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From GMM

Australian Formula 1 driver Mark Webber has admitted he came "very close" to ending his career in a Ferrari.

"So close," he is quoted by Speed Week in the Abu Dhabi paddock, "that I had to take the phone in my hand and call (Red Bull team owner) Dietrich Mateschitz."

Webber, who will leave F1 and switch to Le Mans for 2014 after this month's Brazilian grand prix, is referring to last season, when Ferrari was on the market to replace Felipe Massa.

"We couldn't find an agreement with Ferrari," said the Australian, "or I'd be sitting right now in Felipe Massa's car -- also in 2014," he revealed.

"I had set myself a deadline and on the Thursday before Canada last year I made the decision to stay another year with Red Bull," said Webber.

In the end, Webber says he will walk out of the Interlagos paddock late this month with his head held high, happy with his F1 career even though he missed the world title.

"It was not meant to be," he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport, "but it was a proud and honest career.

"I see myself on par with the one-time champions," said Webber. "Am I a potential multiple champion? The answer is clearly not," he admitted.

Webber therefore admits that his teammate Sebastian Vettel, with whom he has shared a tense tenure at Red Bull, is better.

"Seb is exceptional," he said, "and I have no problem admitting it.

"In some ways I feel like Gerhard Berger with Ayrton Senna -- Gerhard was also a great racer, but not enough for the title."

From GMM

Red Bull Racing designer Adrian Newey this week said he didn't know if the team's alternator problems of 2012 have now resurfaced.

After Mark Webber's retirement in India, obvious questions were being asked about whether the same constant problems of last year had come back.

"The problem with Mark had nothing to do with the events of 2012," engine supplier Renault's Remi Taffin told Auto Motor und Sport.

He said the exact cause is not yet known.

Red Bull Racing changed supplier for 2013.

"Either the alternator came from a faulty series, or there was a problem with the installation," he added.

Taffin said Webber's Renault engine mercifully survived the problem, as was the V8 unit in Lotus driver Romain Grosjean's car.

Grosjean had a storming drive to the podium in India, but Auto Motor und Sport said that if the race had been two laps longer, the Frenchman would have retired as the engine was losing air.

Red Bull's Webber, meanwhile, laughed with resignation at his retirement last week in India, and shrugged on Thursday when contemplating his long run of bad luck.

"A lot of results have slipped through the net, but that's the way it's been, for whatever reason," he said.

Former Formula 1 team Super Aguri will make a return on the international motorsport scene by running a team in the new, electric Formula E championship next year.

Super Aguri Formula E is headquartered in Tokyo and is overseen by Japanese racing driver and team owner Aguri Suzuki.

It becomes the second Asian team (after China) to enter the new Formula E series.

The Super Aguri name is best known for its association in Formula 1 where Super Aguri F1 competed in the sport from 2006 until 2008. The expertise and knowledge gained in F1 will now be applied to creating eco-conscious technological solutions which can be used in major urban cities such as Tokyo.

Super Aguri Formula E was founded in 2013 by four partners: Aguri Suzuki (Executive Chairman), Mark Preston (Team Principal), Peter McCool (Technical Director) and Ferry Spijkerman (Commercial Director).

“Today is a new chapter for the Super Aguri name and I'm proud that our team will represent Japan in the inaugural Formula E series. Zero emissions racing is a progressive concept for the motorsport industry, and after more than 40 years as both a driver and team owner, I see Formula E as a great stride towards the future,” said Aguri Suzuki.

From GMM

Nico Hulkenberg's best hope of simply staying in Formula 1 is a new deal with Sauber, according to reports.

Pastor Maldonado's PDVSA millions, and Max Chilton's lucrative Aon backing, appear to have locked the doors to Lotus and even Force India for the highly rated German.

"We are up against 150 million (euros)," Hulkenberg's manager Werner Heinz told Bild newspaper.

Hulkenberg told Sport Bild: "I have never ruled out staying at Sauber."

Mercedes' Niki Lauda told Bild: "It is ridiculous that someone like Hulkenberg has to fight for a cockpit."

World champion Sebastian Vettel agreed: "Nico has absolutely earned his place in formula one."

It is believed Sauber will retain the improving rookie Esteban Gutierrez, who has links to important Mexican backers.

"I feel very confident that I will stay in F1 next year," he is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace in Abu Dhabi.

The other seat, however, was reserved for the teen Sergey Sirotkin, who is a part of Sauber's crucial Russian rescue deal.

Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn, however, said on Thursday that the deal could include some flexibility when it comes to Sirotkin's driving role.

"I think we will find out fairly soon whether he is ready for Formula 1," she is quoted by f1news.ru.

"It is an important step and it should not be underestimated."

I love rowing gears and having fun behind the wheel. Obviously, I have a weak spot for sports cars, while sedans often fly under my radar. Save for a few exceptions, sedans are depressingly uninspiring -- like the car your aunt drives.

What about the 2014 Kia Forte? Well, it sure looks great thanks to Peter Schreyer. However, they say one shouldn't judge a book by its cover, so let me tell you the whole story. I promise you, it's a good one.


Love at first sight
As I approached the Glittering Silver 2014 Kia Forte SX with the Smart Key in my purse, the side mirrors automatically deployed, and the door handle gently lit up to invite me in. Then, when I settled in the driver's seat and hit the Start button, a mini Forte appeared on the dashboard to greet me.

“Well hello to you, too!”

Among the first few things I noticed were the superb visibility, and abundant storage and passenger room.

The comfort zone
The leather seats in the 2014 Kia Forte SX proved comfortable. Heck, the driver's seat is even climate-controlled, so your butt always stays warm or cool depending on the temperature -- how thoughtful! It gets better with a heated steering wheel that helps you stave off the cold.

As for interior styling: All black doesn't mean all boring thanks to various textures including carbon-fibre patterned trim.

Photo: Philippe Champoux

Putting on the charm
Good news for short-armed drivers like me: The 2014 Kia Forte SX has a sliding centre armrest. Did I tell you about the slick LCD screen, SiriusXM radio, paddle shifters, dual-zone climate control system, cooling glove box, power sunroof, and GPS? I would run out of breath listing the many luxurious amenities in my tester.

I also liked the 2014 Kia Forte SX's rearview camera, the small triangular window between the A-pillars and side mirrors, and of course the loading-friendly trunk opening (no need to swing your grocery bags up in the air).

The drive seals it
I could go on and on about the wide array of features and attributes of the 2014 Kia Forte SX, but telling you how it drove may actually be more impressive. The 4-cylinder engine is lively and feisty, making for easy passing manoeuvres. That was with the automatic transmission; I suspect the manual is wicked fun.

Photo: Philippe Champoux

Thinking about the next time...
This is one exception to the soporific sedan rule. I tip my hat to Mr. Schreyer for his bold approach. Now, that's what I call truly and delightfully breaking the mould.

With its many endearing qualities, fresh new looks, attractive price, and slightly delinquent nature, I would happily give the 2014 Kia Forte SX a spot in my driveway -- it's already got one in my heart!

From GMM

Briton Lewis Hamilton was surprised when he heard that, after winning a fourth title in India last Sunday, Sebastian Vettel was penalised.

"He was reprimanded?" the Mercedes driver told reporters in Abu Dhabi, according to Brazil's Totalrace.

"Are you serious? That's crazy!"

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, New Delhi (Photo: Red Bull)

Indeed, Vettel spent some of his first moments as a quadruple world champion in the FIA stewards office, because his celebratory 'donuts' broke the strict post-race parc ferme rules.

Red Bull was also fined 25,000 euros.

But "The fans loved it," Hamilton insisted. "It didn't hurt anyone, it wasn't dangerous -- I saw it on the screen and the fans were going crazy.

"It was very cool to see," he added.

It might be said that Red Bull put two fingers up to the FIA's reaction this week when former team driver David Coulthard did donuts in a Red Bull some 210 metres in the air, atop the Burj Al Arab helipad in Dubai.

Team boss Christian Horner said the FIA needs to rethink its strict rules.

"I think the stewards perhaps need to be empowered to give a little more leniency in extraordinary circumstances," he said in Abu Dhabi.

On my way home the other day, I saw a driver ignoring a pedestrian crossing as a lady was about to step onto the road. While I stopped so she could make it safely to the other side, I wondered if the other driver simply missed the sign, didn't know what it meant or chose to ignore the law.

I'll never know because I was obviously not going to start chasing the guy to find out, but the fact is that road sign disobedience is not a rare sight. So, today I'll ask you this: Do you really know what the various signs and warnings mean?

Here are some of the more problematic ones:

The Pedestrian Crossing sign informs road users that they are approaching a crossing for pedestrians. They must show caution and yield to any pedestrian needing to cross. In Quebec, a violation of this traffic sign carries a fine of $100 for drivers and $37 for cyclists.

Everybody knows of the yield sign, but do they really know what it means? Judging by the sheer number of people who slow down to let others merge, my guess is no. Basically, this sign indicates that drivers are required to yield the right-of-way to vehicles on a priority highway.

You want to show courtesy by helping drivers in the on-ramp safely merge into traffic? Fine. But for God's sake, don't hammer the brake pedal when you have cars following you at more than 100 km/h!

What is that sign, you ask? Well, it's a hazard marker indicating the presence of an obstruction on the roadway or shoulders, as well as indicating where a public highway narrows. The diagonal bars point to the side you have to take to avoid said obstruction (in this case, the right side).

A Prepare to Stop sign indicates an intersection with traffic lights ahead. It displays flashing amber beacons when the lights are going to turn red before you reach the intersection. So, why do some drivers ignore the warning and brake at the last second, possibly encroaching on the intersection and risking a collision with other vehicles that do have a green light? I'm puzzled...

It's not just a red octagon; it also reads “Stop.” Get it? Stop! Not “Slow Down.” This can mean the difference between life and death if you ever hit a pedestrian or cyclist. Think about it...


If you'd like to test your knowledge, complete GM's Great Canadian Road Signs Quiz. I'd be curious to know your score.

On behalf of all road users, please know your signs and drive safely!


Sources: rsr.mtq.gouv.qc.ca
spvm.qc.ca

As it strives to expand its network of Supercharger stations across the U.S. and Canada, Tesla announced that it will connect Miami and Montreal in 2014 after recently doing the same with Vancouver and San Diego.

These 120 kW Superchargers can charge a Tesla Model S to 50% in about 20 minutes. They are currently the world's most powerful charging stations, but remain exclusive to Tesla owners -- for free.

According to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the short distance between Superchargers means that the vast majority of drivers (over 85%) can get to any of them with a single charge. The Model S has a range of up to 370 kilometres at 90 km/h.

Source : auto.lapresse.ca

Photo: Tesla

According to Fiat, if you're looking for some "eco-friendly love" then you should look no further than the 2013 Fiat 500e. An environmentally friendly take on the already popular hatchback, Fiat has entered the EV game with a cute, original player that's sure to capture some hearts (and wallets) -- as long as you're on the West Coast.


What is the Fiat 500e?
An A-segment hatchback, the Fiat 500e is an electrified version of the popular Cinquecento. Unfortunately, unless you're a Californian you won't be able to buy one. The 500e is available only in the Sunshine State -- and it has completely sold out already. It's what's known as a "compliance car," built to satisfy California's requirements that any volume automaker selling cars in that state must also offer an electric variant.

An A-segment hatchback, the Fiat 500e is an electrified version of the popular Cinquecento. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

2013 Fiat 500e Price and Specs
The Fiat 500e is priced at $31,800 USD (which is twice the price of the base 500), but there are some compelling incentives for California residents including a $7,500 USD Federal rebate, $2,500 USD in California tax credits, and a $2,000 USD Fiat rebate.

Options in the 2013 Fiat 500e include:

• Power sunroof ($1,100 USD);
• Steam White interior ($395 USD);
• The E-Sport Package ($495 USD) which includes lighting and graphics upgrades, cast-aluminum matte-black and orange alloy wheels, and orange mirror caps.

Powered by a permanent magnetic electric motor putting out 111 horsepower and 147 lb-ft of torque, the 500e claims a class-leading range of 108 MPGe. The charge is stored in a 24 kWh lithium-ion battery. There's a single-speed automatic transmission to translate that power to the wheels.

Standard content includes: Bi-halogen projector beams, LED centre signal lamp, 7.0" instrument display, Electronic Vehicle Information Centre (EVIC), remote key fob, USB port, Sirius XM with a 1-year subscription, premium six-speaker audio system, 3-year Fiat 500e Smartphone connectivity, Navigation, and Bluetooth.

Powered by a permanent magnetic electric motor putting out 111 horsepower and 147 lb-ft of torque, the 500e claims a class-leading range of 108 MPGe. The charge is stored in a 24 kWh lithium-ion battery. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Driving the 2013 Fiat 500e
We drove the 500e at Chrysler's Chelsea Proving Grounds, a 3,850-acre site near Ann Arbor Michigan where new products are tested for handling and durability. Among the several tracks are a steeply banked oval for high speed and performance testing, a two-lane "ride road" with a variety of surfaces to evaluate suspension, noise and vibration, and a small road course featuring several hairpin turns.

The 2013 Fiat 500e has a specially designed chassis and suspension to accommodate the battery that's located in the lower body structure for optimum centre of gravity and a better weight balance at 57/43 than the regular version's 64/36.

As a result, the 500e feels stiff, planted and so well balanced that it is actually a lot of fun to drive. The low centre of gravity gives it an air of solidity lacking in the other 500 models -- and it's a fraction faster than the base 500, but not as fast as the Turbo.

That sense of eerie quiet is amplified by extra EV-specific sound deadening. There are 13 different steps taken to improve noise, vibration, and harshness. Of course, there's no overtaxed buzzing of a tiny 4-cylinder to contend with, either.
The silly dash-mount location of the Navigation (as in the regular 500) is a real sight obstruction, and looks flimsy to boot.

Unlike many hybrid and EV braking -- which can be grabby with a sense of drag when the pedal is lifted -- the 2013 Fiat 500e's "blended' braking feels more natural while still regenerating.

The 500e feels stiff, planted and so well balanced that it is actually a lot of fun to drive. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Inside and Out of the 2013 Fiat 500e
The Fiat 500e shares most of the same styling features as the regular 500, with an exterior that's been tweaked to provide better aerodynamic efficiency. There are just a few external cues differentiating it from its gasoline counterpart: streamlined alloy wheels, rear spoiler, and perforated, dot-patterned front and rear fasciae.

Inside the 2103 Fiat 500e, there are a few notable changes over the regular variant including a push-button "transmission", a revised gauge pod and a full-colour display for battery level, energy flow, range, and speed. There's no sprouting shrubbery or flocks of frolicking butterflies rewarding you for frugal driving; instead a simple arrow lets you know how you're doing, power use-wise. The 7" instrument screen displays vehicle functions and charge levels, while the dash-mounted TomTom shows charge schedule, range, and location of charging stations.

Much of the 2013 Fiat 500e's power supply was developed by Bosch who produced the battery, motor, and electrons.

Inside the 2103 Fiat 500e, there are a few notable changes over the regular variant including a push-button "transmission". (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Comparing the 2013 Fiat 500e
Where the 500e may once have been a game-changer, it now joins a growing segment. Competitors include the Ford Focus Electric ($41,199 CDN), which has a 128km range, but more power at 143 hp/181 lb-ft; the rather antiquated Mitsubishi i-MiEV with a 100km range and a paltry 66 hp/145 lb-ft($32,998); Nissan LEAF that has a 117km range and 107 hp/207 lb-ft ($29,650-$35,690 USD) or the smart fortwo with a range of 101km and 74 hp/96 lb-ft ($26,990 coupé and $29,990 cabriolet).

There are no plans to bring the Fiat 500e to the Canadian market. Too bad, because it's not only one of the best-looking electric vehicles currently available it's actually better to drive than the original gas model.

From GMM

As Kimi Raikkonen finally turned up in Abu Dhabi to practice for Sunday's Abu Dhabi grand prix, Lotus team owner Gerard Lopez on Friday insisted the relationship with the taciturn Finn remains intact.

Some interpreted the Ferrari-bound Raikkonen's 'no show' on Thursday, mere days after an obscene radio spat with Alan Permane, as a sign his relationship with the Enstone based team is now irreparably broken with three races left to run.

But in an interview posted on the Lotus website early on Friday, team owner Lopez insists the relationship with Raikkonen is still "good".

"Of course, a lot was made about the comments between Alan Permane and Kimi during the course of a tense moment in a race, but this was just one exchange taking a matter of seconds in the course of a two-year relationship," he said.

Lopez said Raikkonen, despite his cold relationship with the media, is actually "friendly" and "talkative" behind closed doors, and is his "friend".

He admitted, however, that Raikkonen decided to switch to Ferrari for 2014 because Lotus has been waiting on a much-needed 35 per cent sale to a group called 'Quantum' to be finalised.

It has been rumoured the deal has fallen over, but Lopez said on Friday: "We have preliminary agreements with the company we want to partner with, and we're just waiting for this to be concluded.

"Deals like this do not move at the speed we're used to in formula one and we're hopeful that we'll conclude it in the near future," he added.

Meanwhile, after also sitting out Thursday's events at Yas Marina with a stomach complaint, Nico Hulkenberg was fit enough to take to the wheel of his Sauber for Friday practice.

Wald International will introduce a Porsche Cayenne Turbo Black Bison on November 5th during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Sporting a black and white body with side skirts, hood scoops, and flared fenders, not to mention LED lights, this Cayenne sure looks mean.

The company gave few details about its custom Porsche Cayenne Turbo Black Bison. Nothing about performance upgrades, either, so the model will likely house the familiar 500-horsepower, 4.8L, twin-turbo V8 engine.

Source: leblogauto.com

From GMM

Ferrari driver Felipe Massa has admitted he might have entered his final month as a Formula 1 driver.

With Pastor Maldonado on pole position to take his PDVSA backing to Lotus for 2014, Massa is tipped as the frontrunner to replace him at Williams, reportedly with the support of the Brazilian oil company Petrobras in tow.

Felipe Massa, Ferrari, Abu Dhabi (Photo: Ferrari)

Massa, who is being replaced at Ferrari for 2014 by Kimi Raikkonen, said he hopes he has a deal in place by the season finale at Interlagos -- his beloved home race.

"I will not accept racing in Brazil with nothing in place for the next year without having a happy ending to my career," he is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace.

The 32-year-old Sao Paulista, however, said he is confident his race will go on.

"I have never lost sleep thinking about what will happen next," said Massa.

"I'm calm, just as I was when there was the announcement that I will not continue at Ferrari.

"I believe that something will happen and I'll find a good team for my future," he added.