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General Motors of Canada has issued a recall on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu as well as the 2012-2013 Buick Regal and LaCrosse. A total of 438 units are affected, all with e-Assist.

In some cases, the Generator Control Module (GCM) may not function correctly. This could cause a gradual loss of battery charge, which would illuminate the malfunction indicator lamp. Eventually, the engine may stall. In conjunction with traffic and road conditions, and the driver's reactions, this could increase the risk of a crash.

In addition, there may be a burning or melting odour, smoke and possibly a fire in the trunk. These issues could result in vehicle damage and/or personal injury.

Dealers will therefore inspect and, if necessary, replace the GCM.

Source: Transports Canada

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

We've known for a while that the Alfa Romeo Giulietta will star alongside Vin Diesel and Paul Walker in the upcoming Fast & Furious 6 movie. Now, we've found out that the Italian automaker is using some of the footage to launch a new ad campaign. Well done!

Police in Dubai are seriously starting to make many exotic car enthusiasts jealous. After purchasing a Lamborghini Aventador and a Ferrari FF, they've just acquired one of only 77 Aston Martin One-77 supercars in the world.

With a 7.3L V12 engine that produces 750 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, the One-77 becomes the most powerful car in the Dubai police fleet. Similar the two Italians, it will be used to deter speeding drivers and promote the city in popular tourist areas.

All units of the Aston Martin One-77 have already been sold, so the car was no doubt donated by one of Dubai's wealthy residents. It will be joined by a Bentley Continental GT and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG.

Source : www.motorauthority.com

As part of the programme for the 24-hour endurance race on May 19, Mercedes-Benz will put on a special event highlight for fans at the Nürburgring.

As part of a high-performance demonstration, four Mercedes-AMG vehicles will go up against Michael Schumacher in a Formula 1 Silver Arrow.

Voiture de sécurité F1 2013 (Photo: Mercedes-Benz)

The vehicles will start at different times in front of the Mercedes-Benz grandstand but will cross the finish line simultaneously. The Mercedes-AMGs will be driven by: Formula 1 star Nico Rosberg, five-time DTM champion Bernd Schneider, ex-Formula 1 driver Karl Wendlinger and by the official driver of the Formula 1 Safety Car, Bernd Mayländer.

The first vehicle to go out on track will be an A 45 AMG driven by Bernd Mayländer, followed by Karl Wendlinger in the E 63 AMG S, Nico Rosberg in the SLS AMG Black Series, and Bernd Schneider in an SLS AMG GT3. Finally, Michael Schumacher will set off in a Formula 1 on the 20.832km-lap around the Nordschleife (excluding grand prix circuit).

The vehicles and their drivers:

Car: Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG (360bhp, 0-100km/h: 4.6secs)
Driver: Bernd Mayländer

Car: Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG S (585bhp, 0-100 km/h: 3.6secs)
Driver: Karl Wendlinger

Car: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 (more than 500bhp)
Driver: Bernd Schneider

Car: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series (631bhp, 0-100 km/h: 3.6secs)
Driver: Nico Rosberg

Car: MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS F1 W02 (approx. 750bhp, 0-100 km/h: 2.7secs)
Driver: Michael Schumacher

Mercedes W02. (Photo: WRi2)

There used to be an old saying regarding Mercedes-Benz: It was said that the company only updated its models every 10 years or so (whether they needed to or not), and it's something which has helped MB products maintain some of the best resale values in the industry.

In many ways this still holds true and is an important consideration when outright purchasing a new vehicle. However, times change and most lease customers today couldn't care less about resale values (even though they should), so the Mercedes-Benz GLK which has only been out for a few short years receives a mid-life update for 2013.

Of course, as the GLK is the company's second-best seller after the C-Class (which it's loosely based upon), one could hardly expect MB to go crazy with this update. So, apart from a surprising new diesel option, most changes on the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK are somewhat subtle.


What's new for 2013
The exterior of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK 250 receives a few styling updates together with three new available colours: Luzonit Grey, Diamond Silver, and my favourite Polar White (yes, white is definitely the new black). The interior also gets a tad funkier with some new colour schemes for the instrument clusters and display units (very nice), and a slight redesign of the cabin area.

There's a new CGI V6 (302 hp & 0-100km/hr in 6.5 seconds) available for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 4MATIC (borrowed from the 2012 SLK 350), and this now offers the GLK an ECO Start/Stop feature.

The 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK 350 RWD has been deleted from the lineup. Truthfully, I never understood the logic behind a 2WD SUV anyway, and I guess I wasn't alone in this thinking or MB would still be offering this option.

Of course, the real meat in the pie, so to speak, is the announcement of the all-new 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC.

The exterior of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK 250 receives a few styling updates together with three new available colours: Luzonit Grey, Diamond Silver, and my favourite Polar White. (Photo: Kevin Corrigan)

Yes, I've driven the new diesel-powered GLK and I can say hand-on-heart that my fellow diesel fans are going to love this vehicle! Its 2.1L bi-turbo inline 4-cylinder diesel puts out around 200 hp, which may not sound like much if you've been listening to the boasts of your V8-gasoline-owning friends, but its 369 lb-ft of torque should make them sit up and take notice. After all, torque is the important figure here as it's this which actually moves your vehicle.

The 0-100 km/hr time of 8 seconds, although superb for a small diesel unit, probably won't set any land speed records. Yet, pull out to overtake slower vehicles on a highway in the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK 250 BlueTEC and its torque will impress to no end!

Mated to the 7G-TRONIC PLUS transmission (the same unit that's in the GLK 350), the vehicle is quiet in operation and, when set in Sport mode, the GLK 250 becomes quite the plaything.

Unfortunately, the lure of the aforementioned Sport mode meant that yours truly didn't exactly hypermile. In fact, while taking in a few enjoyable back roads in the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK 250 BlueTEC, plus a fair amount of highway miles, it's fair to say that I barely glanced at the fuel gauge. So, let's just go with the official MB combined fuel economy figure of 7.2L/100km (8.3 City/5.9 Hwy) which makes this the most fuel-efficient compact SUV on sale in Canada. That's impressive, especially when you consider that this quote includes all compact SUVs sold here, and not just the premium brands!

With pricing for the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK 250 BlueTec 4MATIC starting at just $43,500 (which is $1,400 less than the base GLK 350), I predict a lot of these hitting our roads this year; and why not? After all, it's already a hugely popular vehicle here in Canada, outselling just about everything in its class (BMW's X3, the Audi Q5, Volvo XC60, and the Land Rover LR2).

Fellow diesel fans are going to love this vehicle! Its 2.1L bi-turbo inline 4-cylinder diesel puts out around 200 hp. (Photo: Kevin Corrigan)

Yes, this is the model GLK buyers have been waiting for and (if you want my opinion) it's the model to finance or purchase outright, as the resale values should prove excellent on these down the line. After all, there's another old saying which still rings true: There's always a lineup of buyers looking for a well-loved, secondhand diesel Mercedes!

From GMM

Ten months after her Marussia testing crash, Maria de Villota will return to a formula one paddock this weekend in her native Spain.

Last July, the 33-year-old was conducting a straightline aerodynamic test at Duxford, UK, when the 2012 Marussia inexplicably accelerated into a truck loading ramp.

De Villota, whose father is the former F1 driver Emilio de Villota, sustained serious head injuries and lost her right eye.

Photo: Marussia F1 Team

Scheduled to attend this weekend's Spanish grand prix in Barcelona, she told Europa she is "a little nervous".

"It's the first race I'm going to after the accident, so I'm finding it harder to sleep. It's hard for me, because I miss it, but I want to see all the drivers at home and I think we'll see a great race, as we have seen lately," said de Villota.

"I want to thank many people that I have not seen since the accident, and I've been unable to acknowledge the support they gave me, like by putting my star on their helmet."

She admitted she will have mixed feelings when she bumps into Marussia team members.

"I think now they're working with new drivers, which is the natural cycle of things. I was with them, but life goes on," said Maria de Villota.

Sergio Perez' helmet with the star for Maria de Villota, last Summer. (Photo: WRi2)

One of NASCAR's favourite little guy teams may be shutting its' garage doors after the Brickyard 400.

According to a Florida newspaper team owner, James Finch, unable to find a sponsor for his Phoenix Racing team may be leaving Sprint Cup racing.

"I'm contemplating finishing up this year, and I don't know if I want a sponsor," Finch said Monday. "Sunday was my 776th start in NASCAR between the Nationwide and Sprint Cup. That's a lot of weekends. I'm considering pulling the plug later in the summer."

The 62 year-old Finch, a Panama City, Fl construction company owner, told the News Herald that he would not enter races after the Brickyard 400 weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway at the end of July.

"I have not been able to get the right amount of funding, the economy is pretty bad, and a lot of people don't want to do it," Finch said of his team's fruitless search for a permanent sponsor. "I'm getting kind of burned out. I think it is time for me to do something else."

AJ Allmendinger, Phoenix Racing. (Photo: NASCAR)

Ironically Phoenix Racing is having one of its' most successful years in both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup. But it's not good enough to obtain a sponsor to compete with the $15 to $20-million dollar budget of some of NASCAR's more famous.

To be minimally competitive it requires numerous iterations of the 3400 pound Gen-6 stock car.

"I've still got some cars I haven't torn up,” said Finch, “and I don't want to build any new ones."

He's hired the famous and sometimes infamous drivers over the years. Brad Keselowski, the 2012 Sprint Cup Champion, drove one of Finch's cars to Victory Lane in Talladega in 2009.

When Kurt Busch left Penske Racing Finch hired him, and this year another former Penske NASCAR driver A.J. Allmendinger.

Racing part-time and full-time in the Nationwide Series since 1989 Finch counts 13 victories.

In recent years Phoenix purchased equipment from Hendrick Motorsports and competed full-time at the Cup level since 2011.

He's even given a chance to up and comers such as Richard Childress' grandson, Austin Dillon. "I started with all my friends, and now I'm racing with a lot of their sons," Finch said. "Austin Dillon, he's a little kid who drove for me (twice this season). I remember when he was born."

From GMM

Seven years into his F1 career, Lewis Hamilton thinks he is now mature enough to handle any teammate.

Before switching to Mercedes for 2013, the long-time former McLaren driver expressed interest in joining Red Bull, whose Sebastian Vettel has won the world championship three times on the trot.

But back in 2007, Briton Hamilton fell out spectacularly with his then teammate Fernando Alonso.

Dr Helmut Marko, now grappling with the disintegrating relationship between Vettel and Mark Webber, said it's simply a problem when two "alpha dogs" clash.

But Hamilton told the Daily Mail: "Now I'm older, I'm sure we would have a different relationship."

Referring to himself and Spaniard Alonso, he added: "There would still be intense moments because we are both quick, so we would be very close to each other, but we've both matured a lot. I think I'm much better at nurturing relationships between teammates now. It depends on the drivers. Put Sebastian with Fernando Alonso and the team would be in trouble straight away, the chemistry would just ... (Hamilton whistles)."

"You know, I even think I could drive with Sebastian. I just wouldn't turn the engine down," Hamilton mused.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

No longer under the control of McLaren supremo Ron Dennis or his father Anthony, Hamilton also says he has learned to cope with criticism.

A good example is the last few months, when Sir Jackie Stewart initially slammed Hamilton's move to Mercedes, and then tipped the 28-year-old as a title favourite for 2013.

"I think I've definitely developed a thicker skin," said Hamilton. "At the start, it's easier to get stung. I'm more consistent now because my mental strength has improved. So when Jackie Stewart talks about me, I just laugh it off. Some people are nosey, or they've nothing better to do. They're entitled to their opinions, but Jackie talks a lot."

It took Bell, Boeing and the United States military decades to get the V-22 Osprey from idea to deployable platform. But with one flying car in the final stages of development, Terrafugia's looking to the military tiltrotor for inspiration.

VinSolutions, a unit of the AutoTrader Group, has agreed to buy Haystak Digital Marketing.

VinSolutions, a unit of the AutoTrader Group, has agreed to buy Haystak Digital Marketing.Terms of the deal and revenue for the companies were undisclosed.

2013 Hyundai Azera Driven

Is it too soon to be talking about traditional Hyundai virtues?

The Azera went away for a while, and it's hard to image that many people missed it. With the Sonata very ably serving in the midsize sedan segment and the Genesis sedan providing a premium, rear-wheel-drive move-up option, it looked as though the Azera had been squeezed out of its place in the Hyundai lineup. Hyundai product planners, however, saw a sliver of space between the Sonata and the Genesis -- or maybe they were just hewing to the company's secret decree to have a direct competitor for every Toyota model (the Avalon, in this case). Regardless of why, a new Azera bowed last year, and it turns out that the Azera makes a case for itself by delivering traditional Hyundai virtues.

Photo Gallery: 2013 Hyundai Azera Driven - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2013 Hyundai Azera Driven - Automobile Magazine

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GM will recall more than 38,000 sedans equipped with its "eAssist" mild hybrid system to repair circuit boards that may overheat leading to a loss of battery charge or in extreme cases, a fire in the trunk.

A rebodied Porsche 911, dubbed the Spexter, was revealed at the February 1988 Toronto motor show, and our editors took notice.

The Treasury Department said today it will begin another round of sales of the GM stock it acquired during the government's bailout of the automaker.

Chevrolet unveiled two stylish concepts at the 2012 Detroit auto show.

South Korean battery maker LG Chem plans to begin commercial production at its Michigan factory in July and will initially supply its products to General Motors' Volt electric vehicles.

Volkswagenand#8217;s Spanish daughter company, Seat, has unveiled the new Leon Cup race car. Set to get a public airing at this weekand#8217;s

Consumers want in-car navigationand#8212;it's a popular feature. Yet once they have it, they're often dissatisfied. Nearly half of them downloaded apps to supplement the system in their car, according to a 2012

Hyundai Motor Group does not immediately plan to build a new car factory in the United States, Chairman Chung Mong-koo said today, downplaying speculation that the South Korean automaker would soon announce production facilities in the key market.