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From GMM

Pirelli is set to make only minor modifications to its 2013 Formula 1 tires after this weekend's Grand Prix of Bahrain.

It was believed F1's controversial official supplier would make significant changes to this year's heavily-degrading tires for Barcelona and beyond, but Paul Hembery said on Friday that most teams are actually pushing for the status quo.

(Photo: Pirelli)

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that, in fact, the only changes will be to the 'hard' and 'soft' compounds, with the 'medium' and 'super-soft' tires to be left untouched.

Correspondent Michael Schmidt said the minor changes to the compounds are designed simply to minimise the amount of graining.

"The final decision will be made on Tuesday in Milan," he wrote on Friday.

Pirelli's Hembery said the hard tires should be working perfectly on a 40 degree track in Bahrain, but actually the circuit is proving too cool for the compound.

"That's why I don't rule out that the working range will be slightly changed for the cooler European races," he confirmed.

Changes to the 'soft' are also possible, but "we'll decide later," Hembery said.

"The construction will be the same, because if we changed that even slightly, the aerodynamics would be affected.

"Red Bull wants a stronger intervention from us, but we can't just do that, because of the other teams.

"The majority of the teams actually want us to do nothing -- Red Bull can't expect us to tailor a tire just for them."

(Photo: Pirelli)

As for the super-soft and medium, "Both tires are doing what we expected of them," said Hembery.

He insisted he cannot understand the strength of some of the criticism so far in 2013.

"No one is able to say before the race who is going to win," said Hembery. "There are many different strategies, and overtaking.

"I think we have done our job well," he added.

Finally, he thinks Red Bull's campaign of public criticism has actually worked against the reigning champions.

"I think they've just united the other teams against them," said Hembery.

From GMM

McLaren threw Lewis Hamilton out of its garage during one of February's winter tests, the 2008 world champion claims.

Briton Hamilton, 28, rose through the junior ranks with the famous British team's backing, made his debut for McLaren in 2007 and won all of his 21 wins and his title with the Woking based squad.

But over the winter, he switched camps to Mercedes.

Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team

In a bid to keep his McLaren relationship alive, however, Hamilton said he tried to visit his old friends at Jerez on February, during the winter test period.

"I went to see them (McLaren) in Australia," he told F1's official website. "But I also tried to see them in Jerez, at the test, and there (sporting director) Sam Michael threw me out of the garage. That wasn't very positive and I don't feel very good about that."

Lewis Hamilton is believed to have fallen out badly with former mentor and McLaren supremo Ron Dennis, but he says his relationship with Martin Whitmarsh is intact.

"Martin has been great," he said, "and I have to say that I haven't had enough contact, so I will give Martin a call."

Mazda's all-out attack on excessive fuel consumption (known as SKYACTIV) via technologies and engineering efforts culminate in the 2014 Mazda6 sedan.

Stand-out styling inside and out, as well as the best real-life mileage I'd achieved in a comparable sedan all year boosted my opinion of the 2013 Mazda6 GS.


SKYACTIV explained
It might sound like some workout program or a line of men's underarm spray, but SKYACTIV is actually a brand name conceived for a slew of features and efforts that push gas-engine fuel-efficiency to all new levels.

Mostly, these efforts are at work in the 2014 Mazda6's powertrain. Direct injection works with an extremely high 13:1 compression ratio and specially shaped piston tops to harness the most energy possible from every molecule of fuel. A slick variable valve timing system, in conjunction with a supercomputer-designed exhaust manifold, help the engine breathe more easily.

There are, additionally, friction-reducing measures inside the engine and transmission used to keep all moving parts inside more lubed up than oil wrestlers at your local gentleman's club.

Other efforts are applied to keep weight down in the 2014 Mazda6, too. Ultimately, the very core of SKYACTIV technology is a gasoline engine that works the same way gasoline engines always have, but a lot more efficiently.

The specs?

• Dual cams
• 16 valves
• 4 cylinders
• 2.5L displacement
• 184 horsepower
• 185 pounds of torque.

All that on regular-grade gas.

SKYACTIV is actually a brand name conceived for a slew of features and efforts that push gas-engine fuel-efficiency to all new levels. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

She's a looker, too
Mazda didn't put all of the 2014 Mazda6's eggs in its gas-mileage basket, either. The Mazda6's new design language is alive and well in all the curves, sculpted-ness, and muscularity that defines its body. Dual exhaust, a front chin spoiler, and projector lights add a sophisticated, sporty flare to the sedan.

That sporty sophistication carries on inside, too thanks to black leather,
gloss trim, and an overall upscale atmosphere. There's a lot of depth and contrast to keep the eyes busy. There's plenty of at-hand space for your stuff in the 2014 Mazda6 GS, too.

My nicely equipped tester got navigation, a central command console, heated seats, automatic climate control, and more all alongside a 6-speed manual transmission. Delightfully, Mazda doesn't make you take a base-level car if you want to shift your own gears.

The Mazda6's new design language is alive and well in all the curves, sculpted-ness, and muscularity that defines its body. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

All grown up
Fuel efficiency has effectively kicked the mischievously responsive sportiness that helped define the original Mazda6 from the spotlight. The sports-car steering, engine sound and tight suspension have all been loosened up, quieted down and softened overall.

If you're after something spacious, comfortable and refined (with a touch of athletic flare), you probably won't be disappointed here. However, if you fell in love with the dynamic friskiness of the original Mazda6, you might be.

Steering, particularly, is on the quick side -- though somewhat vague and light, at least until highway speeds and beyond when the system tightens up. This makes the new 2014 Mazda6 easier to park, but less rewarding to toss around a back road. While still an entertaining car to push, it no longer feels as extensively engineered to connect with driving enthusiasts.

The 2014 Mazda6 is bigger, too. You get more room, a big trunk, adult-friendly rear seats, and a sense of your own relaxing space.. However, again, the compact fun-factor delivered by the original Mazda6 is now a subject for the history books.

Fuel efficiency has effectively kicked the mischievously responsive sportiness that helped define the original Mazda6 from the spotlight. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Big likes
My favourite thing? The powertrain. Economy aside, the SKYACTIV mill is liquid smooth, often noiseless, and has plenty of low-end torque. More than one passenger was surprised by the power output.

The low-friction gearbox operates with a soft, quick action, and works best when you change gears quickly, even if the clutch is on the soft side. The brakes feel powerful, precise, and easy to modulate in the 2014 Mazda6 GS, too.

The math
After 2,150 kilometres of driving in frigid mid-February temperatures on winter tires, I achieved a real-life, measured-by-hand overall mileage of 8.8L/100km. To compare, I achieved figures of 9.5L/100km in comparable versions of the 2013 Honda Accord and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu on recent test drives.

None of these testers was broken in, all were driven in the cold, and the Malibu was the only one not wearing winter tires. Translation? Owners can expect to achieve lower consumption figures in the 2014 Mazda6 than I recorded.

The low-friction gearbox operates with a soft, quick action, and works best when you change gears quickly, even if the clutch is on the soft side. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Other notes
A few minor complaints: Mainly, the navigation and infotainment system can be fussy at times, and if someone texts you while you're in reverse, you lose the backup camera in place of a SMS notification.

Cross-shopping the market? The new Accord is more engaging and responsive to drive, the Chevrolet Malibu is quieter, and the Nissan Altima with the up-level V6 is more of a hot rod. The 2014 Mazda6, ultimately, will appeal mainly on style, fuel mileage, powertrain refinement, and its great cabin.

Audi will field a fourth car at the Le Mans test on June 9th, two weeks ahead of the 24-hour event.

Marco Bonanomi, the Italian who is the Ingolstadt manufacturer's LMP1 test and reserve driver is expected to take the wheel of the fourth R18 e-tron quattro, despite being dropped by the team.

Despite Audi's intention to field a fourth car for the test, it - along with five other entries - does not have a confirmed entry for the prestigious event.

The team will also enter a third car for the 6 Hours of Spa, which takes place on May 4th.

Further entries to the Spa race will be made by Aston Martin Racing with another V8 Vantage in the GTE Pro category and AF Corse who will run another 458 in GTE Am.

Photo: Audi Motorsport

What is it?

TRANSCRIPT

Fisker Automotive was allowed to keep using money from a Energy Department loan after violating its terms multiple times, according to a research report.

Girsky's Mission: Mining Opel

Reviving GM's troubled European arm.

Queens, New York, native Stephen J. Girsky grew up in the epicenter of American car culture, Los Angeles. Now vice chairman of General Motors, in the 1990s he worked at Morgan Stanley and was one of Wall Street's most outspoken automotive analysts. With a sharp and early eye on all that was wrong with Detroit as the business limped into the twenty-first century, he formed S. J. Girsky and advised the United Auto Workers. Girsky joined GM's board of directors and represented the UAW in the 2009 bankruptcy. Girsky is on most Detroit shortlists of potential candidates to replace CEO Dan Akerson when he retires.

Photo Gallery: Girsky's Mission: Mining Opel - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: Girsky's Mission: Mining Opel - Automobile Magazine

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Greg May Chevrolet in West, Texas, is coping with damage and devastation. Last night, a blast at a fertilizer plant a mile from the store killed several people and injured more than 100.

Visteon CEO Tim Leuliette ruled out selling control of the company's climate-control business that South Korea's Mando has been seeking to buy.

Toyota plans to invest $360 million to bring production of the Lexus ES sedan to Kentucky, making it the first model from Toyota's premium brand to be built in the United States as the carmaker pushes to localize more manufacturing.

Ford has raised its stake in Jiangling Motors to 31.5% and is looking to increase it to as much as 32% over the next year, both companies have said.

Daimler and other global automakers will probably have to lower their forecasts after demand in Germany dropped the most in 2 1/2 years. The plunge in the German market is prompting companies to increase discounting, in turn pressuring earnings.

Subaru parent company Fuji Heavy Industries intends to end a shortage of its vehicles at U.S. dealerships soon by expanding capacity in the country, its largest market.

Sketches of the Volkswagen CrossBlue Coupe concept broke cover on Thursday, ahead of the Shanghai debut. We first saw the CrossBlue four-door SUV at the Detroit auto show in January.

Mercedes-Benz is poised to take aim at the growing compact crossover segment with the five-door GLA -- a vehicle company executives say will be packed with premium features but carry a competitive price tag.

Tobias Moers smiles as he hits the starter motor of the Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG 4Matic outside company headquarters in Affalterbach, Germany.

Toyota Motor has been offered US$146.5m in tax breaks by the state of Kentucky to add production capacity at its Georgetown plant where, a company source told Reuters, it will build the Lexus ES from 2015.

Forty-nine years to the day after its 1964 debut in New York, Ford's Mustang celebrated another milestone: 1m have rolled off the line at Flat Rock assembly plant since production moved there in 2004.

Ford of Europe achieved its highest monthly retail market share in three years in March.