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Chloe, Justine and Maxime Dufour-Lapointe, the now-famous trio who dominated mogul skiing competitions this winter, particularly at the Olympics in Sochi, have each received a brand new car from Volkswagen Canada.

Their parents got a new Jetta, as well.

The flying sisters used to spend time in the family's Volkswagen during their childhood.

Source : Volkswagen Canada (Twitter)

Photo: Volkswagen

Former CART, IndyCar and NASCAR series' competitor Patrick Carpentier will take part in his first FIA World Rallycross Championship event in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec in August.

Carpentier will drive the Marley's Mellow Mood VW Polo Supercar for team Marklund Motorsport.

Carpentier's returns to Le Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres for the first time since he swept both round of the Formula Atlantic Championship held in 1996.

The Canadian also has some ice racing experience, having contested the famed Sherbrooke race a little more than 10 years ago in an Opel Tigra.

Photo: FIA World Rallycross Championship

Earth day or week or year, is all about being green (or blue or whatever colour's trending at the moment) and environmentally conscientious.

We love being nice to the planet but hate having to give up some of our favourite things such as tire smoke, tire shredding, and screaming tires.

With that in mind, we've come up with a short list of cars that combine the best of both worlds.

Continue reading Top 10 Mean & Green cars for Earth Day!

BRIO is a network of car washes that's set to revolutionize the industry thanks to an intelligent system that recycles and filters used water. Additionally, it will join Quebec's Electric Circuit and deploy 12 public charging stations for electric vehicles at four of its car washes including in Magog,Varennes, Terrebonne, and Trois-Rivieres.

A traditional car wash uses up to 300 litres of water, but BRIO has designed the first intelligent car wash with a system that recycles 95% of the water it uses. In addition, BRIO uses and recycles rainwater, reducing its consumption of drinking water. BRIO's car wash buildings are made of steel and all washing products are certified Blue Coral Beyond Green.

“We have laid the groundwork for our car washes,” said Mario Di Palma, President of BRIO. “Our plan calls for a network of 50 car washes, each equipped with public charging stations for electric vehicles, which will provide greater geographical coverage in Quebec.”

Source: news.hydroquebec.com

A little Bridgestone history
The Dueler HL Alenza nameplate was launched in 2004. So, if you've heard of it before, that's why. Among its strong points were its quiet ride and clean appearance. Furthermore, it catered to luxury SUVs and light trucks like the Infiniti QX, Acura MDX, BMW X5, [link artid="162724"]GMC Sierra, and more. Additionally, the Bridgestone Dueler HL Alenza became a segment leader and was recognized for its all-season traction and ability.

Photo: Alexandra Straub

Why people like/buy Bridgestone Dueler HL Alenza Plus tires
When Bridgestone surveyed consumers, they found that they purchased the Alenza because of the price (high perceived value, further improved by the Alenza Plus), and a salesman recommendation.

They also mention that the consumers were very satisfied with the noise level, wet traction, and steering responsiveness of the Alenza.

With the luxury crossover, SUV,and light truck segments steadily growing, Bridgestone has positioned themselves in a pretty good spot.

Now, they've even improved a tried-and-test product.

What's new on the Bridgestone Dueler HL Alenza Plus
Launched in January of 2014 the tires now use a new tread compound that contains 5% recycled rubber. Additionally, they aid in your car's fuel economy due to an increased (10% better) rolling resistance. The treadwear warranty also increases to 128,000 kilometres (80,000 miles.)

Photo: Alexandra Straub

Impressions
The primary testing ground in which we put the new Dueler HL Alenza Plus tire through its paces was a wet skid pad.

We did back-to-back testing with the Bridgestones against the Goodyear Assurance CS tires.

When the track was drier, both tires performed well. There wasn't a huge difference in traction since we were driving under more favourable conditions. However, it was in the wet that the Bridgestone had the competitive edge.

Granted, we were pushing the cars and the limits of the tires quite far.

When understeer occurred in the Acura MDX, I found the Bridgestone Dueler HL Alenzas regained traction with less steering input, whereas the Goodyears required a little bit more.

In higher-speed, tighter corners, I also felt more firmly planted than on the Goodyears.

Under hard braking, there wasn't too much slipping and sliding going on. It also helped that the temperature outside wasn't too cold.

During the short test time, I can't really report on fuel economy savings! However, there is a smoothness to the tires, even on adverse or imperfect road surfaces.

Alexandra Straub

Specifications for the Bridgestone Dueler HL Alenza Plus
When it comes to the specifications of the Dueler HL Alenza Plus tires, they have speed ratings of T, H, V, and W. They are offered in 34 sizes, with 15” to 20” rim diameters and have 45-75 series.

From GMM

Niki Lauda gave Lewis Hamilton a 'money can't buy' reward for securing his first-ever F1 hat-trick -- a ride on his own private jet.

"I told him 'If you win, I'll fly you back' (to Europe)," Mercedes' team chairman told Bild newspaper.

Lauda, not only a F1 legend but also a world-famous aviator, was true to his word after the Chinese grand prix, as the pair returned from Shanghai aboard the great Austrian's Bombardier Global 5000.

"Otherwise, Lewis would have been on a regular flight," the German daily said.

Hamilton's third win of the season also moved him equal to Lauda's career tally of 25 grand prix victories.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W05. (Photo: WRi2)

Lauda revealed in Shanghai that, last year, he had advised the now on-form Briton to drop his travelling "baggage" of dogs and rap stars.

Indeed, Hamilton is well on track for his second world championship with a permanent travelling entourage of just one -- his trainer.

"This year I'm just able to arrive and drive with no other worries," he confirmed this week.

"It's the combination of lots of things. It's where I am in my life, family, girlfriend, all things: where I live, having the right people in place, management, being in the right team," Hamilton explained.

His teammate Nico Rosberg, however, is still leading the world championship by a few points, which Hamilton admits will be keeping the German's hopes afloat for now.

"In this racing business it's all psychological," said Lewis Hamilton. "Nico's very, very fast but I'm grateful I've been able to put some really good performances in but I owe it to the team. It's incredible what they've done."

Beyond Hamilton versus Rosberg, Mercedes appears to be on a stroll to the 2014 title, notwithstanding the efforts of improving rivals like Red Bull and Ferrari.

"Everything is fine, but there are so many races left," Niki Lauda agreed.

"The most important will be the next three weeks," he told Spain's EFE news agency, referring to the gap between the initial 'flyaway' phase of the 2014 season and the return to more familiar European soil.

"We'll see who makes the most progress, who is faster and who wins in Barcelona," added Lauda.

"It will be important to see how the rest of the season is going to go. If you're on top in Barcelona, everything will be a little easier," he said.

You know that awkward feeling you get when someone has overstayed their welcome and you just wish they'd get the hint and go home? That's kinda how I felt with the Toyota Matrix. Sure, it was great the first 10 years of its life and offered up space and practicality (as well as an AWD version) that the Corolla was missing, but it's past due now and time we all moved on.

Toyota got the hint and announced late last year that Matrix production will end in the US, however, it will continue in Canada...


What is a Toyota Matrix?
First introduced in the early 2000s, the Matrix was bred on the Toyota Corolla platform and was essentially (and still is) the hatchback version of the very popular sedan. Relatively unchanged since its introduction in 2002 (save for a slight facelift in 2005 and some minor adjustments in 2009), the Matrix is in its second generation only and already looking at the end of its life.

2014 Toyota Matrix Price and Specs
With a starting price under $20k for the base, automatic version, the 2014 Toyota Matrix is attractive to those on a budget when stacked up against the competition. Whether you opt for the 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic, you'll still get Toyota's 1.8L 4-cylinder VVT-I engine good for 132 horsepower and 128 lb-ft of torque.

The Matrix is a pretty bare-bones model with a limited number of accessories and features available, but for the price it makes sense. The most expensive version of the Matrix sits just below the $25k mark.

Driving the 2014 Toyota Matrix
Unfortunately, there's not much to say here. The 1.8L does the job, but it's pretty gutless in the end. And the 4-speed transmission is functional but lazy and slow to shift, and the engine is noisy when pushed. All in all, it's not the most pleasant of experiences.

However, not everyone is a driver, nor do they care about throttle response or precise handling -- and I understand that. In that case, the 2014 Toyota Matrix is a fantastic option with plenty of trunk space and an engine that should, in theory, save owners in the long run. Toyota claims the Matrix will do 7.0L/100km and my own weeklong test drive revealed that the giant Japanese carmaker's stats aren't too far off the mark.

Suspension in the 2014 Toyota Matrix is also much too harsh for the kind of car it is. There's no need for such little wheel travel or over-stiff dampening, this is not a sporty vehicle and does not need the added high-speed stability. Our uneven streets were unpleasant to traverse and brought out plenty of rattles in the cabin on each drive.

Inside and Out of the 2014 Toyota Matrix
This could be a fabulous-looking hatchback. In fact, I kind of hope in the near future they take the look of the brand new Toyota Corolla and migrate it to an updated and brand new Matrix, should they ever do so. However, its outdated front fascia and overall exterior lines only add to the list of cons in my opinion. This isn't an ugly vehicle, it's just bland and non-descript. It lacks character.

Inside, that uneventful air continues as the interior of the 2014 Toyota Matrix is all about “less is more.” Simple and to the point, this is not a car for the gadget-obsessed or design majors. However, it does get the job done with easy-to-use buttons and knobs.

While the radio that looks about circa 2002 does offer Bluetooth and USB media connections, accessing menus is slow and laborious, especially on a screen that only features two lines of pixelated text.

The back seat offers a good amount of space and headroom, and installing my son's infant seat was a breeze. The door openings are also quite large, and getting him in and out was just as easy. These are a few bonus points for the 2014 Toyota Matrix.

Comparing the 2014 Toyota Matrix
Here's where the Matrix falls more than flat in my opinion. It's clear that Toyota has put little to no effort into the Matrix, knowing its end was nigh. And so, when you stack it up against the likes of the Volkswagen Golf and brand new Mazda3 Sport, there really is no comparison at all. If Toyota wanted to give the Matrix a fighting chance, it would have to consider an entire overhaul inside and out, as well as a new transmission.

Better to just let it slip quietly out the back door.

From press release

Circuit details for the second round of the 2014/2015 FIA Formula E Championship have been revealed with the layout of the new Putrajaya ePrix in Malaysia.

The Putrajaya Formula E race, or ePrix, takes place six months from now on October 18 and forms the second of 10 races for the inaugural 2014/2015 season.

Putrajaya ePrix circuit layout

Formula E is the FIA's new fully electric single-seater championship beginning in September.

Racing entirely on temporary city-centre race tracks, it features 10 teams, each with two drivers, using cars capable of speeds in excess of 150mph (225kph).

At 1.59miles (2.56km) and featuring 12 turns, the Putrajaya street circuit is located near the Perdana Putra housing the Prime Minister's Office.

It will see drivers tackle a mixture of straights, slow to medium speed corners, a hairpin plus a tight first-corner chicane providing good overtaking opportunities.

From GMM

Red Bull has advised McLaren to focus on upping its game rather than taking the reigning world champions to court.

A bitter spat has broken out between the British-based teams over a highly-rated aerodynamicist called Dan Fallows, who was recently due to start work at McLaren.

But Fallows ultimately decided to return to Red Bull with a promotion, triggering a furious rebuke by McLaren supremo Ron Dennis.

In Shanghai, Ron Dennis accused Red Bull of having "induced" Fallows to breach his contract.

But the latest paddock rumour is that Fallows originally decided to leave Red Bull because he was seeking a more senior position, having worked as Peter Prodromou's 'deputy' for the past several years.

McLaren then subsequently also signed Prodromou, sparking Fallows' change of heart.

It has also been claimed that Fallows signed the deal expecting the now ousted Martin Whitmarsh - not Dennis - to be his boss.

"With the changes that happened at McLaren he decided he didn't want to join," Red Bull team boss Christian Horner says.

Ron Dennis and Eric Boullier, McLaren. (Photo: WRi2)

Christian Horner denies Dennis' claim that Red Bull "induced" Fallows to break the deal.

"He approached us to see if there was a situation still open, so it was 100 per cent his choice," he said.

Christian Horner also took the opportunity to advise McLaren - whose Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen finished out of the points in China - to take the focus off Fallows and put it back on upping its game.

"We have to be careful this is not detracting from their focus, which should be a little closer to home," he said.

"Obviously it's easy for McLaren to be drawing focus away from their bigger issues --- it's obvious why they are looking for aerodynamicists."

Pros: The 2014 Land Rover LR4 is a true 4x4 that can go anywhere. Comfortable and capable, smooth and sporty, it boasts plenty of sophisticated features and seating for up to seven in a very classy cabin. The boxy exterior also gives it a rugged look.

Cons: Not everyone will like that boxy exterior, while the size and weight of the vehicle make parking manoeuvres a bit more complicated and affect on-road handling. The price can get pretty high when you start checking a few boxes. Finally, one of the LR4's pros is also a con: Its amazing potential far exceeds what most drivers will use it for.

Photo: Land Rover

2014 Land Rover LR4 Price: The lineup includes three trim levels, starting with the base LR4 at $59,990, moving up to the HSE at $63,590, and closing the book with the HSE LUX at $70,990. Buyers have several packages and options to choose from. To get a seven-passenger model, Land Rover demands an extra $2,500.

2014 Land Rover LR4 Fuel Economy: More fuel-efficient than its predecessor, the 2014 Land Rover LR4 burns 14.6L/100km in the city and 10.5L/100km on the highway, which represents an average of 12.8L/100km.

Improvements and Changes: Slightly updated front-end styling and new standard features such as a single-speed transfer case (the traditional two-speed version is now optional), Intelligent Stop & Start technology, as well as Hill Start Assist and Gradient Release Control highlight the 2014 Land Rover LR4. However, the biggest news can be found under the hood...

2014 Land Rover LR4 Powertrain: The previous 375-horsepower V8 has been dropped and replaced with 3.0L supercharged V6 that produces 340 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque, while the CommandShift automatic transmission has gained two extra gears for a total of eight. Add a four-corner electronic air suspension and Land Rover's acclaimed Terrain Response system, and you have an SUV built to tackle any surface or obstacle.

Cargo Capacity: In five-passenger configuration, the LR4 provides 1,260 or 2,476 litres of cargo room depending on whether you keep the rear seats up or down. Meanwhile, the seven-passenger LR4 has a small 280-litre trunk, but you can expand it to a whopping 2,558 litres if you fold both the second and third rows.

Safety: In addition to the aforementioned driving aids, the LR4 features rear parking assist, stability and traction control systems with active roll mitigation, trailer stability assist, and ABS brakes. Don't forget the front, front-side, and side curtain airbags.

Comparing the 2014 Land Rover LR4: When it comes to luxurious SUVs with rugged off-road ability, few can compete with the 2014 Land Rover LR4. You may consider the Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit, Volkswagen Touareg, Lexus GX, and Mercedes-Benz GL.

From GMM

Sebastian Vettel has "forgotten" how to drive something other than the best car in the field.

That is Niki Lauda's view, as the entire world of F1 contemplates the reigning quadruple world champion's current struggle even to keep up with his new Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo.

Lauda, the Mercedes team chairman, told German television RTL: "He has been very spoiled in the past with many highs and victories, but that performance has gone. He has forgotten how to drive another car.

"With the (blown) diffuser cars, he had come up with a driving strategy that made him faster than everyone else. But now Ricciardo, who has never driven another Red Bull, only knows this one -- and he is taking it in his hands and driving it," added Lauda.

Niki Lauda is not alone with his theory. Felipe Massa thinks Australian Ricciardo has arrived to be Vettel's teammate at precisely the right moment.

"The best time to change is when everything is changing," he told the Brazilian press.

"I'm sure it would have been harder for him if he had arrived last year, when Vettel was already used to the car for many years. I think that is helping Ricciardo, but he's also showing that he is a great driver with a lot of talent," said Massa.

Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull. (Photo: WRi2)

Massa also thinks it will be a tough task for Vettel to get back to the top of the tree at Red Bull.

"When he had a team that was all working for him, for all the years when he was with Webber, life was much simpler, easier (for Vettel)," he said.

"But now he is under a little more pressure and that changes the situation -- the pressure effect," said Massa, who switched from Ferrari to Williams over the winter.

"I am not knocking Vettel's talent, the driver that he is, because everything he did deserves the recognition. But this is a situation that now he has to overcome," the Brazilian added.

"Without doubt it shows that Ricciardo is a good driver, fast and with the talent to be there. He has arrived at a great team and so far he shows he can do a great job," said Felipe Massa.

Team McLaren failed to score a single point during Sunday's Grand Prix of China. A situation that doesn't please the drivers, nor the management of the British team.

In Shanghai, Jenson Button qualified 12th and finished 11th while his teammate Kevin Magnussen started 15th and arrived home 13th following a battle with the Toro Rossos...

"We have a lot of work to do. It's tough for all of us and it's also very tough for the guys working at Woking," Jenson Button admitted to Sky Sport F1 after the Chinese Grand Prix.

Jenson Button (McLaren) overtaken by his former teammate Sergio Perez (Sahara Force India). (Photo: WRi2)

His teammate, newcomer Kevin Magnussen puts the blame on the lack of downforce of the MP4-29-Mercedes.

"It's a big issue, but the problem for us is that we are struggling to get front-tire heat in the wet - and it's also a problem in the dry," the young Dane said.

"It's not that we don't switch the tire on as such, it's that it grains immediately. We're very front limited and this circuit has shown where our weaknesses are,” he explained.

A Spanish biker is now suing seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michel Schumacher, who has been fighting for his life since a skiing accident late December in Meribel, France.

According to British newspaper Mirror, the German ace is being sued by a biker who claims Schumacher ran him over just weeks before the infamous skiing accident.

The Spaniard accused the German of knocking him off his bike after failing to give way at a roundabout in Bormujos near Seville.

The police accident report apparently claims Schumacher, who was driving a rental car, failed to respect his alleged victim's right of way.

The Spaniard rider is claiming compensation for a broken wrist he suffered and damage to a watch, his clothes and his motorcycle.

Kelley Blue Book has just published its Top 10 best green cars of 2014 and, shockingly, neither Toyota nor Nissan came out in first place.

Top 10 best green cars of 2014:

1. BMW i3
2. Nissan LEAF
3. Toyota Prius
4. Honda Accord hybrid
5. Tesla Model S
6. Chevrolet Volt
7. Ford C-MAX
8. Honda Civic
9. Lexus ES 300h
10. Volkswagen Jetta TDI

Source: Kelley Blue Book

From press release

Yvan Muller took his first personal win for Citroën after dominating Race 1 at the Paul Ricard, before José María López took his second win of the season in a lively Race 2 at the Paul Ricard, marked by two safety-car periods.

The reigning champion, who had inherited pole position after technical scrutineering yesterday, did not have the best of starts but took the lead in lap 3 after passing Michelisz and Tarquini and flew away to the chequered flag. 
Sébastien Loeb completed Citroën's 1-2 after storming throughout the field from the last row in the grid. Honda took its first podium of the season, thanks to a great race by Gabriele Tarquini, who came ahead of Pechito López and a very inspired Rob Huff, who took fifth for LADA after a great race.

José Maria Lopez takes the lead of the FIA WTCC championship. (Photo: Citroën Racing)

On race 2, Lopez preceded his team mate Yvan Muller, winner of Race 1, in another 1-2 win for Citroën after the C-Elysées bent the resilience of the Honda of Tiago Monteiro, who led for most of the race. The Portuguese offered to Honda its second consecutive podium finish. Tarquini, Bennani and Loeb completed the top 6.

The Frenchman had a more difficult Race 2 after an early contact with Muller and hitting the chicane tires later on. 


BMW Canada is recalling 20,022 vehicles from the 2010-2012 model years because the housing bolts for the variable camshaft timing system could break, allowing camshaft timing to deviate.

If this occurs, the engine would revert to "limp home mode", thereby limiting power and increasing the risk of a collision, so BMW dealers will replace the faulty bolts.

Affected models include:

• BMW 1 Series
• BMW 3 Series
• BMW 5 Series
• BMW X3
• BMW X5
• BMW X6
• BMW Z4

Source: Transport Canada