Auto News 5

Team Arena, who ran two Ford Focus in last year's World Touring Car Championship, will not be present in 2013.

The british team will lost his backing from his main sponsor Aon, an insurance company directed by Graheme Chilton. Chilton and Aon will focus on the Formula One programme of his youngest son Max Chilton, who will contest his first Formula One season with Marussia team F1.

Photo: FIA WTCC

Team Arena's Ford Focus WTCC were driven by James Nash, who already signed with team Bamboo to drive a Chevrolet Cruze WTCC in 2013, and... Tom Chilton, Max Chilton's brother, who now remains without any racing seat for the season to come.

Following team Arena's departure, there will no longer be any Ford cars in the World Touring Car Championship.

The Volkswagen Golf: like saying Coca-Cola or Apple iPhone, the Golf is a brand unto itself.

A new Volkswagen Golf is a delicate affair to prepare. Such a long-standing, winning recipe cannot be tampered with without risking the loss of some faithful followers in the process.


This explains, in large part, why the new 7th generation 2015 Volkswagen Golf is an evolution from the 6th, which itself is a progression from the 5th that was largely based on the 4th. The Golf is as the Golf was, only better every time.

In the end, the car is immediately recognizable as a Golf, which is entirely purposeful.

The most important details to consider when surfing through the new Golf's specifications are that the car is now wider, longer, lower, and lighter.

The first three stats break down as follows: The 2015 Volkswagen Golf is 4,255 mm long with a 56 mm increase, and with a wheelbase that measures 2,637 mm which is 59 mm longer than it previously was. The new Golf's width is 1,899 mm, 13 mm wider than the outgoing MKVI. As well, it now measures 1,452 mm in height, 28 mm lower than the older version.

All of this translates into far more interior room for the occupants. Rear legroom has grown, as has the boot's maximum capacity. The new 2015 Volkswagen Golf has never been more user-friendly. The cabin is austere, yet well conceived and will feature a Composition Media radio with a 5.8” colour display screen.

The cabin is austere, yet well conceived. (Photo: Volkswagen)

As far as weight loss is concerned, the 100 kg (220 lb) savings come from a series of new production techniques, as well as Volkswagen's new lightweight MQB platform which will serve as the basis for nearly all future small VW cars.

The guts of the 2015 Volkswagen Golf are numerous. Currently, four turbocharged 4-cylinder engines are on the menu including an 84 hp 1.2L TSI, a 138 hp 1.4L TSI as well as a pair of TDI diesels. The smaller one is a 104 hp 1.6L and the larger, a 148 hp 2.0L.

For North America, it would seem as though the inline-5 will be put out to pasture, replaced by a turbocharged 178 hp 1.8L 4-pot mill. Time will tell. We will get the 2.0L TDI, but not the smaller TSI engines.

Transmission choices will reside between a standard 6-speed manual and a 7-speed DSG. Volkswagen's 4MOTION AWD system is said to make a comeback in Europe. North America has only ever known the “R” Golfs to be equipped as such.

Let it be known that should the MKVII Golf be offered with DSG, 148 hp TDI engine, 4MOTION and in a 5-door body that I will be trading the Tiguan for one. I would appear as though we will not.

Transmission choices will reside between a standard 6-speed manual and a 7-speed DSG. (Photo: Volkswagen)

Available safety features will be numerous and include the likes of multiple airbags, a multicollision brake system, adaptive cruise control, Lane Assist lane-keeping assistant, fatigue detection as well as traction and electronic stability control systems.

The 2015 Volkswagen Golf should arrive in Canada some time in 2014. Final Canadian specs and pricing should be available later in 2013.

I can't, and will never, abandon hope for station wagons. In Europe, in some luxury car categories, they still represent a 50% take rate. Yes, 1 out 2 buyers of the BMW 5 Series or Mercedes E Class spring for the extended roof and hatch.

And, as we well know, Europeans are cool! So be cool all of you and buy more WAGONS!

The following Top 10, listed in no particular order (because I love all wagons) holds my favourite current wagons.

Audi A4 2.0T Allroad
The Audi A4 Avant is dead. Long live the Allroad! The Allroad is just as utilitarian as the Avant, only now it comes with a little more attitude.

Photo: Audi

Continue reading Matt's Top 10 favourite station wagons

Sometimes subtlety is best. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Wallflowers are often the winners when it comes to automobiles. While Volvo may not appreciate me calling their 2013 S60 T5 a wallflower, I do it with the best intentions and the utmost respect. This near-$40,000 vehicle is probably one of the nicest family sedans I've driven in quite some time.


Surefooted with AWD, affordable for something so well-built and fashionable in an understated kind of way, there's very little to dislike about the 2013 Volvo S60 T5 and lots to love.

Swedish style
The Swedes are known for their to-the-point, no-nonsense designs. Theirs is a structured, B.S.-free culture and it clearly translates into their vehicles. The 2013 Volvo S60 T5's exterior design is all business from nose to tail. The fat nose, oversized headlights and ginormous Volvo crest are purposefully built for presence on the road. The front fascia is sporty enough without being “too much” -- just what the Swedes intended.

Head round the back and the business of classy, sportiness continues. Modern, IKEA-like taillights hug the rounded outer corners of the trunk. Dual exhaust pipes and body lines that flow from the rear spoiler down towards the rear wheels give the impression that the 2013 Volvo S60 T5 crouching and ready to take off.

Inside that to-the-point look continues, and I love it. Comfortable front bucket- seats mean long and short drives are equally comfortable. While not overly sporty, they hug in all the right places. And I have to say, all joking aside: I think the 2013 Volvo S60 T5 has the most comfortable headrests in the entire automotive industry.

While I wasn't overly thrilled with the onboard computer system, it's not difficult to figure out. Pairing my iPhone was a breeze and changing the radio station while driving was simple enough as well. I did, however, note that the steering wheel got quite hot where the mounted controls reside, nice for the winter but strange otherwise.

I also found the shift knob design a strange choice. Cheap, backlit plastic just didn't fit with the rest of the grown-up interior design. Everything serves a purpose in a Volvo, and the overtly design-y feel of the shifter just seemed a bit out of the place.

Comfortable front seats hug in all the right places. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

A matter-of-fact driving experience
Piloting the 2013 Volvo S60 T5 is as straightforward as the exterior and interior design. Equipped with a 2.5L 5-cylinder engine, it pushes out 250 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. With a well-sorted chassis and suspension, the Volvo S60 T5 is especially comfortable to drive.

While I'm wont to complain about an automatic transmission, I was pleased to control the 2013 Volvo S60 T5 with its 6-speed Geartronic Driver-Adaptive autobox. In fact, I rarely popped it into Sport Mode, and even let the S60 shift for itself. Shocking, I know.

Thanks to Volvo's Haldex All-Wheel Drive with Instant Traction, the S60 T5 feels surefooted and solid no matter what the road surface or speed. It's this planted feel that makes the Volvo most pleasant to drive, in my opinion.

Because fuel consumption seems to be on everyone's mind, the Swedes were sure to touch on that as well with the 2013 Volvo S60 T5. With ratings in the “average” range at 9.9L/100km city and 6.5L/100km on the highway, the Volvo is sitting pretty in that respect as well. It's not overtly fuel conscious, but it's also not a gas-guzzler by any means, despite its AWD nature.

And that's where the Swedish, no-nonsense-flair comes into the drive experience: It's there to do a job, and it does it without a plume and without fanfare, but it does it. This is more than I can say for some vehicles.

The 2013 Volvo S60 T5 is a viable option for those in the market for a safe and reliable family sedan. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Volvo is often overlooked
I think Volvos are often left in the shadows when consumers are considering a new car, and that's a bit of a shame. They have a great product on offer, one that's well-crafted and puts forward a bevy of safety features (from blind sport warners -- of which they were the first to implement -- to pedestrian crash systems and laser-guided cruise to name a few), as well as an enjoyable ride. With updated looks for 2013 and some of the most comfortable interiors around, I'm surprised I don't see more on the road.

With pricing that's well in the range of the average buyer, the 2013 Volvo S60 T5 is a viable option for those in the market for a safe, reliable family sedan that will see them through any season and for many years to come.

From dealings with Ron Dennis, Norbert Haug, and Roger Penske, NASCAR truck series Red Horse Racing team owner, Tom DeLoach Jr. has seen the world of racing from the top.

He's just as familiar with the atmosphere of Monaco as the garages of half-mile ovals in the backwaters of the United States. Yet DeLoach is content with owning a “junior series” team.

Long before Formula One Champion, Kimi Raikkonen, decided to dip his toes into the waters of the NASCAR truck series the American business executive took the same route. Only he stayed.

DeLoach, was a high-flying executive with the Mobil Oil Company becoming the Chief Financial Officer and “part-time” he was the worldwide coordinator of Mobil's motorsports coordinator.

The Formula One Years

Back in the 1990s “we'd been in Formula One through our Saudi affiliate with the Williams team and moved out and trying to figure out a better way to merchandise Mobil One (the high performance oil),” DeLoach told Speedweek exclusively. "The key was to find a luxury high performance car company in racing. If Mercedes-Benz was going to Formula One, and Peter Sauber was in with Mercedes, it wasn't a high performance team and there were rumors involving McLaren's then principal, Ron Dennis. I'd talk to Ron (before a weekend). There had been a long term relationship with Shell. I told him ‘I understand that Shell is there (with McLaren) and I understand and respect longevity.'”

But DeLoach asked Dennis whether the contract was up? “He said ‘well the contract is up.' I said ‘we'd like to deal with you and Mercedes-Benz. Loyalty means a lot to us.' He said ‘I'm talking with Shell this weekend and think we have a deal. And added we do have a handshake deal.' I was terribly disappointed we couldn't deal. Shell is a competitor. We'd hate to lose it to.”

Ron Dennis added that the deal had to go through Shell's attorneys. Apparently there wasn't a deal.

“He called me on Monday morning. They just had a review with Shell's attorneys and they reneged on some of the details and Ron Dennis is a stickler for detail. Anybody around Ron knows he is details, details, details.”

Dennis was ready to deal with Mobil and asked “‘when could you be over here? I said ‘I could be over tomorrow.''

DeLoach took the night flight over arriving in the UK early the next morning along with Mobil's international contracts attorney. “I'm at his office in Woking before he gets to it,” he added.

Mobil had to get used to the cost of a full-blown Formula One involvement quickly

“A lot of people eating serious costs in their budgets Formula One Racing is not cheap. It was amazing we were able to work those things out in a short period of time. When showed him (Dennis) the responsiveness he appreciated it.”

Mika Hakkinen, McLaren-Mercedes, in 1998. (Photo: WRi2)

Ron Dennis needed Mobil because McLaren then current main sponsor, Marlboro, was banned as a tobacco sponsor.

And in getting McLaren to be a business partner “we wound up getting what we wanted at the time Mercedes recommending Mobil 1 in AMG products.”

That was about the same time Norbert Haug (who just retired) came along to head the Mercedes effort in the DTM.

Remember DeLoach's “part-time” job was motorsports. In 1998, he became President of Global Midstream, which included global hydrocarbon supply and trading, marine operations, Middle East relationships and worldwide natural gas sales and marketing.

Around 2000 Mobil was bought out by Exxon which did not have the same passion, or perhaps budget for expensive motorsports programs.

“I had been with Mobil for 31 years. I was 52. You still have a little bit of curiosity going on. I had some of the most fantastic jobs. You get accustomed to a pace and all of a sudden the pace is no more and it's shocking. You are part of processing information and it stops (with emphasis) I didn't retire well.”

That's when the door to NASCAR opened up with Roger Penske.

See Part Two for the Penske Years.

Most major Formula 1 teams have scheduled the launch date of their new challengers for the 2013 Formula 1 World Championship.

Here is the preliminary schedule. Note that the code name of certain cars have yet be confirmed.

January 31 McLaren MP4-28 United Kingdom (location to be confirmed)
February 1^st Sahara Force India VJM06 Silverstone, UK
February 2 Sauber C32 Hinwil, Switzerland
February 2 Ferrari F2013 Maranello, Italy
February 5 Williams FW35 Jerez circuit
February 5 Toro Rosso STR8 Jerez circuit

The first winter test session wil begin February 5^th at Circuit Jerez de la Frontera in Southern Spain.

From GMM

State-sponsored F1 driver Pastor Maldonado on Sunday publicly prayed for the recovery of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

Backed by the state-controlled oil company PDVSA, 27-year-old Maldonado expressed relief late last year when socialist incumbent Chavez was re-elected.

"Long live democracy!" the Williams driver had exclaimed on Twitter.

But Hugo Chavez is yet to return from Cuba, where he has reportedly been undergoing treatment for cancer and a severe lung infection.

It is being argued by his opponents that if he cannot return for his scheduled inauguration on Thursday, he may have to hand in his presidency as per the constitutional laws.

The Associated Press reports that Maldonado, alongside other Venezuelan athletes, attended a church in Caracas and prayed that "very soon he's (Chavez) here with all of us".

From GMM

Sebastien Buemi will remain Red Bull's official third and reserve driver in 2013, the Swiss newspaper Sonntagsblick reports.

It had already emerged that the former Toro Rosso racer, who served as Red Bull's reserve in 2012, is now definitely out of the running for this year's second Sahara Force India seat.

Sebastien Buemi, Red Bull Racing. (Photo: Red Bull)

Sonntagsblick said the 24-year-old Swiss is this week in Brazil, where he is competing in Felipe Massa's annual Florianopolis kart race.

"Before that, Buemi will again be signed as reserve driver for Red Bull and Toro Rosso," said veteran correspondent Roger Benoit.

"Team advisor Helmut Marko has agreed the renewal with Buemi," he added.

Meanwhile, the Belgian newspaper Le Vif reported that Jerome d'Ambrosio is likely to remain Lotus' official third driver in 2013.

The 27-year-old, who is managed by Lotus team boss Eric Boullier's Gravity stable, has been working to return to the grid.

Jérôme d'Ambrosio, Lotus. (Photo: Lotus F1 Team)

"My management is working hard," said Jerome d'Ambrosio, "but it's difficult because there are many experienced drivers without teams. We'll see."

It was a short lived 2013 Dakar rally for Canadian David Bensadoun, who was forced to retire when his engine blew up suting stage 2.

Bensadoun, who concluded the 2012 event in 40th position, was aiming for a top 30 position this year, driving a new specification of the Desert Warrior BMW.

The only Canadian auto driver of the event, who entered the race alongside British navigator Paul Round, could not reach the finish of the second stage of the race, that featured a loop around the city of Pisco, Peru.

Photo: ALDO

"Engine blew at km 21 of second stage," Bensadoun wrote on his Twitter account. "No idea why. I didn't overrev or miss a shift. Spent the whole day being towed back."

"Extremely sad and hard to understand what the hell happened, he added. I could stay in the rally in assistance, but my heart isn't in it. Going home."

On Saturday, David Bensadoun concluded the first leg, held between Lima and Pisco, in 99th place overall.

Patrick Beaulé, from Montreal, who was Bensadoun's navigator last year, entered the 2013 Dakar rally riding a KTM, and was 60th overall after day 2. Don Hatton, from Vancouver Island, was 162e overall, also riding a KTM.

The Canadian auto industry will receive an extra $250 million as part of the renewed Automotive Innovation Fund, the Harper administration announced last Friday at Ford's Oakville assembly plant in Ontario.

The five-year renewal isn't devoid of controversy, however. It comes just two weeks after General Motors confirmed that Chevrolet Camaro production will move from Oshawa to Lansing Grand River, Michigan in 2015.

Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) president Ken Lewenza would have liked specific conditions for automakers to access these funds, such as hiring new workers or protecting current jobs. He fears that some of the workforce will be laid off, like when Ford last received financial support for its Oakville plant.

Source: Lapresse

Former Formula 1 Toro Rosso driver, Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari, is apparently very close to signing a deal to drive a BMW M3 in this year's DTM series.

Alguersuari left Grand Prix racing at the end of 2011 and was Pirelli F1's development driver last year.

According to a Spanish motorsport web site, the 22-year-old tested an M3 DTM in Spain and went to Germany last week to sign his 2013 contract.

BMW, 2012 DTM Champion with Bruno Spengler. (Photo: DTM)

Alguersuari would therefore become BMW's eighth driver for this year's DTM. However, the part-time DJ has never driven a tintop race car before, as he has spent his career racing single seaters (Formula Renault 2.0, Formula 3, Formula renault 3.5 and F1).

Alguersuari apparently decided to turn his back from F1 after it became clear that he would not get a seat at Sahara Force India for this season.

The 2013 North American International Auto Show will kick off in exactly a week with two press days, which means a wonderful opportunity for us to present you all the new models that will soon be making their way into showrooms.

Here are some of the world premieres to look for:

Production models
2014 Acura MDX
2014 Audi R8 and RS5 Cabriolet
2014 Cadillac ELR plug-in hybrid
2014 Chevrolet Corvette
2014 Ford Transit commercial van
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2014 Infiniti Q50 sedan
2014 Lexus IS
2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA
2014 Nissan Versa Hatchback

Concepts and prototypes
BMW 4 Series coupe
2015 Ford F-150
Honda Urban Compact SUV
Hyundai luxury sedan
Lincoln compact CUV
Toyota Furia
Volkswagen seven-passenger SUV

Michael Valiante wrapped up Sunday the three-day "Roar Before the Rolex 24" Grand-Am test, ahead of the 51st 24 Hours of Daytona, on top of the time sheets.

Michael Valiante, Ford/Riley (Photo: Grand-Am)

Driving the No. 6 Michael Shank Racing Ford/Riley, the Canadian turned a lap of 1min42.058, which boosted his confidence ahead of the big day.

"I'm confident we'll be strong when we come back for the Rolex 24," 36-year-old Valiante said.

Dane Cameron, the Team Sahlen driver who was fastest on day two, turned second fastest Sunday.

In GT, Patrick Long (No. 73 Park Place Motorsports Porsche GT3) led again, with a time of 1min48.569s.

And in GX, for a third consecutive time, the No. 16 Napleton Racing Porsche Cayman topped the charts. Shane Lewis was at the wheel this time.

The traditional curtain raiser for the NASCAR Sprint Cup season has been renamed “The Sprint Unlimited” after decades of beer sponsorship. Now Budweiser Speedweeks encompasses the entire NASCAR opening round.

As announced earlier in the year, the format for selecting the field of drivers in the invitation-only event will return to its roots for 2013. The eligible field of drivers will consist of pole winners from the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season and past winners of The Sprint Unlimited who have attempted to qualify for at least one race during the 2012 season.

Details of the event scheduled for February 16th at 8PM EST have not yet been released. This will be the first race for the Gen-6 Cup cars.

“Now more than ever, through our growing partnership with Sprint, The Sprint Unlimited will be the fans' race,” said Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III. “Sprint has been a great partner with Daytona and NASCAR, and they continue to raise the bar by engaging race fans in new and innovative ways.  We look forward to hearing about additional unique elements for this race in the coming weeks."

Photo: NASCAR

The eligible field for The Sprint Unlimited is currently at 22 drivers and features a who's who of NASCAR stars.

2012 Pole Winners:
Greg Biffle
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Carl Edwards
Denny Hamlin
Kasey Kahne
Mark Martin
Jeff Gordon
Martin Truex Jr.
Tony Stewart
AJ Allmendinger
Aric Almirola
Joey Logano
Marcos Ambrose
Jimmie Johnson
Matt Kenseth
Kyle Busch
Juan Pablo Montoya

Past champions of The Sprint Unlimited:
Kurt Busch
Kevin Harvick
Bill Elliott
Terry Labonte
Ken Schrader

The FIA has introduced a series of small but crucial changes to the Formula 1 rules and regulations. Let's review what's new for 2013.

From Formula1.com

DRS use
For safety reasons, in 2013 drivers are only be able to utilise the Drag Reduction System (DRS) overtaking aid within the designated DRS zones during practice and qualifying. Previously drivers had been free to deploy the system as they pleased in these sessions.

Photo: WRi2

Active double-DRS systems outlawed
In 2012 Mercedes developed a clever concept whereby air was channelled through an opening in the rear-wing endplate when DRS was activated and then fed through the car to help stall the front wing. For 2013 active drag reducing systems involving the DRS, such as this, have been banned.

Stepped noses
Teams have the option of tidying up the aesthetics of their cars in 2013 with the introduction of new regulations aimed at improving the look of ‘ugly' stepped noses first seen in 2012. A small piece of laminate - nicknamed a ‘modesty' or 'vanity' panel - may now be used to smooth the nose section.

Crash testing
To make F1 cars ever safer, tougher new tests on roll structures and the survival cell have been introduced for 2013. Furthermore, every chassis that a team produces, as opposed to just one, will now be subject to a static load test of the survival cell.

Curfews
The team personnel curfew - which prevents team members from being in the paddock during specified periods - has been extended from six to eight hours on Thursday nights for 2013. The number of exceptions allowed during a season has also been reduced from four to two.

Front wing tests
For 2013 front wing deflection tests will be more stringent to lessen the possibility of flexible bodywork being used to enhance aerodynamic performance.

Photo: WRi2

Minimum weight
The minimum weight of the car and driver has been increased from 640kg to 642kg to compensate for the slightly increased weight of Pirelli's 2013 tires. The mandatory weight distribution has also been adjusted accordingly.

Force majeure
The ‘force majeure' allowance relating to when a car stops on the track during qualifying has been deleted from the regulations. For 2013 any car that stops on the track must have enough fuel for the mandatory one-litre minimum sample plus an additional amount proportional to the amount of fuel that would have been used in returning to the pits (determined by the FIA).

Qualifying
Not an actual regulation change, but as the official 2013 entry list comprises 22 cars - two fewer than in 2012 - six cars rather than seven will now be eliminated at the end of both Q1 and Q2.

Championship entry fees
Championship entry fees have been revised. Red Bull, as constructors' champions, were required to pay US$500,000 plus US$6000 for each point gained in the 2012 World Constructors' Championship to enter the 2013 championship. Every other team was required to pay a basic fee of US$500,000 plus US$5000 for each point scored in 2012.

Toyota is still dogged by a sales crisis Japanese carmakers are suffering in China as a result of a territorial row between the two countries but December sales proved "surprisingly resilient", a senior Toyota executive said.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: I had the 2012 Kia Rio SX sedan for the night and could not find a comfortable seating position.

BMW will cut back on sales discounts in Germany and focus on maintaining profit margins rather than market share, CEO Norbert Reithofer said.

I always preach that having no expectations leaves little room for disappointment. Clearly, I should listen to myself more often.

I had high expectations for the nifty-looking 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo, and those expectations rose even higher when I saw the test vehicle role up in uber-hot, super-relevant matte grey wrapping with a bright red "turbo" badge on the back. How could I not enjoy my week behind the wheel?

I just wasn't as impressed as I'd wanted to be. I wanted to like this car so much... and I just didn't. Before you think it was all bad, read on.


A break from the usual
More than anything else, the Veloster looks different. There are very few cars on the road today that can be compared to the Hyundai Veloster in the looks department. For some, this is a good thing. Others will think it's a bit too much. I, for one, commend Hyundai designers on the Veloster's funky, modern lines and cool facial expression.

Full of interesting lines, angles, and nooks and crannies, the 2013 Hyundai Veloster is not your average hatchback when it comes to exterior design. From the gaping front grille (thankfully not as insane-asylum as the Mazda3), to the eye-socket-like taillights and dual-mounted exhausted (hot, by the way), the Veloster is a looker.

Now, wrap those design elements in matte paint, and you've got a real stunner. If you've not heard about the matte-paint trend in the auto industry then shame on you (and you call yourself a car enthusiast?). From Plasti Dip to matte wraps, cars across the globe are going flat and it's just phenomenal.

My 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo's matte grey coat was factory installed (and cost $1,000) and came with a list of restrictions, limitations and care instructions. Long story short: It can only be washed with pure water, faery dust and unicorn hair. Anything else will ruin it. Just an FYI.

Full of interesting lines, angles, and nooks and crannies, the 2013 Hyundai Veloster is not your average hatchback when it comes to exterior design.(Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Thinking outside the box on the inside
When it comes to the interior of the 2013 Hyundai Veloster, I was quite pleased and surprised. This is, after all, an "economy" car despite the turbo badge. At just under $26k (without the matte paint job), this is a highly affordable ride for someone looking for a vehicle with attitude on the road and a bit of bite behind the wheel (more on that in a bit).

Inside, the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo sports faux-leather, blue-trimmed sports seats. Blue accents adorn the rest of the interior, most notably on the oversized, in-your-face door handles. I wasn't taken with this, and think the interior could have looked better had the blue been replaced with a carbon-fibre weave of sorts.

The middle console is fantastic. Everyone who sat in the car was duly impressed with the onboard entertainment system as well as the gauges and steering wheel. This is a properly equipped ride with all the gadgets and fixings, and the layout is extremely user-friendly. Storage in the front is ample, with plenty of space for coffee, iPhones, iPods and anything else you want within arm's reach.

I'm going to go all mummy on you for a moment (sorry): When it comes to the Veloster being a family car I, again, was hesitant. I know what it's like to have very little room in a car thanks to the WRX. So, when I decided to use the Hyundai to take my 8-month-old son (plus everything that comes with him) to my parent's house for the weekend, I had my doubts.

However, I was pleasantly surprised. From putting the baby seat in the back (piece of cake) to fitting the running stroller in the trunk plus four overflowing bags of food, diapers, toys, etc., the Hyundai Veloster swallowed it all up with ample room left over. And putting my son in his car seat was easy as well thanks to the nifty third door.

The only fault I can find with the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo (from a mother's point of view) is in the window configuration in the back seat. If you're a crazy protect-your-kid-from-the-sun-at-all-times kind of mum, you're going to have a hard time finding sun visors that fit in the rear windows of the Veloster (there are four, all different sizes and all strange shapes). Good luck.

Inside, the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo sports faux-leather, blue-trimmed sports seats.(Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Left wanting more
So, storage and looks aside: How does the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo drive? That's the million dollar question and one I thought I already had the answer too. When I drove the non-turbo version about a year ago, I had hopes that the Turbo version would be that much better and solve any bits that bothered me on the base version.

That's what I get for having high expectations.

It's not that the Hyundai Veloster Turbo was horrible to drive -- far from it, actually. It had kick, but only in a very small band on the rpms. The lag associated with the 1.6L turbocharged engine was noticeable to a fault. Torque steer is apparent, and you may find yourself squealing the front tires leaving stops if you want to leave quickly.

The drive felt soft, too. I wanted sharper steering, and it felt a bit loose. Driving a hatchback means you get to be light and nimble, but when the steering doesn't match that tight, nimble feel of the car's size, something doesn't line up.

The suspension was also quite soft, again, to a fault. The body roll around corners was more than I liked, and the bounce over uneven surfaces was unpleasant.

As a sporty, turbo version I would have liked the suspension to be tuned as such, if only just a teeny bit stiffer to keep me grounded during spirited driving and not feeling like the car was going to bottom out over bumpy road surfaces.

Overall, the 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo is a lot of fun to drive and a practical car, and for the price it will satisfy young families looking for a fun-to-drive car that's easy to drive in the city, peppy on open roads and still has room for a weekend away with the kid (singular).

This 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo review was originally published on Auto-Venus.com.

From Best-of-Rallylive.com

Carlos Sainz (Buggy) started the 2013 Dakar, which runs from Lima (Peru) to Santiago de Chile, on the right foot, grabbing at the end of day one his 25th stage victory at the prestigious rally raid.

Lucio Alvarez (Toyota Hilux) crossed the finish line second, followed by Guerlain Chicherit (Buggy) and Nasser Al-Attiyah (Buggy), ex aequo.

Participants only faced 13 kilometres of competitive stage, yesterday. Nevertheless, Robby Gordon (Hummer) found a way to already hurt his chances by getting stuck in the sand.

Furthermore, his deficit was tripled by the organizers, who want to discourage competitors from slowing down on purpose to avoid opening the road.

Defending champion Stéphane Peterhansel (MINI ALL4 Racing) came home eighth, right behind his teammates Holowczyc et Novitskiy, respectively sixth and seventh.



Classification after day one:
1. Sainz/Gottschalk (Buggy)
2. Alvarez/Graue (Toyota Hilux) + 24s
3. Chicherit/Garcin (Buggy) + 30s
3. Al-Attiyah/Cruz (Buggy) + 30s
5. Chabot/Pillot (Buggy) +36s
(...)
8. Peterhansel/Cottret (MINI)