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What is it?

Of the dozens of

What is it?

What Is It?

What Is It?

What is it?

Of the dozens of

Porsche has revealed the new

German steelmaker ThyssenKrupp has described a magazine report that says it's preparing to sell its automotive division as ''nonsense.''

Webasto has reconfigured production at its U.S. plant in Michigan without incurring high costs in order to satisfy increasing demand for sunroofs.

Scott Steckly won the Pinty's 250 at Kawartha Speedway on Sunday to finally take the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series crown by a margin of only two points.

Coming into the final race of the season, Steckly was 5 points behind leader D.J. Kennington and he had to earn the maximum 48 points to become the first three-time series champion.

Steckly demonstrated the strength of his No. 22 Canadian Tire Dodge early in the day on Sunday, topping the practice chart and winning his 12th career series pole; yesterday's schedule having been postponed to Sunday due to heavy rain showers.

Scott Steckly, 2013 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Champion. (Photo: NASCAR)

He led the early portion of the race, making a point of staying ahead of Kennington. After pitting twice during the second caution, Steckly and Kennington restarted 12th and 13th, respectively. The pair steadily worked their way to the front as Jason Hathaway, who entered the event with a mathematical shot at the title, pulled away with a big lead.

All three title contenders stopped for right side tires during a caution on Lap 150 and from there set sail to the finish.

The trio of title contenders battled among themselves as they closed in and moved by Lapcevich for second. Hathaway, who slipped by Kennington, challenged Shepherd for the lead following a restart - but saw his hopes dashed with a spin in Turn 4.

Steckly took advantage on the restart and raced Shepherd side-by-side for the lead - eventually getting the top spot for good after contact coming out of Turn 4. Steckly went on to win by a margin of .580 seconds over Shepherd, with Lapcevich third and Kennington fourth. Martin Roy came home fifth.

Sixth through 10th were Noel Dowler, Donald Chisholm, Mark Dilley, Ron Beauchamp and Ryley Seibert.

It looks like General Motors wants to curb Tesla's enthusiasm by doubling the range of its EV batteries from 160 km to 320 km.

Doug Parks, GM's global product development chief, prefers to keep quiet about the long-range battery project, insisting that such a vehicle -- which would cost around $30,000, sources say -- is far from a sure thing.

Right now, the Tesla Model S offers a range of 450 km and retails for at least $71,000 USD. However, CEO Elon Musk has already revealed plans to drop that price substantially when a more mainstream model is introduced, likely after 2015.

Source: Detroit Bureau

Photo: General Motors

From GMM

'Two or three' teams are facing financial strife, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has admitted.

Told by veteran Swiss correspondent Roger Benoit that 'half the field' is struggling to survive amid the economic crisis and spiralling costs, Ecclestone answered: "That's not quite right.

"We are talking about two vulnerable teams at the moment," the 82-year-old told Blick newspaper.

"Perhaps there's a third with a question mark," added Ecclestone.

Asked, however, if he is confident the 'vulnerable' teams will be on the 2014 grid, the Briton insisted: "If you had asked me a year ago, the answer would be no.

"But now, suddenly, most of the teams find money somehow from somewhere. I don't know how they do that," added Ecclestone.

Photo: WRi2

He would not name the 'vulnerable' teams, or even admit that the one at the top of the list is surely Sauber.

"We've known each other long enough that you know I have nothing to say!" Ecclestone told Benoit.

He ruled out intervening with personal loans, after admitting to the New York Times at the weekend that Sir Frank Williams regularly used to borrow money.

"I'm not allowed to do that anymore," said Ecclestone. "We have an agreement with the teams that it would be unfair to the others. They're the ones who wanted it (the agreement)!" he told Blick.

Ecclestone has, however, reached new financial deals with the big teams that give them more income than their smaller, struggling rivals.

Surely that's not fair?

"It's because the big teams have promised that they are staying until 2020 -- they've given us a bank guarantee," Ecclestone revealed.

"The distribution was always the same -- the only difference these days is that we distribute a lot more money," he told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Meanwhile, Ecclestone insisted he is sleeping well despite the fact prosecutors in Munich are considering sending him to trial over bribery.

He rejects their main argument.

"First, I had no shares to sell, so I had no personal interest," said Ecclestone.

"My job was not in danger -- no matter who the shares were sold to, the FIA had to agree. But the FIA wanted to ensure that I still ran the business; because they're familiar with me and know how I work," he insisted.

Fusajiro Yamauchi established Nintendo near Kyoto, Japan, on September 23rd, 1889. Originally in business to produce handmade hanafuda cards, the company later specialized in entertainment and became a world leader during in the 1980s with the Nintendo video game console.

Among the most famous racing games were F-Zero, F-1 Race, F-Zero Ax, and Mach Rider, not to mention Mario Kart.

Earlier in the '50s, Nintendo tried to manage a taxi company called Daiya, but without much success.

Newport Beach, CA - We all have bucket lists. You know; skydiving, climbing

Everest or eating 70 hotdogs in 10 minute to beat the World Record -- things we all want to say we did, at least once.

I have such a list, but it's pretty much limited to driving certain cars or driving on specific tracks around the world. One such vehicle was Nissan's mental and out-of-control Juke R. If you're not familiar with the beast, I invite you to look it up on YouTube. This mini-zilla (aka Babyzilla) takes everyone on.

The sheer madness of the Juke R was the first thing to turn me on. The promise of skull-crushing performance was the second. What makes the Juke R so ludicrous that I would forgo a ride in a GT-R GT3 as well as beating on a GT-R around a short loop?

The Juke R gets its “crazy” from the twin-turbocharged 3.8L V6 stuffed and shoehorned under its crunched bonnet and behind its “cute” frog face. Official specs rate horsepower at 545 however chassis #001 -- the Juke R I drove -- is rumoured to put out somewhere around 570.

Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre

Tack on the GT-R's ATTESA E-TS All-Wheel Drive system, with rear-mounted 6-speed sequential transaxle, and you get the full explanation as to why the Juke R is nicknamed Babyzilla.

My time at the wheel of the Juke R was very brief, and somewhat a blur. At the Performance Drive station of the Nissan 360 event, we were asked to line up behind the sign for the car we wanted to drive. Luckily for me, the Juke R line was empty. Yeah, I didn't get it either. This allowed for two runs with Babyzilla.

The first run was nothing less than absolute mental torture. The dilemma, the war and the anguish of trying not to maul cones because of an overly eager right foot and eyes soaking in the cabin, the speedometer's wild race, was next to impossible to compute. Before I knew it, lap one was complete.

Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre

As I stood in line for round two, I remained entertained by the Juke R's snorting and burbling exhaust note, as it would drive us from the staging area. It's squat, almost comically wide matte-black front face is shocking to soak in at first. From the sides, the wheels and huge brakes behind them are most telling. Here, the standard Juke's flared shoulders are properly exploited.

The next time around, I took the time to better set my driving position. Fully strapped in with the 5-point harness, I was told I could head towards the track. What surprised me most was the linear non-hair-raising acceleration. Don't misunderstand me, this thing's fast, but I thought I was going to swallow my tongue the moment the go pedal was flirted with.

What I got out of lap two was a car that was far better sorted than expected. The transmission, the brakes and overall handling are as good as expected -- in other words, impressive. I thought I'd noticed some understeer, however, on the unfamiliar track I may have tried to go faster through some cones than I should have...

Although I feel as though I was served the biggest tease ever, I must say that if I had the $660,000+ required to acquire one of the 23 that will be built, I'd do it. Currently, chassis #002 is Nissan's while #003 and #004 are in the hands of lucky and wealthy Middle Eastern hands.

A Nissan Juke R is about as special as special gets. By comparison, nearly 400 Bugatti Veyrons have been built to this day. This makes the Juke R far more exclusive.

My time with this youngest legend of legendary cars may have been very short, but at the very least I can say that I mashed the throttle, pulled back on the upshift paddle, and stood on the brakes.

The Nissan Juke R has been scratched off my list.

Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre

Fiat, who currently owns a 50% stake in VM Motori, is looking to buy GM's other half and take full control of the diesel engine manufacturer based in Cento, Italy.

The transaction is expected to be finalized by the end of the year. Specifics have not been disclosed yet.

VM Motori supplies engines for a number of vehicles including the Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee.

Source: Automotive News

Yvan Muller (Chevrolet) clinches his fourth World Touring Car Championship win last week end at Suzuka.

The Frenchman, who drives a Chevrolet Cruze ran by team RML (which lost Chevrolet's backing at the end of last season), has no rival this season, setting a huge gap that put him out of reach already as four rounds (two in Shanghai, two in Macau) remain in the calendar.

Yvan Muller, RML. (Photo: FIA WTCC)

Muller's title was already set after race 1 at Suzuka, where the Chevrolet driver secured a third position while Gabriele Tarquini was forced to retirement with mechanical issues aboard his Honda Civic. Norbert Michelisz took win driving his team Zengo Motorsport's Honda Civic. In the second round, Muller had an early retirement as he was hit at the start, damaging his suspension. The race, which was the 200th race in WTCC history, was won by Tom Coronel's BMW.

Next season, Muller will move to Citroën, as the french squad is about to make its WTCC debuts with Sébastien Loeb, running the C-Elysée.

It seems I've been on a bit of a pickup binge lately. Having just driven the Ford F-150 XLT SuperCab 4x4 and now the Limited, I'm currently staring at a V8-powered Nissan Titan in my driveway (but you'll all have to wait for that review). Over the years, I've driven my fair share of Ford F-150s, from bare-bones models to the King Ranch and SVT Raptor, and every time I've been impressed.

Why? Because like certain British and German brands I tend to harp on about, the F-150 is purpose-built. The company makes no qualms about the Ford F-150 being anything but what it is: a pickup. What makes it even more remarkable is that it is the pickup all competitors hope to be like one day. It is the benchmark, and deservingly so.


What is the Ford F-150 Limited?
The Ford F-150 is a line of full-size pickup trucks that have been on the market for the past six decades, dominating the truck business with a vehicle that's not only reliable and hard-working, but also great to drive and practical.

As for the Limited edition, it's essentially the kingpin of the lot; the most fully equipped, most luxurious truck your money can buy in the Ford F-150's twelfth-generation iteration. This is not a special edition model (like the Harley-Davidson, King Ranch, or Raptor), but a top trim level.

As for the Limited edition, it's essentially the kingpin of the lot; the most fully equipped, most luxurious truck your money can buy in the Ford F-150's twelfth-generation iteration. (Photo: Miranda Lightstone)

2013 Ford F-150 Limited Price and Specs
Sitting at a base price of nearly $52,000, this is no bargain buy. However, you have to remember that the 2013 Ford F-150 Limited arrives very well equipped and is no slouch when it comes to getting the job done.

Look for 22” polished aluminum wheels, power-deployable running boards (great for my 5'2” stature when getting in and out), a tailgate step, lots of chrome accents on the exterior, a rearview camera, and a self-dimming rearview mirror. There are still little bits and bobs you can add (bed liner, ruby red paint, bed extender, etc.), and mine was dressed to the nines with a final price of close to $67,000.

It's not just about functionality and looks with the 2013 Ford F-150 Limited, though. There's also a great powerhouse beneath that massive hood: a 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engine good for 365 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. With 4WD and a towing capacity ranging anywhere from 14,000 lbs to 16,900 lbs, this truck might look fancy (and carry a hefty price tag), but it's got the grunt to do the job, too.

There's also a great powerhouse beneath that massive hood: a 3.5L V6 EcoBoost engine good for 365 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Miranda Lightstone)

Driving the 2013 Ford F-150 Limited
Ford's EcoBoost engine is a gem among gems; what a fabulous piece of machinery. Save for the roar of the 3.5L V6 upon acceleration, there's very little to give away the fact that you're behind the wheel of a quite large SuperCrew cab truck with a 5.5ft cargo bed.

To me, that's the beauty of the 2013 Ford F-150 Limited: You don't feel like you're driving a truck. When you've got a bed behind you, there's always a certain amount of body shudder and shake. I was impressed with the stability of the Ford F-150 Limited's frame and how solid it felt.

Throttle response is also pleasantly sharp. Again, a vehicle of this weight and girth shouldn't feel as nimble or responsive as it does, but that EcoBoost coupled with the 6-speed automatic transmission does wonders to the overall driving dynamics.

My only gripe with the 2013 Ford F-150 Limited was the gas mileage which I had hoped would be a little bit lower (considering the EcoBoost engine and all). I averaged in the 13.5L/100km range, and I mostly did highway travel. I should have been closer to 10-11L/100km according to Ford's stats.

When you've got a bed behind you, there's always a certain amount of body shudder and shake. I was impressed with the stability of the Ford F-150 Limited's frame and how solid it felt. (Photo: Miranda Lightstone)

Inside and Out of the 2013 Ford F-150 Limited
What's not to like about this pickup? It really is dressed to impress, especially in the Ruby Red exterior paint colour (a few hundred extra). Add on all the chromed goodies (Limited wording along the bed, massive chrome grille, chromed tailpipes, chromed wheels), and you've got yourself one seriously flashy truck.

That flash and pizzazz continue into the cabin. My 2013 Ford F-150 Limited was swathed in red leather from the footwells to the roof, complete with a “Limited” metal plaque on the massive armrest (which, by the way, gets really hot in the sun if you leave the sunroof cover off!), as well as “Limited” decals on the seats.

The rear quarters are nothing short of ginormous. In fact, they could almost have doubled as a playroom and travel space for my son; he had plenty of freedom to move and walk around (and so did I).

My 2013 Ford F-150 Limited was swathed in red leather from the footwells to the roof, complete with a “Limited” metal plaque on the massive armrest. (Photo: Miranda Lightstone)

Comparing the 2013 Ford F-150 Limited
Of course, the part that hurts the 2013 Ford F-150 Limited the most is its asking price. Even in top trim level (without added bells and whistles), the F-150's direct competitors, the GMC Sierra and Toyota Tacoma, retail for a good $10-$12k less.

However, if you want the best, you have to be willing to shell out a little bit extra, and I think the 2013 Ford F-150 Limited is money well spent, especially if you want some dressing on your workhorse.