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From GMM

McLaren on Tuesday said it understands Red Bull's reluctance to release aerodynamics chief Peter Prodromou from his contract.

McLaren has already signed Prodromou, who works closely with Adrian Newey, but it is believed he remains under contract to Red Bull for at least one more year.

"I can't see any incentive for Red Bull to release him early," McLaren managing director Jonathan Neale told reporters during the Vodafone teleconference. "We'd be happy if he was starting first thing tomorrow morning, but we do fully respect Red Bull's position as we do when we're recruiting anybody from another organisation."

It is believed Prodromou's deputy has also been signed by McLaren, but he too could also be under contract for some time.

Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko was quoted as saying last week: "We'll see in a year where the two men are working."

Peter Prodromou and Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing. (Photo: WRi2)

The latest model participating in the battle for American pickup supremacy comes with numerous promises including fantastic mileage and the most refined ">Chevrolet Silverado driving experience, ever. For model-year 2014, designers, planners, and engineers put in the overtime on this rig and the result of their work recently landed at dealer lots across the continent.


What is a Chevrolet Silverado?
The new Chevrolet Silverado is the most recent iteration of one of the most popular trucks on the road. With selection, a solid reputation, and droves of fiercely loyal owners, Chevrolet has a strong sales leader with the Silverado.

Machines like this are a seriously big deal in northern locales and popping the hood on the latest bit of Chevy truck engineering instantly gathered a crowd at my local coffee shop hangout.

The new Chevrolet Silverado is the most recent iteration of one of the most popular trucks on the road. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

2014 Chevrolet Silverado Price and Specs
Other than a handful of parts, the new Silverado engine lineup is all new. At writing, shoppers could specify a 4.3L V6, or one of two V8s, with either 5.3L or 6.2L of displacement. All of these engine options use cylinder deactivation, direct injection, variable-valve timing, and plenty more to turn in more power using less fuel. They all come teamed to a 6-speed automatic.

My tester got the 5.3L, which sends 355 horsepower (up from last year's 315) to the ground through a four-wheel-drive system bolted away under some skid plates thanks to the Z71 off-road package. Beefed up shocks, tow hooks, and aggressive tires were fitted too. A dial lets drivers choose between various 4x4 modes, and the rear diff locks automatically if the ground beneath gets sloppy.

Towing capacity, depending on the model and selected hardware, tops out at 12,000 lbs.

Starting price for the new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado is $32,245; however, my Z71 trimmed pickup starts in the $40k range.

My tester got the 5.3L, which sends 355 horsepower (up from last year's 315). (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Driving the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado Z71
The driving experience stood out the most when visiting the open highway with the Chevy Silverado, as well as my local off-road trail system.

The suspension's heavy-duty shocks turn in a bit of a jiggle-y, busy ride on the off-road rough stuff -- though it largely feels pure tough, the way a truck should. Drivers visiting rough terrain in the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado should expect to feel well backed-up with a vehicle that feels like it belongs there. Though the truck's size and massive hood make it difficult to place on tight trails, the four-wheel drive system and auto-locking rear-differential mean traction never proved an issue -- even through trail segments that made your writer grimace.

On smooth highways, the beefy suspension is a bit stiff, but comfortable overall. Most notable on the highway were the noise levels. After some 12 hours worth of driving at speed, I left the Silverado impressed with the lack of outside noise allowed into the cabin thanks, in no small part, to an exhaustive aerodynamic assault on offending sounds. Even at higher speeds, I could have a conversation without raising my voice. A good number of high-dollar luxury sedans I've recently visited were noisier at similar speeds.

With voice commanded systems, a fantastic forward view, above-average headlamp performance and numerous automatic or self-activating features in the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado, you're well set up for a confident and laid-back road trip experience that's conducive to relaxation and socializing.

I returned the tester after 1,800 kilometres having achieved an overall, measured-by-hand average consumption of 13.2L/100km. For where and how I drive, that's just about small-truck mileage in a big truck with a big V8.

The suspension's heavy-duty shocks turn in a bit of a jiggle-y, busy ride on the off-road rough stuff -- though it largely feels pure tough, the way a truck should. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Inside and Out of the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado
On board, much of the switchgear and controls are familiar, too. It's mostly new and fresh, but those familiar with the interior of an older Silverado will feel right at home. The new cabin's layout is more dynamic, detailed and daring than the outgoing model, though the hard plastic lining the entire thing will let soft-touch buffs down, slightly.

I loved the abundance of clever, well-thought-out storage compartments and cubbies all around the front seats in the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado. Ditto for the presence of no fewer than three 12-Volt outlets, four USB power points, and one household outlet just inches from my fingertips. On one jaunt with some pals, four cell phones, one MP3 player, and my camera battery pack were all plugged in for recharging.

Complaints included the somewhat-cheesy application of a slivery spray-paint like finish on some interior panels, and the massive hood, long body, and relatively lazy turning circle eating away at my ability to look like I know how to park a big truck.

On board, much of the switchgear and controls are familiar, too. It's mostly new and fresh, but those familiar with the interior of an older Silverado will feel right at home. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Comparing the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado
Ultimately, the new Silverado (with Z71 package) should appeal strongly to pickup shoppers who frequently visit off-road situations, but who also enjoy a comfortable and quiet highway and around-town experience. With good fuel consumption figures (which will get better after engine break-in is complete), the high-efficiency V8 should also connect strongly with shoppers who aren't interested in the added cost of running a diesel or turbocharged gas engine in comparable models from Dodge and Ford, respectively.

From Inside Track Motorsport News

On Saturday, February 8, 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup star Ryan Newman will be the headline star at the Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News.

During his appearance, the versatile racer will sign autographs for the fans and participate in an on-stage Q&A session. The CME takes place February 7-9, 2014 at Toronto's International Centre.

Ryan Newman is one of the most popular and successful racers in NASCAR. Currently a contender in The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup alongside stock car racing's elite competitors, Newman recently announced his plans to drive for Richard Childress Racing in 2014, piloting the team's No. 31 Quicken Loans Chevrolet.

Ryan Newman. (Photo: Inside Track magazine)

The Indiana native was the NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year in 2002 and has been a series front-runner ever since. Known as ‘Rocket Man' for his qualifying prowess, some of Newman's career highlights include winning the Daytona 500 (in 2008), the Winston All-Star race (in 2003) and the Brickyard 400 (2013).

Newman, 35, has 17 career Cup victories to his credit and has earned 51 poles in just over 430 starts.

Prior to his NASCAR career, Newman was a successful USAC Midget racer, earning the Silver Crown Series championship in 1999.

One week after his appearance at the Canadian Motorsports Expo, Newman will be at Daytona International Speedway in his first outing with Richard Childress Racing. His goal, in the Daytona 500, will be to kick off his season on a winning note with the legendary racing team, with the ultimate aim of capturing his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup title.

Richard Petty Motorsports said to day that Todd Parrott, formerly the crew chief of Aric Almirola's Sprint Cup ride was “no longer with the organization.”

Last week the 1999 champion's (Dale Jarrett) crew chief was suspended indefinitely due to violation of NASCAR's substance abuse policy. NASCAR has confirmed that the Parrott has been accepted into its' Road to Recovery Program (much like driver, AJ Allmendinger, successfully completed last year).

Todd Parrott. (Photo: NASCAR)

RPM also announced, Tuesday, that Greg Ebert will serve as the interim crew chief for the No. 43 Ford and driver Aric Almirola starting this weekend at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Ebert will fulfill this role on an interim basis for the remainder of the season.

Ebert has served in the role of car chief of the No. 43 Ford for the past two seasons and has been a car chief with RPM since its inception. Before joining RPM, Ebert spent nine years at Roush Fenway Racing serving the last five of those seasons as the car chief for Matt Kenseth.

"We are confident in Greg's leadership abilities and we will give him the resources he needs to be successful," explained Sammy Johns, Vice President of Operations and Competition. "He is very familiar with our race program and gives us a more seamless transition. More importantly, he gives Aric the best opportunity to finish the season strong."

From GMM

2014 could be the prelude to Carlos Sainz Jr's formula one career.

That is the claim of the 19-year-old Spaniard's namesake and father, hot on the heels of news another Red Bull-backed teen, Russian Daniil Kvyat, has secured the second Toro Rosso seat for 2014.

Sainz jr was also in the running to succeed Daniel Ricciardo at the Red Bull-owned team, and might now be considered the frontrunner for a 2015 debut.

World rally legend Sainz admitted 2014 will be a "very important" season for his son's F1 aspirations.

Carlos Sainz said his son will surely complete a second season in the Formula Renault 3.5 series next year.

Carlos Sainz father and son, during the Toro Rosso's testing in July. (Photo: WRi2)

"This year has been a race to catch up experience. He is only 19 years old, but if he is in the championship fight hopefully it will be the eve to formula one for him," added Sainz snr.

Asked if his son might combine his racing next year with a F1 test role, Sainz snr answered: "I know nothing of that.

But "It would be ideal," he is quoted by EFE news agency, "because it would mean he is getting the maximum possible experience in formula one. But I have no idea.

"I know that if something in the rules should be changed it is this, because three days a year for young drivers is nothing," Carlos Sainz snr insisted.

That new-to-you car, crossover or minivan has a shiny body suspended on top of four wheels by a sophisticated array of springs, bushings, rods, and struts.

These components are specified, calibrated, and linked to one another to create the unique ride and handling principles intended by engineers for the ride in question. Like any other part of a used vehicle, they will eventually wear down and require attention and replacement.

In order to ensure your used-ride candidate's suspension is in good working order, a mechanical inspection of its various components is in order. A mechanic can assess the condition of your used ride's suspension system in a matter of minutes and determine if the seller is trying to pass an expensive repair off to you.

Remember: A properly functioning suspension will turn in better ride quality along with optimal tire life, safety, and handling in all situations. A suspension in need of repair can be noisy, uncomfortable, and even dangerous.

Here are some checks drivers can make on a test drive before visiting a mechanic for a full inspection.

Photo: Matt St-Pierre

Shock Absorbers
Many shock absorbers are filled with a fluid that can leak out if the part is failing or has failed. Get down low and look into the vehicle's wheel-wells for the shock absorber, which is likely located above and behind each wheel. Any obvious signs of an oily fluid leaking down the shock absorber assembly should be addressed.

Strut Mounts
Depending on the type and age of the vehicle in question, a check of its strut mounts is in order. This component lets the front struts "rotate" in relation to the body of the car, allowing the wheels to steer. When strut mounts wear out, the bearings inside of them typically fail which makes it harder to steer the vehicle and puts additional strain on the steering system.

From the driver's seat (while parked) turn the wheel fully from lock to lock, noting any binding sensation through the wheel along the way. This may be accompanied by a clicking or popping noise. If you notice any unwelcome sounds, have someone steer the wheel while you stand in front of the car with the hood popped. If the sound comes from the top of the "shock tower" area, tell your mechanic you suspect the strut mounts are worn out.

Check the Alignment
Inspect all four tires for signs of uneven wear across their treads. If one or more tire is worn more heavily at the inside or outside of its treads, the vehicle's alignment is off, which could be evidence of a suspension-related issue. Vehicles with out-of-whack alignment can wear their tires out more quickly and burn excessive fuel. Ask your mechanic to have a closer look.

Modifications
Especially on used trucks and sports cars, there's a fairly high likelihood that the suspension system has been modified. Ask the owner if they've lowered the suspension on that sports model or lifted the suspension on that truck or SUV. If they have, you'll want to make sure that the quality of the parts, and their installation, is top-notch. Suspension modifications can add a degree of visual flare and fun factor to the ride you're considering, though they can also create suspension-related problems, and may even be illegal. Be sure to have a mechanic approve any suspension system modifications on the model you're considering or opt for a model with original suspension if you have any concerns.

Bushings
Numerous rubber or polyurethane bushings are used to isolate suspension components from each other without metal-on-metal contact. As bushings age, they can crack, dry up and fall out which results in noisy contact between suspension components. Any unwelcome sounds from the vehicle's suspension could be caused by worn-out bushings.

Ride Quality
One fantastic way to determine the condition of a used ride's suspension system is to simply note is ride quality. A car with a healthy suspension will absorb bumps without much fuss, and fairly quietly, while rebounding once and settling back to its normal ride height. A vehicle that makes noise, feels unstable or bounces excessively after going over a bump likely has some suspension repairs in its near future.

From GMM

Porsche has denied the very latest suggestions it might be gearing up for a formula one foray.

Exactly a year ago, the Volkswagen-linked carmaker denied that its sports car programme - to feature Mark Webber at the wheel in 2014 - was a mere warmup to F1.

Alongside grand prix winner Webber, who has been poached directly from F1's world champion team, Porsche has also been busily signing up F1 personnel including Fritz Enzinger, Alex Hitzinger, Mike Krack and Urs Kuratle.

The Weissach facility has also been set up as a world-class motor sport factory complete with wind tunnel.

Now, the correspondent for Auto Motor und Sport, Tobias Gruner, suggests that Porsche has managed to attract those high-calibre personnel "on the prospect of a formula one comeback" in the near future.

Porsche has consistently denied the regular speculation. A spokesman said this week that the marque is "fully committed" to its 2014 Le Mans project, as well as GT racing.

"There are no plans to enter formula one," the spokesman added.

However, a subtle hint may have been dropped in the latest edition of Porsche's employee magazine.

In it, an article says that because F1 is returning to a turbo era from 2014, Porsche engineers got in contact with Hans Mezger, who developed McLaren's title-winning TAG-Porsche engines in the 80s.

"This (magazine) article was surprising, to say the least," said Tobias Gruner.

Alain Prost aboard the McLaren-TAG-Porsche. (Photo: WRi2)

Both Volkswagen management and the UAW want to see history play out differently in Tennessee from the last time the German automaker had an American assembly plant.

Both Volkswagen and the United Auto Workers union want to see history play out differently in Tennessee from the last time the German automaker had a U.S. assembly plant.

Car haulers loaded with the 2014 Jeep Cherokee stick out on the flat farmland like elephants on the savannah -- lumbering behemoths easy to spot, even from miles away.

We dove deep into the

If you were concerned that Toyota Land Cruisers of all vintages are rapidly becoming unaffordable... you're correct.

Ford is taking World War T(axi) to Nissan with its Transit Connect Taxi, which added Hong Kong to its list of cities served on Monday.

A significant French PSA Peugeot Citroen union says it looks likely the automaker will secure virtual majority backing for its cost reduction plan, envisaging a salary freeze among other measures.

Sonic Automotive, the nation's third-largest retailer of new vehicles is getting ready to take on the largest U.S. retailer of used vehicles.

Freeway construction in the San Francisco Bay Area often takes place at a maddeningly deliberate pace, and

Self-driving cars being planned by Google and global automakers may help counter slumping demand from younger customers by tapping the fastest-growing demographic in the world's largest vehicle markets: the elderly.

Take Dad and His 1980 Mazda RX-7 to Road America

Ultimate Fantasy Number Six.

Editor's Note: This is the sixth of eight automotive fantasies from our November 2013 print issue. We'll be publishing the fantasies over the next few weeks on automobilemag.com. Look for the issue on newsstands now or download our iPad issue to read them all.

Photo Gallery: Take Dad and His 1980 Mazda RX-7 to Road America - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: Take Dad and His 1980 Mazda RX-7 to Road America - Automobile Magazine

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Nissan announced prices for its 2014 Juke and Juke Nismo vehicles, which are on sale now in U.S. dealerships. Buyers will be able to get into the little

The recent surge in auto production in the United States is hurting vehicle quality because automotive parts suppliers have less time to fix problems that emerge on the line, Ford's new global purchasing chief told reporters today.