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All this year's title contenders know after four 'flyaway' races in 2012 is that they do not know what will happen in Spain next month.

"The only certainty is uncertainty," read the German headline at Netzeitung.

With F1 generally regarded in the wider world as a sport with predictable results, this is an entirely new situation.

"The statistics show that it's been nine years since there have been four different winners in the first four races," said Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali.

Indeed, the famous Italian team as well as McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull have won the opening races of 2012, and also with potentially winning pace have been Lotus and Sauber.

"More than that," continued Domenicali, "you have to go back 29 years to find the last time four different cars won."

One explanation is that F1 has never been more competitive, with plenty of well-oiled teams and no fewer than six world champion drivers on the grid.

But Domenicali thinks Pirelli is the dominant factor.

Photo: Pirelli

And not everybody is happy about that. Michael Schumacher told Bild newspaper that this year's tyres degrade so fast that rubber "flies from the rim" if he pushes too hard in a corner.

"We drive around like the safety car. It is not a satisfying situation," the seven time world champion said.

Pirelli's motor sport director Paul Hembery is unimpressed with the rebuke, insisting that the Italian marque is only trying to "make tyres that make the races exciting".

"We cannot take individual drivers into consideration," the Briton insisted.

"It would be dead easy for us to make tyres that don't break down. Then the top ten would also be the top ten in the race. But no one wants to see boring processions," Hembery claimed.

Agreed the Swiss headline at Blick: "Pirelli is sweeping away the boredom".

Sauber's pit crew training. (Photo: Pirelli)

Indeed, not even the other Mercedes driver, Shanghai winner Nico Rosberg, agrees with Schumacher.

"It's total chaos. You don't know who is going to be fast at the next track," the German is quoted by DPA agency. "Formula one has become almost unlike any other sport. Yes, you cannot drive any laps any more at full throttle. Often, it's like driving on ice. But that's a big and an interesting challenge."

Undoubtedly exciting for the fans, but the teams are having to adapt quickly. Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport said on Sunday that Vettel's victory could mean Red Bull resumes its dominant grip on F1.

Dr Helmut Marko doesn't think so. "We don't even know who our opponents are!" he exclaimed.

You can not only see, but also hear, touch, taste, smell and, um, sense the Rolls-Royce Six Senses Ghost at the Beijing Auto Show.

According to CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös, “It delights the senses and draws you into somewhere that transcends the interior of a car. Relax for a few moments and you will experience something that is hard to define, but which our customers understand so well.

Photo: Rolls-Royce

“It can be likened to an aura, a sense that the stunning hand-made interior embodies something of the heart and soul of each proud craftsperson involved in its creation. That's a uniquely Rolls-Royce sixth sense that this car presents so elegantly.”

It looks like a Rolls-Royce, done up in a Carrara White finish with forged alloy wheels and Walnut Burr veneer accents inside. It boasts a concept audio system that “richly” fills the spacious rear cabin in part thanks to the speakers housed in the headliner. It's got that new-Rolls smell, which comes from the hand-crafted leather seats and headliner, with hints of the “woody spice” in the walnut veneer. It tastes like vintage champagne (what else?) served from the custom-etched flutes. And it feels like the cool chrome, wildly expensive leather and deep-pile lamb's wool rugs.

You'll have to sense it for yourself.

The European Le Mans Series will allow GT3 cars to compete in the championship, starting with next round in Donington.

Since the World Endurance Championship debut earlier this season, the ELMS field - which doesn't include the LMP1 protoypes any longer - saw its entry list reduced, despite the introduction of the GTC class (for cars such as Ferrari Challenge or Porsche Carrera Cup cars).

Due to the low number of entries, the ACO and the FIA have been forced to cancel the second round of the ELMS season, scheduled for Zolder on May 20.

For the next round, which will take place in July at Donington, the GT3 cars will be allowed to compete.

The GT3 class is the most successfull category at the moment Even the GT World Championship also turned the GT3 cars instead of the "big' and costly GT1 cars this season.

For the European Le Mans Series, there will be a balance of performance for those cars.

The auto industry may soon have a strategy to avoid vehicle production interruptions that could be caused by the critical shortage of a key resin used in a variety of components.

Engineers say the internal combustion engine still has many improvements in store -- and Automotive News PACE Awards judges agree.

Two Republican senators have asked the Obama administration to explain why it approved a $529 million loan to startup Fisker Automotive, which has suspended production of a heavily touted plug-in electric car as it revamps its business plan.

Chrysler Group said Monday it had agreed to a marketing tie-up with USA Basketball that makes the Jeep Wrangler the official vehicle of the men's and women's U.S. basketball programs, including the 2012 U.S. Olympic teams.

Japanese wire harness supplier Fujikura has agreed to enter a guilty plea in federal court in Detroit to a single count of price fixing.

Alongside the Chinese introduction of its new ILX and

Ohio-based dealership group Germain Motor has acquired Howard Cooper Import Center in Michigan. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Also in this episode: Nissan previews the redesigned Sentra, Jaguar gives the

Bentley introduced a restyling for the

Ferrari introduced the world to its HY-KERS 599 hybrid powertrain concept in 2010 at the Geneva motor show.

Nissan unveiled a sedan at the Beijing auto show today that will be the basis for the 2013 Sentra compact that's coming to the United States.

MG Motor UK's Icon concept unveiled at the Beijing auto show combines the British marque's sports car heritage with a more modern design direction pursued by the brand's Chinese owners Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation.

Nissan previewed the redesign for the Sentra sedan on Monday in Beijing.

Renault rode to the rescue of Nissan when the Japanese company was on the brink of collapse in 1999. Now Carlos Ghosn #8211; who heads of both automakers as CEO of their 13-year alliance #8211; says it is Nissan's turn to return the favor.

Jeep is adding a Wrangler Unlimited model to the Altitude lineup. It will join the Patriot, Compass and Grand Cherokee Altitude models in showrooms next month.

Sonic Automotive Inc. aims to have its stores average at least 100 used-vehicle sales a month by year end.

2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0

The Genesis is still a worthwhile option in the near-luxury segment.

Although the Genesis sedan is less of a revelation than it was when it debuted three years ago, it's still a worthwhile option in the near-luxury segment. Its infotainment interface continues to be one of the most attractive and user-friendly systems and its cabin remains cosseting and unique without feeling stuffy or overwrought.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

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