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The 2013 GS is proof that Lexus is trying to shed its old-man appeal. The question is: Will it tempt the younger crowds? Possibly, however it won't happen overnight. This thought swirled in my head the whole time I was with this car.

The GS has held the designer beacon for Lexus from the moment it arrived in showrooms very early in the '90s. In actuality, the first generation of the car was designed by the famed Giugiaro. That pretty much seals my comment.


Nice body!
There's no doubt in my mind that the new 2013 Lexus GS 350 is the styling winner among all four-door Lexus cars and SUVs. Be it in profile or head-on, the GS sports striking lines previously reserved for essentially all other brands. Conscientious of the fact that looks play a monumental part in the selection process, Lexus -- I can only imagine -- let loose the team that designed the LFA supercar and mixed them amongst the others in order to create this car.

My tested 2013 GS 350 AWD, draped in Fire Agate Pearl, was handsome enough, but most of the design efforts went into creating the F-Sport Package which further enhances the GS' street cred. Beside the LFA and IS F, it is the most dynamically styled of the Lexus brethren.

On this front, the 2013 Lexus GS 350 is well equipped to tackle competition from Germany.

Smooth and powerful operator
Concealed beneath the slopping bonnet is the only internal combustion engine fitted to the 2013 Lexus GS. The 3.5L V6 is at its healthiest in the GS, pumping out 306 hp at 6,400 rpm and 277 lb-ft at 4,800 rpm. One step up from here is the GS 450h's version which, with the help of Lexus' Hybrid Drive system, further boosts output to 338 hp.

In the non-hybrid 2013 Lexus GS 350, the transmission is a well-geared 6-speed autobox that sends the power to the rear or all four wheels. Because the AWD system is rear-wheel drive biased, the 2013 Lexus GS can be piloted energetically thanks to the favourable dynamics provide by RWD and the added safety and traction afforded by the front wheels.

Although doing without the F-Sport package's sport-tuned Adaptive Variable Suspension with electronically modulated damping, the GS' standard fully independent suspension managed to keep all four wheels in constant communicative contact with the road's surface.

Other than the aforementioned IS F and LFA, the basic 2013 GS is the sportiest Lexus of the entire lineup. Steering provides, for a Lexus, a well judged mixture of information and isolation from road imperfections. The four-wheel vented discs do a masterful job of keeping situations under control despite the 2013 Lexus GS 350 AWD's hefty 1,765 kg (3,970 lb) girth and ability to get up to speed quickly.

The 3.5L V6 is at its healthiest in the GS, pumping out 306 hp at 6,400 rpm and 277 lb-ft at 4,800 rpm. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Sumptuously sporty
When Lexus redesigned the 2013 GS, they had performance and styling in mind. They did very well on both accounts.

The cabin's visual impact is just as big as the sheet metal's. Once the doors are opened, passengers are greeted by rich, two-tone, 18-way power adjustable premium leather seats and a gorgeous woodgrain and leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel.

Controls are on the small side, but their textures and weight are very high end. The optional 12.3” LCD display is huge and features lovely graphics, however, the user experience is marred by Lexus' Remote Touch user-interface system. The mouse-like controller is awkward and requires far too much concentration in order to be properly used.

Be that as it may, I loved the large heated and vented front seats. They are intent on keeping their occupants sane even on the longest road trip. The rear bench is best suited for two, while the trunk is somewhat snug given the overall size of the car. A pair of golf bags are all one will be able to squeeze in.

The final note on the cabin belongs to the excellent -- nay -- mind-blowing, superb Mark Levinson Surround Sound Audio System. This 835-Watt 17-speaker boom box was created specifically for the 2013 Lexus GS 350 and it sounds as fantastic to humans as an electric can opener sounds to a hungry cat. Lexus has figured out the ideal combination of comfort and entertainment. Bravo.

When Lexus redesigned the 2013 GS, they had performance and styling in mind. They did very well on both accounts. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Pricing the competition
The base RWD 2013 Lexus GS 350 has a sticker price of $51,900. When compared to a 2013 BMW 528i at $54,500, it seems like a great deal if only because of its extra power. The catch is that a recently tested BMW 528i xDrive ($56,900) returned an abuse-burdened average of 9.5L/100 km while the GS 350 AWD ($54,900) managed no better than 11.5L, and I was kind. This may or may not be important to the potential buyer.

With the Infiniti M now having completely lost its way, the Lexus GS is now the only viable alternative to the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class. Its design is spot-on, while luxury bounds. It's worth being considered.

From GMM

Bruno Senna has denied his concerns about the future are contributing to a loss of form towards the end of the 2012 season.

Although finishing eighth in Abu Dhabi, the Brazilian qualified an awful fifteenth on Saturday and, early in the race, got caught up in a first lap incident.

"It was a very tough weekend," he said.

Bruno Senna, Williams, in Abu Dhabi. (Photo: WRi2)

It is reported that Williams opted against taking up the automatic 2013 'option' in Senna's existing contract.

The British team appears likely to pair Pastor Maldonado with Finnish rookie Valtteri Bottas next year, leaving Senna's backers in talks with Caterham and Force India.

Asked by Brazil's TV Globo if the uncertainty over his future is affecting him on the track, Senna answered: "You don't think about it. I'm thinking only about what is happening at the race weekend, from a technical point of view."

Along with its Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse siblings, the 2013 GMC Acadia receives its first significant face-lift since its introduction in 2007.


The 2013 GMC Acadia is the mid-point classwise, and is also meant to be the more rugged looking, larger CUV in GM's trio. For the 2013 model year, the front fascia garners the most attention with a bolder grille and headlights that feature LED signature lighting, and it also grabs new 18” to 20” wheels.

The rear receives likewise LED-accented tail lights, integrated into revised rear quarters with flow-through exhaust outlets.

The cabin is equally updated with new gauges, a redesigned center console replete with features such as touch-activated climate control, and new soft-touch materials.

A redesigned center console replete with features.(Photo: GMC)

The Denali version of the 2013 GMC Acadia returns as the top model with a power tilt and telescoping leather and wood-grain steering wheel, contrast stitching on gorgeous unique Cocoa Dune leather and an eight-way power passenger seat.

On the powertrain front, the 2013 GMC Acadia sports the same 288 hp 3.6L V6 and 6-speed automatic transmission as the pre-face-lifted model. Front- and all-wheel-drive versions are offered.

Safety features are numerous in the new Acadia as it will be equipped with seven airbags including an industry-first Centre Side Airbag, the Cross-Traffic Alert System, and Head-up Display. Traction and electronic stability control systems are obviously standard.

The 2013 GMC Acadia Denali is scheduled to arrive in Canada at the end of 2012. Final pricing should be available later this year.

Lotus Formula 1 driver Kimi Raikkonen has sealed the first victory of his F1 comeback, winning the Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi Sunday at the Yas Marina circuit.

Raikkonen, who started fourth on the grid, took the lead following the retirement of McLaren's Lewis Hamilton on lap 19, and did not relinquish it until the finish.

The Finn used a one-stop strategy, stopping on lap 31 to move from the Pirelli soft to the medium tires, on his way to his 19th career victory.

Photos: WRi2

Second place for Ferrari's Fernando Alonso - who used an identical strategy to Raikkonen, stopping three laps earlier - meant that the Spaniard reduced his gap to the lead of the drivers' championship to 10 points with two races to go, pushing the Lotus driver all the way to the chequered flag.

Point standing' leader Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull started the race from the pit lane but managed to slice through traffic to finish third.

Drivers' championship:
1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault 255 points
2 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 245
3 Kimi Räikkönen Lotus-Renault 198
4 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing-Renault 167
5 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 165
6 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 153
7 Felipe Massa Ferrari 95
8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 93
9 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 90
10 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 66
11 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 58
12 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 49
13 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 46
14 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 43
15 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 43
16 Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 30
17 Jean-Eric Vergne STR-Ferrari 12
18 Daniel Ricciardo STR-Ferrari 10
19 Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 0
20 Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 0
21 Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 0
22 Jerome D'Ambrosio Lotus-Renault 0
23 Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 0
24 Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 0
25 Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 0

Constructors' championship:
1 Red Bull Racing-Renault 422 points
2 Ferrari 340
3 McLaren-Mercedes 318
4 Lotus-Renault 288
5 Mercedes 136
6 Sauber-Ferrari 124
7 Force India-Mercedes 95
8 Williams-Renault 73
9 STR-Ferrari 22
10 Marussia-Cosworth 0
11 Caterham-Renault 0
12 HRT-Cosworth 0

Every year when I drive my assigned car categories during TestFest, which determines AJAC's best new cars and trucks of the year, and during our own Auto123.com comparison tests, I realize just how imperative the all-important test drive is for car shoppers.

For each of the vehicles I drove and rated during AJAC's TestFest, I evaluated their capabilities on a closed handling and braking course, then followed exactly the same route on a mix of city, highway and country roads. It's a repetitive exercise, but it's the best way to spot differences between each vehicle.

Determining a winner in the Best SUV/CUV under $35K category -- which was comprised of the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport, the Ford Escape, the Mazda CX-5, the Honda CR-V, the Chevrolet Trax, and the Subaru XV Crosstrek -- wasn't easy. Same deal in the Luxury Car category, which included the Acura ILX, the BMW 3 Series Sedan, the Buick Verano Turbo, the Cadillac ATS, the Lexus ES, and the Lexus GS.

Such back-to-back comparisons are great for figuring out which car or truck on your short list has the most comfortable or sportiest ride; which one offers the best outward visibility depending on your driving position; which one is the quietest over a variety of surfaces; and which one you just plain feel the most at ease driving.

Obviously, during TestFest and comparison test evaluations, we leave from and return to the same location, so a back-to-back comparison is easier. For the car shopper, dealerships of various brands can be spread out across the city, or in different cities altogether, so driving them on exactly the same route can be difficult.

However, test driving your potential candidates on the same day, in the same weather conditions and in the same state of mind is a good start. A predetermined route around each dealership that mimics the type of driving you perform on a daily basis is also a good indicator of how well the car or truck will serve you for the next few years. A little stop-and-go traffic, a stint on the highway and, if possible, a brief drive on longer stretches of country roads will help you figure out which vehicle suits you best.

If the dealership sales rep is riding shotgun or in the backseat suggests a preferred route, don't be shy to remind him or her that you're the customer and you want to make sure the vehicle you're testing is right for you.

In short, there are no “bad” new vehicles out there anymore; that's why driving them back-to-back is a surefire way to determine what you like and what you don't in each of them.

Photo: Matthieu Lambert

Canadian driver Gianmarco Raimondo, who led F3 Open championship before the last rounds of the season in Barcelona this weekend, was finally beaten to the title by his teammate Niccolo Schiro.

Raimondo's teammate at Team RP Niccolo Schiro made up ground on his during the Monza meeting, the penultimate roun dof the season. With just one race to go, Raimondo, from Toronto, enjoyte a 40-point advantage.

Gianmarco Raimondo. (Photo: GianmarcoRaimondo.com)

Raimondo had a tough week end in Barcelona : he was fourth in race 1, and lost more points over Schiro who secured 2nd position.

The Canadian driver lost all chanced to clinch championship in race 2, as he was hit at the start, breaking his suspension. He was forced to retire. Meanwhile, Schiro finsihed in 4th position, and clinched the title.

Niccolo Schiro, Champion 2012. (Photo: F3Open.net)

Facu Regalia won both races in Barcelona.

Renault and Caterham Group announced a joint venture to develop and build future sports cars under the Alpine badge.

The latter will own a 50% stake in the Automobiles Alpine Renault company, which is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of Renault SAS. The cars will be manufactured at the Alpine assembly plant in Dieppe, Normandy, in France.

Substantial support from the French State and the Région Haute Normandie, which also involved the contribution of Dieppe Maritime, will ensure the plant a sustainable future.

''Our ambitions of reviving Alpine depended on our ability to find a partner in order to ensure the economic profitability of such an adventure. Right from the start, we wanted to place the Dieppe plant at the heart of the project,'' said Carlos Tavares, COO of Renault. ''Today, through our partnership with Caterham Group, we can enter a new phase: the design of a vehicle that will embody the very essence of Alpine, a vehicle that will rekindle sporting passion once more. It could become a reality within the next three or four years.''

For most companies, tripling quarterly profit to almost $3 billion and outselling all global rivals would be welcome news. But for Toyota, it's still too early to say it has emerged from years of crises.

Toyota is studying whether to keep the hybrid line's aerodynamic wedge-shape as the automaker designs the next-generation car.

News 4 Nov, 2012

Raikkonen takes his first victory of 2012, with a win in the Abu Dhabi GP

The roots of Toyota's China troubles run far deeper than the anti-Japan protests that swept the country this fall, stretching back to the 2008 launch of the Yaris subcompact -- a spectacular flop with price-conscious Chinese buyers.

Ford, which clung to the road with a timely swerve before the 2009 crisis that bankrupted General Motors, may now be pulling a similar stunt in Europe.

Ford, which clung to the road with a timely swerve before the 2009 crisis that bankrupted General Motors, may now be pulling a similar stunt in Europe.

IndyCar regular Simon Pagenaud tested Olsbergs MSE's Global Rally Cross Ford Fiesta, Road & Track magazine has revealed.

"What I liked the most is that with this 4wd car, you can have oversteer or understeer, however you want, with the setup," he is quoted saying by the American publication.

"In an Indy car, you can [make] small adjustments in the race, but not like this. It's very cool."

Brian Deegan's Ford Fiesta (Photo: BrianDeegan.com)

Having tested 2012 vice-champion Brian Deegan's machine, the 28-year-old Frenchman who lives in Indianapolis is now hoping to get behind the wheel during a race.

"Obviously Global Rally Cross is growing in the US and I've always wanted to do the X-Games. It's good to get some experience and if we can make it happen, I'd love to compete in the X-Games and any other times that are possible."

Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) took full advantage of Lewis Hamilton's retirement to take his first victory since coming back to Formula One.

For once, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix kept everyone on the edge of their seat thanks to Sebastian Vettel's surge through the field and Fernando Alonso's late charge over Raikkonen.

Vettel, who was forced to take the start of the race from the pitlane because the stewards were unable to extract the one litre needed for tests purposes from his fuel cell, came through from 21st to 3rd.

Alonso, who thanks to Vettel's though weekend had a chance of re-taking the championship lead, needed to finish as high as possible up the order. Despite putting the pressure on Raikkonen, the Spaniard was unable to overtake him for the win.

Second, he nevertheless finished ahead of Vettel, which means the gap in the title hunt is reduced from 13 to 10 points.

Raikkonen's win, which wouldn't have been possible without Lewis Hamilton's retirement on lap 19, marks Lotus' first triumph since Fernando Alonso won the 2008 Japanese Grand Prix, back when the team was still called Renault.

McLaren, who lost a sure win, still picked up points thanks to Jenson Button's fifth place finish.

Williams managed to get two cars in the top 10, Pastor Maldonado coming in fifth and Bruno Senna in eighth. Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi (sixth), Ferrari's Felipe Massa (seventh), Force India's Paul di Resta (ninth) and Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo (tenth) are the other point scorers.

Mercedes' Nico Rosberg's and Red Bull's Mark Webber are the two most notable retirements of the race.

Rosberg's race ended when his car launched over the abruptly slowing down HRT of Narain Karthikeyan. No penalty were addressed since the fault was handed to a mechanical failure on Karthikeyan's car.

Webber too retired after a collision. The Australian, who had already spun earlier in the race trying to overtake Maldonado, was collected by Romain Grosjean's Lotus on lap 38.

Alonso now has only two races - the American and Brazilian grands prix - left to cover the last 10 points separating him from Vettel.




Race results* - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (Yas Marina circuit)
1 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 55 laps 1.45'58"667
2 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 0"852
3 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 4"163
4 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 7"787
5 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 13"007
6 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 20"076
7 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 22"896
8 - Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 23"542
9 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 24"160
10 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 27"463
11 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 28"075
12 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 34"906
13 - Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 47"764
14 - Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 56"473
15 - Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 56"768
16 - Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'04"595
17 - Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'11"778

Fastest lap: Sebastian Vettel 1'43"964

Retirements
Lap 1 - Nico Hulkenberg
Lap 8 - Nico Rosberg
Lap 8 - Narain Karthikeyan
Lap 20 - Lewis Hamilton
Lap 38 - Mark Webber
Lap 38 - Romain Grosjean
Lap 42 - Charles Pic

Drivers' championship
1.Vettel 255; 2.Alonso 245; 3.Raikkonen 198; 4.Webber 167; 5.Hamilton 165; 6.Button 153; 7.Massa 95; 8.Rosberg 93; 9.Grosjean 90; 10.Perez 66; 11.Kobayashi 58; 12.Hulkenberg 49; 13.Di Resta 46; 14.Schumacher, Maldonado 43; 16.Senna 30; 17.Vergne 12; 18.Ricciardo 10.

Constructors' championship
1.Red Bull-Renault 422; 2.Ferrari 340; 3.McLaren-Mercedes 318; 4.Lotus-Renault 288; 5.Mercedes 136; 6.Sauber-Ferrari 124; 7.Force India-Mercedes 95; 8.Williams-Renault 73; 9.Toro Rosso-Ferrari 22.

*Unofficial results

Christian Meunier, who currently oversees Nissan Brazil operations, has just been named president of Nissan Canada effective January 1st, 2013. He replaces Allan Childs, who will retire after more than two decades of working for the Japanese automaker.

After joining Nissan in 2002 as general manager of sales and fleet, Meunier held a variety of positions including vice president of sales at Nissan Europe and vice president of marketing at Nissan North America.

Following his move to South America in 2010, Nissan became the fastest-growing car brand in Brazil last year.

Photo: Nissan

From GMM

The battle for the world championship has been blown wide open, with Sebastian Vettel set to start Sunday's Abu Dhabi grand prix - the third last race of 2012 - from the pitlane.

Having raced into a runaway lead in the points standings with four wins on the trot in his dominant Red Bull, the German pulled over after qualifying third at Yas Marina.

Immediately afterwards, team boss Christian Horner said engine supplier Renault had made the call.

"We saw something on the telemetry and did not want to risk the engine," said the French marque's Remi Taffin, according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

However, as Red Bull and Renault could actually demonstrate to the FIA there was a genuine problem, the team escaped sanction at that point.

The team's problems, however, were not over, as the stewards looked into the incident for almost five hours after qualifying.

Ultimately, scrutineers were unable to extract enough fuel from Vettel's RB8 for the mandatory 1-litre testing sample.

The stewards sent Vettel to the back of the grid.

"We will withdraw the car from parc ferme in order to investigate further," said Horner, admitting the action will mean a pitlane start for Vettel.

The only good news is that Red Bull can install a new engine for Vettel without further penalty, even though the German has already run through his 2012 allocation of eight V8 units.

Horner however said the 25-year-old will have a "busy evening" on Sunday to minimise the likely damage to his championship bid, with Fernando Alonso promoted on the grid to sixth.

The Spaniard is currently 13 points behind Vettel, and so it is possible a podium finish on Sunday can give him back the world championship lead.

"This is an opportunity I have to use well," Ferrari's Alonso is quoted by SID news agency.

"For sure," Auto Motor und Sport quotes him adding, "the race will be easier with Vettel starting from the back."

From GMM

Lewis Hamilton's father and former manager Anthony has tipped his son to win the title for Mercedes within three years.

After six years, 20 wins and a title, McLaren careerist and long-time team driver Hamilton, 27, has decided to join the famous 'Silver Arrows' in 2013.

"I am sure Lewis will be champion at Mercedes in three years," father Anthony, who was sidelined as manager by his son a few years ago, told the German news agency SID.

"Lewis is very happy with his move and looking forward to the new challenge," he added, referring to speculation the British driver might already be regretting his decision due to Mercedes' current performance slump.

At the same time, it is being said in the paddock that Mercedes should also be wary of the move, given Hamilton's almost constant battle with controversy and personal upheaval during his F1 career.

Team boss Ross Brawn said: "All of my impressions of Lewis are as a result of the face to face meetings I've had with him; on everything else I can't comment because I don't know the details.

"But I don't think he's going to be difficult, I see a rational and intelligent person," he told the Spanish newspaper El Pais.

"In this business, drivers can become frustrated and you need to work on your relationship.

"So we will learn what he needs and how to give it to him, knowing that sometimes what is needed is to be left alone.

"For sure he will be something different, but I am not expecting any particular problems," added Brawn.

The Briton also insisted that F1 legend Michael Schumacher is fully supportive of Hamilton's arrival, even though it means the German great is returning to retirement in 2013.

"The discussions with Lewis and Michael were in parallel," said Brawn.

"The first contact with Hamilton was in the winter, because we all knew that his contract with McLaren ended at the end of this year, and so did Michael.

"Michael always knew we were talking to Hamilton and he was always thinking of what is best for the team.

"Michael did not want us to miss out on hiring Lewis," he said.

Asked in what ways Hamilton will be better than Schumacher, Brawn answered: "We don't know yet.

"What is clear is that one of his (Hamilton's) greatest qualities is his sheer speed.  Michael is very fast and has an amazing talent.  Who else can perform at that level?  Clearly, Lewis.

"I'm still not sure what he is going to bring, but - whatever it is - it will be at the same level as Michael," he added.

It's somewhat ironic that a company such as BMW is promoting sustainability with the introduction of hybrid models, as well as the upcoming launch of their i division, but also sells 560-hp “M” cars.


Marketing environmentally friendly vehicles such as the BMW i3 and i8 might be great for publicity and cater to a reputation for caring about the planet, but guess which vehicles are the most profitable? Definitely not the green ones.

The M division is BMW's performance sub-brand, and Canadians seem to have taken a liking to it, as we're one of the biggest markets per capita for M-badged vehicles. The redesigned 2012 BMW M6 Cabriolet, as well as its M6 Coupé sister and the also-new M5 sedan, are the most powerful roadgoing cars BMW has produced to date.

Fast and loud
The 2012 BMW M6 is stuffed with a twin-turbo, 4.4L V8 that generates 560 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque that peaks at just 1,750 rpm. The only transmission offered in this beast is a 7-speed, double-clutch automated sequential with paddle shifters.

Once you figure out how to set the car into the raciest driving mode via the console-mounted switches, the 2012 BMW M6 Cabriolet shoots to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds and punches through a quarter-mile of atmosphere in 12.4 seconds at 190 km/h. No sweat.

The speed rush sends tingles down your spine, and so will the 2012 BMW M6's engine sounds; it emulates American V8 muscle, with exhaust flatulence at every upshift. The twin-turbo V8 builds and drops revs quickly, almost like a small 4-cylinder engine. It's a jewel of a powertrain.

As for fuel economy: well, I don't think you expect miracles here. Drive the 2012 BMW M6 Cabriolet like it wants to be driven and you'll consume an average of 16L/100km. It could be worse; the car gets a start/stop system, an ECO mode as well as regenerative braking to save battery energy, allowing the alternator to decouple when it's not needed.

In the twisties, you'll likely feel the 2012 BMW M6's 4,500-lb curb weight. Oh, the car can handle itself, especially in Sport+ mode, but it has a little difficulty throwing its weight around, and is more of a GT than a pure race car.

The 2012 BMW M6 Cabriolet gets a twin-turbo 4.4L V8 good for 560 hp(Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

A big, sexy beast
The 2012 BMW M6 Cabriolet is big and draws a fair amount of attention. Everything on this car feels rich and powerful, such as the highly detailed headlamp clusters, the deep front bumper air intakes, the 20” alloys with massive 295/30ZR20 rear rubber and quad exhaust pipes.

The M6 Cabriolet doesn't offer a power-folding hard top like the M3, but the sturdy cloth top doesn't spoil the look of the car once in place, thanks in part to the low roofline and steeply raked windshield. And despite the folding top, you still get up to 350 litres of trunk space (versus 460 for the Coupé).

Lots of buttons
Inside the 2012 BMW M6 Cabriolet, you are treated to the finest craftsmanship the German brand has to offer. Beautifully stitched leather adorns the dashtop and the centre stack, right down to the centre console armrest.

Around the shift lever, you'll find a bunch of buttons to tailor the M6's drive mode settings to your taste; you can save them on M1 and M2 buttons mounted on the steering wheel. Throttle response, suspension stiffness, power steering effort, everything's there -- overkill, perhaps, but a nice feature to have.

Speaking of overkill, you also get an unnecessarily fussy shift lever that has no “Park” setting; slap it in neutral, lift the electronic parking brake switch, and shut down the engine. However, the car's information display keeps asking you to engage Park, but there isn't any. Very confusing.

In addition, all recent BMWs require that you pull the handle twice to open a door; I searched everywhere in the iDrive system to see if it's a configurable door lock feature, to no avail. It's not a big deal, and you get used to it; but again, it's irritating for nothing.

Oh, and the $5,900 Bang & Olufsen sound system, with its dash-mounted centre speaker that rises and lowers when the system is turned on and off, is simply phenomenal.

The M6's interior is lavishly trimmed with stitched leather just about everywhere.(Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Killer price
With a base price of $128,900, the 2012 BMW M6 Cabriolet can be considered a bargain when you compare it to a $170K Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet, a $159K Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG or a $187K Audi R8 5.2 Spyder. As tested, our loaded drop-top M6 retails for $146,800.

Not bad for a 560-hp supercar. Those Germans should be considered rocket-science geniuses.

From GMM

Alain Prost has warned there is no guarantee France will return to the F1 calendar in 2013.

The four-time world champion has agreed to join Paul Ricard's race bid as an advisor, and was promptly dispatched to Abu Dhabi reportedly for talks with Bernie Ecclestone and possibly also a meeting with potential local investors.

According to Auto Hebdo publication, however, the famous 57-year-old Frenchman is not very optimistic.

Earlier, Prost was heavily involved in failed attempts to revive the defunct French grand prix at Disneyland Paris, or a new circuit in Flins-sur-Seine.

Now in Abu Dhabi, he said on Saturday: "I was out of the case because it was too complicated, too politicised.

"Then I went to the world series (race) at Le Castellet and was asked the question.

"I said what I thought at the moment, that things could not be done without a minimum of public money.

While hopeful, Prost is realistic about Paul Ricard's chances.

"The weak point is the lack of funds, even though they are in talks with several potential partners," he said.

"The budget is far from being completed," said Prost.

"It will not be resolved in the meeting today, but it can be done in a couple of days, or not at all."