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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 press release

Honda has released the first visual of its 2014 World Touring Car Championship challenger reflecting the all new technical regulations for the FIA WTCC which will come into force for next year.

The Honda Civic WTCC render shows the subtle style of the wheel arch extensions, larger diameter wheels, sleeker aero package and extended rear spoiler.

Add all this to increased engine power and the 2014 Honda WTCC racer is clearly ambitious to retain Honda's Manufacturers World Championship crown and enable the drivers to challenge for the World Champion title.

Two works cars will be run by JAS Motorsport for Gabriele Tarquini and Tiago Monteiro with two further cars to be entered by private outfits Zengö Motorsport and Proteam Racing for Hungary's Norbert Michelisz and Moroccan Mehdi Bennani respectively.

Photo: Honda Racing

NASCAR veteran, Jeff Burton, has found a part-time home at Michael Waltrip Racing.

The 46-year old veteran has been signed to test and drive in a select number of races during the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup season in the No. 66 Toyota Camry.

Burton, a 21-time winner in the Sprint Cup Series begins testing for MWR Dec. 9 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The first scheduled NASCAR Sprint Cup race for Burton will be the March 9 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

In the upcoming weeks, MWR will announce any other events added to Burton's schedule. A 21-year veteran in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, spent the last nine years driving for Richard Childress Racing. Before that Burton drove for Roush Fenway Racing for the preceding nine years.

MWR will field the No. 15 5-hour ENERGY Toyota Camry with driver Clint Bowyer and the No. 55 Aaron's Dream Machine Toyota Camry with driver Brian Vickers in 2014. Burton will test for Vickers until late January when Vickers returns from medical leave.

Jeff Burton and Brian Vickers. (Photo: NASCAR)

Team Co-Owner Rob Kauffman said Burton will help MWR both on and off the track.

“Michael Waltrip Racing has two teams and drivers racing for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship in 2014 and our third team will play a very important role in that pursuit,” said Kauffman. “We were extremely fortunate to have a driver as experienced and respected as Jeff Burton come available. He will be able to have an immediate impact as we continue to strive for that last one percent that separates champions from contenders.”

Jeff Burton said he relishes his new role at MWR.

“I've heard all good things from the drivers who raced at MWR over the last couple of years and I certainly have seen how fast their cars have been,” said the South Boston Va. native who has made 691 starts.

“These are great people who have dedicated themselves to become winners at the highest level. Michael and Rob are so committed to success and I wanted to be a part of that. I'm excited to do something new and will work hard to help the other two teams compete for wins and a championship.”

Michael Waltrip will drive the No. 66 in the Daytona 500 on Feb. 23 as he seeks his third victory in the sport's most prestigious event.

From GMM

One of the last significant pieces of the 2014 'silly season' puzzle will fall into place on Tuesday, the German news agency SID reports.

The reports said Nico Hulkenberg's switch from Sauber to Force India, where he tested and raced in 2011 and 2012, will be announced officially by the Silverstone based team later on Tuesday afternoon.

It is believed the highly-rated 26-year-old's teammate will be the Mexico-backed McLaren refugee Sergio Perez.

But Adrian Sutil, the Sahara Force India incumbent, might not yet be out of the frame, although he has been strongly linked with a move to Sauber to replace Hulkenberg at the Swiss team.

German Sutil's manager Manfred Zimmermann on Tuesday said the future remains unclear.

"Still nothing has been decided -- we are in the middle of the negotiations, hoping for a quick solution," he claimed.

"The formula one driver market is so complex that you can never be sure of anything," added Zimmermann.

Photo: Sahara Force India F1 Team

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."

From Infiniti

For the duration of the 100 days between December 4, 2013 and the day before the free practice sessions for the 2014 Australian Grand Prix on March 13, 2014, Infiniti GP will provide a constant source of digital Formula 1 editorial content each day.

The official campaign is coded hashtag #4F1fans.

It will include a mixture of:
• New video content featuring Sebastian Vettel
• Unique photograph series
• In-depth feature stories
• Interviews and opinions from those in the know
• Infographics explaining 2014 technical regulations
• Fan competitions and giveaways

Rights-free content will be available to download and share from Infiniti GP's dedicated content hub via http://bit.ly/IoNoy4 or www.infiniti-gp.com.

Content will also be shared across Infiniti GP's social media channels including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Sebastian Vettel. (Photo: Red Bull Racing)

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

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

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.”

Go-to cars are a manufacturer's dream. These cars are the ones that enable a carmaker to do the business of making cars.

This may not make all that much sense, but if you consider that a car sells itself for whatever reason and in huge quantities, this equates to a steady stream of revenue, allowing for more R&D and new products. A great example of this is the Toyota Corolla. Another perfect specimen is the subject of this review, the 2014 Mazda3. In fact, both are very new and of such monumental importance in the compact car segment that we pitted the two against each other.

The 2014 Mazda3 has much to live up to given its mostly stellar reputation as a driver's car and a value-packed and economical small car. The 2014 Mazda3 delivers and matches expectations, often the most difficult trick to pull off. The car drives impressively well, is built with care and attention to detail and provides its owners, which will be numerous, with satisfaction mile after mile.


What is a Mazda3 GT?
The 2014 Mazda3 is the 3rd generation of its namesake. Previously known as the 323 and Protegé, the compact Mazda today represents no less than 1/3 of all sales worldwide. This car is such a runaway success that Mazda's future essentially rests on its shoulders.

Offered in both a hatchback and sedan body styles, the Mazda3 is the cornerstone of Mazda's lineup of properly designed and engineered cars. Should you have any doubts, check out the latest Mazda6 and CX-5.

2014 Mazda3 GT Price and Specs
The base price of the new 2014 Mazda3 sedan is $15,995. This price point lands it squarely in the heart of the compact car segment. The base Sport starts at an even $1,000 more.

My tested GT sedan contained every option under the rising sun, including the Technology (loaded with safety features) and luxury packages for a total of $29,855.

All GX and GS trim 3s make use of a 155-horsepower 2.0L 4-cylinder engine. With it can be selected a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission. GT cars gain a 184-horsepower 2.5L 4-pot and standard 6-speed slush box.

The 2014 Mazda3 is the 3rd generation of its namesake. Previously known as the 323 and Protegé, the compact Mazda today represents no less than 1/3 of all sales worldwide. (Photo: Mazda)

Driving the 2014 Mazda3 GT
Finely and smartly tuned is the best way to describe how the 2014 Mazda3 drives and handles. Truly, the new 2014 Mazda3 is a brilliant car to drive, providing good driver feedback, positive-feeling mechanicals, and an overall solid and confident feeling.

In true Mazda fashion, the 3 is very well balanced: power = handling = steering = braking. The Mazda MX-5 is the best example of this harmonious arrangement. The Mazda3, whether powered by the 2.0L or 2.5L, is never overwhelmed by the driver's demands.

The chassis is firm and well supported by its fully independent suspension with stabilizer bars. The Mazda3's setup is equally capable of smoothing out rough roads as it is at maintaining its posture in rapid avoidance maneuvers. Body roll is practically non-existent and turn-in is crisp. Steering response is linear with no perceivable dead spots in its electrical assistance.

The volume engine will be the 2.0L and it suffices in every normal daily driving circumstance. To be sure, it's more exciting than the Corolla's and Civic's 1.8L mills. With the 6-speed manual box, it's actually entertaining. Shifter throws and the clutch pedal have some weight behind them, creating that driver involvement.

The 2.5L found in the GT transforms the Mazda3 into something of a rocket. Although I would have liked a 6-speed manual box, the automatic is lively and eager. Extra fun and control comes from the wheel-mounted paddles. Acceleration is more than brisk making the 2014 Mazda3 GT one of the quickest normally aspirated compact cars on the road today.

In true Mazda fashion, the 3 is very well balanced: power = handling = steering = braking. (Photo: Mazda)

Inside and Out of the 2014 Mazda3 GT
The 2014 Mazda3 is a visual stunner. Its dynamism shines through its sculpted bodylines that help make it look far more upscale than it is. Its resemblance to the gorgeous Mazda6 is no coincidence as the merger of Mazda products towards a single KODO design language is well underway.

In a rare twist, the 4-door sedan's elegance trumps the Sport's hatchback body. The overly rounded rear quarters of the Sport are at odds with the car's front and side crispness.

The cabin is also a hit. There's a simple yet appreciable German aspect to its simplicity and austere presentation. The gauges are smart and reasonably easily to read. I would trash the motorized heads-up display altogether as it clashes severely with everything else.

Ergonomics are good overall and I like the rotary knob used to navigate through the car's multiple menus. The screen is touch-sensitive, combining the best of both worlds.

Front and rear seats are comfortable, the cabin is roomy, and the driving position is spot on as it should be in a driver's car. Fit and finish are very good.

There's a simple yet appreciable German aspect to its simplicity and austere presentation. The gauges are smart and reasonably easily to read. (Photo: Mazda)

Comparing the 2014 Mazda3 GT
I mentioned “hotly contested” earlier and this is because no other segment draws more new car buyers in Canada than the compact car group. In fact, the bestselling cars in Canada, year over year and for quite a long time now, have come from this category.

The likes of the Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus, and the aforementioned Corolla all play rough. The Civic continues to hold the top spot in the country but the 3 is well equipped for a long hard fight.

The UAW is considering hiking membership dues by 25 percent, the first increase since 1967, as it faces dwindling membership and rising costs, a top UAW official and several union sources said.

Always considered the redheaded stepchild of the

A Goodbye to Paul Walker

Here I am, watching The Fast and the Furious for the thousandth time, feeling a little lost.

Paul Walker? Influential in my life? Come on. No way. But here I am, watching The Fast and the Furious for the thousandth time, feeling a little lost.

Photo Gallery: A Goodbye to Paul Walker - Automobile Magazine

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Auto supplier Federal-Mogul has agreed to acquire European bearings supplier DZV Bearings Co., based in Dimitrovgrad, Russia.

Ford will get a new hearing in its bid to collect $445 million in interest on overpaid taxes from the IRS, as the Supreme Court told a lower court to take a fresh look at the case.

Volvo Car has chosen Grey, London, as its new global creative agency effective January 1, a top company executive said. The account shift will include Volvo's $50 million creative business held by Havas-owned Arnold in the United States.

Volvo Car has chosen Grey, London, as its new global creative agency effective January 1, a top company executive said. The account shift will include Volvo's $50 million creative business held by Havas-owned Arnold in the United States.

Porsche is in hot water with German authorities following an accident involving a prototype version of the gasoline-electric hybrid-powered

New car sales in Spain were up again in November for a third consecutive month.

A breakthrough in recharging electric vehicles is possible following the announcement by Osaka based Daihen Corporation that it has developed a cordless recharger that could work on a wide range of electric vehicles.