Auto News 5

As soon as automakers hear about tougher fuel economy rules, they start concocting new ways to cut vehicle weight. Full story...

BMW of North America has moved two top executives into new positions in a shift that leaves the automaker searching for a marketing chief. Full story...

The Mercedes E class, BMW's new 5 series and a revamped Audi A8 are attracting wealthy buyers in the United States and China, prompting the German carmakers to boost deliveries. Full story...

Dealerships across the country face the same challenge: How to boost product sales as finance revenue fades. Full story...

Aiming to give more autonomy to its U.S. operations, Toyota has intensified efforts to appoint Americans to the powerful job of chief engineer for vehicles sold here. The elevation of three U.S. Full story...

Ever since Infiniti was launched with mystifying advertising images of rocks and trees 21 years ago, Nissan Motor Co.'s luxury brand has been hard to pin down. Full story...

After years of breakneck growth at home, China's parts makers are starting to reinvent themselves as global suppliers. No longer content with shipping parts to North America, Chinese suppliers are acquiring U.S. Full story...

With a little help from his powerful friends, Vinod Khosla is out to reinvent the internal combustion engine. Full story...

Chrysler Group is scrapping its Five Star dealer reward program in favor of cash incentives meant to encourage dealers to improve customer service, management and facilities. Full story...

A hybrid variant is the cost of entry in the mid-sized sedan segment these days. Hyundai is joining the fray with the next stage of hybrid technology, both in terms of battery power and in how the power is delivered to the wheels. Full story...

VW has just reaffirmed its plans to deploy electric vehicles in the United States and Canada. Full story...

In summing up his presentation introducing Canadian journalists to the Honda CR-Z, Jerry Chenkin, Executive Vice-President of Honda Canada exclaimed: "Honda spirit is back." That spirit is born out of three pillars that underpin all Honda development: Environment, Technology and Motorsport. Full story...

Dani Pedrosa (Honda) dominated the field, winning a two-part race after a red flag interrupted the festivities after nine laps. The really big news is clearly Vale's fighting fourth place, six weeks after a double fracture to the right leg. He narrowly missed the podium, losing third place to Casey Stoner (Ducati) on the last corner of the race. Full story...

The Honda NSX is everything but unremarkable. At ease downtown or on the legendary Nürbürgring track, in Germany, everybody gets its own perception of the car. Full story...

With half the season now gone, Pedro de la Rosa admits he is not sure what he will be doing in 2011. Full story...

Former Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve will be contesting the Brickyard 400 of the NASCAR Sprint Cup on the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway next weekend. Auto123.com had the chance to speak with him about this race. Full story...

With an emphasis on efficient performance, the all-new 2011 Honda CR-Z introduces a sleek two-passenger coupe design with quick, sporty handling to the gasoline-electric hybrid segment. The exterior's distinctive "one-motion" wedge form originates from its low-slung hood to form a broad forward stance. The interior offers a high-tech appearance and ergonomically intuitive controls. Well equipped, the CR- Z demonstrates Honda's commitment to safety in the design and construction. Full story...

Series leader and pole sitter J.K. Vernay (Sam Schmidt) extended his leadership atop the Indy Lights Series standings by winning the Toronto 100. Full story...

I'm sitting in the stands waiting for the start of Ford Press Conference at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show with some colleagues. We're talking about Ford's products and about how some of them have simply missed their mark; namely, the Five Hundred and Freestyle. Although they were decent vehicles to drive, they lacked more than "je ne sais quoi". Full story...

The first race of Seat Leon Eurocup in Brands Hatch saw an very scary accident. Fortnately, and miraculously, no one was injured. Full story...