Auto News 5

French light vehicle sales fell 17 percent to 197,671 cars and light delivery trucks in May, the country's auto industry association said on Friday.

Mazda plans to cut 250 jobs, a quarter of its staff in Europe and the United States, as it reorganizes sales management in Japan and overseas, a newspaper reported. The cuts will be made in the current fiscal year, the paper said.

Volkswagen's China boss may leave the company and three Audi executives will be replaced under an extensive reorganization of managers to keep the carmaker focused on growth targets, press reports said.

Volkswagen's China boss may leave the company and three Audi executives will be replaced under an extensive reorganization of managers to keep the carmaker focused on growth targets, press reports said.

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed that plans to float formula one on the Singapore stock exchange have been put on the back burner for now.

The F1 chief executive said in Monaco last weekend that the sport's owners had adopted a "wait and see" attitude in light of the problems with Facebook's high profile listing.

And this week, London based jeweller Graff Diamonds postponed its Hong Kong floatation, citing adverse market conditions.

Ecclestone told Bloomberg on Thursday that F1 is also going to wait for the markets to "settle down".

"I'm absolutely confident we will do it this year," said the 81-year-old. "There's no rush, the markets aren't good at the moment, it doesn't inspire people. We don't have to do it now."

Mike Rockenfeller (Audi A5) emerged quickest in the first free practice session on Friday at Spielberg, Austria, scene of the fourth round of the DTM championship.

The German driver, who finished third two weeks ago at Brands Hatch, beat BMW driver Dirk Werner, and the C-Coupe Mercedes of championship leader Gary Paffett.

The Brit went off in a gravel trap during this first session, as did numerous drivers today.

That was a bad day for the two Canadians. Bruno Spengler (BMW M3) was only 18th, after his track time was shortened by 10 minutes as a penalty for a mistake he made in the pit lane during the morning roll out.

Toronto's Robert Wickens was classified last in his C-Coupe Mercedes.

From GMM

The small teams are continuing to heap pressure on Red Bull, casting the energy drink company as a barrier to reducing costs in formula one.

On Monday in Monaco, the teams got together with Bernie Ecclestone and FIA president Jean Todt, with cost-cutting a headline subject of discussion.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that Todt indicated that the Paris based federation is willing to police cost cutting as part of the formal regulations in 2013 and beyond.

Ten of the 12 teams are pushing for that scenario, the only exceptions being Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso -- the two teams owned by Dietrich Mateschitz.

Sauber chiefs Peter Sauber and Monisha Kaltenborn were heavily critical of Red Bull last week, insisting some in F1 "don't care whether (the sport) is even here in ten years".

For the smaller teams, the situation is urgent because if there is no agreement before June 30, cost-cutting FIA regulations cannot be in force for 2013.

Williams shareholder Toto Wolff has now joined Sauber in pushing Red Bull to move.

"At the moment they spend an estimated EUR 250 million (per season)," he said, "so the cost ceiling would save Mr Mateschitz a hundred million euros."

"It would be doing him a favour, because his model of unlimited spending no longer has the same advantage due to the current rules. The results of the first six races should have convinced him," added Wolff.

The Société de transport de Laval (STL) is showing environmental leadership once again. After reducing public transit fares from $2.75 to $1 on smog days, it's now offering electric vehicles to commuters who use the subway or train. It's part of the CLIC project, a unique carpooling initiative in Canada.

Instead of taking their own cars, users get to drive electric vehicles supplied by the STL and the Agence métropolitaine de transport (AMT) - from their home to one of three designated park-and-ride lots.

Similar services exist in Chicago (which has a fleet of 600 commuter cars), Minneapolis, and the state of Washington. Across the Atlantic, there's a car-sharing program in Paris called ''Autolib,'' which allows subscribers to rent cute little smart fortwo EVs for a specific period of time.

With CLIC, a carpooling team consists of a designated driver, a substitute, and two passengers. The designated driver keeps the vehicle at all times and is allocated 200 kilometres a month for personal use. He or she must pay $0.40 for every exceeding kilometre, which is definitely not uncommon according to the STL. How can you blame them given the soaring gas prices!

Participants don't have to worry about operating costs; all they need is an annual TRAM 3 public transit pass. Maintenance and repairs are taken care of by the STL and AMT, which rely on a local car dealer. Hydro-Quebec already set up charging stations at the various terminuses, while General Motors provided a number of Chevrolet Volt units.

Why not the Nissan LEAF or Mitsubishi i-MiEV? Simply because GM's electric car came to market first - at least that's what an AMT spokeswoman said.

The Volt can run in full electric mode at up to 160 km/h for anywhere between 40 and 80 kilometres, depending on the outdoor temperature, road conditions, and driving style. With 111 kilowatts (149 horsepower) on tap, the car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in less than nine seconds.

CLIC users have noticed a significant drop in performance during the winter months (starting around November), with total range falling to about 30 kilometres. When the battery charge is too low, the range-extending 1.4L gasoline engine steps in. A full charge and tank allows drivers to cover up to 580 kilometres, with top speed still at 160 km/h.

As mentioned earlier, charging stations can be found at the three designated park-and-ride lots along with reserved parking spaces. Charging takes 10 hours from a 120V source, and four hours from a 240V source. Domestic charging is also possible using a 120V outlet.

For more information about CLIC, go to www.stl.laval.qc.ca/lang/fr/services-et-tarifs/clic/. Hopefully, this project will spawn similar Earth-saving initiatives from coast to coast!

Photo: Société de transport de Laval

After suspending penalties during the month of May, the IndyCar Series has revealed that two drivers will get 10-spot grid penalties for having changed their engines for this Sunday's Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix.

Graham Rahal (Ganassi), who had to change his engine on May 14th and required a replacement to use before installing the uprated single-turbo Honda V6 for Carb Day and the race, will face a 10-spot penalty in the No. 38 Service Central car.

Graham Rahal at Indianapolis. (Photo: IMS)

The other driver sanctioned is Simona de Silvestro (HVM racing) who was forced to change engines on May 17th and will likely start last on the 25-car grid.

A third unidentified driver could also get a 10-spot grid penalty although the details remained to be officialised.

LOS ANGELES, California - It's been several years since Cadillac offloaded its image of being Grandpa's favourite automobile company, and I'll admit to being rather impressed with what the company has managed to achieve in recent years. Take the stunning CTS, a vehicle which, in my opinion, is more than capable of taking on the best from the Europeans.


Although Cadillac is now widely recognised as a manufacturer of luxury and performance vehicles (think CTS-V), its history has predominately consisted of luxurious large-scale sedans, which brings us nicely to the company's latest offering, the all-new 2013 Cadillac XTS.

Now if I'm being totally honest with you, when I first heard of this vehicle, the whole project sounded a tad questionable, to say the least. For a start, Cadillac was talking of building a rather sizeable front-wheel-drive sedan, and we've all witnessed how that idea's panned out in the past! I'd also heard rumours of standardized Magnetic Ride suspension, not often seen on a vehicle priced under $50K. The MSRP is actually $48,995, with the top-of-the-line Platinum AWD model running at $64,975.

So, I had to question how this could be achieved without digging even further into the piggy bank. Then of course, last but not least, we'd heard that Cadillac had plans to release an infotainment system to end all such systems. Sure, like I've not heard that one before!

Well, with that said, I am now happy to report to you that Cadillac has pretty much achieved everything it set out to do. In fact, after experiencing the XTS for myself, I'm going to go out on a limb here and declare this the most surprising vehicle I have driven thus far this year.

The MSRP is actually $48,995, with the top-of-the-line Platinum AWD model running at $64,975. (Photo: Kevin Corrigan)

So, I had to question how this could be achieved without digging even further into the piggy bank. Then of course, last but not least, we'd heard that Cadillac had plans to release an infotainment system to end all such systems. Sure, like I've not heard that one before!

Well, Cadillac has pretty much achieved everything it set out to do. In fact, after experiencing the XTS for myself, I'm going to go out on a limb here and declare this the most surprising vehicle I have driven thus far this year.

The new XTS is a striking vehicle, especially when you consider its starting price. The interior oozes quality and, while other manufacturers offer choices of wood, aluminum or piano black finishes, Cadillac has chosen to fill its XTS with a subtle blend of all three. It's a good look and, coupled with contrasting color schemes, it rather begs the question why so many luxury car manufacturers today appear to have an ongoing love affair with the somewhat boring black on black.

Cadillac's new CUE (Cadillac User Experience), standard on all models, is pretty much exactly what the company promised us. Controllable like the now familiar iPhone & iPad, the system's touchscreen allows for simple finger swipe or push access to all features. However, whereas others have chosen to bundle everything into one, often awkward, mouse-like controlled unit, Cadillac has chosen to retain traditional control over items such as heating, fan speed and seat heating. This means that rather than search through endless screens to select a desired setting, you simply touch a button on the console.

The company has also wisely included a CD unit in the glove box, as not everyone is yet into iPod, SmartMedia and USB music. If you are, then you'll be happy to discover not one, but three USB ports available to you. Simply insert your stick and the system automatically downloads and categorizes your music. This is then totally controllable via the numerous programmable buttons on the steering wheel.

Controllable like the now familiar iPhone & iPad, the system's touchscreen allows for simple finger swipe or push access to all features. (Photo: Kevin Corrigan)

What's that? You don't like buttons? No problem, because real language voice control is also available. In fact, I could go on and on about how ingenious this system is, but I'll sum it up like this... most manufacturers attempt lip service to the idea of helping drivers keep their eyes on the road, whereas Cadillac is actually making this a reality.

Now to the drive, and the first thing which becomes obvious is that larger vehicles can now be powered via the front wheels without detriment to the handling and feel of the vehicle. The new Magnetic Ride suspension does exactly what you'd expect it to, and apart from perhaps a tad more tire noise than I'd have wished for, driving the XTS is a highly pleasurable experience.

The direct-injected, 304-hp 3.6L V6, although not a powerhouse, provides ample power for both front- and all-wheel-drive versions. Coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission, which includes paddle shifters, the XTS supplies decent fuel economy: 12.1/7.2 L/100km city/highway for the FWD version, 12.5/7.7 L/100km with AWD.

Le V6 de 3,6 L à injection directe fournit une puissance de 304 chevaux avec ou sans la transmission intégrale. (Photo: Kevin Corrigan)

The total features list, both standard and available for this vehicle, would border on a novel in itself. However, with innovations such as Cadillac's Safety Alert Seats, together with front and rear automatic brakes as well as Rear Cross Traffic Alert, you can be sure that this vehicle lives up to what the company describes as the most technologically advanced car it's ever produced.

In fact, the only similarity I could find between the new XTS and Grandpa's old Caddy is the size of the trunk. With a whopping 509 litres of available volume, you could even fit a couple of man-sized objects in there if you so desired.

The new 2013 Cadillac XTS will be built right here in Oshawa, Ontario, and we can expect to see them rolling into dealerships over the next few weeks. So if you're looking for full-size luxury, this one's worth placing on your looksee list.

Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec

Volvo S80

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series rolls into Circuit ICAR in Mirabel, Quebec this weekend for the ICAR Lucas Oil Grand Prix presented by Budweiser on the 15-turn, 2.113-mile road course set up on the grounds of the Mirabel Airport.

Twenty-nine drivers are entered, including the two-time series, champion Andrew Ranger.

After spending the 2010 and 2011 seasons picking up starts in four different categories, the 25-year-old native of Roxton Pond, Quebec is back with a full-time ride in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in which he won championships in 2007 and 2009.

Andrew Ranger (Photo: NASCAR)

Last year, after competing in an ARCA event the night before and missing qualifying, Ranger had to start the ICAR event from the rear of the 27-car field.

He picked his way through traffic on the 15-turn, 2.113-mile track and took the lead on Lap 28 of the 30-lap race, but he made contact with fellow Quebecer and former teammate Alex Tagliani which was deemed excessive by NASCAR officials resulting in an aggressive driving penalty and a finish in 21st place.

“Let's just say I hope this one turns out better,” Ranger said.

It's hard to bet against the winner of 11 Canadian Tire Series road-course races, especially in Quebec.

Entry list:

CAR DRIVER/HOMETOWN TEAM
02 Kerry Micks, Mt. Albert, Ont. Leland/BDI/PartSource Ford
03 Elie Arseneau, Laval, Que. * Prime Racing/Circuit ICAR Chevrolet
3 Jason Hathaway, Appin, Ont. Snap-on Tools/Vortex Brake Pads Dodge
04 J.F. Dumoulin, Trois-Rivieres, Que. ACASS/Bellemare/Marac Dodge
5 Noel Dowler, Sherwood Park, Alta. EMCO-Kohler/Rheem Dodge
07 Isabelle Tremblay, St. Hippolyte, Que. Frank Lyman Design Dodge
10 Derek White, Kahnawake, Que. Burger Barn Chevrolet
11 Mike Scholz, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. * Jiffy Car Wash/Watchfinder.ca Chevrolet
17 DJ Kennington, St. Thomas, Ont. Castrol Edge/Mahindra Tractors Dodge
21 Jason White, Sun Peaks, B.C. A&W/Bower&Wilkins Dodge
22 Scott Steckly, Milverton, Ont. Canadian Tire Dodge
23 Jeff Lapcevich, Grimsby, Ont. Tim Hortons Dodge
27 Andrew Ranger, Roxton Pond, Que. Dodge/GC Motorsports Dodge
29 Ray Courtemanche Jr., Montreal, Que. * Construction Danam Bonzai Dodge
36 Alex Labbe, St. Albert, Que. * VR Victoriaville Dodge
44 Jarrad Whissell, Calgary, Alta. SMS Equipment/Komatsu Ford
47 Louis-Philippe Dumoulin, Trois-Rivieres, Que. WeatherTech Canada/Bellemare Dodge
55 Dexter Stacey, Kahnawake, Que. WJS Motorsports Dodge
56 Howie Scannell Jr., Milton, Ont. Trailers by Jim Bray Dodge
60 Ron Beauchamp, Jr., Windsor, Ont. Mopar/Mobil 1 Dodge
66 Robin Buck, Campbellville, Ont. Quaker State Dodge
81 Larry Jackson, Oakville, Ont. * B&B Decals/Speedy Auto Service Dodge
82 Dave Connelly, Arnprior, Ont. Schneider's/Metro Dodge
84 JR Fitzpatrick, Cambridge, Ont. Equipment Express Chevrolet
85 Michel Pilon, Blainville, Que. Aquacoupe Technologie Chevrolet
90 Martin Roy, Napierville, Que * Veloce/Gamache Truck Center Dodge
94 Dave Coursol, St. Jerome, Que. * Carquest Canada Dodge
97 Hugo Vannini, Repentigny, Que. VTI Motorsports Ford
99 Steve Cote, Ile Bizard, Que * White Motorsports Chevrolet

* Rookie of the Year contender
Unofficial and subject to change

Your iPhone is overfilling with good music? Your car doesn't have an MP3 input? You don't like to switch from one radio channel to the other? Griffin's AirCurve is for you.

AirCurve is an acoustic amplifier that can set you free of all radio wires and frequencies standing between you and your iPhone. It basically works as a speaker that increases the volume of your phone by over 25 decibels. Thanks to the sticky mounts, it's easy to install either on the centre stack or on the windshield of your car.

I had the chance to test those mounts in different weather conditions over many weeks. I can tell you right away the one I had on the windshield did not like the winter climate. Supporting the weight of the AirCurve and of the iPhone, it only stayed on a month before falling off. The one on the centre stack sticked on no problem.

Photo: Griffin Technology

25 decibels?
I was rather skeptical about the 25-dB increase the AirCurve claimed. I really thought sound quality would suffer. Boy, was I wrong. The music coming out of the AirCurve is just as good as the sound coming out of the iPhone.

And I didn't even have to crank it to hear it. It did the trick with the volume set at 50%.

Handsfree device
On top of working as a speaker for your music, the AirCurve functions as a speakerphone, too. You'll hear the other person talking just as well as you hear your songs.

However, I was wondering if on the other end, people could hear me as well as I could hear them. I've asked around and it turns out the sound was better than with the Bluetooth system I normally use.

In short, I didn't have very high expectations for the AirCurve, but in the end, it really impressed me. For the price ($39.99), and because it works with the iPhone's interface - without any wiring - Griffin's latest is worth taking a look at.

From npiquet.com

Nelson Piquet Jr will make his first 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series outing on the championship's first road course race of the year at Road America on 23 June.

Piquet, a former Formula 1 driver with Renault, will race with his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Team Turner Motorsports on the 4.048-mile road course in Elkart Lake, Wisconsin, driving the No. 30 Chevrolet Impala.

Piquet Jr has two previous career Nationwide starts. Hailing from the road course circuits of F1, Piquet Jr made his NNS debut at Watkins Glen International in 2010, earning a seventh-place finish, his best NNS finish to date. Piquet Jr.'s 35 NCWTS starts have resulted in one pole, seven top-five and 16 top-10 finishes. The 26-year-old Brazilian earned his first NASCAR victory earlier this season when he took the chequered flag at Bristol Motor Speedway in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.

The Sargento 200 is scheduled to take place on Saturday 23 June. Piquet Jr is guaranteed a starting spot in the field by virtue of the No. 30′s full-time NNS status.

Nelson Piquet Jr: “I'm really looking forward to making my first Nationwide Series start of the season. I earned a top-10 in my very first Nationwide Series start, my first start on a road course in NASCAR, and I've grown a lot as a driver in the two years since then. The two tracks are quite different, but I spent a lot of my career on road courses before coming to NASCAR. The Turner Motorsports cars have been performing extremely well in the Nationwide Series this year, getting a win already in Daytona, so my expectation is that we can bring home a victory.”

Full-size pickup trucks like the Ram 1500 always sell extremely well in North America. Even though some smaller alternatives have been or are being phased out, like the Ford Ranger and Ram Dakota, Volkswagen believes there's still a number of consumers interested in such vehicles.

Autoblog just learned that the German manufacturer is seriously planning to bring its Amarok pickup to the Canadian market. "We are very interested, but are proceeding very slowly and very cautiously," said Thomas Tetzlaff, Media Relations Manager at Volkswagen of Canada.

Photo: Volkswagen

VW dealers across the country have lately been gauging customer interest. Apparently, the feedback is very positive, enough to consider selling the Amarok in Canada. However, crossing the US border is not in the cards, at least not with the current version.

Tetzlaff would not confirm which cab styles and powertrain options are under consideration, but he claims the Amarok ''would certainly give Canadian buyers a real alternative in the light pickup market." Reading between the lines, we should probably expect a TDI model.

The Volkswagen Amarok is currently sold in South America, Europe, Russia, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. No words yet on a potential arrival date in Canada.


_{Source: Autoblog}

New Pescarolo's LMP1 prototype, based on the Aston Martin AMR-One, hit the track for the first time at Magny-Cours.

Emmmanuel Collard and Jean-Christophe Boullion were at the wheel of the new race car for this first test session, after a quick shakedown at the Chateauroux airfield earlier this week.

Photo: ACO

The Pescarolo 03 will take part in the test day before the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Collard and Boullion will be joined by former Aston Martin driver Stuart Hall, who will replace Julien Jousse at Le Mans. Howver, the, Frenchman will be back with the team after the 24-hour race.

The construction of the Pescarolo 03 had been delayed due to financial problems, which forced Henri Pescarolo's team to withdraw from the Six Hours of Spa in May, Round 2 of the World Endurance Championship.

After the intended alliance with team Luxury Racing failed, sports car collector Roald Goethe finally decided to support the project financially.

The introduction of the new 2013 ES 350 and all-new ES 300h marks the sixth generation of Lexus' popular luxury sedan since its introduction over 20 years ago. Featuring the signature Lexus spindle grille, a progressive new design and enhanced handling, the ES brings new levels of refinement and quality to the entry luxury segment. Now available with Lexus Hybrid Drive, the ES is sure to impress new and loyal consumers.

“Since its introduction to Canada in 1990, the ES has been a core model for the Lexus brand and has been a top selling Lexus passenger car in the last five years,” said Larry Hutchinson, Senior Executive Director of Lexus in Canada. “The new ES inherits the ES DNA for comfort and elegance and builds its success with a revitalized smart design and class-leading efficiency that reflect Lexus' new chapter of progressive luxury.

Photo: Toyota

Engine/Transmission/Drivetrain/Performance
For the first time, the Lexus ES will be available with Lexus Hybrid Drive. Featuring a 2.5-litre four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine, the ES 300h is expected to achieve class-leading fuel economy. The ES 300h generates 200 total system horsepower.

The new, low friction engine utilizes a sophisticated power management system and high compression ratio (12.5:1) to increase overall efficiency. Equipped with an electric water pump, and electric power steering, and an integrated hybrid electric motor/generator, this engine does not require any accessory belts. The beltless design helps improve fuel economy, and overall reliability.

The ES 350 is powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine with Dual VVT-i that delivers 268 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 248 lb.-ft. of peak torque at 4,700. The six-speed sequential-shift automatic Electronically Controlled Transmission with intelligence (ECT-i) provides enhanced driving performance, fuel efficiency and smooth shifts. Low friction materials further improve efficiency.

Both the ES 350 and ES 300h feature a Drive Mode selector. Normal mode provides a blend of performance and efficiency that is suited to everyday driving, while Eco mode favors fuel economy. Sport mode increases powertrain and steering responsiveness, and for the ES 300h, the IP changes from the hybrid power monitor to a tachometer. The ES 300h adds an EV mode which allows short distance drives, at reduced speed, using only the power from the hybrid battery pack.

Chassis/Body/Suspension/Tires/Brakes
Suspension changes, a stiffer body and a quicker steering gear ratio deliver more precise handling in the new 2013 Lexus ES.

The front suspension employs opposite-wound coil springs to help enhance straight-line stability. Revised rear suspension geometry and improved shock absorber damping characteristics enhance ride comfort. The steering gear ratio has been reduced from 16.1:1 to 14.8:1 to help deliver a more responsive and direct steering feel. Increased body rigidity is achieved through lightweight, high tensile strength steel, added bracing and more spot welds. Airflow is smoothed beneath the vehicle, improving stability and fuel economy, and reducing drag.

The ES will be equipped with standard 215/55R17 low rolling resistance tires on 17-inch alloy wheels. The ES 350 will offer optional 18-inch high-gloss alloy wheels while the ES 300h will offer a 17” high-gloss alloy wheel.

Luxury/Comfort/Convenience
The new ES will feature enhanced NuLuxe seating surfaces, developed to help reduce environmental impact. Genuine leather is also available, as is semi-aniline leather for a more refined look and feel. Interiors are available in Black, Light Gray, and Parchment. Trim colors and materials include Piano Black, Espresso Bird's-eye Maple.

The optional HDD Navigation System includes voice command, an integrated backup camera and an eight-inch screen.

The standard Lexus Premium Sound System features eight-speakers with Automatic Sound Levelizer (ASL), in-dash CD player, USB/iPod® connectivity, Bluetooth® and an integrated SiriusXM Satellite Radio receiver with a 90-day trial subscription. The available Display Audio and backup camera package adds a seven-inch screen, HD Radio™ with iTunes® tagging, Bluetooth audio, phone transfer, and a vehicle information display.

An available 15-speaker 835 watt Mark Levinson® audio system features an eight-inch display screen, HD Radio with iTunes tagging, DVD audio/video and a Sirius XM Satellite Radio receiver. Exclusive GreenEdge technology from Mark Levinson doubles the output of the amplifier, while reducing energy consumption by fifty percent.

Exterior Design
The new ES features a lower profile, and clean styling lines from front to rear. All four corners are pulled tightly inward to the wheel arches, creating distinctive proportions.

The wheelbase of the new ES has been lengthened by 45.7 mm, while the overall length of the vehicle has grown by one inch, resulting in shorter overhangs and a more spacious interior.

The new ES bears the new face of Lexus with its distinctive, spindle grille. The “L” design motif is reflected in the LED daytime running lights and combination rear lamps. Fog lamps are integrated into the sculpted lower front bumper fascia. The ES 350 sports dual exhaust pipes, while the ES 300h features an exclusive rear design with hidden exhaust and an integrated rear spoiler. Other details specific to the hybrid include unique blue badging and exclusive 17-inch alloy wheels.

Interior Design
The ES features enhanced sightlines and visibility, logically placed controls, and new cabin materials that express a high level of craftsmanship. The modern interior has been designed to provide a sense of openness and security.

Greater rear seat legroom and knee room are the hallmark of the redesigned, more spacious passenger cabin. Rear headroom is increased by 18 mm, knee room is increased by 71.1 mm and legroom is lengthened by 104 mm. Additional foot room below the front seats enhances rear passenger comfort.

A newly sculptured 10-way adjustable power seat is standard on all ES models. An available 12-way power seat allows the seat cushion to extend by 35.6 mm for better leg support. Seat height adjustment extends capabilities the downward range by an additional 15.2 mm. In addition, the steering wheel angle has been reduced from 24 degrees to 22 degrees for a more natural control position.

The cockpit features separate display and operation zones to help keep the driver's eyes on the road. The instrument panel, with its long, layered look, places the main information display directly in the driver's line of sight, supplemented by a center-mounted 3.5-inch color TFT multi-information display screen or available navigation and multimedia system. Below the center display is a self-illuminating LED analog clock.

The second-generation Remote Touch Interface (RTI) allows the user to operate the climate, audio, phone controls, optional navigation system and more. The screen menus are selected with a controller located on the center console. RTI also reduces eye and hand movement, helping to decrease effort and distraction.


_{As reported by Toyota Canada}

Adapted from GMM

The 2012 field is so even because the rules are so restrictive, according to Fernando Alonso.

The Spaniard admitted to worrying about the "credibility" of the sport, in light of the common view that the tyres supplied by Pirelli this year are making winning and losing grands prix akin to a "lottery".

But Ferrari driver Alonso has another theory.

Photo: Ferrari

Asked by the Spanish news agency EFE why he thinks the championship is so closely contested, he said it is "partly because of the restrictions that occur each year in the rules".

"When someone discovers a double diffuser, the following year it is banned. When someone does the 'F-duct', the next year's it's banned. Last year there were the exhausts blowing into the diffuser, and this year they are gone," said Alonso at an event in Madrid.

"Every year there are more and more limits on creativity and the potential development of a car. We are seeing more and more similar cars, all the time (F1) becoming closer to GP2."

The 30-year-old insisted, however, that the cream always finds a way of rising to the top.

"Despite it being an incredibly tight championship, the first (placed) constructor is Red Bull, and then McLaren and Ferrari. And the first six or seven in the drivers' championship are the same names from last year," added Alonso.

Auto Motor und Sport journalist Michael Schmidt said: "With Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel or Lewis Hamilton in the cockpit, Williams or Sauber would probably be leading the championship."

Red Bull's Marko responded: "They have good cars, but no one knows why. They are not as highly bred as a Red Bull and McLaren, but apparently easy to drive and understand. In the present situation, anything is possible."

The Tennessee factory has something to be proud of today.

Their 100,000th Passat has just come off the production line - just ninth month after the model was put in sale in the United States.

The keys of the 100,000th Passet were handed over by Frank Fischer, CEO of Volkswagen Chattanooga, to Joanne Benante - the proud new owner - who came all the way down from Atlanta to pick up her new ride.

Photo: Volkswagen

The car has reached the platinum level of LEED rating system, aimed at reducing waste production and encouraging recycling.

Mrs. Benante's Passat SEL Premium is night blue metallic and has a Moonrock leather interior. It also has a 2.0L TDI engine coupled to a double-clutch six-speed automatic gearbox.

The very first unit came out of the Chattanooga Volkswagen factory on April 18th, 2011. On september 8th, the same people celebrated the 10,000 car marker, and on February 7th of this year, they reached the 50,000 cars.

More and more car drivers rely on a portable navigation system instead of keeping their door pockets full of road maps. However, few people know about the potential hazards of leaving the device in their car. And we're not just talking about thefts, here; this thing could explode!

With summer comes hot weather, and entering a car that's been left under the sun for hours often feels like stepping into an oven. Your abandoned GPS - or any other electronic device, for that matter - certainly doesn't like it, either.

Photo: Olivier Delorme

It's Physics 101: The dangerous sun rays that hit the windshield and windows cause a greenhouse effect that overheats the interior all the way to the batteries, which can eventually catch fire and explode. Just imagine the damage.

The frigid temperatures of winter can be equally harmful to your navigation system, by the way. It's no wonder that manufacturers include warnings in their owner's manuals.

So, if you don't want to lose your GPS to a thief or the sun, keep it out of the car when left unused. Why take a risk, no matter how small it is?

Have a great summer!

German driver Timo Bernhard from the Audi team will not take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year.

In close coordination with the physicians and with Audi Sport the Audi factory driver attaches major importance to making a complete recovery after his accident.

Following the testing accident in March in which he was not at fault Timo Bernhard started a rehabilitation program with his personal trainer and received comprehensive medical care. Unfortunately, there's not enough time before Le Mans for Bernhard to become 100 percent fit again.

Audi R18. (Photo: Audi Motorsport)

His place in the No. 3 Audi R18 ultra will now be taken by Audi's reserve driver Marc Gené. The Spaniard drove his first race for Audi in early May at the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC where together with Romain Dumas and Loïc Duval he clinched overall victory.

Gené will take Bernhard's place as early as on the test day at Le Mans this weekend.