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From GMM

Lotus is weighing up between Nico Hulkenberg and Felipe Massa to complete its 2014 driver lineup.

Asked recently if - in the interests of continuity - Romain Grosjean will definitely be retained next year if Kimi Raikkonen departs, team boss Eric Boullier answered simply: "Yes."

So that leaves only the cockpit currently occupied by the Ferrari-bound Finn Raikkonen to fill.

The candidates are Hulkenberg - the impressive German who after moving from Force India last year is now seeking to jump from struggling Sauber - and the experienced Ferrari refugee Massa.

Brazilian Massa, 32, might have the edge.

Felipe Massa (Ferrari) has the edge on Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) for the Lotus race seat. (Photo: WRi2)

According to O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, Frenchman Boullier said recently that, "In 2014, experience will be more important than speed".

He is referring to the move from the current engine rules to next year's regulations surrounding the turbo V6s, which according to most of the sport's technical insiders is perhaps the biggest shift in the history of F1.

That is why, on the face of it, while the younger but hugely promising Hulkenberg perhaps should be the favourite, Massa's vast wealth of experience might have him in pole position for the seat.

A source close to Boullier told Brazilian correspondent Livio Oricchio: "The chances are 50 per cent apiece for Hulkenberg and Massa."

Oricchio said the prize on offer is a two-year contract with options.

And there may be another factor counting in Massa's favour -- money.

While definitely not a traditional 'pay driver', Massa would bring some weighty support to Lotus in the form of his well-connected manager, Nicolas Todt.

The son of FIA president Jean Todt, Nicolas has - according to Italy's Autosprint - already brought a sponsor to Lotus in the form of Swiss watchmaker Richard Mille.

Massa's continuity in F1 is also backed strongly by Bernie Ecclestone, who fears the absence of a single Brazilian on the grid could affect the success of the crucial Brazilian market, and the popular Brazilian grand prix.

"It would be surprising if (Ecclestone) has not talked to Eric Boullier and (Gerard) Lopez about his preference regarding the choice between Hulkenberg and Massa," said Oricchio.

Felipe Massa told Brazil's O Globo broadcaster this week: "We are negotiating (with Lotus). The Lotus is a very competitive car, which is what I want. It's a team that has a very important story with Brazil as well. They've had a hard time financially, so we are having many conversations to try to find a way not only for me to have a good car, but for Lotus as well."

Meanwhile, when asked about Massa's claim there has also been contact with McLaren, a spokesman for the British team told us: "We don't comment on media speculation with regard to rumoured driver movements."

Irvine, California - Here, in North America, we have yet to fully embrace the value of micro and subcompact cars. There are a number of reasons for this and they vary from a litre of fuel still being too inexpensive to driving on the highway along side full-size pickups for fear of being crushed like a bug.

For those of you who have adapted to or have always loved small cars, you'll agree that your 1984 Chevette has nothing to do with your recently purchased Nissan Versa Note. Most of us forget that the only “reduced” aspect of these cars is its size, not its features, safety or driving pleasure.

On that final point is where I waltz in with my 2014 Nissan Micra. Although my drive was fairly brief, I seriously had a blast with the Micra; I drove it as thought I'd stolen it. The ride quality is surprisingly good, the 3-cylinder engine is peppy, and this little puppy's nimbler than its diminutive dimensions suggest. On top of that, I think it looks fab.


What is a Nissan Micra?
The Micra, Nissan's supermini, was once offered in North America from the mid-‘80s up until the very beginning of the 1990s or the end of the 1st generation of the car. The current Micra, the one I tested, was launched for the 2010 model year.

This car is on sale in over 160 countries, but is sadly not expected to come to us any time soon. The recent arrival of the Versa Note leaves little place in Nissan showrooms for two such small cars. As well, they both share many components.

The Micra, Nissan's supermini, was once offered in North America from the mid-‘80s up until the very beginning of the 1990s. (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre)

2014 Nissan Micra Price and Specs
In the United Kingdom, the Micra is offered at a starting price of £9,950 or at 11,390€ in France. My tester was a 1.2L DIG-S model with all the trimmings which prices it at £14,050 or 16,000€ in each country respectively.

Obviously, these are astronomical sums for such a car on this side of the Pond. In order to be competitive, a base Micra could not sport a base price of more than $13,000 in Canada or the USA.

The 1.2L 3-cylinder provides 79 horsepower and 80 lb-ft of torque. A 5-speed transmission is standard while a CVT is optional.

The 1.2L 3-cylinder provides 79 horsepower and 80 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Nissa)

Driving the Nissan Micra
As I've stated, I had a great time blasting around the streets of Irvine in this small car. Although this was the suggested urban route, roads like the eight-lane Sand Canyon Ave are large enough to fit 14 or more Micra's across, I got cozy with the Micra driving around Great Park on top of negotiating through traffic on Irvine Blvd.

Although streetlight racing is not the greatest idea with a 79-hp car, it did prove that without taking the throttle to the floor, I was easily capable of keeping up with anxious cabby drivers, F350 Super Duties and regular sedans.

Once back on the clutch, the engine sparks to life from its start-stop, and into 1st gear, the 2014 Nissan Micra slides off the line easily. The shifter's action is light and precise and that's a good thing as in order to stay within the power-band, the lever needs to move regularly.

The ride comfort and quality are impressively good, better than the Qashqai I also drove. The Micra's compliant suspension feels incredibly well-sorted and adapted to our roads. Despite the 3-pot and relative “cheapness” of the car, NVH was kept to a minimum unless the local authorities were chasing me...

Steering and brakes were also up to snuff. Seriously, in the drive department, nothing would need to be done for our market.

Despite the 3-pot and relative “cheapness” of the car, NVH was kept to a minimum unless the local authorities were chasing me... (Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre)

Inside and Out of the 2014 Nissan Micra
I am convinced that this little car would do some serious damage in the microcar segment. Granted, my tester was a fully loaded model, but replace the alloys by wheel covers, remove the fog lamps and the rear spoiler, and the 2014 Nissan Micra still stands tall.

I've long thought that the better designed small cars were the Kia Rio and Ford Fiesta, but the Micra could easily knock one of the two out...

More praise goes to the cabin. A number of the components are familiar such as the HVAC controls and steering wheel that are also found in the Cube. The result of decent fit and finish is a dashboard that is attractive and well laid out.

There's plenty of room for four adults, and the deep trunk is unexpectedly capacious.

In the cabin, a number of the components are familiar such as the HVAC controls and steering wheel that are also found in the Cube. (Photo: Nissan)

Comparing the 2014 Nissan Micra
The 2014 Nissan Micra would rival with the aforementioned Rio and Fiesta on top of the Hyundai Accent, Mazda2, Mitsubishi Mirage, Chevrolet Spark and Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit and, to a lesser extent, the smart fortwo.

I'm a big fan of the Fit and Rio, but I think the Micra could take them on.

From GMM

Sebastian Vettel has admitted he will miss his teammate Mark Webber.

The pair, teamed together at Red Bull since 2009, have had an often fraught relationship that arguably broke down completely after this year's 'multi-21' affair.

"You can say what you want about our relationship," triple world champion Vettel told the Austrian magazine Sportwoche, "but in the end we pushed each other very hard.

"I will miss that," said the German, referring to Australian Webber's impending departure for Le Mans-style prototype racing with Porsche.

Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing. (Photo: WRi2)

Mark Webber admitted to the latest edition of F1 Racing magazine that he decided to call time on his grand prix career due to flagging motivation.

"I've been on the edge with F1, motivation-wise, for the past couple of years," he said.

Indeed, since they went head-to-head for the title in 2010, this season Vettel has clearly had the edge on 37-year-old Webber, who is now almost 100 points behind the championship leader.

But Sebastian Vettel insists Mark Webber still pushes him hard.

"There has always been two or three corners where Mark has me biting my lip," he said. "You try to figure out what he is doing, which keeps you busy enough."

The pair have often clashed in the personality stakes, but Vettel insists that "Even if it is perceived differently from the outside, it was important that I was always hungry".

From GMM

Red Bull has rejected a proposal that might have levelled the playing field for F1's struggling teams.

Next year, in-season testing will once again be allowed, but midfield teams Sauber and Force India admitted during a recent team managers' meeting that they probably cannot afford to attend every test day.

According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, Sauber proposed that, instead, they be allowed to substitute a test day for a day of wind tunnel testing with the actual race car.

"This was flatly rejected by Red Bull," said correspondent Michael Schmidt.

"The argument (made by Red Bull) is that they (Sauber) could learn more than on the track, and so they (Red Bull) would be forced to build a 1:1 model. Additionally, they (Red Bull) do not have a suitable wind tunnel."

Photo: Sauber F1 Team

Schmidt insisted, however, that Red Bull is not the only powerful team that is strenuously resisting the push for major cost cutting in formula one.

"The big teams protest so loudly that it's reminiscent of the orchestra that kept playing on the Titanic as it sunk," he said.

Finally, having resisted pressure to get on board until now, FIA president Jean Todt has reportedly signaled his intention to get to work on cost cutting.

"It seems the presidential election campaign also has its positive side effects," said Schmidt.

From GMM

Lotus has been the victim as more powerful teams waved chequebooks to lure key people.

In quick succession, Ferrari has poached Lotus' technical director James Allison, star driver Kimi Raikkonen, and aerodynamics chief Dirk de Beer.

France's Auto Hebdo claims computational fluid dynamics boss Jarrod Murphy is also departing.

Speaking before the latest wave of departures became clear, Lotus' chief executive Patrick Louis said: "It is clear that the average wage at the top teams is higher than ours.

"At certain levels, their salaries far exceed the standards."

Louis insists, however, that the Enstone based team will continue to thrive.

"People only see the visible part of the iceberg -- the stars, let's say," he said.

"But our structure is designed so that I am able to replace the various heads of the divisions overnight. A team should not be a house of cards that collapses when someone leaves."

Romain Grosjean, Lotus E21. (Photo: WRi2)

It must also be noted that the Lotus-Ferrari exchange has not been all one-way. It emerged this week that Nicolas Hennel de Beaupreau, a well-regarded aerodynamicist, is leaving Ferrari bound for the Enstone based team.

Italy's Autosprint reports that a deal may have been struck between the two teams, allowing both Hennel and the Ferrari-bound Dirk de Beer to avoid the customary 'gardening leave'.

Correspondent Alberto Antonini speculates that the 'gardening leave' deal might even be tied up with long time driver Felipe Massa's possible move from Ferrari to Lotus for 2014.

From Caterham F1 Team

Caterham F1 Team announced the arrival of a new Dutch sponsor as an official partner.

The Italian Grand Prix marked the first race where Cashper, the first and only short-term cash loan provider in Europe with a full banking licence owned by Novum Bank Limited (Malta), joined Caterham F1 Team as an official partner.

Cashper offers an easy accessible and convenient service for everyone with occasional short-term cash flow needs.

Photo: Caterham F1 Team

“Our partnership with Caterham F1 Team and Giedo van der Garde symbolises exactly what we stand for. Cashper's identity is “the Fast & Friendly Financer” and that mirrors perfectly Giedo's image, both of us constantly striving to maximize top speed and serve the public, said Renier Lemmens, Chairman of the Board, Novum Bank Ltd.

“As an Official Partner of Caterham F1 Team we are immediately creating a strong global presence for Cashper which provides short-term cash loans as a simple tool for consumers to meet and manage their smaller financial needs. Customers can count on almost instant cash and applying for a quick cash loan takes only five minutes”.

Over the coming months Cashper will instigate a large promotional campaign to support their partnership with Caterham F1 Team.

Every customer will be automatically entered into a monthly draw to win t-shirts and caps, personally signed by Caterham F1 Team driver Giedo van der Garde and a grand prize will be offered, giving the winner a full VIP trip to the Caterham F1 Team factory in Leafield, UK.

Gianmarco Raimondo will make his GP2 debut this weekend on the streets of Singapore with team Trident Racing.

Twenty-two-year-old Raimondo, from St. Catherines, Ontario, will face a tough challenge, as he will discover the driving of a GP2 car with no training. The Canadian will only have the 30 minute-long free practice session on Friday, on one of the most demanding track of the season, on the streets of Singapore to get to grips with his new mount.

Last year, Raimondo missed the European Open F3 title by nothing, as he led the point standings until the final race of the year.

He remained without a race seat this year until the team Trident's offer for Singapore. Gianmarco Raimondo will join Frenchman Nathanael Berthon in the Italian squad, replacing italian driver Sergio Campana.

Sergio Campana. (Photo: Trident Racing)

From GMM

Luca di Montezemolo on Tuesday said he does not believe Felipe Massa will race selfishly for the rest of his Ferrari career.

Now informed he will be replaced by Kimi Raikkonen after November's Brazil finale, Massa told TV Globo this week: "Starting on Friday in Singapore, I work only for myself.

"I will be on full attack on each lap. Now the time has come for me to look after just myself," the Brazilian, who has admitted contact about a 2014 seat with Lotus and McLaren, added.

Ferrari president di Montezemolo, however, said he is sure the Maranello based team, and title-charging 'number 1' Fernando Alonso, will continue to be able to count on Massa.

Felipe Massa, Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

"I expect Felipe - a wonderful person - to finish the season well. Supposedly he doesn't want to help Fernando? Nonsense -- he definitely will do it," the Italian told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"He will help us in the constructors' championship, as well as Alonso in the drivers'," di Montezemolo added.

It could be an awkward end to Massa's long Ferrari career. Indeed, he is being replaced by the driver - Raikkonen - who he comprehensively beat as teammate in 2008.

The 32-year-old said he doubts pairing the Finn with Alonso was a wise move by Ferrari.

"I know Fernando and Kimi well, both on and off the track. They are excellent drivers but I fear, as a team, there will be conflict," said Felipe Massa. "I have told them (Ferrari's management) to breathe deeply now, because breathing will be much more difficult next season."

Undoubtedly, Ferrari considered signing Nico Hulkenberg, but di Montezemolo said replacing Massa with "a young driver for the complex 2014 season would not have boosted our confidence".

He said he did not want to "look back on (ousting) Massa with regret", so signed a teammate for Alonso in the same league as "Alonso, Vettel and Hamilton".

"And Alonso is the first one happy that he is coming to us," added Montezemolo, insisting Ferrari is not so "masochistic" it would sign a driver that will patently upset the existing driver.

From GMM

F1's on-again, off-again New Jersey race appears back on again.

Bernie Ecclestone said in August a 2014 street race amid the Manhattan skyline is "not on the cards", and indeed the event was not listed on the draft calendar that recently appeared in the paddock.

But a race spokesman hit back, insisting preparations are "on track", and then F1 chief executive agreed: "If they comply with the contract, the race will take place."

Race promoter Leo Hindery jr on Tuesday said the issue is the simple matter of a fee that is not payable to the US sanctioning body until this week.

It means New Jersey simply missed the cut for the draft calendar.

"We never had any expectation of being on a preliminary schedule," Hindery is quoted by sportinglife.com.

"Bernie told us if we stayed consistent with the rules and applications then he would expect there to be a New Jersey race," he added.

If so, the race would be added to the official FIA calendar, to be ratified and released by the sport's governing body at the World Council meeting in Serbia later this month.

Hindery acknowledged however that the New Jersey project has been "the toughest challenge of my career".

"Were it not for some great partners and some folks in the sport who want us to succeed then it would have been abandoned," he admitted.

Not everyone can be pleased, and that's a fact. Frankly, when carmakers (in this case) try too hard, they usually miss the mark -- at least in my book. Sometimes, when they don't put in the necessary efforts, they also fail. Tough job they've got or is it that the crowd is tough?

Anyhoo, here's my list of hits & misses from this year's 2013 IAA:

Hit - Hyundai i10

Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre

I love me a good, stylish, small (let's call it micro) car like the Nissan Micra I recently drove. The Koreans have long excelled in this segment, and they continue to push the envelope as far as design and content are concerned. The new i10, which would slot beneath the Accent on our market, hits all the right notes both inside and out.

Continue reading 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show: Hits & Misses

September 17th, 1964 marked the world premiere of Goldfinger, the iconic James Bond movie which featured an Aston Martin DB5.

Instead of red, the producers opted to have the car painted in Silver Birch to make it look stealthier. The DB5 became just as popular as Goldfinger. In fact, it's still one of the most famous cars in the history of film.

James Bond's DB5 included:

• Bulletproof windshield, side glass, and rear window;
• Revolving licence plate for France (4711-EA-62), England (BMT216A), and Switzerland (LU6789);
• GPS dashboard with tracking device
• Armrest controls for smoke screen, oil slick, front wing machine guns, and rear bulletproof screen;
• Shifter-controlled passenger ejector seat;
• Tire slashers.

The success of Goldfinger and the DB5 was such that people forgot about Aston Martin's win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a DB1 driven by Roy Salvadori and some guy named Carroll Shelby.

Source : Wikipedia

Photo: RM Auctions

Automotive executives are extremely confident this year about the state of the industry even as some are becoming concerned that profits may be eroded as competition intensifies, a new survey found.

GM's electric-vehicle program will continue to focus on affordable electric cars for the mainstream public even though it plans to launch a luxury Cadillac-badged companion to its Chevrolet Volt.

The California New Car Dealers Association is seeking a state investigation into Tesla Motors advertising that the group says makes "unsubstantiated and illegal savings claims."

Car sharing services are expected to have more than 12 million members worldwide by 2020, up from 2.3 million this year, a report from Navigant Research said.

If you feel like we feature a lot of old Chrysler advertisements here, you're right.

If you feel like we feature a lot of old Chrysler advertisements here, you're right.

and#8220;Gran Turismo 6and#8221; is slated to hit the PS3 console on Dec. 6, but Japanese game magazine

and#8220;Gran Turismo 6and#8221; is slated to hit the PS3 console on Dec. 6, but Japanese game magazine

Not many sports cars can live up to titles like and#8220;road-racing championand#8221; and and#8220;rally legend,and#8221; but the Safari Rally Z claimed both in its short-lived career. The Nissan Restoration Club recently announced at