Auto News 5

There's a strange disconnect surrounding Better Place, the company best known for its plan to extend the range of electric vehicles by relying on speedy battery swaps. Automotive executives are nearly unanimous in dismissing the idea. Full story...

Chevrolet is taking the Volt plug-in hybrid to the masses with a big marketing campaign that includes World Series commercials this month. Trouble is, the supply of the cars will be anything but big in the first year of production. General Motors Co. Full story...

If there's a silver lining in the weak U.S. auto market, this may be it: Anemic new-car sales will mean short supplies of used cars in two or three years. Full story...

Gary Battenberg sometimes tagged along on Delphi's corporate jet, to Orlando for a car race, to the Indianapolis 500 -- even to New York in 1999 to watch his older brother, then Delphi CEO J.T. Full story...

Last winter, when Nissan Motor Co.'s executive committee for the Americas gathered to discuss the future position of the Nissan brand, one marketing mission became clear: It needed a makeover. The brand was stagnating in the market. Full story...

Ryuichi Katsumata, one of Japan's top Toyota dealers, brings a new twist to old traditions in a land where selling cars can be very, very different from what occurs in the United States. Heir to the founding family of Chiba Toyopet Co. Full story...

The redesigned 2012 Volkswagen New Beetle will undergo an evolutionary styling change when production begins next year. Spy photographs of the car reveal that all of the sheet metal has been replaced, but the overall design remains retro. Full story...

Ducati's Casey Stoner was not even remotely threatened by any of his adversaries and took his fourth consecutive MotoGP win in front of his home fans during the Australian Grand Prix, presented at the exciting seaside Phillip Island track, the spiritual home of every Australian rider. Full story...

Team boss Christian Horner has answered "no" as to whether Red Bull Racing will be using team orders in the three-race run to the 2010 world championship. Full story...

NASCAR announced a fuel move to make the series more environmentally friendly next year. Full story...

TORRY PINES, CALIFORNIA -- Hyundai raised eyebrows when it announced that this new-generation Sonata would not be available with a V6. The three power options would be: 2.4-litre I4, 2.0-litre I4 with direct inject and turbocharging, and electric-gas hybrid. Full story...

Renault F1 Team Chief Race Engineer Alan Permane talked about the many challenges that the teams and driver will face next weekend at the maiden Grand Prix of Korea. Full story...

TORRY PINES, CALIFORNIA -- Hyundai raised eyebrows when it announced that this new-generation Sonata would not be available with a V6. The three power options would be: 2.4-litre I4, 2.0-litre I4 with direct inject and turbocharging, and electric-gas hybrid. Full story...

Mississauga, ON - Following the global debut of the revised Nissan GT-R supercar in Japan today, Nissan Canada Inc. (NCI) announced that the new Nissan GT-R supercar will make its first North American appearance at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 17th. Full story...

The plans for a formula one team are reportedly still alive, but team Villeneuve Racing/Durango is now more likely to turn its attention to NASCAR. Full story...

Renault Formula 1 driver and rally enthusiast Robert Kubica took part in the Rallye d'Antibes in the South of France and finished on the podium. Full story...

Renault F1 Team Chief Race Engineer Alan Permane talked about the many challenges that the teams and driver will face next weekend at the maiden Grand Prix of Korea. Full story...

It was announced late last week, although as far as we could tell, not formally, that the exciting prospect of the coming of an Acura wagon to Canada, was not to be. At least, not for the moment. Full story...

We've been hearing about the Volt for over 3 years, actually, since its introduction at the Detroit Auto Show way back in January 2007. Before the end of this year, the 2011 Volt will be in U.S. dealerships in a few States including New York, Michigan, Washington D.C., California and Texas. Its availability in other States will follow, and Canada should get the Volt in spring or summer 2011, probably as a 2012. Full story...

Jean Todt has poured cold water on reports Africa might join the formula one calendar in the next few years. Full story...