Auto News 5

World's most luxurious drop-top now comes with more power Full story...

Slow sales have forced Renault to rework its family car only a year after it was first launched. Full story...

ZF Friedrichshafen has declined to comment on claims by India's Force Motors that it would be entitled to EUR8m in compensation for cutting short a licensing deal with the German components specialist. Full story...

The Chief Minister of Lower Saxony expects Europe's highest court to rule by 2010 in favor of the state and against both Porsche and Brussels regarding the controversial Volkswagen Law. Full story...

The CEOs of the Detroit 3 and UAW President Ron Gettelfinger are expected to return to Washington next week to make a case for a $25 billion federal bailout for the auto industry this year. Full story...

We could say a lot of things about the GT-R, and how it left us all in an unstable mental condition when the time came to give it back to Nissan. But there's one thing that we can tell you right now that will make you realize how serious this car is: in the GT-R, we measured a 0 to 100 km/h time of 3.93 seconds. Full story...

Fisker Automotive will open a new Engineering and Development centre in Pontiac, Michigan to employ as many as 200 engineers and designers. Fisker is a green American premium carmaker, and they say their new 34,000 square foot facility will house employees to support the development and production of the Fisker Karma. Full story...

The alliance of Montreal hoteliers has agreed to apply a one per cent 'grand prix' tax to the price of rooms in an effort to rescue the axed Canadian formula one race. Full story...

Brazilian Formula 1veteran Rubens Barrichello has hinted he might eventually write some revealing memoirs about his formula one career. Full story...

As we learn that the DEI and Ganassi teams will merge for 2009, let's point out that this coming weekend will be NASCAR's grand finale for all three series and all will race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Full story...

This week, Auto123.com features the following road tests:The mythical Nissan GT-R, the video game star that's available for first the time in Canada. The Pontiac G8, the full-sized sedan designed in Australia and set to reconquer the hearts of nostalgic drivers. The Saturn Vue Green Line, GM's hybrid SUV that's actually the anteroom to the Volt! And don't miss our video on the 2009 Kia Sportage test drive, a compact SUV that stands out from the crowd thanks to its affordable price and reasonable fuel consumption. Full story...

One would expect the smaller, development series such like the Star Mazda series to suffer from the ongoing worldwide economic crisis, but it is not the case. Full story...

Chip Ganassi Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. will merge operations beginning with the 2009 Sprint Cup season, the teams announced in a news release Wednesday. Full story...

There is a rule of thumb in Formula 1: Standing still means going backwards. Vehicles change from race to race. Willy Rampf, the Technical Director of the BMW Sauber F1 Team, uses a selection of technical drawings to describe the constant change undergone by the BMW Sauber F1.08. Full story...

BMW-Sauber Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica has no explanation for his bizarre loss of competitiveness right at the end of the 2008 season. Full story...

Just in time for lower fuel prices and Christmas shopping, Bentley's announced a "T" designated version of their Azure model. A four-seat convertible, Bentley says the Azure T promises driver-focused performance with the ability to transport four adults in first-class, open-top luxury. Full story...

Formula 1s' heavier drivers are worried about the introduction of KERS - Kinetic Energy Recovery System - technology next year. Full story...

According to a Ridesharing program called PickupPal, the Ontario Highway Transportation Board (OHTB) says that it's illegal to Rideshare in Ontario. Ridesharing is a form of carpooling, with shared use of a vehicle by the driver and one or more passengers- usually for the purpose of commuting. Full story...

BMW-Sauber Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica has no explanation for his bizarre loss of competitiveness right at the end of the 2008 season. Full story...

Formula 1s' heavier drivers are worried about the introduction of KERS - Kinetic Energy Recovery System - technology next year. Full story...