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From GMM

Mercedes' rivals are drawing a direct link between the illegal Barcelona tire test in May, and the German squad's new winning form in 2013.

Christian Horner, the boss of the Red Bull team who was highly critical of Mercedes' involvement in the 'test-gate' scandal, said the Brackley based team must now be considered a "serious rival" for the title alongside Ferrari and Lotus.

Indeed, while Mercedes already had a grip on pole position, Nico Rosberg has won two of the three grands prix since that highly controversial 1000km tire test in Barcelona.

Photo: WRi2

"Others need to judge," Horner, when asked if there is a direct link between Mercedes' new form and 'test-gate', was quoted as saying by Speed Week.

"I'll just ask: how many races in 2013 did they win before the test?" he added, knowing that the answer is zero.

Red Bull designer Adrian Newey told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport: "Mercedes have been clearly better with the tires since the tire test in Barcelona. Draw your own conclusions."

Lotus' Eric Boullier has a similar view.

"That Mercedes won two of the three races after the test is a fact. So the conclusion is easy," he said.

Not surprisingly, Mercedes director Toto Wolff doesn't agree, and in fact he argues that the team's progress was even hampered by the scandal.

"We were very busy the last couple of weeks getting prepared for the international tribunal," he told F1's official website. "A lot of grey cells that normally concentrate on making the car better were working on the (court) documentation."

Team boss Ross Brawn, however, insists he isn't bothered about what his rivals say.

"It shows they take us seriously now," he said.

Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team

Chairman Niki Lauda agrees: "If the others are still upset about it, I'm pleased, because it means they are distracted."

And Auto Motor und Sport claims Mercedes should continue to make progress, with the team's budget set to increase from EUR 145 to 190 million.

"Now we are improving by at least a tenth every race, whereas in the past years we always went backwards in the second half of the season," said Niki Lauda.

From GMM

Pirelli has shifted the blame for the tire-exploding chaos of last weekend's British grand prix.

F1's Italian supplier insists its 2013 tires "do not compromise safety if used in the correct way".

After several cars experienced tire blow-outs, punctures and damage at Silverstone, Pirelli conducted an investigation and concluded the chaos was due to "a series of different causes".

"Rear tires mounted the wrong way round," a media statement summarised, "low tire pressures, extreme cambers and high kerbs".

Pirelli said teams under-inflating tires and using "extreme" camber settings "can be dangerous under certain circumstances".

"I'd like to reemphasise the fact that the 2013 range of tires, used in the correct way, is completely safe," said motor sport director Paul Hembery.

Photo: WRi2

Nonetheless, Pirelli said that its new kevlar-belted tires - whose race introduction was recently vetoed by teams including Ferrari, Lotus and Sahara Force India - will now be used this weekend at the Nurburgring.

That is because the FIA has moved to immediately change the rule requiring teams to unanimously agree to mid-season structural changes.

Then, after the Nurburgring, an all-new tire will debut, combining "the 2012 structures with the 2013 compounds", Pirelli announced.

Pirelli's statement was interpreted by the media as the beleaguered marque shifting all the blame for Silverstone onto the teams.

But Hembery insisted: "In no way are we intending to create arguments or attack anybody. We are receiving the full support of all the parties involved, for which we are very grateful."

Retired F1 veteran Rubens Barrichello, however, said it is clear Pirelli's new range of tires over the winter triggered the problems of 2013.

"Last year, the overtaking was as good as it is today but there was less trouble with the tires. So Pirelli should look at whether the changes they made this year caused all of this," he told Brazil's Totalrace.

Tesla is a word and name that is steadily growing in notoriety, and with just reason. This relatively small Palo Alto, CA-based company is taking the world by storm, an electric storm to be precise.

I'm not going to pretend that I'm a business analyst, but damn, by the amount of press the company is getting and the sheer number of Model S cars I see on the road in my northern, remote, isolated town of roughly 3.75 million inhabitant of the greater Montreal area, I think Tesla is on to something.

From the very moment I watched videos of the Roadster destroying Ferraris on a ¼-mile run, I was smitten. When I finally got to take the car for a spin, the norm, the status quo no longer applied to my automotive experience. In other words, this is when I realized that the end of the internal combustion engine (ICE) was a real possibility.

The Model S, and upcoming Model X, further demonstrates that electric is a true viable alternative to the ICE as range, comfort, utility, and safety are easily on par with regular cars.

As for the source of the electricity used to charge the batteries is concerned, and how it is generated depending on where you are in the world, this debate will go on for a while...

Back to Tesla: With the recent demonstration given by Elon Musk on battery swapping as the ideal, most cost- and time-efficient way to go about our daily business, Tesla's worth continues to soar.

It's more than just that... The Tesla Model S story is an encouraging one. Take the fact that this pricey luxury car has not only outsold, and by quite a margin, most other EVs so far this year, but it is also taking luxury carmakers and their flagship sedans to the cleaners. Yes, the Model S is also outpacing the likes of the Audi A8 and BMW 7-Series in North America.

This blows my mind. Here's a car that retails for $80,000 that has outsold the likes of the Ford Fusion and C-Max Energi, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, Toyota Prius PHEV, and others combined! More people selected the Model S over the “revolutionary” Chevy Volt. The same goes for my favourite Nissan LEAF.

Are you as dumbfounded as I am? This demonstrates that Tesla, in a very short period of time, has managed to hoist itself up to a luxury-brand level of appeal. This bodes well for an upcoming affordable Tesla.

The Tesla story continues and I'm convinced it'll be a good one. And by the way, when was the last time you heard talk about hydrogen-powered cars? Same here. I think the EVs and PHEVs are the way to go.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

From GMM

Michael Schumacher will not attend the German grand prix this weekend.

After retiring from F1 for the second and final time at the end of last year, the seven time world champion was tipped to at least attend this weekend's Nurburgring race.

But Germany's Bild newspaper reports that the great 44-year-old is already signed up for a riding competition with his horse-enthusiast wife Corinna.

Schumacher will be riding in a celebrity charity category, raising money for a children's hospital, while the world of formula one races around the Nurburgring.

"The clash of dates is unfortunate," he said, "but of course I'll be watching the grand prix on TV."

Corinna and Michael Schumacher. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Boss Eric Boullier has denied a bungled race strategy at Silverstone could cost Lotus the services next year of lead driver Kimi Raikkonen.

Having admitted "small talks" with Red Bull about replacing Mark Webber next year are taking place, Raikkonen was angry after the British grand prix because Lotus failed to pit him for fresh tires.

Frenchman Boullier admitted the 2007 world champion was "pretty frustrated".

But when considering the incident might cost Lotus the talented Raikkonen's talents in 2014, Boullier insisted: "Kimi's an intelligent guy and he won't let a single pitstop call define a decision like where to drive for 2014. He seems to like being with Lotus and we're doing everything we can to show him this is the place to be for next season and beyond."

Eric Boullier and Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus. (Photo: WRi2)

However, respected German correspondent Michael Schmidt thinks Raikkonen's move to Red Bull in 2014 is now very likely.

Writing in Auto Motor und Sport, he said Mercedes' big steps forward in the past few races "almost forces" Red Bull to push very hard to sign the Finn.

"No team has a better driver pairing than Mercedes," said Schmidt. "And Sebastian Vettel cannot win a constructors' championship alone -- not against Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg."

So much win
I wanted to find something negative to say about the 2013 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet. Anything. Just something to throw you off, show you that this car isn't as perfect as it seems. I could go on about the price, but if you can afford it I'd insist you spend the near $200,000 to own it. I could also complain about the back seats being small, but really? The soft top requires more effort to care for... Boo-hoo.

So, here's my one complaint: I don't make enough money to own one.

Do something about that Porsche. Please?


What is a Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet?
Besides being a stunning vehicle, the 911 is Porsche's flagship car. One of the most recognizable rides on the road today, the 911 is iconic, and for good reason. From the way it looks to the way it drives, the Porsche 911 is automotive history in motion.

Described as “The Benchmark” by Porsche, the 911 Turbo S is just that: something every 911 wishes to be one day. Sporting massive power and an aggressive body, the Turbo S Cabriolet is all that with the roof chopped off.

2013 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet Price and Specs
Oh where to start? OK, let's go with the horsepower (the highest in the 911 drop-top lineup): 530 horsepower. Where does it all come from? A rear-mounted flat-6 that also offers up 516 lb-ft of torque. The 2013 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet top speed is 315 km/hr and 0-100 happens in just 3.4 seconds (in Sport+ mode).

Porsche's automated 7-speed dual-clutch PDK system is standard because it's just that good. Add to the fact that you can do launch control with it (earth shattering, truly), and shift gears faster than you'd ever be able to on your own.

The 2013 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet starts at $196,400 and will only go up from there once you get into the details like stitching and seatbelt colours, wheel choices, sport seats and the like. Is it worth that much? My God, yes.

Porsche's automated 7-speed dual-clutch PDK system is standard because it's just that good. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Driving the 2013 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet
Here's the deal: I didn't get a whole lot of track time with the 911 Turbo S Cabriolet, in fact I simply did a few regulated launch controls coupled with sudden braking and obstacle avoidance. However, that alone was enough to give me a solid idea of the capabilities of this vehicle.

Having driven the 2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S, I had a pretty good idea what to expect when I slipped behind the wheel of the Basalt Black Metallic Porker.

Solid, planted and just so quick the 2013 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet is an engineering feat of epic proportions. Perfectly balanced atop its all-wheel drive and kept in line with PTM (Porsche Traction Management), this ride might look prissy but it can handle quite a bit of abuse.

Oh how it loves that abuse. The savage bark from the dual exhaust pipes is intoxicating and knee-weakening. Activate Launch Control, press the brake pedal and throttle simultaneously; the sound is truly addictive. Lift your left foot and the apocalypse unfolds just behind your shoulders as your head is thrown into the headrest and the PDK transmission flawlessly whisks you through the gears as you hit a ridiculous speed in a short period of time.

Speed is killed just as quickly as it comes thanks to the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes. Their stopping prowess is almost as shocking as the launch control.

Solid, planted and just so quick the 2013 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet is an engineering feat of epic proportions. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Inside and out of the Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet
There are few vehicles on the road as good-looking as the Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet. Truly, the 911 is poetry and symmetry in motion, and the Turbo S is a work of art. Large vent openings on each flank, a chunky, beefy back end and fantastic whale-tail-esque spoiler off the rear make the Turbo S immediately recognizable.

Sitting on 19” rims with yellow calipers nestled beneath, the 2013 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet has an imposing presence on the road, whether on the move or parked.

Usually, I'd complain about a soft-top convertible breaking up the line of whatever vehicle it's been slapped on; however, the 2013 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet wears its drop-top in style, maintaining the vehicle's sensuous, curvy lines despite the chopped off roof.

Inside, classic Porsche fair resides. The middle stack is loaded with all the necessary buttons and knobs (including the one for Sport and Sport+).

Inside, classic Porsche fair resides. (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Comparing the Porsche 911 Turbo S Cabriolet
If you want to drop your top to the tune of 500 horses (and money truly is no object), your options are limited. The new 2013 Aston Martin DB9 Convertible joined those ranks this year with a 40-horsepower jump pushing it to 510, and you've also got the 2014 Audi R8 V10 Spyder that's good for 525 ponies to get your hair flowing in the wind.

The new Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 tire, which our very own Matt St-Pierre put to the test back in February, is now available for purchase.

Designed, engineered, and manufactured in North America, the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 uses a unique tread design and additional innovative Michelin technologies -- including a variable contact patch based on vehicle weight and speed -- to provide very high levels of both dry and wet grip for enhanced confidence and control in a variety of weather conditions.

The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3 is available in a number of different sizes ranging from 175/65R15 to 285/35R20. Pricing has yet to be announced, however.

Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre

From GMM

Robin Frijns is relieved he will still test for Sauber at Silverstone later this month.

F1 has responded to the tire-exploding Silverstone crisis by turning the forthcoming 'young driver test' into a full-blown tire development session.

It means not only inexperienced drivers are now eligible to test at Silverstone, but also race drivers.

However, the youngsters will continue to have an important role at Silverstone, because the race drivers are only allowed to conduct specific tire testing.

The FIA will have inspectors at Silverstone, ensuring that only rookies are conducting real development running.

Robin Frijns. (Photo: Sauber F1 Team)

Dutchman Frijns, Sauber's 21-year-old reserve driver, confirmed to formule1.nl that he is still scheduled to run on days 1 and 2 of the Silverstone test.

"It will be a tough test but I am very happy that I will get the chance to drive the 2013 car," he said.

"There should be several new components to test," Frijns added.

Tesla is announcing a new Google Glass app giving Model S owners some basic control over the car. This follows the smartphone app launched a few months ago.

Offering the same functions (cabin temperature adjustments, remote sunroof opening/closing, battery checks, etc.), the Google Glass app currently suffers from technological limitations that prevent users from accessing real-time driving data, such as vehicle speed.

Still, Tesla owners who have a pair of Google glasses can download the app at glasstesla.com

Source : www.wired.com

Photo: Wikipedia

A new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Premiere Edition, with a limited production run of 500 units, will soon go on sale at around $75,000 in the U.S. Canadian availability remains unknown, however.

Based on the top-of-the-line 3LT model, this Corvette Stingray will stand out with a Z51 performance package that bumps output to 455 horsepower, Laguna Blue Tintcoat paintwork, and a carbon fibre T-top roof panel. There will be a Stingray logo on the door sills and alloy wheels, while the interior will feature exclusive floor mats, Brownstone suede, a matching set of Corvette luggage designed by Thule, and a serialized dash plaque commemorating the limited-edition model.

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Premiere Edition will be followed by many other special editions including a convertible as well as the next-generation Corvette Z06 and ZR1.

Source : www.thedetroitbureau.com

Photo: Chevrolet

On July 29th, BMW will launch the all-electric i3 live via YouTube.

The company has released a teaser that shows the car's silhouette; however, no technical specifications have been provided.

When the i3 Concept made its debut, it promised 170 horsepower and a range of 130-160 kilometres, so expect similar numbers for the production model, which will go on sale in late 2013 (pricing will be announced in the meantime).

Clearly, BMW wants us to learn the meaning of the German word vorfreude (anticipation)!

The european NASCAR championship, which was renamed NASCAR Whelen Euroseries, will make a stop at the Tours Speedway this week-end, with prestigious drivers at the start.

Alongside championship routiniers such as reigning champion and championship leader Villarino, but also Yann Zimmer or Swede driver Freddy Nordstrom, Max Papis will also take part to both rounds presented on the Tours Speedway, which provides two 9° bankings this year. The italian driver, former F1 and CART driver, has a great experience in NASCAR, with 35 races in Sprint Cup, 13 in Nationwide and 44 in Camping World Truck Series.

Belgian driver Bertrand Baguette, who competed the 2010 Indycar season, and who took part to two Indy 500 (2010 and 2011) will also take part to the event, together with Camping World Truck Series driver Rick Crawford.

The Tours Speedway will be the fourth stop for the NASCAR european serie, and will feature two races in the Elite class, and two races for the Open championship.

Photo: Euro-Racecar:

From GMM

Toto Wolff on Wednesday hit out at F1's 'opportunists' who initially blocked Pirelli's intended tire changes.

Actually, Pirelli has never admitted its 2013 tires are not safe, which is the technicality that left the door open for Ferrari, Lotus and Sahara Force India to simply say 'no' to the new kevlar-belted structure.

"I don't think you can expect any tire supplier in the world to say their tires are not safe," Mercedes director Toto Wolff said on Wednesday.

The tire-exploding British grand prix, however, has forced the issue, moving the FIA to green-light the kevlar change, even though it breaches the earlier need for unanimity.

Toto Wolff suggested the resisting teams should never have blocked the move.

"Sometimes it takes dramatic events for everyone to pull together. In this case, there can be no more opportunistic seeking of advantage," he is quoted by SID news agency.

Photo: WRi2

It might be argued, however, that Mercedes is only so open about changing the tires because it has struggled so much with durability on this year's heavily-degrading Pirelli tires.

Toto Wolff insisted: "Safety is priority number one."

He added that it is a "relief" new tires are being debuted at the Nurburgring, but Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton - so critical after Silverstone, where he had a failure whilst leading - is less convinced.

"It's still a concern," said the 2008 world champion. "We'll see how the weekend goes but I'm sure they've taken the right steps to make it safe."

Meanwhile, having readily accepted its banning from the forthcoming 'young driver test' over test-gate, it might be suggested that Mercedes' penalty just became much harsher.

Due to the Silverstone tire chaos, that test has now been opened up to race drivers -- but Mercedes remains banned.

"We have accepted that we are not going (to test)," Wolff said. "If, like our test (at Barcelona), it is blind tire testing, then it should go ahead."

Fourty years ago, right after the second oil crisis, regular unleaded gas was selling for 12 cents per litre. At that price, a run-of-the-mill 6-cylinder-engined vehicle that burned 12 litres of gas every 100 kilometres was considered cheap to run. At the time, it was normal for consumers to buy on the spur of the moment. Back then, only a handful of diehard environmentalists were worried about the diminishing ozone layer. Global warming was just starting to gain minimal attention, and the concept of greener-vehicles didn't even exist. Honestly, we didn't give a hoot.

Fourty years later, regular unleaded gasoline is selling at 11X the price of the early 80's, and a vehicle that burns 12 litres per 100 kilometres of petrol is considered a guzzler, as we discover that the polar ice caps are melting at an alarming rate. And finally, the global warming message has taken hold in our collective minds.

Nowadays, vehicle expenses are the second most important family expenditure, the first being the purchase of a house. Skyrocketing fuel prices these last 10 years have helped small energy-efficient gasoline-powered vehicles gain popularity. We are now seeing diesel-engine vehicles, gasoline-electric hybrids, diesel hybrids, plug-in hybrids, extended-autonomy electric and electric vehicles. Technology has made huge strides, as well as the reliability and autonomy of these vehicles.

Spur-of-the-moment purchases are less common in 2013. A multitude of variables come in play when the time comes to choose a new vehicle. Henceforth, considerations such as budget, price and residual value (leasing), interest rates, fuel prices, fuel consumption, driving habits, maintenance, local climate and road conditions, among others, need to be dealt with before choosing a specific model. In order to help you make these choices, let's take a look at compact non-hybrid gasoline-powered vehicles, which are considered as ‘'green vehicles'' in today's market.

Continue reading Green-Vehicle Buying Guide