Auto News 5

Max Mosley on Friday suggested F1's new peace may a short-lived, with FOTA to possibly resurrect plans for a breakaway series. Full story...

Forty-five years ago, Lee Iacocca unveiled the first "pony car" in history during a spectacular press conference held on the site of the 1964 New York World's Fair. And since this sports car was making its debut in the automotive world in the middle of the year, it was registered as a "1964 ½" edition. Full story...

Valentino Rossi has indicated he might be willing to switch to formula one in 2011 if Ferrari will run a third car. Full story...

The Tiburon was initially launched into a market full of sporty models like the Honda Civic SI-R, Toyota Celica, Ford Probe, Dodge Avenger and Nissan 240sx. Interestingly, its nameplate is about the only dedicated sport compact model to have survived the high insurance rates and fuel prices that killed off the vast majority of its competition. As the axe fell on the Tiburon's original ringmates, the Korean shark thrived. Full story...

BP Ford Abu Dhabi team driver Mikko Hirvonen holds the lead of Rally Poland this evening after a day of furious competition on some of the fastest roads in the World Rally Championship. Full story...

Jaguar and Land Rover have chosen GXS Managed Services to set up a portal for exchanging electronic data with their suppliers. Full story...

The choice to produce General Motors' new small car at its plant in Orion Township, Mich., though political by nature, did not involve the presidential auto task force, GM North America President Troy Clarke said today. Full story...

General Motors has not found a vehicle it could produce at a joint-venture factory it operates with Toyota Motor Corp. in California, a senior GM executive said today. Troy Clarke, GM's president of North American operations, said that the U.S. Full story...

General Motors dealers and car-accident litigants would get continuing access to state courts if dozens of states can influence the Obama administration to amend its bankruptcy plan. Full story...

One Porsche at this year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance will be making its second appearance. And it will be easy to find--it's the one that looks a bit used. Full story...

Porsche Automobil Holding SE, the heavily indebted holding company that controls Volkswagen AG, said today it was close to reaching a deal with Qatar that could help solve its financial problems. Full story...

Porsche SE, the heavily indebted holding company that controls Volkswagen AG, said today it was close to reaching a deal with Qatar that could help solve its financial problems. Full story...

China's top economic planning agency is likely to reject Sichuan Tengzhong's bid to buy the Hummer brand from bankrupt General Motors, state radio reported on Thursday. Full story...

SmartAuction, GMAC Financial Service's online remarketing channel for dealers, sold nearly 210,000 used cars and trucks through May. That reflects an annualized pace of 500,000 vehicle transactions, the company said today. Full story...

2009 Ford F-150 Platinum Lariat 4x4

Sophisticated, quiet, and huge.

There are nearly seven different trim levels offered on the 2009 F-150, but this new Platinum is about as swanky as they come. While the marketing folks might not admit it, this decked-out crew-cab truck is essentially a replacement for the late Lincoln Mark LT in all but name (unless you're shopping in Mexico, where it's sold with an awkward bow-wave grille tacked on the front).

Photo Gallery: 2009 Ford F-150 Platinum Lariat 4x4 - Ford Fullsize Pickup Truck Review - Automobile Magazine

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Japan's Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. said it plans to boost its capacity to make auto-use nickel-metal hydride batteries by 75 percent to 3.5 million cells a month by March 2010 to meet growing demand. Full story...

In today's News Brake: Shelby upgrades the GT500 into a Super Snake; an unpampered Porsche 356 is bound for Pebble Beach; and Humpy Wheeler is checking out the show in the IRL ... But Wait, There's More! Full story...

Rumours of a possible cooperation between Suzuki and Volkswagen drove the two carmakers' share prices sharply up on Friday. Full story...

General Motors and Magna International Inc. hope to close the sale of a majority stake in GM's Opel by the middle of September, ahead of Germany's general elections, an Opel supervisory board member told Reuters today. Full story...

Job cuts in the German auto industry may become inevitable this year if the steep slump in global demand for new trucks and cars continues at the current pace, auto association VDA said on Friday. Full story...