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From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone has admitted he is working hard to ensure the last Brazilian driver does not drop out of F1.

Currently, Felipe Massa is the only Brazilian on the grid, but he has lost his Ferrari seat.

Manager Nicolas Todt is working hard to tap into the Brazilian sponsor market to ensure Massa is in contention for the rides at Lotus, Williams, Force India and Sauber.

It is rumoured the Brazilian broadcaster Globo could also play a vital role.

Brazil and South America are important markets for F1, and so the sport's chief executive Ecclestone told O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper: "I am trying to help; it's not easy, but we're working on it."

Felipe Massa, Ferrari F138. (Photo: WRi2)

The 82-year-old Briton admitted Massa's career could depend on his ability to take an attractive sponsorship package to his next F1 team.

"If Felipe gets some sponsors, everything will change and Brazil should have a driver on the grid in 2014. A strong economy like the one in Brazil is in a good position to invest in a driver," Bernie Ecclestone said.

Also in the running to tap into that support is the GP2 frontrunner Felipe Nasr, but Toro Rosso recently quelled speculation he might replace the Red Bull-bound Daniel Ricciardo.

"It will be difficult to sign as a race driver in 2014," Felipe Nasr, who is managed by Kimi Raikkonen's manager Steve Robertson, said in Singapore.

"So I see it (the opportunity) more as third driver, driving the car in practice on Fridays and some of the private testing," he added.

Those who think Kia doesn't make quality cars need a serious reality check. The all-new 2014 Kia Cadenza impressed me with its luxury, comfort, and wide array of amenities. What's more, people came to me with envious stares, thumbs up, and many nice things to say about it throughout my test week.

What is the Kia Cadenza?
Simply put, the 2014 Kia Cadenza is a brand new and luxurious full-size sedan from Korea. Slotted above the popular Optima, it will inevitably help Kia attract a new generation of buyers.

While it may not have sporty aspirations, the 2014 Kia Cadenza offers tremendous value, especially the base model which starts under $40K.


2014 Kia Cadenza Price and Specs
A 3.3L V6 engine rated at 293 horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque propels the 2014 Kia Cadenza with enthusiasm. Featuring direct injection, this mill pairs up with a 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and, on my watch, burned a combined 11.2L/100km (30% city, 70% highway).

Two trim levels are available: The one priced at $37,795 is very well equipped, while the Cadenza Premium at $44,995 adds keyless entry, heated rear seats, many extra safety features, and a panoramic sunroof -- basically everything consumers look for in this price range.

A 3.3L V6 engine rated at 293 horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque propels the 2014 Kia Cadenza with enthusiasm. (Photo: Kia)

Driving the 2014 Kia Cadenza
Comfortable, yet not too relaxed, the 2014 Kia Cadenza is quite pleasant to drive. With nearly 300 horses under the hood, acceleration is convincing, and handling manages to surprise.

Engineers integrated a remarkable number of modern technologies. In addition to safety systems like Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Departure Warning, and Smart Cruise Control, you'll find in the Cadenza Premium goodies such as a heated steering wheel, a power rear sunshade, adaptive HID headlights, and a driver's seat with memory.

The wide A-pillars and large side mirrors of the 2014 Kia Cadenza reduce forward visibility. As for the rear, the backup camera and parking sensors are quite useful. Elsewhere, the 8-way power adjustable seat helps in finding a proper driving position, although the seat may not drop low enough for taller drivers.

On a more negative note, Kia's navigation system is pretty frustrating. You can't zoom easily or enter an intersection as a destination. Fortunately, the rest of the Cadenza is so good that you will quickly forget about it.

Comfortable, yet not too relaxed, the 2014 Kia Cadenza is quite pleasant to drive. (Photo: Marie-Laurence Paquin)

Inside and Out of the 2014 Kia Cadenza
From the outside, the new 2014 Kia Cadenza looks just as stylish as most competitors. Larger than the Optima, it sports fluid lines and a sharp-looking set of headlights. The unmistakable grille nicely fits into the whole picture -- kudos to Peter Schreyer, the former Audi designer who now oversees design operations at both Kia and Hyundai. On the other hand, the two-tone alloy wheels look somewhat cheap despite being 19” in size.

The big, panoramic sunroof certainly boosts the appeal of the 2014 Kia Cadenza. Fit and finish, both inside and out, deserve praise.

From a practical standpoint, I soon realized that the rear seatbacks do not fold down. Instead, there's a centre pass-through for long objects, such as skis -- too bad. Other than that, the rear seats prove roomy and comfortable.

Up front, the 2014 Kia Cadenza's dashboard is clean and modern, in large part thanks to the digital speedometer and tachometer. The various wood trim pieces will likely turn off some younger buyers; however, everything else has been well thought out. The analogue clock adds a touch of prestige that evokes renowned luxury brands.

The unmistakable grille nicely fits into the whole picture. (Photo: Marie-Laurence Paquin)

Comparing the 2014 Kia Cadenza
This Korean import offers plenty of bang for your buck, and could give more expensive German sedans a run for their money. Of course, the ride and handling don't quite match those of Audi or BMW, but if you're looking for a classy and contemporary full-size car, you should totally check it out.

The front-wheel-drive 2014 Kia Cadenza appears a bit more refined than most American rivals including the new Chevrolet Impala, Buick Lacrosse, and Dodge Charger. As for Japan, expect the Toyota Avalon and Nissan Maxima to form a nice opposition.

In the end, the Cadenza stands out with its modern approach, sophisticated looks, plethora of technologies, and Kia's excellent warranty.

From GMM

Fernando Alonso's bid to take over a top professional cycling team has collapsed.

Early this month, the Ferrari driver announced advanced negotiations to buy the world tour license of the struggling Spanish team Euskaltel-Euskadi.

But late on Monday, Alonso - a keen amateur cyclist - confirmed that the talks have broken down.

"We've tried it until the end but it's just been impossible to have a cycling team in 2014," he confirmed in a photo statement posted on Twitter.

However, the double world champion said he remains committed to setting up a cycling team, "if need be from scratch", for 2015.

"My passion for this sport, my will to cooperate and do my bit remains intact, so this is only the beginning of the future," Fernando Alonso added.

2013 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X Crew Cab

A Swiss army knife on wheels.

With modern pickup trucks, the label "full-size" seems increasingly like a polite way of saying "obese," or at least "gargantuan." There are undoubtedly many pickup buyers who need all that width, length, and height, but for those who don't, the 2013 Nissan Frontier serves as a reminder that a pickup truck can come in a size other than XXL. Despite its less-prodigious footprint and less-towering height, the 2013 Nissan Frontier packs a lot of utility into a moderately sized package.

Photo Gallery: 2013 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X Crew Cab - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2013 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X Crew Cab - Automobile Magazine

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Ferrari F12 Berlinetta vs Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series

Ultimate Fantasy Number One.

Editor's Note: This is the first 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 soon or download our iPad issue on September 26th to read them all.

Photo Gallery: Ferrari F12 Berlinetta vs Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: Ferrari F12 Berlinetta vs Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series - Automobile Magazine

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta vs Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta vs Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series

Ultimate Fantasy Number One.

Editor's Note: This is the first 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 soon or download our iPad issue on September 26th to read them all.

Photo Gallery: Ferrari F12 Berlinetta vs Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: Ferrari F12 Berlinetta vs Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series - Automobile Magazine

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta vs Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is

Fiat is planning to take full control of diesel engine manufacturer VM Motori by buying out the half of the company owned by joint venture partner General Motors, the automaker said at the weekend.

Fiat is planning to take full control of diesel engine manufacturer VM Motori by buying out the half of the company owned by joint venture partner General Motors, the automaker said at the weekend.

Both sides in South Africa's latest automotive strike are due to meet this Wednesday (25 September), as the walkout involving up to 100,000 workers enters its third week.

Both sides in South Africa's latest automotive strike are due to meet this Wednesday (25 September), as the walkout involving up to 100,000 workers enters its third week.

Bermaz Motor, the authorised dealer for Mazda vehicles in Malaysia, aims to increase its total sales volume by about 16% to 8,000 units this year.

Ford introduced their newly redesigned 2014 Transit Taxi, which features increased passenger and cargo space, claimed and#8220;livery-duty durability,and#8221; and lower operating costs.

Honda delivered nine high-definition projectors to drive-in theaters around the country for its Project Drive-In initiative. The latest four were in Monetta, S.C., Ocala, Fla.

Dyer Consequences: Bold Predictions

Since this is the New-Car issue, I think it makes sense for me to spend a little time divulging the confidential information that I've accrued in the course of my travels around the world.

Since this is the New-Car issue, I think it makes sense for me to spend a little time divulging the confidential information that I've accrued in the course of my travels around the world. You see, wherever I go, car-company insiders feel compelled to tell me important secrets about their business, secrets that I swear to uphold because they are strictly off the record and could cause a lot of trouble. What my industry moles don't know, however, is that I cross my toes whenever I swear to keep a secret, thus nullifying the promise. Probably lots of people will get fired for what I'm about to reveal, but as far as I'm concerned that's their fault for not checking to see if my toes were crossed.

Photo Gallery: Dyer Consequences: Bold Predictions - Automobile Magazine

Dyer Consequences: Bold Predictions | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Dyer Consequences: Bold Predictions

Since this is the New-Car issue, I think it makes sense for me to spend a little time divulging the confidential information that I've accrued in the course of my travels around the world.

Since this is the New-Car issue, I think it makes sense for me to spend a little time divulging the confidential information that I've accrued in the course of my travels around the world. You see, wherever I go, car-company insiders feel compelled to tell me important secrets about their business, secrets that I swear to uphold because they are strictly off the record and could cause a lot of trouble. What my industry moles don't know, however, is that I cross my toes whenever I swear to keep a secret, thus nullifying the promise. Probably lots of people will get fired for what I'm about to reveal, but as far as I'm concerned that's their fault for not checking to see if my toes were crossed.

Photo Gallery: Dyer Consequences: Bold Predictions - Automobile Magazine

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Hyundai Motor affiliate Kia hopes to boost sales of its flagship K9 luxury sedan after starting sales in the United States this week, having suffered lukewarm sales in Korea since the 2012 launch.

Hyundai began its SEMA push on Monday with a 1,000-hp Genesis coupe from Bisimoto Engineering.

Don't remember this Lincoln concept car?

2014 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet First Look

How do you top the 911 Turbo S? Remove its top.

The 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo and Turbo S models served as the top dogs of the 991-series 911 family -- until now. The new 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo and Turbo S Cabriolet models, which formally debut at the 2013 Los Angeles auto show in November, will be the most expensive 911 models offered in North America when they reach dealers early next year.

Photo Gallery: 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet First Look - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2014 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet First Look - Automobile Magazine

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