Auto News 5

From GMM

'Two or three' teams are facing financial strife, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has admitted.

Told by veteran Swiss correspondent Roger Benoit that 'half the field' is struggling to survive amid the economic crisis and spiralling costs, Ecclestone answered: "That's not quite right.

"We are talking about two vulnerable teams at the moment," the 82-year-old told Blick newspaper.

"Perhaps there's a third with a question mark," added Ecclestone.

Asked, however, if he is confident the 'vulnerable' teams will be on the 2014 grid, the Briton insisted: "If you had asked me a year ago, the answer would be no.

"But now, suddenly, most of the teams find money somehow from somewhere. I don't know how they do that," added Ecclestone.

Photo: WRi2

He would not name the 'vulnerable' teams, or even admit that the one at the top of the list is surely Sauber.

"We've known each other long enough that you know I have nothing to say!" Ecclestone told Benoit.

He ruled out intervening with personal loans, after admitting to the New York Times at the weekend that Sir Frank Williams regularly used to borrow money.

"I'm not allowed to do that anymore," said Ecclestone. "We have an agreement with the teams that it would be unfair to the others. They're the ones who wanted it (the agreement)!" he told Blick.

Ecclestone has, however, reached new financial deals with the big teams that give them more income than their smaller, struggling rivals.

Surely that's not fair?

"It's because the big teams have promised that they are staying until 2020 -- they've given us a bank guarantee," Ecclestone revealed.

"The distribution was always the same -- the only difference these days is that we distribute a lot more money," he told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Meanwhile, Ecclestone insisted he is sleeping well despite the fact prosecutors in Munich are considering sending him to trial over bribery.

He rejects their main argument.

"First, I had no shares to sell, so I had no personal interest," said Ecclestone.

"My job was not in danger -- no matter who the shares were sold to, the FIA had to agree. But the FIA wanted to ensure that I still ran the business; because they're familiar with me and know how I work," he insisted.

Scott Steckly won the Pinty's 250 at Kawartha Speedway on Sunday to finally take the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series crown by a margin of only two points.

Coming into the final race of the season, Steckly was 5 points behind leader D.J. Kennington and he had to earn the maximum 48 points to become the first three-time series champion.

Steckly demonstrated the strength of his No. 22 Canadian Tire Dodge early in the day on Sunday, topping the practice chart and winning his 12th career series pole; yesterday's schedule having been postponed to Sunday due to heavy rain showers.

Scott Steckly, 2013 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Champion. (Photo: NASCAR)

He led the early portion of the race, making a point of staying ahead of Kennington. After pitting twice during the second caution, Steckly and Kennington restarted 12th and 13th, respectively. The pair steadily worked their way to the front as Jason Hathaway, who entered the event with a mathematical shot at the title, pulled away with a big lead.

All three title contenders stopped for right side tires during a caution on Lap 150 and from there set sail to the finish.

The trio of title contenders battled among themselves as they closed in and moved by Lapcevich for second. Hathaway, who slipped by Kennington, challenged Shepherd for the lead following a restart - but saw his hopes dashed with a spin in Turn 4.

Steckly took advantage on the restart and raced Shepherd side-by-side for the lead - eventually getting the top spot for good after contact coming out of Turn 4. Steckly went on to win by a margin of .580 seconds over Shepherd, with Lapcevich third and Kennington fourth. Martin Roy came home fifth.

Sixth through 10th were Noel Dowler, Donald Chisholm, Mark Dilley, Ron Beauchamp and Ryley Seibert.

Quebec driver Alex Guenette has won the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series' Rookie of the Year despite finishing 17th at the season finale presented at Kawartha Speedway on Sunday.

For his first time on the small oval, Guenette qualified 20th for the Pinty's 250 and had to work quite hard if he wanted to move upfront.

The 17-year-old driver was not help by a poor team strategy which made him run almost 235 of the 250 laps on the same set of right tires. An inspection after the race also revealed that his car was leaking oil which did not help.

« We still managed to win the Rookie of the Year title and I'm very happy. We also finished 10th in the championship which is pretty good considering the number of mechanical issues we've had all season long. » declared Guenette.

Because of his new title, Alex Guenette has been invited to the NASCAR Night of Champions Touring Series Awards that will be held in Charlotte, NC., December 14th.

Alex Guenette. (Photo: Serge Cantin, page Facebook Alex Guenette)

From press release

Tom Kristensen, Loïc Duval and Allan McNish drove a faultless race today in Austin, Texas to win the 6 Hours of the Circuit of The Americas, the fifth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship. 

Photo: Audi Motorsport

The Audi trio sealed their third victory of the 2013 season by 23 seconds over Toyota Racing and extended their championship lead over their team mates in the No.1 entry by 33 points.  The No.8 TS030 Hybrid of Anthony Davidson, Stéphane Sarrazin and Sébastien Buemi challenged the Audis throughout, and finished a lap ahead of the No.1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro which had a disrupted race due to incidents and accidents. 

The No.12 Rebellion Racing Lola Toyota of Nicolas Prost, Nick Heidfeld and Mathias Beche, unchallenged in the LMP1 Privateer category, finished in fourth place overall with another impressive display of reliability and consistency.

Photo: Audi Motorsport

The LMP2 class provided some very close racing in the first half of the race.  After leading for much of the race, victory for the No.26 G-Drive Racing ORECA 03 Nissan was fully deserved; its second consecutive victory for Mike Conway, Roman Rusinov and John Martin. 

A second place finish today for the No.49 Pecom Racing ORECA 03 Nissan entry of Luis Perez Companc, Nicolas Minassian and Pierre Kaffer was enough to give them the lead in the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP2 teams, while the No.32 Lotus Praga T128 of Thomas Holzer-Kraihamer-Charouz claimed its first podium finish of the season. 

Fred Makowiecki and Bruno Senna put on a dominant display of driving in the No.99 Aston Martin Vantage V8 to claim victory in LMGTE Pro, despite being put under persistent pressure by the two AF Corse Ferraris.  

A late-race challenge for the lead by Jamie Campbell-Walter rewarded the No.96 Aston Martin Vantage V8 with its second LMGTE win of the year, the Briton sharing the cockpit once again with Stuart Hall. 

The next round will take place on the 20 October in Japan at the impressive Fuji International Speedway in the shadow of Mount Fuji.

Newport Beach, CA - We all have bucket lists. You know; skydiving, climbing

Everest or eating 70 hotdogs in 10 minute to beat the World Record -- things we all want to say we did, at least once.

I have such a list, but it's pretty much limited to driving certain cars or driving on specific tracks around the world. One such vehicle was Nissan's mental and out-of-control Juke R. If you're not familiar with the beast, I invite you to look it up on YouTube. This mini-zilla (aka Babyzilla) takes everyone on.

The sheer madness of the Juke R was the first thing to turn me on. The promise of skull-crushing performance was the second. What makes the Juke R so ludicrous that I would forgo a ride in a GT-R GT3 as well as beating on a GT-R around a short loop?

The Juke R gets its “crazy” from the twin-turbocharged 3.8L V6 stuffed and shoehorned under its crunched bonnet and behind its “cute” frog face. Official specs rate horsepower at 545 however chassis #001 -- the Juke R I drove -- is rumoured to put out somewhere around 570.

Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre

Tack on the GT-R's ATTESA E-TS All-Wheel Drive system, with rear-mounted 6-speed sequential transaxle, and you get the full explanation as to why the Juke R is nicknamed Babyzilla.

My time at the wheel of the Juke R was very brief, and somewhat a blur. At the Performance Drive station of the Nissan 360 event, we were asked to line up behind the sign for the car we wanted to drive. Luckily for me, the Juke R line was empty. Yeah, I didn't get it either. This allowed for two runs with Babyzilla.

The first run was nothing less than absolute mental torture. The dilemma, the war and the anguish of trying not to maul cones because of an overly eager right foot and eyes soaking in the cabin, the speedometer's wild race, was next to impossible to compute. Before I knew it, lap one was complete.

Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre

As I stood in line for round two, I remained entertained by the Juke R's snorting and burbling exhaust note, as it would drive us from the staging area. It's squat, almost comically wide matte-black front face is shocking to soak in at first. From the sides, the wheels and huge brakes behind them are most telling. Here, the standard Juke's flared shoulders are properly exploited.

The next time around, I took the time to better set my driving position. Fully strapped in with the 5-point harness, I was told I could head towards the track. What surprised me most was the linear non-hair-raising acceleration. Don't misunderstand me, this thing's fast, but I thought I was going to swallow my tongue the moment the go pedal was flirted with.

What I got out of lap two was a car that was far better sorted than expected. The transmission, the brakes and overall handling are as good as expected -- in other words, impressive. I thought I'd noticed some understeer, however, on the unfamiliar track I may have tried to go faster through some cones than I should have...

Although I feel as though I was served the biggest tease ever, I must say that if I had the $660,000+ required to acquire one of the 23 that will be built, I'd do it. Currently, chassis #002 is Nissan's while #003 and #004 are in the hands of lucky and wealthy Middle Eastern hands.

A Nissan Juke R is about as special as special gets. By comparison, nearly 400 Bugatti Veyrons have been built to this day. This makes the Juke R far more exclusive.

My time with this youngest legend of legendary cars may have been very short, but at the very least I can say that I mashed the throttle, pulled back on the upshift paddle, and stood on the brakes.

The Nissan Juke R has been scratched off my list.

Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre

Do you know who this man is? Probably not, unless you're a certifiable car-nut or Porschefile. Mr. Walker, other than having an extremely cool name, is a man who has spent the last 20 years of his life working on the car he loves most: the fantastic, legendary, and extraordinary Porsche 911.

In less than a year, this man went from “little known” to the biggest underground automotive superstar-cum-folk-hero in the Porsche world. What this man can do with his hands and mind on these cars makes me weak in the knees.

A short film was released last fall that literally catapulted Mr. Walker into stardom. If you love passion and Porsches, watching all 32 minutes' worth will leave you wanting more.

In these last 12 months, Magnus has been featured in a number of magazines and various shows including Jay Leno's Garage. If you make in Jay's good car books, you've made it -- and Magnus Walker can make them like no other man can.

His story is fairly simple and is depicted in the video, which I strongly recommend you watch. His love for the 911 has allowed him to own one 911 for each model year, from 1964 to 1972. He's still looking for that '73...

The cool demeanor depicted in this video is not put on. I was lucky enough to meet Magnus at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show and can attest to the fact that he is as calm, composed, and as chillaxed as he is the film.

Our talk was very brief. I asked him about his newfound fame and he said that it's only made people notice him and talk to him more. Not that he's difficult to spot with his dreads, tattoos, and height. That's perhaps what I appreciate most about him: He is who he is, and remains true to himself.

Shortly before I met him, he was selling one of his most prized possessions: a 1972 911 STR II. Obviously, the car eventually sold at just over $300,000, or twice the estimated amount. When I asked Magnus if parting with this car was difficult, he simply answered, ”No.” He's got another one like it that he's working on.

Magnus Walker started out with clothing, becoming a self-taught designer by reconfiguring purchased clothes. He went on to cars much the same way shortly thereafter. He became successful in both endeavors simply because he wanted to. That, and he's massively talented.

His ability to just “do” and be good at it has given him a vision that cannot fail. The proof is found in his cars; they are gorgeous to behold, perfect in every sense of the word, and no one could ever argue the opposite.

I hope and plan to visit his shop in Los Angeles some day. In fact, he said that if we set up a date, he'd be glad to have me check out his digs.

Should that day come, I will have struck another item off my bucket list.

Fusajiro Yamauchi established Nintendo near Kyoto, Japan, on September 23rd, 1889. Originally in business to produce handmade hanafuda cards, the company later specialized in entertainment and became a world leader during in the 1980s with the Nintendo video game console.

Among the most famous racing games were F-Zero, F-1 Race, F-Zero Ax, and Mach Rider, not to mention Mario Kart.

Earlier in the '50s, Nintendo tried to manage a taxi company called Daiya, but without much success.

It looks like General Motors wants to curb Tesla's enthusiasm by doubling the range of its EV batteries from 160 km to 320 km.

Doug Parks, GM's global product development chief, prefers to keep quiet about the long-range battery project, insisting that such a vehicle -- which would cost around $30,000, sources say -- is far from a sure thing.

Right now, the Tesla Model S offers a range of 450 km and retails for at least $71,000 USD. However, CEO Elon Musk has already revealed plans to drop that price substantially when a more mainstream model is introduced, likely after 2015.

Source: Detroit Bureau

Photo: General Motors

From GMM

Sebastian Vettel's fourth consecutive title win moved a step closer to certainty on Sunday as he pulled 60 points clear of his nearest title rival.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso can mathematically close the gap to the dominant Red Bull by November's Brazil finale, but he now admits it is more than unlikely.

"We don't need luck in Korea; we need luck in Korea, in Japan, in India, in Abu Dhabi... if we are one second off the pace, we need a lot of luck," said the Spaniard.

Photo: WRi2

Indeed, while Vettel cannot mathematically secure the title in Korea next weekend, from Suzuka onwards - five races to the end - it starts to become a possibility.

Undoubtedly, with reality now biting hard, it makes no sense to keep pushing the development of the 2013 car when Red Bull and Vettel are so far clear and superior.

And the huge challenge of the 2014 regulations is yet another argument in favour of downing tools on this campaign.

"Well, we start from zero next year so it's our best opportunity to close the gap. Really we will put all our effort and hopes into 2014," said Alonso.

Boss Stefano Domenicali also confirmed that "99 per cent" of Ferrari's focus is now on 2014. Alonso suggests the focus actually switched some time ago.

"When they (Pirelli) changed the tires, we said bye-bye," he said.

Also theoretically still in the hunt is Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, but he admitted on Sunday that he is not even dreaming about tracking down a 100 point gap.

"We'll just try and catch Fernando somehow," said the Briton.

The fact the title is all but done-and-dusted with six races left to run might explain why Vettel was booed yet again on the podium on Sunday.

The championship leader blamed the Ferrari fans. "If you look at the grandstand, most of them are dressed in red," said the German.

Sebastian Vettel laughed off the Singapore crowd's reaction, but Red Bull boss Christian Horner suggested the 26-year-old was actually hurt.

"He's only human," he told Bild newspaper.

But Felipe Massa, a Ferrari driver for six more races, said F1 should expect more of the same as the 2013 season rolls on.

"We are seeing an end of the championship with nobody developing the current cars, so it (the results) will probably look something like this," he said in Singapore.

It seems I've been on a bit of a pickup binge lately. Having just driven the Ford F-150 XLT SuperCab 4x4 and now the Limited, I'm currently staring at a V8-powered Nissan Titan in my driveway (but you'll all have to wait for that review). Over the years, I've driven my fair share of Ford F-150s, from bare-bones models to the King Ranch and SVT Raptor, and every time I've been impressed.

Why? Because like certain British and German brands I tend to harp on about, the F-150 is purpose-built. The company makes no qualms about the Ford F-150 being anything but what it is: a pickup. What makes it even more remarkable is that it is the pickup all competitors hope to be like one day. It is the benchmark, and deservingly so.


What is the Ford F-150 Limited?
The Ford F-150 is a line of full-size pickup trucks that have been on the market for the past six decades, dominating the truck business with a vehicle that's not only reliable and hard-working, but also great to drive and practical.

As for the Limited edition, it's essentially the kingpin of the lot; the most fully equipped, most luxurious truck your money can buy in the Ford F-150's twelfth-generation iteration. This is not a special edition model (like the Harley-Davidson, King Ranch, or Raptor), but a top trim level.

As for the Limited edition, it's essentially the kingpin of the lot; the most fully equipped, most luxurious truck your money can buy in the Ford F-150's twelfth-generation iteration. (Photo: Miranda Lightstone)

2013 Ford F-150 Limited Price and Specs
Sitting at a base price of nearly $52,000, this is no bargain buy. However, you have to remember that the 2013 Ford F-150 Limited arrives very well equipped and is no slouch when it comes to getting the job done.

Look for 22” polished aluminum wheels, power-deployable running boards (great for my 5'2” stature when getting in and out), a tailgate step, lots of chrome accents on the exterior, a rearview camera, and a self-dimming rearview mirror. There are still little bits and bobs you can add (bed liner, ruby red paint, bed extender, etc.), and mine was dressed to the nines with a final price of close to $67,000.

It's not just about functionality and looks with the 2013 Ford F-150 Limited, though. There's also a great powerhouse beneath that massive hood: a 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engine good for 365 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. With 4WD and a towing capacity ranging anywhere from 14,000 lbs to 16,900 lbs, this truck might look fancy (and carry a hefty price tag), but it's got the grunt to do the job, too.

There's also a great powerhouse beneath that massive hood: a 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engine good for 365 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Miranda Lightstone)

Driving the 2013 Ford F-150 Limited
Ford's EcoBoost engine is a gem among gems; what a fabulous piece of machinery. Save for the roar of the 3.5L V6 upon acceleration, there's very little to give away the fact that you're behind the wheel of a quite large SuperCrew cab truck with a 5.5ft cargo bed.

To me, that's the beauty of the 2013 Ford F-150 Limited: You don't feel like you're driving a truck. When you've got a bed behind you, there's always a certain amount of body shudder and shake. I was impressed with the stability of the Ford F-150 Limited's frame and how solid it felt.

Throttle response is also pleasantly sharp. Again, a vehicle of this weight and girth shouldn't feel as nimble or responsive as it does, but that EcoBoost coupled with the 6-speed automatic transmission does wonders to the overall driving dynamics.

My only gripe with the 2013 Ford F-150 Limited was the gas mileage which I had hoped would be a little bit lower (considering the EcoBoost engine and all). I averaged in the 13.5L/100km range, and I mostly did highway travel. I should have been closer to 10-11L/100km according to Ford's stats.

When you've got a bed behind you, there's always a certain amount of body shudder and shake. I was impressed with the stability of the Ford F-150 Limited's frame and how solid it felt. (Photo: Miranda Lightstone)

Inside and Out of the 2013 Ford F-150 Limited
What's not to like about this pickup? It really is dressed to impress, especially in the Ruby Red exterior paint colour (a few hundred extra). Add on all the chromed goodies (Limited wording along the bed, massive chrome grille, chromed tailpipes, chromed wheels), and you've got yourself one seriously flashy truck.

That flash and pizzazz continue into the cabin. My 2013 Ford F-150 Limited was swathed in red leather from the footwells to the roof, complete with a “Limited” metal plaque on the massive armrest (which, by the way, gets really hot in the sun if you leave the sunroof cover off!), as well as “Limited” decals on the seats.

The rear quarters are nothing short of ginormous. In fact, they could almost have doubled as a playroom and travel space for my son; he had plenty of freedom to move and walk around (and so did I).

My 2013 Ford F-150 Limited was swathed in red leather from the footwells to the roof, complete with a “Limited” metal plaque on the massive armrest. (Photo: Miranda Lightstone)

Comparing the 2013 Ford F-150 Limited
Of course, the part that hurts the 2013 Ford F-150 Limited the most is its asking price. Even in top trim level (without added bells and whistles), the F-150's direct competitors, the GMC Sierra and Toyota Tacoma, retail for a good $10-$12k less.

However, if you want the best, you have to be willing to shell out a little bit extra, and I think the 2013 Ford F-150 Limited is money well spent, especially if you want some dressing on your workhorse.

Fiat plans to take full control of the diesel engine manufacturer VM Motori by buying out the half of the company owned by joint venture partner General Motors.

Fiat plans to take full control of the diesel engine manufacturer VM Motori by buying out the half of the company owned by joint venture partner General Motors.

Renault has started sales of locally assembled Duster SUVs in Indonesia as it seeks to boost growth outside slumping Europe.

Renault has begun sales of locally assembled Duster SUVs in Indonesia as it seeks to boost growth outside slumping Europe.

The Four Level Interchange, the first stack interchange in the world, opened in California on September 22nd, 1953 after four years of construction. Located at the northern edge of Downtown Los Angeles, it connects U.S. Route 101 to State Route 110.

In 2006, the name was changed to Bill Keene Memorial Interchange in honour of the former KNX and KNXT traffic and weather reporter.

Photo: Wikipedia

Model: 2010 to 2013 Chevrolet Camaro

Vehicle Type: Coupe/Convertible

The Verdict: The first few years of new-Camaro models are not problem-free, though a strong online owner's community has done a great job of documenting potential issues that new shoppers should be aware of. Many of these are relatively minor and easily identified -- though some aren't.

A partial list is presented below, though shoppers are advised to visit a site like www.camaro5.com/forums for a closer look. Maximize your peace of mind by opting for a model with plenty of factory warranty remaining, and consider a mechanical inspection mandatory.

Photo: Rob Rothwell

Price: High mileage, V6-powered units from 2010 can be had for as low as $12,000, perhaps less, with a newer V8-powered model commanding $30,000 or more. Shoppers will find plenty of selection around $20,000.

What Owners Like: New-generation Camaro owners tend to be most fond of their vehicle's performance, styling presence and fan-factor when travelling around town. The cabin is generously sized and comfortable, and fuel mileage from the V8 on a highway cruise is surprisingly good.

What Owners Dislike: Common complaints include a “cheap” feel to much of the cabin's plastics, bad outward visibility, less-than-impressive mileage from the V6 engine, and big, long doors that are easily whacked in parking-lot situations. Some owners complain of an awkward shape to the steering wheel and gear shifter, too.

Photo: Rob Rothwell

Continue reading 2010-2013 Chevrolet Camaro Pre-Owned