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From GMM

There is good news from new formula one hosts in Texas as well as Sochi, Russia.

Austin's new Circuit of the Americas announced that three-day general admission tickets for its inaugural grand prix in November have sold out.

US media reports said the venue estimates a whopping 120,000 spectators will attend on all three days of the race weekend.

"Worldwide fan interest has been remarkable," spokesman Geoff Moore said.

And the Austin American Statesman newspaper said the first layers of track asphalt have been laid, concrete for the corner kerbs and pitwall poured, run-off gravel put down, and safety fencing is being installed.

Progress is also being made in Russia, despite earlier fears the resort city Sochi might not be ready for its inaugural 2014 race date.

Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Kozak is quoted by the ITAR-TASS agency as saying the track will be ready for 2014, even though Sochi is also gearing up to host the winter Olympics.

"We'll be ready to host the first Russian grand prix in October 2014," he said in London.

From GMM

Mark Webber has described the high profile of technical controversies involving Red Bull as a "tactic" deployed by rival teams.

This week, a reportedly "furious" Ferrari hit back at Helmut Marko's claim that the Italian team was also caught with a hand-adjuster in its 2012 single seater.

Marko's claim followed the most recent technical controversy involving Red Bull, with the sagas so far in 2012 involving hand-adjusted ride heights, engine mapping, holes in the floor, and others.

Team driver Webber, however, said there are plenty of similar stories up and down pitlane, with those involving the reigning champions always getting the attention.

"I know - I know - other teams have been asked to address things with their cars," he is quoted by Australian news agency AAP.

"But they're not for general consumption and some of ours are for general consumption. Red Bull ones always seem to make the media."

Webber said the high profile of the Red Bull controversies is a "tactic" deployed by the team's rivals.

"It's a pretty boring tactic from them, isn't it?" he said. "Quite predictable.

"In their little bubble, if they want that, that's great."

And Webber, currently second in the 2012 points standings behind Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, predicted there would be more Red Bull controversies in the near future.

"There'll be something else, I promise you, but we will always pass every single test," he said in London, where he is taking in some Olympic action during F1's August break.

History/Description: Replacing the Echo was Toyota's subcompact sedan & hatch, the Yaris. Available from 2006 to 2011 in its last generation, Yaris packed four-cylinder power, a flexible interior and feature content including stability control, antilock brakes, air conditioning, cruise control, power accessories and more - depending on the year and model. Alloy wheels and fog lamps were available too, adding a sense of street-smart flair on some models.

2007 Toyota Yaris sedan (Photo: Auto123.com)

Look for a 1.5L four-cylinder engine with 106 hp on all models. A five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic were available. Folding rear seats in the Yaris hatchback, particularly, helped enhance flexibility and day-to-day utility.

Note that models wearing the CE designation were the base models, while LE or RS, for instance, represented higher-end versions.

What Owners Like: Typically, Toyota's reputation, fuel efficiency and a high degree of utility and maneuverability are raved about by Yaris owners. Handling dynamics, relatively speaking, are also highly rated. Interior roominess rounds out the package.

What Owners Dislike: Common complaints include a less-than-stable feel driving in rain or snow, a lack of power and limited at-hand storage for smaller items in the cabin. Some owners wish for a heavier, more stable and ‘safer' driving feel. Finally, appreciation for the Yaris's centre-mounted instrument cluster is mixed at best.

Common Issues: Yaris is a compact car with an all-star reputation for reliability - though a few issues are noted in used models, and standard checks do apply.

Start a test-drive of a used Toyota Yaris with a walk-around, checking the paint for signs of chipping, scratches or rust. Some owners report that the Yaris's bodywork is thin and lightweight, making it easy to scratch and dent.

Check the speakers for proper operation at all volume ranges, as intermittent operation of front speakers is not unheard of.

2008 Toyota Yaris Hatchback (Photo: Philippe Champoux)

Continue reading 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris Pre-Owned

The Gazette has obtained results from a 2006 to 2010 SAAQ study recording collisions reported to the police between cyclists and moving vehicles. The English daily published a map outlining the city's collision hotspots.

Records reveal that at 24 accidents, the Ontario/Berri intersection is the most collision-prone, while the Crémazie/Christophe-Colomb intersection comes a close second. With 250 collisions overall, Sherbrooke Street has been proven to be the most dangerous route for cyclists.

According to this study, accidents are more likely to happen during the month of June or on Thursdays between 4 and 6 pm. So, if you happen to be riding a bike during rush-hour on a Thursday in June, you might want to avoid Sherbrooke!

Source: montrealgazette.com

For some time, manufacturers have been pushing back the technical boundaries of batteries used for hybrid electric vehicles. Matthew Beecham asks executives of three leading advanced battery makers - Western Lithium, GS Yuasa and Axeon - for their opinions on how this blossoming market is shaping-up.

Also in this episode: Carroll Shelby's Ford Mustang GT500 KR goes up for auction, and the Chevy Spark shows off its wares.

July 2012 Auto Sales

Seasonable highs, with scattered showers.

This summer's auto sales continue at a pretty good clip, but that doesn't mean there's equanimity in the results of the various automakers. The industry's annualized sales rate in July again was over 14 million units. That's not bad, considering that 2011 ended with 12.8 million new vehicles sold. July's pace was also 9% ahead of last year's.

Photo Gallery: July 2012 Auto Sales - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: July 2012 Auto Sales - Automobile Magazine

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Toyota is currently rolling out the latest addition to the Prius hybrid family - the Prius Plug-in. How does it differ from the standard Prius hybrid?

Social security numbers and other personal information belonging to 883 former and current General Motors retirees was taken after a salaried GM employee copied documents containing the information just before retiring, The Detroit News...

Chevrolet marketers are aiming the Spark minicar at millennials, and to grab the attention of these Generation Y consumers, Chevy plans to follow the game plan it used for the launch of the 2012 Sonic -- forgoing TV spots in favor of a digital...

The auto industry and Michigan's business community have been growing more concerned in recent years about counterfeit automotive parts, computer intrusions and trade secrets -- and federal prosecutors have taken action.

2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 Wagon

We probably should just come right out and admit that the E63 AMG wagon is our favorite car. So much for objectivity.

I probably should just come right out and admit that the E63 AMG wagon is my favorite car. So much for objectivity.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 Wagon - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 Wagon - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

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Toyota has slipped behind competitors in drivetrain technology and now must play catch-up against the likes of

Last week, we made the Hell Garage a punitive shrine to

General Motors, which acquired a 7 percent stake in PSA /Peugeot-Citroen in March, said it may have to write down its investment as the European auto market heads toward its fifth straight annual sales decline.

General Motors, which acquired a 7 percent stake in PSA Peugeot Citroen in March, said it may have to write down its investment as the European auto market heads toward its fifth straight annual sales decline.

2013 Infiniti JX35 - Eastbound and Down

As soon as we took delivery of our JX, it went to New York for a month.

It's unusual for Automobile Magazine's New York contingent -- Jamie Kitman and me -- to get first crack at a long-term car, but that's exactly what happened with our new, Four Seasons 2013 Infiniti JX35. It paused in Ann Arbor just long enough for art director Matt Tierney to snap a few pictures before road test editor Chris Nelson hopped in to rendezvous with me, exchanging the JX for the Four Seasons Mazda CX-5. Most of the staff in Ann Arbor didn't even get a look at it before it left.

Photo Gallery: 2013 Infiniti JX35 - Four Seasons Update - August 2012 - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2013 Infiniti JX35 - Four Seasons Update - August 2012 - Automobile Magazine

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First Look: 2013 Nissan Pathfinder

Bigger, lighter, and more fuel efficient: Pathfinder returns to unibody construction.

Almost every three-row SUV on the market has switched from old-fashioned, truck-style body-on-frame construction to more modern, car-like unibody design. The Nissan Pathfinder was one of the holdouts, but the new 2013 model finally switches to a unibody, front-wheel-drive platform. You may recall the Pathfinder launched as a body-on-frame SUV in 1985, became unibody from 1996-2004, and reverted to a body-on-frame vehicle from 2005-2012.

Photo Gallery: First Look: 2013 Nissan Pathfinder - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: First Look: 2013 Nissan Pathfinder - Automobile Magazine

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Ford launched an assembly line in its Van Dyke transmission plant in Michigan to produce front-wheel-drive hybrid transmissions.