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From press release

Campos Racing takes on the technical direction of the Formula E Team China.

The agreement signed by Steven Lu, Team Principal of Team China and Adrian Campos the owner of Campos Racing agree that Adrian Campos will be Team Manager of the Formula E Team China and his engineers and mechanics will carry out this ambitious new project.

The team has its headquarters in the facilities of the Donington Park circuit where the team is already working at full capacity in the development of the new SRT-01E cars Renault Spark-monocoque carbon fiber and aluminum constructed by Dallara.

Team China Formula E at Donington Park. (Photo: FIA Formula E)

Adrian Campos is finalizing the incorporation of the new team drivers to start the Championship next September 13 in Beijing (China).

With the incorporation to Formula E Championship and the participation of Campos Racing in GP2 Championship, Euroformula Open, WTCC and ETCC, Adrian Campos complete one of the most important structures in the Motorsport World.

From GMM

With Michael Schumacher fighting for recovery in a Swiss clinic, his family has also been fighting on another front.

EFE news agency reports that the publisher Hubert Burda Media, owner of the German news weekly Bunte, has been legally banned by a Munich court from publishing certain photographs of Schumacher's wife Corinna.

The photos of Mrs Schumacher were reportedly taken in Grenoble on January 3, the day the former Mercedes and Ferrari driver turned 45 whilst in a coma just days after his skiing accident.

The news agency said that, at lawyers representing the Schumacher family's instruction, the court found that the photos are private and therefore not eligible for publication.

A spokesman for Hubert Bunte Media said it will consider the ruling but probably appeal on the grounds that the judge did not properly assess its arguments.

EFE said Schumacher lawyers are also taking action against other media outlets in Cologne, Hamburg and Frankfurt.

From GMM

Kimi Raikkonen has hit back after critics called on him to be banned for his British grand prix crash.

The Finn has recovered from a bruised ankle, knee and ribs after the 47G crash at Silverstone, in which Felipe Massa was also involved and Max Chilton's head narrowly avoided a flying tyre.

"Why does he come in balls out like that and crash?" F1 legend Niki Lauda had said at Silverstone, referring to the way in which Raikkonen rejoined the circuit after running wide.

Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari after the crash. (Caption: FOM)

Jo Ramirez, the former McLaren team manager, said Raikkonen's driving was "ludicrous".

"He could have seriously hurt himself, or worse, he could have hurt Massa as well," the Mexican told motorline.cc.

"And yet he gets away without any punishment. I thought Derek Warwick was the steward so I wrote to him, but it was Nigel Mansell. But Warwick replied to me 'You're right! Raikkonen should have been punished!'" Jo Rarirez revealed.

"If it would have been Maldonado or Grosjean, they would have sat out Germany, for sure," he charged.

At Hockenheim, however, Raikkonen dismissed his critics, telling the Finnish broadcaster MTV3 that punishments are not necessary "every time a driver goes off the track".

"Of course, everyone can have their opinion," said the Finn, "but usually it's people who have never driven who are the first to say someone should be punished."

From GMM

After over 40 staff were shown the exit this week, arguably the most nervous drivers in the Hockenheim paddock are wearing green.

Marcus Ericsson is probably safe due to his healthy sponsorship purse, but bringing much less to Caterham's table in 2014 is Japanese Kamui Kobayashi, who was signed by the now-departed Tony Fernandes mainly for his fight and experience.

"If I'm not doing a good job tomorrow, maybe I'll be fired tomorrow," he said in Germany.

The rumours at the newly-sold Caterham could be tying in with rumours at Sauber, another team struggling at the back of the grid this year.

Motorhome Sauber. (Photo: WRi2)

The Swiss team's boss Monisha Kaltenborn refused to categorically back drivers Esteban Gutierrez and Adrian Sutil as she mused Sauber's pointless year so far in Hockenheim.

"In our history, we have never been so bad," she was quoted by German reporters.

"For me, it is not acceptable. I am not satisfied with the performance of the team," Kaltenborn added, when also asked about her happiness with the drivers.

At around the same time, German Sutil's manager Manfred Zimmermann was spotted in Caterham's paddock motor home.

Motorhome Caterham. (Photo: WRi2)

As Sutil's future wavers, has Caterham advisor Colin Kolles spotted a potential stream of additional revenue?

"It depends what they want," said Kobayashi, continuing to speculate on his future.

"I'm more experienced than the other drivers, so I just have to focus on my job. I cannot bring anything money-wise. It's fine to lose out to a driver with money -- this is formula one unfortunately."

Indeed, Caterham team boss Christijan Albers confirmed paddock suspicions that, after many members of staff were made redundant in recent days, the drivers are also not immune.

"As with any business, we are constantly evaluating all our employees, and our drivers are no different," he told F1's official website.

Here's the thing; you can't really go wrong with a chocolate chip cookie. You know exactly what you're biting into when you pick up that chocolate chip cookie. They're easy to make and even easier to ingest. No matter what, you always know what you're getting with the tried and true chocolate chip cookie. No surprises here.

That's pretty much what it's like to drive and own the RAV4. Perhaps not as flavourful or calorific (thankfully for the latter), but it is essentially the same experience. You know what you're getting, and it's a pretty safe bet you're going to at least feel satisfied with it, if a little bored at the banality of it all. After all, it's just another chocolate chip cookie.


What is a Toyota RAV4?
To be exact, RAV actually stands for Recreational Activity Vehicle, the 4 for its 4WD capabilities. So, Toyota brought the RAV4 to market in the hopes that it would attract young, active families to purchase its vehicle.

Since it's launch in the late-‘90s the RAV4 has, thankfully, seen some heavy aesthetic changes. The latest design, now in its fourth generation, is the best-looking by far, and officially ditches the optional V6 in favour of a sole 4-cylinder mill.

2014 Toyota RAV4 Price & Specs
Available in both FWD and AWD, Toyota offers up five variations of its crossover RAV4. Regardless of trim level and extras, all come with the same engine: a 2.5L 4-cylinder VVT-I that'll push out 173 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque. Opt for the AWD drivetrain and you'll also get Toyota's active torque control system. A 6-speed automatic Super ECT (yes, that stands for Super Electronically Controlled Transmission) controls the power to either the front or all four wheels, respectively.

As for pricing, you could walk away with a base, bare-bones (but still plenty useful and perfect for the get-from-A-to-B commuter who needs extra space) Toyota RAV4 for just $23,870. However, if it's a more “luxurious” and AWD version of the RAV4 you're after, then hop to the front of the line with the AWD Limited equipped with a technology package for $35,345.

Our tester was an AWD XLE trimmed example with navigation system that retails for $31,080.

Driving the 2014 Toyota RAV4
Dress it up however you want, it's still the same cookie deep down. It'll satisfy that initial craving, but will get pretty bland by the end. It's not exotic or enticing other than offering something you fully expect to receive.

So it goes with any time you'll spend behind the wheel of the Toyota RAV4. It's not unsatisfying in any way; in fact it's quite pleasant. It's precisely how you'd expect it to be upon looking at the crossover in the parking lot. Handling is standard, ride quality is all right if a bit rough at times, and throttle response and braking are ideal for city settings. Nothing drastic, nothing over the top and nothing very exotic; it's no peanut brittle.

The 2014 Toyota RAV4 has enough oomph to merge on the highway and for passing maneuvers, and the steering response can seem vague at times, but then it's not meant to be sharp and sport-like.

Inside and Out of the 2014 Toyota RAV4
This is most definitely the chocolate-chunk type cookie, no Chippits here. Toyota pulled out all the stops with the redesign and managed to create a RAV4 that's kind of sexy and still inherently utilitarian. With a beefier version and interpretation of the brand's front end, the RAV4 is much more appealing than its predecessors, that's for sure.

Inside, the Toyota RAV4 has a bit of a taste explosion (imagine that first bite into a recently warmed-up up chocolate chip cookie). The interior space - especially in the upper trim levels - is actually quite impressive for the crossover. With an available 6.1” touchscreen (standard on XLE and Limited and optional on LE), reclining back seats, and dual-zone climate control, Toyota definitely stepped it up with the new RAV4.

Aesthetically, the interior is quite pleasing, too. I've never really been a fan of Toyota/Lexus interiors, but this is one of the better ones, and something I could live with in the long-term.

Comparing the 2014 Toyota RAV4
While the old RAV4 was eons behind the competition, it's not stepped up its game enough to really go head to head (and chocolate chip to chocolate chip) with the likes of the Ford Escape and Kia Sportage.

From GMM

Deep into a second consecutive bad season for the grandee team, the changes at McLaren have begun.

The most noticeable sign of the restructuring process at the Woking based team in Hockenheim is that Jenson Button - whose own future in grey is also under review - is working with a new race engineer.

If Tom Stallard's name sounds familiar, it's because he won a silver medal rowing for Britain in the 2008 olympics.

He replaces Dave Robson, who is heading for a factory-based job.

"It's not about getting rid of people," Jenson Button insists, "it's moving people to better suited roles or making them feel refreshed.

"There are people who are being employed as well, because I think we need that."

The experienced British driver, however, hopes he is not involved in the McLaren reshuffles, as the team prepares for its works Honda era beginning next year.

Among the highest profile names linked with Button's seat have been his former McLaren teammate, Lewis Hamilton, and another 2007 McLaren driver, Fernando Alonso.

According to the Hamilton rumour, the highly-rated Briton might not want to stay at Mercedes in 2015 if his newly re-signed and now highly paid teammate Nico Rosberg is wearing the number '1' on the silver car.

Hamilton played a straight bat to the rumour at Hockenheim.

"I'm very happy in the team and naturally I assume I'll sit down with the bosses," he said.

"It's very difficult for me to see myself anywhere else but you never know what the future may hold," Hamilton added.

Lewis Hamilton, winner 5 times in 2014 with Mercedes AMG. (Photo: WRi2)

As for the Alonso rumour, the Spaniard is famous for being central to F1's customary 'silly season', particularly since he began to show signs of frustration with his continuing struggle to win a title wearing Ferrari red.

Alonso was at Maranello last week for simulator tests, but perhaps he also sat down with Marco Mattiacci and Luca di Montezemolo to talk about the future.

"I talk to the president and Mattiacci every day," he said on Thursday. "There is no news in that regard.

"The same thing has always happened to me in July, probably since 2003. These questions about contracts, signings and extensions," said Alonso.

"I haven't talked to any team, or anything of the sort. It's not the priority."

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F14 T. (Photo: WRi2)

The 5.0-liter V-8 engine in the 2015 Ford Mustang will crank out 435 hp, up from 420 hp, and provide torque of 400 pounds-feet, up from 390 on the current model, the company said today.

June car sales in Europe were up 4.3% to leave sales for the first half of the year up 5.8% over last year according to data released by JATO Dynamics.

ZF Friedrichshafen, moving to acquire TRW Automotive Holdings, has been told by lenders that financing is available for a higher all-cash bid which could value the US company at as much as US$13bn, Bloomberg News reported.

Is the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) interested in promoting its members' conditions and working with employers in a country where union rights for all are still a relatively fledging concept, or is it more concerned with establishing some sort of Marxist State?

Striking union, NUMSA (National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa) is laying the blame for the three-week old dispute severly affecting automakers, firmly at the employers' door.

VW will increase the amount of locally made parts in the cars it sells in India to help lift falling sales. Five years after entering India, VW has captured just 2.1 percent of the market because its cars are seen as relatively expensive.

VW will increase the amount of locally-made parts in the cars it sells in India to help lift falling sales. Five years after entering India, VW has captured just 2.1 percent of the market because its cars are seen as relatively expensive.

ZF, which is moving to acquire TRW Automotive, has been told by lenders that financing is available for a higher all-cash bid that could value the U.S. company at as much as $13 billion, Bloomberg reported.

ZF Friedrichshafen, moving to acquire TRW Automotive, has been told by lenders that financing is available for a higher all-cash bid which could value the U.S.

News 17 Jul, 2014

New Black Edition models available across the Skoda line-up, featuring interior and exterior styling updates and additional standard kit

As rumours of discussions between Volkswagen and Fiat over a possible VW acquisition of Fiat-Chrysler's volume car operations circulate, Fiat has issued a statement denying that discussions have taken place.

Veteran auto safety campaigner Ralph Nader has called for GM to establish an 'ombudsman' to "avert the culture of avoidance or coverup inside GM regarding their discovery of product defects".

Maserati will not sell more than 75,000 vehicles globally a year to retain the brand's exclusivity, an executive said. Maserati is adding the Levante SUV and Alfieri coupe to its lineup.

Maserati will not sell more than 75,000 vehicles globally a year to retain the brand's exclusivity,a executive said. Maserati is adding the Levante SUV and Alfieri two-seat sports car to its lineup.