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From GMM

Mercedes is bidding to shed its "conservative" image, new director and team co-owner Toto Wolff has revealed.

Over the winter, it has been all change at the German team; swapping Michael Schumacher with Lewis Hamilton, Norbert Haug with Austrian Wolff and Niki Lauda, and soon set to push ahead with McLaren's ex technical chief Paddy Lowe.

"At Mercedes, we no longer want to be so conservative," Wolff is quoted by Austrian television ORF 1. "The new Mercedes (road car) models are young and sporty."

He admitted that hiring 2008 world champion Hamilton, who is replacing the 44-year-old seven time world champion Schumacher, is a key factor.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W04. (Photo: WRi2)

"Lewis not only has an immense driving talent, but a great technical understanding. He also has the right feel for the staff and how to motivate them. After the first two days of testing, he knew all 50 team members at the track by name. The image of him that is sometimes drawn by the media does not correspond to reality," insisted Wolff.

Wolff admitted, however, that with all the changes come higher expectations.

"We have been brought in to turn the team around," he said, referring also to Lauda, "and if we cannot (do that), we're gone. But I'm convinced we can, and the board knows what resources and time we need."

BMW regained the top spot in global luxury auto sales from Audi last month on demand for the 3 series and X1 SUV, while the Mercedes-Benz brand fell further behind its German rivals.

ROAD TEST EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: It is slim pickings if youand#8217;re looking for a compact SUV with a manual transmission these days. You have the

Tesla CEO Elon Musk took another swipe at The New York Times on Saturday, calling the newspaper's critical review of his Tesla Model S electric car a "low-grade ethics violation."

Model: 2007 to 2012 Nissan Sentra

Vehicle Type: Compact Sedan

The Verdict: Other than a few fairly minor problems, a used, last-generation Sentra appears to be a relatively safe bet -- so long as it gets a mechanical thumbs-up ahead of your purchase.

Price: Standard Sentra models tend to be priced from around $8,000 for a 2007 model with some miles to $18,000 for an “almost new” 2012 model with a few thousand clicks. Shoppers should expect no problem finding a decent model towards the lower end of that spectrum.

Photo: Justin Pritchard

What Owners Like: Commonly, Sentra owners report good ride quality, a relatively roomy interior and decent-size trunk. In fact, more than one owner taking to the web to share his/her experience said that the Sentra will surprise folks who don't like driving small cars. Storage space on board(as well as styling) was also highly rated.

What Owners Dislike: Dull orange instrument illumination is a big complaint here, as is the wide turning radius. Some owners wish for better fuel economy and easier-to-clean seats, too.

History/Description: Standard versions of this sixth-generation Sentra got a 2.0L 4-cylinder engine with 140 horsepower and a 6-speed manual transmission. Nissan's CVT gearbox was available. All models were front-wheel drive.

Sentra 2.0 was the base model, while the 2.0S and 2.0SL amounted to mid- and top-range models, respectively. Sporty, up-powered SE-R and SE-R Spec V models were available as well.

On higher-end models, look for available heated mirrors, Bluetooth, leather seating, a power sunroof, Rockford Fosgate audio, and more.

Photo: Justin Pritchard

Continue reading 2007-2012 Nissan Sentra Pre-Owned

From GMM

Red Bull is not ruling out rebranding its Renault engines in future.

French supplier Renault, although complaining its recent successes have not been well enough recognised, is regarded as Red Bull's 'works' partner.

Brand ambassador Alain Prost admitted one of his goals is to talk up Renault's contribution.

"How many people out there know that Renault has won the last three world championships?" he rhetorically asked Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

"We have to sell ourselves better.  People should know what we do and why we do it," added Prost.

However, Renault could be set to sink further into the background at Red Bull at some point in the future.

Team owner Dietrich Mateschitz has admitted the team's Renault engines could be rebranded, as the title sponsorship with new title partner Infiniti is further ramped up.

"Yes, at some point there could be a Red Bull-Infiniti," the Austrian billionaire told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper.

From GMM

Michael Schumacher has ruled out returning to the formula one paddock as a television pundit.

It is an occupation now enjoyed by a number of the seven time world champion's rivals, like former teammates Martin Brundle and Johnny Herbert, and even his title nemesis Damon Hill.

But, although now returning to retirement after three final years with Mercedes, Schumacher is not coming back to occupy a microphone.

"That would not be my thing," he told Bild newspaper.

"First, things move so fast in formula one that even I am already a long way behind, and that is not my style," said the 44-year-old legend.

"Secondly, once again I would be away from my family, and not even having the fun of driving."

So, asked what he will be doing when the cars line up on the Melbourne grid without him next weekend, Schumacher answered: "At home, watching TV."

Jamie Green stated that even in his first season with Audi, his goal remains to win the championship.

The Brit transferred from Mercedes, where he had been since starting his DTM career in 2005, to Audi this winter. This means a new car, a new team, so a new environment altogether.

None of which seems to bother him.

"Being at the training camp in Ofterschwang helped me a lot (to bond with the team). We did a lot of sport together and spoke a lot to each other," he revealed in a team interview.

"This helped me to become part of the Audi family more easily."

Which is why maybe the 30-year-old is aiming so high in 2013.

"Winning the championship remains my big goal," he admits. "Even though Audi din't live up to its own expectations in 2012, I start the new season completely impartially and hope we can fight for the title this year.

"I'm happy that I can compete for Audi in one of the most successful DTM teams."

From GMM

Lewis Hamilton has revved up his rivalry with former teammate Jenson Button by saying the idea of beating his countryman "doesn't excite me".

The Britons were paired together at McLaren between 2010 and last season, but Hamilton has switched camps over the winter to Mercedes.

Button seems happy with what most pundits are describing as 'de-facto' number 1 status alongside team newcomer and youngster Sergio Perez.

"It's unbelievably different," he beamed, according to the Guardian.

"I'm really loving my job at the moment."

But over at Mercedes, Hamilton shrugged at the suggestion beating Button at the wheel of a different silver car is an exciting prospect.

"The rivalry between me and Fernando (Alonso) excites me more," he is quoted by the Daily Mail.

"You also want to beat Seb(astian Vettel), as they are the ones with the most titles.  But Alonso's the fastest driver I can see."

Whether Hamilton has the most respect for him or not, 33-year-old Button is happy with his lot, insisting he won't be following Hamilton in the chase for a fresh challenge.

"I feel very at home.  I feel like I'd like to end my career here," he said.

Sébastien Ogier (Volkswagen) is now the lonesome leader of rally Mexico, his main rival Mads Ostberg having retired after a mechanical failure.

Ostberg, who showed potential winning form on Friday, was the only driver capable of matching Ogier for the win in Mexico. Unfortunately, the Norwegian driver was forced to retire by an alternator issue Saturday.

Ostberg's retirement relieved Ogier from any pressure. The championship leader now being more than a minute ahead of second place man Mikko Hirvonen (Citroen).

Thierry Neuville (Ford) lost time with a damaged steering, and his now in third position, 2.44 minutes behind Ogier

Three special stages remain Sunday in rally Mexico.

We won't lie: We were a bit disappointed to find out that we wouldn't be able to drive the 1910 Benz 21/80 Prinz Heinrich car at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.

NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: The Dart has made Dodge a player in an ultra-competitive segment.

Tony Stark, the fictional superhero in Walt Disney's "Iron Man" films, will park the Acura supercar he drove last year in favor of a battery-powered Audi when his latest motion picture opens May 3.

European sales fell by 8 percent to 12.5 million units last year, but that didn't diminish buyers' appetite for premium compact vehicles.

Brad Keselowski, the defending 2012 Sprint Cup Champion, got a gift when rain washed out qualifying at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Under NASCAR rules, this early in the season the 43-car grid is set by the final, 2012, points standings. And Clint Bowyer will start second alongside Keselowski.

“Yeah, that is a really good deal,” Keselowski said. “It is one of the perks I guess of being the champion in the first few races. Obviously with the rain coming you are kind of getting a great deal there. That is the first time I have had a decent starting position in a rainout. That is great.”

Looking ahead to the race, Keselowski, who has finished fourth in Daytona and Phoenix, would like to get back in the win column.

Qualifying was rained out in Las Vegas (Photo: NASCAR.com)

“Obviously whenever you can start up front it is a big deal and you get the first pit stall and all those things that make a big difference on pit road,” Keselowski continued.

“The way our car has been running the last two weeks, and off of what I saw in practice yesterday I feel like we are in position to hopefully keep that for a very long time in the race and hopefully close it out. We have been really close to doing that the last two weeks. We were in position to win and just came up a little bit short. Hopefully this will be the catalyst we need to close it out.”

Five-time champion, Jimmie Johnson, will start third followed by Kasey Kahne and Greg Biffle.

Danica Patrick will start 37th , by virtue of Stewart Haas purchasing points, and Mike Bliss is the only driver who will be sent home.

The new WTCC calendar released by the FIA has revealed that the Curitiba is in danger, and that a 13th round has been added to the mix.

The Curitiba Brazilian round was first removed from the 2013 calendar, then put back on it for July 28. As of now however, it is still in danger.

The WTCC racing in Curitiba (Photo: FIAWTCC.com)

A "TBA" mark stands beside it, and 13th round has been announced.

The mysterious 13th round could take place in India, an increasingly interesting market for the manufacturers that could lure Renault or Citroën to the series next season.

Sébastien Ogier (Volkswagen) has walked away with an early lead in Rally Mexico, his teammate Jari Matti Latvala having crashed out.

Citroën's Mikko Hirvonen was quickest in the qualifying stage, but Ogier took stepped up his game in both super special stages of Thursday evening. On Friday, the championship leader kept at it, only worried by Mads Ostberg (Ford), who briefly moved ahead of him in the morning.

In the afternoon's loop, Ogier was back were he belong, in the lead.

Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC (Photo: Volkswagen Motorsport)

Before Friday evening's super special stages, Ogier held a lead of 29.4 seconds over Ostberg, Mikko Hirvonen standing in third, 37.3 seconds behind the Volkswagen driver. Thierry Neuville (Ford) was fourth and Dani Sordo (Citroën) fifth position, 2.35 minutes behind Sébastien Ogier.

The first stage of the day was marked by another incident from Jari-Matti Latvala (Volkswagen). The Finn damaged the front of his Polo R following a collision with a big stone, and is set to be back on the road on Saturday under the Rally 2 regulation.

Ultimately, the style, space and driving dynamics of the Mazda CX-9 should connect with family-minded driving enthusiasts looking for an upscale crossover. I found the up-level GT variant of Mazda's restyled family hauler to be engaging and entertaining, confident in the snow, and a worthy contender against the Honda Pilot, GMC Acadia and Ford Explorer.


A challenging proposition
It was a snow day up north: just the right type of weather to check out the 2013 Mazda CX-9 GT AWD's winter readiness. And, even covered with and surrounded by ice and snow, the new design specified as the centerpiece of this machine's most recent update shone through.

Mazda has a history of building track-tuned and enthusiast-oriented vehicles like the Mazdaspeed3 and 6, the MX-5, and a range of oil-chugging rotary-powered coupes like the RX-7 and RX-8.

It's tricky business marketing a big, heavy SUV when your reputation is built upon lightweight rides for thrill seekers. After all, most crossovers (especially large ones) are about as exciting as a bowl of rocks.

However, the CX-9's new-for-2013 face and body are more elegant, mature, distinctive, and more modern than before. Thanks to a new KODO design language (a la new Mazda6 and CX-5) this big hauler packs much of the visual energy and passion you'll find in your favourite sports car.

That's a good start to making a crossover with some excitement value.

Premium and car-like cockpit
On board the 2013 Mazda CX-9, drivers sit up high and get a commanding forward view: The centre console, dashboard and instrument cluster surround the driver and are mounted high, resulting in a cabin that feels more like a sporty sedan than an SUV. You don't reach far for anything in here; all controls and switchgear fall right at your fingertips.

Perforated leather, suede inserts, glossy and metallic accents, and intricate panel intersections show off some attention to detail in the 2013 Mazda CX-9. Materials used are about average for the segment, but the design touches could rival most premium crossover cabins any day of the week.

So, as it is with the body, the CX-9's cabin pulls off a substantially sporty and upscale appearance.

The centre console, dashboard and instrument cluster surround the driver and are mounted high, resulting in a cabin that feels more like a sporty sedan than an SUV. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

The goods
Go with the top-line GT model and you get a sunroof, heated leather memory seats, suede trim, keyless entry and start, and plenty more.

I liked the powerful, high-performance xenon lighting system. And those who don't like to look behind them while driving will appreciate the blind spot monitoring mirrors and backup camera included on the GT trim level of the 2013 Mazda CX-9. The Bose stereo was rich, meaty and clear, and proved a welcom companion for several lengthy road trips.

Space to spare
In the first and second seating rows of the 2013 Mazda CX-9, expect generous space for adults and all of their stuff thanks to plenty of storage. Rear seat occupants get their own climate control, and the seats slide back and recline as needed. The cargo hold is positively massive, and a third seating row flips out of the floor as needed when you've got more than five total occupants along for the ride. The form-fitted rubber mats from the CX-9's accessory catalog made it easy to keep the cabin clean and tidy, too.

Moving along
The 2013 Mazda CX-9's 3.7L, 273 horsepower V6 isn't a quiet engine, but it sounds good and blasts the big ‘ute along adequately when you give it the boot. Mazda's slick Active Torque Split AWD system made quick work of slippery winter conditions, and I noted no issues with needless wheelspin.

The tester wore a set of Blizzak winter tires, and proved confidently entertaining even during a snow-plowing session through over a foot of powder on my favourite empty back road.

Appreciably, the stability control system in the 2013 Mazda CX-9 is relaxed at low speeds, enabling plenty of on-demand wheelspin to clear deep powder and allow a frisky, tail-happy experience -- if desired.

The 6-speed automatic works well with the engine, quickly finding a gear ratio to maximize acceleration or gas mileage depending on your intentions.

And, even if it's not the most zoom-zoom Mazda model on the road, the 2013 CX-9 stays flat through the corners, feels more agile than its size suggests, and steers and maneuvers like a big car, not a small tank. It's relatively easy to park, and also notably quiet at highway speeds even when wearing aggressive winter tires. The CX-9 rides with a firm sportiness without compromising comfort. It's a nicely balanced ride-and-handling equation.

Mazda's slick Active Torque Split AWD system made quick work of slippery winter conditions, and I noted no issues with needless wheelspin. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Issues
As expected of a big powerful ‘ute, it gets thirsty with the gas. During a lead-footed filming session in very deep snow, the fuel mileage figure of 21L/100km sucked harder than getting fired and dumped on your birthday.

I discounted this exceptional situation from my overall mileage figure which ultimately landed at an “as expected” 15L/100km over a week of extreme cold and heavy snow.

The remote tailgate only worked some of the time, and the leather on the steering wheel is on the slippery side -- so make sure you're grabbing on well.

The fuel mileage figure of 21L/100km sucked harder than getting fired and dumped on your birthday. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Mazda CX-9
Engine: 3.7L V6, DOHC, 273 horsepower
Drivetrain: Active Torque Split AWD
Observed Average Mileage: 15L / 100km
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Features: heated seats, keyless start, Bose audio, automatic climate control, power tailgate
What's Hot: great looks, great cabin, very roomy, very flexible, upscale all-around driving experience, great relative maneuverability

What's Not: Can get thirsty, fussy power tailgate, dated navigation system

Price As Tested: $47,250

The Alpine name will return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year, with Signatech.

The formerly Nissan-badged engines of the Oreca LMP2 prototypes will support an Alpine livery, to satisfy Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn's wish.

Commercial ties between the Renault-Nissan group and the Caterham-owned Alpine made it all possible.

Alpine's glorious past (Photo: Alpine)

The Signatech's Oreca-Alpine LMP2 will also run the European Le Mans Series, driven by young Frenchmen Nelson Panciatici and Pierre Ragues.

Created in 1955 by Jean Rédélé, Alpine successfully competed in rally (with the famous Alpine Berlinette A110 and the Renault 5 Alpine), in single seaters and in endurance between the 60's to the early 80's.

The company's success peaked in the 1978, in the form of a win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the A442B prototype, driven by Didier Pironi and Jean-Pierre Jaussaud.

The World Rally Championship (WRC) presents you these highlights from Friday, of Rally Guanajuanato México, round three of the 2013 season, led so far by Sébastien Ogier, in his Volkswagen Polo R WRC.


Source: WRC Youtube channel