Detroit brands top Asian, European rivals in study of most appealing models

Owner delight with import vehicles is falling, and Detroit 3 brands are more appealing than European and Asian rivals for the first time in 13 years, according to a study measuring owner enthusiasm and satisfaction. The biggest improvement in owner appeal was made by high-performance models from Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co., J.D.

Russian Grand Prix: Hamilton on pole for Mercedes

Hamilton (r) has pole in Russia followed by Rosberg (l) and Bottas (c) Amid tight security thanks to Russia’s ongoing spat in Ukraine, and a muted appetite for exuberance after Jules Bianchi’s dreadful crash with a JCB on track last weekend, the rest of the F1 circus seems to be on normal duty, with Hamilton’s Mercedes taking the front row and Hamilton dominating proceedings in qualifying to secure another pole position. But it wasn’t necessarily going all Mercedes’ way, with Bottas stringing together a very quick lap in the dying moments of final qualifying that looked like it could propel him in front of the Mercedes duo, until he lost traction at the end of his flying lap and had to settle for third spot in tomorrow’s race. Joining Bottas on row two is Jenson Button and his McLaren after a strong qualifying, and Daniil Kvyat – at his first home Grand Prix – managed to secure a very impressive fifth spot for Toro Rosso. Kevin Magnussen in the second McLaren would have been on row three in sixth spot but gets a five place penalty for a gearbox change.

Nissan LEAF EV – Electric Nissan revealed

Nissan has released details of the all electric Nissan LEAF EV Update 18/3/2010: Nissan has announced that the Nissan LEAF will be built at its plant in Sunderland UK, starting 2013. The Nissan LEAF is trumpeted as Nissan’s Zero Emissions Electric Car. The LEAF will go on sale in Japan, America and Europe in late 2010, and as we already knoew, Nissan is working on battery production and charging infrastructure in the UK, Portugal and other countries.