.2 million in non-refundable payments from Marine Development to have had the exclusive negotiation rights for our Staten Island property.

ISC received $7.5 million of the purchase price at closing. The remaining purchase price will be financed with the Company holding a secured mortgage interest in 380 Development as well as the underlying property. In accordance with the terms, the Company will receive the remaining purchase price of $72.5 million in payments of approximately $6.1 million, six months after closing and $66.4 million, 31 months after closing, plus an annual interest of 7.0 percent on the outstanding mortgage balances. The Company expects to receive the majority of its $41.5 million cash tax benefit during fiscal 2013 and 2014.”

ISC's Chief Executive Officer Lesa France Kennedy said, referring to the almost $400 million capital improvement project at Daytona International Speedway " With DAYTONA Rising underway and the other prospective developments on the horizon, this sale puts us in a stronger position to balance the ongoing capital needs of our business, and opportunities to grow the business, while returning capital to our shareholders. This allows us to maintain our disciplined capital allocation strategy and our leadership position in the industry."

Citroen Racing has just released a video, showing Yvan Muller testing the new WTCC Citroën C-Elysée at the Paul Ricard track.

"It's terrific: a real thoroughbred. I think we should be able to do great things with it," said the three-times WTCC champion in the video.



Citroen has not officially confirmed the second driver who will partner with Sebastien Loeb in 2014. Yvan Muller has to confirm his arrangements as well, currently racing in a one-year programme with RML with support of LUKOIL in the WTCC.

The French manufacturer should confirm its driver line-up in September and already said that Sebastien Loeb's team-mate will be one of the 2012 Chevrolet trio of either Alain Menu, Yvan Muller, or reigning champion Rob Huff.

"For next year, I want a works drive that's for sure, but a works drive needs to be decided soon as then there will be not enough time to design and build the car," told Yvan Muller TouringCarTimes.

Citroen is expected to run up to three cars in the 2014 season, the former Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica rumoured to complete a limited campaign with the team.