Auto News 5

New vehicle sales in Japan rose 12.6% year on year in October, the highest margin of growth in 12 years and nine months, helped partly by government tax breaks and subsidies for eco-friendly cars, an industry body said on Monday. Full story...

Special edition version of Kia's mini-MPV tempts with host of goodies and sharp look

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I was kiddingly whining about having to drive a six-cylinder Mustang, but gawd, this is one terrible engine. Actually, let me qualify that: This is not a great engine for a sporty car. Full story...

Indian automobile component manufacturers, who have been catering to international car companies, are taking additional value out of the supply chain by getting involved in the designing of auto parts. Full story...

Why drive to Monterey in August with everyone else when you can drive only as far as beautiful Van Nuys and get much of the same old-car thrill? Full story...

French carmakers expect strong sales in the final months of 2009 as drivers flock to take advantage of government scrapping schemes before year-end. Full story...

Ford's excellent Q3 results announcement on Monday has been overshadowed somewhat by mixed union reactions in North American to proposed concessions it has said it needs to stay competitive. Full story...

Acura is reversing course in North America as the brand suffers through the shift from high-performance luxury vehicles and the cancellation of its V8 and rear-wheel-drive programs. Full story...

Anybody who thinks starting an automotive venture is a young man's game hasn't been following the career of Jim Perkins. Full story...

Ford increased its Q3 pre-tax operating profit in Europe while Volvo narrowed its loss for the quarter. Ford said Q3 pre-tax operating profit in Europe was $193 million, compared with a profit of $69 million a year ago. Full story...

Ford on Monday announced third quarter net income of US$997m, up $1.2bn from the third quarter of 2008, pre-tax operating profit up $3.9bn to $1.1bn - its first pre-tax operating profit since the first quarter of 2008 - and an operating profit of $357m at its North America operations, the first quarter in the black since Q1 2005. It has also revised its full-year 2011 guidance for total company and North American automotive operations from "break even or better" to "solidly profitable", pre-tax. Full story...

Watch and listen to Mercedes' all-new retro-rocket as it stretches its legs in front of the camera Full story...

Expect a clash with the Qashqai and a tug-of-war with the Tiguan! Mitsubishi has entered the crossover battle, as it reveals this official sketch of the production version of its hatchback/SUV ‘cX’. Full story...

Shock eco tax plan for £2-a-litre fuel! Full story...

A combination of flexible manufacturing plants, global vehicles and a weak US dollar could see Ford exporting US-made vehicles, chief executive Alan Mulally has said. Full story...

Suzuki Motor on Monday tripled its net profit forecast for the financial year to 31 March 2010 to JPY15bn from an earlier projected JPY5bn on cost-cutting efforts, although the new figure represents a year on year fall of 45.3%. Full story...

Ford Motor Co. posted a surprise $997 million net profit in the third quarter and boosted cash reserves while saying it will be and#8220;solidly profitableand#8221; in 2011. Ford's pre-tax operating profit of $1. Full story...

Snatched shot reveals panoramic roof. Full story...

Could the Evora be going electric? A leaked Lotus presentation has revealed that the company is attempting to sell the model’s underpinnings to other manufacturers, while presenting them as the perfect platform for an electric car.Based on the success of the Elise chassis – which Lotus sold to Vauxhall to make the VX220 and, more recently, to Tesla to form the basis of that firm’s groundbreaking electric Roadster – it’s a shrewd move by the British company.The Evora is made largely from aluminium extrusions which can be cut to length – an ideal attribute for packaging the bulky batteries in an electric car.Lotus has two proposals for an electric layout. Full story...

New-car sales in Spain and France rose sharply in October, helped by subsidies for buyers. Spanish car sales jumped 26.4 percent while French car sales rose 20.1 percent. Full story...