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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.

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

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."

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

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.

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."

The all-new 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid is now on sale at Canadian dealers with a base MSRP of $29,590, while the high-end Touring model starts at $35,690.

Equipped with the new Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) two-motor hybrid system, the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid boasts an exceptional NRC fuel economy rating of 3.7L/100km in the city and 4.0L/100km on the highway.

Standard features include:

• LED Daytime Running Lights;
• Smart Entry;
• Honda Lane Watch and Rearview camera;
• 10-way power driver's seat;
• Heated front seats;
• 17'' alloy wheels.

The top-of-the-line 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring adds premium features including leather seating, heated rear seats, driver's seat position memory, 360-watt premium audio, HDD navigation, and LED headlights, among others.

Source : CNW

Photo: Honda

The Mackinac Bridge, which connects the Upper and Lower peninsulas of the state of Michigan, opened on November 1st, 1957.

Standing 8.038 kilometres long overall and 61 metres above the water, the Mackinac Bridge was the world's longest suspension bridge at the time. It's currently third behind the Minami Bisan-Seto Bridge (Japan) and the Taizhou Bridge (China).

Feeling seasick? The Mackinac Bridge Authority has a Drivers Assistance Program that provides drivers for those uncomfortable with driving across the bridge.

Source : wikipedia.org

Mackinac bridge (Photo: Wikipedia)

Next week, the 2013 SEMA Show will kick off at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada. Starting on Tuesday, Auto123.com will be on hand covering all the new model launches, and bringing you lots of pics and videos.

We'll also have a number of surprises in store for you throughout the week. You can follow our journalists and photographers on Instagram to get a taste of what's coming to Auto123.com.

This year, the SEMA Show will have the most exhibitors (over 2,500) in its 47-year history. They will occupy more than one million square feet of floor, and welcome nearly 130,000 industry folks from November 5th to 8th.

Stay tuned!

Photo: SEMA Show

Lotus' Romain Grosjean set the pace during Friday morning's first free practice session, but newly crowned 2013 champion Sebastian Vettel put his Red Bull RB9 on top of the charts in the afternoon in Abu Dhabi.

Third place finisher in India a week ago, Grosjean clocked the fastest time in an opening session, setting a time of 1m44.241 in the closing stages to edge out Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton by 0.192s.

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull (Photo: Red Bull)

Vettel finished the 90-minute session in third place with a 1m44.499 ahead of his Red Bull Racing teammate Mark Webber, with the second respective Mercedes and Lotus cars of Nico Rosberg and Kimi Raikkonen completing the top six.

Ferrari experienced some problems on the slippery Yas Marina circuit with Fernando Alonso down in 12th and Felipe Massa 17th. In fact, numerous drivers had small moments where they inadvertently cut chicanes or ran briefly off the road.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus (Photo: WRI2)

However, it was a slightly different story in the second free practice session.

Red Bull Racing set their seventh P2 one-two of the season as Vettel set the fastest time of the day with a 1m41.335, beating Webber by 0.155 second.

Hamilton led the chase in his Mercedes to set the third fastest time ahead of last year's surprise winner, Kimi Raikkonen in a Lotus.

Yas Marina circuit (Photo: WRI2)

Both Lotuses proved to be quick in race trim and on medium Pirelli tires and they could provide Red Bull's sternest challenge this weekend.

Rosberg was fifth fastest in his Mercedes ahead of Sergio Pérez and Jenson Button of McLaren (the team trying low-drag rear wings), Alonso, Nico Hulkenberg in his Sauber and Massa.

Fastest in FP1, Grosjean was only 12th quickest. His E21-Renault suffered brake problems and then a vibration.

Felipe Massa, Ferrari (Photo: WRI2)

Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina circuit, Friday 1st practice session*
1 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'44"241 - 21 laps
2 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'44"433 - 23
3 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'44"499 - 18
4 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'44"712 - 20
5 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'44"741 - 24
6 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'44"929 - 23
7 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'45"040 - 20
8 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'45"099 - 20
9 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'45"150 - 24
10 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'45"331 - 20
11 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'45"378 - 23
12 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'45"440 - 18
13 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'45"823 - 22
14 - James Calado (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'45"924 - 20
15 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'46"068 - 18
16 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'46"114 - 22
17 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'46"124 - 18
18 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'46"126 - 21
19 - Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'47"600 - 22
20 - Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'47"670 - 22
21 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'47"723 - 23
22 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'49"565 - 22

Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina circuit, Friday 2nd practice session*
1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'41"335 - 34 laps
2 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'41"490 - 32
3 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'41"690 - 37
4 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'41"726 - 42
5 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'41"758 - 41
6 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'42"006 - 36
7 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'42"010 - 31
8 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'42"171 - 31
9 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'42"324 - 41
10 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'42"440 - 36
11 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'42"509 - 39
12 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'42"607 - 18
13 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'42"806 - 27
14 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'42"952 - 36
15 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'42"998 - 27
16 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'43"152 - 29
17 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'42"271 - 36
18 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'43"565 - 36
19 - Giedo Van Der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'44"138 - 35
20 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'44"459 - 35
21 - Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'44"525 - 38
22 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'44"565 - 27
*Unofficial timing

Brendon Hartley has been evaluated at the wheel of the brand new Porsche LMP1 race car this week in Monza, with the possibility to join the German team next season.

The young New Zealander is now in line for a works seat with Porsche for its return in endurance racing next season in the World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Romain Dumas, Timo Bernhard, Neel Jani and Mark Webber have already been confirmed as Porsche drivers for 2014. Hartley and Marc Lieb are set to get the two remaining places for next year.

The 23-year-old made his racing debut in single seaters before moving to endurance racing. He set strong performances this season in Rolex Grand-Am, where he clinched one victory, driving a Starworks Motorsports' Riley Ford.

He also competed in several rounds of the World Endurance Championship, Le Mans 24 Hours and European Le Mans Series in a Murphy Prototypes' Oreca 03-Nissan LMP2.

Furniture Row Racing and Martin Truex Jr confirmed one of the most obvious rumors of this year when the announced a multi-year deal for the Truex.

“Really proud I could pick myself up, dust myself off. Not everyone was so lucky. You always have something to prove in Cup,” said Truex referring to his roller coaster year. “I'm ready.”

Truex, who currently drives for Michael Waltrip Racing, was having one of the best years in his career when he broke a 218-race winless drought (at Sonoma), a multi-year contract with sponsor, NAPA, and made the NASCAR Chase on points - initially - after Richmond.

Then NASCAR officials ruled that teammate, Brian Vickers manipulated the outcome of the race by an unnecessarily long pit stop. That changed the final points and Vickers was out of the Chase. A few weeks later NAPA officials said that they would end their NASCAR involvement at the end of the year depriving Truex of a sponsor - and a job.

"I was terrified. It was like getting punched in the face," said Truex adding “"As unlucky as I got at Richmond, I got just as lucky when this deal turned up."

Meanwhile, over at Furniture Row Racing they needed a driver after Kurt Busch accepted a ride with Stewart-Haas Racing. They had a brief interview with Juan Pablo Montoya, but, the Colombian driver went back to IndyCar joining Penske Racing in 2014.

When Truex walked into the media center in Texas on Friday morning with the Furniture Row general manager, Joe Garone, no one was surprised.

“We couldn't be happier to have landed one of the top drivers in NASCAR,” said Garone. “Martin's talents - both on and off the track -- have been well documented and everyone at Furniture Row Racing feels that he is an excellent fit to continue the success that we have enjoyed this season."

MWR issued the following “Michael Waltrip Racing congratulates Martin on his announcement today. We are very happy to see him in a competitive ride next year and appreciate the professionalism everyone showed throughout this entire process.”

Garone also mentioned that Truex's current over-wall pit crew (not necessarily including his crew chief) will be joining Truex at FRR.