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From GMM

Stefano Domenicali doubts F1's pecking order will change significantly as the 'development race' continues in 2013.

Speaking to Brazil's Totalrace, the Ferrari boss seemed relieved that the pecking order had not changed significantly between Bahrain and Spain.

Usually, the first race of the European season is the scene of a potential pecking-order shake-up, as teams returned to their headquarters after the initial 'flyaway' period.

"The Spanish grand prix," said Domenicali, "was important in my view so we could see the jump in performance of each team. From now until the end of July, we will see no more than one or two major steps in the development."

Start of the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix. (Photo: WRi2)

He is referring to the forthcoming summer period, when all of the teams will have to turn the bulk of their attention to the huge regulation changes for 2014.

Referring to the pecking order in Barcelona, Domenicali surmised: "It seems like everyone had the same kind of improvement, unlike what happened last year. After so many years with these regulations, it is difficult for someone to find a great performance leap."

So, from the middle of the season onwards, it seems obvious that the teams will have close to 100 per cent of their resources on honing a competitive package for the V6-powered future.

"We will be forced to focus more on the car for next year," said Domenicali, "because if we find something (for 2014), the improvement will not be two or three tenths, but two or three seconds. This is a crucial part of the season."

From GMM

Pirelli is speeding up a scheduled change of tack for its 2013 tires.

Following harsh criticism both inside and outside the paddock amid the Barcelona four-stoppers, Paul Hembery announced that changes would be made for Silverstone.

But on Tuesday, the Italian marque's motor sport director said the changes will now make their debut one race earlier, in Canada, which is the race after next weekend's Monaco grand prix.

"Some structural changes," Hembery tweeted, "combining elements (of the) 2012 and 2013 products."

Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Michael Schmidt said the 2012 tire construction will be revived, although the changes to the actual compounds will be minor "so as not to upset Ferrari and Lotus too much".

"The purpose of the change is that the compounds do not heat up as much, especially at the rear," Hembery is quoted as saying.

Photo: Pirelli

The change will have an aerodynamic impact on the cars, as the 2012 construction did not deform as much in the corners.

"This could be the salvation for teams like McLaren, Sauber and Williams. It will definitely also help Red Bull and Mercedes," Schmidt said.

Hembery explained: "It may well be that we keep the compounds as we used in Barcelona. If anything, the changes will be minor. We want to stay on the aggressive side, to keep the races exciting and not punish the teams who are doing a good job with these tires."

Paul Hembery is now stepping up the pressure on the teams to agree to some hot weather winter testing in the Middle East for early 2014, and also for an up-to-date test car.

"The Renault that we have is three years old and four seconds slower than today's cars," he said.

"Already this year we're seeing as much rear downforce as in 2011 with the blown diffusers. We cannot develop tires like this," added Hembery.

From GMM

In the days after the Spanish grand prix, the word on everybody's lips is the same -- tires.

Indeed, so crucial is the impact of Pirelli's controversial product this year is that rumours are swirling that Red Bull mogul Dietrich Mateschitz may have renewed his threat to pull out of formula one.

Reports say the Austrian met with fellow billionaire Bernie Ecclestone in Barcelona, shortly before hinting to reporters that he is losing his patience.

"Formula one tire management is not a race," Mateschitz told German newspaper Bild. "The tire is a means to an end -- it's how you transfer the potential and performance of the car and driver to the road."

But he said the current situation "contradicts" the very idea of motor racing.

Bernie Ecclestone and Paul Hembery. (Photo: Pirelli)

Whether Mateschitz threatened to quit or not, or whether the F1 chief executive heard Mercedes' Niki Lauda say the 2013 tires are "the biggest joke", Ecclestone is now on board.

"The tires are wrong," he is quoted by the UK newspaper Express, "(and) not what we intended when we asked Pirelli to produce something which did a half race. Pirelli know it and they're doing something about it. We'll go back to last season's type of tires, which gave us some close racing."

As ever in F1, however, it's not that simple. The complaining is not universal -- especially among teams who have made the tires work for them so far.

"It's not as simple as that to just change the tires," Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali told Auto Motor und Sport.

Lotus' Eric Boullier agrees that pulling the rug from under teams who are not complaining is "not fair".

"Pirelli was asked to build tires that last 20 laps, and they've done that. If our car can do it, the other teams should work just as hard," he told German RTL television.

Photo: McLaren F1 Team

Pirelli is also protesting about the fairness of the current situation; criticised if they do nothing, and potentially accused of favouring Red Bull if they make a change.

"If we do something that helps them," Paul Hembery is quoted by the Guardian, "we can understand that Lotus and Ferrari won't be happy. We will be damned if we do and damned if we don't."

He is quoted by Brazil's O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper: "It would be much easier and cheaper to produce tires that last the whole race. Anyone can see the amount of tires we are manufacturing and taking to the race tracks. We could greatly simplify our task. As I've said, it's a choice between one or another kind of competition."

On the F1 grid, competition and politics speak the loudest. "The more frustrating the results," Welt newspaper correspondent Simon Pausch said, "the louder the complaints."

Times journalist Kevin Eason, characterising Mateschitz's words as a "declaration of self-interest', added: "(The) tires (controversy) is only a symptom of deep confusion and malaise in F1.

"Costs, 2014 engines, division of wealth etc," he added on Twitter.

Twenty-two drivers have earned a spot in NASCAR's exhibition race for winners with three more additions to be added.

Two drivers can race their way into the finale by finishing first and second in the Sprint Showdown and one driver can garner an entry by virtue of a fan vote which is up on the NASCAR website.

Photo: NASCAR

Here's the 22 qualified drivers listed alphabetically:

Marcos Ambrose                   
Greg Biffle                
Clint Bowyer              
Kurt Busch
Kyle Busch
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Carl Edwards
Jeff Gordon
Denny Hamlin
Kevin Harvick
Jimmie Johnson
Kasey Kahne
Matt Kenseth
Brad Keselowski
Joey Logano
Mark Martin
Ryan Newman
David Ragan
Tony Stewart

From GMM

McLaren has denied a radio call to Sergio Perez during Sunday's Spanish grand prix was a 'team order'.

After Mexican Perez and teammate Jenson Button's wheel-banging recently in Bahrain, boss Martin Whitmarsh said the incident proved that McLaren lets its drivers race.

But in the closing stages in Barcelona on Sunday, Perez again closed on his experienced teammate Button's sister car but was told to look after his tires.

McLaren pitwall in Barcelona. (Photo: McLaren F1 Team)

The 22-year-old, who had apologised in the wake of the Bahrain incident, duly followed Button to the chequered flag, for ninth place.

"Checo (Perez) himself said at the end that his tires were finished," Whitmarsh is quoted by the Sapa-AFP news agency.

"What we didn't want was him to be battling until he ran out of rubber. So it was not tactical, it was practical.

"It was a fair fight, but if you are asking 'did we ask him to back off and not fight?' No, not at all," he insisted.

Perez also denied the 'team order' charge via his Twitter account.

"Just want to tell everyone (that) the radio message was all about saving the tires. Never a team order," he said.

From GMM

Pirelli is now well on the road to securing a new contract to continue as F1's official tire supplier beyond 2013.

That is the claim of the Italian company's chairman and chief executive Marco Tronchetti Provera.

In Bahrain, Pirelli's F1 chief Paul Hembery had hinted that, with Pirelli's existing contract expiring, a deadline was now fast approaching.

"There is a time scale and I'm pretty sure I know what it is," he said.

On Sunday in Barcelona, the Briton said negotiations had continued in the days and weeks since Bahrain, and some progress had been made.

Photo: Pirelli

"We are moving in the right direction," confirmed Tronchetti Provera, according to reports in the Italian media.

"We believe the conditions for the signing of a new contract with formula one have already been established. It will not take much more and I hope it will happen soon. There will be news in the coming months."

He added that Pirelli enjoys its collaboration because working in F1 "produces important results for the research of the products and materials for road cars".

From GMM

Romain Grosjean sounds supportive of F1's move to enhance its penalty system.

Last year, the Frenchman became the first F1 driver in years to serve a race ban, following a string of first-lap crashes.

He admitted to RMC Sport it may seem "ironic" that he therefore supports a system that could lead directly to more race bans.

It is reported that errant drivers will earn 'demerit'-style points against their FIA super license for on and off-track indiscretions, leading to race bans.

Grosjean said: "If there is a nice system that comes in, why not? Right now, it is the stewards who decide: it's like boxing or judo, it's arbitrary."

Photo: WRi2

But not everyone on the grid is so accepting. Jules Bianchi, Marussia's rookie driver, said the new system also sounds too arbitrary.

"I've heard that the sanctions could vary from 1 to 3 points," he said. "They're going to say 'You did it in this way, so 1 point. You did it in another way, so 2 points. So it won't be consistent."

Another opponent is F1's reigning world champion, Sebastian Vettel.

"I don't like it," the Red Bull driver admitted. "I've seen a sketch of it (the plan) and I think you have the potential of scoring points for some things that are not entirely in our hands, and small things that at the end of the day the consequence could be very big."

General Motors and Nissan today announced an agreement for Nissan to produce a small cargo van that GM will sell in the United States and Canada as the Chevrolet City Express. Based on the Nissan NV200, it will launch in the fall of 2014.

Pricing and specifications remain undisclosed, however.

“Our fleet customers have asked us for an entry in the commercial small van segment, so this addition to the Chevrolet portfolio will strengthen our position with fleets and our commercial customers,” said Ed Peper, U.S. vice president of GM Fleet and Commercial Sales.

Joe Castelli, vice president of commercial vehicles and fleet at Nissan, added that “working with partners to expand markets for our innovative products enhances Nissan's growth and manufacturing efficiency by leveraging our capacity to meet growing demand in this space.”

Photo: Chevrolet

Tesla Motors is on quite a roll: Not only did the small electric car maker sell 4,750 Model S sedans in the first quarter of 2013 (eclipsing the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan LEAF), but it outsold the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (3,077 units), BMW 7 Series (2,338 units), and Audi A8 (1,462 units) as well.

Equally impressive is the fact that Consumer Reports has awarded the Model S 99 out of 100 points, and said it's the best car the magazine has tested since 2007.

Wait, there's more: On May 10th, the day after Tesla reported its $11 million first-quarter profit, the stock price per share exploded from $35 to $76.70.

According to John Casesa, an investment banker with Guggenheim Partners in New York, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has done the impossible: create a profitable automaker from scratch.

The 41-year-old Musk, who co-founded Paypal and SpaceX, seemingly turns everything into gold, which is why Tesla's future looks as bright as Fisker's looks bleak.

Source: Automotive News

Photo: Tesla

Subaru Canada is recalling 401 Legacy sedans and Outback wagons because the steering column may have been assembled incorrectly and could fail.

If this occurs, the driver may suddenly lose the ability to steer the vehicle, which could result in a crash.

Subaru dealers will therefore replace the steering column assembly on all affected units.

Source: Transports Canada

The 2008 Alfa Romeo 8C, 2008 Maserati GranTurismo, and 2005-2008 Maserati Quattroporte may suffer from rear suspension tie rods that corrode and eventually fail. A recall has been issued on 376 units in Canada.

Since this situation could result in a loss of vehicle control and a crash, dealers will replace both rear suspension tie rods and perform a wheel alignment.

Source: Transports Canada

Pros and Cons*

Pros
The combination of superb road handling, precise-quick steering, stiff chassis and fully independent rear suspension make the 2013 Ford Focus ST a fun car to drive.

Cons
On the flipside, its thirsty engine, excess weight and complex infotainment system disappoint. All-wheel drive is conspicuously absent from the options list.

Photo: Ford

Price
The MSRP of the Focus ST starts at $30,649. It comes equipped with standard speed control, SYNC with MyFord, speed sensitive audio volume controls, leather-covered steering, regenerative brakes, distinctive grille and foglights, and rear spoiler.

The option list includes MyFord Touch, power sun roof, dual-zone climate controls, Sony audio system and heated front seats.

Fuel Economy
City/highway fuel economy ratings are a reported 8.9 L/6.2 L 100/km.

New for 2013
New Model

Exterior Styling
This sporty compact is available in hatchback version only. Certain visual items set it apart from its Focus brethren such as specifically-designed front and rear spoilers, 18-inch wheels, side skirts, and centrally-located exhaust. The designer foglights add a distinctive head-turning touch.

Drivetrain
Under the hood, a 2.0 litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine produces 252 hp and 270 lb-ft torque, which is delivered to the front wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Cargo Capacity
The Focus ST five-door hatchback has a 674 litre trunk-only cargo capacity which expands to 1,269 litres by simply lowering the rear seats.

Safety
The 2013 Ford Focus ST is equipped with 6 standard airbags, including additional safety features such as: stability control, seat belt pretensioners, child safety door locks, and tire pressure monitoring system for peace of mind.

Comparable Models
Mazda3 Speed, Subaru WRX, Volkswagen Golf GTI

Photo: Ford

*References
Joubert Antoine, L'annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal Transcontinental, 2012, p.250
Fillion Nadine, Le guide de l'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions de l'Homme, 2012, p.280
ford.ca

Pros and Cons*
Pros
The ergonomic-friendly instrument layout, stylish interior, precise steering, choice of engines, overall driving experience and generous warranty are definitely to the Kia Sportage's advantage.

Cons
Limited rear visibility, smallish trunk and uncomfortable 2nd row seating are definite downers.


Price
The front-wheel drive entry-level LX starts at $23,645 and is equipped with standard 2.4 litre engine, manual transmission, 16-inch wheels, air conditioning, AUX/USB ports, steering mounted controls and heated seats. Automatic transmission brings the total to $26,345 and all-wheel drive to $28,845.

At $29,245 the EX comes equipped with standard 18-inch wheels, leather shifter knob and steering wheel, dual-zone air conditioning, backup sonar and rear spoiler. An all-wheel drive version is available for $31,745.

The EX Luxury, at $35,745 includes standard panoramic roof, leather seating, UVO infotainment system, and backup camera. Additional navigation package brings the total to $37,245.

The SX version is the only turbocharged model, with a MSRP of $39,045. It includes standard EX Luxury options as well as air-conditioned glovebox, iPod cable, navigation system and backup camera as well as a heatable steering wheel.

Fuel Economy
The combination of 2.4 litre engine, front-wheel drive and manual transmission consumes 10.3 L/100 km city and 7.2 L/100 km highway. The automatic decreases consumption to 9.7 L/100 km city and 6.5 L/100 km highway.

The all-wheel drive version with the base 2.4 litre engine consumes 10.2 L/100 km city and 7.4 L/100 km highway.

The turbocharged 2.0 litre engine consumes a reported 10.3 L/100 km city and 8.1 L/100 km highway.

Exterior Styling
This compact SUV is built on the Hyundai Tuscon platform. The elongated LED headlights, enlarged C pillar and curvaceous rear end define this elegant, modern SUV.

Drivetrain
The base engine is a 2.4 litre 4-cylinder unit that produces 176 hp and 168 lb-ft torque. It can be matched to the 6-speed manual or automatic transmission according to the selected model.

The muscular 2.0 litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine produces 260 hp and 269 lb-ft torque and is matched exclusively to the automatic transmission.

Cargo Capacity
Rear cargo space evolves from a generous 740 litres to a whopping 1,547 litres with lowered rear seats.

Safety
Enhanced braking system, backup sonar, stability control and six airbags are an example of some of the safety features.

Comparable Models
Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Compass, Mazda CX-5, MINI Cooper Countryman, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Rav4, Volkswagen Tiguan

Photo: Kia

*References
Aubé Vincent, L'annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montréal Transcontinental, 2012, p.350
Duquet Denis, Le guide de l'auto 2013, Montréal, Les éditions de l'Homme, 2012, p.374
http://www.kia.ca

Andretti Autosport's Marco Andretti set the fastest lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Day 3 of free practice sessions of the Indy 500.

On the busiest day of practice yet for the 97th Running of the Indianapolis 500, 32 driver/car combinations co-mingled on the 2.5-mile oval during the six-hour session under sun and temperatures hovering in the low 60s F.

Andretti, driving the No. 25 Dallara-Chevrolet, posted the quickest lap of the month at 225.100 mph (39.9823 seconds). Helio Castroneves was .0043 of a second behind in the No. 3 Penske car.

Reigning IZOD IndyCar Series' champion, Ryan Hunter-Reay (224.386 mph) was third, 2012 championship runner-up Will Power (223.784) was fourth and JR Hildebrand (223.624) was fifth. Series points' leader Takuma Sato was sixth (223.363) and fastest Honda runner.

A Michigan couple sentenced to prison for stealing General Motors hybrid-car technology trade secrets filed appeals Friday with the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati.

2013 BMW Alpina B7 xDrive LWB

Luxury, speed, and a spacious back seat in the most powerful 7 Series.

The BMW Alpina B7 is exactly as you'd expect -- it's very fast, very luxurious, and very expensive. The Alpina-fettled V-8 is more than enough to hustle the 5050-pound car down on-ramps at something approaching "ludicrous speed," and the interior is lavishly appointed with slate gray Alcantara and oyster leather. The steering wheel gets not one but two colors of contrast stitching, and the exterior aerodynamic kit adds flair to an already gorgeous car.

Photo Gallery: 2013 BMW Alpina B7 xDrive LWB - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2013 BMW Alpina B7 xDrive LWB - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

2013 BMW Alpina B7 xDrive LWB | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

General Motors' CFO says Cadillac will steer clear of what he sees as a "volume-at-all-costs mentality" among competitors battling for the luxury sales crown.

Hyundai Motor, Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz unit, Nissan Motor and Toyota Motor have linked with the Department of Energy to prepare for the first major wave of hydrogen-powered cars, the department said today

Classic British roadsters offer the promise of endless, affordable motoring fun. But perhaps your height has prevented you from putting one in your garage.

Schaeffler, the largest investor in tire and components supplier Continental, plans to end an agreement between the two German companies as it continues to dismantle a plan for a gradual merger.