Auto News 5

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has pressed the head of the country's largest carmaker AvtoVAZ to outline modernization plans following state support which helped the company through the financial crisis. Full story...

Organisers of the NAPA Auto Parts 200 Presented by Dodge race of the NASCAR Nationwide series have confirmed that Canadian driver Andrew Ranger will compete in the event late August. Full story...

F1 Grand Poobah Bernie Ecclestone, three-time F1 World Champion and leading pundit Sir Jackie Stewart and Eddie Jordan, former F1 team owner, have all recently declared that F1's leading personality Michael Schumacher may not be back next year, because of poor results, a bad car, lack of interest or a combination thereof. Full story...

Russian driver Vitaly Petrov's future with the Renault team "is in his hands", according to team boss Eric Boullier. Full story...

Laval - The Smog Alert operation of the Société de transport de Laval (STL) was set in motion on Monday, July 5, and continued on until Friday, July 9. During those 5 days when the air quality was considered to be poor by Environment Canada, the STL dropped the fares on its network to only $1. In so doing, it recorded a total of 15,564 more transit trips than the estimated number. This is equivalent to a reduction of no less than 27.7 metric tons of greenhouse gases discharged into the atmosphere. Full story...

Rumours continue to mount about Flavio Briatore and a major future role for the Italian in formula one. Full story...

The Indy Racing League announced at noon on Wednesday that the new concept for the 2012 IndyCar would be designed by Dallara. The series will allow teams to develop their own aerodynamic packages, wings and bodywork and mate them to the new spec-Dallara chassis. Full story...

More, more, more, always more! And they say that the car business is in trouble! Not! Ever-changing and morphing perhaps, but dying, it is not. Full story...

Here's another video to tantalize your eardrums. This time, we pit the Porsche to a 2010 Audi R8 5.2 to find out which engine melody gives us more chills. In this attack, the cars are evenly matched price, power and prestige-wise. In-house, we're torn between the V10 burble and the flat-6 warble. What do you guys like? Full story...

Avalon. It's the name of the mystical site where King Arthur was laid to rest. Toyota chose a bit of a strange metaphor for the name of its largest sedan. Were the automaker's strategists perhaps looking to hint that the car's typical buyer sports a little grey at the temples? Full story...

Brownstown Township, Mich. - The Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended range will provide customers with an unprecedented, standard, eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on its advanced, lithium-ion battery. It is the automotive industry's longest, most comprehensive battery warranty for an electric vehicle, and is transferable at no cost to other vehicle owners. Full story...

Based on the 599 GTB Fiorano, it's the first new GTO from Ferrari in 26 years. Weighing in at about 1,750 kilograms, and powered by a 48-valve, 6.0-litre V12 that develops 661 horses and 457 pound-feet of torque, the 599 GTO should be the fastest street-legal Ferrari ever sold. Full story...

Yet another version of the Ford Mustang is hitting the streets. This time, it's a first-ever collaboration between Roush and Shelby that results in a one-of-a-kind 2011 Mustang, called the SR-71. Inspired by the SR-71 Blackbird, a USAF long-range reconnaissance aircraft built by Lockheed Martin, this Mustang will be hand-built in Michigan by Roush. Full story...

Qualified by its designers as "the fastest fully electric race car in the world", the Citroen Survolt was officially unveiled at Le Mans recently. Full story...

Andrew Ranger and JR Fitzpatrick, winner of the last two NASCAR Canadian Tire Series road-course races, will be on hand for the first ever series' race to be held in Toronto this coming weekend. Full story...

German watch manufacturer Scalfaro launches a special, limited edition of a luxury wristwatch identified to Canadian race car driver Bruno Spengler. Full story...

Another week, another teaser. Ford has released one more photo of the 2011 Explorer, but of course, you can't see the complete vehicle yet. For that, we'll have to wait for July 26th for its unveiling in New York City. Full story...

Yet another version of the Ford Mustang is hitting the streets. This time, it's a first-ever collaboration between Roush and Shelby that results in a one-of-a-kind 2011 Mustang, called the SR-71. Inspired by the SR-71 Blackbird, a USAF long-range reconnaissance aircraft built by Lockheed Martin, this Mustang will be hand-built in Michigan by Roush. Full story...

Fernando Alonso is still confident about his chances of winning the 2010 championship. Full story...

The concept of Red Bull's new front wing was pioneered by Force India, according to a report. Full story...