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And why not? You deserve it, don't you? December is usually a slow vehicle sales month; people are too busy attending Christmas parties, getting ready for the holidays and running around doing last-minute gift shopping. So, a new vehicle purchase isn't a priority.

On the other hand, December is a great month for seeking out new-vehicle deals. Manufacturers and dealerships scramble to end the calendar year on a positive note, so they'll be more inclined to hand out interesting rebates or other incentives.

You could score a brand-new, 2012MY car or truck in December with a heavy discount as the 2013s are rolling in by the truckloads.

You'll see; from now until Christmas, your favourite TV and radio stations will be stuffed with car commercials urging you to drop those gingerbread cookies and head on down to your local dealer.

Imagine how good you'll look as you arrive at the annual family Christmas reunion behind the wheel of a new car, pickup or crossover. Then again, your relatives might judge you: “What's this? You can afford a new car but you bought me this cheap tie?”

If you're like me, shopping for a new car in winter isn't all that fun; it gets dark out before you even leave work, it's cold out and you've got five layers of clothing on, and that good old test drive isn't all that convincing in a foot of snow, unless you're trying out a four-wheel drive vehicle.

Still; think about it. If you're looking to change your car or truck, why wait until spring? A great deal could be waiting for you right now.

If you're about to invest in a new ride, chances are that your dealership offers a wide and comprehensive range of accessories to help fine-tune it to your exact tastes.

Dealer-approved accessories are built to the same standards as the vehicle itself, typically covered by the new-car warranty, and are guaranteed to fit and function properly the first time -- unlike cheap knock-offs from the internet. And, unlike buying online, dealer accessories don't come with shipping and duty costs -- and they're easy to return if there's an issue.

Accessories are available for new vehicles, as well as past models. Whether you're considering accessorizing your new ride or a well-loved one, your dealer has you covered.

Certain accessories are of particular interest in wintertime, and can work to enhance the durability, confidence and comfort your ride delivers in the most challenging travel season of the year.

Here's a closer look at some winter-made accessories to consider.

Photo: Volkswagen

Spare your Cabin
Winter tire season is also winter floor-mat season. Protect your ride's carpeting and floor pan with a set of custom-formed winter mats that'll trap virtually all of the moisture, salt and sand tracked on board.

Without winter mats, this abrasive and corrosive solution of salt, water and mud will cause mold, ruin your carpet, and accelerate the formation of rust in the metal floor beneath your feet. Winter mats trap all of that nastiness, and can be easily cleaned in your laundry-room sink or at a coin-operated car wash.

Consider a cargo tray to protect your carpeting from the loading and unloading of winter gear, too. Door-sill covers or “kick-plates” are also available for most models to protect the painted surfaces of your rocker panels from sandy boots or the claws of your four-legged passengers.

Sports Fans
Ski trip? A day of snowboarding? Forget tossing your equipment into the back of your crossover or minivan where it could damage the interior and chew up passenger space. Your dealership offers a wide range of cargo-carrying solutions to help you take your gear along with ease -- including roof-mounted or hitch-mounted gear carriers that install in minutes to securely transport your stuff to the slopes.

Added Protection
A little protection now can do big things for your vehicle's resale value down the line. Look for hood-edge deflectors, mud flaps and other protective implements that'll protect your vehicle's vulnerable areas from damaging salt and sand spray. Not only do accessories like this protect your ride's finish, they add a touch of uniqueness to its looks, too.

Step Bars
Got a pickup? Check out some step-bars or step-rails. Not only do these add a touch of visual flare and make it easier and safer to enter and exit your ride, they provide a sturdy place to kick off those winter boots before getting on board.

Electronic Gear
You could get a Bluetooth phone interface or voice-command navigation system from your local electronics retailer and suffer with poor call quality, limited functionality, and wires dangling all over your dashboard. Or you could stop by your dealership for a variety of solutions that integrate fully with your vehicle, instead. Both of these voice-commanded electronic systems work to keep drivers connected and on course in inclement weather with no distraction.

Winter Boots
Utilizing your favourite automaker's advanced supply network and team of professional service managers and installers, your local dealer offers a wide range of winter tire and wheel solutions. A single visit will set you up with a no-nonsense package, while giving your ride's advanced braking and stability systems more physical traction to work with. Consider a dealer-approved winter tire and wheel package for your new or used model.

Remote Start
Letting an amateur installer at your local electronics shop modify your vehicle's wiring is a bad idea. Solution? Dealer-installed remote starter. Installed by a trained technician who knows the wiring in your ride, this upgrade won't void your warranty or adversely affect the functionality of your vehicle's systems. Only the highest-quality, manufacturer-tested units are offered which means you'll be able to preheat your ride reliably for many winters to come.

Auxiliary Lighting
Nothing adds confidence to winter travels like fantastic forward illumination of the road ahead. If your factory headlights are falling short, be sure to check out options for auxiliary lighting -- including fog lamps and auxiliary lights. Available as an add-on for many models, fog lamps deliver a low and wide spread of illumination that adds visibility without glare when it's snowy or foggy.

For your truck or SUV, a variety of high-performance driving lights are available, including specialty units that can be mounted to your bumper or even your roof rack. Ask your sales representative for details, and remember that seeing and being seen are key to safe travels when the temperature drops.

We reported on November 6th that a convoy of eight MINI cars was headed to Rovaniemi, Finland, to present Santa Claus with the longest wish list ever. Well, mission accomplished!

The list, which stands a whopping 3,798.5 metres long and includes 75,954 Christmas wishes from 16 countries around the globe, was delivered to the Santa Claus Post Office in Rovaniemi by Maria Conti, a representative for MINI Italy.

Photo: MINI

And if you consider this a waste of paper, you should know that MINI used a special paper that has a minimal impact on the environment.

The convoy left Munich on November 24th for a 3,500 km trip across several countries.

A few days earlier, the company broke yet another Guinness record by fitting the most people inside a MINI.

From GMM

Robert Kubica has admitted he will not be returning to formula one any time "soon".

With Lotus apparently dithering over a new deal for Romain Grosjean, wild rumours at the Interlagos finale last month suggested the team might have an eye on Kubica.

The talented Pole has been out of F1 since the end of 2010, because in the weeks before the 2011 season, he was seriously injured in a rallying crash in Italy.

"I was hoping that I'd be back behind the wheel of a formula one car soon," Kubica, now 27, told Autoweek, "but it didn't work out."

He has at least now returned to competitive action, performing strongly at the wheel of rally cars in minor events.

Robert Kubica, Rallye du Var. (Photo: Citroen Racing)

But the limited mobility of his right arm, which was almost completely severed in his February 2011 crash, means that he cannot currently steer a single seater.

"I still find it difficult to move my right arm," said Kubica.

"I had several operations that were meant to improve this issue, but there's not been a spectacular improvement. If I can move my arm again, there is a chance that I will return (to F1). But until that happens, we'll have to see. There's no chance of me coming back to formula one soon," he admitted.

Kubica confessed to missing circuit racing, mentioning "touring cars or endurance racing" as potential avenues for the near future.

"I don't know -- but I will make a decision very soon," he said.

He said another option could be the world rally championship, but that would mean that he would probably not "fight for top results".

"We're talking with people at the moment, and everything will be decided by the end of the year," said Kubica.

And if he chooses rallying, that will likely mean he will not return to F1 at least until 2015.

"I don't want to spend a year in the world rally championship only to find out in November next year that I have no idea what I'm doing in 2014," said the former BMW and Renault driver. If I choose rallying, it needs to be a long-term programme that allows me to learn. I can't do what I did in formula one before the accident, so I must choose a new direction, make the next step in my career. We'll see what it is."

Los Angeles, CA - Southern California is widely known for sun-kissed tans, surfing and phenomenal coastlines. Not to mention the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) that captivates commuters from all over, luring them in to experience its full glory with cascading waves and steep cliff drop-offs.

On a sunny day, with a gentle breeze, the smell of salty ocean fills the lungs while the palm trees rustle in the background.

On a rainy day, you don't really get that!


Rain on my Parade
Seemingly appropriate, the launch of the 2013 VW Beetle Convertible took place in Santa Monica, California. Despite it being late in the year, rain isn't usually on the menu. And up until our test day, precipitation had not manifested itself. But alas, the weather systems served up a dish of torrential downpour with a side of fog, leaving my driving partner and I with limited visibility and the wiper blades working harder than they've probably ever worked in their lives. That didn't mean it was a total loss. Despite raining on our parade, the Saturn Yellow exterior colour of our drop top brought a little sunshine into our dismal day.

Going Topless
Despite the not-so-favourable conditions, I'm happy to say that the weather did cooperate (somewhat) with us, so we had a small window of drop-top driving. And I mean really small.

The Beetle Convertible's fully automatic, power-operated roof requires only the push and hold of a button to drop. It takes 9.5 seconds on the way down, and can be lowered while travelling at speeds of up to 50 km/h. On the way up, it takes 11 seconds.

Nevertheless, we were topless in California. I felt like a local, minus the tan and surfboard.

When equipped with the additional windscreen, air flow through the cabin is minimized so your hair doesn't get as tousled as it would without. And if you're wondering where you store the windscreen when you're not using it, there's a shelf in the trunk where it fits perfectly so it doesn't really impede on the 201 litres of cargo capacity. That figure is up 60 litres from 141 litres in comparison to the last generation of Beetle Convertible.

Also, take note that when the roof is lowered, it doesn't take up any room in the trunk. Thank goodness.

The Beetle Convertible's fully automatic takes 9.5 seconds on the way down, and can be lowered while travelling at speeds of up to 50 km/h. (Photo: Alexandra Straub)

On the Road
For the 2013 Beetle Convertible, it's 20% stiffer than the outgoing model. What does that mean? It feels more firmly planted on the road. Not to mention it's 29 mm lower, giving its silhouette a sportier feel. It's also long, wider and has an increased wheelbase, but drops 19 kg (42 lbs) along the way.

While taking it along the PCH, noise, vibration and harshness in the 2.5L version of convertible was pretty good. The windshield wipers weren't the quietest, but that could easily be fixed. The other models which I drove, including the Turbo and the TDI had a much better set of blades, so I'm thinking this was a one-off type deal.

Coming down the Pipeline
Canadian VW Beetle Convertible enthusiasts can expect these drop-tops to arrive in the first quarter of 2013 (late January/early February). Initially, there will only be one engine/transmission combination available. That's the 2.5L, 5-cylinder with 170 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, which is mated to 6-speed automatic transmission.
Coming later on in the year is the Turbo and, potentially, the TDI.

My Two Cents
Having had the opportunity to drive all three engines, I felt the best put together was the 2.5L. It was the quietest ride of them all and felt good while winding through the various canyon roads. Yes, it's a little sleepy for me in the acceleration department, especially with the 6-speed automatic, and it takes a little patience to get it going even with your foot all the way down on the accelerator, but it competently gets the job done.

As for its more gender-neutral looks: From what VW reported, 42% of sales from the previous convertible were by men. With the lack of a flower vase, a spoiler standard on all trims and an overall more athletic look, I'm curious to know how this new version will do with the dudes.

That's the 2.5L, 5-cylinder with 170 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, which is mated to 6-speed automatic transmission. (Photo: Alexandra Straub)

Pricing
Two different trims are available: There's the Comfortline that has an MSRP of $28,775 and comes standard with 16” alloy wheels, Bluetooth and air conditioning. Then there's the Highline ($31,740), which comes with 17” alloy wheels, fog lights and leather upholstery. Adding the Technology Package ($1,290) gives you navigation and an awesome Fender premium audio system.

Overall
The 2013 VW Beetle Convertible has funky styling, a cool interior and a nicely balanced ride slated to make both sexes happy behind its wheel.

From GMM

Mark Webber has had successful leg surgery in his native Australia.

Just ahead of the 2009 season, the now 36-year-old badly broke his leg in a downhill mountain cycling crash during his outdoor adventure challenge in Tasmania.

Now, four years later, Webber has had another operation on the leg, mere days after contesting his Tasmanian challenge yet again.

Photo: WRi2

"Hospital trip planned a while back," he announced on Twitter. "I needed further surgery from previous injury. All good and on the mend."

Posting a photo of his hospital breakfast, the Red Bull driver added: "Hospital brekkie in bed. Leg finally all done."

The federal Environmental Protection Agency says it will review Consumer Reports' data and findings that showed Ford's two newest hybrid models fell below the company's promise of 47 mpg.

The UAW and union members opposed to Michigan becoming a "right-to-work" state plan major protests in the state capital this week to try to stop Republicans from restricting labor unions in the cradle of the unionized American auto industry.

Automakers are expected to easily meet the European Union's CO2 emissions target to 130 grams per kilometer by 2015. They also are on track to comply with the tougher 2020 fleet goal of 95g/km, a report shows.

Porsche's preparation ahead of its 2014 return in LMP1 competition is kicking in to high gear, as the first car is set to rollout of the factory in mid 2013.

Although in a new department of its own, headed by former BMW's F1 program boss Fritz Enzinger, the LMP1 program will be run at Weissach, by the factory itself in a dedicated brand new workshop and office complex, recently completed.

"The car will be run by our own works team based here at Weissach," said Wolfgang Hatz, Porsche AG Board of Management Member for Research and Development, also revealing that the first outing of the prototype was due soon.

"The first rollout of our new LMP1 car is planned for mid-2013," he said.

Moreover, Porsche also announced it recruited Jean-Karl Vernay to add to its works driver line-up. The 25-year-old Frenchman was a test and reserve driver in Peugeot's LMP1 program in 2011, who prior to joining the French manufacturer, won the Indy Lights series in the United States, and the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup in the LMP2 class.

This year, he will continue his learning in Porsche's Mobil 1 Supercup.

Norwegian rally driver Andreas Mikkelsen was confirmed as Jari-Matti Latvala and Sébastien Ogier's teammate in Volkswagen's Word Rally Championship effort.

The 23-year-old from Oslo has been in the Volkswagen fold for some time now. In 2011 and 2012, he was crowned champion of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge aboard a Skoda Fabia S2000. His record also includes a win in the 2008 Rally Norway. At the time, Mikkelsen was only 18 years old.

In 2013, his season kicks off at the Rally Portugal, fourth round of the WRC. Before then, the team is only fielding two cars.

Volkswagen's Red Bull-sponsored Polo R WRC (Photo: Volkswagen Motorsport)

As far as expectations go, Jost Capito, VW's head of motorsport, admitted it might take some time before the team is fully up to speed in the championship, despite the Polo R WRC's promises.

"The WRC is pretty new for the team," he said.

"We learned through the season in 2012 and our target through next season is to get in a position to challenge for podium positions and be prepared for the 2014 season when we want to fight for wins."

Moreover, Red Bull, which has already partnered VW in its Dakar adventures, was confirmed as a major sponsor for the WRC bid.

From Porsche

The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is the most successful race car in the world. Since 1998, 2,395 units of the near-street-stock race vehicle for customer sport have been produced. The new edition of the 911 GT3 Cup is the motorsports version of the future showroom model 911 GT3 (yet to be introduced) and as such is the first race car that is based on the seventh generation of the sports car icon (Porsche 911 - type 991) from Zuffenhausen.


The new 911 GT3 Cup will be run exclusively in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup in 2013. The rest of the Porsche makes cups and challenge cups around the world, including the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama and the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin, will compete in the current 911 GT3 Cup racer for 2013, switching to the new car in 2014.

The new car (Photo: Porsche AG)

The new car for one-make racing made its debut on the occasion of the end of motorsport season "Night of Champions" celebration at the R&D Centre in Weissach.


The new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is powered by a 3.8-litre six-cylinder flat engine. It generates 460 hp at 7,500 revs, surpassing the predecessor by 10 hp. A six-speed dog-type gearbox developed by Porsche Motorsport, which is operated via shift paddles at the steering wheel for the first time in a Porsche brand trophy race car, transmits the power to the rear axle.

The interior of the 991-type 911 GT3 Cup car (Photo: Porsche AG)

The width of the Michelin race slicks was increased by two centimetres to 27 centimetres at the front and by ten millimetres at the rear axle to now measure 31 centimetres.


A newly developed race braking system further improves the excellent endurance qualities. The 380 millimetre slotted and inner-vented steel brake rotors at the front axle are decelerated by six-piston aluminium fixed callipers. The rear axle features a four-piston version.


During the development of the new car a particular emphasis was put on the driver safety. A newly designed safety cage protects the pilot in case of a roll or a collision as does a newly developed race seat which is distinctively shaped around the head and shoulders and can be adjusted individually with the help of padding. A rescue hatch in the roof provides easy access for primary medical attention and for the extraction of the driver.


Like its predecessor the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is produced in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen on the same assembly line as the street-legal models. At the Motorsport Center in Weissach, it receives a general set-up for the race trackand is tested by a professional race driver before delivery to the customers.

The starting price for the vehicle, which is available exclusively in white, is 181,200 Euro plus the country-specific taxes.

Austria's Red Bull Ring has entered the race to the spot left open by the FIA on the Formula One World Championship 2013 calendar.

Up to now, France and Turkey had been the two most likely venues to inherit the July 21st date. Both countries have staged F1 races before and are seeking a comeback.

Now that Helmut Marko, Red Bull's motorsport guru, has spoken however, Austria is also on the shortlist of European countries likely to return to the calendar.

DTM crowd at the Red Bull Ring (Photo: DTM.com)

"We have made the FIA aware that we have a track with a full F1 license," the high profile consultant is quoted saying by ESPNF1.

The track he is referring to is the Red Bull Ring, formerly known as the A1 Ring, which hosted the Austrian Grand Prix between 1997 and 2003, before shutting down. It was bought back by the energy drink company in 2005, revamped and then reopened in 2011.

Marko is adamant amenities in the surroundings of Spielberg, where the Red Bull Ring is located, are sufficient to host a grand prix.

"It worked in the 1970s and 1980s," he points out on Autosport.com. "And we have a full amount of hotels in Graz."

Here is a short clip of Kimi Raikkonen whishing, in his own style, a merry Christmas to every F1 fan!



Source: Official Lotus F1 Team TV

The last time Toyota built a rear-drive sports car, Lenny Kravitz was topping the rock charts, Bruce Willis was fighting evil space asteroids in Armageddon, and Justin Bieber was still in diapers.

That was some time ago, and the mighty Toyota Supra is now enjoying retirement on YouTube videos and used-car ads.

Today, the Japanese automaker with a penchant for sensible, economical cars is once again hitting the sports-car scene with a new model called the Scion FR-S.


Platform sharing for fun and profit
Admittedly, it's not quite a Toyota. In North America, it's sold under Toyota's youthful Scion brand, and it was co-developed and is built by Subaru. Subaru calls their virtually identical version of this platform-shared car the BR-Z. Other than badges and minor cosmetic changes, they're basically the same.

The important part? The 2013 Scion FR-S ticks all the right boxes as a great sports car. You can visit your local cruise night and show off the sculpted, compact and energetic styling to your pals. It has import-tuner appeal and that attention-grabbing factor right out of the box.

Snarly boxer power
Up front, a 2.0L boxer engine is mounted widely at the bottom of the engine compartment, lowering the centre of gravity, making for better handling. With 200 horsepower and a redline well over 7 grand, it's a boatload of fun.

The 6-speed manual shifter in the 2013 Scion FR-S is tight and well sprung, and the clutch has plenty of positive grab. It's not a wimpy, soccer-mom clutch. It holds lots of power for fast off-the-line launches and doesn't feel like it's made of cheese whiz.

If you have to get the automatic 2013 Scion FR-S, you'll get responsive and fun-to-use paddle-shift performance, too.

The FR-S isn't about goodies and high-tech features or posting record-setting lap times. It's about making you feel good with an affordable little riot of a sports car. If you're after a true driver's machine priced well shy of $30 grand, consider this one a priority test drive.

Enthusiasts will love the setup, and the fact that the Scion FR-S is rear-wheel drive and has a traction control system that can be turned down, or turned off, depending on what you're up to.

Opened up, the 2013 Scion FR-S growls along fiercely, but isn't so fast that it denies all full-throttle enjoyment in fear of a dangerous skid or speeding ticket. It's not incredibly fast, but in 99% of driving, it offers a “just right” amount of power Along with plenty of low-end torque and throttle response in traffic, too.

With 200 horsepower and a redline well over 7 grand, it's a boatload of fun. (Photo: Lexus)

Athletic appointments
Drivers of the 2013 Scion FR-S watch their revs via a tachometer with a blinky LED shift-indicator which takes centre stage in a cockpit that's sport-snug, and coloured and trimmed with more sophistication than its price suggests.

The 2013 Scion FR-S seats are great, as are the driving position, small steering wheel and sporty metal pedals which are ideally placed for heel-and-toe shifts.

All controls are within easy reach, simple to operate and logically laid-out. It's a simple, no-B.S. sports car cabin in the 2013 Scion FR-S even if I did wish for a sunroof and some leather seats.

All controls are within easy reach, simple to operate and logically laid-out. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Sporting first
The 2013 Scion FR-S is undeniably tight and sporty while driving. On uneven surfaces, it can be a busy and rough ride, but it's balanced well between comfort and grip. Steering is beautiful -- quick to react, loads up nicely, and conveys great feel from the road while directing the FR-S around with minimal fuss and maximum urgency when pushed.

Brakes are a touch stiff at initial application, but stopping power inspires confidence alongside easy modulation and good feel. The reflexes and driving dynamics, at every turn, are well done and rewarding. And unlike most of its competitors including the Civic Si and MINI Cooper S, this Scion was designed as a sports car not an economy car from the get go. That shows here, massively.

It's also very light, making it great on fuel. I was delighted at a test average of under 8L/100km.

The usual gripes
Standard sports-car complaints apply: Rearward visibility is limited, rear seats are useless for grown-ups, and the trunk (though large enough) has a small opening.

Other gripes weren't major, though I did wish for a quieter ride at highway speeds as well as some covered storage in the cabin of the 2013 Scion FR-S. The stereo screen is hard to read if the sun is out, and I have a right arm that would have been happy with an armrest.

You'll love this car
This is a machine with its eggs in the right basket. If you ever loved or owned a 240SX, Prelude, Tiburon, MX6, AE86 Corolla, MR2 or any other imported '90s-era sports car classic, you'll love the recipe here.

Certain Porsche 911 GT3 sports cars used on the track and/or subjected to aggressive driving conditions could see a rear wheel hub fail and potentially lead to a crash.

Porsche Canada dealers will therefore replace the rear wheel hubs and bearings with updated components.

Source: Transports Canada

Photo: Porsche

China's largest maker of auto parts won a politically sensitive auction for A123 Systems, a bankrupt maker of batteries for electric cars that was funded partly with federal government money, the investment banker for A123 said on Saturday.

2012 Ford Focus Electric

The Focus Electric drives very much like a standard Focus, which is a very good thing.

The Focus Electric drives very much like a standard Focus, which is a very good thing. The steering is crisp and communicative, the brake pedal feel is pretty conventional, and, of course, the torquey off-the-line acceleration is fabulous, just as it is in all electric vehicles. That makes the Focus Electric a nearly perfect urban commuter and around-town errand-runner, especially if your workplace or your municipality happens to have EV charging stations. Downsides, other than the obvious limited range? The turning circle is awfully wide, which compromises your ability to make quick three-point turns in the city to grab a coveted parking spot. Much of the trunk space is eaten up by the battery pack. And then there's the price; $40K is a lot to spend on a Focus, but we all know that electric vehicles at this stage of the game are for early adopters who are willing to pay for the technology. To those pioneers, I say, bravo; you'll love this Focus.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Ford Focus Electric - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Ford Focus Electric - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

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On Monday we woke to a recall involving the Ford Fusion and the Escape SUV for a problem with its 1.6-liter engine that could cause a fire.