Auto News 5

Daimler is in talks with Renault and other potential partners to forge a compact car cooperation by mid-2010, CEO Diter Zetsche said. "But it could certainly also go faster than that," Zetsche told a German newspaper. Full story...

Daimler is in talks with Renault and other potential partners to forge a compact car cooperation by mid-2010, CEO Diter Zetsche said. "But it could certainly also go faster than that," Zetsche told a German newspaper. Full story...

Opel said new registrations of its cars in Germany rose to the highest level in four years in 2009, when government-backed scrapping incentives bolstered a floundering European auto industry. Full story...

GM is prepared to wait beyond the end of this week before deciding on the future of Saab as it reviews remaining bids, Bloomberg News reported. Full story...

GM is prepared to wait beyond the end of this week before deciding on the future of the Saab brand as it reviews remaining bids, Bloomberg News reported. Full story...

General Motors Co. is offering huge incentives to its dealers to speed up the sales of leftover inventory from its Saturn and Pontiac brands, that can push up the automaker's December sales, The Wall Street Journal said. Full story...

TORONTO, - A cyclical recovery in global auto sales began in the spring of 2009 and will gain momentum in the new year, according to Scotia Economics' latest Global Auto Report. The emerging markets of China, India and Brazil will lead the way, but mature markets will also post gains in 2010, led by a double-digit advance in the key U.S. market. Full story...

Montreal - The Association québécoise de lutte contre la pollution atmosphérique (the Quebec association for the reduction of air pollution, or AQLPA) is extremely happy with the significant progress that will be made mid-January when the greenhouse gas emissions produced by automotive vehicles by-law comes into effect. With this announcement, the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, Ms. Line Beauchamp, makes Quebec the first Canadian province to set the strictest standards in all of North America. Full story...

ARLINGTON, VA - New ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety take the guesswork out of selecting boosters most likely to provide good lap and shoulder belt fit in a range of vehicles. The Institute rates 9 belt-positioning boosters BEST BETS, and 6 are GOOD BETS out of 60 models examined in a new round of evaluations. Eleven boosters aren't recommended at all because they do such a poor job of fitting the belt. Boosters elevate children so belts will fit their small frames better to protect them in a crash. Full story...

The Chrysler and Dodge minivans get a major makeover in 2011. As such, Town & Country heads into model-year 2010 unchanged from 2009, save for a bit of polishing here and there. Full story...

Ralf Schumacher has refused to deny speculation linking him with Toro Rosso's vacant race cockpit for 2010. The 34-year-old German, who races with Mercedes in the DTM series, has this week been back in the headlines, revealing an offer from one of F1's new teams that he turned down. Full story...

When there's no testing and you're not a driver with a television obligations, what do you do in the quiet time before the new year? How about racing go-karts? Full story...

François Duval slipped on ice at home in Belgium and broke two vertebrae. It could take him up to two months to attain full recovery. Therefore, he is set to miss the Monte Carlo Rally. Full story...

Pericak's dream while growing up was to own a Ford Mustang. It's a dream shared by many, as more than 9 million Mustangs have been sold, and the iconic muscle car has been the top seller in its class for 45 consecutive years. Full story...

Franck Montagny has hinted strongly that he will not be returning to formula one in 2010. A Spanish motor racing website is reporting that Nelson Piquet will complete the driver lineup of the new Campos team in 2010.) A further sign that Jaime Alguersuari will retain his Toro Rosso race seat for the 2010 season has emerged.New F2 champion Andy Soucek has hinted he could be installed as Williams' test and reserve driver in 2010. Full story...

Montreal - The Association québécoise de lutte contre la pollution atmosphérique (the Quebec association for the reduction of air pollution, or AQLPA) is extremely happy with the significant progress that will be made mid-January when the greenhouse gas emissions produced by automotive vehicles by-law comes into effect. With this announcement, the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, Ms. Line Beauchamp, makes Quebec the first Canadian province to set the strictest standards in all of North America. Full story...

Turkish artist Esref Armagan's interpretation of the new Volvo S60 was recently auctioned on eBay. After 52 bids were submitted, it was finally sold for 3050 dollars. That's the highest price an art piece is sold for on eBay for the benefit of a charity. The entire proceeds will go to a Canadian charity, the World Blind Union. Full story...

The Australian grand prix is yet to sign a title sponsor for its 2010 event. The Melbourne race was previously backed and named after the Dutch bank ING, who early last year announced it would no longer be involved with formula one beyond 2009. Full story...

I had an epiphany the week I got to boot around in the darn-sexy A5. I wondered, well not really 'cause it just is, why the A5 is so strikingly beautiful. Here's how it happened: That same week, we at auto123.com were also test-driving a 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T. Both of them were white and seductive. Believe it or not, side by side, the two cars are surprisingly similar in their overall shape. Full story...

DEARBORN, Mich.,- iTunes Tagging and crystal-clear radio sound through HD Radio technology are the latest features on Ford's growing list of factory-installed customer conveniences and technologies that will be newly available in 2010. Full story...