Auto News 5

Nissan says its March eco-car will be introduced to the market in March 2010 and describes the car as the car as the 'right car at the right time and the right place'. Full story...

The US International Trade Commission has said it will start an investigation into a Florida-based company's claim that some gasoline-electric hybrid cars by Toyota and its component parts impinge upon its patent. Full story...

Nissan has said it will present various show cars at the upcoming 2009 Tokyo motor show, including Leaf, an electric vehicle (EV) which is slated for global launch and volume production in late 2010, Land Glider, an EV concept car, and Qazana, which is described as an entirely new type of compact sport crossover, which made its world debut at the Geneva show last March. Full story...

As NASCAR officials look for ways to return to "core values" and increase attendance; cutting costs for fans and teams alike with two-day race weekend is off the table. Full story...

Despite earlier disputing claims Felipe Massa will make his return to the cockpit of a F1 car after the forthcoming weekend, Ferrari now admits the Brazilian could be ready for his run in the two-year-old F2007 next Monday. Full story...

One of Renault's existing on-car sponsors has announced it will not be following ING and Mutua Madrilena by pulling out of the French team with immediate effect. Full story...

The new American team USF1 has moved to dispel persistent doubts about its chances of making its grand prix debut as scheduled next March. Full story...

An official of the German luxury car brand Audi has hinted that parent group Volkswagen might enter formula one if the costs continue to come down. Full story...

Nelson Piquet has emerged as a candidate for a 2010 race seat with the new Spanish F1 team Campos, according to the Marca sports newspaper. Full story...

Tesla Motors today announced a mobile service program featuring house calls for customers in the United States and Canada. Specialized technicians known as Tesla Mobile Service Rangers will visit owners' homes, offices or parking garages equipped to perform an array of procedures, including annual inspections and firmware upgrades. Full story...

Daimler AG today announced that it selected the smart plant in Hambach, France, as the location for future series production of the smart fortwo electric drive. As of 2012, the highly innovative electric vehicle, equipped with the most modern lithium-ion-battery, will roll off the assembly line in large-scale production and will be offered to customers through the smart sales network. The announcement was made on the occasion of an official visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Hambach plant. Full story...

Although nothing has been confirmed, it looks like five-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb is getting prepared to contest his first Formula1 Grand Prix. Full story...

HIROSHIMA, Japan--Mazda Motor Corporation today announced that it has commenced production of the Mazda2 (known as Mazda Demio in Japan) at the new passenger car plant at AutoAlliance Thailand Co., Ltd. (AAT), a joint venture manufacturing facility with Ford Motor Company. Mazda2 units produced at AAT will be sold mainly in the ASEAN markets. Full story...

The Venturi Buckeye Bullet 2, nicknamed "La Jamais Contente" in tribute to the first vehicle to go faster than 60 mph (100 km/h) in 1899, established a record for a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Streamliner in Bonneville Salt Flats in September 2009. Full story...

Honda will debut its fifth short-film documentary, "Racing Against Time," as part of the "DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE" Documentary Series on Mon., Oct. 19 at http://dreams.honda.com. Full story...

The IndyCar season's finale at Miami-Homestead promise to be one exciting race with still three title protagonists, Scott Dixon (Ganassi), teammate Dario Franchitti and Ryan Briscoe (Penske), only eight points covering the trio. Full story...

An official of Formula 1's governing FIA on Thursday said he was "impressed" this week after visiting the headquarters of the new American team USF1. Full story...

So far most of the lights within the car have been central light sources focusing light above all in the middle of the passenger compartment. The outside areas of the passenger compartment are hardly illuminated, there is hardly any impression of space and surfaces generated by indirect, more gentle light. "Light" is therefore seen in this context only as a function. Full story...

Here are the main short motorsport news of this day, Thursday October 8, 2009. Full story...

Jean Sage, the former sporting director of the Renault F1 team for many years in the '70s and the '80s, has died at the age of 68. Full story...