Auto News 5

From fast cars to fast food - that's the fate of a prominent Irvine (a few clicks on I5 south of LA), California building now home to what's left of Ford's Premier Automotive Group (PAG) but soon to become the headquarters of huge restaurant chain owner Taco Bell. Full story...

Several hundred people protesting against Nissan's plans to lay off staff at its plant in Spain threw bottles, fireworks and fencing at the Japanese company's offices in Barcelona on Tuesday. Full story...

The Russian car market is suffering from a lack of consumer confidence as the global financial crisis spreads to auto loans, research company Nielsen said on Tuesday. Full story...

How's Honda doing? Like other vehicle manufacturers, Honda is feeling pressure in its markets. But it does at least enjoy the support of a young line-up of small and relatively fuel-efficient cars. This company update is extracted from Automotive World's Automotive Quarterly Review and includes data of Honda sales by market and future product plans. Full story...

As China struggles to choose the best powertrain for future vehicles, an influential minister has gone cold to clean diesel in favor of gasoline hybrids and electric drive trains. Full story...

Vehicle sales in the Philippines fell by 9.8% year-on-year to 10,680 units in October, according to the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc (CAMPI), reflecting falling consumer and business sentiment as global economic conditions continued to deteriorate. Full story...

India's Tata Group, buyer of steel firm Corus in 2007 and car brands Jaguar and Land Rover in 2008, has put acquisition plans on hold unless strategically critical, the Hindustan Times said citing an e-mail from Chairman Ratan Tata. Full story...

Renault has halted plans to re-start production in China, says a source at the automaker. "Renault's project is frozen in China," he says. Full story...

In a Nov. 10 interview with Automotive News Editor David Sedgwick, General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner addressed questions ranging from what concessions he would offer in return for government aid to whether he would consider resignation. Full story...

An auction today has named Carl Black Auto Group, of Georgia, and Ed Bozarth, owner of four dealerships in Kansas and Colorado, as buyers of two more Bill Heard Enterprises Inc. stores, turnaround consultant Fred Caruso says. Full story...

The price of a gallon of regular gasoline has fallen an average of $1.03 in the past month, and lower consumption is expected to keep prices down for the short term. According to AAA Fuel Gauge Report, the U.S. Full story...

The price of a gallon of regular gasoline has fallen an average of $1.03 in the past month, and lower consumption is expected to keep prices down for the short term. According to AAA Fuel Gauge Report, the U.S. Full story...

Tony Purnell, a leading figure at Formula 1's governing body suspects the incoming radical aerodynamic changes in 2009 will not increase overtaking. Full story...

Brian France, NASCAR chairman, wasn't pleased, to say the least, with TV broadcaster ABC's decision to bump the final laps of the Phoenix race to ABC-owned ESPN2 in the U.S. Full story...

The first test session of the off-season will be staged at Barcelona, Spain, November 17-18-19. Several teams will be in action, and some drivers will have a chance to impress the directors to get a regular seat in 2009. Full story...

The promoter of the Dubai based stock car series Speedcar is hoping to pair with the inaugural Abu Dhabi grand prix late next year. Full story...

Despite team bosses agreeing on the issue of 5-million euro engines, it is believed they do not wish to enforce that figure as a maximum cap for customer engine deals. Full story...

Most areas of the automotive world are drowning in abbreviations, but it's arguably the safety scene that's got it the worst. Unfortunately, it's not about to get any better- as Nissan's just announced that it will soon demonstrate an advanced collision-free vehicle concept. Full story...

Volvo is a leader in automotive safety, an they'll be demonstrating their latest "City Safety" technology in a tour of the new XC60 called "From Sweden with Lov". "City Safety" is a new technology which uses a low-speed autonomous braking system to protect distracted drivers and those around them. Using a special laser sensor, the technology is intended to reduce the low-speed collisions common in urban situations or when the driver is distracted and doesn't react to an imminent impact. Full story...

The promoter of the Dubai based stock car series Speedcar is hoping to pair with the inaugural Abu Dhabi grand prix late next year. Full story...