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From GMM

Mercedes has overtaken Red Bull as the team with F1's fastest pit crew.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that the Brackley based crew did a 2.02 second tire pitstop at Suzuka, which was 0.04 seconds faster than the previous record set in 2013 by Red Bull.

And team manager Ron Meadows said the Japanese stop could have been even quicker.

"The mechanism of the jack was too slow," he said. "If it had worked properly, the time would have been 1.93 seconds."

Meadows said he is sure the magical two second barrier will be smashed this season.

"In practice we have done a 1.68 second stop," he revealed.

Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team

From GMM

Paul di Resta is unwell in India, it emerged on Thursday.

Earlier, it was no surprise in the Buddh circuit when word got around that reserve driver James Calado will be driving the Scot's car in initial Friday practice.

"FP1 will see James Calado make one of his Friday appearances," the Silverstone based team said on Twitter. "He will sub for Paul, who will be back in the car for FP2."

But Briton Calado said on his own Twitter account: "Due to Paul being unwell I will be driving tomorrow morning's FP1 session."

Di Resta appeared sprightly on Thursday as he spoke to reporters, fending off suggestions his future is looking particularly uncertain.

"I think in the midfield, nobody's certain anywhere at the moment," he said.

James Calado aboard the Sahara Force India VJM06. (Photo: WRi2)

It is rumoured the Scot could have the dreaded 'Delhi belly'. German reports suggested Felipe Massa's manager Rob Smedley may be similarly afflicted.

At the same time, di Resta's Sahara Force India teammate Adrian Sutil seemed to be dropping hints about his own future.

"How do you know that I'm without a contract for 2014?" the German smiled to F1's official website.

When asked again about his chances of a 2014 deal, Sutil added: "Maybe it's already solved. Hopefully I can say more in the coming weeks."

Another driver whose future seems almost assured is Lotus' Romain Grosjean.

"I guess they only want to sort out the financial situation before they announce the drivers," the Frenchman said on Thursday.

Who Grosjean's teammate will be next year is less certain.

Nico Hulkenberg is hot property in the paddock at present, but if Lotus' 'Quantum' investment deal falls over, luring Pastor Maldonado's PDVSA dollars from Williams could be plan B for the Enstone team.

"It's in the stars," German Hulkenberg was quoted in India by Auto Motor und Sport.

"I said in Korea that there should be news by the end of the month. But I am having no headaches or sleepless nights," he insisted.

Maldonado, meanwhile, faced a tough media scrum in the Buddh paddock, tackling questions he wants to move to Lotus but also suggestions a corruption scandal in his native Venezuela could freeze his sponsor payments.

"For sure I will continue," he insisted. "If it's here in Williams, or somewhere else, I will continue."

From IndyCar

For the first time since the inception of the Mazda Road to Indy in 2010, all races for the three series -- Indy Lights, Pro Mazda Championship and Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship - will be run in conjunction with IndyCar events in 2014.

Additional schedule highlights include doubleheader rounds for Indy Lights at all road courses. A 40-minute sprint race will be held on Saturday and a 60-minute feature will be contested on Sunday. Pro Mazda will feature standing starts at all street circuits and USF2000 will again host a tripleheader round.

The Mazda Road to Indy provides a scholarship package at each level for drivers to advance to the next step on the ladder. Recently crowned Indy Lights champion Sage Karam, 18, will receive up to $1 million in prizes and awards to aid his ascent to the IndyCar Series. Karam was the 2010 USF2000 champion and finished third in Pro Mazda last year.

Start at Indianapolis. (Photo: IndyCar)

Matthew Brabham, 19, secured more than $636,000 as the 2013 Pro Mazda champion and will advance to Indy Lights next season with Andretti Autosport. Brabham, the 2012 USF2000 champion, is the first driver to advance through all levels of the Mazda Road to Indy in succession.

After contesting a partial season last year, Scott Hargrove, 18, secured this year's USF2000 title and scholarship package of more than $383,000 to advance to Pro Mazda in 2014.

Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires
March 30: Streets of St. Petersburg 1.8-mile street circuit
April 13: Streets of Long Beach 1.968-mile street circuit
April 26-27: Barber Motorsports Park 2.38-mile road course
May 9-10: Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.434-mile road course
May 23: Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.5-mile oval
July 6: Pocono Raceway 2.5-mile oval
July 20: Streets of Toronto 1.75-mile street circuit
Aug. 2-3: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course 2.258-mile road course
Aug. 17: The Milwaukee Mile 1-mile oval
Aug. 23-24: Sonoma Raceway 2.385-mile road course

Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires
March 29-30: Streets of St. Petersburg 1.8-mile street circuit
April 26-27: Barber Motorsports Park 2.38-mile road course
May 9-10: Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.434-mile road course
May 24: Lucas Oil Raceway 0.686-mile oval
June 28-29: Streets of Houston 1.634-mile street circuit
Aug. 2-3: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course 2.258-mile road course
Aug. 16: The Milwaukee Mile 1-mile oval
Aug. 23-24: Sonoma Raceway 2.385-mile road course

Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda
March 29-30: Streets of St. Petersburg 1.8-mile street circuit
April 26-27: Barber Motorsports Park 2.38-mile road course
May 9-10: Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.434-mile road course
May 24: Lucas Oil Raceway 0.686-mile oval
July 19-20: Streets of Toronto 1.75-mile street circuit
Aug. 2-3: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course 2.258-mile road course
Aug. 23-24: Sonoma Raceway 2.385-mile road course

From GMM

An Indian court will on Friday hear a petition to cancel this weekend's formula one race near New Delhi.

Indian reports say a supreme court judge agreed to hear the petition that was filed by a public interest campaigner called Amit Kumar, on the grounds that organisers have not paid enough tax.

"We will hear the petition tomorrow," the judge said.

Earlier this week, the Uttar Pradesh government was in the supreme court seeking the withdrawal of entertainment tax exemption for the beleaguered Indian grand prix organisers.

The exemption had been achieved for F1 by the former Uttar Pradesh government.

While it is unlikely Friday's court action will succeed, Indian motor racing official Vicky Chandhok admitted the 2013 race could be the country's last.

He told British broadcaster Sky that he is only 70 per cent sure the race will return to the calendar in 2015, after a one-year hiatus for reportedly "logistical" reasons.

"I am really disappointed about not having it 2014, but I hope to be in 2015 and 2016," said Chandhok. "But the price has to be right."

Ferrari in the Indian pitlane. (Photo: WRi2)

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s head injury last year may put NASCAR on notice that all drivers need to have a medical baseline before such injury occurs.

On Thursday NASCAR announced that beginning in 2014, the sanctioning body require pre-season neurocognitive baseline testing as part of its comprehensive concussion prevention and management program for all of its national series drivers.

Danica Patrick crashing hard into the SAFER barriers. (Photo: NASCAR1Getty Images)

Earnhardt had a suffered a concussion while testing at Kansas Speedway, in August 2003, but insisted on continuing racing until he was involved in a 25-car crash at Talladega last October. Persistent headaches caused him to seek medical attention and his doctor ordered him to miss two races in the middle of NASCAR's playoffs.

Earnhardt and NASCAR learned from that. And now they are both onboard with the testing.

“This test can pinpoint where in the brain you're struggling, what kind of injury you have, what kind of things you can do to rehab and to recover,” Earnhardt told the Associated Press in February. “It helped me a lot. There was a lot of good information I learned throughout that whole process.”

In a press release NASCAR explained:

Baseline testing will be performed through the use of an ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) test, which is a widely-used neurocognitive assessment tool. The result of neurocognitive testing is one factor out of many that doctors use to diagnose and treat concussions. This particular test evaluates an athlete's verbal and visual memory, processing speed and reaction time.

By performing this test prior to the start of a season of competition, doctors are given a snapshot of an athlete's brain function while in a healthy state. Doctors can then use that baseline to compare to post-concussion tests to assist them in both evaluating the effects of any injury and informing their decisions to return an athlete to competition.

“NASCAR made this decision because we think it is important to drivers' health for doctors to have the best information and tools available in evaluating injuries,” said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR vice president of racing operations.

“Before announcing this rule, we provided drivers concussion and baseline testing education and created opportunities for them to ask any questions they may have to a top neurosurgeon that specializes in traumatic brain injuries. Also, remember that ImPACT tests are not new to our sport and have been used for treatment through the years.”

Since NASCAR's recommendation prior to the start of this season, drivers were invited to two concussion education sessions featuring Dr. Vinay Deshmukh, M.D. of Carolina Neurosurgery & Spine Associates, a member of NASCAR's Medical Advisory Group of Consulting Physicians. At those sessions, drivers were presented with an overview of what concussions are, their causes, treatment and the role that baseline tests play in the comprehensive evaluation of concussions.

“We are extremely confident that our concussion protocol is among the best in sports,” O'Donnell said. “We regularly review all of our practices involving safety and health to see if there is anything that we can do better, or should do differently moving forward. Implementing baseline testing is a primary example of our philosophy to protect our competitors the best that we can.”

Hybrid vehicle sightings are no longer a rare occurrence. As fuel prices rise, so do their sales numbers. Be they plug-in or not, hybrid vehicles that offer less than 100 kilometers autonomy in cold-weather conditions seem to be, for now, the ideal solution in reducing both fuel consumption and greenhouse gases.

Hybrid Winter-Readiness: More or Less Expensive?
As far as winter-readiness goes, what are the recommendations for these dual-engined vehicles that combine both internal-combustion and electric motor? We could easily jump to the conclusion that the complexity of their engineering requires specific, expensive maintenance requirements. Nothing could be further from the truth. How can this be? Let's take a closer look at the hybrid system and find out.

Photo: Sebastien D'Amour

Sharing the Load
Hybrid vehicles shut down combustion engine operation when we come to a complete stop, thus interrupting gas production. Once we release the brake pedal, the electric motor supplies the power for propulsion, before eventually handing over operations to the combustion engine, which also handles battery recharging duties.

Brisk acceleration requires that the engines work in tandem to produce the necessary power. Deceleration and activation of the braking system engages the alternators in the regenerative-braking system, which helps recharge the battery.

Slow-traffic mobility is handled by the electric motor, which propels the vehicle until the moment that the battery requires recharging. The motors will then work in tandem to share the task.

It's important to keep in mind that the combustion engine is inoperative in traffic or at a complete stop. This saves engine wear and tear. Does this logic also apply to other components such as the exhaust system? If the engine operates less frequently, shouldn't the engine oil last longer? The regenerative braking system slows down the vehicle and reduces the strain on the brakes. Maybe this will also cut down on brake system maintenance and replacement?

As far as hybrid-vehicle transmissions are concerned, most manufacturers have opted for what is referred to as CVT (continuously variable transmission) transmissions. As there are no gears, there is almost no maintenance.

Savings in the 25% to 40% Range
Many manufacturers have recommended maintenance intervals in the 5,000 to 6,000 kilometer range. For example, Toyota Prius maintenance intervals are 8,000 kilometers apart. These recommendations need to be followed in order to respect warranty obligations. Once the warranty is over, one can easily and safely perform hybrid maintenance at 15,000-kilometer intervals, or once a year, thus pocketing savings in the 25% to 40% range.

From GMM (Updated, see below)

Felipe Massa has agreed a five-year deal to stay in formula one next year with the British team Williams, a Brazilian website is reporting.

'Diario Motorsport' said the Brazilian, who has lost his Ferrari race seat, will replace Pastor Maldonado, who could take his lucrative PDVSA backing to Lotus.

The report said the news, with 32-year-old Massa to be "paid a wage" by Williams rather than become a pay-driver, will be announced "in the next days or even hours".

But for now, it remains just a rumour, even though it is interesting that, only very recently, Massa decided to 'follow' Oxfordshire based Williams on Twitter.

UPDATE
Felipe Massa on Thursday admitted he is in talks with Williams.

That would tie in with speculation Massa's move is being powered by the former Williams sponsor Petrobras, a Brazilian oil company, whose branding would clash with Venezuela's PDVSA.

"It's too early to talk about it. I am talking with many teams, and Williams is one of them,” he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

The Brazilian driver insisted he would be a paid driver.

"I do not pay to drive," said Massa in India. "If a team wants to have me, it's because of my performance and my experience.

"I would never go to a team and say 'I have a sponsor, can I drive for you?'

"First, I want the contract," Massa explained. "Then if a sponsor wants to join, I will help the team, because any extra money for the team will also benefit me."

Photo: Williams F1 Team

The Wall Street Crash of 1929, also known as Black Tuesday, took place on October 24th, 1929. As the most devastating stock market crash of the 20th century, it led to the 10-year Great Depression that affected all Western industrialized countries including their auto industries.

Car production dropped about 50% between 1929 and 1931, while overall unemployment rates exceeded 25% in the U.S. -- slightly worse than Europe, which was still picking up the pieces from World War I.

Even the powerful Rockfeller family, which made a fortune in the oil business, lost nearly 80% of its wealth.

Source: Wikipedia

From GMM

Vitaly Petrov has emerged as a shock contender to return to F1 with Sauber in 2014.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said the Russian, who has raced in F1 for Renault and Caterham, is knocking at the Swiss team's headquarters with a EUR 30 million sponsor.

Reportedly, Petrov could oust countryman Sergey Sirotkin, even though it was believed the 18-year-old Russian was the linchpin of Sauber's financial rescue package.

Sergey Sirotkin, Formula Renault 3.5. (Photo: Renault)

Auto Motor und Sport, however, reports that Sirotkin's backers are behind in their due payments to the Hinwil based team.

And 29-year-old Petrov's backer could be Gazprom, one of the biggest companies on earth.

Until now, Sauber has said it intends to field Sirotkin next year, but the team has refused to actually officially confirm his seat.

"Our goal is to prepare Sergey for formula one," Monisha Kaltenborn is quoted as saying on Thursday. "But we have some flexibility in our activities with him."

It is rumoured Sirotkin could now spend 2014 as the reserve driver.

From October 31st to November 3rd in Charlotte, North Carolina, RK Motors Collector Car Auctions will sell over 40 exceptional cars including three rare Mercedes-Benz models.

The first is a 1995 Mercedes-Benz Lotec C1000 commissioned by a United Arab Emirates-based businessman who dreamed of owning the world's fastest street-legal car. It boasts a 5.6L V8 engine with twin Garrett turbochargers generating 1,000 horsepower, achieving 0-60 mph (96 km/h) in 2.8 seconds, and a top speed of 268 mph (431 km/h).

Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster 2002. (Photo: RK Motors Collector Car Auctions)

Next is a 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster, which traces its roots to the purpose-built, FIA GT-champion racing machine of the late 1990s. Required to build an FIA-mandated 25 road versions of their CLK GTR race car, Mercedes-Benz and AMG specialist group H.W.A made a total of 26 CLK GTRs, including six roadsters. This one (chassis #3) has just 71 original miles (114 km), and uses a 6.9L V12 engine rated at 604 horsepower.

Last, but not least, is a 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing that was imported to Canada by Leopold Poldi Bentley, who helped build the brand in Western Canada. It was sold in 1956, and remained in that owner's possession for 50 years before being restored by Rudi and Company in Vancouver. This 300 SL Gullwing has only 45,687 original miles (73 526 km) on its odometer.

Source: RK Motors Collector Car Auctions

Auto123.com caught up with Mercedes DTM driver Robert Wickens during the weekend of the final race of the 2013 season in Hockenheim, Germany.

However, let's first go back in time to the conclusion of 2011 when the Toronto native -- who was also the test and reserve driver of the Marussia Formula 1 team -- clinched the Formula Renault 3.5 title ahead of some famous figures such as Jean-Eric Vergne, Daniel Ricciardo and Alexander Rossi.

Despite his brilliant performance, Wickens did not graduate to F1 in 2012.

Auto123.com: Robert, why did you not make it to F1 with Marussia?
Robert Wickens: “It was nothing in particular; I just did not have the money. That's the bottom line. I was able to scrounge some money, but then other drivers came up with a lot more than I could find. I was offered to be the reserve driver again and to race in the GP2 series. I didn't want to do it.

After that Mercedes approached me for a test. They were impressed with my performance in the F1 young driver program with the Marussia and Lotus cars. ‘We'd love to test you in a DTM car,' they said. I called them back. I'd be stupid not to.”

Robert Wickens, Mercedes AMG C-Coupe in Hockenheim. (Photo: René Fagnan)

Auto123.com: You had never driven a tin top before that test with Mercedes. How did it go?
Wickens: “I did not know what to expect. I tried to find any onboard videos of DTM to see how it was like to drive with a roof over my head. The test took place in Barcelona, a track I really like. The moment I left the pit lane and turned off the speed limiter, I felt comfortable. I was not all over the place, and I was not hitting curbs as I expected. Of course, it took me some time to get used to it, but after two or three runs, I was competitive.”

Auto123.com: Mercedes offered you a fully sponsored ride in the DTM. Was that decision difficult to make?
Wickens: “When you get the chance to become a professional race car driver for a major car manufacturer like Mercedes-Benz or return to a junior category like GP2, the choice is easy to make. After winning the FR3.5 championship, if I hadn't clinched the title in GP2, my stock would have gone down. And if I had won, I would have just shown them again that I was good enough. I took the opportunity to make a career in motorsport.”

Auto123.com: Do you think you still have a chance to graduate to F1 some day?
Wickens: “Formula 1 is not out of the question. Mercedes powers a lot of F1 cars. But first I need to prove myself here. F1 is not on the radar -- I need to win the DTM title first. But even if I never go to F1, I am fully happy here, and I really want to win the title with Mercedes.”

Robert Wickens, Mercedes (Photo: René Fagnan)

Auto123.com: You scored your first pole position as well as your maiden win in DTM this season. Are you happy with your performance?
Wickens: “To be honest, it's been an up and down year. I'm happy with some of my results, unhappy with others. I'm not pleased with the fact that either I finished fourth or better, or I wasn't in the points at all. You cannot win a championship if you're not regularly in the points. I only scored points in four of the last ten races. There were problems that were out of my control, such as a stuck throttle, bad pit stops, and then there were accidents and collisions. But I think when I was in the top 5, I did a great job taking advantage of it.”

Auto123.com: The level of performance of the Mercedes AMG C-Coupe decreased around the middle of the season. Any explanation?
Wickens: “It was just a lack of grip. It looks like over the summer break, the other manufacturers came with a big step in performance. We were not sitting still; we were also pushing hard. It was evident in Moscow and the Nurburgring that we were struggling in qualifying. I did win the race at the Nurburgring, but I qualified a lowly 7th.

The last time a Mercedes was in Q4 was at the Norisring when I got the pole. On the other hand, our race pace was quite good all year long. We need to be higher on the grid if we want to fight for the title. Over the last races, it's just damage limitation, scoring as many points as possible.”

Auto123.com: To spice up the races, DTM introduced a DRS (Drag Reduction System), and Hankook came up with soft option tires. How do you rate these two innovations?
Wickens: “The problem with our DRS is that it is not that effective. We don't have that much power, and our cars are heavy. On this track here (Hockenheim), with the DRS opened on the whole back straight, we only gain 3/10ths of a second.

On the other hand, the option tire has been very good, very exciting. Some races have been a bit... strange, as some car manufacturers could make their option tires last for God knows how long! It's not good for the series when the option tires can do three quarters of a race. It should be a tire that can only do 10 laps and that's it. Maybe they'll change this for next year, but I haven't heard anything.

Robert Wickens, Mercedes (Photo: René Fagnan)

Auto123.com: Most fans don't know that you worked pretty hard this year...
Wickens: Yep. I've been doing an internship at HWA. When I moved to Germany in January, I immediately started working 9 to 5 every day. I spent the first two months in the engineering department. Then I spent time in the other departments of the company: carbon shop, machine shop, engine and gearbox departments, and quality control. It was pretty intense, and I never expected to be punching a time card every day! I needed to train in the gym three hours a day, and I could not lie down on my couch before 11 at night! I'd like to do it again next year, but certainly not on a day-to-day basis.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - We found ourselves deep in the heart of fox-hunting country, where every fence line featured wooden coops just begging to be leaped over, and it was easy to imagine the baying of hounds echoing over rolling hills resplendent in their fall colours.

Our route encompassed the urban heart of Washington, where the country's most powerful do business, and the rural acreages in which they live.

The ">2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG 4Matic we drove might turn heads anywhere else, but here it was accepted as a matter of course.


What is the 2014 Mercedes Benz CLA 45 AMG 4MATIC?
The CLA 45 AMG is the performance version of the CLA compact sedan.

For the first time in its 45-year history, the AMG performance arm of Mercedes-Benz -- known for their bellowing 8-cylinder engines -- has produced a vehicle powered by a turbocharged 4-cylinder. Not only that, but the 2014 CLA 45 AMG represents another radical departure for this venerable marque: It rides on a front-biased platform and features all-wheel drive.

AMG Chairman, Ola Källenius, describes the car as a "gateway to Gen Y," designed to attract younger folks who, until now, were unable to afford AMG.

The CLA 45 AMG is the performance version of the CLA compact sedan. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

2014 Mercedes Benz CLA 45 AMG 4MATIC Prices and Specs
Some AMG fans may recoil in horror at the introduction of a compact 4-cylinder into the lineup. From the handbuilt 2.0L engine is somehow squeezed the highest output of any turbocharged production four-pot in the world: 335 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. That's 147 horsepower over the regular CLA. That prodigious torque, available from 2,250 rpm, and turbo-boost that's been cranked up to an astonishing 26 psi produce an immediate responsiveness that's virtually turbo-lag free.

Pricing starts at $49,800 for the CLA 45 AMG. There's an available Premium Package ($3,000) which adds rear-view camera, electronic companies, auto-dimming mirrors, sunroof, power-folding mirrors, dual-zone climate control, Passive Blind Spot Assist and Passive Lane Keeping Assist.

Some AMG fans may recoil in horror at the introduction of a compact 4-cylinder into the lineup. From the handbuilt 2.0L engine is somehow squeezed the highest output of any turbocharged production four-pot in the world: 335 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Driving the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG 4Matic
The CLA 45's compact size is perfectly suited to the pastoral roads of Virginia, and the thriving bustle of Washington's core. The lively chassis makes this one of the more nimble and fun-to-drive models in the AMG lineup. Fitted with the lower and stiffer AMG performance suspension (which has 20% stiffer front springs and 22% stiffer rear springs) our tester was a delight to toss around the curves.

The seats are comfortable and provide plenty of legroom up front, but the swooping roofline compromises rear headroom. The 2014 Merc CLA 45 is very quiet, with not much wind noise or road noise, and very little of the raspy exhaust note intrudes into the cabin.

On the centre console, the driver-selectable mode button toggles between Comfort, Sport or Manual. The first, and more sedate, option not only returns better fuel economy, but also shows consideration for the neighbours by keeping the exhaust note in check. The other two settings open the exhaust flap unleashing a guttural pop and snarl, and add snap to the 7-speed dual-clutch AMG transmission.

While more compliant in Comfort mode, the ride is still taut with little body roll. Switch it over to Sport, and the 2014 CLA 45 eats up the twisty forest roads. If the 45 AMG doesn't bellow like its 8-cylinder counterparts, the 4-cylinder's pop and burble is still quite satisfying. Paddle shifters can be used in any of the three modes. Only in Manual mode does the gearbox rely on them fully.

While the 45's default mode is as a front-wheel driver, the AWD kicks in at the first sign of slippage. Normally, this will constitute a 50-50 split, but extreme loss of grip (such as on high-speed cornering) can send 100% of the power to the rear. Despite being a front- wheel driver, the 45 shows little tendency to understeer.

The lively chassis makes this one of the more nimble and fun-to-drive models in the AMG lineup. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Inside and Out of the 2014 Mercedes Benz CLA 45 AMG 4Matic
The 45 AMG is a more aggressively turned-out version of the regular CLA. The CLA 45's swooping lines are transformed by side skirts and a more aggressive front fascia featuring the twin-blade grill of the halo-car, gullwing SLS AMG. Large, gaping intakes add ferocity, and the rear fascia frames twin tailpipes. The sloping roofline gives this four-door sedan the sporty look of a coupe.

The cabin is also a cut above the regular CLA. More aggressively bolstered front seats are "Artico" leather-upholstered and provide more lateral support when cornering. The flat-bottomed sport steering wheel is leather, wrapped with Nappa suede grips, and features 12 multifunction switches.

Ambient lighting, stainless steel foot pedals and door sills, brushed aluminum trim, and contrasting red stitching are all standard 45 AMG features.

Optional AMG upgrades include carbon-fibre trim, performance seats, and the aforementioned red callipers and larger wheels. There's also an AMG performance suspension and exhaust package for those who, in Källenius's words, "want to get really crazy."

The cabin is also a cut above the regular CLA. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz)

Comparing the 2014 Mercedes Benz CLA 45 AMG 4Matic
Competitors include the Audi S3 (coming to Canada in 2014). The S3 also offers AWD, but with 296 hp/280 lb-ft of torque -- less power than the CLA 45 AMG, which is actually a foot longer. The CLA 45 is also longer and lighter than the BMW 135i, which is RWD.

A rather forgiving car, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG is well-positioned as a conquest vehicle for AMG.

From GMM

Daniil Kvyat secured the Toro Rosso seat for 2014 because his results were simply better than his opponents.

That is the claim of the Faenza based team's boss Franz Tost, despite earlier saying the 19-year-old Russian was too young and inexperienced to replace the Red Bull-bound Daniel Ricciardo.

It has been claimed Kvyat, a GP3 and F3 driver, beat the older and more experienced Antonio Felix da Costa, and also Carlos Sainz jr, to the seat because he is reported to be bringing some Russian rubles to the team.

And his drive has also been linked with the fact Russia's inaugural grand prix is taking place next year.

Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso. (Photo: WRi2)

But when asked to explain why Kvyat got the seat, and not da Costa or Sainz, Tost told Speed Week: "The results.

"Kvyat impressed us with his strong performance in both the FIA European F3 championship and the GP3 series," he said.

"Da Costa did not show this consistency," Tost explained. "He (da Costa) finished third in the Renault 3.5 series.

"Kvyat," he continued, "is currently second overall in GP3, only seven points behind and fighting for the title with (Facu) Regalia.

"Sainz is ninth with 66 points," added Franz Tost.

From GMM

India looks set to bow out of formula one amid a flood of bad press, as it emerges McLaren mechanics have been armed with mosquito repellent to get them through this weekend's unloved grand prix.

Although provisionally scheduled to return in 2015, the country is falling off the F1 calendar for now after this weekend's race near New Delhi.

Autosprint correspondent Alberto Antonini introduced his coverage of the 2013 edition by referring to slums and local indifference, and reports of tax, customs and financial problems.

"We have missed an opportunity," Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn, an Austrian who was born in Dehradun, is quoted as saying.

"We have not been able to sell F1 well enough in these parts," she admitted.

Photo: Buddh International Circuit

Antonini said the poor locals cannot afford to buy tickets, while the race is "a nightmare" for teams, weighed down by customs issues, chaotic traffic and fears of dengue fever.

McLaren is sponsored by Hilton, and so the mechanics are staying at the hotel that is plagued by disease-carrying mosquitoes, while the drivers and team boss Martin Whitmarsh are at the safer Jaypee Greens.

"The Hilton is really nice and the people are friendly and helpful," Jenson Button's manager Richard Goddard told the Daily Mail. "But perhaps as the hotel is new, there has not been enough allowance made for the amount of mosquitoes in the area."

McLaren spokesman Matt Bishop said staff have been issued with "powerful mosquito repellent spray".

Sebastian Vettel will almost certainly wrap up his 2013 title in India, but his girlfriend and parents are staying away.

"India is a bit far away to visit for only one race," his father Norbert told the Kolner Express newspaper.

Bild newspaper said Vettel is taking all precautious to ensure his safety in India, refraining from putting ice in his drinks and eating local fruit and salads.

"To kill germs, he gargles with high-proof whiskey," the report revealed, adding that Mercedes' Nico Rosberg "dodged a cow" on a highway on Wednesday.

"Nothing unusual," the German driver Tweeted. Monisha Kaltenborn, however, thinks Rosberg has dodged his last farm animal.

She is quoted by Spain's AS newspaper: "I think that once a country leaves (the calendar) it is very difficult to come back again, especially when we have not been able to establish the sport here."

Fall keeps stretching and filling our days with sunny skies and warm weather, while spring does the same to put a premature end to winter. Amidst all this, however, is a unique mix of climate conditions that significantly affects our daily habits. More than anywhere else in the world, the cold season in Canada poses serious challenges that drivers must deal with.

Once again, the editorial team at Auto123.com presents its annual Winter Guide. Here you'll find advice on everything from winter tires to rustproofing treatments, from emergency kits to cooling system maintenance, not to mention visibility and driving techniques. Our journalists will provide you with useful tips and information, whether you drive a regular vehicle, a convertible, a hybrid, a motorcycle or even an all-electric car.

So winter's coming back, eh? That's cool. Canadians are a tough bunch, defying snowstorms and black ice. Other than orange cones, we fear nothing!


WINTER TIRES

2013 winter tire buying tips	Checking for wear on your winter tires	7 important reasons to add winter tires
How to maintain proper tire pressure	How to rotate your tires properly	What makes a winter tire effective in winter?

WINTER DRIVING

How to travel safely this winter	It's never too soon to prepare for winter	Top features that keep drivers focused
Winter safety tips and advices

MAINTENANCE

Tips to buy a portable shelter	Winter maintenance for maintaining mileage	Car maintenance: rustproofing treatments
Rustproofing: all-in-one guide	Used-car suspension inspection	Common causes of concerning clunks
Ready your 4x4 or AWD system for cold weather	Winter driving: visibility is key	Protect your ride with dealer accessories
Winter accessories for comfort and confidence	Stability systems shine for winter driving

EMERGENCIES

Emergency kit for the cold months of winter

How to boost your car battery

Tackling life-threatening problems on the road

CONVERTIBLES

Winter maintenance for your convertible top

ELECTRIC and HYBRID VEHICLES

Battery-powered electric vehicles in winter

MOTORCYCLES

Winter storage tips for your bike

From GMM

Daniel Juncadella has played down reports that said he has a good chance of lining up on the grid for Williams next year.

The Spaniard is racing this year for Grove based Williams' 2014 engine supplier Mercedes in the German touring car series DTM.

And it was rumoured that another link that could pay off for 22-year-old Juncadella, whose uncle is the former HRT boss Luis Perez Sala, is his sponsor deal with the Kazakhstan capital Astana.

TAK Group's Artur Ardavichus said in June: "Astana wants Dani to progress and gain experience with Williams, to prepare him to be a formula one driver with Mercedes."

Daniel Juncadella, Mercedes. (Photo: DTM)

But Juncadella has now told Speed Week that the Williams story was wide of the mark.

"No. A lot was written about Williams in the Spanish media," he said. "It was wrong. If I had EUR 20 million, I could drive in formula one, but that makes no sense to me.

"I want to drive in a championship where my talent and my results are important. That is the case in the DTM," said Juncadella.

"I also want to win races and titles. So while formula one is always the biggest target, in the near future I am only thinking about the DTM," he added.

From GMM

Gerhard Berger thinks Sebastian Vettel is the best driver on the grid today, while Bernie Ecclestone says the German might be F1's all-time great.

If Fernando Alonso fails to finish either first or second in India on Sunday, Red Bull's Vettel will be guaranteed his fourth consecutive drivers' title.

Bild newspaper said the 26-year-old will scoop a EUR 5 million title-winning bonus, while each Red Bull employee will go home with an extra EUR 12,500 in their regular pay.

Berger, who was the team boss at Toro Rosso when Vettel won his first ever grand prix in 2008, thinks the German is now the class of the field.

Gerhard Berger and Sebastian Vettel in Monza 2008. First victory in F1 for the German driver. (Photo: WRi2)

"I have always put Vettel behind Alonso," he told APA news agency, "but I think at the moment Alonso is focused too much on himself, becoming unstable.

"So while he is occupied with himself, Vettel gets one title after the next," added former Ferrari and McLaren driver Berger. "I think Vettel is clearly the best driver in formula one now."

Michael Schumacher agrees that Alonso has done himself no favours recently.

"He put himself on a path of stones," the seven time world champion told Bild newspaper, without elaborating.

"Things have happened that were not constructive," the former Ferrari driver added, still referring to Alonso.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner would not disagree, saying the fate of Vettel's teammate Mark Webber over the past few years proves Vettel's class.

"Mark Webber is a very good driver," he is quoted by Spox. "Before Vettel came into the team, his (Webber's) reputation was as a future champion. But this year in qualifying, Sebastian Vettel has beaten Mark 14 times and won nine times.

"If it was all about the car, we would be first and second in the drivers' championship, but we are not," Horner insisted.

"For me, he is now on par with Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Michael Schumacher," Horner added.

F1 chief executive Ecclestone thinks Vettel is even better than that.

"People don't know how many titles Senna would have won," he told Bloomberg, "but Vettel is probably the best we've had."

Sebastian Vettel and Bernie Ecclestone. (Photo: WRi2)

Bernie Ecclestone admitted Vettel's dominance has hurt TV ratings slightly.

"People complain about him winning everything," he said, "but the racing is good.

"It's a bit like with Roger Federer or Muhammad Ali," he explained. "Vettel is the best there is and people want to be there when he gets beat."

Sebastian Vettel, however, has not been a universally popular figure this year, but Schumacher thinks that is more Red Bull's fault than his.

"If you win with a traditional team, a brand full of emotion and history, that is the ultimate. And that would certainly change one or two things in his (Vettel's) situation," said the great German.

"Whether he would have had the same successes with Ferrari," Schumacher acknowledged, "is a different sheet of paper."

The cab-rearward proportions, revamped grille and taut new sheet metal on Hyundai's re-engineered Genesis are part of a plan to pit the rear-wheel-drive sedan more directly against German luxury models.

GM's ability to reverse years of losses in Europe is coming down to products, not partners.

2013 Infiniti JX35 - Four Seasons Wrap-Up

Oh, the things we carried.

Whenever we see an Infiniti, the first thing that comes through is its message of style. However, when a 2013 Infiniti JX35 AWD arrived in our Four Seasons fleet, we realized that it would be silly to look only at its exterior. Instead, we had to turn our imagination inside out, because it's the inside that counts. The sheetmetal is just the hard candy shell for the possibilities within.

Photo Gallery: 2013 Infiniti JX35 - Four Seasons Wrap-Up

Photo Gallery: 2013 Infiniti JX35 - Four Seasons Wrap-Up

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