Auto News 5

Microsoft helped develop Ford's SYNC and Fiat's Blue & Me infotainment systems, but now the software giant wants to trump Apple, Google, Blackberry and others by creating a “unifying experience -- bringing together all the features and technologies into one common platform,” according to Pranish Kumar, group program manager at Windows Embedded Automotive.

Drivers can already speak by phone, hear traffic conditions, receive e-mails, and find restaurants through their Human-Machine Interface (HMI). But in Microsoft's vision of the future, vehicle intelligence will get more sophisticated.

Furthermore, with its new, expanded role in automobiles, Microsoft (like rival software suppliers, for that matter) will influence the design of numerous cabin functions including steering wheels and seats.

Source: Automotive News

The Web is littered with videos of reckless drivers and spectacular crashes from Russia, but there are some that tell amazing stories of respect, courtesy, altruism, and other exemplary behaviour on the road.

One could learn a lot from watching these drivers...

From GMM

Dr Helmut Marko has admitted he can understand Mercedes' efforts to woo triple world champion Sebastian Vettel from Red Bull.

Speaking to Germany's Bild am Sonntag newspaper, Niki Lauda admitted he has been trying to convince Vettel to join Mercedes, whose current drivers are Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

"I continued what (former motor sport director Norbert) Haug began," said Lauda, Mercedes' new chairman and shareholder.

Fellow Austrian Marko, who is Red Bull's F1 consultant, insisted he has no hard feelings.

"Niki should absolutely be trying to get Vettel," he said.

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, in China. (Photo: WRi2)

The news gives fresh insight into the driver rumblings at Red Bull, amid Mark Webber's possible exit at the end of the year, and rumours Kimi Raikkonen is being courted.

"Red Bull need to ensure that if Sebastian Vettel gets the mega-offer from Ferrari and leaves, they have their tail covered and Raikkonen would be very capable of that," technical expert Gary Anderson told the BBC.

"I believe he (Raikkonen) is a perfect fit for Red Bull. I wouldn't be surprised if negotiations were well down the road for this to happen," he added.

Similarly, David Coulthard thinks Lotus might be hard-pressed to convince Raikkonen to stay, if powerful Red Bull comes knocking.

"They definitely have good people there (at Lotus)," he told Germany's motorsport-magazin.com, "but it looks like not the same financial setup (as Red Bull)."

Kimi Raikkonen. (Photo: Lotus F1 Team)

Coulthard said his former teammate Mark Webber is still doing a good job, "but the link between Kimi and Red Bull goes way back".

"If Mark decides to do something else, in my view Kimi would be the perfect teammate for Sebastian."

For now, Raikkonen's public comments on the matter are guarded.

"I don't have a contract (beyond 2013)," he told Finland's Turun Sanomat newspaper, "but at some point I have to think about it. I want to win, and at least for the moment, I want to be here (at Lotus)."

Some have named the 2007 world champion as Vettel's most likely challenger for the 2013 title, but 33-year-old Raikkonen is not so sure.

"It's going to be hard to catch Sebastian if he keeps taking good results so we need to start taking more points from him," the Finn said.

BMW Canada is recalling 3,574 cars due to a faulty airbag. Affected models include the 2002-2003 BMW 3 Series.

The problem is that the passenger's front airbag inflator could produce excessive internal pressure during airbag deployment. This may cause the inflator to rupture, allowing fragments to be propelled toward the occupants.

In addition, if the airbag module is damaged, the airbag won't properly deploy during a crash.

Consequently, BMW dealers will replace the passenger's front airbag.

Source: Transports Canada

From GMM

With the European phase of the 2013 season now looming, Rubens Barrichello thinks Red Bull is a step ahead.

Indeed, drivers' title leader Sebastian Vettel is the only multiple race winner of the season so far, while Red Bull is also off to an early lead in the constructors' standings.

"Ferrari is very consistent," Brazilian veteran Barrichello told Totalrace, "and the car is a lot like the Red Bull in terms of pace and consistency.

"But the Red Bull is really the team to beat; they have a little bit more of everything," said the 40-year-old, a new commentator for Brazilian television Globo.

Photo: Red Bull Racing

"The Mercedes is a car that gets the tyres working for a great lap on Saturday, but in the race they can't maintain the same pace," Barrichello continued.

"The Lotus is a very well balanced car that does not have the speed in qualifying, but saves the tyres very well in the races. A fifth team that (like Lotus) also looks after the tyres and is quietly achieving is Force India. Their race pace is very good," Barrichello added.

Also failing to mention usual grandee McLaren, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner fundamentally agrees with Barrichello's assessment.

"Ferrari is strong," he is quoted by the Mirror newspaper, "Lotus has a good car, and the Mercedes - certainly over a single lap - is very strong."

Sometimes taking the path less travelled is the best option... especially when at the helm of a brand new 2013 Land Rover LR4 or a 2013 Range Rover Supercharged or even a 2013 Range Rover Evoque. Why? Because they can (which means you can) that's why.

I've just returned from a weekend of equestrian eventing and off-roading in Land Rovers. How very posh, no? Well, it wasn't all crystal stemware, cucumber sandwiches and high tea. I got a bit down and dirty in a few Land Rover models thanks to an off-road course designed specifically to highlight Land Rover's strongest assets.

Nestled in the heart of Lexington, Kentucky's Horse Park grounds, Land Rover's off-road driving course was open to the crowds frequenting the Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event equestrian “triathlon.” A feat of rider and horse, the three-day event is spectacular to behold, and Land Rover is a proud sponsor. And really, horses and Land Rovers go hand-in-hand.

So, with a lineup of brand new 2013 Land Rovers at my disposal, I took to the vertical, water-logged and mud-laden course behind the wheel of a few of the company's top performers.

Driving them back-to-back was rather revealing. Of course, the most dedicated of them all (the LR4) took on the rocks, ruts, steep inclines, 20” deep water, slippery and uneven mud trails, and see-saw bridge as easily as some of the weekend's riders tackled the cross-country jumps surrounding the course. Equipped with Hill Decent Control and Gradient Release Control, the LR4's capabilities are immediately recognizable on the first steep decline. Popped in low gear, I was told to simply lift my foot off the brake and let the Landie do its thing -- and did it ever.

That's the thing about Land Rovers (and by association, Range Rovers); you don't have to fiddle about with them. They do the job. For most of the course drives, I was chatting away with the Land Rover instructor forced to sit with me for much too long (they were very kind to indulge me) as I did lap upon lap. I never questioned the vehicle's abilities or thought, “Oh, I don't know if it's going to be able to handle this” as I might in other off-road/AWD vehicles. I just knew.

Why?

Because Land Rovers are purpose-built. And even if you're not sure what purpose you're going to use your Landie for it will thanks to an automatic Terrain Response system that monitors the road's surface and the stability of its own wheels to make sure you're well cared for and get to where you're going.

And at the “bottom” of the food chain (because, let's be honest there really is no bottom with Land Rover), sat the Range Rover Evoque. Despite looking miniscule when lined up against its big brothers, the Evoque handled itself like a pro. With no low-gear available, the baby Range still boasts Terrain Response and a highly capable off-road ability. While not allowed to do the entire course (ride height limitations), the Range Rover Evoque handled the high water like a boss (something even I was a bit nervous about).

I wasn't the only one privileged enough to see how these automotive heavy-hitters handled the off-road course throughout the weekend, as the event's crowds took to lining up non-stop at the Land Rover area all weekend long to get a chance behind the wheel.

Photo: Miranda Lightstone

Canadian James Hinchcliffe led the final 300 yards of the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300, which is all that was necessary to score his second victory of the season in the IZOD IndyCar Series.

Hinchcliffe overtook race leader Takuma Sato in the final turn of the final lap to win by 0.3463 of a second, preventing A.J. Foyt Racing from earning consecutive victories for the first time since 1998 (Kenny Brack at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Pike Peak International Raceway).

Photos: LAT/IndyCar

The driver from Toronto, who won the season-opening race in St. Petersburg, and did not finish the past two races because of contact in the No. 27 GoDaddy.com car, earned his second career victory and the third for Andretti Autosport this season. He is the first Canadian to win in Brazil since Greg Moore at Rio on May 10, 1998.

Marco Andretti finished on the podium in the No. 25 RC Cola car for the second time (and his fourth consecutive top-seven finish). Oriol Servia placed fourth after starting 13th in the No. 22 Panther/DRR car. It was his best outing since finishing fourth at Milwaukee last June.

Five decades of Impala
HALIBURTON, On - Chevrolet's Impala has weathered a lot of changes since it first debuted in 1958. After nine generations, one of the most venerable nameplates in Chevy's history has languished in rental-car mediocrity for the past few decades.

The all-new 2014 Chevrolet Impala returns with a fresh new look aimed at regaining some of that former glory.


A bold, contemporary design
I was surprised by my first impression of the 2014 Chevrolet Impala Since I'd not seen any of its recent unveilings, I vaguely expected a reworked version of the snub-nosed Malibu.

However, the new Impala (now in its 10th generation) features a stylish exterior replete with sharp creases and hints of BMW 7 Series/Jaguar XF in its crisp outline.

It makes a bold, dramatic statement establishing a large presence that belies its only marginal size increase. Best of all, it faces the world with a sharply defined front fascia that's a nice departure from its lesser stable mate's rather bland and boring snout (that practically screams: "Rent me!").

Plenty of chrome accentuates the dramatically scooped side character lines, the swoopy c-pillar and the distinctive 20” multi-spoke wheels on my range-topping LTZ model.

Chevrolet predicts the mid-range LT model will be the volume seller and make up 75% of sales. The entry-level LS should constitute 20%, and only 5% of buyers will opt for the top-level LTZ.

Best of all, it faces the world with a sharply defined front fascia that's a nice departure from its lesser stable mate's rather bland and boring snout. (Photo: Chevrolet)

Attractive, well-executed interior
The dual-cockpit interior of the 2014 Chevrolet Impala is leaps and bounds ahead of the dreary cabin it replaces. Contrasting tones of grey soft-touch material and stitched tan leather adorn the space inside my navy tester -- leather topping the dash flows around to embrace occupants and continues across the door panels. The centre stack slopes downward, neatly bisecting the cabin, finishing in an armrest generously upholstered in padded leather.

The interior of the 2014 Chevrolet Impala is a striking space, and while it doesn't quite boast Audi-level craftsmanship, it's attractive, comfortable, and well-executed. Seats are plump and well bolstered with plenty of legroom fore and aft.

In addition to the 8” touchscreen, there's a smaller information screen between the gauges that's great for relaying quick directional info without tearing your eyes too far from the road.

The interior of the 2014 Chevrolet Impala is a striking space, and while it doesn't quite boast Audi-level craftsmanship, it's attractive, comfortable, and well-executed. (Photo: Chevrolet)

Full roster of technology and safety systems
The 2013 Chevrolet Impala boasts a full complement of technology, including the newest generation MyLink infotainment system. Voice activation is used for navigation programming, dialling numbers and/or looking up a song. Push a button and the centre display rises to reveal a secret cubby for valuables and can be locked away by entering a valet setting code. Pairing my Blackberry to the Bluetooth system was a simple exercise that required no pin number, nor did I have to repeat the process each time the car was started.

There's also a phalanx of safety systems: An optional adaptive cruise control uses radar technology to gauge traffic ahead then adjusts the 2014 Impala's speed accordingly or brings the vehicle to a full stop, if necessary. Collision Mitigation Braking is also present, issuing a warning and, if necessary, applying the brakes to avoid a collision.

Voice activation is used for navigation programming, dialling numbers and/or looking up a song. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

“Quietest Chevrolet ever"
The 2014 Chevrolet Impala makes an admirable highway cruiser, soundlessly devouring mile after mile. It rides on the new Global Epsilon chassis. It's immediately apparent that plenty of attention went into making the ride as quiet as possible. The stiffened structure features reinforced front strut towers and tuned shock rebound settings up front. The use of hydraulic suspension bushings absorbs any pavement imperfections.

There are several noise-reducing measures used in the 2013 Chevrolet Impala, including laminated glass and acoustic foam between body panels and in all hollow cavities. Time in the wind tunnel resulted in an aerodynamically quiet roofline, mirrors and taillights, and a reduction in drag by 14%.

Although lesser models come with a 2.4L 4-cylinder (182 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque), my tester featured a 3.6L V6 with 303 hp/264 lb-ft mated to a 6-speed autobox. This engine is rated at 11.1L/100km city and 6.9L highway. Over several hundred kilometres of twisty roads with plenty of elevation changes, I averaged 10.3L/100km.

It rides on the new Global Epsilon chassis. It's immediately apparent that plenty of attention went into making the ride as quiet as possible. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush)

Luxury at half the cost
The 2014 Chevrolet Impala makes no pretense of sportiness. Instead, it excels at being a creamy, smooth road cruiser: just the ticket to lure in mature buyers who want a well-executed, luxurious car without having to pay tens of thousands more for a German sedan.

Manufactured in Detroit -- and at the Oshawa, Ontario plant -- the 2014 Chevrolet Impala is now available at Canadian dealerships.

British motorsport publication Autosport reports on Monday that Formula 1 teams have turned down the idea of running rookie drivers during the first two free practice sessions in exchange for extra set of Pirelli tires.

The idea as presented to the other teams by Sahara Force India. It suggested that teams would be given a more durable set of tires that they could run in free practice if they ran a rookie driver.

The idea did not receive the unanimous support from all the teams it needed though, with there being further complications over the exact definition of a rookie driver because some teams have experienced testers who have never actually raced in F1.

Photo: Pirelli

Pirelli will provide extra sets of tires

“As permitted by the current regulations, we'll be supplying an extra set of prototype hard compound tires for free practice, which will hopefully ensure that all the cars run throughout these sessions,” said Paul Hembery, Pirelli's director of motorsport.

“It's something we wanted to do to encourage all the teams to run as much as possible right from the start, especially with the rookie drivers, to give fans the spectacle they deserve to see.”

This should encourage all the teams to run throughout the entire length of the sessions, rather than opt to conserve tires for the rest of the race weekend.

These tires will not be the same as the P Zero Orange hard tires used for the rest of the weekend, but are instead a specially-created compound with the emphasis on durability so that the teams run for as long as possible.

To distinguish these tires, they will not carry any colour markings.

Highlights*
Like every other model in the lineup, the 2013 Subaru Tribeca benefits from the automaker's widely acclaimed all-wheel drive system to stand out from the competition. It also offers good driving dynamics, and a quiet interior that can seat up to seven people.

Lowlights*
A rather bland exterior, low fuel economy, cramped third-row seating, and non-telescopic steering column are the main drawbacks here. Some also complain about the lack of value.

Pricing
The 2013 Subaru Tribeca starts at $38,995. Standard equipment on the Tribeca includes: 18” alloy wheels, power adjustable and heated front seats, a power sunroof, and a 50/50 split-folding third-row seat.

Photo: Subaru

The Limited Package ($43,195) adds HID headlights, leather seats, body-coloured rocker panels and wheel arches, as well as a 10-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. If you're looking for a navigation system, you'll have to buy the Optimum Package, which boosts the price to $45,495.

Fuel consumption
The 2013 Subaru Tribeca has ratings of 13.1L/100km in the city and 9.4L/100km on the highway.

Styling
A powerful stance and clean, understated lines define this large crossover -- much like its platform sibling (Outback), actually. From the muscular wheel arches to the elegant roof rails, the Tribeca aims for the ideal combination of form and function.

Powertrain
The 2013 Subaru Tribeca is motivated by a 3.6L 6-cylinder BOXER engine that delivers 256 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque through a 5-speed automatic transmission with Normal and Sport modes. Power goes directly to all four wheels via Subaru's symmetrical full-time AWD system.

Cargo capacity
There are 235 litres of room available behind the third-row seat, and 1,063 litres behind the second-row seat. When both are folded down, you get 2,106 litres of cargo space.

Photo: Subaru

Safety
The 2013 Subaru Tribeca keeps everyone safe by using Vehicle Dynamics Control (with lateral-g and yaw-rate sensors), traction control, collapsible pedals and steering column, along with six airbags. It's no surprise the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the vehicle a “Top Safety Pick.”

Competitors
Chevrolet Traverse, Ford Edge/Flex, GMC Acadia, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Santa Fe XL, Mazda CX-9, Nissan Murano, Toyota Highlander.


*Based on expert reviews.
Desjardins Guy, Le guide de l'auto 2013, Montreal, Les éditions de l'homme, 2012, p.558
Crépault Michel, L'annuel de l'automobile 2013, Montreal Transcontinental, 2012, p.552
www.subaru.ca

It took two Davids, Ragan and Gilliland, to slay the NASCAR Goliaths at the rain- delayed race in Talladega on Sunday.

In fading light, after a three hour 45-minute delay, there was a green white checkered finish. The two unsung teammates came seemingly out of nowhere with Gilliland pushing Ragan to the win.

“This is special to get Front Row Motorsports their first win,” Ragan said. “A lot of these guys (on the team) have been to Victory Lane in all kinds of series. But to do it here at Talladega in 2013 ... I couldn't be more proud to play my role. It's a huge, huge deal for us. I've got to thank David Gilliland. If it wasn't for that final push from him, I don't know what would have happened.”

David Ragan. (Photo: NASCAR)

It was Ragan's second Sprint Cup victory.

Even though Gilliland finished second, he was nearly as excited as his teammate. “It's been my dream since I came to Front Row to get (team owner) Bob Jenkins to Victory Lane,” Gilliland said. “This is about as much as I could help today. For an under-funded team to be able to come in here and finish 1-2 is just awesome. It's a huge day for any team to get first and second, but for our little team, it's a special day. I still want to get that first win, but we'll take second for sure and get the first win for our team.”

David Ragan at the press conference. (Caption: NASCAR)

Carl Edwards, who completed a three Ford sweep of the top three positions, was also surprised at the outcome. "That was crazy.  I blocked everybody I could.  I was doing everything I could.  I blocked Matt (Kenseth) and I thought, ‘Oh, we've got it.' And then I saw Jimmie coming and I blocked him and I thought, ‘Who is that back there?'  It was this Ford freight train coming and I just couldn't stay in front of them.  David did everything but wreck me.  He did everything right and I still thought he was gonna wreck when he was looking in his mirror and he almost hit the apron and he wiggled coming to the line, so I thought we still might get this thing, but it's awesome for David Ragan."

Photo: NASCAR

The finale was set up by an eleven-car wreck which was started when the cars of JJ Yeley and rookie Ricky Stenhouse Jr. collided. A chain reaction sent Kurt Busch's car airborne rolling over and landing on top of Ryan Newman's car. Neither driver sustained a serious injury.

Kenseth, whose Toyota had dominated the race, leading 142 laps of the 192 laps run, led on the restart seemed to have Jimmie Johnson as his biggest rival.

Michael Waltrip, co-owner of MWR, finished fourth followed by the five-time champion, Johnson, who finished fifth and maintained the lead in the Sprint Cup standings by 41 points over Edwards, also was surprised to see Ragan and Gilliland make the late charge through traffic coming toward the tri-oval.

Photo: NASCAR

“I thought the race would be settled between me and (Edwards and Kenseth), but then those two guys came up on us so fast,” said Johnson, who finished fifth. “I could see Carl trying to block, and he finally said there's no real way to block this speed that they're bringing, and those two went blowing by. It's really cool for that team.”

There was also a 16-car wreck earlier in the race.

Caterham returnee Heikki Kovalainen believes the team should have achieved more with the equipment it had in the 2013 Formula 1 season's opening four races.

The opening three races saw Caterham comprehensively beaten by Marussia, but the team's former race driver Kovalainen, who after returning to the team in Bahrain as a reserve driver, believes the team's CT03 car had the potential to perform better than it did, despite being more difficult to drive than its predecessor.

Heikki Kovalainen, Caterham (Photo Caterham F1 Team)

“The car is more difficult to drive than it was at the end of last year," he told SkySports.

“[This] is mainly because tires have changed [and] the set-up has changed.

“I could feel there was more we could use in this car and I felt that after driving the car we should be able to beat Marussia and now with the updates coming we should be in a position to beat them.”

Due to the lack of progress made by Caterham in the opening stages of the season, the team lies 11th in the constructors' championship.

From GMM

Lotus has admitted it is "surprised" at Pirelli's decision to not supply the 'soft'-compound tire this weekend in Barcelona.

Following all the controversy about the Italian supplier's 2013 tires, with Red Bull by far the loudest critic, Pirelli announced that it is tweaking its 'hard' compound for Barcelona and beyond.

But, in the past, Pirelli has usually supplied the 'hard' and the 'soft' tires for the Spanish grand prix.

So far this year, Lotus' 2013 car has shown to be arguably the most effective in managing the heavily degrading compounds, and the team and its lead driver Kimi Raikkonen are both currently second in the championship points standings.

Lotus E21. (Photo: WRi2)

It's no surprise, then, that technical director James Allison is disappointed Pirelli has not allocated the 'soft' compound for Barcelona.

"We've used Pirelli's hard and soft compounds for the last few years (in Spain), so we were slightly surprised to see them opt for the more conservative hard and medium this season," he said.

Similarly, 1996 world champion thinks Pirelli's moves will favour championship leaders Red Bull.

"You might see that (Pirelli's decisions) swings towards Red Bull's favour and there are mutterings that that is the case and some of the teams are suggesting that is not what they want to see and that they quite like the softer tire," he told Britain's Sky.

"But that's formula one."

Frenchman Yvan Muller (Chevrolet) took victory in Race 1 win of the WTCC in Budapest, and now stands 46 points ahead of Gabriele Tarquini (Honda) in the point standings of the World Touring Car Championship.

Photo: FIA WTCC

After their domination in Slovakia, the Honda Civics were beaten by Yvan Muller's Chevrolet one week later in Hungary.

The three-time world champion set the pace during the free practice sessions, and clinch his second pole position of the season, before taking his third victory of the year in Race 1 ahead of local hero, Norbert Michelisz.

Mehdi Bennani (BMW) inherited the pole position for Race 2, and the driver from Morocco led the first part of the race, until reigning WTCC champion, Rob Huff overtook him, to take a first victory for his new team.

Photo: FIA WTCC

ON the opening lap of thjat race, Gabriele Tarquini had a huge accident and he destroyed his car, but he was not injured did. But his retirement was a chance for Muller, who finished 5th in Race 2, and who now enjoys a huge lead on the points' table.

Andretti Autosport's James Hinchcliffe took his second IndyCar victory of the season after winning the Sao Paulo round after a close battle with Takuma Sato ( AJ Foyt Racing) that saw him take the final corner of the last lap.

The Canadian pass the finish line with only 0.3464 seconds to spare ahead the Japanese for the closest finish in the circuit's history.

Even thought Sato finished second, he was comforted in knowing that he now leads the IndyCar standings.

Meanwhile Marco Andretti went on to cross the finish line in third place and he is now sitting second in the standings after four road and street races.

Photo: LAT/IndyCar

Just like it had been the case in yesterday's qualifications, It was once again a disastrous outing for the Penske squad. Will Power started from 22nd, but managed to move upward to 11th until he was forced out of the race when a fire broke out on his car.

Current champion and pole sitter Ryan Hunter-Reay led early on, but but has to settle for 11th after bieng forced to go into the pits to have a puncture repaired.

Sao Paulo Indy 300 Results - 95 laps:
Pos  Driver   Team/Car  Time/Gap
1. James Hinchcliffe Andretti Dallara-Chevy 2h09m34.7383s
2. Takuma Sato Foyt Dallara-Honda + 0.3463s
3. Marco Andretti Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 1.1376s
4. Oriol Servia Panther DRR Dallara-Chevy + 1.1745s
5. Josef Newgarden Fisher Dallara-Honda + 1.6516s
6. EJ Viso Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 2.8119s
7. Dario Franchitti Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 3.5961s
8. Simona de Silvestro KV Dallara-Chevy + 4.7772s
9. Simon Pagenaud Schmidt Dallara-Honda + 7.6331s
10. Charlie Kimball Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 9.0265s
11. Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Dallara-Chevy + 9.5135s
12. Alex Tagliani Herta Dallara-Honda + 10.4393s
13. Helio Castroneves Penske Dallara-Chevy + 11.1234s
14. Sebastien Bourdais Dragon Dallara-Chevy + 13.6406s
15. JR Hildebrand Panther Dallara-Chevy + 13.7377s
16. Tristan Vautier Schmidt Dallara-Honda + 14.3517s
17. James Jakes Rahal Dallara-Honda + 19.8585s
18. Scott Dixon Ganassi Dallara-Honda + 29.4261s
19. Sebastian Saavedra Dragon Dallara-Chevy + 54.7223s
20. Justin Wilson Coyne Dallara-Honda + 2 laps
21. Tony Kanaan KV Dallara-Chevy + 3 laps
22. Graham Rahal Rahal Dallara-Honda + 4 laps
23. Ed Carpenter Carpenter Dallara-Chevy + 4 laps

Retirements:
Will Power Penske Dallara-Chevy 17 laps
Ana Beatriz Coyne Dallara-Honda 6 laps

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: This Volkswagen CC Sport is a very pretty car, inside and out. I like the shape as do onlookers I saw gawking at it.

Audi will not build a vehicle assembly plant in Brazil until the laws governing what exactly is required to ensure a car is considered locally built are clarified, CEO Rupert Stadler said.

Audi will not build a vehicle assembly plant in Brazil until the laws governing what exactly is required to ensure a car is considered locally built are clarified, CEO Rupert Stadler said.

Model: 2010 to 2012 Audi R8

Vehicle Type: Performance Coupe / Convertible

The Verdict: Though reliability information is inconclusive, be sure to subject any used R8 you're considering to some standard checks, as well as a few R8-specific ones. Opt for a model with as much of its factory warranty remaining as possible, and don't forget to check the condition of the tires and brakes. This one's a good candidate for an extended warranty to protect against high repair bills down the line.

Photo: Justin Pritchard

What Owners Like: Owners typically love the exclusivity, style, performance and bragging rights that come as part of the Audi R8's package. Ease of entry and exit, and an everyday-comfortable ride are also noted. Fuel mileage on the V8-powered model is said to be good during highway cruising, too.

What Owners Dislike: Limited cargo storage and a sometimes-fussy MMI interface are among the most common owner complaints with the Audi R8.

History/Description: When Audi's mid-engine R8 performance car hit the road in 2009, it put the brand on the bedroom walls of drooling teenage car-buffs around the globe just as quickly as it earned a reputation for being an extreme performance machine with incredible driving dynamics and every-day usability.

All Audi R8 models are two-seat units with mid-mounted engines fixed just behind the cockpit. All models received Quattro AWD, a 4.2L, 420-horsepower V8 and a 6-speed manual transmission as standard kit. Shoppers could opt for an up-level V10 engine, which bumped displacement to 5.2L and horsepower to 525. An R-Tronic auto-clutch gearbox was available for drivers who didn't wish to shift gears themselves.

Feature content included navigation, a Bang & Olufsen stereo system, Bluetooth, MMI Interface, driver computer, heated leather, and plenty more. A backup camera with distance sensors was available, too.

In the used market, “R8 4.2” indicates a model with the V8 engine, which should be sufficient for most drivers. An “R8 5.2” gets the V10. If “R-Tronic” shows up in the seller's description, it indicates that the model has the “automatic” transmission. A convertible or Spyder model was available with either engine.

Photo: Justin Pritchard

Common Issues: Low sales volumes and the low-mileage nature of the R8 mean reliability information is difficult to track down, though several potential issues and general guidelines should be considered by shoppers.

Start your test drive with a full check of the vehicle's tires and brakes. Ensure the seller isn't passing off a set of rubber or brake pads and rotors that are in imminent need of replacement. A tire-tread depth gauge can help. Squealing brakes are a sign of wear, and a mechanical inspection at an Audi dealer can help, too.

When shifting an Audi R8 with manual transmission, ensure the clutch bites hard and works without slippage. Some owners report electronic dialing-back of engine power when shifting quickly if the clutch is slipping, which is intended to increase durability.

Check all interior electronics twice, paying special attention to the MMI system and ensuring it activates, boots up and manipulates its various functions properly. Some owners reported that the system, from time to time, doesn't boot up. Ensure no “check engine” or “service vehicle” notifications are present in the instrument cluster, either.

Finally, inspect the Audi R8's paint for signs of blotchiness, “running” or repainting, which could indicate the model was in an accident.

Photo: Justin Pritchard

Sébastien Loeb (Citroën) added to his WRC win tally in Argentina, where he finished ahead of both Volkswagen drivers Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala.

Ogier led the event early on, but when he lost 40 seconds in ES7, Loeb moved passed him. The nine-time champion managed to maintain his lead, and concluded 55 seconds ahead the VW driver. 2013 marks Loeb's eight victory in Argentina.

Only one WRC round remains on the Frenchman part-time rally agenda: Rallye de France in October.

Sébastien Loeb, Citroën DS3 (Photo: citroen-wrc.com)

Despite ultimately losing, Volkswagen had a good weekend considering that Loeb is not a championship contender. Jari-Matti Latvala took the last podium position thanks to a late charge that allowed him to overtake Evgeny Novikov (Ford), who lost 40 seconds when he went wide in the last super special stage of Saturday.

Ogier now holds a huge lead in provisional championship classification. His closest rival is no other Sébastien Loeb, 52 points down, who only entered three WRC events out of five this season. Ogier's actual championship rival is Citroën's Mikko Hirvonen, now stands 63 points behind.


Final classification:
1. Loeb-Elena (Citroen DS3 Wrc) en 4.35'56”7
2. Ogier-Ingrassia (VW Polo Wrc) + 55”0
3. Latvala-Anttila (VW Polo Wrc) + 2'00”8
4. Novikov-Minor (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 2'36”7
5. Neuville-Gilsoul (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 4'40”5
6. Hirvonen-Lehtinen (Citroen DS3 Wrc) + 6'23”9
7. Ostberg-Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 11'02”2
8. Mikkelsen-Markkula (VW Polo Wrc) + 13'22”1
9. Sordo-Del Barrio (Citroen DS3 Wrc) + 13'22”3
10. Prokop-Ernst (Ford Fiesta RS Wrc) + 14'07”6
Etc.

Championship:
1. Ogier 120 points, 2. Loeb 68, 3. Hirvonen 57, 4. Latvala 50, 5. Ostberg 32, etc.