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From Pirelli

Formula 1 entered a fresh era with the debut of new tire regulations for 2014 Friday at Albert Park in Melbourne, Australia.

The first new rule affects free practice, with the teams now allowed an extra set of tires to be used in the first 30 minutes of FP1 only: always of the harder compound from the two nominated.

Thanks to these new rules there was increased running, a total of 937 laps throughout both sessions Friday.

The P Zero White medium and P Zero Yellow tires that have been nominated for the Australian Grand Prix displayed no blistering or graining, with the performance gap between the two compounds currently in the region of two seconds.

The new tire rules also include an extra set of softer compound tires for all cars in qualifying.

These can only be used in Q3, after which they have to be returned to Pirelli. But the teams that do not get through to Q3 can keep them to use for the race. So in total, all teams are now allocated 13 rather than 11 sets of slick tires for every race this year.

“From what we can see so far, we were satisfied with both the performance and degradation of the medium and soft compounds, both of which are completely new this year,” said Pirelli's motorsport director, Paul Hembery.

“The degradation on the medium tire is very low, with degradation on the soft slightly higher. We've seen no blistering or graining at all today and also fewer marbles, so up to now we have met our objectives. The new tire regulations seem to have worked well so far, with the fans able to see more of the cars out on track, which was exactly the intention.”

Ferrari has plans to open a brand new amusement park at the PortAventura resort near Barcelona, Spain, where four million visitors spend time year in, year out. And it will be designed with families in mind, not just F1 enthusiasts.

Photo: Ferrari

When it begins operations in 2016, this new 807,000 sq.ft. Ferrari Land will boast Europe's tallest and fastest roller coaster, not to mention a driving simulator, five-star accommodations, and 250 hotel rooms.

Photo: Ferrari

“After the success of Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, we received many, many requests to develop new amusement parks,” Ferrari Brand CEO Andrea Perrone told Autoweek. “We carefully sifted through the various proposals and decided to accept Investindustrial's.”

Photo: Ferrari

Ferrari will continue to evaluate other proposals for theme parks outside Europe.

Source: autoweek.com

Vehicular evolution is what it's all about when it comes to new models, and kudos to Nissan for evolving the Altima in all the right ways. From the way it looks to how it handles and drives, the 2014 Nissan Altima is a better car all around.

To read about how, yes, I really did enjoy my week behind the wheel of a Nissan, check out my full review on AutoVenus.com.

Photo: Nissan

Here are the photos of the helmets of the 2014 Formula 1 drivers who will be competing in the FIA F1 World Championship.

Red Bull Racing
Chassis RB10
Engine: Renault
Sebastian Vettel (race number 1; will carry No. 5 when not champion)
Daniel Ricciardo (race number 3)

Sebastian Vettel (Photo: WRI2)

Daniel Ricciardo (Photo: WRI2)

Ferrari
Chassis F14 T
Engine: Ferrari
Fernando Alonso (race number 14)
Kimi Raikkonen (race number 7)

Fernando Alonso (Photo: WRI2)

Kimi Raikkonen (Photo: WRI2)

Mercedes AMG
Chassis W05
Engine: Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton (race number 44)
Nico Rosberg (race number 6)

Lewis Hamilton (Photo: WRI2)

Nico Rosberg (Photo: WRI2)

Lotus
Chassis E22
Engine: Renault
Romain Grosjean (race number 8)
Pastor Maldonado (race number 13)

Romain Grosjean (Photo: WRI2)

Pastor Maldonado (Photo: WRI2)

McLaren
Chassis  MP4-29
Engine: Mercedes
Jenson Button (race number 22)
Kevin Magnussen (race number 20)

Jenson Button (Photo: WRI2)

Kevin Magnussen (Photo: WRI2)

Sauber
Chassis C33
Engine: Ferrari
Adrian Sutil (race number 99)
Esteban Gutierrez (race number 21)

Adrian Sutil (Photo: WRI2)

Esteban Gutierrez (Photo: WRI2)

Sahara Force India
Chassis VJM07
Engine: Mercedes
Nico Hulkenberg (race number 27)
Sergio Perez (race number 11)

Nico Hulkenberg (Photo: WRI2)

Sergio Perez (Photo: WRI2)

Williams
Chassis FW36
Engine: Mercedes
Felipe Massa (race number 19)
Valtteri Bottas (race number 77)

Felipe Massa (Photo: WRI2)

Valtteri Bottas (Photo: WRI2)

Toro Rosso
Chassis STR9
Engine: Renault
Jean-Eric Vergne (race number 25)
Daniil Kvyat (race number 26)

Jean-Eric Vergne (Photo: WRI2)

Danill Kvyat (Photo: WRI2)

Caterham
Chassis CT05
Engine: Renault
Kamui Kobayashi (race number 10)
Marcus Ericsson (race number 9)

Kamui Kobayashi (Photo: WRI2)

Marcus Ericsson (Photo: WRI2)

Marussia
Chassis MR03
Engine: Ferrari
Jules Bianchi (race number 17)
Max Chilton (race number 4)

Jules Bianchi (Photo: WRI2)

Max Chilton (Photo: WRI2)

Consumer Reports has just compiled the best and worst used cars and trucks to buy from the 2004-2013 model years (prices in US dollars).

Best used cars under $10,000
Compact cars

• Toyota Prius (2004-2007)
• Scion xB (2004-2006)
• Pontiac Vibe (2005-2008)
• Toyota Matrix (2005-2007)

Sedans

• Hyundai Sonata (2007-2008)
• Acura TSX (2004)

SUVs

• Toyota Highlander V6 (2004)
• Mitsubishi Outlander (2007)

Best used cars from $10,000-$15,000
Compact cars

• Honda Fit (2001-2013)
• Kia Soul (2010-2011)

Sedans

• Mazda3 (2009-2012)
• Infiniti G35 (2006-2007)

SUVs

• Acura MDX (2004-2006)
• Toyota RAV4 (2006-2008)
• Honda CR-V (2005-2008)

Best used cars from $15,000-$20,000
Compact cars

• Hyundai Elantra (2012-2013)
• Subaru Impreza (2011-2013)

Sedans

• Toyota Camry (2011-2012)
• Toyota Camry Hybrid (2010-2011)
• Acura TL (2008)

SUVs

• Lexus RX (2006-2007)
• Subaru Forester (2009-2010, non-turbo models)

Best used cars from $20,000-$25,000
Sedans

• Toyota Avalon (2011)
• Lexus LS (2006)
• Lincoln MKZ (2011-2012)
• Ford Fusion Hybrid (2012)

SUVs

• Toyota Highlander Hybrid (2008-2009)
• Honda Pilot (2009-2010)

Worst used cars (in alphabetical order)

• BMW X5 (6-cyl.)
• Chevrolet Cruze (1.8L)
• Chevrolet Impala
• Chevrolet Uplander
• Chrysler PT Cruiser (non-turbo)
• Chrysler Town & Country
• Dodge Caravan
• Dodge Grand Caravan
• Dodge Journey
• Ford Explorer (V6)
• Ford F-250 and F-350 (diesel)
• Ford Fiesta
• Ford Flex (3.5L EcoBoost)
• GMC Acadia
• Lincoln MKT (EcoBoost)
• Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
• MINI Cooper S
• MINI Countryman
• Saturn Outlook
• Saturn Relay
• Volkswagen Beetle and New Beetle
• Volkswagen Touareg

Source: consumerreports.org

From GMM

The Mercedes drivers' charge for victory in Melbourne will be unfettered by 'team orders'.

16 years ago, McLaren enraged the spectators at Albert Park, having arrived for the 1998 season opener with its totally dominant car.

Now, the similarly-silver Mercedes cars are the class of the early 2014 field, but Nico Rosberg insists there will be no McLaren-style controversy this time.

"Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard had a deal in place in whichever driver got to the opening corner first would be allowed to win the race," he wrote in a column for the Daily Mail newspaper.

So when Hakkinen ran into mid-race trouble, Coulthard pulled over on the straight to let him back into the lead.

"I wouldn't like that and I don't think the team would either, so we are going to try and avoid such measures," German Rosberg added.

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG. (Photo: WRi2)

Team chairman Niki Lauda agrees that Rosberg and his teammate Lewis Hamilton will be free to race throughout the 2014 championship.

"They can race against each other and collect as many points as possible for the team," he told Germany's Sport1.

There have already been some signs of strain between the silver-clad duo, but Briton Hamilton insists he and Rosberg will cope with a heightened rivalry in 2014.

"Nico and I have known each other since we were 13," he is quoted in Melbourne by the Mirror. "We've raced and won and lost championships together.

"We will remain professional," he insisted.

General Motors now expects to lose three of its outside board members this year. Cynthia Telles, who joined the GM board in April 2010, plans to step down after the company's annual shareholder meeting this summer, GM said today.

Ally Financial has appointed Jeffrey Brown as CEO of Ally Dealer Financial Services, succeeding the veteran Bill Muir, who will retire later this year.

Three workers opposing unionization have sued Volkswagen and the UAW in a federal court, alleging that VW and the union improperly colluded in the run-up to a union election in Tennessee that the UAW lost.

A handful of manufacturers have offered four-wheel steering in the past including Honda,

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has appointed attorney Jeffrey Langer to the role of liaison between the CFPB and the auto finance industry, succeeding Rick Hackett. Langer's appointment, announced Wednesday, was effective immediately.

It's been an unfortunate week for Fiat-Chrysler recalls. We reported yesterday that the company issued return-to-dealer orders for the

The auto industry's international patent filings jumped 18 percent in 2013, the World Intellectual Property Organization said today, in part reflecting a push for new technologies to lower exhaust emissions.

As GM confronts the prospect of years of litigation following its delayed recall, CEO Mary Barra's more urgent challenge is to show the public that her company's culture has changed and GM is taking responsibility for the problem, crisis-control...

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety said rear cameras are more effective than parking sensors at preventing collisions while a driver is in reverse.

Ferrari and PortAventura Entertainment have inked a deal to build a new Ferrari Land amusement park inside the PortAventura resort near Barcelona, Spain.

New cars registered last year in the UK collectively met a European target for CO2 emissions, according to a new report published by the SMMT.

Chrysler Group said today it is recalling about 49,400 full-size Dodge Chargers for possible overheating of headlight parts.

BMW Group is about to launch its new Mini, a car that it describes as "The New Orginal", distinctly familiar but "completely new from the ground up".

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne predicted first-quarter earnings will rise amid 'strong' industrywide demand this month for Chrysler in the United States.