Auto News 5

Fernando Alonso has tipped key technical rule changes for 2011 to contribute to more "spectacular" racing. Full story...

No longer just a teaser, the revamped and extremely luxurious edition of the Range Rover Sport by Project Kahn has finally been unveiled. Full story...

Hydro-Québec and Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada Inc. (MMSCAN) are pleased to announce that the first five all-electric i-MiEVs have arrived in Boucherville and are currently being prepared for their new drivers. Once installation of the data logging equipment that will be used during the trials is complete, Boucherville Mayor, Jean Martel, and employees from the City of Boucherville, the Centre de santé et de services sociaux Pierre-Boucher and Hydro-Québec will be able to pick up the test vehicles, just in time for the holidays. Full story...

Hot on the heels of renewed talk of a F1 'breakaway' series, reports quote Ron Dennis as accusing Bernie Ecclestone of stealing the sport's commercial rights from the teams. Full story...

The Rubber Association of Canada released the findings of their study on winter tire usage across Canada recently. What it shows is that winter tires are becoming more common-place, however certain provinces are still lagging behind. Full story...

Pat Fry is the most obvious change to Ferrari's personnel structure for 2011, Luca di Montezemolo reveals. Full story...

The GP2 series has unveiled its 2011 calendar which consists of nine rounds, all events part of  the official Formula One support series. Full story...

Toyota agreed to pay US$ 32.4 million in federal fines (one of $16.375M and another of $16M) after failing to comply with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The automaker delayed recalling nearly 6 million vehicles suspected of gas pedal entrapment and faulty steering rods. Full story...

It's no secret that MINI is known for its miniature cars. A retired mechanic from New Zealand who goes by the name of Lester Atherfold put the emphasis on his car's name by shrinking it more than two feet so that it could fit inside his RV. Full story...

Toyota agreed today to pay two more safety fines for a total of $32.4 million, the maximum allowable under U.S. law, to settle federal investigations over whether the company notified regulators of safety defects in a timely fashion. Full story...

Kumho Tire USA is launching and#8220;Kumho Tire Driveand#8221;--a free multicar racing game application for car enthusiasts who use Apple products. Full story...

Auto supplier Takata is introducing a new driver-alertness warning system to the commercial trucking industry to keep drivers awake. Full story...

Hyundai Motor Co. released information about its new i40 station wagon on Monday. Full story...

Toronto-Dominion Bank is near an agreement to buy Chrysler Financial, the lender once owned by the third-largest U.S. automaker, from Cerberus Capital Management LP, said three people with knowledge of the matter. Full story...

Cadillac, seeking to sustain its post-bankruptcy sales momentum, has tapped actor Laurence Fishburne to be the voice of a new TV ad campaign that will debut with the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. Full story...

OnStar subscribers can request location-based and#8220;Santa updatesand#8221; on Christmas Eve by pressing the blue OnStar button in their car. Full story...

IndyCar driver Tony Kanaan finds a new ride for 2011 and Nissan launches a new Sunny for China. Full story...

The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancún, Mexico, last week included the announcement of the Formulec EF01, an all-electric single-seater conceived to introduce a new, multichassis, international track-racing series in 2013. Full story...

Ford, returning to the U.S. minivan market after at least a four-year absence, will count on a compact people mover it developed in Europe to drive sales to the children of the American Baby Boom generation. Full story...

EXECUTIVE EDITOR--AUTOWEEK.COM BOB GRITZINGER: There's nothing like the security of having a rough-and-tumble, fully functional truck when it comes time to head out to hunting camp. Full story...