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Chrysler introduced its pushbutton automatic shifter in 1956, and continued selling cars with this feature through the 1964 model year.

Every year at the

Some say he downloaded his entire browsing history into his right pinky. Some say he linked his YouTube account to his brain and now translates comments into Swahili. All we know is, he's called the Stig.

News 24 Jan, 2014

Toyota increases standard kit and drops the price on selected RAV4 models, to mark the SUVs 20th anniversary

From the Muppets to James Franco and British villains, Hollywood will be working hard for the auto industry during the Super Bowl.

Kia posted fourth-quarter profit that missed estimates as a stronger won cut exports.

Toyota is leaving nothing to chance as it plunges into sales of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles next year and aims to defy those who are skeptical of the technology.

Hyundai said fourth-quarter net income climbed 15 percent over the previous year, but forecast sales growth would hit an eight-year low in 2014 as competition intensifies and the stronger won hampers exports.

A French auto robotics company is taking development of autonomous vehicles in a new direction that could lead to public acceptance of the fledgling technology.

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone does not think multimillionaire Nascar team owner Gene Haas can afford to enter formula one in 2015.

Haas, with an estimated net worth of $740 million, announced recently that he has responded to the FIA's 'call for expressions of interest' in filling the vacant slot in pitlane.

Haas co-owns the Nascar team Stewart-Haas, heads one of the best wind tunnels in the world, and according to Auto Motor und Sport he would start in F1 with a healthy three-digit million budget.

But F1 chief executive Ecclestone told Racer he thinks it "most unlikely" Haas will enter F1, because of the sport's huge costs.

"They (Haas) have been talking about it for three years," F1 business journalist Caroline Reid quoted Ecclestone as saying.

"Somebody can have 10 billion in the bank but it doesn't mean they are going to spend it."

From GMM

2014 could be major F1 sponsor UBS' last season in the sport.

We reported a year ago that the Swiss global financial services company, having entered F1 in 2010, is now considering pulling out.

It was reported that current chief executive Sergio Ermotti was studying the wisdom of the deal entered into by his predecessor Oswald Grubel, who also took Credit Suisse into F1, and was a former BMW-Sauber board member.

Now, Schweiz am Sonntag newspaper reports that the EUR 40 million per year UBS sponsorship looks set to end.

The report said that, officially, the decision will be taken shortly, "but this is only a formality", as the exit has already been internally agreed.

Photo: WRi2

From GMM

Martini, the Italian alcoholic drink label, is returning to formula one.

That is the claim of Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, reporting that the former Ferrari sponsor will return with its well-known logo on the Williams livery this year.

Correspondent Tobias Gruner said Martini has pledged a "two digit million sum" for its F1 return, which will be warmly welcomed by Williams following the departure of Pastor Maldonado and his PDVSA millions.

Martini was last in F1 during Ferrari's Jean Todt era, but its involvement dates back much further, including when it sponsored Bernie Ecclestone's Brabham team in the 70s.

Carlos Reutemann, Brabham Alfa Romeo, Brésil, 1976 (Photo: WRi2)

Lotus F1 Team unexpectedly released Friday morning an image of its 2014 Formula 1 car, just as McLaren was unveiling its MP4-29.

The E22 retains its famous black livery.

Gerard Lopez's Genii Business Exchange logo appears on the sidepods while the logo PDVSA, the Venezuelan petroleum company close to new driver Pastro Maldonado, appears on the engine cover and the rear wing endplates.

Lotus will not participate in next week's Jerez winter test.

The British team also announced this morning that boss Eric Boullier had left the team with immediate effect, with Lopez taking over the duties of team principal.

Lotus E22-Renault. (Photo: Lotus F1 Team)

Later Friday, Lotus released with second image of the E22. (Photo: Lotus F1 Team)

During an interview he gave prior to his participation to the 24 Hours Rolex of Daytona, Briton Justin Wilson confirmed that he would be back with Dale Coyne Racing for the upcoming 2014 IndyCar season.

Dale Coyne had an option on Wilson for 2014, and he apparently decided to take it up, although Wilson would not say if he would be with the team for just one year or longer.

In 2013, Wilson was working with engineer Tony Pappas. However, Pappas has decided to move over to Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Coyne hired veteran engineer Michael Cannon to work with Wilson.

The team is expected to run its first tests in February and Wilson should know then who will his teammate.

Justin Wilson, Dale Coyne Racing. (Photo: IndyCar)

From press release

On Sunday, February 9, NASCAR star Mike Skinner will be at the Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News in Toronto.

During his appearance, the versatile racer will sign autographs for the fans and participate in an on-stage Q&A session. The CME takes place February 7, 8 & 9 in Hall 5 of Toronto's International Centre.

After starting his racing career on California's dirt tracks in the 1970s, Skinner progressed to the asphalt Late Model wars in the eastern United States before gaining NASCAR fame in the newly launched NASCAR Truck Series.

About the same time, he caught the attention of legendary team owner Richard Childress, who would eventually team Skinner, at RCR, alongside of seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champ Dale Earnhardt at the sport's highest level.

During his appearance at the show, Skinner will bring a lifetime of racing stories and memories of the people he's met through motorsports to share with Canadian fans.

Joining him will be his wife, Angie Skinner, who co-hosts the popular Sirius XM Speedway satellite radio show, weekdays on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio. Angie - who is also the Director of Marketing & Sales for Ryan Newman Motorsport - will be participating in the Meet The Media Panel Discussion on Saturday afternoon at the CME, featuring Canada's top motorsports journalists.

Many drivers try, but very few of them can actually match Ken Block's world-class drifting skills. HPI, which sells a scale Ford Fiesta HFHV, has re-enacted the entire Gymkhana SIX video released in November... with a remote controlled car!

Source : caradisiac.com

From GMM

Sergio Perez underwent knee surgery during the winter period, he has revealed.

The Mexican admitted that his switch from F1 grandee McLaren to the midfield team Sahara Force India was not the only major event in his life since the end of the 2013 season.

"I had a knee operation, from which I have fully recovered," said the 23-year-old, who will be paired this year with the highly rated Nico Hulkenberg.

"Since then, I have been doing some really good work with my trainers, back home. They came over to Mexico and we did both rehabilitation and a lot of physical work to get fully fit for the first day of testing," added Sergio Perez.

Photo: Sahara Force India F1 Team

Similar to Toyota and many other automakers, Audi and Volkswagen have prepared commercials that will air during this year's Super Bowl on February 2nd.

Audi is teasing us with the launch of a new model, while the folks at Volkswagen aimed to create the perfect Super Bowl commercial.

Former Red Bull Racing Formula 1 driver, Mark Webber will be driving alongside German Timo Bernhard and New Zealander Brendon Hartley at Porsche Motorsport this season.

The three drivers will share one of the two works Porsche 919 LMP1 hybrid car in this year's FIA World Endurance Championship and the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.

The second works 919 will be driven by Frenchman Romain Dumas, German Marc Lieb and Swiss Neel Jani who also has some Formula 1 experience under his belt.

Photo: Porsche

Bentley Motors is now presenting its range of luxury home and executive furniture at the Maison & Objet fair in Paris among the ''Special Designs'' labels. The collection includes ultra-premium sofas and armchairs, as well as a bed and sideboard.

The colour palette is natural, featuring mocha, cognac, taupe, quartz, grey and ice, flanking variations of purple-red, burgundy, brick red or blue. Hints of male attire, pinstripe or houndstooth are introduced into sophisticated velvets and the lightest of cashmeres, crafted with three-dimensional patterns.

Prices have yet to be announced, but don't expect these pieces of furniture to be even remotely affordable.

Photo: Bentley