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Sales of Toyota's fuel cell sedan probably won't grow as quickly as those of the Prius hybrid.

Luxury-segment executives at last week's Paris auto show made it clear that they intend to attack new corners of the business as high-end customers emerge with nontraditional expectations.

Ford is bringing technology into the 2015 F-150 pickup more commonly associated with luxury cars. The list of new features is so long, it might seem bewildering to customers.

Adapted from GMM

Jules Bianchi has been seriously hurt in an incident that brought Sunday's rain-affected Japanese grand prix to a sombre close.

Adrian Sutil crashed on the wet Suzuka circuit, which brought out a recovery vehicle.

Sutil told reporters Marussia driver Bianchi, a 25-year-old Frenchman and the leading Ferrari 'academy' talent, then crashed sideways into the vehicle.

The FIA made the call to stop the race, which had earlier been interrupted with the safety car amid the difficult conditions.

According to Le Figaro, Bianchi, unconscious, was transported to the Mie hospital near Suzuka by ambulance with a police escort, because the medical helicopter could not take off.

Bianchi, who suffered from cerebral hematoma, is now undergoing surgery for a "severe head injury", F1's governing body has announced.

His father has told the L'Equipe sports daily that his son is in a "critical" condition.

After the surgery, "he will be moved to intensive care where he will be monitored," the FIA statement said.

Video replays of Bianchi's crash were ordered not to be shown or released by F1 race director Charlie Whiting.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport claims that in the impact, the entire left side of Bianchi's Marussia was destroyed, including the crash structure and roll-bar.

"I've never seen such a badly damaged car," said one eyewitness who was at the scene.

From GMM

The word at Suzuka on race-day Sunday is that Sebastian Vettel pulled off a masterstroke.

Not only has he exposed Fernando Alonso's Ferrari split and revealed that Red Bull's doors are closed to the Spaniard, the reigning world champion has reportedly single-handedly brokered perhaps the most lucrative deal in F1 history.

Famously, Vettel is one of those rare drivers who negotiates his own deals without the help of a manager.

"I have a head and a brain," the 27-year-old smiled on Saturday after his shock Red Bull exit was announced.

Sebastian Vettel (Photo: WRI2)

Incredibly, British newspapers claim Vettel's new Ferrari deal - which is yet to be announced - could be worth up to an astonishing $80 million per year, making him easily the highest paid driver in F1.

How has he managed to negotiate that himself?

"I'm not completely alone," Vettel is quoted by Kleine Zeitung newspaper. "I have a friend who I consult with a little and a lawyer but I think I am old enough."

The huge unanswered question now is what Alonso will do.

Some were surprised when it became clear Vettel's exit did not mean the Spaniard simply jumps straight to Red Bull.

Instead, the energy drink company signed Toro Rosso rookie Daniil Kvyat to pair with Daniel Ricciardo in 2015.

Asked if Russian Kvyat's promotion is a surprise, Alonso insisted: "No, not really.

"The programme of Red Bull has been very successful with Sebastian, Ricciardo and Kvyat and it is understandable that they follow the programme.

"A position at Red Bull was never a priority for me."

Dr Helmut Marko agreed at Suzuka that with Red Bull having such talented home-grown talents, it made no sense to go shopping for a ready-made champion like Alonso.

And Auto Motor und Sport quoted Christian Horner as saying: "With Alonso, you buy a mortgage as well.

"He is a great driver, but not a simple man."

Fernando Alonso (Photo: WRI2)

Clearly, McLaren-Honda is an option for Alonso, but the Spanish daily AS insists the 33-year-old has his mind set on a dominant Mercedes seat.

Niki Lauda ruled that out on Saturday, but team boss Toto Wolff is still not willing to guarantee that both Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton will be wearing silver in 2015.

"We want the best drivers available that work together in an atmosphere of respect," he is quoted by Speed Week.

"We are very happy with our drivers and the contractual situation is clear. I see not the slightest reason for us to starting running around the paddock talking to all kinds of drivers."

Nonetheless, Wolff admitted: "In life there is nothing that is 100 per cent sure, but we are 99.99pc sure that we will be with the same drivers.

"That is my wish for Christmas," he added.

And Auto Motor und Sport quoted Wolff as saying: "If you have a beautiful woman, you don't look for another -- unless the one you have tells you they no longer want you."

So as sodden Suzuka braces for a typhoon on race-day, the big paddock rumour is that Alonso is warning he is prepared to take a sabbatical if he does not secure the seat and conditions he wants for 2015.

"Sabbatical? Why not?" Alonso is quoted by Italy's La Repubblica.

"There are options, but you have to understand that if you see things from the outside, on the inside it is very different.

"When I tell you, you will understand better."

For the moment, McLaren and Honda insist a deal with Alonso has not been done.

"There is still no decision," Yasuhisa Arai, Honda's new F1 chief, told Speed Week. "I emphasise -- no decision.

"Many media are already naming names, but this is not true."

McLaren supremo Ron Dennis said late on Saturday that it remains possible the Woking team will line up with the same drivers in 2015.

Others would put more money on Alonso alongside Kevin Magnussen.

Asked what he knows about the situation, Danish rookie Magnussen insisted: "Almost nothing.

"Much has been discussed in the press, but I am happy with the situation I am in now.

"I would prefer if my teammate was Jenson (Button), but in fact it is not so important who is in the second car. I am more concerned about my own future."

From press release

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton grabbed his third win on the trot, Sunday in Suzuka, at the premature end of a chaotic race.

It was never going to be a simple race with Typhoon Phanfone in the area. And indeed, the Japanese Grand Prix was red flagged twice.

(Photo: WRI2)

First, the race, which started behind the safety car, had to be stopped after just two laps because of heavy rain. It restarted a few minutes later when the weather cleared up.

Soon, drivers were pitting for intermediate tires. Plenty of action kept the passionate Japanese fans on the edge of their seat.

The scene of Bianchi's crash (Photo: WRI2)

And then, on lap 44, the race was red flagged again when Jules Bianchi crashed into a recovery vehicle, attending Adrian Sutil's own crashed car.

With Bianchi in critical conditions, Hamilton, who was leading when the rest of the race was scrapped, celebrated lightly.

"Our first thoughts go to Jules," said Hamilton.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W05 (Photo: WRI2)

"It overshadows everything else when one of our colleagues is injured and we are praying for him. Next to this, the race result doesn't seem significant at all."

"My thoughts are with our colleague Jules and his family and teammates, and we are hoping for some positive news," added teammate Nico Rosberg, who finished second.

(Photo: WRI2)

Race results* - Japanese Grand Prix (round 15 of 19)
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 44 laps
2 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 9”1
3 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 29”1
4 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 38”8
5 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/29-Mercedes) - 1'07"5
6 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1'53"7
7 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1'55"1
8 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1'55"9
9 - Jean Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 2'07"6
10 - Sergio Perez (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1 lap
11 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1 lap
12 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14-T) - 1 lap
13 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1 lap
14 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4/29-Mercedes) - 1 lap
15 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1 lap
16 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1 lap
17 - Marcus Ericsson (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1 lap
18 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1 lap
19 - Kamui Kobayashi (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1 lap
20 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 3 laps
21 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 4 laps

(Photo: WRI2)

Retirement
Fernando Alonso

Drivers' championship
1. Hamilton 266 points; 2. Rosberg 256; 3. Ricciardo 193; 4. Vettel 139; 5. Alonso 133; 6. Bottas 130; 7. Button 82; 8. Hulkenberg 76; 9. Massa 71; 10. Perez 46.

Constructors' championship
1. Mercedes 522 points; 2. Red Bull 332; 3. Williams 201; 4. Ferrari 178; 5. Force India 122; 6. McLaren 121; Toro Rosso 29; 9. Marussia 2.

*Unofficial results

From GMM

Jean Todt has visited his friend Michael Schumacher since the F1 legend returned home after months in hospital and rehabilitation.

The pair worked together at Ferrari through the Italian team's ultra-successful period last decade.

"In the past weeks and months, he has made progress in relation to the severity of his injury," Todt, now FIA president, is quoted by the French daily L'Equipe.

"But a long and hard road is in front of him," he added, referring to Schumacher's continuing recovery from head injuries sustained in a skiing fall last December.

Todt said he visited the German and his family at their Swiss home earlier this week.

"Hopefully things will improve," he added. "His family is close to him. He needs time and peace."

From WRC.com

It took him 140 starts, but he did it. Jari-Matti Latvala won an asphalt rally.

The Volkswagen driver came close to breaking his asphalt curse in Germany in August but crashed out of the lead on the final morning. He made no mistakes in France to lead for all but one of the 18 special stages in a Volkswagen Polo R to win by 44.8sec.

"I was pretty nervous this morning after my mistake in Germany. I had to take that lesson and without that experience I wouldn't have been able to be as strong today and have belief in myself," he said.

Jari-Matti Latvala, VW Polo R WRC (Photo: WRI2)

"I've been waiting a long time to win on asphalt and done a lot of work for that and now it has finally come.

"I've been able to take some big steps this year and this is one of the most important," said Latvala, who was greeted at the end of the final stage by fellow Finn and 1981 world champion Ari Vatanen.

Robert Kubica was on course for a career-best fourth after demoting Dani Sordo on the final morning, but spun his Ford Fiesta RS into a ditch in the final test.

Robert Kubica, Ford Fiesta RS WRC (Photo: WRI2)

From GMM

McLaren and Honda could be planning to run an interim F1 car outside the sport's officially-sanctioned test dates.

It has emerged at Suzuka that the returning Japanese carmaker's new turbo V6 is being mated to an "experimental vehicle" that according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport is called MP4-29H.

The 'H' supposedly stands for Honda, meaning this year's Mercedes-powered McLaren is being modified to accommodate the different Honda installation.

The fact McLaren-Honda is working on the car indicates the collaboration is planning an unique approach to the 2015 season.

Earlier, it was expected the MP4-29H might debut at the post-Abu Dhabi test.

That is now no longer so certain.

Ron Dennis is quoted as saying: "We will start to use it at a time subsequent to the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

"Out of respect for Mercedes, it will be after this date, but we do not know exactly when."

Officially, however, F1 teams are not allowed to freely test outside of the sport's test restrictions.

The first official winter test ahead of the 2015 season is at Jerez in February.

McLaren is not sure when the its new Honda-powered car will debut (Photo: WRI2)

But the fact McLaren is building a special Honda-powered 2014 test car indicates either that the full 2015 test car will not be ready for Jerez, or that the team plans to go its own route with private testing.

Team boss Boullier is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport: "There is a gentleman's agreement among the engine manufacturers that prohibits track tests outside the official dates.

"But we could test if we wanted, because Honda is not (yet) officially part of the world championship," said the Frenchman.

Mercedes' Toto Wolff does not like the sound of that.

"You can't put an engine in an experimental car or whatever and just drive around. It's clearly against the rules."

He said Boullier's argument about Honda not yet being an official part of F1 is not valid.

"McLaren is enrolled as a team," said Wolff. "And if they have an engine supplier (for 2015), then you can't just say 'I don't know who my supplier is'.

"In this case, the rules are quite clear," he insisted.

At any rate, Boullier confirmed the possibility that McLaren's full 2015 car, the MP4-30, may not run at the first official test at Jerez.

"No problem," he is quoted as saying. "We have no pressure."

From IMSA.com

No American-born driver had ever won overall at Petit Le Mans. Prior to 2014, that is.

Co-driving the No. 10 Corvette DP owned by their father, Taylor brothers Ricky and Jordan won the famous endurance race, the finale of the inaugural USC race, this week-end at Road Atlanta.

They completed 400 laps for a grand total of 1,016 miles with their other co-driver, Max Angelelli.

At Road Atlanta (Photo: Wayne Taylor Racing)

"It's a great way to end the year," Jordan Taylor said. "We've won the last race the last three seasons, and it's a great trend we hope to continue.

"My dad (born in South Africa) won the first Petit Le Mans, so we've always heard about this race. He always talks highly about it, putting it up with Le Mans, Daytona and Sebring,

"We've had the car to beat the last two races, so we're definitely looking forward to next season."

From GMM

Carlos Sainz jr is closing in on a Toro Rosso drive for 2015.

Until mere days ago, the Spanish rookie - as the apparent cream of Red Bull's junior programme - remained disappointed to have missed out on departing Jean-Eric Vergne's place for next season.

Red Bull had swept in to sign the teen sensation Max Verstappen instead, despite 20-year-old Sainz's superior experience and success this year in the Formula Renault 3.5 series.

But after Sebastian Vettel's shock exit at the energy drink company's main F1 team, Red Bull has called up confirmed 2015 Toro Rosso racer Daniil Kvyat to drive alongside Daniel Ricciardo next year.

It opens up a new vacancy at Toro Rosso, and Sainz - whose father and namesake is the world rally legend - is the obvious favourite.

Franz Tost, Carlos Sainz Jr (Photo: WRI2)

Christian Horner admitted it on Saturday, and now Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost has told El Mundo Deportivo: "99 per cent, Carlos Sainz will be in F1 next year."

It is yet another blow to Frenchman Vergne, who ran Ricciardo close as the now Red Bull number 1 driver's Toro Rosso teammate in 2013.

And with Kvyat now moving up to the main team as well, Vergne actually outqualified the highly rated Russian at Suzuka.

Vergne is obviously frustrated to realise he no longer figures in Red Bull's future plans.

"It's not a question you should ask me," he said when asked about Saturday's events in Japan.

Asked if the Toro Rosso vacancy is good news for him, Vergne added: "I have absolutely no idea, I have no expectation right now.

"I don't have anything to say about the situation at the moment. I need a little bit of time to realise it and as well to understand the decision.

"Maybe I will do the Tour de France next year," he shrugged.

The World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) will do two three-lap races, next year on the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife.

The initial plan to stage a one-hour race on the 26-kilometre loop was scrapped because WTCC promoter Francois Ribeiro feared the field would spread to much.

So a two-race format, with no repair time between back-to-back contests, was adopted.

"Qualifying will decide the grid for race one," Ribeiro is quoted saying by Autosport.

The Nordschleife is a thrilling but challenging place to stage a race because it is so long it can almost be considered a rally stage (Photo: FIA WTCC)

"It will be a reversed-grid for race two, either reversing the top-10 from race one or from Q2, this has to be discussed at the next Touring Car Commission meeting on October 30.

"But it will be a super-quick starting procedure, no VIPs on the grid, five minutes and then we'll race again."

Furthermore, Ribeiro expects to see Nordschleife experts join the field.

"Some teams will try to find the best solution," he said. "It's good, as that will likely bring a bit more 'Germany' onto the WTCC grid."

GM issued three more recalls Saturday covering more than 57,000 vehicles in the United States for potential problems ranging from a wiring problem in the steering column to inadvertent shutdown of the engine.

Tesla will make its first foray toward automated driving with a suite of new high-tech features including one that can keep the car in its lane, said a person familiar with the carmaker's plans.

PSA Peugeot Citroen could re-enter the United States early in the next decade with its DS premium brand.

The first ad campaign created by Toyota Total, the automaker's multicultural marketing team, will break this weekend on some of the most mainstream programming around: NFL football.

Tesla's plans for a giant, advanced battery factory in a dry, desolate desert are raising hopes old Nevada, symbolized by adult entertainment like gambling and prostitution, will meet a new Nevada, where high-tech manufacturing and distribution...

The next-generation Opel Insignia -- which will be rebadged as the next Buick Regal sedan for the U.S. -- will be more premium and take styling cues from the lithe Monza concept car that Opel revealed in 2013.

As CEO of the future Berkshire Hathaway Automotive, Jeff Rachor is positioned to push the accelerator of growth. It's a role he knows well. Rachor has helped the Van Tuyl Group add a handful of stores annually since becoming COO in 2010.

Larry Van Tuyl is looking to his father for inspiration on the next phase of his working life. Van Tuyl will become chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Automotive after the sale of his dealership group to Warren Buffett's investment company is complete.