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Dubuc Super Light Car (SLC), based in Quebec City, today unveiled the electric version of its innovative Tomahawk kit car at the 2014 Quebec City Auto Show - less than two months after creating a buzz in Montreal.

While it was just a prototype, company president Mario Dubuc, who describes himself as a dreamer, visibly was quite emotional and proud of this culmination. The Tomahawk project started eight years ago, and Dubuc always thought about making an electric variant.

To make his dream a reality, he teamed up with two key partners: Local-based Gentec will supply the entire electric powertrain including the rear-mounted battery, while the University of Sherbrooke will take care of the control modules. This makes the new Tomahawk a 100% electric kit car that's 100% designed and engineered in Quebec.

Photo: Guillaume Rivard

While the gasoline-powered Tomahawk represents a $30,000-$35,000 total investment, Dubuc says Tomahawk EV buyers will have to spend about twice as much.

However, the beauty of this two-seat sports car lies in its all-aluminum unibody chassis wrapped in very lightweight polymer body panels, which results in a phenomenal power-to-weight ratio. What's more, it can be assembled approximately eight times faster than comparable vehicles (around 250 hours instead of nearly 2,000 hours).

Production will start in a few months with the first deliveries of the Tomahawk EV scheduled for 2015.

Quebec City mayor Régis Labeaume, who took part in the unveiling, used the opportunity to announce an investment of $200,000 for 18 new charging stations across the city.

The Pagani Zonda will bow out at the Geneva Auto Show with the final Zonda Revolucion (limited to only five units worldwide) set to join its new owner in Japan after the event.

As the ultimate version of the non-street legal Zonda R, this Pagani Zonda Revolucion comes in Carbon Blue and is priced at €2.2 million.

Weighing just 1,070 kilos thanks to its advanced carbon fibre body, the car is motivated by a 6.0L V12 engine that produces 800 horsepower and 538 lb-ft of torque. The 6-speed sequential transmission it's mated to changes gears in 20 milliseconds.

Source : gtspirit.com

Photo: Pagani

I know, I know, winter is coming to an end... eventually. But until the mercury creeps up past the 5C mark on a more regular basis and the white stuff melts away, winter tires are still very much on every driver's mind. Sadly, there will be another winter to deal with at the end of this year. So, best to be prepared, no?

When it comes to winter tires vs. all-season tires, there are some major differences, and major reasons as to why winter tires are always going to be the better option (especially if you live in an extreme-climate kinda place where temperatures drop crazy low and lots of snow and ice accumulate on the roads you travel on).

So, I'm going to give you a heads up on the top 5 winter tire features you should know about that are better than all-seasons and the reason you should spring for a set to sport during the colder months.

No. 5 -- It's all in the compound
Winter tires are designed with specialized high silica tread compounds that perform best at cold temperatures. As the temperature drops, non-winter tires (read: all season or summer) harden and lose grip with the road beneath. Imagine rolling around on hard plastic wheels on snow, you wouldn't exactly have a great deal of traction. So, winter tires feature compounds that ensure your rubber stays pliable and “soft” in order to offer that contact patch you need to keep your car safely planted on the snowy, icy, cold road surfaces.

No. 4 -- Tread patterns
A good winter tire will usually feature a unidirectional tread design that helps evacuate water and slush from the road's surface. An open tread design (as is featured on a winter tire) is better prepared to conquer snow, water, and slush. All-season tires have much smaller v-groove tread designs, and just don't have the ability to clear as much of the thicker moist stuff as well.

No. 3 -- Sipe is the word
What is a “sipe” you ask? Well, it's a tiny slit in the tread block of a tire. These sipes, which are usually referred to as 3D since they are in the tread blocks, ensure a better grip and performance on wet/moist pavement. They work in conjunction with the tread pattern. Bridgestone's brand new [link aritd="164644"]Blizzak WS80[/link] winter tires feature 3D sipes that are even featured on the tire sidewall for better lateral grip (cornering).

No. 2 -- It's -30C
All-season tires stop performing well below 7C. That's really not that cold at all. Winter tires are rated to -30C. True, the temperature can and does drop below that, but you've already got a jump on those all-season tire users with your winters that are able to perform and keep you safe on the road as the mercury drops.

No. 1 -- Because it's a matter of life and death
Truthfully, there is no better reason to get winter tires over all-seasons other than to preserve your own life and the lives of those around you. A winter tire could mean the difference between stopping in time and crashing into another vehicle or obstacle. It could mean the difference between making a corner and understeering into a barrier. A winter tire could mean the difference between leaving a light on time and being rear-ended by the car behind you because you can't move.

There is a truckload of choices out there, and there is a tire that's ideal for your vehicle and your driving habits. Make sure you visit our Winter Tire Buying Guide to help you figure out just how to keep yourself (and others on the road with you) safe in throughout the winter months.

From GMM

Jenson Button has tipped usual F1 backmarker Marussia to take a big step forwards in 2014.

Yet to score a single point in its Marussia or Virgin guises since 2010, the team did finally beat rival Caterham to the coveted tenth place in the constructors' championship last year.

And in pre-season testing ahead of the 2014 season, Marussia's new MR03 - powered by a Ferrari 'power unit' for the first time - looks considerably quicker than Caterham's struggling Renault-powered machine.

McLaren driver Button is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace: "It's interesting to see how some teams have improved their cars suddenly.

"There are several teams that are strong at the moment. Even Marussia -- their car is much better than last year. I think people will be surprised at how they are actually competitive," added Button.

Marussia MR03-Ferrari. (Photo: Marussia F1 Team)

From GMM

Fernando Alonso has tipped his departed Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa to be a "strong rival" in 2014.

After eight years in red, Brazilian Massa's move to the once-great British team Williams was seen as a clearly backwards step for the 11-time grand prix winner.

But after pre-season testing, Mercedes-powered Williams has emerged as one of the strongest forces for 2014, with Massa tipped as an outside chance for outright victory in Melbourne.

"I've talked with Felipe several times this year already," Spaniard Alonso is quoted by Brazil's Globo.

"He is happy, Williams has so much history in formula one and is not just any team, and they have had a very strong pre-season," he admitted.

"It is very positive because now they can be fighting. Felipe will definitely be a strong rival this year," added Alonso.

Felipe Massa (Williams) and Fernando Alonso (Ferrari). (Photo: WRi2)

Alonso also played down the constant suggestions that both he and Ferrari will struggle to cope with his rivalry with Massa's 2014 replacement, fellow champion Kimi Raikkonen.

"We are trying to work together, working for Ferrari and arriving in Australia to fight for the race. So let's have this internal competition - normal in every team - because we all want to be ahead of the other one, and hopefully this can help Ferrari," Alonso added.

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone has hinted for the first time that he may need to voluntarily step back from running formula one.

Until now, the F1 chief executive has been resolute in the face of the bribery affair, insisting the sport's owners CVC support him unless he is found criminally guilty in a forthcoming trial.

"We don't have any changes planned at the moment," a CVC source told F1 business journalist Christian Sylt, writing in the Guardian. "The board constantly reviews facts and circumstances and the current position is that no changes are planned."

But now, Ecclestone has been quoted as suggesting the affair is actually limiting his ability to run formula one effectively.

"I've been spending time on this (civil) case and to spend time on Munich I am not able to give what I normally would do, 24-7, to the business," he told the Financial Times.

"I've been looking, over the last few years, for somebody who can join me to assist with what I have to do. I will eventually be in a position, if I decide to retire - or unfortunately become dead - to have someone to step into my shoes," Ecclestone added.

However, it is believed the 83-year-old's Financial Times comments were made weeks ago, while Ecclestone told Sylt this week that the journalist "misunderstood him".

Christian Sylt also asked Ecclestone if he will be able to continue to run F1 during the Munich trial, and the diminutive Briton answered "of course".

Articles 3 Mar, 2014

Pictures of what appears to be a Maserati sports car concept leak online ahead of Geneva debut

Pictures See all 2 pictures 3 Mar, 2014

Two of the eight Corvettes swallowed Feb. 12 by a sinkhole at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky., were lifted out of the hole today and placed back in the showroom.

McLaren Automotive pulled the covers off the 650S at a special event on the eve of the show.

McLaren Automotive pulled the covers off the 650S at a special invitation only event on Monday afternoon.

Ford's UK fleet director Phil Hollins is responsible for UK market leader Ford's fleet sales. Dave Leggett recently caught up with him at a launch event for the new Transit Connect.

Whatever the secret of French carmaker Renault's crisis-defying performance, Carlos Tavares has taken it with him to domestic competitor PSA/Peugeot-Citroen.

Mercedes-Benz, the top-selling luxury-auto brand in the United States last year, extended its 2014 lead with record February sales on the strength of new models.

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen may seek more cost savings and does not rule out capacity cuts in France after 2016 if they are needed to turn the struggling carmaker around, new CEO Carlos Tavares said.

TORONTO (Reuters) -- Record-setting truck sales in Canada helped offset weaker demand for cars in February, automakers said today, as Chrysler Canada reported a 10 percent jump in monthly sales.

The Peugeot 308 was named Europe's Car of the Year after winning more votes than six other vehicles including electric autos from BMW and Tesla Motors, providing a boost to PSA/Peugeot-Citroen, which is struggling to return to profit.

Last week the world got a glimpse of Ukrainian ex-president

Audi has unwrapped its new TT at a media preview proceeding tomorrow's

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn is widely recognized as one of the greatest painters and printmakers to have ever lived. No mean feat, to be sure, but why is Bugatti celebrating his life and work with the special-edition Veyron 16.