Auto News 5

The 1998 combination of Daimler-Benz AG and Chrysler Corp., touted as an effort to create a common, cost-efficient global automaker, eventually was left a shambles. Now Daimler is trying again. Full story...

Dealer Tom Hessert Jr.'s Chevrolet business is back -- almost. He says he has fought off a whispering campaign from competing Chevy dealers and sent in the necessary information for General Motors Co. to reinstate his Moorestown, N.J., store. Full story...

Auto dealer Denny Hecker lived large. He gambled in Las Vegas, married and divorced four women and flew a private jet to vacation homes in Mexico, Aspen and Arizona. In true Minnesota fashion, he had a lake home, with slips for 10 boats. Full story...

For now, the flurry of recalls has stopped. But the costs confronting Toyota Motor Corp. as a result of its quality crisis will keep climbing, analysts say. By Toyota's own count, the string of worldwide recalls will cost the company $2 billion. Full story...

The group organizing dealer arbitrations is starting to worry about how to meet the summer deadlines set by Congress in light of massive scheduling bottlenecks. Full story...

Chrysler Group has imported the manager of a Fiat factory in Sicily to run two Jeep assembly plants in Toledo. Full story...

Gadgets like Bluetooth, Navigation and intelligent key systems are no longer reserved for exclusive cars with six-digit pricing. In fact, most of the industry's latest technologies will likely be standard or available on the next new machine you're considering. Here's a look at a few of the most common. Full story...

BMW is a brand that distinguishes itself with a portfolio of cars and SUVs whose vocation and sporty aspirations are undeniable. But when it comes to personality, BMW vehicles fail to distinguish themselves as much. While they're all unique in their class, overall, when you compare one with another they're pretty much the same. Same style, same cabin, same everything - even the same driving enjoyment. Full story...

Last week's link-up between Renault-Nissan and Daimler shows the urgent need for scale in an industry still reeling from a collapse in demand and gearing up for massive investment in green-car technology. Full story...

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said the restructuring of Chrysler Group is showing and#8220;positive results.and#8221; and#8220;In terms of the market share numbers coming out of the U.S., it's a slow, gradual process, a re-making exercise. Full story...

NEW YORK - A new Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) study lends further evidence that voice-controlled Ford SYNC® helps drivers minimize electronics-related visual distractions compared to manually operating hand-held cell phones and music. Full story...

The inaugural Korean grand prix could be called off, according to a report in the German media. The news magazine Focus says the circuit under construction in Yeongam, about 400 kilometres south of the capital Seoul, may not be completed by the time of its scheduled debut race this year at the end of October. Full story...

The new Audi R15 clinched victory for its first race appearance in Le Castellet 8Hours, first round of the Le Mans Series championship. Full story...

From the outside, the Golf Wagon (in fact simply the new version of the Jetta) has all the VW family traits. It naturally sports the traditional front fascia of the new Golf, but it's also taken up the rear end of the old Jetta. It's resolutely German in style, and while unspectacular it's nonetheless attractive, especially because of its family-friendly size. Which explains its raison d'être in a virtually empty segment. Full story...

With the help of a green-white-checkered style finish Ryan Newman ended a 77-race winless drought, going back to the Daytona 500, in 2008, at Phoenix International Raceway. Full story...

Memo Rojas and Scott Pruett completely dominated Saturday's race at Barber Motorsports Park to take a second consecutive victory in the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Full story...

Dearborn, Mich. - Teens across the country are using their creative talents to write and record music with an important message: what can we do about the leading cause of death in our generation? Full story...

Norbert Haug has played down suggestions that Michael Schumacher's return to formula one might be short-lived. Meanwhile, F1's new generation is convinced that he still has what it takes to succeed in formula one. Full story...

A meeting later this year will discuss the immediate futures of up to three Red Bull-backed F1 drivers. Full story...

Wolfsburg - In collaboration with the long-established Swiss watchmaker FORTIS, Volkswagen designers have developed a new high-tech chronograph: the FORTIS Spaceleader Chronograph by Volkswagen Design. Full story...