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Perhaps it's not as impressive as John Hennessey's recent 200mph blast down Houston's new Grand Parkway in a warmed-up

A unit of Wanxiang Group, China's largest auto parts company, made a surprise bid for Fisker Automotive just days before the bankrupt maker of the Karma plug-in hybrid sports car was to be sold to a Hong Kong tycoon, according to court documents.

Every day this week we'll be looking back on a number of memorable classics as the calendar rolls over to 2014, and each day will be devoted to cars from a particular country of origin.

Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are a big part of our life here in the northern states, and we take them seriously when they come through our office. Are they an enthusiast's dream? Depends on the enthusiast. Can they be fun to drive? Absolutely.

In our last agonizing foray into the Hell Garage, we gave you the opportunity to choose one of two

DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: It's a great time to have $65K burning a hole in your pocket for a midsize luxury car. The Mercedes E-class,

The Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Mich., is one of those hidden automotive gems that dot the Great Lakes states, and

We've got car enthusiasts of all stripes here at Autoweek: Some prefer to stay topside, evaluating new cars and trucks, while some are happier hammering the bugs out of 30-plus-year-old sheetmetal.

If you want to have the rarest Fiat at the next Italian classic car event, this 2300S Coupe may be for you.

GAZ Group says it has appointed Vadim Sorokin as president and CEO, effective from 1 January, 2014.

GAZ Group says it has appointed current LCV division head, Vadim Sorokin, as president and CEO, effective from tomorrow (1 January).

The development of artificially produced noise for electric cars has become more critical to carmakers as regulators look to require warning noises as soon as next year, while the rollout of more and more models forces manufacturers to seek ways to...

The development of artificially produced noise for electric cars has become more critical to carmakers as regulators look to require warning noises as soon as next year, while the rollout of more and more models forces manufacturers to seek ways to...

Hyundai Motor Co. has gone global -- in the truest sense of the word.

Highlights*
Versatility, increased passenger room and cargo capacity, easier access, and sliding rear seats make the 2014 Fiat 500L (long wheelbase) a hip new alternative for small families.

Lowlights*
The Fiat 500's charm has somewhat been lost in the process, interior trim quality fails to impress, and the extra size increases weight transfers and body roll in certain situations.


Pricing
While pricing for the 2014 Fiat 500L has yet to be announced, you can bet that it will undercut its main rival, the MINI Cooper Countryman.

Key upgrades
The 500L stands out from the regular 500 in a number of ways. As mentioned, the rear seats independently slide fore and aft, for either maximum cargo or legroom.

Styling
Taller and beefier, the 2014 Fiat 500L shares many similarities with the 500, starting with a minimalist front grille and round headlights. The rising beltline and squared-off, sloping roofline add some flair to the profile. At the same time, the 500L is 60 cm longer, 15 cm wider and 17 cm taller than the regular 500.

Fiat loves customization, and so do 500 buyers. More than 330 colour combinations and options are available with the 2014 Fiat 500L.

Cargo capacity
With 42% more interior room overall, the larger Fiat 500L can swallow up to 400 litres of cargo. Drop the seats, and that number jumps to 1,308 litres. Moreover, the front passenger seat folds flat to accommodate long items inside the car.

Powertrain
The 2014 Fiat 500L gets the same 1.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine as the current Abarth model. Expect 160 horsepower, along with 184 lb-ft of torque. Available transmissions include a 6-speed manual (standard) and a 6-speed, dual-clutch unit (optional).

For now, the company has only announced a FWD version. However, a Fiat 500L AWD is reportedly being developed as you read these lines.

Lineup
In addition to the base model, the 2014 Fiat 500L will offer a Trekking model in the near future. Look for more adventurous styling, increased ground clearance, 17” wheels, and black accent cladding.

Sales forecast
Fiat executives are confident that this new 500L will double the automaker's sales in North America.

Competitors
MINI Cooper Countryman

Photo: Fiat

* Based on expert reviews

Doctors from the hospital in France, officially commented on the state of health of Michael Schumacher this Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013.

Following a second operation during the night to treat head injuries, the medical condition of Michael Schumacher is slightly better today.

Extracts from statements of medical people:

"Very late in the evening (Monday) another brain scan was carried out and we could see a slight improvement and allowed us to tell the family that we would be able to have another surgical intervention to reduce the hematoma and that surgical intervention took place overnight. A new scan was carried out this morning (Tuesday) and it shows slight improvements, slight radiological improvements," said Grenoble Hospital Director General Jacqueline Hubert.

"At the end of yesterday afternoon we had an improvement of intracranial pressure and we were able to carry out a scan without taking any kind on unnecessary risk,” head anaesthetician Professor Jean-Francois Payen told a news conference.

"That scan showed a few signs that were relatively stable and I would like to underline that - in other words we had no sign that there was a worsening on of the initial legions. At that moment, talking to our neurological surgeons, taking into consideration his state had slightly improved, we suggested we would carry out a surgical intervention that had not been originally envisioned but that allowed us in the evening to treat in a more efficient fashion and in a more radical fashion to try and eliminate this intracranial pressure.

"This was carried out during the night with relatively good efficiency which allowed his this morning to look at new images and we were able to see that this hematoma had been evacuated in a very correct and very satisfactory fashion and we now have a few signs that currently can allow us to feel that it is better controlled than it was yesterday (Monday)."

“The situation is better controlled than it was yesterday, but we are unable to say that he is out of danger, however, we now have slightly more, we have gained a bit of time, with regard to development, but once again the coming hours are still critical,” he said.

Professor Payen confirmed that the medical team intended to keep Schumacher in an induced coma to facilitate further treatment.

Chief neurologist professor Emmanuel Gay, who carried out the two hour operation operation on Monday night, said: "This was not the hematoma that had been removed the night before, this was a hematoma that was actually in the brain itself, but all the parameters last night allowed us to eliminate it and therefore together we decided to do so and at the same time to reduce intracranial pressure."

"On the control scan that was carried out this morning the levels of intracranial pressure have improved, but the scan does show there are other legions on other parts of the brain and those legions are going to be supervised and followed up of course. We can't for the moment envisage much more - we are just going to be regularly supervising the situation on an hourly basis and that is all we can say today (Tuesday)."

The hospital stated that there won't be a daily press conference and they will only express themselves in case of changes in the health of Michael Schumacher.

From GMM

Antonio Felix da Costa deserved to move up to formula one in 2014.

That is the view of Brazilian driver Luiz Razia, who almost secured the Marussia race seat this year, before running into sponsorship issues.

Portuguese da Costa, 22, was the hot favourite to replace Daniel Ricciardo at Toro Rosso for next season, until backer Red Bull actually plucked the Russian teenager Daniil Kvyat straight out of GP3.

Daniil Kvyat. (Photo: WRi2)

Razia told Brazil's Totalrace that he thinks da Costa, who was a frontrunner in Formula Renault 3.5 this year and has now been signed as a F1 test driver, deserves the Toro Rosso seat more.

"The strange thing is not the fact that he (Kvyat) is coming from GP3. A driver can demonstrate his talent in many categories," he explained.

"What I'm saying it that there is a loss of momentum," said Razia, insisting that da Costa showed every sign of being prepared to take the final step into F1.

"Antonio won a third of the races he contested in the World Series. The Arden team is good, but it had some problems in this season, but even so, he finished the championship third," he added.

Antonio Felix da Costa. (Photo: WRi2)

Luiz Razia, the 2012 GP2 runner-up, said he thinks other factors played in Kvyat's favour when Red Bull was making its choice for 2014.

"I'm the devil's advocate because I'm Antonio's friend, but I think he was in a much stronger position (to debut in F1).

"But we all know that is not all -- it is very clear that next year there is a race in Russia, and F1 needs a Russian. It (F1) is a very political category, and he (Kvyat) is even sponsored by a Russian bank. Toro Rosso has difficulties, as everyone does, so it was a situation where everything fell into place for him," he added.

Nissan has announced the world debut of its new Sport Sedan Concept at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. This vehicle, which previews the company's future sport sedan, will be joined by the North American debuts of the Nissan IDx Freeflow and IDx NISMO concepts.

Once again, expect sports car design cues to be applied on a four-door body. More details and photos will follow immediately after the unveiling, which is scheduled for January 13th, 2014.

Photo: Nissan

Vermont-based Hemmings, an online reference in classic car news and classifieds, is currently listing a dual-engined 1932 Ford Sedan Delivery custom pro street rated at 2,500 horsepower (each turbocharged V8 produces 1,250 horsepower).

According to Hemmings, this one-of-a-kind machine has never raced. It has been trailered around to shows and events winning many awards along the way including 1st at the Detroit Autorama and Car of the Year at the Cavalcade of Wheels show in South Bend, Illinois.

It can be yours for $209,900 USD. Interested?

Source : hemmings.com

From GMM

More information about Michael Schumacher's fight for life after his skiing accident will be forthcoming on Tuesday.

The SID news agency reports that an update about the seven time world champion's medical condition will be given from the hospital in Grenoble early in the day.

It is not known if the great 44-year-old German's condition has changed since the press conference on Monday, but rumours and speculation are rife.

In the meantime, Schumacher's family - his wife Corinna and two children - are at his bedside, and there are reports his brother Ralf and father Rolf are also at the hospital.

38-year-old Ralf Schumacher, who drove for Williams and Toyota until 2007, has blacked out the home page of his personal website.

A French media report said Schumacher's helmet cracked in the high speed impact with rocks, which has left the winner of 91 grands prix in a coma and fighting for his life with lesions on both hemispheres of his brain.

"The family is not doing very well, obviously," Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm said.

She hit back at reports that Schumacher, a lover of skydiving, swimming with sharks and motorcycle racing, took one risk too much on the snow on Sunday.

"It was not an off-piste track," said Kehm. "They (Schumacher and his son Mick) were skiing on pistes, but in the moment that it happened, it was not on the piste."

One British neurosurgeon told the Guardian newspaper that if Schumacher recovers, it will take him "weeks, even months".

"He's a perfect man, a solid man, an outstanding guy," said triple world champion Niki Lauda. "He would not take unnecessary risks. He's not stupid."

The F1 presenter for German television RTL, Kai Ebel, agreed: "I have seen Michael skiing dozens of times, but I would not call him a gambler. Michael takes only calculated risks, within his precisely set boundaries. I would never call him reckless."

1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, however, told French television Itele: "Michael has this need to push himself."

Schumacher's plight has united the F1 and sporting worlds, and the wider community in kind tribute to his talent, achievements and personality.

"I only hope he pulls through, so that he can see all the nice things people are saying about him," former rival David Coulthard wrote in the Telegraph.

Until then, the world is hanging on the words of respected medical professionals, like Dr Dino Altmann, the Brazilian grand prix doctor.

He compared Schumacher's accident to Felipe Massa's near-fatal 2009 qualifying crash, from which the Brazilian made a full recovery.

"They are somehow simular because they are both trauma," Altmann told Globo. "But the spring hit Felipe where there is larger resistance from bone defences.

"Felipe's trauma, although severe, was much lighter than Schumacher's. Even without knowing the exact severity of his injury, we know that he was agitated and not answering questions. This already demonstrates a very severe trauma," he said.

However, Altmann takes some comfort in the fact that, contrary to some recent reports, Schumacher has only undergone one brain operation so far.

"If he has not had a second surgery in these first hours, it means that the cranial pressure is under control," he said.

"The more time that passes without another surgery is good for Schumacher. It means he is in the best conditions for his recovery."