Auto News 5

Ford's new sportscar is based on Focus MkIII and evokes spirit of legendary Capri.

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GM said it may enter the World Rally Championship for the first time in more than 20 years to bolster the image and selling prices of European brands Opel and Vauxhall. Full story...

Automakers around the world are are pouring money into developing a slate of hybrid, plug-in and electric vehicles, but pure EVs are expected to make up just a sliver of the global auto market in a decade's time. Full story...

Bruno Spengler (Mercedes Classe C) will contest a crucial last DTM round next week-end in Shanghai. Will his three points advantage be enough for him to secure the 2010 title ? Full story...

2010 Formula 3 Euroseries champion Edoardo Mortara, who just clinched his second F3 Macau GP win in-a-row, is rumoured to join the DTM championship next year. He spoke to auto123.com about this interest of his. Full story...

Kyle Busch capped off his part-time schedule in the Nationwide Series, this year, winning the season closer at Homestead Miami Speedway. Full story...

McLaren's 2011 car will feature "quite a few" technical innovations, team boss Martin Whitmarsh has promised. Full story...

Rob Huff (Chevrolet Cruze) and Norbert Michelisz (Seat Leon) won the final WTCC round in Macao. Chevrolet clinched constructors' championship. Yvan Muller (Chevrolet Cruze) had already secured drivers' championship earlier this season. Full story...

Organisers of the historic Italian grand prix are worried plans to take formula one to Rome will leave historic Monza without a race. Full story...

To all you American movie buffs out there: what car did Lois Lane drive in 2006's Spiderman Returns? Three seconds, two, one... ding! Ten points to those who answered "an Audi A3," and 50 points to those who specified that we see Kate Bosworth's character behind the wheel of this German munchkin not once, but twice! Full story...

Edoardo Mortara became the first driver to win the F3 Macao Grand Prix two years in a row. Full story...

Los Angeles, CA - Ford, the maker of the most popular police vehicle in America, continued its leadership position this week, recording the fastest lap time of any police car with its all-new Police Interceptor sedan in testing by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. The results achieved by the next-generation Police Interceptors are proof points that Ford has engineered purpose-built and durable vehicles for the law enforcement community. Full story...

Belgian dealer group D'Ieteren raised its 2010 profit forecast after its third quarter was boosted by strong sales of new cars in Belgium and a steady return of business customers to its rental business. Full story...

U.S. automakers and suppliers, led by a resurgent GM, have retreated from the brink of a pension crisis, to the relief of the federal government's deficit-heavy pension insurance program. Full story...

Car parts suppliers have successfully emerged from the 2009 automotive industry crisis, but some consolidation among smaller players may still be to come, experts told a Reuters summit. Full story...

Production capacity in China's fast-growing auto industry could more than double by 2020, but a surge beyond that level would risk swamping the Chinese market and others with excess supply, the CEO of global parts supplier BorgWarner said. Full story...

Renault said it's seeking an early-retirement agreement with unions in response to declining domestic production. Full story...

Saab Automobile AB plans to begin distribution to China some time in 2011. A deal is expected to be signed by year end, CEO Jan Ake Jonsson said this week. Full story...

Italy is backing a plan by luxury carmaker De Tomaso to take over the Termini Imerese plant that Fiat will close next year, Italy's Minister for Economic Development Paolo Romani said. Full story...

Launched in 2008, the Volkswagen Tiguan has carved out a valuable position for itself in the high-end crossover niche. Its success is no doubt based on the fact that the Tiguan bridges the gap between two types of utility vehicles: those designed for the general public and those described as luxury or premium models. Full story...