Auto News 5

Fiat aims to keep its environmental lead in Europe by selling what it claims to be the world's most fuel-efficient gasoline engine. Full story...

German Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle rebuffed a request by Ford's German unit for state support, saying the carmaker's business is recovering, a newspaper reported. Full story...

China is encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles to "leapfrog its competitors in the traditional automotive industry," retired Volkswagen Chairman Carl Hahn said. Full story...

California electric car maker will pay $29.03 million in cash and 31.5 million shares for a 51 percent stake in Jonway Auto. Full story...

Japanese supplier aims to halve its production costs for parts used in low-cost models destined for China and other emerging markets, while hiking procurement of materials and components in the countries it sells in. Full story...

What is it? Full story...

Mercedes' problem in 2010 is not the tyres but the team's simulation techniques, according to Niki Lauda. Full story...

Sir Frank Williams insists he is not retiring. Full story...

Jeff Gordon and his wife, Ingrid, are taking on a campaign more important than a fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. Full story...

Williams will continue to be powered by Cosworth engines in 2011, the British team said in the Silverstone paddock on Thursday. Full story...

If injured Mike Conway is fit in time, he could very well be racing in the final IndyCar road course event of the season at Sears Point. Full story...

Sources at the Hispania Racing Team team have denied Brazilian driver Bruno Senna was dropped due to considerations about money. Full story...

Munich. After being on sale on the global automotive market for five successful years, the BMW M5 has ended its production lifespan with a new record high. The BMW M GmbH produced a total of 20,548 of the charismatic high-performance sports car featuring a V 10-cylinder power unit. The BMW M5 Saloon is accountable for 19,523 of these, with the BMW M5 Touring, which was first launched in 2007, contributing a further 1025 units towards the overall result. Full story...

Red Bull Racing drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber set Friday the fastest times in the first two free practice sessions in preparation for the Grand Prix of Great Britain. Full story...

Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. announces a new Advanced Composites Research Center (ACRC) at its headquarters in Sant'Agata Bolognese. The center carries out research on innovative design and production methods for carbon-fiber elements. Both the ACRC and an all-new, highly efficient production process for extremely complex carbon-fiber structures were developed at the same time. The process is secured through an array of patents and constitutes a breakthrough into the next generation of carbon-fiber components. Full story...

Ford Motor Company is giving Fiesta customers even more reasons to love their new car with an assortment of personalized options such as custom accessories, body kits, a Fiesta tattoo and graphics. Full story...

If you're a big block fan or believe that there is no replacement for displacement, stop reading now... The future of the automobile will not please you. I'm warning you, stop now... Full story...

Mercedes competition director Norbert Haug recently traveled to Kimi Raikkonen's home in Switzerland. Full story...

Frenchman Sebastien Loeb and his Citroen C4 WRC didn't miss a beat through the first four stages of the inaugural World Rally Championship round in Bulgaria. Full story...

At first glance, with only three models in the lineup, I allowed myself a moment to doubt the wisdom of keeping the Buick banner within the GM family. But the executives had to honour their promises, one of which was to bring back the Regal, vanished as of 2004. But why reintroduce a nameplate whose glorious past was tarnished by its recent, rather insipid history? Full story...