Auto News 5

General Motors today notified employees that it will reduce the number salaried workers from 73,000 to 63,000 on a global basis this year. The announcement comes as the world's economy deteriorates, credit dries up, and shoppers ultimately wind up buying less vehicles. Full story...

Former Formula 1 competitor Ralf Schumacher has secured a new contract to remain in the German touring car series DTM in 2009. Full story...

Bad news continues to flow out of Donington Park, providing ammunition to the cynics who doubt the circuit can host the British grand prix from 2010. Full story...

True to the form of its formula one team rivals, Force India will not organise a formal launch for its 2009 car. Full story...

It won't be very green this year at the Audi stand. Sure, the Q7 TDI will be there as well as the compact Q5, but the big news is the Canadian intro of two high-performance models. Based on the new-generation A4, the 2010 S4 drops the 340-hp V8 for a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 that develops 333 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque. Gearbox choices will include a 6-speed manual and a new 7-speed dual-clutch S tronic automatic. Full story...

The Automobile Journalists Association of Canada announced their Canadian Car of the Year and Canadian Utility Vehicle of the Year this morning at the Toronto Auto Show. The Hyundai Genesis luxury sedan beat out the Mazda6 and Toyota Corolla, while the Ford Flex captured the award away from the Mercedes-Benz M-Class and Subaru Forester. Full story...

Official Formula 1 tyre supplier Bridgestone may now have settled on how to differentiate its compounds of dry-weather slick tyres in 2009. Full story...

The world's best-selling hybrid is about to get a well-deserved makeover. The new Prius is powered by a hybrid powertrain that is 90% new, according to Toyota. Combined fuel economy now averages 3.8 L/100 km, a 7% improvement, while developing 22% more power. Full story...

After presenting the X6 Active Hybrid in Toronto last year, it's the new 7-Series' turn to show off the gas and electric powertrain. Jointly developed with Chrysler and GM, BMW's version of the hybrid unit features two electric motors and a 4.4-litre V8 that is said to develop over 400 horsepower. An 8-speed automatic is part of the deal, and the ActiveHybrid should offer a 15% fuel consumption improvement over the conventional 7-Series. Full story...

The SL65 Black Series is possibly the most extreme car ever built by Mercedes-Benz. Obviously based on the SL-Class roadster, the Black Series gets a fixed roof instead of the power-folding one on the regular models. Full story...

Good news for the Canadian fans of the IndyCar series as TSN announces that it will have complete coverage of the 17-race season, starting-off with the Grand Prix of St-Petersburg on April 5. Full story...

New Toro Rosso driver Sébastien Buemi, although perhaps F1's most visibly slender driver, has admitted he wants to lose several kilograms. Full story...

The CX-7 crossover will get a second engine in 2010 that will power a new front-wheel drive base model. The 2.5-litre inline-4 that's found in the Mazda3, Mazda6 and Tribute will develop 161 horsepower and 161 lb-ft of torque in the CX-7, and will be mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission. Full story...

To stay competitive in the high-end luxury segment, Jaguar is updating the engine bays of both the XK and XF models. The XK Portfolio coupe and convertible, which will be the base models, get a 5.0-litre V8 in replacement of the old 4.2-litre unit, producing 385 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) acceleration times are reduced to 5.2 seconds. Full story...

A new upscale luxury coupe will arrive in Hyundai showrooms later this year, and it's called the Genesis Coupe. Although it shares no body panels with the Genesis sedan, the coupe shares its rear-wheel drive layout. Power will come from a choice of two engines. The base Genesis Coupe will get a turbo 2.0-litre inline-4 that produces 223 horsepower and 217 lb-ft, while uplevel models get a 24-valve, 3.8-litre V6 that belts out 310 horses and 263 lb-ft. Full story...

Cadillac's mid-size crossover gets a makeover and hosts styling that's reminiscent of the CTS sedan. Both engines in the old model are dropped in favour of a pair of six-cylinder units. Base models get a 3.0-litre V6 with direct injection develops about 265 horsepower, which is slightly more than the outgoing 3.6-litre V6. Full story...

Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Toro Rosso's Sébastien Buemi set the fastest time of the day on their respective test track. Full story...

IndyCar racer Danica Patrick is once again to be featured in the eagerly anticipated Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue available to the public today. Full story...

It's brand marketing at its finest. Ford and Harley Davidson have been teaming up for years to deliver customers a special edition pickup truck that offers both the capability of an F150 and the cool-factor of the legendary American motorcycle brand. Full story...

Seven-time Formula One world champion, German Michael Schumacher was slightly injured Wednesday in a racing motorcycle accident in the Spanish city of Cartagena. Full story...