Auto News 5

Renault and Nissan will jointly develop a platform for at least 10 models to reduce its suppliers and lower procurement costs by about one-third, the Nikkei business daily said. Full story...

VW will start building a $550 million gasoline engine plant in Silao, in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, next month. The plant will be completed by 2013 and have a capacity of 330,000 engines a year. Full story...

Former GM executive Richard M. Donnelly has been named chairman of the board at heavy-duty vehicle maker Oshkosh Corp. Donnelly, 67, will assume the position on Feb. 1, 2011. He succeeds Robert Bohn, 56, who is retiring as CEO on Dec. 31. Full story...

Early U.S. sales for Ford Motor Co.'s Fiesta show that consumers are buying higher-end versions of the new small car, boosting the automaker's profit on sales in a traditionally low-margin segment, company officials said. Full story...

Land Rover will price its Range Rover Evoque starting at 30,000 pounds (about $40,000) in the UK. Land Rover issued more information about the two-door Evoque ahead of the model's public debut at the Paris auto show later this month. Full story...

U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., said he is outraged China's government may force automakers to surrender electric-vehicle technology in return for selling cars in the world's most populous nation. Full story...

Tony Fernandes' Lotus Racing team has scheduled a raft of "exciting announcements" for Friday at the Grand Prix of Singapore. Full story...

Bernie Ecclestone has revealed he is not opposed to the idea of France returning to the formula one calendar. Full story...

The Unitus Racing team, from the James Madison Middle School and Southeast High School, in the United States, received the title of 2010 World Champions of the F1 in Schools contest, in Singapour, on Wednesday. Full story...

Mercedes insists it is still not worried about Michael Schumacher's outings on the saddle of powerful superbikes. Full story...

Jean Todt has hinted that F1's team orders ban will be reconsidered in order to make the sport more "transparent". Full story...

Fernando Alonso insists he is not worried about his engine situation with five races still to run in 2010. Full story...

Tokyo - Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI) has developed its new-generation boxer engine that combines the technology and know-how used in Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engines, the core technology that has supported Subaru's unique driving since it was first employed in the Subaru 1000 in 1966. This overall renewal is the first in 21 years, since the second generation boxer engine was introduced in the first Legacy models in 1989. Full story...

You've probably noticed that the V6-powered Camaro RS and the V8-powered Camaro SS look virtually identical, except for some minor visual tweaks and a single letter of their badges. With horsepower ratings at 306 for the RS and up to 426 for the SS, the strong cosmetic similarities mean that opting for the higher-end model is almost entirely an output-motivated decision. Full story...

Just one day after NASCAR officials disclosed that they had spoken with the Richard Childress Racing Team for an out-of-specification car at Richmond they announced that Clint Bowyer's New Hampshire winning car was also out of regulation tolerances. Full story...

Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa, who raced for Sauber Motorsport this season, has been signed up as a second Pirelli test drver. Full story...

French rally driver Sebastien Loeb has told people magazine Paris Match that he could retire from the World Rally Championship at the end of next season. Full story...

Mercedes DTM competitor Paul di Resta looks set to make his formula one race debut in 2011 with team Force India. Full story...

The event marks the first time 3-D footage will be broadcast in a public area. As a part of the takeover, Honda will run 3-D CR-Z commercial footage on the Times Square HD screen and Sony will provide 3-D Gran Turismo 5 racing simulators. Additionally, Maxim Magazine models will distribute copies of their special 3-D October issue and Honda will sponsor a special performance from chart-topping hip-hop trio, N.E.R.D. Full story...

Bespoke design will take centre stage for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars at Paris this year, as five models featuring the company's extensive personalization programme take to the stand.  The collection includes a sumptuous Phantom Extended Wheelbase in Gunmetal metallic with Sunrise leather interior and a Carrara White metallic Phantom Drophead Coupé with Hotspur Red leather interior.  A Phantom Coupé and two Ghosts complete the presentation. Full story...