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Opel is refreshing the mid-sized Insignia with new engines and dashboard instruments in a bid to win back customers to the money-losing brand.

Ford is teaming up with researchers at the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University in Russia to study communication between robots at the International Space Station and Earth in the hope of developing better systems for connected cars.

Opel is refreshing the mid-sized Insignia with new engines and dashboard instruments in a bid to win back customers to the money-losing brand.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the electric-car maker intends to add factories in Europe and Asia, anticipating volume gains from a planned mass-market car.

Lexus plans to open luxury stores in Tokyo, New York and Dubai in a bid to boost its image around the world.

Ford is teaming up with researchers at the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University in Russia to study communication between robots at the International Space Station and Earth in the hope of developing better systems for connected cars.

Opel is refreshing the mid-sized Insignia with new engines and dashboard instruments in a bid to win back customers to the money-losing brand.

Opel is refreshing the mid-sized Insignia with new engines and dashboard instruments in a bid to win back customers to the money-losing brand.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the electric-car maker intends to add factories in Europe and Asia, anticipating volume gains from a planned mass-market car.

Ford is teaming up with researchers at the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University in Russia to study communication between robots at the International Space Station and Earth in the hope of developing better systems for connected cars.

Lexus plans to open luxury stores in Tokyo, New York and Dubai that the automaker hopes will boost its image around the world.

Nissan has released the first images today of the new 2014 Rogue. The official launch is set for September 10th at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

Technical info has yet to be released, as Nissan plans to publish information about its compact SUV at a later date.

Photo: Nissan

From GMM

Sergey Sirotkin's preparation for his Formula 1 race debut next year could continue at the controls of the Ferrari driver simulator.

This week, the Russian teenager travelled to Switzerland for his first look at Sauber's Hinwil factory, where he had a seat fitting in the 2013 car ahead of demonstration run at Sochi next month.

Team boss Monisha Kaltenborn said on Wednesday that "the most important thing" for Sirotkin ahead of his scheduled 2014 debut will be doing "plenty of kilometres" before Melbourne next year.

"Despite the test ban, there are certain ways we can do that," she told Speed Week.

"Using a current car is prohibited, but we can use an older car," said Kaltenborn.  "In the coming weeks we will determine exactly when and where he can start."

Sergey Siroktin (Photo: Renault Sport)

Sauber, struggling financially when the new Russian rescue deal was announced recently, is keen to kick off Sirotkin's programme as soon as possible, as at present the 17-year-old does not have a F1 super license.

Kaltenborn said the team's links to engine supplier Ferrari could play a role in helping Sirotkin to prepare.

"There are some options in terms of the simulator, including Ferrari," she admitted.  "We will see what this (programme) will look like in the coming weeks."

From GMM

Kimi Raikkonen, no fan of the spotlight, is the man of the moment as F1's summer slumber ends this weekend in Belgium.

The Finn's manager has ruled out a move to Red Bull, but some sources at Spa-Francorchamps think the fact the team has put off announcing Daniel Ricciardo's 2014 deal is a sign Raikkonen might still be in the running.

At the same time, Lotus has made clear it wants to keep the 33-year-old on board, while reports continue to insist there is a real chance Raikkonen will return to Ferrari.

Germany's Sport Bild even reports that Raikkonen recently admitted to friends during an alcohol-fuelled night out in Helsinki that he will be wearing red again in 2014.

Reporting about the Helsinki party, the German broadcaster RTL suggested Ferrari has put a EUR 11 million contract on the table, including bonuses and sponsorship of his motocross team.

Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus E21 (Photo: Lotus F1 Team)

As ever in the 'silly season', though, there are conflicting reports.

Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat is now quoting Raikkonen's manager Steve Robertson as saying the driver actually wants to stay at Lotus in 2014.

"Kimi likes it at Lotus," said Robertson.  "But we are waiting for information on certain issues that are still outstanding.

"About Kimi's future, the ball is in Lotus' court."

And the German newspaper Welt reports that talks between Ferrari and Nico Hulkenberg, about replacing the Brazilian Felipe Massa, have now kicked off.

From GMM

The second half of 2013 looks set to be a head-to-head between championship leader and favourite Sebastian Vettel, and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton.

Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton wearing sunglasses (Photo: WRi2)

Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso still have more points than Hamilton, but many are tipping Mercedes to keep improving from track to track until the November finale.

High-speed Spa and Monza, for a start, look set to favour the powerful W04.

But Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko told Sport Bild: "We won in Montreal, even though the circuit is more of a Mercedes track.

"Will bring new parts to each of the last nine races."

Sebastien Vettel, Red Bull RB9 (Photo: WRi2)

It is on the Austrian's final point that many see the rest of 2013 as a likely Red Bull-versus-Mercedes battle -- most of their rivals might see focusing on the all-new challenge of 2014 as a wiser choice, given recent form.

Sport Bild claims that, in contrast, Mercedes' Paddy Lowe has been tasked exclusively with continuing to develop the German team's 2013 car right until the end.

Nonetheless, team director Toto Wolff is playing down the chances.

"We cannot be confident," he is quoted by the Mirror, "it would be the wrong approach to say we have found the golden key now."

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W04 (Photo: WRi2)

Red Bull's Vettel, with a 48-point lead over Hamilton, is also playing things down, despite others predicting him to wear a fourth consecutive drivers' crown.

"There is still half a season ahead of us, Mercedes has been developing well so we cannot say anything.

"Things change fast in formula one," he is quoted by Brazil's O Estado de S.Paulo.

From GMM

With speculation over his future at melting point, Kimi Raikkonen called in sick on Thursday.

Earlier, as the F1's media spotlight prepared to shine on the Finn as he chooses between Lotus, Red Bull and Ferrari for 2014, Reuters correspondent Alan Baldwin described the 2007 world champion as "the least garrulous" driver on the grid.

And yet, Baldwin added, he is "the man everyone is talking about" ahead of the Belgian grand prix, the first race after F1's forced August slumber.

Raikkonen's media rounds would have been packed to the rafters on Thursday, but the 33-year-old is not yet at Spa.

Lotus said Raikkonen is unwell, but will be present for Friday's free practice sessions.

Kimi Raikkonen (Photo: Lotus F1 Team)

On the flip-side, as three teams seemingly tussle for Raikkonen's services, Felipe Massa is fighting simply to keep his seat at Ferrari.

Reporting from Spa, Guardian correspondent Paul Weaver said the Italian team has given the Brazilian two more races - Spa and Monza - to prove he should stay beyond his 2013 contract.

At the very same time, Germany's Welt newspaper is reporting that negotiations between Ferrari and on-the-market Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg have begun.

The reigning Formula Renault 3.5 champion, Robin Frijns, announced he would be back in the GP2 series, this weekend at Spa-Francorchamps, in Belgium.

Frijns, who is also Sauber's test and reserve driver in F1, competed in GP2 earlier this season, with Hilmer, until losing his seat to Adrian Quaife-Hobbs. This time, Frijns is taking the place of Jon Lancaster.

"About to leave to Spa this weekend. I will be back in the car again for Hilmer Motorsport," the Dutch wrote on his Twitter page.

As well as winning the 2012 Formula Renault 3.5 series last year, Frijns won the Euro championship of the 2.0 division the year before, and the 2010 Formula BMW European title.

Robin Frijns (Photo: GP2series.com)

From GMM

German Formula 1 driver, Nico Hulkenberg on Thursday insisted he is "ready" should Ferrari call him up for 2014.

Earlier, Germany's Welt newspaper said negotiations between the Italian team and the Sauber driver have begun.

At the same time, Britain's Guardian newspaper said Ferrari will decide after this weekend's Belgian grand prix, and then Monza a fortnight later, whether or not to replace Brazilian Felipe Massa.

Asked at Spa on Thursday about the rumours, Hulkenberg - who switched from Force India to the Ferrari-powered Sauber over the winter - told the broadcaster Sky: "I would feel ready and I do feel ready."

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber C32 (Photo: WRi2)

But he said he is in talks with multiple teams: "I wouldn't name it (Ferrari) the ultimate drive but obviously it is a big team with a big history.

"I wouldn't exclude anyone at this point, we are talking to different teams and evaluating all the options, and when the time is right we will decide what we think is best for my future," Hulkenberg added.

It might be suggested that, as he is linked with three top teams Lotus, Red Bull and Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen is the cork in the bottle of the 2014 driver market.

But Hulkenberg insists the market is "not necessarily dependent all on him (Raikkonen)".

From Infiniti

Infiniti is offering performance-driven engineering graduates an exclusive opportunity to work in Formula 1 via a new global talent search initiative.

The ‘Infiniti Performance Engineering Academy' will see two winning candidates complete a 12-month assignment with three-time World Championship-winning F1 team Infiniti Red Bull Racing, based in Milton Keynes, UK.

The two graduates will work alongside Infiniti engineers already based at the F1 team's factory. In addition, they will also spend time at Infiniti's nearby technical center in Cranfield, UK, where they will intensify their knowledge of future road car technologies.

The new program is the latest development in the Infiniti Red Bull Racing partnership, generating mutual benefits on the track and the road.

A view inside the Red Bull Racing's factory in Milton Keynes. (Photo Red Bull)

Recruitment will open later this year. National selections across several global regions will begin in May 2014, putting applicants through a comprehensive selection process to assess their performance potential and innovative thinking.

Finalists will present their ideas to a panel of senior technical figures from Infiniti and Infiniti Red Bull Racing in July 2014 with the two winners announced at the British Grand Prix. The placements will begin in September 2014.

This once-in-a-lifetime scholarship includes a salary, accommodation, and the use of a car.

Stay tuned!

From WRC.com

Jari-Matti Latvala was fastest in this afternoon's shakedown for ADAC Rallye Deutschland as three different cars filled the top three positions.

The Finn's Volkswagen Polo R was fastest by 0.7sec over the 4.55km Konz test, south of Trier. Latvala set his winning time on the last of four runs over the asphalt roads in the vineyards on the banks of the Mosel River.

With qualifying not part of asphalt events, the shakedown was the last chance for drivers to test ahead of tomorrow evening's opening two stages of the season's first pure sealed surface encounter.

“The car feels good but, of course, this rally is tough. It's probably the most difficult of the dry asphalt events. I'm not putting too much pressure on myself. I just want to go out, relax and see how it's going to be,” Latvala told wrc.com.

Second was Dani Sordo in a Citroen DS3, the Spaniard happy to be on his favoured asphalt surface after a tough time on the gravel roads in Finland earlier this month. 

“It was a good start, yes, but for me it was more important that my times were good from the start, because as the session goes on they usually get better and better anyway,” said Sordo.

Thierry Neuville was third fastest in his Ford Fiesta RS, the Belgian just one tenth slower than Sordo through the stage. 

World Championship leader Sebastien Ogier overshot a junction on his final run and had to settle for the fourth fastest time, with Evgeny Novikov rounding off the top five. 

The rally kicks off tonight.

Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC (Photo: VW)

Shakedown results - Rallye Deutschland (WRC)

1. Jari-Matti Latvala 2min 23.5sec 
2. Dani Sordo 2min 24.2sec

3. Thierry Neuville 2min 24.3sec
4. Sébastien Ogier 2min 24.9sec

5. Evgeny Novikov 2min 25.1sec

6. Mikko Hirvonen 2min 25.5sec

7. Mads Ostberg 2min 25.7sec

8. P-G Andersson 2min 26.3sec

9. Nasser Al-Attiyah: 2min 27.2sec

10. Michal Kosciuszko 2min 29.2sec. 

11. Martin Prokop 2min 30.0sec
12. Khalid Al Qassimi 2min 31.4sec