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The Better Block project in Dallas has turned an unused street into a temporary pedestrian plaza by using duct tape to secure the intersection.

Total cost? A mere $2,000...

From GMM

Fernando Alonso will be "involved in future projects" at Ferrari.

That is the claim of a Ferrari spokesman, amid swirling rumours in the Monaco paddock that the Spaniard's patience with the Maranello team is finally at an end.

Alonso hinted strongly at his unhappiness on Wednesday, when he welcomed the praise of Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche and said it was "curious" those closer to him do not make similar declarations.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo reacted swiftly, describing the 32-year-old as "the best driver in the world" and denying the existence of a "polemical situation".

Nonetheless, there are those who continue to doubt that Alonso will still be wearing red in 2015.

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

Some think he could move to Mercedes or return to McLaren, and the latter British team's supremo Ron Dennis on Thursday reportedly said the door to Woking remains open, so long as the team can build a fully competitive car.

"With the 2015 Honda car we hope to have just that," Ron Dennis told the Italian press.

But a Ferrari spokesman told Spain's sports newspaper Marca that Alonso remains committed.

"He is commited to being involved in future projects, rebuilding the team to a winning one. He (Alonso) is not someone who is thinking about leaving," he said.

Many believe that Alonso would be appeased if Ferrari is successful in luring Adrian Newey from Red Bull.

Red Bull has tried to stop those rumours, issuing a statement quoting Newey as committing to the reigning world champions for "the foreseeable future".

And new Ferrari team boss Marco Mattiacci issued a simple "no" on Thursday when asked if he has invited Newey to Maranello.

"We are working a lot with (technical director James) Allison, someone extremely competent who has a future at Ferrari," Mattiacci told Italian television Sky in Monaco.

He also hailed Alonso's contribution.

"Fernando Alonso is a great champion and I am absolutely delighted to have him on our team. I like people who are fighters and are always pushing for better," said Mattiacci.

It has long since been the way to deliver different powertrain technologies: Include a huge amount of kit to partly justify the boost in price for a hybrid or a diesel car.

What Toyota has done, in a similar fashion to that of the Prius, is essentially de-content the Camry to lower the price. In this and the Prius' case, it works against it especially as the competition offers or makes available much of the bells and whistles that everyone wants.

The 2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid is a very decent car to drive, comfortable and quiet and with appreciable road manners. As a daily driver it works, but in its current state there are numerous arguments against it and for its rivals. I expect, though, that the 2015 Camry will address all issues and send the competition looking to improve upon their products in time.


What is a Toyota Camry hybrid?
The Toyota Camry is another in the long list of go-to cars. As one of Toyota's superstars, they've made sure that it offers something for almost everyone. With three powertrains on tap, the Camry remains a very popular midsize sedan.

2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid Price and Specs
Getting into a new 2014 Toyota Camry is easier than one might think. At $23,750, the base LE features everything the average car user needs. The Camry Hybrid piles on more technology on top of the base LE and rings in at $27,760.

The XLE trimmed Toyota Camry Hybrid starts at $29,615 and as tested, with the Moonroof package, retails for $32,115. I might repeat this but at this price, the car doesn't have heated seats. Repeat: does not.

The hybrid synergy drive powertrain consists of an Atkinson Cycle 2.5L 4-cylinder engine mated to a permanent magnet AC synchronous motor, which stores and takes its juice from a sealed Nickel-Metal Hydride battery pack. System output is rated at 200 horsepower. This is a gain of 22 hp over the regular 2.5L and we all know about electricity and its effect on torque.

The only available transmission is a CVT and it drives the front wheels. Fuel consumption numbers are rated at 4.5 / 4.9 / 4.7 (City / Highway / Combined) litres per 100km.

Driving the 2014 Toyota Camry hybrid
How about I begin by telling you about how this car behaves on the road by declaring that this thing is fast? If you occasionally read up on hybrids, you'll likely have read that these green things are surprisingly fast.

Although the Camry hybrid is quick on its feet it is, without a doubt, efficient. At least, it is on paper or on the screen for that matter. My returned average was closer to 7L/100km. As always, this was in part due to the cold weather, the defrosting and some wheel spinning. In reality, you should expect to average around 6L or more or less what you would get from a VW Passat TDI.

The Camry is pleasant to drive with few flaws. Of all the Camrys I've tested over the last 15 years, this latest car, introduced in 2012, is the best handling, sharpest in fact, by comparison. It remains smooth and very comfortable even during spring-thaw pothole season.

Steering and brakes equally operate as expected. The regenerative brakes require a short adjustment period, but are quickly assimilated as part of the daily commute. You'll not discover a car that you can point and shoot around a bend as steering is light, but you'll never be wanting any extra sharpness.

As Toyota are essentially royalty where hybrids are concerned, the Camry Hybrid functions nearly flawlessly. From EV to gas or any combination of both, passengers will likely never notice the changes unless throttle is highly solicited.

Inside and Out of the 2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid
The 2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid is a Camry. I'm no fan of the car's overall design especially where the odd fang-shaped taillights are concerned. As for the Clearwater Blue Metallic colour, I could also do without.

Be that as it may, the Camry Hybrid is instantly recognizable as what it is... A Camry. Thankfully, the 2015 Toyota Camry is fully revised and looks far more contemporary (in other words: attractive).

The cabin also does little for me. In an age where subtle elegance and class are a must, Toyota prefers the chunky, boxy and multi-layered and colour approach. I'm no fan. Same thing goes for the new Corolla. Although not to my taste, every control falls well in hand.

The issue I have has to do with too few controls falling under hand. At this price, the Camry does not have front heated seats or auto up-down front windows (should be all four) and no satellite radio. These are three huge fails in my books.

Comparing the 2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid
The 2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid is a tough contender in a segment where it plays against its own brethren, the Prius, and the likes of the Accord and Sonata hybrids.

Content is important in the latter two cars as are a contemporary design that is far more pleasing to the eye.

The new Porsche 919 LMP1 Hybrid will make its debut at Le Mans in just a few weeks. Here are seven interesting facts about the new Le Mans Porsche car.

1
A limiting factor for the performance of the LMP1-H Porsche 919 car is primarily the amount of fuel available per lap. This approach makes energy efficiency a primary factor.

2
The rule-makers have left the type and method of storing the retrieved energy up to the constructor as well as the choice of engine design and the displacement.

Photo: Porsche

3
The rules specify four classes of energy levels ranging from 2 to 8 megajoules (MJ). Porsche has registered the 919 Hybrid for the 6-megajoule category, which means that the LMP1 prototype can use exactly 1.67 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy per 13.629km long lap on the "Circuit des 24 heures".

4
In covering 348 laps of the Le Mans circuit, the Porsche 919 would generate and use 581.2 kilowatt hours (kWh) - an electric output which would run a 60 watt light bulb for a staggering 9,687 hours.

5
With the energy the LMP1 Porsche prototype recuperates during the Le Mans race you could cover 4,576 km in the most efficient electric compact car, which would take you across the USA from coast to coast, from New York to Los Angeles.

Photo: Porsche

6
The Porsche 919 is powered by a newly developed V4 turbo with two-litre engine displacement and direct injection. In the 6-MJ class, the rules allow a petrol engine with over 500 hp a consumption of only 4.78 litres per lap at Le Mans.

7
The LMP1 factory cars reach speeds significantly higher than 320 km/h several times during each lap, and twice they have to decelerate to urban traffic speeds at slow corners. The engines run at full throttle for about 70% of the lap.

Nissan has confirmed an LMP1 program and will battle head-to-head with Audi, Porsche and Toyota at Le Mans in 2015.

The Japanese car manufacturer will also contest the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship with a full factory effort of two LMP1 cars.

Nissan's LMP1 car will be called the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO.

Let's recall that Nissan deliberately took a non-traditional approach to Formula 1 with its prestige Infiniti brand through its association with Red Bull Racing.

The race is now on to get Nissan's LMP1 car on the grid in 2015. Announcements will be made in due course concerning the drivers of the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO, who will come from both inside and outside of the Nissan family.

The date the new car will first take to the track and the full technical specifications will also be revealed in due course.

Photo: Nissan Nismo

From GMM

Romain Grosjean hit out at Pirelli's "wooden tires" after practice in Monaco.

In fact, this weekend on the Principality's streets, the 2014 'super soft' compound is making its debut, alongside the next-softest tire in the range, the 'soft'.

But the track action was scarce on Thursday, mainly due to the initially damp track in the second session amid a forecast of dry weather for the rest of the weekend.

"It's a shame for the fans, but that's formula one," said Nico Hulkenberg.

"It would have been too risky, because some teams don't have many spare parts," he told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Also getting the finger of blame was Pirelli, who according to Lotus driver Grosjean have supplied tires that are unsuited to the "tricky" 2014 cars around the barrier-lined Monaco layout.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus. (Photo: WRi2)

"Today, the biggest problem is these wooden tires," he smiled to France's RMC.

"Seriously, they do not work very well here. These cars are pretty tricky but they're sliding a lot and not going very fast around the corners," Romain Grosjean added.

"It is making it even more difficult than in the past, so you really need to concentrate on not making mistakes. You're driving at 98 per cent and not pushing to 102 per cent to avoid a mistake," he said.

Championship leader Mercedes' team boss Toto Wolff defended the F1 'show' of Thursday, insisting it is premature to describe this year's spectacle as boring.

"We need to be careful not to go from depression to manic and back into depression," he said. "Yes, we've had a boring session but does it mean that formula one is boring? I heard different comments after Bahrain so I think you need to look at the whole."

Long before he became the head of Formula 1 operations at Renault Sport, from 2002-2008, Denis Chevrier had the immense privilege of working with Ayrton Senna. Here's his story.

In 1986, Chevrier was a Renault engineer assigned to the Tyrrell team.

“I first started working with Ayrton Senna in the winter of 1986, because the engineer who was assigned to him at Lotus could not make it for a test at Circuit Paul Ricard,” Chevrier told Auto123.com.

“At the track, we tried a few things and Ayrton was all about progressing and improving. I mean, he could spend 15 minutes dissecting and analyzing a single corner, breaking it down to each tenth of a second and explaining to us why he did this or that — it was like watching a super slow-motion movie! We were using two pressure gauges: one for the left turbo, another for the right turbo. Guess what? Ayrton had all the exact numbers in his mind!”

1994 Grand Prix of Brazil. Denis Chevrier is leaning over the cockpit of Ayrton Senna's Williams. (Photo: WRi2)

After a brief stint in the rally car world, Chevrier returned to Formula 1, this time with Williams.

“When Senna arrived at Williams in 1994, we soon realized with our data acquisition systems that he knew exactly what he was talking about. Both he and our computers painted the very same picture of the car and the engine,” the French engineer recalls.

“What really amazed me, though, was his willingness to share information. Ayrton firmly believed that this was the way to progress. We worked like crazy to improve the engine and, in turn, make him more comfortable behind the wheel. All the time he was talking more about what he felt in the cockpit than how the engine behaved.”

Denis Chevrier. (Photo: WRi2)

Unbelievable charisma
“Senna had tremendous raw skills. We knew he could be extremely fast with any car, but his ability to assess and analyze every detail made the difference. Again, I can't stress enough how progressing was important to him. He was a formidable team leader, one with whom we shared a great human adventure,” Chevrier says.

“Ayrton once came to see us at Renault Sport in Viry-Chatillon, and even though he didn't speak French, we all got his message. He was a bundle of human warmth. His way of telling things, his eyes, aura, and determination convinced everyone around him that he was genuinely dedicated and committed to succeeding. The man had unbelievable charisma and convictions; he managed to get people to move mountains.”

Chevrier adds: “Senna used to go out for dinner with team executives in his Lotus days. When other members of the crew joined them later in the evening, they were usually told that Mr. Senna had already taken care of the bill.”

Ayrton Senna, Williams. (Photo: WRi2)

Tragically, Ayrton Senna's third Grand Prix with Williams turned out to be his last.

“In 1994, Senna didn't feel comfortable in the car. The steering wheel was too close, which hindered his blood flow,” Chevrier confides. “During the Brazilian Grand Prix, his arms suffered terrible cramps, and he spun the car around. Back in the paddocks, Senna told everybody ‘Sorry, I made a mistake. That won't happen again.' It wasn't actually his fault: We weren't ready. Any other driver would have come up with an excuse, but not Ayrton. He didn't try to hide, instead taking full responsibility for his actions. He was very classy; a great man indeed!”

Toyota is now recalling 520,000 vehicles, most of which were sold in North America. The first one affects 450,000 Toyota Sienna minivans from 2004-2011 (80,000 in Canada). The cable attaching the spare tire may break over time.

Another recall involves 55,000 Toyota Highlander CUVs built from November 2013 to May 2014, and sold mostly in the U.S., but also in Canada and Mexico. The front passenger seat belt needs to be fixed.

Finally, some 16,000 Lexus GS 250 and GS 350 sedans built in 2012 may suffer from moderate deceleration due to a bad brake pedal calibration. These vehicles were mainly sold in North America, others in China and Europe.

Source : auto.lapresse.ca

The contact patches of the four tires on a car are all that keep it on the road. Formula 1 teams are developing new technologies to improve the performance of Pirelli tires.

Controlling tire temperature, as well as its heating and cooling cycles, is of vital importance to the performance of a modern F1 car.

F1-Monitor's Lawrence Butcher recently wrote that some F1 top teams (including Mercedes AMG) have begun to use a coating on their wheel rims in an attempt to transfer more heat into the tire. This technology is designed to reduce the amount by which they cool on the straights between braking and turning events.

It is thought that the coating in question is a generally available solvent-based product that contains polymers of silicon. The coating is described as a ‘liquid glass', which is normally clear, but adding a black pigment aids heat exchange between the wheel and the tire.

Wheel of the Williams F1. (Photo: WRI2)

Butcher also explains that the coating also has secondary benefits relating to airflow within the rim, as its very smooth and glossy finish reputedly helps reduce turbulence.

It is not just smooth coatings that are applied to wheels though, and there are a number of heat-resistant coatings available that can be applied with an extremely smooth finish for the same reasons. Another benefit of the high-gloss finish is that it makes the inside of the wheel rim less susceptible to the build-up of debris picked up as a result of brake wear and from the track surface.

The author also pins out that teams also apply a ‘textured' finish on the inner surfaces of their wheels.

The objective of such textured finishes could be to help reduce the boundary layer of air on the inside of the wheel rim as it rotates close to the brake cooling drum, thus helping to reduce drag in much the same way as dimples on a golf ball.

The second objective could also be to offer a greater surface area, which combined with a heat-absorbing coating would further increase heat transfer from the brakes into the tire.

A website called stop100.ca is pressing the Ontario government to increase highway speed limits to 120 km/h in metropolitan areas and 130 km/h in the country.

Ontario currently enforces a highway speed limit of 100 km/h like most Canadian provinces. Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and New Brunswick allow drivers to travel at 110 km/h.

Stop100.ca claims that advanced technologies now make it safer to drive at more than 100 km/h - a limit set in the 1970s.

What's your take?

Source : autoblog.com

Here's the new Lamborghini Huracàn LP 610-4 Polizia that will join the Italian State Police's fleet by the end of the year to replace the outgoing Gallardo, which has logged 110,000 kilometres since beginning service in 2008.

The Lamborghini Huracàn LP 610-4 Polizia uses a 610-horsepower 5.2L V10 engine to sprint from 0-100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds and 0-200 km/h in less than 10 seconds. Top speed is rated at 325 km/h, which should easily dissuade criminals from fleeing.

The car also features a small refrigerator for organ transportation, a defibrillator, and a radar.

Source : caradisiac.com

Photo: Lamborghini

Suzuki Motor Corp. is recalling 184,244 vehicles in the U.S. due to a fire hazard. Affected models include the 2004-2008 Forenza and Reno, which are clones of the recently recalled Chevrolet Aveo.

In both cases, the vehicles were manufactured by GM's South Korean affiliate.

Owners will be contacted by Suzuki at a later date.

Source : autonews.com

Canadian Transport Minister Lisa Raitt wants to know if General Motors of Canada failed to recall vehicles in a timely manner like the automaker did in the U.S., which resulted in a $35 million fine.

"Having seen what has developed in the United States I've gone back to my officials to go back to GM Canada and ask them when did they find out. Did they find out at the same time as GM in the U.S. told the world or did they know earlier than that?" Raitt told reporters on a conference call.

"I need to get that information and that answer from GM Canada before we move any further because, as you know, if they had that information and didn't put the recall in place, then they could be in violation of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act," she said.

GM has recalled nearly 420,000 vehicles in Canada since February and more will soon be added to the list.

Source: Automotive News

I recently got the opportunity to spend time behind the wheel of the completely redesigned 2014 Toyota Highlander, which ushers in the third generation of the Japanese automaker's popular midsize crossover. What exactly caught my attention? Here are six pictures that will show you.

1. Display Audio System

Photo: Olivier Delorme

Whether I listen to music via Bluetooth or satellite radio, I like seeing the album cover next to the song info. Little details like these make a big difference, you know...

2. JBL Synthesis

Photo: Olivier Delorme

Speaking of music, I loved the available JBL Synthesis sound system and the cabin's acoustics. No matter what I listened to, everything sounded just right.

3. Second-row seats

Photo: Olivier Delorme

So. Much. Space. Wow! I'm six feet tall, and I could easily cross my legs after sliding my seat as far back as possible. Keep in mind, though, that my high-end Limited tester featured captain's chairs instead of a conventional bench seat in the second row.

4. Flip-up rear window

Photo: Olivier Delorme

Power liftgates are great, because you can remotely open them anytime you walk toward the vehicle with your hands full. However, I prefer a flip-up rear window like the Highlander's, which proves really convenient most of the time. Too bad this feature is going the way of the dodo...

5. Halogen headlights

Photo: Olivier Delorme

At nearly $53,000, I just don't understand why the 2014 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited doesn't have LED headlights. Heck, you can find some on a Corolla at $18,000!

6. Centre display angle

Photo: Olivier Delorme

Although I love what Toyota has done with the multifunction centre display, the experience is compromised by the sunrays that bounce off of it and make the info much harder to read while driving.

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone has hinted he is close to stepping down as F1 supremo.

Most insiders believe that, with star witness Gerhard Gribkowsky often sounding contradictory or unbelievable, Ecclestone's Munich corruption trial is going well for the 83-year-old.

But he certainly does not look well this weekend.

The diminutive Briton had to miss a day of court last week with a bad cold, and he is still unwell as he fulfills his duties in the Principality.

But while Ecclestone may ultimately win the day in Munich, the scandal may already have taken its toll.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport raised the theory that F1's major shareholder CVC might have decided now to oust him, no matter the outcome.

The names Christian Horner, Flavio Briatore and the suddenly higher-profile Luca di Montezemolo are mentioned as potential successors.

And with his cold leaving him with a husky voice, Ecclestone said: "I have heard Niki Lauda's name."

Usually, Ecclestone suggests the only way he will voluntarily leave the paddock is nailed inside a wooden box.

But he said in Monaco: "If CVC presents me with a successor, I will leave tomorrow."

The words will be echoing inside the paddock, as F1 is currently in the sort of trouble that only Ecclestone has traditionally been able to magically solve.

On one side are angry small teams who are threatening the involvement of the European Union, and on the other are the powerful big teams, seemingly determined to cling to their financial advantage.

"Our job," big-spending Red Bull's Horner said on Thursday, "is to to the best job we can to represent the companies that we work for, so of course you're going to cut the most aggressive deal that you can."

It is rumoured the big teams are quite happy to see the small teams fail and be forced to buy 'customer cars' rather than continue to try to be constructors.

"It's a brutal competition and it's survival of the fittest," said Horner.

Without Ecclestone, many fear F1 is currently facing an existential threat.

"There has never been a worse time to lose Bernie," Auto Motor und Sport quoted one paddock voice as saying.

Can a crossover be faster than a McLaren P1? This modified Nissan Qashqai R sure can! Using an SVM-tuned version of the Nissan GT-R's 3.8L twin-turbo V6 engine, it produces 1,100 horsepower, accelerates from 0-100 km/h in just 2.7 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 322 km/h.

The custom-built Nissan Qashqai R also features a new exhaust system, larger wheels and brakes, as well as specific bumpers. Meanwhile, the dashboard has been tweaked to incorporate the various gauges and indicators from the GT-R.

Source : topgear.com

From GMM

Nico Rosberg says he feels well equipped for 'mind games' with Lewis Hamilton.

With Mercedes so far ahead of any other 2014 rival, the pair look set to joust for the world championship at the wheel of identical silver cars.

Currently, Hamilton has the upper hand, having won the past four grands prix on the trot.

And the 'mind games' have also started, with the Briton suggesting he is hungrier for victory than Rosberg, due to the German's more affluent upbringing.

For the moment, Rosberg is unmoved.

"For sure there is a mental element, like any sport," he told Frankfurther Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper.

"Michael Schumacher was incredibly good at these mind games, so it was very interesting for me to learn from him -- I learned a great deal," Rosberg said, recalling his three years alongside the great seven time world champion.

"But it's not yet a psychological war between Lewis and I -- it's more still just out on the track."

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes W05. (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

And Rosberg said he feels capable of taking Hamilton on in wheel-to-wheel combat.

"Lewis is on a roll, that's quite clear," he said.

"There are always times in sports when everything is going one way, but eventually the pendulum swings back in the other direction.

"I have lost none of my confidence, because I know how fast I was in the last three races.

"And another thing is that a world championship is all about consistency, and I have always been on the podium this year, which no one else has managed," Rosberg insisted.

But while it is not yet 'open war', it's also not all hunky-dory behind closed Mercedes doors.

For example, Rosberg admitted he doesn't actively try to help Hamilton.

"I wouldn't go to him and say 'Look Lewis, this is the best way to go!' In Barcelona I found the best way to set up the differential, the data was available but he had to try to find it himself," he explained.

And Rosberg also said it is an advantage that he knows Hamilton's character so well.

"Almost every day I notice something that was just as it was in the past," he said, recalling their days as karting teammates.

"Lewis' strengths and weaknesses have not changed. He is incredibly fast on track, but he can snap if something is not quite right for him.

"I know where I can beat him," Rosberg added. "Everything is the same (as before), which makes it a bit easier for me."

But when a karting trophy was the prize, Hamilton won.

Rosberg thinks that is irrelevant.

"Formula one is more than karting," he said. "It is far more technical and I am very interested in the setup and analysing the data.

"For me it's incredible fun to find advantages over the others like that. Formula one is driving, yes, but it's also thinking."

From GMM

Romain Grosjean has not ruled out leaving Lotus at the end of 2014.

Earlier this week, while backing the troubled Pastor Maldonado, team owner Gerard Lopez said Frenchman Grosjean had emerged from a similar slump to be among the most coveted drivers on the grid.

"We've lived the same thing with Romain, and people wrote him off, but now we've got people knocking on our door to see if he can be in their team," he said.

When asked about Lopez's comments, Grosjean told RMC: "It makes me happy -- they are flatting words that are nice to hear.

"But I think it is only the sixth grand prix of the season, there are still a lot of twists and turns and the future is still relatively far away," said the 28-year-old.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus E22-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

However, Grosjean indicated that it is possible he will not be driving a black and gold car in 2015.

Enstone based Lotus has had an horror 2014 season so far, initially uncompetitive and unreliable and still besieged by rumours of financial strife.

Referring to the annual driver 'silly season', Grosjean explained: "Usually it always starts to unlock a little during the summer break.

"For sure I want to win races and try to be world champion, and that requires a team with a car capable of doing it," he concluded.

Toyota hopes to continue working with Tesla Motors on battery technology even after a battery-supply agreement between the two companies ends this year, Toyota's head of North American engineering and manufacturing said Thursday.