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Japanese automakers continue to report rising sales after a plunge in 2012 due to a buyer backlash over a territorial dispute with Japan over a cluster of islands.

It wouldn't be the Essen Motor Show without German tuning house Brabus introducing its own versions of one or two of

The Lambrecht Chevrolet sale back in September of this year was billed as a once-in-a-lifetime event, with some

New vehicle sales in Taiwan increased by 20.8% year on year to 34,702 units in November, with strengthening economic activity and new car models helping to drive demand, according to data released by Yulon Nissan Motor.

New-car sales in Italy fell 5 percent in November continuing a slump in deliveries in Europe's fourth-largest car market.

Tata Motor subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has opened a technical academy in Beijing at a ceremony attended by UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

Despite tough conditions in Europe, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler says the brand is determined to reach annual global sales of 2 million vehicles by 2020 and take the lead in the premium segment.

Mercedes will start selling cars online for the first time through its dealership in Hamburg, following BMW in experimenting with Web sales.

Mercedes-Benz will start selling cars online for the first time through its dealership in Hamburg, following BMW in experimenting with web sales.

For all our joking and annoyance with the Toyota Corolla (#corollattack anyone?), it's hard to deny the sheer number on the streets, which can only equate to one thing: The Corolla is not a bad car. Truthfully, it's not. Not at all. In fact, it's quite a good car. No, I've not lost my mind completely, but I have opened my eyes to the world of Corolla and I'd like to let all you still-haters in on a few things.

With a new look inside and out, as well as a few revised parts here and there, the 2014 Toyota Corolla has the ability to keep this sedan at the top as the No. 1 selling car in the world.


What is the Toyota Corolla?
Besides being the bestselling car of all time (which means that close to 40 million Corollas have been sold the world over), it is Toyota's compact car and has been on the road since the 1960s in Japan.

In its 11th generation, the Toyota Corolla offers drivers exactly what they want in a compact family car that's reliable and easy to drive.

Besides being the bestselling car of all time (which means that close to 40 million Corollas have been sold the world over), it is Toyota's compact car and has been on the road since the 1960s in Japan. (Photo: Toyota)

2014 Toyota Corolla S Price and Specs
One of the most appealing aspects of the Toyota Corolla is its affordability, and the fact that you're getting a reliable, functional vehicle for not a lot of coin. A base 2014 Toyota Corolla with a 6-speed manual transmission starts at $15,995 (excluding freight & PDI).

My as-tested 2014 Toyota Corolla S equipped with a Premium Package (with power/tilt moonroof and more) and a 6-speed manual transmission hit the price scale at $21,565.

There are two engine options for the 2014 Toyota Corolla; three models (including my S model) are equipped with Toyota's 1.8L 4-cylinder good for 132 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque. However, should you choose the Toyota Corolla LE ECO with a CVT you'll get a VALVEMATIC 1.8L 4-cylinder with ECO Mode which pushes out 140 horsepower and 126 lb-ft.

Transmission choices reside in a 6-speed manual, a 4-speed automatic, a CVTi-S with or without paddle shifters.

There are two engine options for the 2014 Toyota Corolla; three models (including my S model) are equipped with Toyota's 1.8L 4-cylinder good for 132 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Toyota)

Driving the 2014 Toyota Corolla S
I really did spend a week with the Corolla. I didn't pass it off or try to drive something else. I even took it on an extended drive to a nearby city for the weekend. I lived with the 2014 Toyota Corolla S as if it were my own. And I didn't hate it. Not entirely.

I came to realize something very quickly about the 2014 Toyota Corolla S: it's gutless. It has very little oomph, very little desire to go. As horrible as that might sound, it's perfect for the Corolla. It ho-hums along as it should, doing exactly what it should. For the millions of people who have bought a Corolla, this is precisely what they want.

That's what makes the 2014 Toyota Corolla S nice to drive. It makes no illusions about what it is or what it can do. I didn't expect anything more from it. I did discover that should you want a bit of “performance” out of the 1.8L you need to push the revs quite high and endure the in-cabin cacophony of engine noise.

There's something solid about a Toyota, and that's instantly recognizable as soon as you sit in the car. It feels solid on the road, well built. You feel you're driving quality and that's a huge plus in this segment.

It ho-hums along as it should, doing exactly what it should. For the millions of people who have bought a Corolla, this is precisely what they want. (Photo: Toyota)

Inside and Out of the Toyota Corolla S
By far, this is one of the best looking Corollas to hit the road in quite some time. Finally it's got a bit of character in its front fascia. I love the front nose and the rear lights remind me ever so slightly of the brand new Lexus IS rear.

Inside, the likes continue. Somehow Toyota managed to inject some luxury-car feeling into a sub-$30k compact vehicle, and that's great. I've complained about Toyota ergonomics in the recent past, and with good reason; however, this time they got it right. The front seats are comfortable, even on longer hauls, and the centre stack is easy to manipulate and user-friendly.

My only gripe about the 2014 Toyota Corolla S is the difficulty I had installing a baby seat. This isn't the first time I've had to put my son's seat on the driver's side instead of the passenger side due to a hard-to-get-to LATCH system. The middle seatbelt covers the hook in the seat to the point where it's impossible to latch the seat to. Obviously, it can be remedied, but still obnoxious.

By far, this is one of the best looking Corollas to hit the road in quite some time. (Photo: Toyota)

Comparing the 2014 Toyota Corolla S
This segment is rife with competition, and stiff ones at that. From the Honda Civic to the brand new Mazda3, the Corolla has some sales-killing, serious contenders out there. The very best thing the 2014 Toyota Corolla has going for it is the fact that it is what the majority of people are looking for it. It is a happy medium with no polarizing bits, no special pieces. It is the pair of Levis everyone is going to buy because they want a pair of jeans and nothing more -- and that's OK.

From GMM

McLaren may not have given up on signing Fernando Alonso for its new Honda-powered era beginning in 2015.

Team boss Martin Whitmarsh, who openly tried to woo the Spaniard back to Woking for the 2014 season, this week skipped attending the prestigious Autosport Awards in order to travel to Madrid.

In the Spanish capital, Alonso was launching an exhibition featuring the memorabilia of his entire career collected by his father.

Indeed, Whitmarsh was photographed with Alonso alongside representatives of the two-time world champion's other F1 bosses, including Giancarlo Minardi, Stefano Domenicali and Flavio Briatore.

Daily Mail correspondent Jonathan McEvoy said Whitmarsh was so keen to attend Alonso's exhibition that he delegated McLaren's managing director Jonathan Neale to collect the trophy in London to mark the team's 50th year in F1.

Photo: WRi2

"It is understood that Whitmarsh is keen to develop a channel of communication to Alonso with an eye on bringing in the Spaniard for the 2015 season," said McEvoy.

The news ties in with the latest comments made by F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, who said he was disappointed with Alonso's performance for Ferrari this year.

"I thought he gave up a little bit which is proof that he was looking for another team," Ecclestone wrote in the foreword to the official 2013 season review.

But at the very same time, Alonso's manager Luis Garcia Abad denied the 32-year-old has already agreed to move to Honda-powered McLaren for 2015.

"What you're saying is formula one fiction," Abad, also in Madrid, told Spanish radio Marca.

"You cannot have two signed contracts, as when you sign one, you must notify the body that controls it. So it is technically impossible. And an unsigned agreement is not an agreement."

Asked if Alonso intends to fulfil the terms of his entire Ferrari contract, which runs to 2016, Luis Garcia Abad answered: "Fernando has said the same this year in three press conferences in different languages."

There are a few things in the world that make one feel untouchable, invincible even (the least of which being alcohol, but that's a topic for another article): knowing you are the No. 1 selling item of your kind in the world is one such thing. There's no denying the smug looks Toyota employees must get when they're reminded that nearly 40 million Corollas have sold the world over. They've earned that look.

So, what happens when manufacturers with vehicles in that particular segment give it absolutely everything they've got to upset that smug, untouchable feel? What if they start to give you that uneasy feeling that you've kinda gotta start stepping it up or you're definitely not going to be as invincible as you thought you were?

The compact car segment is a highly, highly competitive one. Buyers of compact cars are a discerning bunch looking for a plethora of things for not a lot of money. They are young, affluent, game-changers if you will. They are the trendsetters, and the cars they drive can influence their friend's vehicle purchases and so on. This is a huge segment to “own,” and at the moment the Corolla very much owns it.

That's where the Mazda3 comes in, along with the Honda Civic, of course, but that's a comparison for another day. We at Auto123.com wanted to focus on one of the most hotly anticipated redesign launches of 2013 against the bestselling car... ever. Can a car like the Mazda3 pose a serious to the Toyota Corolla's supremacy in the compact car segment? We decided to find out.

We got our hands on a 2014 Toyota Corolla S with a 6-speed manual transmission and a 2014 Mazda3 Sport GS also with a 6-speed manual. With similar performance numbers and nearly identical prices ($21,565 and $20,695 respectively), these exact two vehicles could very well find themselves on a compact car buyer's “potential car” list.

Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre

Continue reading Head-to-Head: Mazda3 vs. Toyota Corolla

Dubuc SportLightCar (SLC), a small manufacturer based in Quebec City, will present the Tomahawk kit car at the 2014 Montreal International Auto Show (January 17-26). This cutting-edge, two-seat sports car with a central engine can be assembled approximately eight times faster than comparable vehicles.

“Three out of five kit car projects never get completed because their owners run out of patience and motivation.We've worked for eight years on numerous concepts before coming up with an easy-to-build kit,” said Dubuc SLC president Mario Dubuc.

Photo: Dubuc SportLightCar

Tomahawk features:
• Ergonomically designed cockpit that can comfortably sit a 6'3", 275-lb driver;
• Aluminum monocoque frame with an ultra-light polymer body, ready to receive Corvette C4 suspension components;
• Doors that open 75 degrees wide;
• Targa top and sideview mirrors.

The entire kit car weighs less than 2,000 lbs and retails for $19,995. Factoring in the engine and other components, a skilled individual can build a Tomahawk in just 250 hours, for a total budget of $30,000 and more.

Dubuc confirmed that about 50 units have already been pre-ordered by customers in Canada, the U.S., and even Europe.

Source: Montreal International Auto Show

German driver Nico Hulkenberg has been confirmed Tuesday by Sahara Force India F1 Team as one of their two race drivers for the 2014 Formula 1 season.

Both parties agreed a multi-year deal.

The Indian team says its full 2014 driver line-up will be announced in due course.

“I'm delighted to see Nico back with Sahara Force India. When he drove for us in 2012, it became clear Nico was an exceptional talent and he has continued to impress everyone in the paddock with his strong performances this season,” said Dr Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director.

“Having Nico in our line-up is a real statement of intent and a huge boost for everyone associated with the team. We have high hopes and expectations for 2014 and by signing Nico we have put ourselves in the best position to achieve those objectives and enjoy what could be our most competitive season yet.”

Dr Vijay Mallya and Nico Hulkenberg. (Photo: Sahara Force India F1 Team)

“I am happy to come back to Sahara Force India. The team is aiming high for next year and I believe that the experience I have gained over the years will help us achieve those goals,” declared Nico Hulkenberg.

“I genuinely believe we can have a competitive package in 2014. I've heard a lot of positive things about the Mercedes engine as well, so I think there is a lot to be excited about for next year. I know this team and I can see their determination; it's a great bunch of people and we all share the same hunger for success.”

From GMM

Ross Brawn has confirmed reports he could return to formula one, after stepping down as Mercedes' team boss.

Mercedes' team chairman Niki Lauda, who tried to convince the Briton to stay at Brackley in a new role, said on Monday he would "not be surprised" if Brawn eventually returns to the paddock after a "fishing" break.

"I really tried hard but he stays a consultant to me, which I think is very good and important," Lauda is quoted by the BBC.

The British newspaper The Mirror quoted Brawn, 58, as saying he will take "a few months off" and then "see how things pan out".

Ross Brawn and Niki Lauda, Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

He has been linked with a return to F1 with his former employer Ferrari, or even a reunion with Honda, who after pulling out of the sport in 2008 will supply works engines to McLaren in 2015.

Niki Lauda even said a new role at the FIA is a possibility for Brawn.

"Maybe around the summer time I'll decide what's happening -- it is a sabbatical," Ross Brawn said.

"I think if I get involved again in motor sport it will be formula one, but I'm very open minded," he added. "I think it depends what motivates me, and what people offer, so we'll see what happens in the summer."

From Pirelli

Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli published numbers, facts and stats about their first three seasons in Formula 1, and the last of the 2.6-litre normally aspirated V8s era.

2011-2013

• Total number of tires supplied from 2011 to 2013: 112,200. Of these, 93,600 have been for races and 18,600 for testing. Of the 93,600 race tires, 68,800 were slicks and 24,800 were rain tires. In 2013, the total number of tires supplied was 33,200.
• Total number of tires actually used in races: 72,200: of which 65,800 were slicks and 7,400 were rain tires. In 2013, the total number of slick tires used was 23,300 and the total number of rain tires used was 2,400.
• Total number of tires that were recycled: all 112,200.

Photo: Pirelli

Pit Stops (from 2011 to 2013)

• Total number of pit stops: 3,019 (of these, 58 were drive-through penalties and nine were stop and go penalties). In 2013 there were 951 pit stops: an average of 50.05 per race and 2.3 per driver.
• Highest number of pit stops in one race: 88 in the 2011 Hungarian Grand Prix (three of which were drive-through penalties).
• Lowest number of pit stops in one race: 24 in the 2012 United States Grand Prix and 2013 Italian Grand Prix.
• Fastest pit stop: 1.923s (Red Bull/Mark Webber in the 2013 United States Grand Prix)

Overtaking (from 2011 to 2013)

• Total number of overtaking manoeuvres: 3,274 (an average of 56 per race). In 2013 there were 985 overtaking manoeuvres.
• Highest number of overtaking manoeuvres in a dry race: 126 in the 2011 Turkish Grand Prix.
• Highest number of overtaking manoeuvres in a wet race: 147 in the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix.
• Lowest number of overtaking manoeuvres in a dry race: 12 in the 2012 Monaco Grand Prix.

Photo: WRi2

Circuits and races in 2013

• Circuits that subject the tire to the most energy per kilometre (lateral, braking, traction, etc.): Barcelona, Suzuka.
• Circuits that subject the tire to the most energy per kilometre (lateral, braking, traction, etc.): Monza, Montreal.
• Longest race of the year: Monaco, two hours, 17 minutes, 52.056 seconds.
• Shortest race of the year: Italy, 1 hour, 18 minutes, 33.352 seconds.
• Highest number of laps on each Pirelli compound: Hard - Rosberg (689); Medium - Hamilton (1,420); Soft - Hulkenberg (308); Supersoft - Rosberg (292); Intermediate - Webber (178); Wet - Gutierrez (66).
• Highest speed reached by a P Zero Formula One tire in 2013: 341.1 kph (Esteban Gutierrez at the Italian Grand Prix).
• Highest number of fastest laps: Sebastian Vettel (seven in races and seven in qualifying).
• Highest total number of laps on Pirelli tires: 684 (Sebastian Vettel)
• Number of races in which the pole position record was broken: three (Lewis Hamilton at the British Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel at the Singapore Grand Prix and Indian Grand Prix).
• Number of races in which the fastest race lap record was broken: one (Sebastian Vettel at the Singapore Grand Prix).

Photo: WRi2

Other interesting statistics

• Total number of drivers who have driven on the Pirelli Formula One compounds since 2010: 81 (including third drivers and young drivers).
• Total kilometres covered by all the P Zero compounds in 2013 (races and tests): 358,784. By compound: Hard - 96,596; Medium - 177,838; Soft - 34,139; Supersoft - 23,678; Intermediate - 21,350; Wet - 5,183.
• Lowest track temperature in which the Pirelli tires have raced: 17 degrees C at the British Grand Prix. The lowest track temperature seen all season was at the pre-season Jerez test: six degrees C.
• Highest track temperature in which the Pirelli tires have raced: 54 degrees C at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
• Lowest ambient temperature in which the Pirelli tires have raced: 14 degrees C at the United States Grand Prix. The lowest ambient temperature seen all season was at the pre-season Jerez test: four degrees C.
• Highest ambient temperature in which the Pirelli tires have raced: 36 degrees C at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

From press release

Johnathan Schwemler Race Cars (JSR) is pleased to announce the formation of the first Canadian Motorsports Program for injured and ill, retired and current members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

The program has the goal of participating in all Canadian races of the 2014 Optima Batteries ChumpCar World Series (OBCWS).

JSR Owner/Driver Master Corporal Johnathan Schwemler, a 12 year member of the Canadian Army, recently won the Rookie of the Year Title in the Lucas Oil Sportsman Cup Series (LOSC).

While the LOSC program will continue as the primary team for JSR, the new program fulfils a goal of Schwemler's developed when he left Canada to serve in Afghanistan.

"Since the moment I started my tour in Afghanistan, I wanted to make sure that I gave back to my brothers and sisters in arms and their families," stated Schwemler. "This new team is the chance to achieve that goal. The benefits of involvement in motorsport for military personnel have been proven by other teams in countries around the world."

Inspired in part by the world record-holding Dakar Rally-Raid team of Race2Recovery from the United Kingdom, members of the new program will have the experience of being active full-fledged members of a motorsport team, learning all aspects of the sport at the grass roots level. In addition, the OBCWS team has the benefit of being able to tap into the experience and advice of the Race2Recovery team.

The new JSR team will race under the Soldier On / Sans Limites banner and be managed by Ancaster, Ontario's Jerry Simmons.

Simmons, who has 32 years of experience as a driver, team owner, and crew member in road course and endurance racing, will provide guidance, advice, and mentoring to the team.

He has competed in the Trans/Am Series, the American LeMans Series, and the IMSA GT Championship. Simmons' racing resume includes winning the 1983 and 1984 Canadian National GT1 Championships, one professional race win and one professional pole.

JSR is able to provide opportunities for members of the OBCWS team to move up into the LOSC program when they are ready to compete at a higher level. In addition, JSR plans to grow the OBCWS team into a professional motorsport team capable of being competitive in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series and/or the Canadian Touring Car Championship over the next two to three years.

The team is hoping to take to the track for their first race on May 3 and 4, 2014 at the ICAR Circuit at Mirabel Airport near Montreal, Quebec for a grueling 24 hour endurance race.

From GMM

F1 cars could be matched for pace by the single seaters of its support series next year.

That is the fear and warning of Enrique Scalabroni, a well-known name in the F1 paddock, having worked as a technical chief at teams including Williams and Ferrari.

He set up his own GP2 team last decade, and now thinks the support field of 2014 could match for pace the new-generation, V6 turbo-powered F1 cars.

As well as featuring smaller engines, next year's F1 cars will also be heavier, have less downforce due to the significant aerodynamic changes, and probably more conservatively-designed and selected Pirelli tires.

"I hate to be alarmist," Scalabroni is quoted by Spain's El Mundo Deportivo newspaper, "but I would not be surprised if a GP2 car is as fast as a F1 (car).

"You only have to make simple calculations to see that this could occur, at least at the beginning of the development phase in F1. Some (people) are concerned with this possibility," he added.

Fabio Leimer, 2013 Champion GP2 series, on the starting grid. (Photo: GP2 Series)

From press release

At the upcoming Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News, the CASC-Ontario Region will showcase its various competitive divisions with vehicles and 2013 class champions on hand from each of its racing disciplines.

Representatives from each car club - along with board members from the CASC - will be in attendance to answer questions and to distribute calendars and schedules for the upcoming racing season. The CME takes place February 7, 8 & 9, 2014 in Hall 5 of Toronto's International Centre.

One of the best kept secrets in Canadian motorsports is the competition on the amateur, regional level. ‘Hip-pocket' racers, driving either open-wheel cars or sedans, tackle the same tracks as do the professional series, often producing more entertaining races.

The low-key, friendly atmosphere found during regional race weekends is regularly in direct contrast to that endured at many pro events, and accessibility to the teams and drivers is a refreshing addition to the weekend experience.

In Canada, the sanctioning body for the amateur racer is the Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs, with each region run by its distinct provincial organization.

Answering directly to the ASN Canada-FIA governing body, the CASC-Ontario Region is the sanctioning group for virtually every discipline of amateur racing in this province. With over 30 affiliated car and racing clubs under its umbrella, the CASC-OR regulates not only road and ice racing, Time Attack and Auto Slalom competitions in regards to sanctioning, licensing, and safety standards, but it also tends to the ‘behind the scenes' volunteers involved in every aspect of the sport from ‘timing and scoring' to scrutineering and trackside marshalling.

“The volunteer service is essential to any racing venture,” declares Robert Lauder, retiring CASC-OR Vice President. “Most fans don't realize that when they're attending an event that may have 120 competitors, there are probably nearly 200 people working behind the scenes to produce the weekend. The Canadian Motorsports Expo will offer us a chance to introduce fans to CASC and perhaps give them the inspiration to come on board in some capacity. It doesn't matter which area people want to be a part of, it's a great way to become involved in the sport.

“We'd like to attract race fans not only to the races, but also invite them to become part of the competition. We want them to see what we have to offer,” continues Lauder. “We race throughout Southern Ontario, from Canadian Tire Motorsport Park near Bowmanville, to Shannonville in the Quinte area, to Calabogie Motorsports Park outside of Ottawa. So it doesn't matter where people live, they're close to the action.”

Also looking to entice some new competitors to the CASC, Ontario Region President Perry Iannuzzi is working with several race teams and race series in hopes of creating a ‘development ladder' for youngsters preparing to advance from the karting ranks.

“We want to let them know that there is racing after karting,” said Iannuzzi. “If we can get them a test in a GT car, or maybe in a Formula 1600, we might just open the door for a bunch of new talent to join us on a new level.”

As part of the Canadian Motorsports Expo promotion, the CASC-Ontario Region will be holding draws over the course of the weekend, giving CME visitors a chance at winning a race school date in Time Attack, Auto Slalom or road racing. The prize packages are valued at upwards of $800.

The new Porsche Cayenne Platinum Edition will go on sale across Canada during the first quarter of 2014 starting at $72,200 for the gasoline model, and $76,300 for the diesel variant.

Standard colours include Black and Carrera White, while Meteor Grey Metallic, Basalt Black Metallic, and Mahogany Metallic are optional.

Photo: Porsche Canada

The Porsche Cayenne Platinum Edition features:
• Power Steering Plus;
• ParkAssist;
• SportDesign steering wheel with paddle shifters;
• Tiptronic S transmission;
• Navigation and Bose audio.

Photo: Porsche Canada