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Nissan New Micra being considered for Canadian market

A new story from AutoGuide is triggering new speculation that Nissan may be about to bring its New Micra to North America. According to a dealer-based source, Nissan is showing off the overseas hatchback at Canadian dealer meetings along with the redesigned 2014 Rogue. The report indicates that the car is expected to go on sale sometime mid next year. Autoblog has learned that, while the New Micra is indeed under study for the Canadian market, it is not being considered for US sales. Our well-placed source tells us that bringing the New Micra to US dealers "just wouldn't make sense."
Bringing the New Micra to US dealers "just wouldn't make sense."
Reading between the lines a bit, that's because Nissan already has a robust small car lineup spearheaded by the Versa sedan and new Versa Note hatchback, along with the compact Sentra. And while both Versa models are generously sized for the subcompact classes they compete in, their low entry price (the sedan starts under $12k) means that pricing the smaller Micra underneath it would be difficult. Given its historically significantly higher fuel prices (not to mention higher vehicle prices and a penchant for small cars), Canada seems like a much more hospitable market for the Micra.

BMW X4 opens up alongside its boxier brother

It doesn't seem so long ago that BMW (not to mention Audi, Volvo and a handful of other European automakers) weren't in the crossover market. But it's been over a decade since BMW began producing the first-gen X5, and in the fourteen years since, the Bavarian automaker has steadily expanded its portfolio to include the X1, X3 and X6.
The next to join the family will be the X4, which is essentially to the X3 what the X6 is to the X5. That is to say, basically the same vehicle, only with an (arguably) more stylish but less utile roofline. Previewed in concept form at the Shanghai Auto Show half a year ago, the X4 has been snapped by our plucky paparazzi in the past, but this is the first time we've seen inside.
Not only that, but the prototype in question was spotted next to the current X3 on which it is based, which gives us ample opportunity to see the differences between them. Of course, that still primarily comes down to the slantback profile, because otherwise, the two are essentially the same inside and out. Or at least they will be: many of the differences between the two are expected to port over to the X3 when it's refreshed next year, including some subtle interior upgrades - just not the roofline.

Looking back at 84 years of BMW roadsters

Today BMW is a top player in the luxury vehicle market, but it wasn't always so. With origins as an airplane engine builder early in the 20th Century, it broke into the automotive industry when it bought Automobilwerk Eisenach in 1928. That German manufacturer was licensed to build the Austin Seven under the name Dixi DA-1, which could be had in a roadster body style. In 1929, BMW dropped the Dixi name, and by 1936, it was building a car it designed in-house, the 326 sedan. That was followed by the company's first roadster of its own design, the swoopy two-door 327 of 1937.
XCAR picks up there, and gives a history of BMW's iconic roadsters starting with the 327, ending with today's Z4, and covering everything in between - including the beautiful post-war 507 of 1957 and the funky, plastic-bodied 1989 Z1.
The video, which we've included below, is a good history lesson and a great chance to see a bunch of classic BMWs, spanning 84 years, all driven back to back within the safe confines of a racetrack. When you have a spare 20 minutes, go ahead and take some time to watch it.

First privately owned Corvette Stingray blitzes 1/4 mile in 12.23 at 114.88 mph

Chevrolet's latest road rocket, the Corvette Stingray, is a very quick car. If one needs further proof of that, we recommend they take a look at this video from Hennessey of what is claimed to be the first privately owned C7 Corvette to make a pass down the quarter mile. Not just any quarter mile, mind, this black C7 blitzed its way down the tuner's primary testing dragstrip. The Chevrolet ran the quarter in just 12.23 seconds at 114.88 miles per hour. That is a very quick time for a stock car.
Equipped with the Z51 package and a six-speed automatic transmission, not only does the C7 run a solid time, but it does so with little to no drama. That won't last though, as Hennessey will likely return it to its owner with far more power - we just hope they show a drag run of the completed product. Take a look below to watch the C7's 12.23-second run on video.

800k car names trademarked globally, suddenly alphanumerics seem reasonable

What's in a name? This cliched phrase probably gets tossed out at every marketing meeting that happens when a new car gets its nomenclature. We know the answer, though: everything. The name of a car has all the potential to make or break it with fickle customers that are more conscious than ever about what their purchases say about them.
That's giving headaches to marketing folks across the automotive industry. "It's tough. In 1985 there were about 75,000 names trademarked in the automotive space. Today there are 800,000," Chevrolet's head of marketing, Russ Clark, told Automotive News. Infiniti's president, Johan de Nysschen, echoed Clark's sentiment, saying, "The truth of the matter is, across the world, there is hardly a name or a letter that hasn't already been claimed by one car manufacturer or another. You can go through the alphabet - A, B, C and so forth - and you will quickly see that almost all available letters are taken."
What has that left automakers to do? Get creative. In the case of Infiniti, it made the controversial move to bring all of its cars' names into a new scheme, classifying them as Q#0 for cars and QX#0 for SUVs and crossovers. So the Infiniti G, which was available as the G25 and G37, is now the Q50. The FX37 and FX50 are now the QX70.

Kia confirms Soul EV headed to US, cue the electric hamsters

Kia has been toying with the notion of an electric vehicle for years now. In the two years since the Korean automaker revealed the Ray EV concept, rumors of a battery-powered production vehicle have persisted, evidenced most recently by spy shots showing an electric version of the Soul hatchback this past July. Now Kia has officially announced that the Soul EV is heading for production.
Although Kia has yet to reveal official photos or specifications, this is the first confirmation we've received that the Soul EV is indeed headed for a showroom near you. Set to arrive sometime next year, the Soul EV promises to pack an as-yet unspecified arrangement of electric motors and batteries and visual cues that aim to improve the vehicle's aerodynamics and differentiate it from the conventionally powered Soul.
We'll have to wait until its debut approaches at an undetermined upcoming auto show in the US for more details, but for now you can delve into the official announcement below and scope out those same spy shots in the gallery above.

Cadillac shows 2015 Escalade interior

Following the reveal of the new GMC Yukon, Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, the next in line is Cadillac, which is set to unveil the new Escalade on October 7 in New York. And in the lead-up to the reveal, the company has released this third teaser image, giving us a good glimpse of the 'Slade's interior.
Or part of the interior, we should say, because while the image above clearly shows the new dashboard and center console, as well as parts of the front seats and interior door panels, the Escalade is most certainly not a two-seat coupe. The outgoing Escalade can accommodate up to eight in either standard or ESV form (but not in EXT pickup configuration), and the new model promises to deliver the same, and we're curious to see what Cadillac has in store for the rear passenger compartment.
Compared to its more accessible counterparts, the new Escalade clearly offers a more upscale environment than even the uplevel Yukon Denali, with softer-looking leather, richer wood veneer and a waterfall center infotainment console that's different from the more modular design in the Chevy and GMC. The steering wheel is also unique and the instrument cluster appears to meld more smoothly across the dashboard, but the door mirrors, wide center armrest, column shifter and A-pillar grab handle all look like they were carried over from the Escalade's platform mates.

Say goodbye to the Mercedes G-Class convertible

There are few vehicles that have been on the market as long as the Mercedes-Benz Geländewagen. Magna Steyr has been building it for Mercedes since 1979, and it's not about to stop any time soon. But the convertible version, according to the latest reports, may not be long for this world.
Like the Land Rover Defender or Jeep Wrangler - two other off-road icons that have similarly stood the test of time - the G-Class has been traditionally offered in two wheelbase lengths. (Three, if you include the new six-figure, six-wheel-drive version.) The longer wheelbase packs four doors (five if you count the liftgate) and has, despite the arrival of the GL-Class that was originally designed to replace it, been officially available in the United States since the mid-90s. But overseas, Mercedes continues to offer the shorter wheelbase, although the hardtop has long since given way exclusively to the convertible version.
Car and Driver now reports, however, that Daimler is discontinuing the cloth-topped G-Class and the shorter wheelbase on which it rides, which will undoubtedly help it and Magna Steyr keep up with the apparently growing demand for the long-wheelbase version. Though the final versions of the G500 cabriolet are reportedly being sold off now, production of the long-wheelbase G-Class is likely to continue at least until Magna's current contract expires in 2019.

$1.35M buys a Mercedes G63 6x6 that's bulletproof

Unstoppable. That's what comes to mind when images of the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6x6 cross our screen, as it's usually annihilating some barren stretch of desert. In reality, though, the über-G-Wagen isn't all that unstoppable - it may have six-wheel drive, but it's a car, more or less like any other.
That's why Texas Armoring has essentially made the monstrous Mercedes impervious to bullets, up to the kind of rounds one would find in an AK-47, M16 or other military-derived boom-boom stick. Yes, a trip to Texas Armoring will stop a 7.62x63-millimeter (also known as a .30-06 Springfield) bullet in its tracks. Sounds just about perfect if you plan on driving around the scenic vistas that make up the world's conflict hotspots.
Unlike the Brabus variant shown at Frankfurt, though, Texas Armoring doesn't do anything to the engine, and while there's no shortage of love for the AMG powerplant, adding what Auto Bild suspects is five tons of weight to the 6x6 without upping the power will probably hurt its performance. We wonder if we could get an armored Brabus?

Finnish police get a Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake

We may know Mercedes as a luxury marque here, but in Europe, the Silver Star also adorns more utilitarian vehicles, from taxis to buses to trucks. Still, no matter where you are in the world, the CLS-Class is more about form than function, but that hasn't stopped the Finnish police from drafting one in duty.
Or, we should say, having one drafted into duty for it. Because this new addition to Finland's highway patrol was selected by the public. Of all the people or public entities and of all the cars, the readers of the country's Takniikan Maailma chose the Finnish police the most deserving of a new CLS Shooting Brake - specifically a 350 CDI with the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 churning out 262 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque. Which may not be enough to catch a Koenigsegg wandering over the border from Sweden, but should be enough to intercept the average Volvo or Saab.
Skip on down below for an overly-dramatic and completely incomprehensible (but somehow still captivating) video of the converted shooting brake.

Mercedes moving ahead with S-Class coupe, convertible

With its uninterrupted pillarless roof design and more curved surfaces than a Frank Gehry building, the S-Class Coupe concept that Mercedes presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this month left some wondering if a convertible version was really required. But the latest reports indicate that Daimler is putting the concept into production both with a roof and without.
According to Automotive News, the production S-Class coupe will arrive early next year, with a convertible version to follow in 2015. Both will be available with twin-turbocharged V8 and V12 engines, but the convertible will differ with a folding fabric roof. In the absence of a BMW 8 Series or a two-door Audi A7 or droptop, the two-door S-Class twins will more directly target the Bentley Continental GT and GTC, which also offer twin-turbo eight- and twelve-cylinder options.
The new additions will further expand the S-Class range that will also include sedans in short-, long- and extra-long wheelbases as well as the rumored Pullman limousine that is expected to fill the void left by the cancellation of the Maybach brand. The new S-Class cabriolet will also join a staggering array of Mercedes convertibles, which currently includes the E-Class Cabrio and SL, SLK and SLS roadsters, a lineup expected to grow with upcoming SLA, SLC and C-Class convertibles in the coming years.

Dodge Charger Pursuit nets quickest lap in police car test

We wouldn't advocate trying to outrun the police, no matter what you're driving and no matter what they are. But if you see a Dodge Charger bearing down on you with blue lights flashing in your rearview mirror, you'd better think twice before attempting to flee, because the Charger Pursuit has once again emerged as the fastest police cruiser out there.
In the latest Police Vehicle Evaluation held by the Michigan State Police at Grattan Raceway, Dodge says its new Charger Pursuit AWD posted a lap time of 1:33.85. That's quicker than any of the other law enforcement vehicles present, but also makes it the quickest all-wheel-drive cruiser available to law-enforcement officials. That may not make it the quickest of all time, but that honor belongs to the rear-drive Dodge Charger Pursuit, which cuts a fraction of a second off its AWD counterpart's time with a 1:33.70. But in regions where the extra traction could come in handy, that's as negligible a difference as we've ever seen.
Of course, the annual PVE sessions held by the Michigan State Police take in to account a wide variety of performance tests, including top speed, acceleration, braking, handling, fuel economy and ergonomics. The MSP has yet to reveal its full findings from its 2014 model year tests, but we'll be sure to bring them to you when they are published.

Mercedes A45 AMG in downhill battle with slipstream skateboarder

We're told it takes "performance, control and expression" to pilot a longboard skateboard down a mountain road, and that those happen to be the same values embodied in the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG. That's how the two came to be combined in a black-and-white short film called Silver Slipstream.
There's no talking, no engine note and no color, just some music, a 'boarder and a car on a long cruise down the Franschhoek Pass in the Western Cape of South Africa." Despite that, it's actually a pretty entertaining video of the latest Mercedes-Benz hot hatch married with extreme sports. You can watch how it all goes down in the video below.

GM can't keep up with most popular pickup orders

With the market for pickup trucks at its best since before the recession, General Motors can't afford any hiccups with the launch of its new 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra twins, but it sounds like the popularity of V8-powered trucks is causing some supply-chain issues. Bloomberg reports that GM is experiencing a shortage of 5.3-liter V8 engines because an unnamed parts supplier has been unable to keep up with demand. This is leading GM to restrict the number of V8 Silverado and Sierra trucks that Chevrolet and GMC dealers are allowed to order.
Although it's unclear how long it will take to resolve the parts shortage, GM doesn't have much time to sort it out, as a new Ford F-150 looms on the horizon. At launch, GM's fullsize trucks were offered only with a base 4.3-liter V6 and the 5.3-liter V8, but a burlier 6.2-liter V8 will be available soon. Interestingly, at least at the moment, GM truck buyers don't seem as willing to downsize to V6 power as buyers of the F-150, which gets some 42-percent of its sales from trucks equipped with its EcoBoost V6 engine (not including the normally aspirated base V6).
Working out the kinks in the Silverado and Sierra's supply chain couldn't be more important to the health of the company. Full-size pickups are a huge profit driver - in 2012, the trucks were said to make up about two-third of GM's total profits.

Audi pushing DOT to allow its sequential LED turn signals [w/videos]

Still in the process of trying to get its trick LED Matrix Beam headlights legalized in the US, Audi is now trying to get its front and rear sequential LED turn signals approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Just like its auto-dimming headlights, the sequentially illuminating turn signals don't meet NHTSA's Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108.
The problem, according to Automotive News, is that the individual lighting elements are too small to meet current US safety regulations. The rule states that each lamp should be 22 square centimeters (8.6 square inches) and the whole lighted combined area must be 50 square centimeters (19.6 square inches). In the individual sequence, Audi's lights are much smaller than that. As for the Ford Mustang, which has had sequential turn signals since 2010, this system is legal since the first lens is large enough to meet the required size, so the other two lights really aren't even necessary.
It sounds like it could be some time before we see these turn signals on Audis in the US, which is a shame because in addition to their styling bebefuts, we think they're more effective at signaling the vehicle's intended direction of travel, and they do a better job of grabbing the eye. Scroll down to watch a pair of videos showing the headlights in action on the redesigned A8/S8 as well as the recently updated R8.

2014 Cadillac XTS Vsport

Not long after bombing around the Milford Road Course in the new CTS Vsport, Cadillac invited me to try out its other new-for-2014 Vsport model: the XTS. And despite using the same twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V6 from the CTS, the Vsport package takes on a whole new meaning here in Cadillac's softer flagship.
In the CTS, this trim perfectly bridges the gap between the standard models and the hardcore CTS-V, and is focused on being the best-driving version of the range without a standalone V badge. The XTS, however, has no proper V model, so the Vsport becomes the new range-topper for that line by default. But unlike the CTS Vsport, which uses rear-wheel-drive architecture and is focused on driving dynamics above all, the XTS is geared toward a much different customer.
The entire XTS experience is far more concerned with plush comfort than handling prowess, and while this Vsport model certainly ups the ante with more power and some mild suspension and steering tweaks, it's not exactly what we'd call a particularly engaging experience. But that doesn't mean it isn't good.

Williams developing hybrid system for next Nissan GT-R?

Back in June, Nissan announced a new partnership with Williams that would see the Formula One team's applied sciences division help develop a new line of Nismo performance models. It's not the only agreement Renault-Nissan has signed with an F1 team: Infiniti is the title sponsor for Red Bull and Renault powers four teams on the grid. It's also just the latest client Williams has signed a deal with to apply the lessons it has gleaned on the F1 circuit to other racing and sportscars. But now we've got some more info on how Williams and Nismo intend to collaborate on the next-generation GT-R.
According to Australia's Carsales, Williams Advanced Engineering is developing the hybrid powertrain that will boost the next iteration of the supercar-slayer known as Godzilla. Which may seem strange considering that the Renault-Nissan Alliance has plenty of experience with electric propulsion on its own, but then Williams has proven itself something of a leader in the field of performance hybrid powertrains: it supplies them to Porsche and Audi for their Le Mans racecars, and to Jaguar for the C-X75 concept.
Whether Williams and Nismo will settle on a flywheel-based energy recovery system or a more conventional battery-powered system remains to be seen, but brakeforce regeneration likely won't be the only element that Williams will develop for the next GT-R. Expect its expertise in aerodynamics and composites to come to bear as well, which can only mean good things for the replacement for a sportscar that's already one of the most capable on the road.

Mercedes C-Class wagon is nearly ready for the school run

The next C-Class has been spotted plenty of times already in sedan form, and for the most part, it looks a lot like a small S-Class. But there's another body style that has since been spotted, a C-Class wagon that one of our spies photographed outside Mercedes-Benz' research and development center in Germany. Despite the camouflage, the wagon looks close to being ready for production.
From the tip of the front grille to just before the rear wheels, the wagon looks the same as the sedan. Though the sides of the wagon are disguised, we imagine the character lines hidden underneath are the same as those on the sedan, which received similar camouflage until we spotted one without it in late August.
The bulk of the wagon's camouflage is, unsurprisingly, at the rear, where Mercedes has done a good job of concealing styling details. We'll state the obvious first: in its transformation from sedan to wagon, the car gets a lengthened roof, a hatch and a more accommodating loading area. What's not so obvious is the shape of the taillights, which has changed in the transformation. The sedan's taillights are contained to the rear of the quarter panels, but the wagon's rear lamps appear to have less of an upward slope to them and now occupy space on both the hatch and the quarter panels. Additionally, the rear passenger doors' quarter glass is covered, which suggests that it also is undergoing changes.

Timewarp NE auto dealer auction draws big crowds, bigger prices

The hotly anticipated auction for a cache of vintage cars and trucks stashed by a Nebraska Chevrolet dealership took place over the weekend, and as expected, many of the low-mileage classics fetched high-dollar bids. Close to 500 former new cars and dealer trade-ins that have been sitting in and around Lambrecht Chevrolet for decades finally had their day in the sun - or mud rather, as Autoweek tells it - and on the first day alone, the vehicle lots on offer sold for more than $1 million.
One of the rarest vehicles of the bunch - a blue 1958 Chevy Cameo pickup with just 1.3 miles on the odometer - commanded the highest price of all, selling for $140,000 - even with a giant dent in its roof. Close to a six-figure price tag was a red 1964 Impala with 11 miles and a 327-cubic-inch V8 under the hood - it sold for $97,500. Another important piece of Chevy history, a 1978 Corvette Indy 500 pace car - with just four miles on it and with its interior in plastic - ended up selling for $80,000. While we may never know the real reason why Ray Lambrecht hoarded all of these vehicles at his dealership, the auction did provide automotive enthusiasts and collectors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see and/or buy this many classics that were seemingly tucked away in a time capsule.

2014 Chevrolet Silverado High Country

Cowboy On A Champagne Budget
Trucks are more expensive than ever these days. This is a growing trend we've observed over the years, something that we are still taken aback by when having a close look at the window stickers of our new test trucks, and something that you commenters point out just about every time we compose a review. The evidence has been stronger than anecdotal, but until attending the media briefing proceeding a drive event of the all-new Chevrolet Silverado High Country - the most luxuriant trim that the line offers - we couldn't frame it quite so well as we can now.
According to data mined deep within the accounting bunkers of General Motors, the American public is spending more money on new trucks than ever. Some 30 percent of all light-duty trucks sold in the last few years have crested the $40,000 mark. Not surprisingly then, GM minders told us that the average transaction price on pickups has risen by ten grand per truck since 2007. And while products from GMC and its Denali sub-brand have added mightily to that overall MSRP-growth - GMC tells us that Denali products now make up 60-percent of its retail sales. Unsurprisingly, The Big Bowtie is hungry for a bigger slice of the premium pie as well.

Honda previews next-gen JDM Odyssey minivan

Some automakers market the same cars around the world, while others offer different models - even under the same nameplate - for different markets. We're thinking of cars like the Volkswagen Passat or the previous Mazda6. Honda's been known to do so as well, with models like the Accord and Odyssey, which are completely different in North America than they are in other parts of the world.
Now Honda has provided the first glimpse at the Odyssey minivan it offers for the Japanese Domestic Market (as well as Europe and other parts of the world). Though more compact than the US-market version, the new overseas Odyssey appears larger than the model it replaces, with a taller roofline increasing interior space.
Though Honda hasn't released the model's full specifications, power is expected to come from a 2.4-liter inline-four mated to a continuously variable transmission. Beyond that, buyers will likely be able to choose between front- and all-wheel drive, two cabin layouts, two interior colors and seven or more exterior paints. The images also point towards blind-spot and auto-braking systems and an apparent eco mode. Although unconfirmed, we expect to see the new JDM Odyssey make its debut at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show.

2015 Lexus RC F leaked out ahead of upcoming debut?

Lexus has had a somewhat volatile relationship with coupes. The first-gen SC gave way to the bloated second-gen convertible, which itself went out of production three years ago. The LFA arrived the same year the SC departed, but awesome as it was, it's six-figure price tag and limited production put it well out of reach even for the brand's typical upscale customers. That left only the IS Convertible to hold down the two-door end of the lineup, but Lexus is keen to fill that void with the arrival of the upcoming RC.
Oft been spied and speculated, the RC has reportedly leaked out from Japan's Best Car magazine in tantalizing RC F spec - although with the increasing quality of renderings (and the graininess of the photos in question), we could be looking at an artist's impression. That will upgrade the base coupe's anticipated 3.5-liter V6 and 306 horsepower with a 5.0-liter V8 churning out 455 hp, along with more aggressive styling previewed by the LF-CC concept.
Signs point toward the RC serving as the coupe counterpart to the IS, while the IS Convertible is expected to carry on (either in current or facelifted form) on the outgoing model's platform. Look for a reveal at either the Tokyo Motor Show in November or the Detroit Auto Show in December.

2015 Mini Cooper snapped uncovered on the road

The third generation of reborn Mini is nearly upon us. Just look at the trail of breadcrumbs the Anglo-Saxon automaker has been leaving us.
First we saw the upcoming new Mini Cooper, spied from above at a photo shoot, which Mini was quick to point out was not its best angle. Then BMW's retro-hatch division showcased the Mini Vision concept, and followed up just yesterday with details of the new engines and chassis that will underpin the latest model. And now we have the clearest batch of spy shots we've seen yet.
Not only were these shots taken from a better angle, but also show the new Mini in the more tempting Cooper S trim - complete with hood scoop, split-spoke alloys, roof spoiler and twin central exhaust tips.

PSA aims to sell Chinese on French quality by giving them wine

China is the house that every robber baron is trying to break into. PSA Peugeot Citroën has been in-country since the early eighties, getting there with Volkswagen, but the French brand largely spent its time sniffing the plum blossoms while the German brand grabbed the dragon and tamed it. No more: PSA expects China to be its largest market by 2015, and it has spent more than a year rearranging its affairs to make a cohesive push for Chinese hearts and minds and renminbi.
After rationalizing its business operations there, Peugeot will move its wares upmarket to put space between it and Citroën, the Citroën DS line will be a standalone brand - the only place in the world where that will be the case - and according to a report in Businessweek both brands will heavily promote their association with French luxury by giving away wine and perfume to those who visit dealerships.
France, as the number one destination for Chinese tourists, does have a strong pull for the locals. But those visitors are interested in France mainly because of brands like Louboutin and Louis Vuitton, so it will take time and serious investment to find out if "premium mainstream" and "near-premium" brands can truly form a consumer bond with some of the definitive marques for sybarites.

2009-2013 Mazda6 door latch recall covers 161k cars

Mazda is voluntarily recalling 161,400 Mazda6 cars due to door latch mounting screws that may loosen, which could cause a door to open while the vehicle is in motion, thereby increasing the risk of accident or injury. The recall covers 2009 through 2013 Mazda6 models manufactured between February 4, 2008 and August 24, 2012.
The recall is expected to begin by October 18, 2013. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will provide repairs free of charge. Scroll down for the official recall notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Alpine wins European Le Mans Series in first season back

It's been a long time since we've seen an Alpine roaring on either road or track, but this year Renault is bringing back the once vaunted marque in a big way. It's got a new sports car under development together with Caterham, but to drum up some enthusiasm and rekindle the spirit of the Alpine win at Le Mans in 1978, Renault relaunched the Alpine racing team in European endurance racing this season. And after an absence of 35 years, the Alpine team has prevailed once again.
Out of just five races, the Signatech Alpine team scored three podium finishes, including outright victory in Hungary two weeks ago. After finishing in fourth place at Paul Ricard this weekend, the Alpine duo of Pierre Ragues and Nelson Panciatici emerged the dominant force in the 2013 European Le Mans Series.
They scored both the drivers' and teams' titles in the LMP2 category that forms the top tier in the ELMS championship (LMP1 teams compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship), while Team Endurance Challenge took the LMPC title, RAM Racing won in LMGTE and SMP Racing dominated the GTC standings.

Google Earth helps sheriff's department find stolen car [w/video]

A stolen-vehicle case opened back in March was recently solved with the help of a property owner using Google Earth, a virtual globe and mapping service similar to Google Maps, ABC News reports. The man, who remains anonymous, found the stolen GMC Yukon while he was surveying his property in George County, Mississippi, using the map service and, judging by the top-down satellite image, thought he found a "shooting house" on his hunting grounds.
When he drove out to the suspicious structure, he realized it actually was a sport utility vehicle wedged in thick brush about 70 yards from the nearest road, so he called the police.
Law enforcement officers had arrested a female suspect in the case earlier based on eyewitness accounts, but didn't prosecute her because the stolen SUV hadn't been found. Ben Brown, a lieutenant detective with the George County Sheriff's Department, says that he ran the plates and confirmed the SUV was the stolen vehicle the department had been looking for.

Mini announces thoroughly modern engines and chassis for 2014 Cooper

The 2014 Cooper will come with a three-cylinder engine and the Cooper S will get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, both with Mini's TwinPower turbochargers.
We have seen spy photos of the all-new Mini Cooper. We have been teased about its drivetrain. Now we have the engine details confirmed by BMW.

Audi's Mike Rockenfeller takes DTM title

Since its return in 2010 as the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, German touring car racing has been largely a game of cat and mouse - the cat being Audi and the mouse being Mercedes-Benz. Or vice versa, take your pick. Because through 2011, each had won the drivers' championship six times (Mercedes still dominating the constructors' championship standings). But then BMW jumped back in last season and won the title in its first year back on the grid.
The big question for this season among race fans in Germany and really across Europe (this year's calendar having included races in England, Russia and Holland) was whether BMW would pull it off again, if Audi would pick up where it left off or if Mercedes would split the difference. And now we have our answer.
With one race still left to go at Hockenheim, Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller has already taken the 2013 DTM title. The German native has been dominating the standings this season, winning the races at Brands Hatch and Moscow and coming in second at the EuroSpeedway in Brandenburg and at Zandvoort this weekend. An accomplished driver, Rockenfeller previously won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2010 as well as the (European) Le Mans Series title in 2008, both also for Audi.

Ford's Mulally now said to be in lead for Microsoft CEO job

There have been rumors that Ford CEO Alan Mulally could assume the top job over at Microsoft, whose CEO, Steve Ballmer, will retire within the year. Mulally hasn't come out and said that he's considering moving to Microsoft after (or before) his contract with Ford through 2014 ends, but sources in the know say he's the front-runner to become the tech giant's CEO and has opened up to the idea more in recent weeks, AllThingsD reports.
Mulally is no stranger to Washington, where Microsoft is located, having worked in the state for Seattle-based Boeing Commercial Airplanes as CEO years ago. He also recently was an adviser to Ballmer in an effort to realign the company's management structure to help it become more competitive in a fast-changing computer hardware and software market. And when Ford developed its Sync digital interface, it tapped Microsoft to provide the operating system, Microsoft Auto. Perhaps the least crucial connection - but nonetheless an important one - is that Mulally still owns a house in the Seattle area, and it's been said he wants to return there, according to AllThingsD.
A main challenge Microsoft's next CEO will face is how to manage the company's numerous, fractured operations and, eventually, streamline them. But even on this front, Mulally has experience; after all, it was he who ushered in an era of global Ford vehicles, after the automaker had become complacent developing and selling vehicles by region leading up to the economic recession of 2008-2009.