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From GMM

Heikki Kovalainen appears headed for the exit at Caterham.

The Finn arrived at the 2010 startup with a battered image after his formative years with Renault and McLaren, but he is now linked with a move to a more competitive team for 2013.

He has also been in talks with Caterham, but team boss Tony Fernandes said when asked about Kovalainen's future in Singapore: "Well, it's ... I don't know."

Under the Singapore lights, Caterham lost its lucrative tenth place in the constructors' championship to Marussia, having always previously enjoyed the status as clearly the best of F1's three youngest teams.

Heikki Kovalainen. Caterham. (Photo: WRi2)

Heikki Kovalainen has now told Turun Sanomat newspaper that, indeed, Caterham's advantage over its immediate opposition has narrowed in recent times.

He explained that the safety car helped Timo Glock to secure Marussia's season-best 12th in Singapore.

"Before, there was so much (of a gap) between us that even with something like the safety car we were still able to beat them," said Heikki Kovalainen.

A further sign that Kovalainen's Caterham tenure is coming to an end is the news that Dutchman Giedo van der Garde - the team's well-backed GP2 driver - will drive Kovalainen's car in Friday morning practice at Suzuka this weekend.

In Singapore recently, the 27-year-old revealed that his supporters were pushing hard for a grand prix debut in 2013.

"We will do everything to make it happen," van der Garde is quoted by De Telegraaf newspaper.

From wrc.com

Frenchman Sebastien Loeb's partial programme in the FIA World Rally Championship in 2013 could total five rounds, the eight-time World Rally Champion has revealed.

Loeb will scale back his WRC involvement after almost a decade of dominance as he embarks on a possible future World Touring Car Championship campaign with current employer, Citroen.

Sebastien Loeb, Citroen. (Photo: WRC)

Speaking ahead of Rallye de France Alsace getting underway this afternoon, Loeb said: “Really we didn't plan anything special, just that we start in Monte Carlo and finish the season here, why not? But it's not decided, the ideal number would be between four and five.”

Of his decision to go into semi-retirement, Loeb added: “One day I had to take this decision and if I did not take it this year I would be in the same situation next year. But I'm really happy to be here again [in Alsace] in this situation. My best memory of rally came here [in 2010] when I both titles at the same time in my hometown. I am in the same situation now and the target is to win both titles again.

“It would be great to do this but we have to get through a really tough rally first. The conditions are difficult on the stages and they are really fast. It will be a good weekend, I just hope there is not the same problem as last year [with my engine]”, Loeb concluded.

Toyota and Subaru are grappling with reports of rough idle and stalling conditions on their new sporty coupes. The problems on initial batches of the Subaru BRZ coupe and its Scion FR-S twin -- known as the Toyota FT-86 outside the U.S.

Supplier Visteon today announced the resignation of Executive Vice President and CFO Martin Welch.

2012 Audi A7 - Questioning The Big Wheels

Growing tired of the 20-inch wheels.

Labor Day may have meant a day off work for most of us, but our Audi A7 didn't get any reprieve from its usual road-trip duty. Managing editor Amy Skogstrom and her husband took the luxury car to South Carolina for a golf tournament at Myrtle Beach.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Audi A7 - Questioning The Big Wheels - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Audi A7 - Questioning The Big Wheels - Automobile Magazine

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Despite the downturn in many parts of Europe, Chevrolet sales are up. Susan Docherty, who heads up both Chevrolet and Cadillac in the region, talks through her strategy for success with just-auto's Glenn Brooks.

GM and Costco Auto Program are offering Costco members preferred pricing and a $500 Costco Cash Card when they buy selected models #8212; some of which have suffered recent sales declines.

Also in this episode: Scion sets its sights on the heavy metal demographic, and a dispute with a

Japanese companies placed nine vehicles and U.S. automakers placed eight on the short list of entries in the running for the 2013 North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year awards.

The reason I haven't been able to get my

Shai Agassi has stepped down as CEO of Better Place amid talk of clashes with the board on company strategy.

News 3 Oct, 2012

The revised Mazda 3 MPS gets new 18-inch alloys and different exterior trim

Pictures 3 Oct, 2012

News 3 Oct, 2012

New Nissan X-Trail N-Tec+ model adds lots of kit and costs £27,790

Abu Dhabi is exiting its investment in German carmaker Daimler AG, a German magazine reported, citing unidentified people within Daimler.

Abu Dhabi is exiting its investment in German carmaker Daimler AG, a German magazine reported, citing unidentified people within Daimler.

The Museo Ferrari in Maranello, Italy, will celebrate the late Sergio Pininfarina with an exhibition of his greatest Ferraris on Oct. 26.

Deep Dive: Audi A3 Vario

A4 roominess for A3 money.

About six months ago, we reported on an Audi project called the Superavant. Well, this project has been mothballed. The idea behind it has moved from the A4 segment to the A3. Here is why: the bigger A4-based car might have threatened the highly profitable A6 Avant, its more ambitious price point might have kept production volume from reaching a profitable level, and the large MPV-type approach might have been counter-productive in terms of brand image (see the Mercedes-Benz R-Class and BMW 5 Series GT).

Photo Gallery: Audi A3 Vario - Deep Dive - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: Audi A3 Vario - Deep Dive - Automobile Magazine

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Both Toyota and Honda want to cut back on the number of cars they export from Japan in a bid to counter the strength of the yen which can add up to USD1,200 to the cost of each car exported.

News 3 Oct, 2012

Pricing revealed for new VW Golf Mk7, starting from £16,330 - that's £95 less than its predecessor