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From GMM

Two F1 journalists tried their hands at war reporting after touching down in Bahrain ahead of this weekend's controversial grand prix.

"I had a duty as an experienced journalist to see such an incident with my own eyes," said PA Sport's Ian Parkes, who filed a detailed account of a protest about ten kilometres from the capital Manama on Monday.

"We're journalists at end of day. That's our job," he said, also referring to the Daily Mirror's Byron Young, who accompanied him to the non-F1 related protest.

Parkes detailed an account of violence in Bahrain, with Young revealing on Twitter that he "smelled Molotov cocktails and tasted teargas, wondering what the hell F1 is doing in Bahrain".

Parkes, however, said that when they returned to the capital Manama there was "normal life. Virtually nobody here would know what has just occurred".

Photo: Lotus F1 Team

Bahrain's F1 track boss Zayed Alzayani said he thinks other journalists will see more 'normal life' when they arrive throughout this week.

"I think seeing is believing," he told the Bahrain news agency BNA. "I just talked to (Red Bull's) Christian Horner and he has a team there already, and things are normal. They went out for dinner last night and everything is ok."

Staff working for Formula One Management have been in Bahrain for several days and "Bernie (Ecclestone) said everything is fine", added Alzayani.

The Times correspondent Kevin Eason is also already in Bahrain, and he said he counted more than twenty police vehicles on the highway to the Sakhir circuit.

"Protesters will be lucky to get near the formula one circus," he wrote, revealing that the military has been seen this week at Sakhir "complete with body armour and high-velocity weapons".

"No one here is taking a chance with the Bahrain grand prix," said Eason.

"We have not seen anything," agreed team member John Ayers, who along with Nathan Japp is helping to set up Red Bull's garage.

"There is obviously a lot of security around the circuit and you can see the big hotels where the VIP guests will be staying have stepped up their efforts. They are really on their guard. Apart from that, it is all quiet. We have not seen or heard any disturbances, although we know things go on in the villages at night," he explained.

Vicky Piria, Carmen Jorda and Alice Powell are three female drivers who will compete in the GP3 series this season.

Eighteen-year-old Italian Vicky Piria will contest the 2012 season with team Trident Racing. Piria started her racing career in 2009 in Formula 2000 Light Italia, before moving to Formula Abarth in her country in 2010 and 2011, where she was classified 18th overall.

Vicky Piria. (Photo: GP3 series)

Nearly 24-year-old Carmen Jorda from Spain will also make her GP3 debut this season. She started her career in Master Junior Formula in her country in 2005, and then ran the Spanish Formula 3 championship (F3 Open) in the « Cup » category from 2006 to 2009.

In 2010, she moved to the United States to compete in the Indy Lights series, where she was classified 16th at the end of the season. She will run the GP3 championship for team Ocean Racing Technology.

Carmen Jorda. (Photo: GP3 series)

Nineteen-year-old Alice Powell, from Oxford, England, ran in the Formula Renault UK series for three years, and also secured the Formula Renault BARC title in 2010. She struck a deal with Status Grand Prix for the 2012 GP3 season.

Alice Powell. (Photo: GP3 series)

The opening rounds of the GP3 championship will be held in Barcelona, May 12 and 13.

From GMM

Lewis Hamilton has hinted again that he sees his future with McLaren.

Just prior to the new season, the 2008 world champion indicated he would like to renew his deal with the Woking based team in the early phase of this year.

Hamilton's current contract runs out at the end of 2012.

Asked by British publications if he is being persuaded by his boss Martin Whitmarsh to stay, the 27-year-old answered: "I don't need persuading. The team are doing fantastic. I could not be happier in the team."

Also asked if it would be hard for him to leave the team he has spent his entire career with, Hamilton admitted: "Yeah. I don't feel like walking away."

Lewis Hamilton aboard the MP4-27 in the McLaren garage. (Photo: WRi2)

The Briton had a tumultuous 2011 season, but so far in 2012 he has appeared happy as he raced onto the podium at the end of every grand prix.

"Everything is better this year," said Hamilton. "The team is better. The car is better. I am a lot better. I have got my dad here (in China) and that is not fake; we have a real, real good bond now. Things are great and that's reflected in my performances."

Jenson Button, who already has a deal in place for 2013 and beyond, indicated he would like Hamilton to remain his teammate.

"It's good to have competition, it drives the team forward," said the 2009 world champion.

As for when the new deal might be done, Hamilton said the timeframe for talks is open "so long as it is before next year".

From GMM

It is wrong to say Sebastian Vettel has entered a period of "crisis" after winning two world championships on the trot.

That is the insistence of Christian Danner, a former grand prix driver who now commentates on German television RTL.

"It's a results crisis, not a Vettel crisis," he told the news agency DAPD.

He is referring not only to Red Bull's failure to win a race so far in 2012, but the fact former pole position-king Vettel was outqualified in Australia, Malaysia and Bahrain by his teammate Mark Webber.

Webber, meanwhile, has out-scored Vettel at the last two races, and is eight points ahead in the drivers' standings.

Referring to 24-year-old Vettel, Danner insisted: "Great racing drivers, just like other great athletes, have always shown that they develop strongly even in defeat."

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull RB8. (Photo: WRi2)

The finer detail of Vettel's season so far is that he has struggled so much with the race version of the RB8 car's exhaust layout that the team rolled out the pre-season specification for the German driver in China.

Webber, meanwhile, ploughed on with Adrian Newey's latest specification and performed better in Shanghai.

"There are some characteristics about the upgraded car that weren't particularly suited to his (Vettel's) style of driving which is to carry a lot of speed into the corner," team boss Christian Horner is quoted by Reuters news agency.

A couple of weeks ago, I listed five good reasons to attend a Formula 1 Grand Prix. This exercise proved to be easy and many of you responded with positive comments, especially on social media (thanks, by the way!).

Now, I'm venturing onto some slippery terrain, I guess. I will try to explain you, diehard fans of Formula 1 and other road racing series, why you should also give NASCAR a chance.

Photo: Philippe Champoux/Auto123.TV

''Watching cars go around in circles? Never!''

Oh, come on! There's way more to it than that. Without further ado, here are my five good reasons to attend a NASCAR race:

1. The cars
You may prefer the sophisticated wail of a Formula 1 engine, but the sound of 43 hell-bent V8 engines revving at 9,000+ rpm will shake you to your core - especially on a small, one-mile speedway surrounded by gigantic bleachers that together resemble a modern coliseum.

2. The show
The endless lines of cars trying to access the vast parking lots early in the morning are really a sight to behold. And then just about anyone can walk through the paddocks and the pit lane to watch the teams prepare for the race. When the moment of truth finally arrives, 100,000 rabid spectators can hear the famous ''Gentlemen, start your engines!'' before a group of F18 jets fly over the track at a low altitude. Intense!

3. The crowd
Sure, the average F1 fan looks and acts nothing like the average American stock car enthusiast. The latter usually has anti-US government stickers on his bumper, gorges himself on fast food, wears his favourite driver's apparel from head to toe, and speaks English with a strong southern accent. It's a wild jungle.

4. The admission
Tickets are much cheaper than F1's. They provide a lot more access, too. Unfortunately, nearby hotels seize the opportunity to increase their nightly rates (which is also the case during a Grand Prix), hence the popularity of RVs.

5. The suspense
NASCAR races are always decided on the very last lap. On any weekend, at least 20-25 drivers have a legitimate shot at winning the race. Sometimes, the last guy on the starting grid can come back and even fight for the finish line. While the races are fairly long, watching the last few laps from the stands, surrounded by real aficionados, is definitely worth it!

So, did I convince you?

From GMM

Mercedes' rivals must now count the German team as a serious contender, Nico Rosberg has said after winning his first grand prix in China last weekend.

Shanghai was also the scene of the 26-year-old's first pole and the first works Mercedes victory for over half a century, but Rosberg warned that the W03 is not likely to dominate from now on.

"It's a really interesting season so far," he told Bild newspaper.

First victory for Mercedes AMG and Nico Rosberg. (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

"Until now nobody has really known who is in front, and suddenly we are on top! But we can't think that we will drive around everybody at the next race. We still have (tire) problems in the race, that's for sure, but the others also need to count on us now," said Rosberg.

"We are going to be fast in qualifying at all the races; that's our trump card. And now we know that if we execute the race properly, then we can do it (win) again."

Remember the Honda Accord Wagon from back in the day? The 2012 Honda Crosstour is sort of its modern-day reincarnation.

Nothing on four wheels was more level-headed than a Honda Accord Wagon. Good on fuel, reliable and ready for the "fam," it was one of the ultimate sensible haulers of all time.


Sensibility over style
Like the Accord Wagon before it, Crosstour isn't trying to win any styling awards. From the rear, it resembles an oversized Honda Insight with dual exhausts. Some folks say the side profile reminded them of the Porsche Panamera, which isn't a terrible thing. Others said the Crosstour's body looked awkwardly placed over its wheels, clumsy or even "pregnant."

Looks aside, Crosstour is a Honda Accord-based crossover slotted vaguely between a station wagon and SUV - but less towards the latter. It's big on flexibility and capability without being needlessly big, physically. And despite the expanded cargo space and increased ride height, it intends to feel and drive like a sedan.

From the rear, it resembles an oversized Honda Insight with dual exhausts. (Photo: Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com)

Ready for anything
It's a smack in the face to the SUV scene - and a machine that proves one needn't drive a clumsy, hulking 4x4 to experience family-ready utility and AWD confidence.

Camping? Renovating your house? Moving? Just doing a whole whack of shopping? Crosstour is ready for the job. Really, for flexible cargo hauling and versatility, this thing hits the nail on the head. For Honda fans after a high-utility wagon-like vehicle, the Crosstour has been attracting more attention than a laser dot in a cat shelter.

Though the cargo area is narrow in the middle (thank the shock towers), overall roominess is generous. You'll have no trouble loading in larger items after folding the rear seats down with a simple pull on a lever. There's even some extra storage under the cargo area floor to keep smaller items organized and out of sight.

And you'll smile, a bit, because with all of your gear and stuff and things on board, the Crosstour doesn't take up more than its fair share of space or fuel.

For flexible cargo hauling and versatility, this thing hits the nail on the head. (Photo: Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com)

No stimulation from the cabin
Incidentally, Crosstour is fairly well set up for cargo of the human variety, too. There's plenty of room for four or five adults on board when all seats are upright. Equipment included heated memory seats, Bluetooth, steering wheel audio controls, USB connectivity and a central command control knob for relatively easy access to numerous infotainment functions.

There's plenty of at-hand storage too - as is typical with most Hondas. You get the sense that engineers and designers worked to optimize virtually every shred of available interior volume.

But ultimately, if you're looking to be excited by your vehicle's interior styling, this isn't going to be the machine for you. It's all very utilitarian, albeit for some fake wood, beige leather and contrasting trim colors tossed in for good measure.

The infotainment system, which occupies prime real estate smack in the centre of the dashboard, lets the cabin atmosphere down a little too. It's terribly overdue for an update. My old Atari video game system had similar graphics about 20 years ago.

Ultimately, the Crosstour's cabin is a nice place to be, but not because of its looks.

It's all very utilitarian, albeit for some fake wood, beige leather and contrasting trim colors tossed in for good measure. (Photo: Justin Pritchard/Auto123.com)

The anti-SUV
Still, after a few thousand kilometres, I couldn't help but thinking the Crosstour would make a great mobile office, cottage hauler or weekend tourer. If your ventures take you out in the frigid depths of wintertime, Crosstour's fully automatic all-wheel drive system adds confidence and traction to any situation, too. With a set of winter tires and your careful driving, it'll move around confidently in any weather.

The ride and handling are big-car like and typically smooth and refined, though occasionally harsh over rougher surfaces. Crosstour is comfortable cruising at a good clip and reacts with adequate urgency to any driver input.

VTEC Power
Powering it all up is Honda's proven 3.5L V6 with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) to selectively deactivate cylinders when the full 271 horsepower output isn't needed. The promise is great on-demand, high-revving power alongside good mileage during gentle driving. Most will find performance to be more than adequate, and your writer achieved overall mileage of about 11L/100km in real-life, late-winter driving. This figure included a 200-km jaunt through the worst snowstorm of the season.

All Crosstour models come with a 5-speed automatic transmission, and a front-wheel drive version is available, too. A four-cylinder engine option will eventually make its way under Crosstour's hood, too.

Powering it all up is Honda's proven 3.5L V6 with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) to selectively deactivate cylinders when the full 271 horsepower output isn't needed. (Photo: Honda)

Utility first
I appreciated the $38,900 Crosstour EX-L 4WD NAVI's ready and willing attitude to tackle any job I threw its way, as well as the AWD traction and punchy, pleasant-sounding and liquid-smooth V6 engine. And the non-SUV driving feel.

Crosstour isn't trying to set the driving enthusiast's soul on fire or make any styling statements - but if you can treat your vehicle as a transportation-related appliance and prioritize space and functionality above all else, it should satisfy. Ultimately, it's a triumph of sensibility and flexibility over style and passion. Check Crosstour out alongside the Toyota Venza and Subaru Outback.

Dodge Journey R/T AWD

Toyota Venza V6 AWD

Mazda CX-7 GT AWD

2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTEC

Mercedes and Audi are vying for the title of best luxury brand use of a diesel engine. At the moment, Mercedes is winning.

As luxury brands try to appeal to the eco-conscious crowd (and meet upcoming CAFE regulations) we're going to see a lot more diesel or hybrid offerings. Right now Mercedes and Audi are vying for the title of best luxury brand use of a diesel engine outside the traditional SUV segment. At the moment, Mercedes is winning.

Photo Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTEC - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTEC - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 BlueTEC | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Also in this episode: The end is near for the Chevrolet Avalanche, we go for a spin in the

April 14 marked the 85th anniversary of the first Volvo ÖV4 rolling off the assembly line in Göteburg, Sweden.

Drivers of electric vehicles such as GM's Chevrolet Volt and Nissan's Leaf may save as much as $1,200 a year compared with operating a new gasoline-powered compact car, scientists studying improved fuel economy found.

Four years ago, your author was standing on a balcony in the Monterey Bay fog, a calm, midnight moment during the manic event-to-event scramble of Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance week.

The Ford Mustang will get a major makeover for the 2014 model year, The Wall Street Journal reported today.

While luxury supercars have been a status symbol of the new upper class in Russia, owners often have resorted to buying secondhand or going out of the motherland for their latest top-dollar vehicle acquisitions.

This year marked the 10th time Barrett-Jackson has rolled into the fairgrounds in Palm Beach. The event, April 5-7, brought a record

Hyundai Motor's Indian unit plans to raise diesel engine imports from South Korea by 50% to cut long waiting periods for its Verna sedan and the i20 hatchback.

Japan's carmakers have got their US inventory back to the levels they were at before last year's earthquake and tsunami in their home country.

Fiat unveiled its new 1-billion-euro production line in the Serbian industrial town of Kragujevac, where the carmaker's 500L model will be produced for sale by late 2012.

Fiat unveiled its new production line in the Serbian industrial town of Kragujevac, where the carmaker's 500L model will be built for sale in Europe and the United States.

Nissan and PlayStation will hold their fourth GT Academy in 2012.