Auto News 5

So what story drew the largest just-auto audience this week, perchance? Opel's financial disappointment? Nope. Big Chinese vote of confidence in the UK's R&D skills? Uh-uh. Maybe the ongoing tiff over where the Panda will be built, covered, after hours on the phone to multiple unions and Fiat by our tenacious reporter Simon Warburton? Nah. You wanted to know instead all about how Nissan plans to make its quiet new EV noisier. Must be summer... Full story...

Porsche's nine-month results today (18 June) show the company gradually returning to its core business following its abortive takeover attempt of Volkswagen last year, a London-based analyst said. Full story...

France's Plastic Omnium formed Inergy as a 50-50 joint venture with Solvay SA of Brussels in 2000. The companies say they expect to finalize an agreement for Plastic Omnium to buy Solvay's shares within the next few months. Full story...

France's Plastic Omnium formed Inergy as a 50-50 joint venture with Solvay SA of Brussels in 2000. The companies say they expect to finalize an agreement for Plastic Omnium to buy Solvay's shares within the next few months. Full story...

SENIOR EDITOR FOR NEWS BOB GRITZINGER: This is nice trim package for the Mini, with sharp paint and slick interior--itand#8217;s definitely not a normal Mini, if there is such a thing. Full story...

The CR-Z borrows heavily from the Insight hybrid and goes on sale Aug. 24 at a price expected to be less than $20,000, including shipping. Honda has set a modest sales goal of about 15,000 units annually. Full story...

A parts supplier for Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. said today it was dealing with its second strike in China this week, the latest in a rash of factory labor disputes across the country. Full story...

Honda has revealed something of its redesigned 2011 Odyssey minivan range for North America saying it would "redefine the concept of the minivan with its aggressive stance and sporty 'lightning-bolt' beltline. The lightning bolt not only provides an exclusive appearance, but also adds increased visibility for third-row passengers." Full story...

The new Ford Fiesta small car is either right on schedule or a few weeks late, depending on who's talking. Full story...

Toyota Motor Europe (TME) has named Orhan Ozer president and CEO of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Turkey (TMMT) starting 1 July. Full story...

Toyota Motor wants to slash car prices by 30% 2013 through a new cost-cutting strategy. Full story...

Polish presidential candidate Jaroslaw Kaczynski has urged the country's government to intervene against moves by Fiat to transfer assembly of its Panda model to Italy. Full story...

PSA Peugeot Citroen is planning two new models for emerging countries as it seeks to break its dependence on mature markets according to Les Echos newspaper. Full story...

Plastic Omnium has put forward a bid to acquire international chemical and pharmaceutical group Solvay's 50% stake in Inergy Automotive Systems Full story...

Volkswagen's Mexican unit expects its sales to rise about 25% this year from 2009 to US$8bn. Full story...

King Saud University (KSU) has unveiled its Gazal-1 model, said to be specifically designed for the terrain of the Arab peninsular. Full story...

Porsche has booked an operating profit of EUR600m for the first nine months of its fiscal year ending 31 July next but lost EUR700m after tax due to costs associated with Volkswagen. Full story...

Nissan North America has opened its new Livermore Training Center, located about 45 miles east of San Francisco. The facility trains dealer technicians from the northwest region which covers Northern California, Colorado, Idaho, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. Full story...

Opel/Vauxhall expects its Astra compact car range to get a big sales boost with the addition of a station wagon variant that will launch in Europe in November, a month after its debut at the Paris auto show. The wagon, which the General Motors Co. Full story...

What is it? Full story...