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Pros: The 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport handles more like a sports sedan than a luxury SUV. The supremely powerful engine provides exhilarating performance and acceleration. The 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is the epitome of luxury both inside and out.

Cons: As expected, the V8 version of the 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is always thirsty. Its tapered roofline limits rear visibility. Speaking of the rear, it isn't the easiest place to enter and exit. The prohibitive price of the 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport does nothing to overcome the nagging reliability issues.

Photo: Land Rover

2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Price: The four different versions of the 2015 Land Rover Range Rover are priced as follows: the Sport SE at $73,990, the Sport HSE at $78,990, the Sport Supercharged at $91,490 and the Sport Autobiography at $104,990.

2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Fuel Economy: Fuel economy ratings for the 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport have not been released at this time.
Improvements and Changes: No major changes have been applied for 2015.

2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Powertrain: Land Rover proposes two engine options based on the selected Range Rover Sport model: a supercharged 3.0 litre DOHC V6 that produces 340 hp or a supercharged 5.0 litre V8 with an impressive 510 hp. Both engines are mated to an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission with stop-start technology.

Cargo Capacity: The Range Rover Sport luggage compartment can hold between 874 to 1761 litres based on the selected version.

Safety: Safety features in the 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport include ABS brakes, electronic braking assistance, electronic brake-force distribution, dynamic stability and anti roll stability control, trailer stability control, terrain response, electronic traction control, active speed limiter, dynamic route guidance and lateral and rear obstacle warnings.

Comparing the 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport: This luxury SUV category includes the BMW X5, the Cadillac Escalade, the Infiniti QX80, the Lexus LX570, the Lincoln Navigator and the Porsche Cayenne.

Pros: Even though the first generation of Nissan NVs only appeared in 2012, they have made their mark in a market dominated by American vehicles, including the Ford Transit, the Ram ProMaster, and by the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. This passenger van comes in an impressive range of models. Extremely versatile, the NV is extra roomy for front seat passengers as well as having a generous amount of cargo space.

Cons: While considering that the Nissan NV has only been on the market for three years and despite its distinctive qualities, it falls behind its American and German competitors. Although both powertrains offered are reliable, they consume a lot of fuel. Indeed, it is regrettable that Nissan has not yet put forward a version with a Diesel engine and a 6-speed transmission.

Photo: Nissan

2014 Nissan NV Price: Nissan has placed two models on the market for 2014: the NV Cargo, starting at $31,498, and the NV Passenger, starting at $38,398. For the NV Cargo, the Japanese manufacturer proposes the 1500 S, 2500 S/SV V6, 2500 S/SV V8 and 3500 S/SV V8 models. Meanwhile, the NV Passenger is available in S/SV/SL.

Fuel Economy: For all models, the V6 NV is rated at around 12.9 L/100 km, while V8 model can reach up to 14.9 L/100 km.

Improvements and Changes: Because it has only been on the market since 2012, the 2014 Nissan NV has not seen any major changes.

2014 Nissan NV Powertrain: Under the hood of the 2014 NV, Nissan offers either a 4-litre, V6 DOHC engine that generates 261 horsepower or a 5.6-litre, V8 DOHC that produces 317 horsepower. A 5-speed automatic transmission is available on all models.

Cargo Capacity: The loading capacity for the Nissan NV Cargo is 6,629 litres, while the high roof version has a 9,149-litre capacity. However, only 818 litres of load space is available in the Passenger model.

Safety: Safety-wise, the 2014 Nissan NV boasts ABS brakes, brake assist, electronic brake force distribution, dynamic stability control and traction control.

Comparing the 2014 Nissan NV: This van segment also includes the Ford Transit, the Ram ProMaster and the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.

From GMM

A preliminary calendar for 2015 is doing the rounds in the Monza paddock.

The schedule, first published by Speed Week after seeing it at the scene of the Italian grand prix, features all 19 grands prix that are on this year's calendar, plus Mexico, with the old Mexico City layout set to host a race in late October.

"The track only needs to be resurfaced," Bernie Ecclestone told reporters earlier at Monza.

But according to Speed Week, many of the dates on the provisional 2015 calendar - currently featuring an unprecedented 20 races - are in fact not set in stone.

Organisers of the Australian grand prix, however, are already advertising next year's Melbourne race, reportedly to open the world championship as usual, for March 15.

And the report said Abu Dhabi will once again host the finale at the end of November.

From GMM

Williams will field an unchanged race driver lineup in 2015.

The news, announced by the British team early on Sunday, ends speculation Finnish sensation Valtteri Bottas could be scooped up by a grandee team like McLaren.

And there had been rumours in the past days that Brazilian Felipe Massa, who joined the team from Ferrari this season, might be replaced by his well-sponsored countryman Felipe Nasr for 2015.

Felipe Massa, Valtteri Bottas (Photo: WRI2)

Nasr is currently Williams' third driver, but the Grove team said in its statement on Sunday that the 2015 reserve will be announced "in due course".

"Felipe and I have a good working relationship," said Bottas, "and this early announcement will help us both input into the ongoing development of the FW36 and the FW37."

From GMM

McLaren's Honda era could get an earlier than expected start.

Just days ago, the returning Japanese manufacturer's F1 chief Yasuhisa Arai said it is "very likely" the first run of its all-new turbo V6 engine would be at the official start of the winter testing season next February.

"Jerez will be the first time," he announced.

But as far as McLaren is concerned, that might not be right, even though team boss Eric Boullier said at Monza that he is "100 per cent aware" of what Arai said.

"Regarding the first test of the McLaren, Honda-powered car, there is no decision yet about when and where. This is still open," the Frenchman insisted.

"There is no decision yet about when and where. This is still open," said McLaren team principal Eric Boullier regarding the debut of the Honda-powered McLaren (Photo:WRI2)

"It is true there was a comment, but we will not give a definite answer now because we do not know exactly, but it is very likely it will be before Jerez," added Boullier.

That ties in with rumours McLaren is currently working on an adaptation of the currently Mercedes-powered 2014 car to accommodate the Honda 'power unit' for testing.

Asked if it could debut at the end-of-season test in Abu Dhabi, Boullier agreed: "Yes.

"This is not definite," he insisted. "It is true the safe side is we will be in Jerez with a McLaren-Honda car."

From GMM

As the F1 world rejoices at the historic, high speed and highly popular Monza, the future of the fabled Italian grand prix remains in serious doubt.

Bernie Ecclestone, the sport's chief executive, said recently the current contract is "a disaster for us from a commercial point of view. After 2016, bye-bye."

The comments sparked waves of worry among F1 fans and, in particular, the world-famous Tifosi.

For Ferrari, too, Monza is important.

"Monza is unique," the Maranello marque's president Luca di Montezemolo told Italian-speaking reporters at the Autodromo Nazionale on Saturday.

"The atmosphere here is second to none. I cannot imagine that there will be problems for the future of this race, but I will talk with Bernie Ecclestone," he announced.

Photo: WRI2

Talks, however, are already taking place this weekend between Ecclestone and new Monza official Ivan Capelli, an Italian and former F1 driver.

Capelli is quoted by Speed Week: "I have already met with Bernie Ecclestone and in the coming days there will be more meetings.

"I will do everything in my power to retain the grand prix here. We strive for an extension until 2020, when the current Concorde Agreement expires," he revealed.

Ecclestone also confirmed that meetings with Monza officials have taken place.

"I spoke with them this morning and it is quite simple: all we want is that Monza agrees to the contractual terms of all the other European races," he said at Monza.

"I would just take the contract of any other race and put in the word 'Monza'."

He said he was confident a deal will be reached in the end. "I hope so," said the F1 supremo. "They seem like competent people."

From GMM

Luca di Montezemolo's half-hearted denial on Saturday has not stopped rampant speculation about the long-time Ferrari president's future.

Some outlets quoted the charismatic 67-year-old as having said he is definitely staying put at Maranello for another three years.

But that's not what he said -- he said he gave his "commitment" to the shareholders in March, presumably also signing a contract, for a longer reign.

Germany's Bild newspaper says it has learned that, behind red garage doors, a "raging dispute" is now taking place about the terms of Montezemolo's early exit.

"As usual, it's about money," read the report.

The discussions may also be about the post-Montezemolo shuffle, with boss Marco Mattiacci or perhaps Fiat's tipped Sergio Marchionne to replace him.

Luca di Montezemolo (Photo: WRI2)

Ross Brawn could then return to F1 to replace Mattiacci as new team boss, as Montezemolo reportedly eyes the top job at the Italian airline Alitalia.

"I'm not going to comment on rumours," Mattiacci said on Friday. "Plenty of work on my table. No comment."

So while comments are shy, rumours prevail. One is that Montezemolo has fallen out with fellow officials over the theatre for Ferrari's stock floatation -- Hong Kong or New York?

Pino Allievi, the best known and most highly respected Italian correspondent in F1, insisted: "This is Luca's last visit here at Monza (as Ferrari president).

"It's the end of an era," the La Gazzetta dello Sport veteran added.

Even Piero Ferrari, the only living son of the great Enzo Ferrari, is saying nothing: "I have nothing to say," he is quoted by Speed Week at Monza.

"I'm only a minor shareholder."

From GMM

Max Verstappen's high speed rush from boyhood to the formula one grid will continue apace next week.

At Monza, Toro Rosso and Red Bull chiefs Franz Tost and Dr Helmut Marko respectively have played down the 16-year-old teen's slow-speed crash during one of his very first demonstration outings in a F1 car recently in Rotterdam.

It is believed Verstappen got caught out by the same sort of 'anti-stall' issue that may have caused Mario de Villota's crash in the Marussia two years ago.

"It's probably easier driving on a circuit than trying to do donuts," said Daniel Ricciardo, a highly successful product of Red Bull's famous junior programme. "It's harder than it looks."

So Verstappen's charge to become the youngest ever F1 racer by some margin races on undiminished.

The next step is obtaining the young Dutchman's super license, amid speculation Red Bull is eyeing an earlier than expected Friday practice debut for Verstappen in 2014.

Earlier, it was announced that he would make his debut in this year's Toro Rosso ahead of the US, Brazilian and Abu Dhabi grands prix at the tail end of the season.

But now it is believed Red Bull is targeting a Suzuka debut for Verstappen in just a few weeks' time.

2012 Toro Rosso STR7 (Photo: WRI2)

To that end, Speed Week reports that, next week, Verstappen will be in action at the Adria circuit in northern Italy, with a two-year-old Toro Rosso at his disposal.

Also present will be FIA officials, to observe Verstappen's progress over the necessary 300 kilometres to qualify for the mandatory F1 license.

On his anticipated Friday debut in Japan, Verstappen will be exactly 17 years and 4 days old.

"What I'm a little bit concerned about is the message that could send to those thousands of kids starting to approach racing or karting," Ferrari team boss Marco Mattiacci said at Monza, when asked about Verstappen's inexperience and age.

Lotus team deputy Federico Gastaldi agreed: "I think they (young drivers) should have more kilometres under their arms. They should have definitely much more experience, like in the old days."

Adapted from GMM

F1's 2015 'silly season' is no longer just about the drivers.

Now, it is major rumblings about the teams themselves that are making waves as the sport packs up after Lewis Hamilton's win at Monza.

Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll is tangled in a shocking story, started by a 'tweet' from Williams chairman Adam Parr: "This is the last year of F1 as we know it."

Parr is referring to the potential exit of three teams, which would force several teams to enter three cars.

In the midst of it all, Stroll, whose teenage son Lance is a member of the Ferrari driver academy, looks set to buy back Sauber.

Like the Swiss team, Stroll Sr has indeed strong ties with Ferrari, including a dealership and an impressive collection of road cars from Maranello.

A report from Motorsport.com said the deal was "as good as done".

According to Motorsport.com, Canadian Lawrence Stroll has bought Sauber (Photo: WRI2)

But in the paddock, everyone was speculating over the identity of the three departing teams.

One might be Caterham, after its founder Tony Fernandes recently sold to a mysterious Swiss-Middle Eastern consortium.

The latest rumour is that the Leafield based team's newly-installed boss Christijan Albers has quit because promised funds from the new owners did not materialise.

Caterham announced on Sunday that Dutchman Albers has indeed resigned to "spend more time with my family", with Manfredi Ravetto taking over.

Also undoubtedly struggling is Marussia, who according to driver Max Chilton at Spa had resorted to trying to "sell my seat" to stay afloat.

And Lotus was strongly tipped to be moving to end its current slump by installing Mercedes power for 2015, until speculation emerged the deal has been held up because a deposit to the German marque was not paid.

But could the multiple struggling teams' potential demise, and thereby the need to boost the grid next year with third car entries, explain the recent quickfire spate of bosses meetings with Bernie Ecclestone?

Mercedes' Toto Wolff said on Friday that the latest meeting, held at Monza, was "nothing very spectacular".

"It's just another meeting we had, another important meeting."

From NASCAR

Brad Keselowski led all but 17 of 400 laps in winning the Federated Auto Parts 400, the final race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular season.

In the process, he won his fourth race of the season and secured top seeding for the 10-race Chase, which starts Sunday, Sept. 14 at Chicagoland Speedway.

Ryan Newman and Greg Biffle secured the final two of 16 Chase spots on points, Newman with a solid ninth-place run, Biffle with a much shakier 19th-place finish, two laps down.

But it was Keselowski who made the statement in securing the 400th victory across all racing series for team owner Roger Penske.

Brad Keselowski (Photo: Rainier Ehrhardt/Getty Images)

"What a night!" Keselowski said.

"Part of me, I pulled into victory lane and I pinched myself once to make sure I wasn't dreaming. These are nights you don't forget as a driver—and you live for. The Miller Lite Ford Fusion was just flying, and this is— I couldn't ask for a better way to enter the Chase than to win and take the first seed.

Keselowski, the Coors Light pole winner, took the lead for the final time on Lap 127 when he beat race runner-up Jeff Gordon and Kevin Harvick, the race's only other leader, off pit road. From that point on, Keselowski's No. 2 Ford was untouchable.

The other drivers who qualified for the Chase are: Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jimmie Johnson, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Kasey Kahne, Aric Almirola, AJ Allmendinger and Matt Kenseth.

Lewis Hamilton got off the line slowly at the start of the Italian Grand Prix, but came back strong to win the race.

The Brit recorded his sixth win of the season, Sunday in Monza, and Mercedes' seventh 1-2 finish of the season.

Podium of the 2014 Italian Grand Prix (Photo: WRI2)

It was a stressful build up altogether for Hamilton, as mechanics had to change his front wing on the grid after it sustained damage.

"The launch sequence didn't engage properly for the formation lap and then again for the start," recalls the 2008 world champion.

Nico Rosberg takes the lead (Photo: WRI2)

"I tried to pull away as fast as possible, basically I just floored it and hoped for the best! Fortunately I didn't lose too many places.

"I'm really pleased with the win, it's feels like I have some momentum back as we go into the final races."

Rosberg locks up on lap 29 (Photo: WRI2)

Rosberg took the lead on lap one when Hamilton bogged down, but made a small mistake on lap 29 that allowed his teammate to get the lead back.

In the chase for the drivers' championship, the German now holds a 22 points advantage of Hamilton.

Lewis Hamilton collects the checkered flag (Photo: WRI2)

Race results* - Italian Grand Prix (round 13 of 19)
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 53 laps 1.19'10"236
2 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 3"175
3 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 25"026
4 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 40"786
5 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 50"309
6 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 59"965
7 - Sergio Perez (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1'02"518
8 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/29-Mercedes) - 1'03"063
9 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14-T) - 1'03"535
10 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4/29-Mercedes) - 1'06"171 **
11 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1'11"184
12 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1'12"606
13 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1'13"093
14 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1 lap
15 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1 lap
16 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1 lap
17 - Kamui Kobayashi (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1 lap
18 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1 lap
19 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 2 laps
20 - Marcus Ericsson (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 2 laps

Fastest lap of the race: 1'28"044 by Lewis Hamilton

Retirements
Fernando Alonso
Max Chilton

Fernando Alonso suffered an ultra-rare mechanical failure in Monza (Photo: WRI2)

Drivers' championship
1.Rosberg 238; 2.Hamilton 216; 3.Ricciardo 166; 4.Bottas 122; 5.Alonso 121; 6.Vettel 106; 7.Button 72; 8.Hulkenberg 70; 9.Massa 55; 10.Raikkonen 41; 11.Perez 39; 12.Magnussen 38; 13.Vergne 11; 14.Grosjean, Kvyat 8; 16.Bianchi 2.

Constructors' championship
1.Mercedes 454; 2.Red Bull-Renault 272; 3.Williams-Mercedes 177; 4.Ferrari 162; 5.McLaren-Mercedes 110; 6.Force India-Mercedes 109; 7.Toro Rosso-Renault 19; 8.Lotus-Renault 8; 9.Marussia-Ferrari 2.

*Unofficial results
**5-place penalty

News 7 Sep, 2014

New pictures provide clearest view yet of new Aston Martin Lagonda super saloon due on sale in 2015

Pictures See all 25 pictures 7 Sep, 2014

Mazda is a tiny carmaker on a shoestring budget. So nothing attests more to the import of the MX-5 Miata's debut than the company's big splurge on a laser-lit, smoke-machined three-continent, simultaneously live-streamed global reveal.

Porsche is returning to Kenya after a seven-year break as it seeks to take advantage of the country's expanding economy.

The current-generation Chevrolet Equinox and sibling GMC Terrain, now entering their sixth year, would normally be prepped for reconstructive surgery by now under a typical product development cycle.

The car of the future, as it's being developed today, is a rolling Internet hot spot, a node on a vast network of vehicles, a high-speed mobile computer capable of analyzing its surroundings in a blink and making precise, split-second decisions in...

From GMM

Tony Fernandes has broken his silence to reveal it is "a relief" to have left formula one.

The entrepreneur, best known for his Malaysian low-cost airline Airasia, recently sold the Leafield based Caterham team to mysterious Swiss-Middle Eastern investors led by Colin Kolles and Christijan Albers.

"Yeah. It's a relief," he told the Independent.

"There's nothing wrong in trying and failing," said 50-year-old Fernandes, who is now focusing instead on Airasia, his football club Queens Park Rangers, and second-tier teams in GP2 and Moto2.

He said he did learn things from F1, including "how not to do things".

Fernandes admitted not focusing hard enough on Caterham was a mistake, but he also said the naming dispute with Lotus was a "major blow".

"I never said it to anyone, but it left me feeling that F1 was very nasty and vindictive," he said.

Tony Fernandes (Photo: WRI2)

"Then Caterham didn't really progress, a lot of investments didn't come through and it started to get tough."

Fernandes also said Max Mosley's vision of keeping costs low for small teams never materialised, meaning "everyone is struggling" apart from the sport's grandee names.

"Every team talked about working together but it never happened. So you've got to put your hands up and say 'We're beat. It doesn't make sense any more'."

Fernandes said buying Queens Park Rangers from Bernie Ecclestone and seeing how football's commercial model works was also an eye-opener.

"Whether you're a top team or at the bottom, you get enough money to survive, and that's the major difference (between football and F1)," he said.

"There's a better dialogue (in football)," Fernandes continued. "There's a general understanding that we are in it together."

From GMM

Luca di Montezemolo was coy on Saturday as he played down swirling speculation about his future.

The long-time Ferrari president arrived at Monza for his traditional qualifying visit amid intense rumours that it will be his last.

Some reports suggest the charismatic Montezemolo, 67, is at loggerheads with fellow officials over policy, while others think he is poised to quit Ferrari to become the new chief of the Italian airline Alitalia.

"Alitalia?" Italian reporters quote Montezemolo as saying at Monza. "I hope to take one one of their planes tomorrow afternoon," he joked.

"The rumours about me? I have seen a great fuss in recent days, but I have found it excessive.

Luca di Montezemolo (Photo: WRI2)

"I'm here to work -- today, tomorrow, the next months.

"We are preparing a big event for Ferrari in Los Angeles in October, for the Paris motor show with our cars, and I gave my commitment to shareholders and to the people of Ferrari in March to stay another three years.

"If there is any news, I will be the first to tell you," Montezemolo insisted.

Meanwhile, in what looked like a photo opportunity, Montezemolo gave Ferrari's lead driver Fernando Alonso a long embrace in the Ferrari garage before qualifying.

It could have been a message to rival teams, like McLaren, who have been eyeing the Spaniard.

"He has a contract until 2016," said Montezemolo, "and wants the same thing I want: a more competitive car."

From GMM

F1's 'silly season' is bursting into life at Monza -- and almost every team in pitlane is playing ball.

That goes even for the sport's dominant Mercedes, and one of the highest-paid and most marketable stars, Lewis Hamilton.

Boss Toto Wolff had already lifted the lid by warning that if the Briton and his teammate Nico Rosberg do not fix up their broken relationship, Mercedes might have to change its lineup for 2015.

He repeated the warning on Friday.

Toto Wolff (Photo: WRI2)

"My statements were about what would happen if we wouldn't get on top of it and this is something obviously which is a very, very worst-case vision and I don't think that we were ever going to get there," said Wolff.

Even so, the warning is now made. Could it be connected to Hamilton's "frozen" contractual negotiations, and rumours at Monza that Mercedes is trying to drive down the value of the 2008 world champion's next deal?

Hamilton is also now linked with shock moves to McLaren, or even Ferrari.

Is that why Fernando Alonso on Thursday was being so complimentary when he looked back at their apparently poisonous pairing at McLaren in 2007?

Would the Spaniard prefer Hamilton as his 2015 teammate over the struggling Kimi Raikkonen?

"(At McLaren) it never was a problem with Lewis," Alonso said. "It didn't work because of the team. I never had a problem with Lewis and it's not a surprise today that we still have a good relationship."

That does appear a long shot, but it seems clear that Mercedes is looking at its current pairing and wondering if it makes sense for the image of the brand and to best capitalise on performance.

Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg (Photo: WRI2)

"If they (Rosberg and Hamilton) were more disciplined no one would be able to keep in touch with them," the visiting Flavio Briatore said at Monza on Friday.

"For me there has to always be a first driver and a second."

Even the academics agree, including Dr Paolo Aversa of London's Cass Business School who has concluded that pairings like Rosberg and Hamilton do not work.

"Toto Wolff now realises the internal conflict between Hamilton and Rosberg could lead to Daniel Ricciardo finishing between the two Silver Arrows teammates," he is quoted by The Times.

"It looks increasingly unlikely that both Hamilton and Rosberg will be lining up for Mercedes next season," he added.

"Their on and off track clashes are symptomatic of two roosters in the henhouse, which is statistically proven to decrease performance."