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Lotus' technical director, Nick Chester claims the team is making ‘strong progress' with its new car, the E22-Renault, despite it completing just 111 laps on its official debut in Bahrain last week.

“Certainly, we started from a position very far from where we want to be,” explained Chester in an interview on Lotus' official website.

“On the first day (in Bahrain) we completed a mere seven laps, then 18, then next 26, and 59 by the final day, so we are heading in the right direction in terms of track time - and time on the track is what we need to understand and develop the car.

Nick Chester, Lotus' technical director (Photo: WRI2)

“We have to remember this is very sophisticated new technology we are running and we are adopting a cautious approach to understanding how everything should work,” he continued.

The British engineer thinks that the lap times posted by Pastor Maldonado and Romain Grosjean in Bahrain are very encouraging.

“The correlation of how the car looks in the wind tunnel and in simulations relative to how it performs aerodynamically on track seem to be good, which is encouraging for future developments with the car,” he said.

Pastor Maldonado, Lotus (Photo: WRI2)

“The last day of running was very productive and has given us a lot of data to work with going forwards.

“There is still a lot of pace to be found from the E22. We're working with Renault Sport F1 on the operation of the power unit, we only ran the power unit at representative power levels during the last day of the test and there is more time to come from optimising power delivery and allowing the drivers more time to get used to it. We haven't started looking at car setup yet which will unlock more performance.”

Lotus will have a final opportunity to hone the E22's setup ahead of the first race in Australia at this week's final pre-season test in Bahrain, which runs from February 27 to March 2.

“All teams will be concentrating on race simulations at this week's Bahrain test to prepare for Melbourne,” Chester declared.

Formula 1 will return in Russia this October to race on a new road course that has been built inside the Soshi Olympic Park for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

The Russian Grand Prix was a Grand Prix motor race briefly held in the 1910s in St. Petersburg.

On the 100th anniversary of the last Russian Grand Prix, F1 will make a return in the country October 10-12.

A brand new 5.872-kilometer track, the Soshi Olympic Park Circuit, has been built for the race. German engineer Hermann Tilke designed the track layout.

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone signed a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin in October 2010 for Soshi to host the Russian Grand Prix from 2014 to 2020.

Archives Auto123.com.

Photo: Google Maps

Let's start with the most important thing: that big, beefy V8 biturbo engine. Good for 518 horsepower and nearly as many torques, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS AMG isn't just a jumble of letters it's a jumble of pure, unadulterated power -- and I loved it, and hated it.

OK, maybe “hate” is a strong word. I became quite annoyed with it throughout the week might be a better way to explain my feelings towards the CLS AMG after seven days behind the wheel. Without a doubt, the car put a smile on my face every day, but it also had me grumbling under my breath about things I shouldn't have to grumble about when the price is north of $100k.


What is the Mercedes-Benz CLS 63?
An executive-class coupe sedan -- or a grand coupe -- the CLS Class has been around since the mid 2000s. Large and in charge, the CLS offers the look and feel of a sporty coupe without sacrificing on interior space or number of doors (it has four).

Tack on three extra letters to the name and you've got yourself a real beast of a vehicle, the Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG. Those three extra letters add a whole lot of grunt to the CLS 63 with a bigger engine and lots of AMG sport performance bits and pieces such as suspensions, exterior aesthetic changes, as well as the prestige that comes with owning an AMG machine.

2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Price and Specs
As this is a grand coupe, you have to expect that everything about this car is a bit large from specs to price. Truthfully, of our grand coupe quartet comparison lineup, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG was the cheapest starting at just $113,500. In its exact tester trim, the CLS AMG tipped the price scale at $120,900 - again, quite a bargain compared to the other three.

In terms of the other large numbers associated with this big coupe are its performance figures: Equipped with a snarling V8 biturbo good for 518 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, the 2014 CLS 63 AMG will see 100km from a dead stop in just 4.4 seconds despite its 1,870 kg curb weight.

All that power is pushed out the rear wheels most of the time until the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system feels the need to kick in for more grip, and is controlled via Mercedes' AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sport automatic transmission. Top speed is limited at 250km/hr.

An executive-class coupe sedan -- or a grand coupe -- the CLS Class has been around since the mid 2000s. (Photo: Auto123.TV)

Driving the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG
There's no denying this thing is ridiculously fast, but there was just something off about it all. For starters, drive position is so important in a sport-oriented car like the CLS 63 AMG and getting comfortable in this particular Mercedes-Benz was damn near impossible. I thought, perhaps, it was my small stature that was the issue, but the three other drivers on our comparison who also got behind the wheel of the Merc (all bigger guys) felt the same way.

The bolstering on the driver's seat in the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG hinders turning ability as elbows smash into it and you either have to tuck your elbow into your side or jut it out like a chicken wing. Visibility in the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG was also the poorest -- and this I know is because I'm vertically challenged.

Alright, enough complaining about sitting still; let's talk about going quickly, because truthfully this grand coupe is bloody quick. Possibly one of the best sounding of the bunch, the CLS AMG barks to life in such a fantastic way, I found myself wanting to turn the engine on and off as often as possible just to hear it.

Handling in the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS AMG is nothing short of fantastic. The thing with grand coupes is they can be rather, well, grand in length; The CLS AMG is just that, however, it still manages to tackle the twisties like any good sporty coupe should.

There's no denying this thing is ridiculously fast, but there was just something off about it all. (Photo: Auto123.TV)

Inside and Out of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG
While the exterior of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS AMG has some stunning, smooth lines, the rear door openings pay the price for that coupe look. Entry and exit isn't easy, and placing a child in a baby seat is even more difficult due to the rake of the roofline. However, that brutish, masculine front end almost makes up for it all.

Inside, the cabin is lavish in emblematic Mercedes-Benz fashion, and German in a typically organized, clinically clean and concise way. While you might expect plenty of legroom in the rear, it's actually quite cramped.

Inside, the cabin is lavish in emblematic Mercedes-Benz fashion, and German in a typically organized, clinically clean and concise way. (Photo: Auto123.TV)

Comparing the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG
There are some rather grand Germans biting at the CLS 63 AMg's heels... Or is it the other way around? The BMW M6 Gran Coupe and Audi RS 7 offer fantastic iterations of this rather unique configuration and styling. Is the Merc better? In some ways, yes, but in others it falls behind just enough to put it last in our comparo test

From GMM

Russia is on track for its inaugural grand prix in October, according to track architect Hermann Tilke.

Amid reports the Sochi venue currently resembles a building site, promoter Oleg Zabara insisted recently that the circuit is in fact "91 per cent complete".

Indeed, a report by the German news agency DPA says that while "rubble, mud and tools" can be seen near the winter olympic park, so too can the "grandstands and (F1) buildings".

German Tilke, in charge of construction of almost all new F1 tracks in recent times, confirmed: "Everything is on schedule.

"There will be a very special and definitely unique atmosphere," he revealed.

Photo: Formula Sochi

The new 2015 Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake will soon make its world debut at the Geneva Auto Show. Set to rival other high-performance wagons like the Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG, this 5-door model will go on sale in the U.K. on April 1st at £82,495 (roughly $153,000).

Equipped with a 542-horsepower, 5.0L supercharged V8 engine that's mated to an 8-speed Quickshift automatic transmission, the 2015 Jaguar XFR-S Sportbrake accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited at 300 km/h. The car rides on 20'' wheels shared with the XFR-S sedan, and offers up to 1,675 litres of cargo room when the rear seats are folded flat.

Photo: Jaguar

A Fourtitude forum administrator caused a stir when he reported that the U.S. versions of the new Audi S3 and Volkswagen Golf R won't use dual injection like their European counterparts, making them less powerful.

S3 and Golf R drivers across the Atlantic will apparently have 296 horsepower at their disposal, which is more than the estimated 280 horsepower over here.

Time will tell... hopefully soon.

Source : forums.fourtitude.com

Photo: Kevin Corrigan

Nissan Canada is set to phase out the Versa sedan as it introduces the all-new 2015 Nissan Micra on the market.

Canadian sales of the sub-compact 4-door Versa have never taken off north of the border. In the U.S., where consumers love sedans, it's a different story.

Don't fear about the 5-door Versa Note, however. Nissan Canada has confirmed that it's here to stay, although we'll soon be just calling it ''Note.''

Photo: Nissan

From GMM

Felipe Nasr's uncle and manager insists the Brazilian is the "real third driver" at Williams this year.

The comments made by Amir Nasr, a well-known figure in the world of Brazilian motor racing, follow news Susie Wolff will drive the new Williams on Friday at both the British and German grands prix this year.

Just days earlier, the Grove based team appointed the Banco do Brasil-backed 21-year-old Felipe Nasr to the test and reserve role, saying he will appear in the Mercedes-powered FW36 on five Friday mornings in 2014.

Felipe Nasr, Williams FW36. (Photo: WRi2)

Speaking to Jovem Pan radio, Amir Nasr played down suggestions Felipe's new role could be a shared or back-seat one, such as when Lotus reserve Davide Valsecchi last year was overlooked when Kimi Raikkonen headed for back surgery.

"Felipe is the real third driver of the team -- it is in the contract," Amir Nasr insisted.

"In case of any problem with the race drivers, he is the natural replacement. He will have to go to all of the grands prix and he will work in the simulator each week to compensate for the lack of track time. It is a more complex task than it seems," Amir added.

Amir Nasr said only a one-year contract with Williams was agreed because the chance the British team can offer him a race seat for 2015 is slim.

"Williams has two very good (race) drivers," he said. "Massa has a three-year contract while Bottas is 23 and a potential world champion. We could not agree a longer contract because we would not have a guarantee he will be promoted," Amir explained.

WARNING: Car insurance laws and regulations are not the same across Canada. The following applies to Quebec only. Please refer to your own car insurance company for information about rates and premiums.

Despite their recent surge in popularity, hybrid and electric vehicles are still a rare sight on Canadian roads. Why? Pricing is the biggest obstacle for most buyers, who don't really see the point of spending thousands of extra dollars at the dealership to save some money at the pump.

What about car insurance? How do premiums vary from traditional, gas-powered models to hybrid or electric models? Well, I did my own non-scientific enquiry to find out.

More often than not, I was given a lower premium for a hybrid vehicle. Plug-in hybrids turned out to be more expensive, but not by that much. Once again, do I need to remind you about the savings you'll be making at the gas station?

Before going any further, here are the factors used for calculation by my car insurer:

• 38-year-old woman, driving since 1993, and living in the Greater Montreal area;
• 15,000 kilometres a year (none for business);
• No accidents and no traffic violations;
• No vehicle tracking system;
• No credit check and no home insurance to lower the premium;
• $500 collision deductible, $250 comprehensive deductible, $1 million liability;
• + $100/year when opting for 4-year replacement value.

Obviously, car insurance premiums vary from one company to another, but I think it's fairly safe to assume the gaps between traditional vehicles and hybrids/EVs will be similar for most drivers.

MODEL	SE	SE Hybrid	SE Energi (plug-in)
Ford Fusion	$570	$570	$647

MODEL	SEL Hybrid	SEL Energi (plug-in)
Ford C-MAX	$568	$606

MODEL	Base	Plug-in Hybrid
Toyota Prius	$551	$594

MODEL	SE	ST	Electric
Ford Focus	$515	$647	$443

MODEL	AWD	Hybrid
Lincoln MKZ	$805	$648

MODEL	LE	Hybrid LE
Toyota Camry	$810	$652

MODEL	Limited	Hybrid Limited
Hyundai Sonata	$576	$564

MODEL	GLI	Turbo Hybrid
Volkswagen Jetta	$626	$598

MODEL	Base	Hybrid
Acura ILX	$678	$619

MODEL	AWD	Hybrid AWD
Cadillac Escalade	$868	$796

MODEL	LS (gasoline)	Diesel
Chevrolet Cruze	$446	$546

All-electric or extended-range vehicles

MODEL	PRICE
Tesla Model S	$1037

MODEL	PRICE
Nissan LEAF	$534

MODEL	PRICE
Mitsubishi i-Miev	$445

MODEL	PRICE
Chevrolet Volt	$609

From GMM

Sebastian Vettel's manager has denied the reigning world champion is involved in a possible buyout of the Nurburgring.

With the German grand prix venue's future uncertain, we reported last week that F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone is no longer a candidate to buy it.

Ecclestone had confirmed in January he made a bid for the financially-troubled track.

"We want to make sure there is a formula one race in Germany every year in the future," he said.

But last week, it emerged that Ecclestone was not among the latest candidates - entities from Dusseldorf and the US, and a private equity firm - in the running to buy the Nurburgring.

Germany's Sport Bild now reports that German driver and reigning world champion Vettel could be involved in a Nurburgring buyout bid.

But the Austrian news agency APA quoted his spokesman Britta Roeske as saying: "There's nothing to it (the report)."

The current bidding process will reportedly conclude at the end of March.

Aerial view of the Nurburgring track.

Honda, which saw a 10 percent drop in U.S. Acura sedan sales last year, is creating a new group to plan business development for the premium brand.

UAW President Bob King said on Monday that the union's appeal of a failed organizing effort at Volkswagen's plant in Chattanooga will focus on the actions of outside parties, not the German automaker.

With the Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4 edging ever closer to our shores, the company has

Citroën whipped the covers off the second-generation C1, the Peugeot 108 and Toyota Aygo sister car. All three make debuts at the Geneva motor show next week.

and#8220;The creation of each Evantra is a unique and emotional experience for those who participate in the project such as for the client who follows the birth of the car in each phase.

News 24 Feb, 2014

Toyota Europe boss says more “emotional surprises”, like the FT-1 concept, are on the way

Nissan is recalling 16,838 Frontier pickup trucks in North America to address an electrical issue that could cause a fire, according to documents filed with U.S. safety regulators.

Pictures See all 18 pictures 25 Feb, 2014

Ford will base the next-generation Sync system on BlackBerry's QNX and no longer use Microsoft's Windows, sources said.

With the next-generation Ford Sync switching to QNX in favor of Microsoft, according to people briefed on the matter, BlackBerry's stock surged today.