Auto News 5

Toyota Canada will conduct two voluntary recalls involving 14,816 Prius hybrid sedans from the 2004 to 2009 model years.

Due to insufficient hardness treatment, the splines that connect the steering intermediate extension shaft to the steering gearbox may deform if the steering wheel is frequently and forcefully turned to the full left or full right position while driving at slow speeds.

Toyota dealers will inspect and, in some cases, replace the steering intermediate extension shaft.

Meanwhile, 8,740 of these same Prius vehicles are also being recalled to replace the electric water pump for the hybrid system.

Basically, the electric motor installed in the water pump may stop functioning which, in limited instances, could cause the hybrid system to stop while the vehicle is being driven.

Affected owners will receive a notification letter by mail starting next month. For more information, call 1-888-869-6828.

Photo: Matthieu Lambert

To no real surprise, Graham Rahal is set to be confirmed Wednesday as primary driver for his father team, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for the upcoming 2013 IndyCar season.

The young Rahal, who left Chip Ganassi Racing at the end of the 2012 campaign, has been linked ever since with his father's squad.

The 23-year-old has spent the last two seasons with Ganassi but his results were not what everyone had expected and a return with his father could help the young American to show what he can really do on the track.

Father and son had previously teamed up at the 2010 Indianapolis 500, where Graham finished 12th.

The team preparing Takuma Sato's car at Detroit. (Photo: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing)

After attempting to set a Guinness record for the longest wishlist to Santa Claus, MINI now wants to break the world record for the number of people inside a MINI Cooper.

A team of 28 flexible, non-claustrophobic gym members will try to squeeze into the popular hatchback, breaking MINI's own previous record of 27 people.

As if that wasn't spectacular enough, 22 of them will try to fit inside a classic Mini just moments after the first record attempt.

Both events will take place on Thursday at Potters Fields Park in London, England.

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone has hinted he wants many more American races on his F1 calendar.

After a five-year absence from the country, F1 has returned to the US in 2012, this weekend christening the brand-new and bespoke Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Photo: Circuit of the Americas

And Ecclestone wanted two American stops on next year's schedule, until plans for a street race amid the Manhattan skyline were put on hold for financial reasons until at least 2014.

"It's a world championship, so you need the US," the F1 chief executive is quoted by German news agency DPA. "America is about as big as Europe. So we should have the same number of races (in each)."

In 2013, seven of the 19 grands prix - Spain, Monaco, the UK, Germany, Hungary, Belgium and Italy - will be in Europe, the sport's traditional homeland.

For now, many in the F1 paddock are simply relieved that the US is back on the calendar at least with one race -- Norbert Haug pointed out this week that it is Mercedes-Benz's single biggest road car sales market.

But F1 chief executive Ecclestone acknowledged that his sport is "not very big" in America, causing the US-naturalised Mario Andretti to proclaim: "I can only say thank god for the Texans!"

"This," agreed McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh, "is a golden opportunity for the sport to finally put down roots and find a long-term home (in the US)."

After contractual and construction delays, the Circuit of the Americas is a hive of activity in the hours before the F1 paddock comes alive on Thursday.

Signs, seats and landscaping are still being finished off, circuit spokeswoman Julie Loignon admitting: "Things are very hectic, but everyone is making steady progress."

Michael Schumacher, a regular visitor to the US, is already in town, kicking off his stay by watching the NBA basketball game between the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves, according to Bild newspaper.

Before it launched, I read about Cadillac's new CUE (Cadillac User Experience) infotainment system with much interest. Dotted with words like “advanced,” “sophisticated” and “cutting-edge,” the initial press releases on this new system got the gadget-loving side of my brain salivating more than Homer Simpson in a bacon factory.

All that drooling was for a good reason: Turns out, there's a lot right about how this CUE thing works.

On a recent test drive, I introduced my Android Smartphone to the CUE system in one Cadillac ATS via Bluetooth, after which point they became fast friends.

As in any other car, the pairing of phone to vehicle means drivers can handle phone calls, browse their contacts and stream music from internet radio or other apps directly into the car -- no wires required.

However, it's not the functionality itself, but rather how it all comes together at your fingertips that makes CUE so impressive.

The central screen, for instance, is made of glass -- not plastic. It feels firm, solid and substantial. It vibrates out a little “click” sensation with every button press to confirm your inputs. Slide, expand and pinch gestures are all usable in most screens. It feels intuitive and natural, and reminded me of interfacing with my Motorola Razr phone.

2013 Cadillac XTS (Photo: Cadillac)

When quickly browsing through various functions, some in-car systems lag harder than a Commodore 64 trying to play Doom 3D. With CUE, swapping between screens is seamless, smooth and instant. They're all vividly colored and animated nicely.

You feel and see the thing responding to you instantly. And, unlike Audi's MMI, Mercedes's COMMAND, or (and especially) BMW's iDrive, CUE doesn't overload you with a cluttered sub-menu of icons and fields or buttons around the border of the display. Left alone, all of that secondary stuff fades away, leaving only vital data on the display until proximity sensors detect your reaching for the screen, and display the additional stuff a half-moment before your digits hit the glass.

That's if you use your fingers on the screen at all. Buttons on the steering wheel allow for nearly full system control using only your thumbs. Manipulated thusly, a secondary full-colour screen in the instrument cluster reflects your choices, many of which are repeated in the optional head-up display.

Or, you can use your voice. And when you do, CUE doesn't require filling in the blanks in a rigid speech template. Rather, it dissects what it hears and makes a usually accurate guess before engaging the selected radio station, phone call, or navigation routing to the nearest sushi joint.

Entering an address is similarly slick. Forget individual screens or fields for “city,” “province” or “street name.” With CUE, you simply type in an address (or partial address) the way you'd see it on an envelope and it does the rest. CUE actually “thinks” and the advanced intelligence here works to take the load off the driver.

It's ultimately a smart, sexy, seamless, powerful, and truly evolved information and communications hub. This is how in-car infotainment should be. Learning curve? Sure. However, if you can operate an iPad or Nintendo Wii remote, you'll have it down in about 20 minutes.

From GMM

The Nurburgring's chances of staging the German grand prix as scheduled next year have receded yet further.

Bernie Ecclestone was already in talks with Hockenheim about replacing the mid-July event next year, while the crisis-struck Nurburgring is grappling with an insolvency process.

Still, there was a chance the Nurburging would pull through.

However, multiple German reports - including in the daily Rhein and Allgemeine newspapers - have now revealed that negotiations between the existing management and the managers of the insolvency have broken down.

A circuit spokesman confirmed to the DPA news agency that there will indeed be "no more formula one" at the Nurburgring, as talks with Bernie Ecclestone had also ended.

But Pietro Nuvolini, the spokesman for the financial recovery experts in charge of the Nurburgring situation, insisted: "If the tenants want to return to the negotiating table, our door is not closed."

Aerial view of the Nurburgring track.

Fort Lauderdale could become a new destination for the upcoming 2013 IndyCar season if everything goes according to plan following a recent meeting between the Broward County Commission and Andretti Sports Marketing.

Michael Andretti's promotion group, which already promotes the Milwaukee and Baltimore events, was in Fort Lauderdale this week along with one of the city's favorite son and 2012 IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay.

Photo: IndyCar

Still there is a long way to go before receiving final approval but the corporate community present at this gathering showed a lot of enthusiasm and support.

Reports in the local press are speculating that the event could be held during the famous Ft Lauderdale Boat Show but ASM President John Lopes says that the race won't be held in a manner in which the event could interfere with the show.

Organisers are looking at a date between September 1st (Baltimore) and October 5th (Houston) but whatever date, if the race is to be presented in 2013, Lopes states that Christmas is the deadline to receive final approval. Beyond that, we are talking 2014.

Then the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth's kill ratio would be very low. Certainly, its arsenal of weapons tells a different story, but in the game of life, the Abarth leaves behind doubts and questions as to why it even exists.

The 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth is a fun car destined for those desiring thrills in a very compact format. Although the car's heart is in the right place, the pint-size cabin poses far too great a compromise unless the owner is single or likely enjoys short partners.


Despite looking like it might lunge for the jugular, the $23,995 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth is still too cute to be taken seriously, unless Abarth means something to you and those you are trying to impress.

What is an Abarth?
Abarth (pronounced any way you please) is a race shop that was founded in 1949 by racer Carlo Abarth in Turin, Italy. Much like AMG and other highly specialized tuner shops, Abarth was eventually absorbed by the company that produced the products they enjoyed tinkering with.

Their speciality was making their cars go faster and win races. Their success engendered a slew of production cars of which the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth is the first to reach our shores as a production car.

Stand-out design is dated
The Abarth is meant to be the bulldog version of the unseasonably cute Fiat 500. To many, the car's uber-Euro styling is still new and intriguing, however, the fact is that the 500 is nearing 7-model-years-old and its wrinkles are beginning to show.

In Abarth trim, the Fiat 500 gains oversize, dual chrome exhaust tips, a tasteful skirt-kit, and choice optional 17” forged hyper black alloy wheels. Altogether, they endow the 2012 Fiat 500 with much needed ‘tude, but the bottom line remains: A nun with a tattoo is still a nun.

The fact is that the 500 is nearing 7-model-years-old and its wrinkles are beginning to show. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

1 ¾ + 1 ½ interior
The 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth's cabin is tight, not especially well laid out and swathed in cheapish, hard plastics. The styling is fair, but not quirky enough like a smart fortwo or semi-conventional like the Honda Fit.

The largest fault, or fail, in the 500's passenger quarters are the seats. Although the driver's is height adjustable, it is flat and provides little support. The latter two comments apply to the passenger's, however, it is not height-modifiable. My 5'6” wife's hair (poofed up, but not a la Snooki) would rub against the headliner. The backseat is very unyielding.

The second-worse aspect is the steering wheel. I love the flat bottom, but the spokes are far too wide for proper grip, much like the Ford Mustang Boss, and the column does not telescope. In order to find a better driving position, I had to pull my seat close to the wheel. In this situation, leg- and hip-room are next to nil. As I Tweeted, my gentleman bits were very relieved to see the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth go.

Other niggles include the OBD-II plug which is easily accessible and visible (draw your own conclusions). I've not seen this in nearly 15 years of criticising cars. As well, the equally visible foam by the footwell harkens to a time when a finished product meant that there were fewer than a dozen pieces left over at the end of the build...

The 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth's cabin is tight, not especially well laid out and swathed in cheapish, hard plastics. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

MultiAir engine is fantastic
The principal ingredient that makes the 2012 Fiat 500 an Abarth is the turbocharged 1.4L MultiAir 4-cylinder engine. Its output of 160 hp is identical to that of the 2013 Dodge Dart Rallye which features the same engine. Torque figures vary (184 vs. 170 lb-ft for the 500), however, the Dart tips the scale at nearly 315 kg (693 lb) more than the 500.

Maximum boost is an impressive 18 psi (1.24-bar) which is well in play up to the motor's 6,500 rpm redline. The 5-speed manual gearbox is loads of fun to fiddle with, especially with the well-spaced pedals that enable heel-and-toeing.

The point here is that this diminutive powertrain makes the Abarth a serious sub-compact performance car. At wide-open throttle, and in Sport mode, the lithe car rockets forward with gusto and its roar is satisfying.

The principal ingredient that makes the 2012 Fiat 500 an Abarth is the turbocharged 1.4L MultiAir 4-cylinder engine. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Driving technique
The 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth is a seriously quick car, and requires two hands on the wheel at all times. The non-existent overhangs and wheels at each extremity manage the car's speed with brilliant grip despite the front-biased 64/36 weight distribution.

The Koni-kitted sport suspension and Pirelli P-Zero Nero bite hard on turn-in and never let go. To a certain extent, the tires' adherence causes the 500 to tramline; corrections are constantly needed at speed. The electric steering is responsive, if a little heavy on occasion. Its principal fault is in the tiny car's large turning radius. The four-wheel disc brakes perform admirably.

Driving the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth is an exercise is fun, but is not without a few compromises that should be seriously taken into account before the purchase.

From GMM

According to Nico Rosberg, a current formula one driver smokes cigarettes.

The conversation of smoking come up when Rosberg was recalling the last time F1 visited Texas.

The Mercedes driver's father, the inimitable 'Flying Finn' Keke Rosberg, won that 1984 race in Dallas.

"Yes," smiling Rosberg told Italy's La Stampa, "it was 40 degrees and while the other drivers wore refrigerated suits, he (Keke) was bare-chested in the sun, smoking a cigarette. He had beaten them all before it started."

The La Stampa newspaper said the behaviour of Rosberg's father almost 30 years ago would today be "unthinkable". Indeed, it was believed the last smokers in F1 were Jan Magnussen at the end of the 90s, or perhaps Mika Salo.

"About the smoking?" Rosberg wondered. "No, you're wrong -- there's one driver who lights one cigarette after another."

"I'm not naming names," he quickly added.

From GMM

The current owners are seeking EUR 40 million for the struggling backmarker HRT, according to the Spanish sports daily AS.

The newspaper also revealed that talks with potential buyers from India and Abu Dhabi are underway.

HRT, currently owned by Madrid based investment company Thesan Capital, confirmed this week that "the time has come for the team to continue growing with new financial backing".

Media reports suggested HRT was in the process of sacking 32 employees, and needed a buyer before the first days of December to avoid closure.

HRT race team. (Photo: HRT F1 Team)

AS claims that the situation inside the team has become dire, to the point that engineers are concerned that Pedro de la Rosa and Narain Karthikeyan are being put into grands prix at the wheel of unsafe HRT cars.

Indeed, at the most recent grands prix in Abu Dhabi and India, Karthikeyan and de la Rosa respectively retired in spectacular style with fundamental technical failures.

De la Rosa crashed due to brake failure, while Mercedes' Nico Rosberg was sent airborne when Karthikeyan slowed because his steering wheel "locked solid".

"Narain told me that his steering broke," said Rosberg, "and he needed to brake which I didn't expect in a high speed corner."

AS suggests that HRT has considered simply withdrawing from the 2012 championship, but is pushing ahead for now due to its commitment to the Concorde Agreement.

According to the report, HRT was hoping its association with Chinese reserve driver Ma Qing Hua would bear fruit.

Chief executive Saul Ruiz de Marcos reportedly wrote a letter to China's motor racing federation, saying Ma would make his F1 debut in 2013 if he could bring EUR 30 million in backing.

First Drive: 2014 Subaru Forester Prototype

A little more SUV.

The Subaru Forester was among the leading wave of compact crossovers in the late 1990s, but it was hardly the definition of the segment. As the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V wrote the rules that would be followed by every major mainstream automaker for the coming decades, the Forester marched to its own wagon-like beat. Riding on the Impreza platform, the original Forester resembled a car more than an SUV.

Photo Gallery: First Drive: 2014 Subaru Forester Prototype

Photo Gallery: First Drive: 2014 Subaru Forester Prototype

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Toyota agreed on Tuesday to pay $25.5 million to settle a shareholder class action lawsuit in federal court accusing the company of not disclosing safety and quality issues related to recalls and reports of unintended vehicle acceleration in 2010.

What is it?

Ford is planning a seven-passenger vehicle aimed at young families that features sliding doors and enough interior space to hold some 465 soccer balls. But don't call it a minivan.

Eterniti Motors officially opened its doors in London on Monday. The 10,000-square foot building in Park Royal not only hosted the opening-day party, but also displayed the companyand#8217;s first production model, the Eterniti Artemis SUV.

During our test of the Gibbs Quadski, a high-speed amphibious ATV manufactured by Gibbs Sports Amphibians Inc.

Also in this episode: Porsche helps enthusiasts by reproducing classic badges, and the

2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring - Compare and Contrast

We compare the CX-5 to the competition.

Back in May, we conducted a comparison test between the three newest offerings in the compact crossover segment: the Mazda CX-5, the Ford Escape, and the Honda CR-V. We proclaimed the CX-5 the Goldilocks of the bunch ("it's just right") and gave it the crown of the competition. Since then, we've gotten another crack at the Escape and at Hyundai's all-new (and larger) Santa Fe Sport and driven them with our Four Seasons CX-5 fresh in our minds.

Photo Gallery: 2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring - Four Seasons Update - November 2012 - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring - Four Seasons Update - November 2012 - Automobile Magazine

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Ford has introduced the 2014 Transit Connect Wagon, a vehicle the automaker is calling and#8220;so unique it is a revolution in seven-passenger transportation.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally will be one of a dozen American corporate leaders meeting with President Barack Obama Wednesday to discuss ways to control the federal deficit, the White House said Monday.