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The wild Lexus LF-LC coupe concept that wowed visitors at the Detroit auto show is on track for development, signaling a new direction for a brand that has fallen from first to third in the U.S. luxury sales rankings.

As sales rebound from last year's earthquake-constrained levels, dealerships' new-vehicle revenues are soaring.

BMW said it is boosting Mini production capacity and confirmed that it will increase the lineup to as many as 10 vehicles. The brand sells six now.

When General Motors last had a profitable year in Europe, the company was in the midst of a $600 million global project to ensure Y2K readiness. Steve Girsky was an auto analyst on Wall Street.

When GM last had a profitable year in Europe, the company was in the midst of a $600 million global project to ensure Y2K readiness. Steve Girsky was an auto analyst on Wall Street.

If your last name isn't already on the sign in front of a car dealership, getting it there has become a tough goal to achieve.

Marussia Formula 1 team issue Monday a press release saying that the Cosworth-powered MR01 F1 car was not at fault in the accident that caused test driver Maria de Villota to lose an eye and endure extensive reconstructive surgery on her face.

Two weeks ago, the Spaniard had just completed the first straight line aero testing run of the day Duxford Airfield, was manoeuvring at low speed close to the team's test base off the main runway when the car went into the back of a truck. She was immediately taken to hospital with several injuries.

This is the press release issued today:

“14 days after Maria de Villota's accident at, the Marussia F1 Team has now completed its own detailed investigation into the cause of the crash.

The accident occurred on 3 July during a straight-line test, at which Maria was making her testing debut for the Team and driving an F1 car for the fourth time in her career.

The Marussia F1 Team conducted an initial analysis immediately after the crash. This aimed to identify the causes and contributory factors behind the accident and also served to determine if there were any car-related implications for the impending British Grand Prix. Having carefully examined all the data and supplementary information available at that time, the Team were satisfied that there were no such car-related issues and cleared its chassis for race weekend participation.

“Following its initial investigation, the Team proceeded to carry out further detailed analysis of the accident. An external forensic investigation was commissioned and carried out at Duxford Airfield (a FIA-approved and much used testing venue, compliant with the recommendations for a test of this nature) and with the team at the Marussia Technical Centre in Banbury. This external analysis has been carried out autonomously of the team's own internal investigation.

“As would be normal procedure, the Team's findings have been shared with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), the independent UK regulator which acts in the public interest in respect of work-related accidents.

“John Booth, Team Principal of the Marussia F1 Team, commented: “We are satisfied that the findings of our internal investigation exclude the car as a factor in the accident. We have shared and discussed our findings with the HSE for their consideration as part of their ongoing investigation. This has been a necessarily thorough process in order to understand the cause of the accident. We have now concluded our investigatory work and can again focus on the priority, which continues to be Maria's wellbeing. In that regard, we continue to support Maria and the De Villota family in any way we can.”

From wrc.com

Craig Breen said his decision to return to the FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship in Finland next month following the death of his codriver Gareth Roberts was the most difficult he's ever had to make.

The inaugural FIA WRC Academy champions were tackling the non-championship Targa Florio Rally in Sicily last month during a break from their SWRC campaign when Roberts lost his life in an accident on the second day of the event.

Breen, who suffered shock but was otherwise uninjured in the crash, has recruited fellow Irishman Paul Nagle to co-drive his Ford Fiesta S2000 on Neste Oil Rally Finland from 2-4 August.

“This has been the hardest decision of my life,” said Breen, 22.

“I will never fully come to terms with Gareth's death. It's only with the support of my own family and Gareth's family that I'm now ready to take the next step. I will never forget Gareth, we were firstly a driver/codriver partnership but most of all we were best friends.

“Getting back behind the wheel again without the little man will be emotionally very hard but I know that Gareth would want me to continue. From our first event together we were winners and now I want to continue on that road with the same ambition,” Green said.

From GMM

Almost half of the world's 25 biggest companies have been involved in formula one in the past five years.

And the new research by F1's industry monitor Formula Money said a third of the world's 100 top companies have in the same period been involved in F1 as sponsors, owners or investors.

They include three of the world's five biggest companies -- Ferrari sponsor Shell, Exxon Mobil (McLaren) and former Chinese grand prix backer Sinopec.

Journalist Christian Sylt said oil companies and carmakers are "naturally drawn to F1 due to the obvious affinity between the sport and their businesses".

The banking industry is also attracted to F1 "by the networking opportunities offered by the sport", Sylt added.

General Electric on CT01's car. (Photo: Caterham F1 Team)

The other top-25 companies involved in F1 recently are Toyota (8th), Red Bull and Lotus sponsor Total (11th), Toro Rosso supplier Volkswagen (13th), Caterham backer General Electric (16th), former Renault sponsor ING (17th), Samsung (22nd), ENI (23rd) and Mercedes owner Daimler (24th).

"The involvement of so many major companies is one of the factors that distinguishes F1 from other sports," continued Sylt.

American companies, like former Williams title sponsor AT-T, are also playing a big role, making up 17 per cent of the teams' sponsors -- the highest of any nationality.

Spanish driver Daniel Juncadella won the annual Zandvoort Formula 3 Masters held on Sunday at Zanvoort, Netherlands, featuring the best F3 drivers from the British and Euroseries championships.

Daniel Juncadella (Photo: f3euroseries)

After claiming victory at the 2011 Macao Grand Prix - the other great F3 classic event - Juncadella was again victorious at Zandvoort on Sunday. Last year, he was forced to retired after he made contact at the start of the race with his teammate Roberto Mehri.

The Prema driver started from pole position, alongside fellow countryman Carlo Sainz Jr. But Sainz had a poor start, which allowed Juncadella's teammate Raffaele Marciello to move up to second.

Juncadella and Marciello captured a one-two finish for team Prema, while local heroe Hannes Van Asseldonk took third place. Juncadella became the first Spaniard to win the F3 Masters.

Final classification :
1 - Daniel Juncadella (Dallara-Mercedes) - Prema - 25 laps in 39'28"564
2 - Raffaele Marciello (Dallara-Mercedes) - Prema - 7"594
3 - Hannes Van Asseldonk (Dallara-Mercedes) - Fortec - 17"394
4 - Carlos Sainz (Dallara-Volkswagen) - Carlin - 18"473
5 - Pascal Wehrlein (Dallara-Mercedes) - Mucke - 22"008
6 - William Buller (Dallara-Volkswagen) - Carlin - 28"611
7 - Alex Lynn (Dallara-Mercedes) - Fortec - 29"450
8 - Michael Lewis (Dallara-Mercedes) - Prema - 29"975
9 - Felix Rosenqvist (Dallara-Mercedes) - Mucke - 31"793
10 - Sven Muller (Dallara-Mercedes) - Prema - 32"613
Etc.

On the last days off before the arduous Hockenheim-Hungary Formula 1 double header, Russia was the centre of the sport's attention.

The World Series by Renault, which featured races of the Formula Renault 3.5, Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and Eurocup Megane Trophy staged a first race ever on the Moscow Raceway.

Vitaly Petrov with Russian supporters. (Photo: Manuscript Agency)

Daniel Ricciardo also demonstrated the Renault-powered Red Bull car. The first international motorsport event on track in Russia attracted 85 000 people for this first event.

In downtown Moscow, modern F1 cars and current drivers including Lewis Hamilton, Vitaly Petrov and Charles Pic as well as Ferrari test driver Giancarlo Fisichella demonstrated their wares on a temporary street circuit around the Kremlin.

Pit lane of Moscow Raceway. (Photo: World Series by Renault)

Moscow City Hall spokesman Vladimir Chernikov admitted he hopes it was a prelude to something more.

"Moscow really is ready to hold a formula one stage," Chernikov said.

85,000 people watched the World Series by Renault race. (Photo: World Series by Renault)

Meanwhile, at Moscow Raceway, four time world champion Alain Prost said a street race in the Russian capital "could be possible".

"I know that Bernie (Ecclestone) and some constructors would love it," he said.

I demonstrated Ford's Active Park Assist for my neighbour, using a 2013 Flex crossover. I actually put Peter in the driver's seat and had him cruise the street until the system alerted him to a parking space of sufficient size.

I then had Peter follow the simple instructions that are displayed on the navigation screen as the Flex cut the wheels right and left, backing into the spot with surgical precision. Peter was absolutely amazed at the accuracy of the system and the simplicity of its use.

Photo: Ford

After a few gleeful exclamations, a pall came over him as he lowered his voice and uttered, “This is bad for business.” I countered with a differing opinion, believing that active park assist programs are the next great step toward driverless cars.

Peter: “no... bad for my business!”

I should tell you that Peter's a registered massage therapist, owning a highly successful clinic. The way he sees it, if people no longer have to twist and contort in order to parallel park, they're less likely to seek massage therapy.

While Peter's comments were obviously made in jest, they illuminated a valid point. Aged drivers often find it difficult to adequately twist torso and neck to see where they're reversing. And there have certainly been times when back pain has interfered with my ability to do so.

A vehicle that can park itself could be of great benefit to seniors and those with limited mobility, such as me after a day of yard work. I'm sure that Ford won't put Peter on the street, I'm also sure that there will come a day when Peter will clamor for an active park system. We're all getting older, good thing that technology is getting wiser.

From GMM

A long period of speculation about Lewis Hamilton's future could end soon.

With the 2008 world champion's contract expiring, he told the Russian news agency Ria Novosti on a weekend visit to Russia that he is gearing up to talk with McLaren about 2013 and beyond.

"We haven't sat down and discussed anything yet but I'm sure over the summer break, when we have the summer break it would be nice to get something in place," said the Briton.

There have been rumours about Hamilton's alternatives beyond 2012, but he indicated that a new deal with McLaren is likely.

"These people have supported me; these are the people that got me into formula one," he said.

"But, you know, I want to win. I'm not that young any more so I want to make sure that whatever I do I make the right decision so I can maximise my career, you know. I just need to make sure that I'm winning."

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, at Montreal. (Photo: WRi2)

That note of warning coincides with a performance slump for the famous British team, but Hamilton indicated that he will look beyond the most recent disappointments.

"To be honest, you have to base your decisions on much, much longer than such a short period of time," the 27-year-old said.

"Only half a year cannot decide six years of partnership, or actually 13 years of partnership. I've been with them since I was 13, so it's 14 years, so it's much more than these small details, it's a much, much bigger picture."

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By clinching the 2012 edition of the New England Forest Rally, fifth and second to last round of the Rally America series, Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard have made it three for three and NEFR.

But they were still disappointed, coming off a perfect win, the reason being they lost their title bid to Dave Higgins, second in New England. His lead cannot be overcome anymore by the Canadian duo, who in turn, stretched a lead of its own, in the North American standings.

Antoine L'Estage, Mitsuhishi Lancer (Photo: Neil McDaid)

"I want to congratulate David Higgins, his co-driver Craig Drew, and their entire team for their 2012 Rally America title," acknowledged L'Estage. "They are great competitors and our battles are always intense but remain fun and very sportsmanlike."

Canadian rallyman Ugo Desgreniers reached the overall podium, after his fellow Canadian Rally Championship competitor Crazy Leo, third for most of the rally, landed his Subaru in a swamp.

In Super Production (SP), victory went to Ramana Lagemann et co-driver Christine Beavis. Australian Will Orders, from Melbourne, took top honours in the two-wheel drive (2WD) class.

New England Forest Rally results - Rally America

1. Antoine L'Estage / Nathalie Richard - 1h10min11.2s
2. David Higgins / Craig Drew + 21.0s
3. Ugo Desgreniers / Erik Kirby + 6min34.1s
4. Ramana Lagemann / Christine Beavis + 6min39.2s
5. Will Orders / Toni Feaver + 6min26.1s
6. Christopher Duplessis / Alexander Kihurani + 9min07.7s
7. David Sterckx / Karen Jankowski + 10min34.2s
8. Lauchlin O'Sullivan / Scott Putnam + 11min07.7s
9. Evan Cline Grzegorz Dorman + 11min57.6s
10. Andrew Comrie-Picard / Jeremy Wimpey + 12min08.0s

Honda Canada claims that the fourth-generation Honda CR-V for 2012 is all new and it just happens to look similar to the third-generation Honda CR-V it replaces.

I suspect that by keeping the hard body build points the same and changing everything else, Honda was able to keep an economy of scale going so that the MSRP for 2012 would be lower than 2011 for a comparably equipped vehicle. Controlling the price is certainly beneficial when competitors such as the Toyota RAV4, the Hyundai Tucson and the Subaru Forester have all followed the same strategy.


Exterior and interior
The outside has probably been changed the least. Unless you are an aficionado or have the new and the old parked side by side, you are not going to really see the differences.

Probably the most noticeable change is in the decrease in width of the crease in the side panels. Changes to front and rear facia are most likely to be overlooked simply because there isn't a large enough difference to stand out.

Inside is a different story. From the second I opened the door, I could see that the interior had been upgraded. Leather seating materials felt better and the front seat was more comfortable than in the past. When I moved to the back seat, the seat cushion and the seatback come together better so that I didn't feel as if there was a gap in support at my lower spine.

Probably the most noticeable change is in the decrease in width of the crease in the side panels. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Driving
I can still get the 10-way power assisted driver's seat into a comfortable position in a few seconds. In fact, the only gripe our family had with the Honda CR-V was that our $35,090 Touring trim level was, as my side seat cruise control put it, “touring for one”; the passenger seat does not offer the same level of adjustment that the driver's seat does, and over long “touring” distances this can make a considerable difference in comfort.

The solution was easy: she drove and I got to fidget about in the seat! I have no idea what a 10-way passenger seat would cost, but even as an option it would be worth it.

Another aspect of touring is interior noise. Honda has put quite a bit of effort into making the interior a bit quieter. When you stop and think about the size of empty space behind the front seat and that it can often act as an echo chamber, you can see what Honda is up against.

Strategic use of sound-deadening material, different carpeting and different interior materials all mean that sound absorption is better than in previous generations. One of the ways we amused ourselves while driving was to pick up the different sounds made by the different pavements used on highways (some drives are REALLY boring). They were never very loud, but were always distinctive.

I can still get the 10-way power assisted driver's seat into a comfortable position in a few seconds. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Engine and transmission
Power for all Honda CR-Vs comes from a 2.4L inline four that puts out 185 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque on regular unleaded fuel. At first, this engine seemed a bit underpowered when mated with the 5-speed automatic, which is the only transmission used in the Honda CR-V.

Driving this combination takes a bit of getting used to; I had to learn where torque peaked, where the part throttle kick-down point was and how many gears the transmission would drop when I put it down to the floor to get passing gear. Once I got those variables under control, the Honda CR-V took on a new personality.

Power for all Honda CR-Vs comes from a 2.4L inline four that puts out 185 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque on regular unleaded fuel. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Handling
Since AWD is standard in the Touring model, I had an extra variable to put into the handling mix. The Honda CR-V did well for a small sized SUV when it came to cornering and could hold its own when accelerating out. It also drove nicely in traffic and responded equally well to puttering about (the i-VTEC motor does a great job).

With all this cornering and puttering about on our streets, the Honda CR-V has to have a pretty good suspension under it. Honda has recalibrated the suspension and ride quality when pushed has improved noticeably. That translates into better control at low speeds where you never think of it.

Getting in and out of parking spaces is easy; excellent visibility from the driver's seat and proper use of the large mirrors means you can change lanes, anticipate other driver's moves and generally have an easier time carving through traffic. Think of it as relaxed aggressive driving.

Since AWD is standard in the Touring model, I had an extra variable to put into the handling mix. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Conclusion
Priced from $25,990, the Honda CR-V is available in four different trim levels, two of which offer FWD or AWD. The EX-L and Touring come only with AWD. Touring is the only trim level to have a navigation system as part of the standard equipment package.

Long drive or short, touring or toodling about, put the Honda CR-V in its various trim levels on your must-drive list.

From GMM

Nigel Stepney's almost certainly highly controversial account of the 'spygate' scandal looks set to be published late this year.

In the wake of the sacked and disgraced former Ferrari engineer's plans a few years ago to release an explosive autobiography, the publisher pulled out.

It was rumoured at the time that Ferrari requested the book be withdrawn.

Nigel Stepney confirmed that his former publisher had been "put under pressure" by an unnamed party.

But he vowed to press on with his account of what happened amid the famous espionage scandal involving McLaren and Mike Coughlan back in 2007.

An official book description at Amazon said 'Red Mist' will include "an in-depth and honest account of the recent 'Stepneygate' saga in his own words."

The German-language Speed Week said it should hit the shelves in time for Christmas.

No one can get enough of what the future holds. Here's an updated list of what awaits us for the 2013 model-year.

10. Chevrolet Spark

Photo: General Motors

Although we have our doubts as to how nice it'll play with the Cruze and the Sonic, the Spark's size and styling should make it entertaining, if nothing else, to drive in the city.

Continue reading Top 10 anticipated 2013 cars - UPDATED

From GMM

Time is running out for McLaren to bounce back from its 2012 slump, according to former team champion Alain Prost.

Despite looking a title favourite early this year, Jenson Button dropped badly off the pace and even former championship leader Lewis Hamilton bemoaned the MP4-27's flagging development after a bad British grand prix.

"If they don't come back immediately, from Hockenheim, the next race, I think it's going to be difficult," Frenchman Prost, 57, told the Ria Novosti news agency.

He said Red Bull and Ferrari are now the obvious favourites in 2012.

"It looks like they (McLaren) do not understand what is happening with the new tires, which is not good news," added Prost.

Photo: McLaren

Another former multiple title winner, Niki Lauda, told the Daily Mirror that the slump is not Button and Hamilton's fault.

"They are both world champions and better than they were made to look at Silverstone," said the Austrian legend, who won his third title with McLaren in 1984.

He hailed Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, the current championship leader, as the "toughest" and "cleverest" driver in the field.

That will make it hard for the McLaren drivers, said Lauda.

"It's not the points difference that I'm talking about -- it's not over for them, but even if they score big Alonso won't be far behind, so to reduce the gap is going to difficult," he added.

Swiss commentator Marc Surer, meanwhile, said he thinks Alonso is almost matched for speed by F1's reigning back-to-back champion Sebastian Vettel.

But where the Spaniard has an advantage is in keeping his emotions in check, he added.

"When they (emotions) come after the race, that's ok," he told the German broadcaster Sky. "Emotions in the cockpit, however, are dangerous, because then you make mistakes.

"I have to say that, of the two, Alonso is probably the cooler," said Surer.

The manufacturer will equip two of its three models with the smaller engines, including a 4-cylinder, not offered by Jaguar since 1948. "We have only V-8s in a market that has moved to six-cylinder", said Andy Goss, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover North America.

 On the XF sedan, Jaguar will offer a 2.0-litre, 240-hp turbocharged 4-cylinder - a serious rival to the BMW 5 Series and the Cadillac STS, among others. The 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 will be available on the XF (340-hp) and on the larger XJ (380-hp). These new engines will be teamed with an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Fuel economy ratings for these new engines will be released in August.

Source: Automotive News