Auto News 5

In my mind, there couldn't be a better ambassador for Mercedes-Benz than the E-Class sedan. I'm not talking about their flagship--that term is reserved for the biggest and/or most luxurious and/or most expensive vehicle--but the car that perfectly represents the company's image and philosophy. Full story...

Today at MINI's Oxford plant, forty electric MINI E cars were handed over to their test drivers, who are all members of the public. This marks the start of two consecutive six-month field trial periods which will evaluate the psychological, social and technical aspects of living with an electric car. The findings will be used both to inform the BMW Group engineering teams, as they create zero emissions vehicles for the future, and the wider world to help guide power providers, policy makers and component manufacturers in their decision making. Full story...

After Mitsubishi's official withdrawal from rally-raids, Volkswagen seems to be the only contender for victory at the next Dakar Rally experience, planed for January 1st to 17th, from Argentina to Chile. Privately owned BMWs are the only ones that could cause surprise. Full story...

NASCAR Sprint Cup driver AJ Allmendinger, who will take part in the 24hours of Daytona for a fifth year, was in Daytona Wednesday to contribute to Grand-Am's first test of the Pirelli tires the series will be using in 2010. Full story...

FIA World Motorsport Council approved 2010 calendar, and announced that there will be no balance of performance changes during the season. Full story...

Anytime you drive a Porsche (sorry for those who haven't!), you feel like you're sitting behind the wheel of one of the world's finest automobiles... provided, of course, that you dig the brand's extreme sportiness and racing tradition. The 911 Carrera, the Boxster and my recent tester, the Cayman S, all have a distinct personality. However, I must say that the latter did not prove to be as satisfying as I initially hoped. Full story...

At noon Malaysian time on Monday, Lotus looks set to announce that Jarno Trulli has been signed for the 2010 season. Citing a person with apparent knowledge of the three-year deal, the Associated Press said the Italian's contract will have an option to leave the team at the end of each season. Full story...

BMW warned us from the get go that there wasn't going to be an M version of the redesigned Z4 roadster. But it is coming awfully close with the new top-of-the-line Z4 that rolls out at the Detroit auto show next month. Full story...

The number of global insolvencies will rise by a third this year and increase again in 2010, the head of Euler Hermes, the world's biggest credit insurer, told German weekly magazine WirtschaftsWoche magazine. Full story...

Volkswagen AG, which recently took a stake in Suzuki Motor Corp. to step up its presence in India, said on Saturday it aims to grab 8 percent to 10 percent of the country's market share in the next four to six years. Full story...

Mercedes-Benz brand sales are expected to grow more than 60 percent year-on-year in China with appetite for the flagship E- and S-class sedans expected to be a key driver of future sales. Full story...

Mercedes-Benz brand sales are expected to grow more than 60 percent year-on-year in China with appetite for the flagship E- and S-class sedans expected to be a key driver of future sales. Full story...

A few weeks ago, there was a buzz in the garage that triple-threat, Kyle Busch, was going to move his KBM (Kyle Busch Motorsports) up to the Camping World Truck Series, but he denied it. On Friday the rumor became fact. "I pulled a pit road fake on everybody," he said with a grin. "I'm really proud of what this... I felt like the opportunity to have a nice announcement." Full story...

The opportunity to tackle one of his favourite rally stages has persuaded former World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm to come out of retirement and contest Rally Sweden, the opening round of the 2010 WRC season. Full story...

Look out Danica Patrick, one of your IndyCar rivals, Milka Duno will attempt her stock car debut when she tests next weekend at Daytona International Speedway. Full story...

On the same day that Lucas di Grassi announced he will be on the F1 grid in 2010, Lotus boss Tony Fernandes said he is en route to Malaysia with two newly-signed drivers. But it is expected that Brazilian di Grassi, Renault's reserve as well as a GP2 driver in 2009, will actually drive for the new Virgin team, which will be launched officially in London on Tuesday. Full story...

The Gran Turismo 5 Time Trial Challenge will be available for download on the PlayStation Network (PSN) store. Full story...

With the exception of an actual signature on the dotted line, Michael Schumacher has reportedly agreed to return to F1 with Mercedes in 2010. The news magazine Focus as well as the major German daily Bild revealed on Saturday that the 40-year-old, who retired as a Ferrari race driver in 2006, will be Nico Rosberg's teammate. Full story...

Dodge may not be famous for building the most popular trucks on the road throughout history, but they are responsible for some of the most distinctive. The Ram has been a head turner for generations, and its styling language was applied to the smaller Dodge Dakota 1997. Full story...

Always spectacular and defying conventional logic, concepts and prototypes on display at most auto shows are the result of advanced engineering and design by companies looking to explore new trends and showcase their skills to the entire world. Full story...