Auto News 5

Bernie Ecclestone has applauded a hands-off approach for the governing FIA's new president. After Max Mosley's controversial 16-year reign, former Ferrari team boss Jean Todt took over for 2010 and has had a low-profile on formula one matters so far. Full story...

Jamie Whincup held off a determined charge of Shane Van Gisbergen to win the second half of the Gold Coast 600. This event was a special double-header consisting of twin 300km races in the streets of Surfer Paradise replacing the Gold Coast Indy which ran from 1991 to 2009. Full story...

The 13th edition of the Monster Spectacular fulfilled its promises of incredible performances on Saturday evening, at Montreal's Olympic Stadium. Full story...

Spaniard Fernando Alonso laughed hysterically on his radio when he crossed the start/finish line of the Yeongam Circuit a winner with no sight of neither Red Bull who did not see the end of it. Full story...

Three weeks after clinching this year's Drivers World Championship, Citroen C4 WRC driver Sebastien Loeb has won the Rally de Espana - adding another victory to his record breaking tally. Full story...

Ford and Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. are in talks to expand their partnership in India, Chongqing Changan President Zhang Baolin said. The two automakers are considering all types of vehicles to be sold in India, he said. Full story...

U.S. pickup sales are getting a boost from rising farm incomes, giving automakers extra momentum as the auto industry recovers from the worst sales in almost three decades. In the first nine months of the year, pickup sales rose 14 percent to 1. Full story...

Porsche SE was sued by Viking Global Investors over claims the automaker's attempted takeover of Volkswagen was an illegal stock fraud scheme that cost the hedge fund at least $390 million. Full story...

Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche said the German automaker and China's BYD Co. have 'made good progress' on developing an electric car and have specifications for the model in place. Full story...

EDITORIAL INTERN JAKE LINGEMAN: I drove the Mazda 6 back-to-back with the Nissan Altima, and they seem to be similar cars for a similar market at a similar price point. Full story...

Honda is recalling 528,000 vehicles worldwide due to potential problems with a master brake cylinder seal. Most of the vehicles are U.S. Odyssey minivans from the 2005 through early 2007 model years. Acura RL sedans are also involved. Full story...

Denny Hamlin's Championship offensive jumped off with a pole at Martinsville. Since the Virginia native won the last two races at the paper-clip-shaped short oval his team concentrated on qualifying and it paid off with a pole winning lap of 97.018 mph. Full story...

Chrysler Canada on Saturday evening donated Canada's first Fiat 500 to the live auction at Toronto's 17th annual Venetian Ball. The ball was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre with all proceeds benefiting Villa Charities. "The enthusiastic bidding for this iconic vehicle, and the fact that it sold for $85,000, underscore the excitement and interest the Fiat 500 has generated since Fiat's return to Canada was first announced," said Ed Broadbear, Vice President of Marketing - Chrysler Canada. Full story...

Fernando Alonso would be happy to be Valentino Rossi's teammate at Ferrari; Karun Chandhok may be in talks with Lotus about joining the team for 2011; Renault and Force India have emerged as the most likely teams to keep Nick Heidfeld's formula one career alive beyond 2010 Full story...

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel got the best of teammate Mark Webber and rival Fernando Alonso by a last minute performance in Yeongam, Saturday. Full story...

The Grand-Am Series has released its 2011 calendar with dates set for events in Laguna Seca and Elkhart Lake as well as a return to Montreal's Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve Circuit. Full story...

The streets of Surfers Paradise were dominated by the V8 Supercar drivers in round one of the Gold Coast 600. In fact the former site of the IndyCar race was downright unfriendly to the visiting co-drivers. Full story...

The streets of Surfers Paradise were dominated by the V8 Supercar drivers in round one of the Gold Coast 600. In fact the former site of the IndyCar race was downright unfriendly to the visiting co-drivers. Full story...

Sébastien Loeb (Citroën C4) looks on his way for another victory Sunday in Rally Catalunya, as his main rival Sébastien Ogier (Citroen C4) dropped down after a mechanical issue on Saturday morning. Full story...

If you don't have a mid-size SUV to offer in North America yet, you're missing the boat. Every manufacturer knows it, and has reacted consequently. Some were more in a hurry than others, swinging a deal with another automaker to rebadge a model that already existed, which saves times and development costs. Full story...