The Opel and the MINIs

Kia knows it has a lot to do to shed its sensible image and convince would-be buyers it is sexy, inspiring and aspirational, and the Kia Track’ster concept is the first step down that road. Revealed at the Chicago Auto Show in February , the Optima Limited Track’ster channels Kia’s potential design direction for the next-generation Soul, with “immense LED driving lights” and a 250 horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

That’s 66-percent more powerful than the regular Soul, and puts its power down through a short-throw six-speed manual transmission to HRE-K1 monoblock billet performance wheels clad in 245/40-19-inch front and 285/35-19-inch rear Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 high-performance tyres. 14-inch Brembo vented and cross-drilled disc brakes – with by six-piston calipers – in front, and 13.6-inch discs – with four-piston calipers – at the rear make sure you can stop, too.

“The idea was to make the Track’ster tough looking, like a bulldog” chief designer Tom Kearns says,  throwing flared wheel arches, a huge grille, lots of lights and splashes of orange paint at the concept. The Soul normally has rear doors, but they’ve been ditched in favor of longer front doors that open to reveal suede-covered racing seats and a leather-wrapped dash. A sizable touchscreen handles navigation, entertainment and HVAC.

Rather than rear seats, Kia has used the space for an equipment tray and spare-tyre well, somewhere to keep your racing kit and emergency supplies. Unfortunately Kia has no plans to produce a commercial version of the Track’ster concept, though we’re keeping our fingers crossed that the next-gen Soul will borrow more than a few details.

All I know is that if you could buy one this would go to the top of my list!

MONACO — Reigning world champion Sebastien Loeb of France in a Citroen won the Monte Carlo rally for the sixth time on Sunday to take up where he left off last season atop the World Rally Championship standings (WRC).

In what was the opening leg of the 2012 WRC season, Loeb triumphed ahead of Dani Sordi of Spain (Mini) and Petter Solberg of Norway (Ford Fiesta). It was the 68th rally win of his exceptional career.

The race, the 80th running of the Monte Carlo Rally, marked its return to the WRC stage after three seasons in the rival IRC camp.

Loeb has won the last eight rally world titles and is a hot favourite to make it nine in a row this year.

Recently voted as the most popular sportsman in France, Loeb, who hails from Alsace in eastern France, opened the final day poised to grab overall victory having led the classic rally race from the start.

And he made no mistake by winning the closing five kilometre-long power stage on the Col de la Madone, high above Monte Carlo, which accorded him three extra points points to take him to 28 points for the race.

"For sure it?s always a great moment to start the season like this especially in front of so many fans," Loeb told World Rally Radio.

"Full points in the first race is incredible and for sure it?s the perfect start [to my title defence]. But Monte-Carlo is my rally and for the others we will have to see."

Mikko Hirvonen marked his debut for the works Citroen squad in fourth with Evgeny Novikov impressing throughout to take fifth in his M-Sport Fiesta, which equals his best finish in the WRC to date.

The Russian completed his Monte-Carlo debut by claiming the final Power Stage point.

Source: Sports24

Results after Sunday's final special stages in the World Rally Championship (WRC) season-opening Monte Carlo Rally:

Overall final results:

1. Sebastien Loeb-Daniel Elena (FRA-MON/Citron DS3) 4:32:39.9

2. Dani Sordo-Carlos Del Barrio (ESP/Mini John Cooper Works) at 2:45.5

3. Petter Solberg-Chris Patterson (NOR-GBR/Ford Fiesta RS) 3:14.2

4. Mikko Hirvonen-Jarmo Lehtinen (FIN/Citron DS3) 4:06.8

5. Evgueni Novikov-Denis Giraudet (RUS-FRA/Ford Fiesta RS) 6:03.4

6. Franois Delecour-Dominique Savignoni (FRA/Ford Fiesta RS) 7:47.9

7. Pierre Campana-Sabrina de Castelli (FRA/Mini John Cooper Works) 8:31.4

8. Ott Tnak-Kuldar Sikk (EST/Ford Fiesta RS) 10:34.6

9. Martin Prokop-Zdenek Hruza (CZE/Ford Fiesta RS) 16:10.7

10. Armindo Araujo-Miguel Ramalho (POR/Mini John Cooper Works) 16:16.6

Stage winners:

Loeb 9 (SS1, SS3-SS7, SS9, SS10, SS18), P. Solberg 4 (SS11, SS15, SS16, SS17), Hirvonen 3 (SS12 ES14), Latvala 1 (SS2), Sordo 1 (SS8)

Abandons:

Jari-Matti Latvala-Mikka Anttila (FIN/Ford Fiesta RS)

Thierry Neuville-Nicolas Gilsoul (BEL/Citron DS3)

In recent times I have pondered much on looking for the positive in life and in truth you can turn most things into a positive if you try hard enough. Take my situation where I have been battling the Big C, yes it's not fun but for instance now when the postman drops our letters on the mat am I worrying about what bill has turned up now? No, I don't care, it isn't worth the myther of  even a small worry because now I have far more fun wondering which hospital appointment will turn up next!

Well today we got some bumph from the World Wild Life Fund because (if I have this right) Peanut is currently saving some rather cute polar bear in some remote part of the world only ever reached by Biggles. We also got Hotel Chocolat's "Let's fall in LOVE..." brochure with their Valentine and Easter collections inside. This looks promising. Now when I were a lad back in the day when putting a man on the moon was still a dream, Easter eggs had the chocolates inside them. Where they should be! But now? Oh no, now they are sanitised in some sealed pack next to an empty egg and are so boring that kids are going to want a Playstation for Easter instead of a good old Easter Egg. However, page 40 of their brochure suggests that the choccies are back where they belong - inside the Egg! Well done hotel Chocolat!

Only one envelope left and no bills so far. Well guess what still no bills! Three letters and not a single bill! Mind you the third letter  was my next CT scan appointment - 6th February! So there you have it a very definite positive - even when I don't even worry about bills in the post, none came anyway!

On the 21/2 I have a Council of War with my Bowel General, so I guess that is the big day as then I will know if a new war front will be opening in the fight against the Big C or if we will carry on for a while longer with this Phoney War!

That's all for now! Take care and snog the one you love!

31/12/2011.  As the year draws to a close  I felt that I wanted to add to The Life Blog and have a quick look back and a look to the future that awaits.

I started the year well into a three month session of chemotherapy, the effects of which I still feel today with numbness in my toes and fingers that are quick to cramp in the cold. My battle against the Big C was very much at the fore of my mind as I underwent that treatment. January then arrived and quickly turned sad with the death of a friend Andy Venn  on the 10th after along battle against Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Many of you will know that Andy was the partner of our good friend Elliot and as the anniversary of his death looms, I grieve for Andy and the pain Elliott still feels. Be brave today Elliott, be brave in January Elliott, there is a world out there that loves you.

February started well with a new arrival in our house, our second cat Alfie who we got from the Worcester Animal Rescue centre. Along with our other bundle of mischief Ola, Alfie brightens our days no end.

March saw me reach the milestone of 51 years young and also finish my chemotherapy.

May and I was in hospital for a week for the big operation on my liver to remove the tumours. Busy month then!

Next stop a clear scan and I got confirmation of that on August the 9th! Since then my life blog has gone a tad quiet as I have been busy trying to pack a bit of fun into our lives, first with a holiday in September and just recently with a week's holiday in the South of France over Christmas. All good fun, I have to say. As I look back on this year, it has certainly had a few battles in it but in truth I am here at the end of it to tell the tale and I think, you know for me it wasn't such a bad old year, many will have had worse.

My battle though is not over yet and February will see me have another scan to see if things are all clear. I have appointments with all of my consultants lined up, Generals Bowel and Liver in February and March and my Chemo Gurru in April. I wonder if they are gathering like storm clouds waiting, waiting... hmmmm I hope not.

As I look ahead do I dare to dream? Well I have mapped out some plans, some holidays, some adventures as i think you have to. Toys too, I can dream about, watches such as the Breitling Aerospace and the Bell and Ross Vintage Heritage, cars such as a Porsche cayman S, or a MINI Coupe JCW, or a MINI Countryman JCW, technology too such as a sexy new iMac and of course my NVG glasses for all those adventures in the dark that I could have with my Breitling Aerospace. But all these things are the stuff of small dreams, what I realyy hope for next year, what I really really want is two clear scans, then I can spend my life doing what I love best, journeying side by side with Lady Peanut.

We ended our year with the sun shining as we walked the lovely coastline near Cap Lardier in the south of France on Christmas Day - Peanut's birthday. May the sun shine on your year ahead. Best wishes to you all for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year! xxx