Auto News 5

It wasn't just cars gracing the stands in Frankfurt - take at look at our pick of the models that attracted just as much attention.

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General Motors has said it will have to increase production of some of its North American models after a summer when inventories have been at unsustainably low levels. Full story...

The deal to sell a majority stake in General Motors Europe unit Opel to a Russian-backed Magna International consortium could be signed by early October and the Antwerp plant in Belgium is at risk of closure, GM CEO Fritz Henderson has said. Full story...

Toyota Motor is preparing a US$1bn marketing campaign to boost US sales in the fourth quarter and will also sell more hybrid models using the Prius name, a media report said. Full story...

New spy-shots reveal production ready exterior

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Retro-inspired Boxster is on its way!

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Chrysler dealers in the United States are again offering leases after a 13-month break; this time through GMAC Financial Services rather than Chrysler Financial. Full story...

Volvo is evaluating a battery electric-powered version of its entry-level C30 model but said its main focus in on plug-in hybrids. Full story...

Consumer and industrial electronics maker Sanyo Electric is moving into the integrated vehicle navigation business in Europe and North America, having agreed on cooperation with portable navigator maker TomTom. Full story...

Scania on Thursday said (17 September) the global truck sales downturn had stabilised and it was preparing for an upturn while continuing to reduce costs. Full story...

Daimler on Thursday named Joachim Schmidt (61) to head Mercedes-Benz Cars sales and marketing. Full story...

Japan's Toyo Tyre & Rubber plans to build a tyre plant in South-east Asia and has short-listed Thailand and Vietnam as likely investment locations, according to Thai press reports citing Pornchai Kruayatidee, managing director of the company's Thai distributor Khow Inter Business. Full story...

New Astra gets more equipment and a starting price tag of £15,675.

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Saab's new saloon debuts in Frankfurt with bold new styling and an all-turbo engine line up

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Private equity investor Wilbur Ross today told an industry conference at the IAA that he believes there are big opportunities ahead in supplier sector restructuring and that he sees long-term profitability as a result of further consolidation and the removal of overcapacity. Full story...

Petrolhead and sports car enthusiast Ikuo Maeda wants to inject a fourth element into Mazda's design philosophy. Full story...

It's an exciting time to be a car engineer or designer. Probably not such a good time to be in sales or marketing. Full story...

Though Europe's top five new car markets all posted growth in a month traditionally slow due to continental summer holidays, this cannot be regarded as market recovery, JATO Dynamics analysts said in their monthly review. Full story...

The 63rd annual IAA heralded the introduction of a slew of environmentally-aware new vehicles from European automakers. The vast exhibition halls in Frankfurt played host to the avant-garde BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept, four new electric car concepts from Renault, a 2.5m-long futuristic concept from Peugeot, Citroen's Revolte showcar and the L1 tandem vehicle concept form Volkswagen. But that's not all. Frankfurt debuts also included the Ferrari 458 Italia, two new performance-oriented Coupe and Roadster concepts (which we will see emerge in production form in the near future), and the Mercedes SLS AMG, proving that the performance car segment is still alive and well.

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Nelson Piquet's famous father and namesake has vowed to contest the legal action mentioned by the Renault team in a recent official media statement. Full story...