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Shoppers needn't spend big bucks on a sports car that delivers top-notch driving thrills, fuel efficiency and feature content—and automakers like Kia, Honda, Mini, Toyota, Mazda and Hyundai are out to prove it.

Here's a look at some selected, currently-available sports car models that deliver great bang-for-your-buck, with an eye for value and fuel efficiency. Remember: this is only a small cross-section of the market—so be sure to use our shopping tools to research other alternatives.

Model: Honda Civic Si

Starting Price: $26,190

Overview: Available as a coupe or sedan, the Civic Si packs 17-inch wheels, new styling, and 201 VTEC-powered ponies that love to rev. All models come with a six-speed manual transmission, VTEC monitor and limited-slip differential for an engaging driving experience. Other touches include seats embroidered with the ‘Si' badge, and a unique instrument cluster with red accenting that picks up on the red contrast stitching throughout the cabin.

Photo: Honda

Pros: Civic Si has a hard-earned reputation for reliable, no-nonsense performance, capability and residual value. This is a highly usable sports car that's fun, thrifty, affordable and happiest when driven hard. The choice between Coupe and Sedan variants adds selection to the shopping process.

Cons: Civic Si comes just one way—as a four-cylinder, front-drive model with a manual gearbox. If you're after a bigger engine, automatic transmission or AWD, you won't find it here.

Noteworthy: A recent refresh of the Civic's cabin and body have left it looking more premium, upscale and alert than ever. Bluetooth phone and audio interfaces, a rearview camera, heated front seats, and a color driver computer display are all on board. Don't miss the high-revving snarl from the VTEC engine when the hot-cam kicks in to ramp up output.

This is one of my favorite rides in terms of a 365-day a year sports coupe that's exciting to drive every day. One of the best shifters you'll find on the road, anywhere, too.

Continue reading Sports Car Comparison: The Cheap and Cheerful

From GMM

Lotus boss Eric Boullier is refusing to rule out Davide Valsecchi for a future in Romain Grosjean's seat.

Having only narrowly hung onto his drive for 2013, Frenchman Grosjean is back in the wars this week in the wake of his four crashes in Monaco.

He will start ten places down the Montreal grid for the Daniel Ricciardo incident, reinvigorating talk that boss and manager Boullier could finally lose patience and replace Grosjean with the reigning GP2 champion Valsecchi, a 26-year-old Italian.

Valsecchi was signed by Boullier for 2013 to be Lotus' new reserve driver.

"I don't wish anything bad against Grosjean," the Italian driver had said last December, "but if he's not there then I see myself as the favourite."

Davide Valsecchi, Lotus E21. (Photo: WRi2)

Now, in the wake of Grosjean's latest troubles, Boullier was asked if Valsecchi is once again in pole position for his F1 debut.

According to Sporting Life, he answered: "Not yet."

Instead, Boullier backed Grosjean but said he will sit down for talks with the 27-year-old.

"We want him to keep the pace and make sure he is back in control, like he was at the beginning of the season," said Boullier.

As fabled pony cars go, one has to give it to the Mustang for having ushered in the era of affordable sporty cars.

The Ford Mustang is credited for having launched the pony car, defined as a coupe with a long hood and short rear deck. In fact, we can thank Ford and its Mustang for the likes of the Challenger and Camaro.

Over the last near-half century, the Ford Mustang has been completely revamped five times but has been offered in special versions countless times.

This top 10 contains some of our favourite Mustangs from the last 50 years.

1964 ½ Mustang

Photo: Ford

The original, the first Mustang, cannot be ignored. The firstborn always deserves more attention as it gets the credit for having started it all. The known-as 64.5, but VIN-plated as a 65, Mustang is a beautiful moment in automotive history.

Continue reading Top 10 Mustangs

Pros and Cons*
Pros
A choice selection of models, a powerful - yet frugal - 4-cylinder engine, all-wheel drive option ... just a few of this well-balanced Coupe's many advantages.

Cons
However, the two-door C-Class has some things working against it, namely its lack of a manual transmission, the unavailability of a diesel engine in Canada and its tight-fit backseat. Moreover, the C-250 cannot be set up in all-wheel drive and the price of certain models are uncomfortably close to the E-Class.


Price
Delivered with 17-inch wheels and a power tilt and telescoping steering column, the basic model, the C 250, starts at $40,800. A choice of option packages are also offered: the AMG Sport Performance Package for $3,000, the Driving Assist Package for $800, the Bi-xenon Headlights Package for $1,000, the Sport Package for $1,900 and the Premium Package for $3,000.

The C 350 is available for $49,900. Along with 18-inch wheels, the price includes the Dynamic Handling Package with adjustable suspension and continuously variable damping, the Sport Package and the Heated Mirror Package.

You can order, as an option, the Premium Seating Package for $2,200, the Sport Package for $1,200 and the Premium Package for $4,000.

The C 350 is also available in permanent all-wheel drive (4MATIC) for $51,400, that is, $1,500 more than the rear-wheel drive model.

The most powerful model, the C 63 AMG, has many extra features, including AMG carbon fibre mirror covers, a double-lamella radiator grille, 18-inch, 5-twin-spoke, light-alloy wheels, a sports exhaust system with two tailpipes, flared front fenders, side skirts, leather sports seats and sports pedals...all yours for $67,700.

The Performance Package is sold as an option for $6,000 and includes red brake calipers, electronic speed limiter deletion, limited-slip rear differential, a carbon fibre trim and an extra 30 hp (totalling 481 in all).

Fuel Economy
The Mercedes-Benz Coupe C 250's 4-cylinder engine consumes 9.6 L/100 km in the city and 6.2 L/100 km on the highway. The C 350's V6 is rated at 10.7 L/100 km - city and 7.2 L/100 km - highway. The C 350 4MATIC is almost rated the same, with a 0.1 L/100 km difference.

The C 63 AMG is more fuel hungry at 15.8 L/100 km - city and 10.1 L/100 km - highway.

New and Improved for 2013

• Some style modifications of the 2012 model
• Some standard equipment now optional
• ECO start/stop function on V6 versions

Exterior Styling
Defined by elegance and refinement, this two-door, sports coupe features deep-set air inlets bordered by headlights and a double-lamella grille, an iconic marker of the brand. The Coupe makes its presence known with LED-lined rear lights.

Drivetrain
The C 250 is equipped with a turbo, 4-cylinder, 1.8-litre engine delivering 201 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque. The rear wheels are coupled with an automatic 7G-TRONIC PLUS engine.

The C 350, available in two-wheel or all-wheel drive, is propelled by a 3.5-litre, V6 engine that packs 302 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, also coupled with a 7-speed automatic transmission.

Under the hood of the Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG, you'll find a 6.2-litre V8 engine which yields 451 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. The 7-speed, SPEEDSHIFT MCT AMG transmission powers the rear wheels. With the Performance Package, the C63 reaches 481 hp.

Cargo Capacity
The Coupe provides 450 litres of trunk space.

Safety
ATTENTION ASSIST, brake assist, an adaptive braking system and NECK-PRO headrests, along with seven airbags, protect the Coupe's passengers and drivers.

Comparable Models
">Audi A5, BMW 3-Series Coupé, Infiniti G Coupe

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

*References
Brière Francis, L'annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal Transcontinental, 2012, p.418
Duval Jacques, L'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions La Presse, 2012, p.406
http://www.mercedes-benz.ca

From GMM

Lewis Hamilton has hit back at Sebastian Vettel's description of the Mercedes cars in the Monaco grand prix as "buses".

Red Bull's world champion Vettel, who finished second on Sunday behind Nico Rosberg, said of the opening laps in Monaco: "You expect two silver arrows and there were two buses going for a cruise".

Lewis Hamilton in Monaco. (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

Hamilton, who switched to Mercedes over the winter, told Press Association news agency he didn't appreciate the analogy.

"He has had the fastest car for the last four years, so it's easy for him to say that. He's got it easy," said the Briton.

"We are making our way up, we are learning, growing, improving with a car that has great potential, so I don't agree with him."

Hamilton was more reluctant to talk about the furore caused by Mercedes' 'secret' tire test, insisting he has to focus instead on getting up to speed with the on-form Rosberg.

"I just have to focus on myself and try and get my act together," he said.

Pros and Cons*
Pros
Impressive cargo room, comfortable rear-passenger area, a selection of great engines and efficient transmission as well as the agility provided by the xDrive system give the BMW 5 GT a head start on the competition.

Cons
Sore points include asceptized handling, cumbersome size, harsh, noisy ride, heavy liftgate and lengthy options list.


Price
The 535i xDrive starts at $70,400.

The 550i xDrive has a MSRP of $81,200.

Options include the BMW App at $300, technology package at $2,000, seating package at $2,900, rear seat comfort group at $2,900 or $3,900, Executive package at $4,000 and M package at $4,700.

Fuel Consumption
The 6-cylinder engine consumes an estimated 11.1 L/100 km city and 7.6 L/100 km highway.

Equipping the BMW 5 Series GT with the V8 engine will bring these figures to approximately 13.6 L/100 km city and 8.9 L/100 km highway, for an 11.5 L/100 km average.

Exterior Styling
Its 5 Series origins are evident in both front and side views. However, its bulbous rear end is both BMW and SUV-like in appearance. The hatch opens in two distinct and practical ways.

Drivetrain
The 535i xDrive is powered by a turbocharged inline 3.0 litre 6-cylinder engine that produces 300 hp and 300 lb-ft torque.

As for the 550i xDrive, it's equipped with a 4.4 litre V6 that churns out 400 hp and 450 lb-ft torque.

Both engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic all-wheel drive setup.

Cargo Capacity
The 5 Series GT offers between 440 and 1,700 litres of cargo room.

Safety
A combination of six airbags and various passive and active safety features protect the occupants.

Comparable Models
Audi A7, Mercedes-Benz CLS Class

Photo: BMW

*References
Rufiange Daniel, L'annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal Transcontinental, 2012, p.132
Lachapelle Marc, Le guide de l'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions de l'Homme, 2012, p.166
Descarries Éric, L'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions La Presse, 2012, p.144
www.bmw.ca

Fox Sports has issued a follow-up statement to its' initial reaction following an incident during the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday evening.

Ten spectators were injured and the Coca Cola 600 was red flagged after a camera cable, operated on behave of the Fox television network, broke.

The cars of Kyle Busch and Marcos Ambrose also suffered damage from the failure.

Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Here's the latest from Fox:

Everyone at FOX Sports is relieved and thankful to know that the injuries to fans caused when CAMCAT malfunctioned Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway were minor, and those who received hospital treatment were released last night.  As stated previously, we regret that the race was affected, and we apologize to the racers whose cars were damaged, to everyone at CMS, NASCAR, and NASCAR fans, especially those who were hurt.  At this time, we still do not have a cause for what happened, but a full investigation is underway, and use of the camera is suspended indefinitely.

The rope is made of Dyneema, an ultra-strong synthetic that has the same approximate strength of a steel wire with the same diameter, and is less than a year old.  According to the company, it had been factory-tested by the manufacturer and its breaking strength is certified before shipment. It was also inspected by CAMCAT upon receipt last June.  The rope was certified to have a breaking strength of over 9,300 pounds. The force exerted during last night's race was less than 900 pounds.

FOX Sports is reviewing with CAMCAT equipment maintenance records, history and installation information and will share those findings with NASCAR and CMS.

Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Just because it's a high-performance supercar doesn't mean it has to drink a lot of fuel, at least not according to Porsche.

Over the course of 1,200 km, 42 journalists recently drove the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid to the tune of an average fuel consumption rate of just 4.4L/100km. If that weren't impressive enough, the lowest reading hit 2.8L/100km.

As the first plug-in hybrid luxury vehicle in its class, the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid stands to change the luxury hybrid game with an available 36 km of all-electric drive at an average speed of 54km/hr. The combined power of the Panamera S E-Hybrid is 416 horsepower; and it will reach 100km/hr from a standstill in just 5.5 seconds with a top speed of 270 km/hr.

The Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid will be available as of July 2013.

Photo: Porsche

If there was ever any doubt that the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray was one of the coolest new cars to hit the road, the fact that it is the most powerful Stingray to date will out those few doubts to rest.

The standard LT1 6.2L V8 engine in the ‘Vette Stingray is now SAE certified at 460 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and has 465 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. This fifth generation from the Small Block family (which first appeared in 1955) is the most powerful one to grace the Corvette over the years.

Chevy's first Small Block 4.3L engine from 1955 was rated at 195 horses, and just five short years later another Small Block powerhouse helped a Corvette secure its first victory at Le Mans.

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stringray will be available this coming fall, with a convertible model arriving by the end of 2013.

Photo: Chevrolet

That's right, now anyone can essentially be a mechanic with an augmented reality app from Inglobe Technologies - if it ever hits the market.

How does it work? Well, essentially the app provides a map of your engine bay once you hold your iPhone/iPad over said engine. Pointing out where your oil, timing belt, coolant, etc. is located. While we're not sure this app will show you how to disassemble and reassemble your entire engine, we're fairly certain it could make roadside stops for fluid fill-ups that much easier.

This app certainly won't replace a trip to the garage for a tune-up, but consider the possibilities if this actually hits the market.

Source: gizmodo

If you require autonomy that battery-powered electric vehicles can't provide, you should look towards other green-vehicle solutions before throwing in the towel.

Hybrid vehicle savings
Hybrid vehicles provide definite fuel economy savings when compared to their combustion-engined counterparts. Consider the gas-powered Toyota Camry vs. the hybrid version. While the traditional powertrain drinks 7L/100km, the hybrid drinks just 4.7L/100 km (combined driving for both, according to Toyota). Pricing for the gas-powered Camry starts at $23,700, while the hybrid chimes in at $27,710. That's a $4,010 price difference, but fear not; you will recover the cash after driving 130,000 km.

Choosing a hybrid will provide long-term savings. The more you drive, the more you save, so they say!

Toyota Camry Hybrid (Photo: Toyota)

Plug-ins, the best of both worlds... Except for the price
You need to carefully analyze your driving needs before jumping to any conclusions. Will a plug-in hybrid make a difference in your specific case?
I was in for quite a surprise when I decided to nose around the Ford website and compare standard hybrid model prices to their plug-in counterparts. The Ford C-Max plug-in hybrid retails for nearly $10,000 more than the base model! Is it really worth it?

For starters, plug-in hybrids have a 25-35 km battery-only autonomy. In an ideal world, you would travel 25 kilometres to get to your job, plug it in then come home with a full charge. This would be the equivalent of having an electric vehicle, but with the added convenience of extended-range driving for your weekend wanderings.

2013 Ford C-MAX Hybrid (Photo: Ford)

In reality, average daily commutes are in the 65 km range. Subtract 25 km (for a vehicle that consumes 5L/100km) and you end up saving 1.25 litres of gas per day; at $1.35 per litre you have just pocketed $1.69. If you drive every single day of the year, you will wind up saving $617 annually. You will therefore recoup your initial $10,000 investment after 16 years.

Poor Saab; as if their demise in the auto world weren't enough, their name was once again dragged through the press gutters when Saab Automobile AB's then-chariman, Mr. Victor Muller was accused of tax evasion in 2010-2011.

Rumours of him pocketing money from the company via Latin America Tug Holding NV, a tugboat company registered in his name, circulated and the Swedish authorities began investigating the matter. Also, Muller's $773,000 salary at Saab raised some eyebrows.

By association, Spyker has been dragged through the media gutters as Victor Muller is their current CEO, however, they released a statement today stating that Spyker is and was in no way involved in this tax evasion matter.

Source: Email following story from Spyker and Autoblog

Ferrari has confirmed that Felipe Massa's accident in Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix was the result of a suspension failure.

The Brazilian shunted heavily at Sainte Devote for the second successive day on Sunday, and despite the first incident in Saturday's free practice session being put down to driver error, the team has announced on its official website that Massa's race ending incident was due to suspension failure.

'The findings validated the first impressions of the engineers, confirming that the accident was caused by an element of the front left suspension breaking,' the statement read.

Photo: WRi2

Team principal Stefano Domenicali also confirmed that Massa has some slight muscle pain, and his driver has had no side effects as a result of the accident.

"The best news to come out of the Monaco weekend is that Felipe is fine.

"Two big accidents, just over twenty fours apart and all he has to show for it is a bit of muscle pain.

“Fortunately there were no other injuries."

Taking it all on
Drumheller, AB - The 2013 Ford F-150 not only takes on competitors, but takes on the countryside as well, with or without roads. Driving on the road is like being in a Lincoln, while off-roading is like having your own tank. In a word: Awesome!

What is the Ford F-150?
Simply put, the Ford F-150 is Canada's best-selling pickup truck, and has been for the past 47 years.

Technicalities
Ford wisely chose to leave the powertrains in the F-150 alone. The 302 hp 3.7L normally aspirated V6 is still the base engine, followed by the 365 hp 3.5L twin-turbo EcoBoost V6. First up on the V8 list is the 360 hp 5.0L V8, followed by the 411 hp 6.2L V8. The 6.2L option is limited to use in select models, such as the Platinum and Raptor.

All 2013 Ford F-150 engines are backed by a 6-speed automatic transmission, and an available 4X4 drivetrain.

A basic, regular cab F-150 in two-wheel drive can be ordered for $19,999; while the Platinum edition starts at $61,099.


Driving the F 150
Trailer towing gets a bit easier with the 2013 Ford F-150 thanks to available towing packages. With the Max. trailer tow package when combined with the Lariat trim or higher, the trailer-towing mirrors become electronically adjustable and can telescope in and out, as well as fold, and the mirrors themself are still fully power-adjustable. This is something that GM has yet to do with the Silverado and Sierra; Ram and Toyota Tundra mirrors are only power-adjustable, as well.

The 2013 F-150 is offered in regular, Super Cab or Crew Cab versions with three different box lengths also available. All of the trucks can tow conventional trailers, but it is not recommended to use a fifth-wheel hitch with the short box. Towing capacities vary slightly amongst the 2013 Ford F-150 models, but properly equipped the F-150 is rated at 11,300 lbs.

I drove a normal 2013 Ford F-150 (equipped with EcoBoost) hooked to a trailer with 11,000 lbs. My partner and I took to the highway and proceeded to get up to the 100 km/hr speed limit. Aside from a little trailer sway dampened by the trailer-sway control program, it stayed stable and was hardly noticeable.

The only time a heavy load was obvious with the Ford F-150 was under braking or while traversing an 8% grade. Braking took a bit of extra time and distance, but not a lot of extra pedal pressure. Going up the hill took about 50% more throttle pressure to keep slightly above the posted 70 km/hr speed limit.

Next on my list of real world tests came a 50 km fuel economy run. Ford says the EcoBoost motor should get 9.6 l/100 km on the highway and 14.1 l/100 km in town. My average for both town and highway, including headwinds and the 8% grade was 11.8 l/100 km. That is certainly much better than I thought it would be!

With the Max. trailer tow package when combined with the Lariat trim or higher, the trailer-towing mirrors become electronically adjustable and can telescope in and out, as well as fold, and the mirrors themself are still fully power-adjustable. (Photo: Ford)

Ins and Outs of the Ford F-150
As far as new looks go on the 2013 Ford F-150: The front grilles have changed, HID headlamps are widely available, and the front fascia has changed a bit to accommodate these new lights. New 18” and 20” wheel packages round out the differences.

Exterior definition for the average F 150 depends on the trim level chosen. Side badges are distinctive and depend on the trim level chosen. And while the front fascia has been updated, designers managed to keep the “Built Ford Tough” image.

The most distinctive exterior belongs to that of the 2013 Ford F-150 Raptor. With an instantly recognizable grille, a slightly different front end treatment, and a more aggressive stance, the Raptor means business. Even the Raptor's tires have a more bad-ass tread design, and the wheels are equally angry-looking. Paint and badging stand out as well, adding to the predator look of the F-150 Raptor.

Interiors are as distinctive (and important) as exteriors. Basic seating is a 40/20/40 split bench that can be upgraded to bucket seats with a centre console that can be used as an office. Add space through ordering a Super Cab or Super Crew Cab F-150 and buyers gain both seating capacity and storage space. Rear seats may be comfortable to sit on, but they also fold up to open up interior storage space.

SYNC™ with MyFordTouch® is now available in all 2013 Ford F-150s, and has been redesigned specifically for the truck buyers. That means, owners can now work SYNC™ with gloves on, just like all the other controls.

As far as new looks go on the 2013 Ford F-150: The front grilles have changed, HID headlamps are widely available, and the front fascia has changed a bit to accommodate these new lights. (Photo: Ford)

Comparing the F 150
Main competitors, such as Ram and GM's Silverado and Sierra are closing in where sales are involved, but haven't managed to outdo the F-150 just yet. The other players in Canada are Nissan with the Titan and Toyota with the Tundra, but neither of these companies offers the depth of model lineup that Ford has with the F-150. None of the companies goes to the effort that Ford does to ensure there is an F-150 suited to every customer.

From GMM

Renault will look to reduce the price of its new turbo V6 engines over time, the French carmaker's president Carlos Ghosn said.

Reports have indicated that Renault's new engine for 2014 is millions more expensive than any of its rival F1 suppliers, causing Williams to jump ship to Mercedes.

It is also rumoured that, while Caterham looks set to stay with Renault, Lotus is in talks with Ferrari.

Already signed up with Renault for 2014 are Red Bull's two teams, including Toro Rosso.

Christian Horner, Carlos Ghosn, Franz Tost and Helmut Marko in Monaco. (Photo: Renault Sport)

"We will not be surprised if the third one will come soon. We may have more but we don't need more," said Ghosn.

"There is some concern about the cost of the engine, I understand it, but our commitment is to work to reduce these costs," Ghosn said in Monaco at the weekend.

He insisted, however, that the initial cost of the engines to customers - believed to be over EUR 20 million per season - will not be reduced.

"We are not going to drop the price for anybody for 2014," said Ghosn. "But our commitment is every year we will be working hard to make this engine more efficient, to reduce the costs and then try to pass part of the cost reduction to the users."

From GMM

The furore over Mercedes' secret Pirelli test looks set to deepen, as rival teams claim they were not informed by F1's tire supplier.

As it refused to rule out "penalties", the FIA said Pirelli and Mercedes would have got the green light for the test "provided every team" was also offered the same opportunity.

It has emerged Ferrari did a secret test for Pirelli before Barcelona with a 2011 car, with Pedro de la Rosa at the wheel.

And Red Bull confirmed it was asked about conducting a test for Pirelli, "but we very clearly said no," Dr Helmut Marko told Austrian television Servus TV.

"In our opinion, such a test is not covered by the regulations. It is a clear violation."

Photo: WRi2

There are reports that Pirelli distributed an email about the possibility of tire testing, but many teams reportedly deny ever receiving it.

"We feel cheated," Sauber founder Peter Sauber is quoted by 20min.ch.

According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, Williams also denies knowing about the possibility of Pirelli tire testing.

And asked if his team was consulted, Lotus boss Eric Boullier is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace: "No."

Force India's Bob Fernley said the issue came up in a FOTA meeting, but it was not a formal invitation to test.

"I don't remember getting a letter from Pirelli on the subject," he insisted.

In fact, the Telegraph newspaper refers to an email to teams from the teams association FOTA, explicitly warning that in-season testing is not allowed unless there is "unanimous" consent by all teams.

The matter is now in the FIA's hands.

"I don't expect there to be a judgement before Montreal," Marko said. "I would say by Silverstone at the earliest."

Red Bull and Ferrari are reportedly proposing that, if Mercedes was allowed to test, they should as well.

"We want to have the same test in order to get to the same level," said Marko. But it is clear that not all teams, particularly those who are happiest with Pirelli's difficult 2013 tires, will agree to that remedy.

"There will certainly be a penalty, because Mercedes' tire advantage in Monaco was obvious," Marko is quoted by Bild newspaper. "There is also a question of cost, because such a test costs nearly a million euros."

Another factor, said Marko, is the long-life engine rule, with Mercedes' three race distances at the secret test supposedly now excluded from its allocation of eight engines per driver.

"There is a long list of things," said the outspoken Austrian. "We also want to have this test. Logistically, it can only happen at Silverstone, which means that we have lost two races until we have the same knowledge."

Mercedes chairman Niki Lauda, meanwhile, is accusing Red Bull of sour grapes.

"Red Bull was also asked (about the test) but we were simply faster to accept. So they are just sore losers. I have made a bet with Helmut Marko - 50 euros - that there will be no consequences for Mercedes," the Austrian legend added.

Finally, Marko said Red Bull is not questioning the validity of Nico Rosberg's Monaco win.

"We deliberately put in the protest before the race, because our protest is about the test, not Nico Rosberg's victory. It was a great performance and we can live with second and third places," he insisted.

From GMM

Kimi Raikkonen has delivered another punchy quote to his legions of fans, after his run-in with Sergio Perez in the Monaco grand prix.

Furious about being run into by the McLaren driver at the exit of the tunnel, Finn Raikkonen initially called his Mexican rival an "idiot" and "stupid".

"We've lost a lot of points to Sebastian (Vettel) in the championship and you can't afford to lose ground like that," said Raikkonen.

Asked if he will seek Perez out for talks, Raikkonen insisted: "No, that won't help."

Asked what will, he suggested: "Maybe someone should punch him in the face."

Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) and Sergio Perez (McLaren) in Monaco. (Photo: WRi2)

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso also had trouble with Perez in Monaco, skipping the chicane after an attack and having to give the place to his rival.

"Only McLaren has to be happy with him," former McLaren driver Alonso said coyly afterwards.

Team boss Martin Whitmarsh, however, insisted McLaren is indeed happy with the feisty 23-year-old, saying run-ins are "what happens in Monaco occasionally".

"I am happy with his spirit and his challenge," he said.

"You can over push sometimes but I think he did some great overtakes. I have got to be pleased that he is there, he is committed and racing," added Whitmarsh.

Technically, it was my second car. Before that I had a 2002 Dodge Neon SXT, but that was a short-lived experience because it was essentially a beater.

2013 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG

Effortless, immense power from a twin-turbo V-12.

The CL65 AMG is the epitome of a German grand tourer, a unique beast that's half sybaritic sled, half sport coupe. Good God Almighty: There's so much torque on tap from the twin-turbo V-12 engine, it can barely get to the ground, especially if the 20-inch Dunlop tires are cold. You'll be lighting up the rear tires with just the slightest misapplication of your right foot to the accelerator. Forward thrust belies the vehicle's 5000-pound curb weight, and the CL65 hungers for open freeways where it can hurtle along effortlessly at triple digits. Despite our test example's matte paint, this is still a pretty understated car compared with competitors like the Bentley Continental GT. A new S-class is coming soon, and not far behind it will be a new S-class coupe (Mercedes is going to dump the CL badging). There's no word yet whether this wonderful twin-turbo V-12 powertrain will still be offered, so if you've been wanting to join the twelve-cylinder club, there's no time like the present.

Photo Gallery: 2013 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2013 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

2013 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

There's some song, it's an old song -- and#8220;you don't know what you got till it's gone, da da-da da, da-da-da da-da and#8230;and#8221; Well, that's how I feel about the 1996 Jeep Cherokee Classic you see here.