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“You must get loads of speeding tickets,” said a friend following a discussion on some of the hotter cars I've had the opportunity to test drive over the years.

Upon reflection, I realized that despite having driven the Ford Mustang GT500, Porsche 911 Turbo S, Audi R8, Mercedes SLS AMG and other sick-fast supercars, none of these have ever cost me a speeding ticket.

Those that have were far more mundane, like really nothing to brag about.


My latest infraction was at the wheel of a Buick Enclave. Obviously, even a smart fortwo can take you well over the posted limit, so Buick or not, I was moving and deserved my punishment.

The scenario was quite simple: I was late and making my way to work after some random appointment when I got caught speeding on a major thoroughfare. I aimlessly explained to the officer that I was late for work, and he simply added that I was now going to be even later...

The one before it came while I was trying to negotiate my way home through traffic when I got nailed for losing patience and passing someone. Admittedly, it was not my brightest moment as I was at the wheel of a bright red, giant Toyota Tundra pickup. Not very, uh, bright.

Behind the wheel of my V8 Tundra, I could see the gap growing between the car ahead of me and the one ahead of it. Needless to say, I made a move that got me up front In less time than it'll take for you to back out of this blog.

I may have deserved these two, but the next one, I was innocent!

Well, not really... So here I was at the wheel of a delightful, white Mercedes E350 4MATIC wagon, about 250 metres from the office, chillaxin' and listening to a great song when out of nowhere, I got flagged down. I was over the speed limit, but barely... This one, I did not ask for!

In this instance, I almost felt violated. I was travelling at 10 over the posted limit; who does this? It must have been a really slow day for the copper.

So there, I've confessed my sins and have also just now learned myself a lesson: Whenever I get a “normal,” non-droolworthy, regular car, I need to take it easy!

I hope I don't get a Corolla for a very long time...

From GMM

HRT's Chinese test driver Ma Qing Hua might have to sit out next weekend's Japanese grand prix.

According to Speed Week, the Spanish team intended the 24-year-old to drive Narain Karthikeyan's car during Friday morning practice at Suzuka next week.

But Ma Qing Hua is apparently having trouble securing a visa for entry to Japan.

China and Japan - Asia's two biggest economies - are locked in an escalating row over the disputed Diaoyu islands in the East China Sea.

Ma Qing Hua. (Photo: HRT F1 Team)

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone has revealed he is considering emulating tennis' "grand slam" concept for formula one.

The sport's chief executive revealed he was impressed by the "hype" generated by London's Olympic Games recently.

"I will never again watch the pole vault and the long jump and all that but because it was the Olympics I watched it. It's hype," he told the Financial Times Deutschland. "Formula one doesn't have the hype."

"Maybe if we only had a race every four years it would be the same sort of hype (as the Olympics)," said Bernie Ecclestone.

So the 81-year-old Briton revealed that his idea is to designate "five one-off races", a bit like "the grand slam in tennis".

Would the Canadian Grand Prix be part of the "grand slam"? (Photo: WRi2)

Nissan plans an independent global study of its electric Leaf batteries to satisfy a small group of owners in Phoenix who believe their batteries are aging too fast.

At a rain-sodden charity event in Detroit earlier this month, Mayor Dave Bing and other city leaders showered Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne with kind words.

California took the fast lane to the future on Tuesday when Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law that lets self-driving cars onto public roads.

Hundreds of former Chrysler executives claiming they lost retirement benefits because of age bias can sue the company's former parent Daimler AG, a federal appeals court ruled today.

The experimental Nissan DeltaWing racecar will be back in action during the finale of the American Le Mans Series race at Road Atlanta on Oct. 17-20.

Also in this episode: Maserati will unveil a convertible version of the Gran Turismo MC Stradale at the Paris motor show, and

Ford is planning to cut several hundred jobs in Europe in a voluntary programme, as it comes under growing pressure to cut costs in a declining market.

Tom Gloy loves hot rods but says and#8220;they sit up a bit too high; they aren't very comfortable; and when channeled, [they] look a little too wide.and#8221; He's more of a low-and-fast kind of guy. Gloy won in the

The 2013 Cadillac ATS sport sedan with an optional 272-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged engine has received an EPA fuel economy rating of 21 mpg city/31 highway, General Motors said today.

Collectible Classic: 1974-1980 Dodge Ramcharger

Mopar's charming convertible SUV

If you want to use a new convertible to tow anything larger than a Jet Ski these days, your options are pretty much limited to a Jeep Wrangler. In the early 1970s, however, there were a number of beefy, open-air vehicles on the market, such as the Chevrolet Blazer, the Ford Bronco, the International Scout, the Toyota Land Cruiser, and, of course, the Wrangler's predecessor, the CJ, which drove straight off WWII battlefields and has been for sale ever since.

Photo Gallery: Collectible Classic: 1974-1980 Dodge Ramcharger - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: Collectible Classic: 1974-1980 Dodge Ramcharger - Automobile Magazine

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Ford is offering severance packages to "a few hundred" European workers as the carmaker struggles to rein in costs amid plunging vehicle sales, a spokeswoman said.

Ford, which expects to lose more than $1 billion in Europe this year, is offering severance packages to "a few hundred" white-collar European workers as the automaker struggles to rein in costs amid plunging vehicle sales.

Noise, Vibration & Harshness: Roll up for the Magical Minivan Tour.

Because it's been forever since we all went away together, I recently proposed to the nuclear Kitman clan that Oxymoron Hall of Fame first balloter, a European summer vacation for the whole family.

Because it's been forever since we all went away together, I recently proposed to the nuclear Kitman clan that Oxymoron Hall of Fame first balloter, a European summer vacation for the whole family. I threw it open to the voters knowing that I would need to exercise diplomacy and Solomonic skill to address their diverse preferences and concerns while still reserving the executive veto power so crucial to the success of any trip on which I was going to be doing all the driving and paying all the bills.

Photo Gallery: Noise, Vibration & Harshness: Roll up for the Magical Minivan Tour - Automobile Magazine

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An influential consumer magazine said Fisker Automotive's Karma plug-in hybrid has a variety of flaws, from limited visibility to a poorly designed touch-screen system that amounts to an "ergonomic disaster."

Pictures 25 Sep, 2012

Located just north of Detroit, the Grosse Pointe communities have deep ties to the auto industry. Judging by the collection of fine automobiles on display at the fifth annual

Deep Dive: The BMW 4 Series is a Numbers Game

The 4 Series will come in coupe, convertible, Gran Coupe, and M4 flavors.

New models deserve new model designations. That's why the new two-door 1 Series coupe and cabriolet will be rebadged as the 2 Series. One rung up, the two-door BMW 3 Series and the upcoming Gran Coupe will be sold as the 4 Series. The reason for these moves is simple: cleverly repositioned models command higher prices. Just look at the 6 Series Gran Coupe that costs almost one third more than an identically-equipped 5 Series sedan.

Photo Gallery: The BMW 4 Series is a Numbers Game - Deep Dive - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: The BMW 4 Series is a Numbers Game - Deep Dive - Automobile Magazine

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