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News 19 Sep, 2012

New law will make clamping a thing of the past, forcing car park operators to justify penalties

The sun was hotter than usual. The heat vapors radiated from what seemed to be every surface in sight. The asphalt, the clear sky and the collection of Italian cars packed bumper to bumper in a Los Angeles parking lot.

The Packard straight-eight engine is remarkable for its smooth operation. Well-balanced, quiet and eminently suitable for the elegant automobiles it powered, a properly tuned Packard eight idles so peacefully that you can

News 19 Sep, 2012

New Audi A1 e-tron plug-in hybrid concept can manage 282mpg and emissions of just 23g/km

News 26 Sep, 2012

The all-new Kia Carens has been unveiled on the eve of the Paris Motor Show

Pictures 20 Sep, 2012

Porsche SE said it welcomed the decision by a German court on Wednesday to dismiss two investor lawsuits against the holding company alleging market manipulation involving VW shares.

Porsche SE said it welcomed the decision by a German court on Wednesday to dismiss two investor lawsuits against the holding company alleging market manipulation involving VW shares.

News 19 Sep, 2012

MINI will add more models, and the Rolls-Royce Ghost family could include an SUV, Auto Express has learned

Ford, which expects to lose more than $1 billion in Europe this year, will restructure operations in the region, although CEO Alan Mulally kept a lid on details of the overhaul at a New York media event to launch the new Fusion mid-size sedan.

Ford, which expects to lose more than $1 billion in Europe this year, will restructure operations in the region, although CEO Alan Mulally kept a lid on details of the overhaul at a New York media event to launch the new Fusion mid-size sedan.

The Italian government will meet Fiat executives on Saturday September 22 to discuss the carmaker's strategy for Italy.

Volkswagen Group put the seventh-generation Golf compact on a serious diet to reduce emissions by 14 percent compared with the current model.

Volkswagen Group put the seventh-generation Golf compact on a serious diet to reduce emissions by 14 percent compared with the current model.

The Italian government will meet Fiat executives on Saturday September 22 to discuss the carmaker's strategy for Italy.

In a short statement NASCAR officials announced that A.J. Allmendinger was "reinstated upon his successful completion of NASCAR's Substance Abuse Policy Road to Recovery Program".

Allmendinger had been "indefinitely suspended from NASCAR on July 24 for violating the sanctioning body's substance abuse policy".

After failing a random drug test Allmendinger asked for the “B” sample to be tested; which produced similar results. And Penske Racing suspended its' contract with the 30-year old Californian. While NASCAR has not disclosed what substance tested positive, the driver himself said the test showed Adderall, which is a prescription drug. NASCAR rules call for drivers to advise the sanctioning body what medicines they are taking.

In the meantime Sam Hornish Jr. has driven the #22 Dodge for Penske Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. But Joey Logano, who currently drives for Joe Gibbs Racing, will take the wheel of the #22 which will be a Ford starting next year.

Photo: NASCAR

Speaking on Sirius XM Satellite Radio Allmendinger was very forthcoming about his behavior. “One bad judgment that I made that I really paid the price for,” he said. Speaking about the Road to Recovery he added “I'll be a better person for it. I don't care if I get drug tested every day for the rest of my life. I've got nothing to hide, they (NASCAR) have the option (drug) they have that right I don't have any objections.

Finding another ride at a time of financial troubles compounded by being the closing weeks of the 2012 season is daunting. Although there might be a light at the end of the tunnel for the driver. He was Penske's guest at the IndyCar season closer in Fontana last Saturday night. There might be a return to IndyCar for Penske if Ryan Briscoe is not signed for 2013.

It was like a return to his roots where he came to Penske's attention in the first place.

"It was fun to be at Fontana last weekend," Allmendinger said "With Roger asking me to be a guest there seeing people I hadn't seen in seven years. It was great. After all that's happened I feel closer to him than when I was his driver.

The biggest regret I have is letting Roger down. I was always afraid to ask for advice I didn't want to seem weak. I didn't want to bother anybody.”

Moving forward he added "Roger is the first person I'll turn to every time. I feel like he really does truly care about me."

Heard when climbing into the M5: “At this time, please make sure that all carryon items are stored in the overhead bins or underneath the seat in front of you and that your seat backs and tray tables are in their upright and locked positions."


We are about to take off. Pressing the start button to the right of the steering column disrupts the earth's rotation. The TwinPower 4.4L V8 awakens from its slumber; clear the runway.

The sound that escapes the quad tailpipes when the V8 roars to life blurs the mind, raises arm-hairs and the vibrations permeate ever bodily orifice. The German equivalent to a muscle car rumble is rushed, steady and full of intent. As engine idle slows, the 7-speed M Double Clutch transmission lever is pushed to the right, the electric parking brake is released and the skies open up.

M Power
The fury in the belly of the 2012 BMW M5 is like few I've ever experienced before. The rated 560 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque may as well read 48,782 hp and 391,042 lb-ft as this car feels infinitely more powerful.

BMW notes a 0-100 km/h time of 4.4 seconds. This number is realistic if only because the 20x10 rear wheels shod with P295/30ZR20 Michelin Super Sport rubber, despite their best intentions and massive section, can only do so much to contain the fire. Top speed is limited to 250 km/h; I'd hate to be that limiter as I can scarcely imagine the effort required to tame this beast, preventing it from humiliating the sound barrier.

An excellent feature of the M5 is, beyond the lag-free power delivery of the V8, its 7-speed DCT transmission. Through the button located directly behind the shifter, shift patterns can be modified from rapid to skull-crushing fast. With the wheel-mounted paddles, slapping up or down through the gears is rewarding with instantaneously smooth shifts.

Yes, the new M5 is insanely, ungodly fast, quick, rapid, swift, brisk, and expeditious. Don't let anyone tell you differently. This car feels every bit as monstrous off the line as the Porsche Panamera Turbo. I've, unfortunately, not sampled the Panamera Turbo S but can only imagine that it would crush the M5 from a standstill, but only just keep up with it once underway.

The rated 560 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque may as well read 48,782 hp and 391,042 lb-ft as this car feels infinitely more powerful. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Luxurious accoutrements
As with every German performance sedan, be they $60,000 or $260,000, the quality and design of the interiors, although austere in some instances, are irreproachably well crafted. In the 2012 BMW M5's case, it's all about the driver. These are A380 First Class accoutrements.

The dash's slightly angled centre stack presents itself to the driver for maximum ease of use. The same goes for the centre console on which the shifter, the all-important M Chassis controls and iDrive controller are all aslant in such a way as to allow the right hand to find everything without having to pivot the wrist.

The M steering wheel, M seats, M pedals, M door sills, are all mmm mmm good. The M seats are especially noteworthy as their seemingly limitless ability to adhere to the contours of one's body make them as supremely comfortable as they are supportive.

On the kit-side of things, the M5 has everything, unless it's optional. At $101,500, the base car lacks nothing, but should more be desired, the $9,500 Executive Packages throws in the M seats and the very useful Head-Up display which are all well worth the extra few bucks.

The dash's slightly angled centre stack presents itself to the driver for maximum ease of use. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

The M road
How all the elements which make the 2012 BMW M5 an M5 come together is exceptional in some respects, and not so much in others.

The entire driving experience is somewhat marred by an odd filtered-unfiltered feeling. It's as though BMW built into the car a way to insulate the driver from the goings-on underneath only to then digitally or electronically permit portions of some of the remastered original organic sensory material back to the driver. I don't know; it felt good, but not natural.

Up front, the steering's precision and assistance are impossible to fault, however, somewhere between my hands and the tires' contact patches was a sieve that only allowed my sense to sense what it wanted me to sense.

The car's suspension with Dynamic Dampening control's work is faultless. Its stabilizing effect on the car's on-road behaviour feels electronic and calibrated to suit drivers who otherwise buy the M5 because it's the top-of-the-line 5 Series as opposed to real driving enthusiasts. The settings -- Normal, Sport and Sport+ -- allow the driver to tune the ride to taste, but even in Sport+ (reserved for the track), although highly effective, seems tweaked.

All of the available modes can be programmed and solicited through the “M” button. There are three “M” modes that can be saved for future call-ups, of which one should always have suspensions, steering and throttle/transmission response set in Sport+ -- just because.

Confidence in this car is unflappable, despite my misgivings on certain aspects. The M5's kicker points are the Active M Differential which is nothing short of magical given its control over the V8, and massive flawless disc brakes. Going fast is a given, as is coming to a full stop, all the time and every time.

All of the available modes can be programmed and solicited through the “M” button. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

An M5 to crush all others?
The F10 2012 BMW M5 casts a huge shadow over the outgoing E60 M5. Not only is the new car faster but its driving dynamics are far superior and, not that we should care, it's much better on gas. Actual numbers are not necessary...

The new M5, especially draped in Alpine White, is as beautiful to behold as it is savage to drive. There are few other cars on the road today under the quarter-million dollar price tag that have any hope to tango with this car.

In fact, at under $115,000, the M5 works out to be some kind of bargain. The Nissan GT-R is nothing but a compromise and the Jaguar XFR falls short on many levels, even though it sports a leaping leopard crest.

BMW will run two more M3s in next year's DTM championship, as the new Team MTEK BMW will enter the series in 2013.

By increasing its contingent to eight cars, BMW Motorsport is intensifying its commitment to the DTM and will now compete on a par with the other two manufacturers represented in the DTM.

BMW has made an impression so far this season. Canadian Bruno Spengler captured three wins and is fighting for the title.

Bruno Spengler won last Sunday with BMW. (Photo: DTM)

Next year, the newly-formed BMW Team MTEK will also run two BMW M3 DTMs. Dutchman Ernest Knoors will take the act as Team Principal of BMW Team MTEK, which is based in Garching near Munich.

The latest version of the Shelby GT500 embodies the culmination of an engineering assault intended to create the fastest factory Mustang yet. The result is a car with world-class handling and braking performance, the output of a pair of Porsche Cayman Rs, and the most powerful factory-installed V8 currently available.


You can get one starting in the low 60-grand range. And it has air conditioning. Cupholders. A warranty, even.

Shelby's attainable four-seat rocket thruster now has the best aerodynamics, brakes and support systems ever fitted to a Mustang. Apparently, it'll do 200 miles per hour -- a feat made possible largely because of the obscene power output. Whether you want to hit that sort of velocity in a machine with a solid rear axle is up to you.

The New Shelby V8
The latest Mustang to wear Shelby's “Cobra” badge uses an aftercooled Eaton TVS supercharger to stuff its 5.8L of displacement full of air and high-octane gas at about 14 PSI.

Result? 662 horsepower. And a Mustang that'll use your rich pal's Ferrari or AMG as a chew toy. The sound, even just starting the engine, is enough to make nearby enthusiasts smile, laugh gutturally, and mutter expletives under their breath.

The looks further back up that point. There's no front grille, because that would slow the car down. And it's got vents, cooling ducts, a spoiler, a curb-eating front lip and cannon-sized exhaust pipes that actually require being present (all of them) to help keep the GT500 grounded, cool and breathing properly.

The latest Mustang to wear Shelby's “Cobra” badge uses an aftercooled Eaton TVS supercharger. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Surprisingly Compliant
Despite the visual and auditory clues, the Shelby GT500 is a fairly uneventful machine if you're not driving it hard. With the torque output of a battleship, it can be left in third and driven around all day long. Around town or on a highway cruise, it's laid back, fairly quiet, smooth and even easygoing.

The Recaro seats are very comfortable, the glass roof is awesome, and the ride is pretty darn good, considering. With ultra-low highway revs and more power available by 1,500 rpm than a couple of Kias, it's actually remarkably good on fuel, too.

Like, we're talking, 11L/100km during steady cruising around the speed limit.

There's a striking effortlessness to the power output though -- and this Shelby will accidentally whisk you well beyond the speed limit if you're not very careful.

En dépit de ses indices visuels et sonores, la Shelby GT500 est une voiture plutôt calme si vous ne la conduisez pas trop rudement. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

All Hell Breaking Loose
Intentionally putting all 662 horsepower to work is a great way to give you and your passengers a facelift, heart-attack and neck injury all at once.

Hammer down, and the nose lifts sharply as the rear-end squats and squirms around. From about 3,500 revs, a sharp whine from the twin-screw blower overlaps the exhaust rumble that saturates the cabin.

There's no pause, lag or anticipation. It's just instant, horrifying acceleration, broken up by brief moments of silence and zero gravity as drivers shift into the next gear. The heavy clutch and notch-y shifter add a layer of pure toughness to the experience.

Be alert at full throttle -- as the tail can quickly get sideways, even in second or third. Driven by a cocky novice, this machine could get very ugly very quickly, or at least require a changing of the tires and a cleaning of the seats.

Gears are very long. Get a good launch, and you'll exit first after 3.5 seconds at over 100 kilometres per hour. Second gear ends shortly thereafter, alongside a velocity that'll get your car impounded by police in most provinces. That leaves four gears...

So, do the math: The GT500 has a level of power largely wasted on roads with a speed limit. And if you don't have the self-control of a Buddhist monk, this thing will do to your driver's license what Taco Bell does to your digestive tract -- annihilation.

Intentionally putting all 662 horsepower to work is a great way to give you and your passengers a facelift, heart-attack and neck injury all at once. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

More Than Just Speed
Adjustable Billstien dampers feature a sharp, responsive “sport” setting, and a fairly compliant “normal” setting for everyday driving.

The steering can be switched between Standard, Comfort or Sport modes, which alter effort and feel at the touch of a button. All of these modes utilize a very quick ratio, which works with the stiff shocks for an aggressive eagerness to change direction. Brembo brakes clamp down to offer eye-popping stops and decent pedal feel.

If drag racing is more your thing, there's a launch-control function to help you get off the line without landing upside down at the top of a nearby tree. You can even call up a range of performance gauges in the driver computer screen, alongside some “Track Apps” for when you go racing.

Adjustable Billstien dampers feature a sharp, responsive “sport” setting. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Too Much
End of the day, this all amounts considerably more performance than most drivers can enjoy or use on a regular basis -- although it's a level of American firepower and sensory overload not to be missed by speed freaks and bragging-rights enthusiasts.

The best return on investment will come to owners who hit the track or strip. The 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 is simply too fast, too violent and too extreme to be exploited on public roads and highways.

That, of course, will help sell a lot of them.

The Formula 1 Grand Prix of Singapore will be held this weekend on the 5.073km Marina Bay street circuit.

The FIA announced that there will be just one DRS (Drag Reduction System) zone again this year.

The detection point will be located at Corner 4 (blue). The activation point will be located after Corner 5 (green).


The Marina Bay circuit is the second slowest of the year after Monaco, with an average speed of just 172 kph and an average cornering speed of 105 kph. Approximately 46 per cent of the lap is taken at full throttle, compared with over 75 per cent at the last race at high-speed, low downforce Monza.

Singapore's 23 corners mean that the twisting layout is very hard on brakes. It doesn't do gearboxes any favours either with drivers changing gear around 80 times per lap.

The Singapore GP is usually packed with incident and the safety car has intervened here at least once in every race since 2008.