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German auto sales fell 2.9 percent in 2012 to their lowest level in two years, in line with a trend of weaker car demand in other key markets in Europe. New car registrations in Europe's biggest economy dropped 16.

News 3 Jan, 2013

Gazoo Racing will unveil a tuned Toyota GT 86 at the Tokyo Auto Salon

Subaru plans to increase capacity by 30% in the US, its only overseas production facility, according to the Nikkei.

New vehicle sales in Indonesia are expected to approach 1.1m units in 2012 - which would represent a 23% increase on the previous year's 893,164 units.

News 9 Jan, 2013

Exclusive images show how the stunning new Volkswagen Golf CC could look when it arrives in 2015

"Preliminary industry registration data shows total new vehicle sales for 2012 topped 100,000 units," said Perry Kerr, chief executive officer of New Zealand's Motor Industry Association (MIA).

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Car sales in France, Spain and Italy in 2012 fell to the lowest levels in years, with December registration data underscoring the challenges facing the broader European economy.

Hyundai and smaller affiliate Kia forecast their slowest sales growth in seven years as a slowing global economy and strengthening won saps demand. The two companies plan combined sales to rise 4.1 percent to 7.

Sales of new autos, a bright spot for the U.S. in 2012, will grow further this year as an improving economy and demand for pickups and for mid-sized cars boosts registrations 6.6 percent, according to R.L. Polk and Co. About 15.

Opel/Vauxhall is confident it can produce its new Adam minicar in Germany and still make money.

From GMM

Money was "a factor" in Mercedes' failure to succeed during his three-year comeback, Michael Schumacher insists.

The German marque openly admits that it does not spend as much on its Brackley based works team than top teams like Red Bull and Ferrari.

Schumacher told Auto Motor und Sport: "It's a factor. Over the years Red Bull built an infrastructure and has a budget giving them the possibility to respond to anything in the best possible way."

"It is nothing more or less than what we had at Ferrari," said the 44-year-old, who won five titles for the Maranello based team last decade.

Mercedes, never higher than fourth in the constructors' championship since the Brawn buyout in 2010, has denied it is now pumping in more funding for 2013 and beyond.

Photo: WRi2

It has, however, replaced Schumacher with 27-year-old Lewis Hamilton.

Briton Hamilton has said he wants to turn Mercedes into a top team.

"I know that deep in his heart he wants to win all the time," team boss Ross Brawn is quoted by Germany's Die Welt, "but he must also understand the course of development we are on at the moment."

Niki Lauda, the new non-executive chairman, agrees: "I prefer a sober analysis of the situation rather than promising something we cannot deliver."

But Hamilton's teammate Nico Rosberg insists that, although car development appeared to stall in the second half of 2012, Mercedes is making progress.

"If you walked through the factory today, you would see a massive improvement compared to three years ago," said the German, who is six months younger than Hamilton.

From GMM

Pedro de la Rosa, HRT's lead driver in 2012, has joined boss Luis Perez-Sala in admitting that the Spanish team has folded.

Spaniard de la Rosa, who was contracted to keep racing this year, has already said he is on the lookout for a new role elsewhere as test or reserve driver.

"There has been no official announcement, but we all feel that the project will end," the 41-year-old told the Spanish sports daily Marca.

"The sad thing," de la Rosa continued, "is that there was never a Spanish team before and now I think we will not see one again. It was an historic occasion. With a great champion like Fernando (Alonso), it was a good time and an excellent backdrop for the national interest."

"I think it will be very difficult to have these circumstances again," he added.

As for HRT's demise, Pedro de la Rosa admitted: "If the project failed, we're all a little responsible."

Pedro de la Rosa. (Photo: HRT F1 Team)

James Buescher, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion of 2012 will be returning with Turner Motorsports (TMS) wheeling the No. 31 Chevrolet Silverado.

The team also announced that Buescher will also continue run in select Nationwide Series events in 2013.

Buescher has his sights set on becoming the first back-to-back Truck Series Champion and is running a minimum of fifteen races for new Turner Motorsports sponsor, Rheem Manufacturing Company.

Rheem is the only North American manufacturer that produces a comprehensive line of advanced, energy efficient heating, cooling and water heating solutions for homes and businesses throughout the world. A long time, loyal sponsor throughout NASCAR and other racing series, Rheem is one of the few sponsors in the sport today that has visited victory lane in each of the NASCAR's national series, including the Daytona 500.

James Buescher, winner of the 2012 Daytona 500. (Photo: NASCAR)

Buescher broke out of the pack to record four wins in the Truck Series, 10 top-fives and 14 top-10's, en route to his and Turner Motorsports' first NASCAR Championship. Ironically he also won the Nationwide series' opening race at Daytona International Speedway in February before wining in the Truck Series.

"Last season was a dream come true for me. I had always dreamt of winning a NASCAR championship. I am most excited about the opportunity to compete to become the first driver to win the NCWTS championship in back-to-back seasons. I look forward to working with the entire Turner Motorsports organization and Rheem on our quest to keep the NCWTS championship at Turner Motorsports "said Buescher.

"Everyone at Turner Motorsports is excited to have James [Buescher] return to Turner Motorsports and the seat of the No. 31 NCWTS ride. And, to have a company like Rheem with such a long standing relationship in the sport of NASCAR come on board is an honor. To have Rheem join us is just the icing on the cake," said Turner Motorsports team owner, Steve Turner.

The team also announced in addition to Buescher returning to the NCWTS, 2012 Champion crew chief, Michael Shelton will return to his previous role serving as Crew Chief for Buescher and the No. 31 Rheem Chevy Silverado in 2013.

Disabled US and british veterans will take part to the Dakar Rally driving Bowler Wildcat.

Instigator of the project, UK Captain Tony Harris said: "Basically, I was looking for a sport in which he would not be included in an 'invalid' class. And I also wanted to implicate a whole team, for both the preparation and the race. For example, we developped some technical elements in order to minimize our handicap. But I know that the lack of sleep or the heat won't be a problem for us. Anyway, our goal is to reach the finish at Santiago, not to beat Peterhansel."

Photo: Race2Recovery

His codriver will be the Corporal Tom Neathway, a triple amputee. Team Race2Recovery will also include Mark Zambon, who lost his legs in Afghanistan in January, Matt O'Hare, who suffered serious arm injuries, and Philip Gillespie, who lost his right leg.

The whole team contains about twenty people, including the technical crews.

Extreme sports legend, Travis Pastrana, will move to a full schedule in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, for Roush Fenway Racing.

RFR had the back-to-back 2011-12 series championships with Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

“I am extremely excited about making the move into full-time NASCAR competition in 2013 and equally thrilled to have the opportunity to make that move with Jack Roush and the team at Roush Fenway Racing,” said Pastrana, a four-time rally champion, motocross champion and multiple X Games gold medal winner.

“I am very serious about making this move, running competitively and ultimately winning races in NASCAR,” added Pastrana in a team press release. “No team can claim the success in the Nationwide Series that Roush Fenway has, and I know driving an RFR Ford will provide me with the maximum opportunity to develop my skills behind the wheel of a stock car.”

Roush Fenway drivers, Carl Edwards and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Photo: NASCAR)

Pastrana had started his NASCAR career with Michael Waltrip Racing. He will have 2011 Daytona 500 winner, Trevor Bayne, as a teammate. In nine races in NASCAR last year Pastrana's best finish was 13th at the Nationwide race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Pastrana, who is sponsored by Red Bull in X-Treme sports, will team up with veteran NASCAR crew chief Chad Norris and will be partnered with a variety of sponsors during the season.

“Travis is a champion,” said Roush Fenway co-owner Jack Roush. “It takes a great deal of drive and determination to reach that level of greatness in any field. He is serious about this move to NASCAR and we are committed to doing everything we can to see his career develop in NASCAR. We would certainly expect to see a great level of excitement brought to the table as he progresses within our sport.”

Roush Fenway's No. 60 entry boasts the most wins in NNS history, having been driven to victory lane a grand total of 90 times by celebrated drivers Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and Mark Martin.

From GMM

Niki Lauda has admitted he admires his Austrian compatriot Dr Helmut Marko.

Triple world champion Lauda is Mercedes' new non-executive chairman.

The German business newspaper Handelsblatt on Thursday reported that he is stepping down from the board of the airline Air Berlin.

"The 63-year-old wants to dedicate his future to his role in the formula one team Mercedes," the report said, adding that Air Berlin has confirmed the news.

Lauda's task is to steer Mercedes in the right direction after the three-year period of Michael Schumacher's unsuccessful return to F1.

He sees Red Bull's Marko - the outspoken, brusque character who like Lauda is the link between the main company and the F1 team - as a role model.

Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing. (Photo: Red Bull)

"He's the tough dog," Lauda told Austrian television Servus TV, "holding everything together and ensuring no one works against the other."

"When you have this harmonious effect from the smallest mechanic to the head designer all pulling together, you can have this outstanding result," he said, referring to Red Bull's three year domination of the sport.

"This applies to many companies in the world," Lauda continued. "If all worked as Red Bull do in formula one, then they would all be much more successful."

David Bensadoun will take part to his second Dakar rally in-a-row, one year after becoming the first canadian to reach the finish of the event in the cars category.

Bensadoun, president of ALDO Group, made its Dakar debuts in 2012 with Patrick Beaulé, from Québec, as a navigator. Driving a Desert Warrior 4x4, the canadian pair reached the finish in Santiago, Chile, a took the 40th position in the overall classification.

For his second Dakar rally, 42 year-old David Bensadoun aims to set an even better performance. He will be driving a last specification of the Desert Warrior 4x4, and will be joined by british navigator Paul Round, while Patrick Beaulé will enter the event riding a bike.

David Bensadoun. (Photo: Groupe ALDO)

"Every single day, I think about my first experience on the Dakar," Bensadoun said. "Everything was amazing: the landscapes, the atmosphere, the people. We were astonished by the magnitude of the event. We saw there how important it was to stay in the top third of field to avoid the dust and trucks overtaking. The day the rally ended, I knew I was going to come back."

"This time, I'll be driving a high-performance machine," he added. "Now I really have to be careful. Our goal will be to make it in the Top 30. With less mistakes and driving just 5% faster, I believe it's possible. I've prepared physically during the summer, competing in the bike enduro championship. I've even lost 5 kilos but I still believe I'm the biggest competitor of the Dakar !"

BMW has released a video of the i3 Concept Coupé, which made its debut in Los Angeles a few weeks ago. In it are further details about the performance and range of the small electric car that will go on sale in late 2013.

The BMW i3 Concept Coupé can cover 160 kilometres on a full charge and recharge to 80% in less than 30 minutes (100% in six hours). With a 125 kW electric motor and a light weight of 1,250 kg (vs. 1,535 kg for the Nissan LEAF), it sprints from 0-60 km/h in four seconds.

The clean interior is accented with premium wood and leather, while the large side windows offer exceptional visibility from all seating positions. The controls are mounted on the steering wheel, and a unique display shows the driver the location of nearby charging stations.

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