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Mihai Marinescu set the best performance at the end of two day of collective tests in Portimao, Portugal.

German driver Markus Pommer dominated the sessions on Wednesday, setting the quickest lap in the morning, then in the afternoon session, and was again the fastest driver on Thursday morning. But, on Thursday afternoon, Mihai Marinescu set his best lap in 1'33''871, which put him in front of the classification of the four sessions cumulated.

Steering wheel of Mihai Marinescu. (Photo: FormulaTwo.com)

The performances were very close during the last test session, as the romanian driver finally led Kevin Mirocha, from Poland, for only one thousand of a second, while British driver (and championship leader) Luciano Bacheta was only 78 thousands slower, and Pommer concluded the session 99 thousands of a second slower than Marinescu.

Markus Pommer. (Photo: FormulaTwo.com)

The Portimao circuit will host the 3rd and 4th rounds of the Formula 2 championship, after both opening rounds presented in Silverstone were won by Luciano Bacheta.

Harrison Ford? What the hell does he have to do with the Lincoln Navigator? I'll get to that in a bit. First, let me express how stoked I was when I found out I was going to be driving a Lincoln Navigator for a week. I was at the launch of the current generation Ford Expedition back in July of 2006 and I clearly recall liking the big galoot.


As you all know, the Lincoln Navigator has always been the other favourite mode of transportation of pimps, mafia and the likes. The Navigator's enforcer aura has also tickled the fancy of all types of ball players since it first arrived back in 1998. I have always wanted to meet a chromed-out Expedition and now I have.

Ageing gracefully
Upon closer inspection of my press truck, I came to realize that the 2012 Lincoln Navigator isn't all badass as it might have once been. In fact, I've found it to have a few wrinkles which actually made it somewhat endearing. Are you starting to get it? Harrison Ford used to be badass, but now he's a nice and handsome old guy.

On the inside, it's much of the same. The boxy symmetrical presentation of the dashboard dates back to another time. Every control, dial and knob are still highly functional for say, a guy Harrison's age. Someone half his age might prefer the jazzier user interface found in the Ford Explorer, for example.

In any case, everyone will find the Navigator's comfort levels to be outstanding. Indy always felt so comfortable with his fedora on this head. The big Lincoln's seats rival most La-Z-Boy chairs and the amount of interior space is akin to the size of Harrison's ranch; all 800 acres of it.

The boxy symmetrical presentation of the dashboard dates back to another time. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.TV)

Still smooth
Despite being a body-on-frame vehicle, like Mr Ford, the 2012 Lincoln Navigator is still solid, rugged and pretty much ready for anything. In spite of that, the Navigator still prefers cruising city streets over going off-road. I don't know about you, but Harrison seemed far more comfortable sitting at the news desk in Morning Glory than he did running away from the Soviets in the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Under bonnet, the truck ('cause we can call it that) sports Ford's venerable 5.4L V8. Rated at 310 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque, it's outclassed by many of its younger full-sized competitors like the 400 hp Infiniti QX56. Harrison can no longer compete physically with the likes of Hugh Jackman.

However underpowered, the 5.4L's silky torque delivery and easygoing 6-speed autobox still get the job done. Most of the torque swells in at just over 3,000 rpm, so the 2,723 kg (6,003 lb) friendly giant gets moving. The cost, however, is fuel. Lots and lots of fuel... I averaged 19L/100km in mixed driving. I'm still shivering at the thought of filling up the 106L tank. Want Harrison Ford in your movie? It'll cost you $20 million. Same thing.

Under bonnet, the truck ('cause we can call it that) sports Ford's venerable 5.4L V8. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.com)

Comfort be thy name
Body-on-frame used to signify getting shaken to the core before ralphing your lunch, back in the day. This old dog soaks up the world's nastiest paved roads with little shuddering. The refinement level of the Navigator rivals that of the old Town Car, it even surpasses it. The Navigator stays quiet and docile on the highway; it's almost cocoon-like. Han Solo, the old dog (or was it pirate?), eventually trusted Lando with the Millennium Falcon...

The 2012 Lincoln Navigator is truly all about comfort, almost. Its older design does betray the driving position as the steering wheel is not telescopic. I found it difficult to stay put in my perch, especially when navigating in the city. On the freeway, leaving one hand on the wheel was the only way to be at ease.

The refinement level of the Navigator rivals that of the old Town Car, it even surpasses it. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Auto123.TV)

The price
At $73,900, the Navigator is priced at the lower end of its segment which includes the likes of the aforementioned Infiniti QX, the Cadillac Escalade, the Lexus LX and the Audi Q7. Unfortunately, it finds itself in a dying segment where there really only is room for one American and one German. Perhaps the next Navigator will shine, should it come back. For certain, the next instalment of Indiana Jones is coming; let's hope it'll be better than the last.

Like Harrison, the Navigator is getting old but hasn't lost all of its charm. The wrinkles are more obvious, but you can't help yourself from saying: it's Harrison; it's a Navigator.

Infiniti QX56

Lexus LX 570

Cadillac Escalade

It would be impossible to narrow down which, of all the countless cars I've driven, I would name as my favourite - but people do ask. Constantly.

Let's just say that I have so many personal favourites, for just as many reasons - but there are a few that are especially memorable.

Not the fastest, nor the prettiest, the DeLorean is nonetheless, one of the most compelling vehicles I've ever experienced.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The DeLorean DMC 12 (DMC for DeLorean Motor Company, 12 for its originally projected price of $12,000) is the embodiment of a long-held, but short-lived dream.

The brainchild of John Z. DeLorean, a controversial playboy executive who left General Motors to build the ultimate sports car, the Northern Ireland based DeLorean Motor Company produced just over 8,000 cars between 1981 and 1982, when the company folded amidst allegations of drug money funding.

Although charges against John DeLorean were later dropped, it was too late for DMC which had been plagued by production problems and claims of inflated performance figures.

But the DeLorean remains a pop culture icon thanks to its starring role as the time machine in the movie "Back to the Future" and a symbol of the flamboyant lifestyle of its creator.

Photo: profilesinhistory.com

The Italdesign body isn't what you'd call conventionally pretty. Angular, wedge-shaped with a rakish fastback and louvered rear window, it uses every design cue of its era. Its most famous visual elements are of course, the signature gullwing doors and brushed stainless steel body panels. It rides on a Lotus-designed frame and suspension.

Ducking my head and dropping into the seat, I tug on the leather strap to lower the gullwing door. The seats are well cushioned and upholstered in leather that's finely cracked and burnished with the patina of age.

Driving position is somewhat reclined - since the seat has minimal adjustment fore and aft, and being short, I found myself stretching for the pedals. At only 44 inches tall, this is not a car that accommodates an upright seating position!

The headliner is indented to allow more head clearance - sort of an interior variation of the Gurney bubble.

Everything is upholstered in stitched grey leather, including the vertical, flat dash and the high-walled centre console which runs like a spine through the car, bisecting the cockpit.

By today's standards, the interior is dated and kitschy, but for 1981, it must have seemed futuristic indeed. The small windows inset into the gullwing door's larger glass are a late add-on, allowing for North American toll booths. And thankfully, Tim Horton's drive-throughs!

Available with either a 5-speed manual, or 3-speed automatic, the DeLorean's powered by a 2.8L 130 hp V6 developed jointly by Renault, Volvo and Peugeot. Located under the angular hatch, its placement behind the rear axle makes this a true rear-engined car.

The steering wheel is leather-wrapped, and has a nice feel, although the lack of power steering makes turn-in a bit heavy. The brakes, however, are decidedly vague. The Lotus derived suspension is firm and there's not much roll. By today's sports car standards, the DeLorean is underpowered at 130 hp. But who cares? Grinning ear-to-ear, we managed to achieve the magical 88 mph mark, but unfortunately remained firmly planted in this decade.

There's no question that the DeLorean is still a fan favourite: everywhere we went, people slowed down to point, wave or give us the thumbs up sign.

A beloved pop-culture icon, the DeLorean transcends its past to become perhaps a more fitting tribute to its creator than even he intended.
And certainly remains one of my most memorable.

The 2012 NFL Draft begins on Thursday night.

You might recall that a few scant minutes ago, Ford

2012 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4x4

This is our last goodbye to the Pathfinder, at least in the form we've known it for decades.

This is our last goodbye to the Pathfinder, at least in the form we've known it for decades. Since 1986, the Pathfinder has always shared its body-on-frame architecture with Nissan's compact pickups. That's still the case today, but the automaker has already announced the next Pathfinder will instead be based off the unibody Murano crossover.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4x4 - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Nissan Pathfinder LE 4x4 - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

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When the Ferrari Enzo burst out of the Italian sunrise 10 years ago, its Tipo F140 12-cylinder boasted a spleen-rending 651 hp.

GM CEO Dan Akerson's overall compensation nearly tripled to $7.7 million last year, reflecting a pay raise for his first full year as chairman and CEO. Last year, GM paid Akerson a base salary of $1.7 million and $5.9 million in stock awards.

2011 MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 - Road Trip Redemption

Falling back into our favor.

After spending too much time hanging around Ann Arbor, our four-seasons Mini Copper S Countryman ALL-4 finally busted out of town in April, heading for New York with editor Jean Jennings and her husband, Tim.

Photo Gallery: 2011 MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 - Four Seasons Update - April 2012 - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2011 MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4 - Four Seasons Update - April 2012 - Automobile Magazine

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Honda is set to end a five-quarter drop in operating profits and forecast a triple-digit surge in annual earnings after a 2011 hammered by the yen's record strength, natural disasters and a crisis of reputation in its key U.S. market.

Also in this episode: Chevrolet trademarks the SS name, Bugatti builds another

A second executive at Japanese automotive supplier Denso will plead guilty to a conspiracy charge in the ever-widening crackdown on price-fixing in several segments of the auto supply chain.

Auctions America's Auburn Spring event will have pristine Duesenbergs and Jaguars mingling with high-powered

If you look at a vehicle's specs and see that the engine torque number is nearly double that of the horsepower, you can bet said vehicle will have decent acceleration or can be used for pulling stumps or both.

BorgWarner United Transmission Systems (BWUTS), a joint venture between the US-based supplier and 12 Chinese automakers in Dalian, will supply 'DualTronic' (twin clutch) control modules and clutch modules with integral torsional vibration dampers for FAW's new seven-speed wet dual-clutch transmission (DCT).

GM nominated the chief executive of oil conglomerate ConocoPhillips and the retired CEO of auto supplier Cummins to serve on its board of directors.

The Cadillac XTS is nothing new. We had our first look at the concept in 2009.

Auto lending continued to carry Ally Financial in the first quarter, as Ally said today it posted total net income of $310 million for the quarter, more than double its year-ago profit.

Lamborghini's bid to get back into the ultra-luxury sport-utility game nearly 20 years after the LM002 ended production grabbed top honors from Autoweek editors at the 2012

Fiat, which controls Chrysler, has posted a wider first-quarter loss in Europe after sales in the region plunged but was propped up by the US unit.