Auto News 5

There was a time when it was laughable to think a contender in North America's tough compact car market would have come from Korea. Kia's only been selling cars here for 10 years, but progress evidenced by their product expansion and competitiveness is arguably impressive. In fact, they've been out-performing much of the industry all spring. Full story...

Whitby, ON - MINI Canada has debuted a new spring campaign to promote the MINI hatchback and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the MINI brand. The new campaign will feature advertising in both traditional mediums as well as some newer avenues. The campaign, which focus on the performance, individuality and heritage of the MINI brand, will feature transit shelter ads, superboards and online banners as well as resto- bars and fitness ads, and grocery store adbars. Full story...

The first official FIA Formula Two Championship test has concluded at Snetterton, with Canadian Rob Wickens finishing the day at the top of the timesheets with a time of 59.433s. Full story...

The Renault Formula 1 Team has abandoned KERS at least for the next seven races, the Spanish sports newspaper Diario AS claims. Full story...

Formula 1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone said that new teams will be evaluated carefully before being shown to the 2010 formula one grid. Full story...

Mercedes-Benz's motorsport director Norbert Haug has moved to calm speculation that car manufacturers are considering pulling out of formula one. Full story...

Frenchman Nelson Philippe (HVM Racing) succeeded in passing his rookie orientation program as he was the only driver to benefit from limited track time at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway before a heavy rain arrived. Full story...

Petter Solberg says he will not drive his current Citroen Xsara WRC on the next round of the World Rally Championship, the Rally d'Italia Sardegna. Full story...

NEW YORK,-Equipping teenagers' cars with in-vehicle monitoring devices can help teens be safer drivers by alerting them and their parents about risky behaviors, a new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study finds. Yet the devices may turn out to be tough sells not only to the beginning drivers but even to their parents, and over time the teens may become less cautious if they think their parents aren't paying attention. A companion survey indicates that most parents think the technology helps their kids be better drivers. Full story...

May 7, 2009 At the Annual General Meeting of May 6, 2009 Louis Schweitzer, Chairman of the Board of Directors, confirmed that he would not renew his directorship. The Board of Directors named Carlos Ghosn Chairman of the Board of Directors, alongside his current responsibilities, and appointed him President and CEO of Renault. Full story...

Toronto, ON - CAW President Ken Lewenza and CUPW President Denis Lemelin will issue a joint statement tomorrow, Friday May 8 at a press conference in Windsor, Ontario calling on Canada Post Corporation to ensure all new vehicles expected to be purchased by the national postal service are made in Canada. Full story...

Audi is consistently pressing forward to improve fuel economy and CO2 emissions. Starting in the second quarter of 2009, the modular efficiency platform will benefit from additional new technologies: The on-board computer with the efficiency program and the start-stop system will raise the efficiency and convenience of the Audi models to a new level. By 2012 the fuel consumption of the Audi model range should drop by 20 percent. Full story...

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - General Motors and the University of Michigan today announced the formation of the GM/U-M Institute of Automotive Research and Education, with a strategic focus on reinventing the automobile and developing the next generation of high-efficiency vehicles powered by diverse energy sources. Full story...

General Motors is expected to report a deep loss on Thursday for the first quarter in its last earnings report before the deadline for a restructuring and a potential bankruptcy filing. GM, surviving on $15.4 billion in U.S. Full story...

If consumers can overcome the connotations that ride shotgun with buying a new car from an automaker in bankruptcy, there are some deals to be had on Chrysler vehicles. Full story...

Interest appears to be heating up for two brands that General Motors is trying to shed. Full story...

Three dealers and four suppliers are among the members of Chrysler LLC's committee of unsecured creditors, a group that is supposed to represent the interests of all creditors in the automaker's bankruptcy proceedings. Full story...

The British government said on Wednesday that negotiations with Jaguar Land Rover on guaranteeing financing are continuing despite reports that the talks were in trouble. Full story...

Michigan's congressional delegation wants the Obama administration to help car dealers and Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers obtain more financing. The 17-member delegation, led by Democratic Sens. Full story...

Ferrari fans will want to do a hot lap to London, where the first British store selling Prancing Horse paraphernalia opened Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting by Formula One driver Kimi Räikkönen. Full story...