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After he claimed victory in the fourth day of the Dakar rally, Carlos Sainz moved up to into the lead of the event ahead of four MINI X-Raid cars.

The Spaniard, who started the day in fourth placeoverall, won his first stage of the event aboard his buggy SMG, taking the overall lead while the MINI drivers hit troubles.

After he took race lead on Tuesday, Juan Roma lost 15 minutes as he was opening the road between San Juan and Chilecito, Argentina.

At the end of the fourth stage, Sainz was quickest ahead of the MINI X-Raids of Stephane Peterhansel, Nasser Al-Attiyah, Federico Villagra and Juan Roma.

Sainz now holds the overall lead, 2m06 ahead of Roma, 6m56 in front of Nasser Al-Attiyah, 13m08 ahead of Orlando Terranova and 18m10 ahead of Stephane Peterhansel. Driving his Toyota Hilux, Giniel de Villiers stands in 6th position.

Carlos Sainz, Red Bull Buggy SMG. (Photo: Dakar.com)

NASCAR officials have released the list of teams and drivers who will be taking part in the Sprint Cup test sessions held at Daytona International Speedway.

All times ET

THURSDAY, JAN. 9:
-- 9 a.m.-noon ET, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice
-- 1-5 p.m. ET, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice (FOX Sports 1)

FRIDAY, JAN. 10:
-- 9 a.m.-noon ET, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice
-- 1-5 p.m. ET, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice (FOX Sports 1)

NSCS DAYTONA TEST JANUARY 9-10, 2014
Car #  Team  Driver
1  Ganassi  Jamie McMurray
2  Penske  Brad Keselowski
3  RCR  Austin Dillon
4  SHR  Kevin Harvick
5  HMS  Kasey Kahne
7  TBR  Michael Annett
9  RPM  Marcos Ambrose
10  SHR  Danica Patrick
11  JGR  Denny Hamlin
13  Germain  Casey Mears
14  SHR  Mark Martin
15  MWR  Clint Bowyer
16  RFR  Greg Biffle
17  RFR  Ricky Stenhouse
18  JGR  Kyle Busch
20  JGR  Matt Kenseth
21  WBR  Trevor Bayne
22  Penske  Joey Logano
24  HMS  Jeff Gordon
26  Swan  Cole Whitt
27  RCR  Paul Menard
30  Swan  Parker Kligerman
31  RCR  Ryan Newman
32  FAS  Reed Sorenson
33  RCR  Brian Scott
40  Hillman  Landon Cassill
41  SHR  Kurt Busch
42  Ganassi  Kyle Larson
43  RPM  Aric Almirola
48  HMS  Jimmie Johnson
51  Phoenix  Justin Allgaier
52  Phoenix  Bobby Labonte
55  MWR  Michael Waltrip
56  MWR  Jeff Burton
83  BKR  Alex Bowman
87  Nemco  Joe Nemechek
88  HMS  Dale Earnhardt, Jr
93  BKR  Ryan Truex
95  Leavine  Michael McDowell
99  RFR  Carl Edwards
152 in 2013  B Keselowski  Brian Keselowski
47  JTG - not testing
78  Furniture Row - not testing
34, 35, 36, 38  Front Row - not testing
98  Phil Parsons - not testing

From GMM

Adrian Sutil has questioned Lotus' decision to sit out the opening test of the official 2014 pre-season period.

The Enstone based team - who like Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari scored more than 300 points last year - announced this week that attending Jerez late this month "isn't ideal for our build and development programme".

German Sutil will drive for Sauber in 2014, a team that like Lotus publicly struggled with its finances throughout last season.

But the 30-year-old driver indicated Sauber will definitely be at Jerez, where teams will have their first chance to put their 2014 cars through their paces, featuring all-new turbo V6 engines and energy recovery systems.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus E21. (Photo: WRi2)

"This is a very important test, and we don't have much (testing) so I think it's clear that it will be a disadvantage for Lotus. But who knows why they decided it? I would say it is definitely not good," Adrian Sutil told Reuters.

Sutil acknowledged, however, that difficult financial circumstances could also continue to hinder Sauber's progress, although he sounded confident the Swiss team will succeed.

"I think it's all in there, they have the knowledge of how to do it," he said. "If that financial part comes better and better I think this team will make a big step."

Unlike several other categories, Formula 1 cars are fitted with carbon fibre brakes that provide outstanding braking power and consistency.

These brakes come from the aerospace and aeronautic worlds, and have been adapted to serve racing purposes in the early ‘80s. Carbon-carbon material was then used to make rocket nozzles, parts of missiles as well as the brakes of commercial jet aircrafts.

Carbon-carbon is a hard material that is highly resistant to thermal expansion, temperature gradients, and thermal cycling. This is why it so well fitted for making the brakes of an F1 car.

Carbon-carbon disc and caliper. (Photo: Brembo)

Glowing red
Current F1 cars are now capable of decelerating from 300 km/h to a full-stop safely in just 4 seconds, generating a deceleration of almost 6g. The brake force - the pressure that the driver applies on the brake pedal - ranges between 40 and 160kg. Under most severe braking condition, the temperature on the carbon brake disc exceeds 1200° Celsius, making them to glow red.

Because of the complexity of the process of making carbon-carbon, very few companies produce carbon brakes. One of them is Italian Brembo, which has been involved in F1 since 1975.

Brembo supplies complete braking systems to five teams, and only the carbon material to a few other more. During the course of a full season, each team of two cars is supplied 10 sets of calipers, as well as between 140 and 240 discs, and from 280 to 480 pads.

Serious front wheel lock up on Nico Rosberg's Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

Weight saving
Another great advantage of carbon brakes is a very low weight. The corner weight of an iron brake system of a high performance production car weighs 20kg in comparison to just 6kg with a full carbon unit.

The disc has a maximum diameter of 278mm and its thickness varies between 22 and 28mm for a weight of 1400g.

The 6-piston calipers are made of an aluminium-lithium alloy, and are mono-block machined from forging. Each caliper weighs only 1600 to 1800g.

Producing the discs require a series of long and painstaking processes. It all begins with raw material consisting of filaments produced from precursor polymer, commonly rayon, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) or petroleum pitch.

The disc is preformed, molded with resin or by needling. Then, the filaments are heated to approximately 300° C in air. The oxidized material is then placed into a furnace having an atmosphere of a gas such as methane, and heated to approximately 2000° C, which induces graphitization and densification of the material, changing the molecular bond structure.

Finally, the disc is then machined to the proper, final shape.

Complete brake assembly. (Photo: Brembo)

Increased ventilation
For last season, new brakes needed to be designed to meet the challenge of the new Pirelli tires which are 2kg heavier and have softer compounds. It is now even more important to manage the car during braking to avoid the damage caused by locking up the wheels and to limit wear for tires.

To help dissipate the intense heat, the number of ventilation holes has increased dramatically. Each disc as more holes of a smaller diameter. Back in 2008, each disc only had 30 big holes. In 2012, each one had about 200 and last year, it was up to 1,000!

From press release

Based in the Canadian Maritimes, Parts for Trucks Pro Stock Tour announced their 2014 racing schedule.

The premier stock car racing series will make stops in five Maritime markets in its 14th season. The 12- race schedule includes six extended distance events of more than 100 feature laps.

Schedule highlights include the IWK 250, which will run on July 19th at Riverside International Speedway and the Atlantic Cat 250 which will take place at Scotia Speedworld on August 9th. Race sponsors and support classes for each event will be released in the coming weeks.

Date  Track  Laps   Location
Saturday, May 24  Scotia Speedworld  100  Halifax, NS
Saturday, May 31  Petty International Raceway  100   River Glade, NB
Saturday, Jun. 14  Riverside International Speedway  150   Antigonish, NS
Saturday, Jun. 21  Scotia Speedworld  150   Halifax, NS
Saturday, Jun. 28  Petty International Raceway   100  River Glade, NB
Saturday, Jul. 5  Speedway 660  100  Fredericton, NB
Saturday, Jul. 19  Riverside International Speedway  250  Antigonish, NS
Saturday, Aug. 2  Oyster Bed Speedway  100  Oyster Bed Bridge, PEI
Saturday, Aug. 9  Scotia Speedworld  250  Halifax, NS
Saturday, Aug. 23  Petty International Raceway   150  River Glade, NB
Saturday, Sept. 6  International Speedway  100  Antigonish, NS
Saturday, Sept. 13  Scotia Speedworld   200  Halifax, NS

The media were all over this vehicle at the recent 2013 L.A. Auto Show, and who could blame them. Up close, this concept vehicle is drop dead gorgeous, and if rumours are to be believed (the new Legacy will contain approximately 70% of what was revealed in L.A., and the production model will appear in the very near future -- possibly at the 2014 Chicago Auto Show), then Subaru could be embarking on a whole new direction for its Legacy.

Now, I know we've heard this before with concepts (the new 2015 WRX isn't exactly 100% of the concept we were first shown in New York). However, take a really close look at the photographs of this car because, in my opinion, if the finished product ends up 70% of this, then Subaru is onto a real winner here!

Let's face it, the current Legacy is a fine automobile but this concept vehicle is simply one massive collection of improvements. In my opinion, it screams top-tier and, although the current model is no ugly duckling, it isn't often considered a prestige automobile. I guess we'll just have to wait to see just how many of these improvements make the final cut.


Exterior Styling
The exterior styling of the 2015 Subaru Legacy Concept is simply wow, and we've already seen some of this working its way into production (the headlamp styling is somewhat similar to those seen on the new 2015 Subaru WRX), so let's use our imagination here for a moment and try to visualize what exactly 70% will look like.

These are my thoughts: Expect the 20” rims to be replaced with perhaps 17s/18s; the door mirrors need to be larger, and the headlamps will probably end up covered for aerodynamic reasons. I've also heard tell that the concept vehicle shown was purposely built on a slightly larger scale to better demonstrate the design, so try to picture it more along the size of the current Legacy.

Photo: Kevin Corrigan

Interior Design
The interior of the 2015 Subaru Legacy Concept is probably the area in which most of the changes will occur. After all, in its current state, it is rather Buzz Lightyear in design. However, think 70% again: The seats will probably be the first things to go. After all, I can't see a four-seater Legacy with a huge rear tunnel working for devoted Subaru customers. No, that's way too much of a stretch for my imagination, even on a good day! Plus, Subaru just replaced its fixed-headrest design in the WRX with separate adjustable units, so I can't picture those fixed headrest seats going into the production Legacy.

The dash and centre display is obviously somewhat ultra-modern, but then we've seen similar styling already on other manufacturers' products (the odd Lincoln product comes to mind), so this may alter slightly but perhaps not as much as we'd imagine.

There were two items that immediately jumped out at me on this vehicle and I hope they make the final cut -- the first is the steering wheel that I absolutely adore. The other, an item rarely considered, is the rather stylish treatment to the foot pedals. A small thing perhaps but when you see this done right, it makes a real difference!

Photo: Kevin Corrigan

Drivetrain
As I've previously mentioned, the hood was sealed and I was told there was no engine beneath the cover. Of course, this being a Subaru product, we can probably take a wild shot in the dark at what might end up under there.

Cargo Capacity
Again, a sealed trunk, yet it appeared quite sizable from the outside. Of course, we need to remember that the 2015 Subaru Legacy Concept was slightly oversized in the first place.

Comparable Models
It's a little difficult to compare a concept vehicle until we've seen the finished product. However, if the final production model ends up being 70% of what was on display in L.A. (or even somewhere close to that figure!) then I have a feeling that some of those higher-end manufacturers may start having a few sleepless nights. So, well done Subaru, I'm truly impressed!

Engineering students at Sherbrooke University in Quebec have developed an autonomous electric vehicle which they presented this week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. They also announced a partnership with Elektrobit, a Finnish company specialized in automotive software.

With a top speed of 120 km/h, the Sherbrooke VUE (Vehicule Urbain Electrique) is based on a 2006 smart fortwo and provides a range of about 64 kilometres.

The project started in 2011 with the goal of finding alternative urban mobility solutions. In the next few months, the students will focus on advanced driver-assistance technologies to make the VUE a fully autonomous vehicle.

Obstacle and road sign detection systems, a web-based remote control device, and custom-designed propulsion and battery management systems are already part of the package.

Pros: Handling response, steering precision and dynamic stability are top notch here, making the BRZ one of the ultimate driver's cars in its price range. The snarly BOXER engine is a joy to open up and drive with intent, and the overall package is exciting and fast. Fuel mileage is appreciably good, thanks to the modern two-litre engine, too.

Cons: As a coupe-only design, the BRZ offers tight rear seats and limited headroom which might preclude it from the shopping list of larger drivers. Comparable sports sedan and hatchback models offer added room and utility.


2014 Subaru BRZ Pricing: 2014 Subaru BRZ pricing works thusly: $27,295 opens the bidding for the standard model with manual transmission, while the feature-enhanced BRZ Sport-tech package is priced from $29,295 with keyless access, push-button start, heated seats, fog lamps and more. A full range of accessories is available for customization, too.

2014 Subaru BRZ Fuel Economy: Depending on the transmission selected, look for fuel economy to range between 5.9 and 6.6 L / 100km during highway cruising and between 8.3 and 9.6 L /100km during city driving. High-octane fuel is required.

Improvements and Changes: Launched just last year, there are no notable changes for the Subaru BRZ as it enters model-year 2014.

Don't Miss: The impressive real-world fuel economy. With a variety of fuel-saving engineering implements under the hood, standard 6-speed transmissions and a lightweight and aerodynamic body, the BRZ puts fuel away at a surprisingly low rate in exchange for its pleasing performance. Don't miss standard features like Navigation and HID headlights, either.

2014 Subaru BRZ Powertrain: The BRZ's engine generates a free-revving and highly-thrifty 200 horsepower thanks to Direct Injection technology and variable cam timing, but that's only half the story. The ‘Boxer' engine architecture means the engine is wide and flat, and that it can be mounted low within the BRZ's engine compartment. This translates into an ultra low centre of gravity for exceptional handling response and balance. Ultimately, the new 2-litre 4-cylinder engine gives the BRZ some thrilling acceleration figures—but also helps it handle beautifully, too. All models are rear-wheel drive and come with a 6-speed transmission in the driver's choice of manual or automatic with paddle shifters. Typically found in pricier, more powerful cars as an option, BRZ packs a standard Torsen Limited Slip Differential (LSD) for maximum traction during hard acceleration for added stability and confidence.

Safety: Proven Subaru safety attributes are all included as standard—including a crash-optimized body structure, advanced antilock brakes, a full array of intelligent airbags and high-strength front seat frames. The BRZ has been recognized as an IIHS Top Safety Pick as well, demonstrating the model's commitment to active safety and crash-impact performance. The 5-mode driver-selectable Vehicle Stability Control system and traction control system allow the driver to tailor the system to respond to outdoor conditions as well as their performance needs. With a special setting for ‘snow', traction is actively enhanced, even in the most slippery situations.

Comparables: The BRZ competes with its twin, the Scion FR-S, as well as established compact heavy-hitters like the VW GTI and Honda Civic Si.

Photo: Subaru

From GMM

Caterham has announced it will have its 2014 car ready for the start of official 2014 testing.

Lotus, fourth in 2013 but struggling with financial problems, said earlier this week it will not be at Jerez for the first four-day test, which will feature all-new cars and turbo V6 engines for the first time.

But the other teams are all expected to be in southern Spain, with Jerez one of only three four-day tests scheduled before March's Melbourne season opener.

Caterham CT03. (Photo: WRi2)

Adrian Sutil has indicated Sauber, having also struggled financially in 2013, will be at all three tests at Jerez and Bahrain, and backmarker Caterham said on Wednesday it will also have its 2014 car ready to run.

"We'll be at all three tests," the team announced on Twitter, "and we'll unveil the 2014 car on the morning of day one (of the first test), 28 January."

However, Caterham - having fielded Giedo van der Garde and Charles Pic in 2013 - is yet to announce its race drivers for the new season.

"Knew we'd forgotten something!" Caterham joked when asked by one of its 160,000 followers if it was "not bothering" about signing drivers for 2014.

The 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit will feature the world premiere of the Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion Concept. This fuel-efficient midsize sedan boasts an all-new version of the 1.4L EA211 TSI engine with direct injection and turbocharging.

It also offers Active Cylinder Management (ACT), making it the world's first inline four-cylinder engine with cylinder deactivation technology. Additional fuel savings come from the Passat BlueMotion Concept's stop/start system.

The striking Reef Blue Metallic colour to be shown in Detroit will eventually be introduced on other Passat models, too. Meanwhile, the interior presents two-tone seats that carry blue dividing lines between the darker and lighter leather surfaces.

Photo: Volkswagen

From GMM

Team boss Eric Boullier on Thursday played down Lotus' decision to sit out the opening test of the 2014 pre-season.

The Enstone based team finished last season a competitive fourth, but also grappling publicly with financial matters.

So the admission this week that Lotus will not be at Jerez, where most other teams will run their all-new V6-powered 2014 cars for the first time, raised renewed alarm bells about Lotus' financial health and competitiveness going forwards.

But Frenchman Boullier said other teams will also be joining Lotus on the sidelines.

"You will see, we will not be the only team not being in Jerez," he told the BBC. "I know this for a fact already."

Lotus E21. (Photo: WRi2)

In the team announcement earlier this week, technical boss Nick Chester said Lotus' decision was because Jerez in late January "isn't ideal for our build and development programme".

But Eric Boullier admitted the E22 will simply "not be ready on time".

"We will be ready shortly after that," he insisted, "and in some ways, it is not bad because we will have time to watch what the others are doing and nobody will be able to watch what we are doing."

However, he also said he has "concerns" about missing the initial four-day test, which will only be followed by eight days of running in Bahrain prior to Melbourne.

"So we have to focus on doing things a little bit differently to make sure we do not lose too much," added Eric Boullier.

Canada's largest private-sector union plans to hold an organization vote for about 7,000 workers at two Toyota assembly plants in Ontario early this year.

Departing General Motors CEO Dan Akerson says he believes the appointment of Mary Barra as his successor instantly transformed the image of GM into that of a more progressive company.

The United States House of Representatives has taken a step toward enabling automobile dealers to bypass a law requiring them to provide emissions certification on cars and light trucks, a rule that auto dealers say adds burdensome red tape to the...

Mexican auto production and exports rose last year to record highs on strong demand from the United States and Canada

AutoNation said CFO Mike Short has left the company effective Tuesday. AutoNation's treasurer, Cheryl Scully, has been named interim CFO, the company said in a statement Tuesday.

David Strickland, the outgoing administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, will join Venable LLP, a Washington corporate law firm, as a partner by the end of January, the firm said today.

Nissan said today it will only slightly increase the prices for its electric Leaf for 2014, adding $180 to the sticker price of each of its three trim levels.

Diversified auto supplier Federal-Mogul has agreed to acquire Honeywell's automotive and industrial brake friction business for about $155 million.

The madness of Arizona in January is almost upon us, with seven auction houses readying thousands of cars for auctions that will begin next week.