Auto News 5

Toyota's top executives can barely open their mouths these days without rhapsodizing about the company's new push to produce "fun to drive" cars. Full story...

Emerging markets offer the greatest long-term growth potential for Mercedes-Benz's global passenger-vehicle sales, says Daimler AG CEO Dieter Zetsche. But Zetsche says Mercedes won't need special vehicles or a cheaper subbrand for those markets. Full story...

Gary Allgeier, finance director at the Suburban Collection outside Detroit, likes to say his company went from "0 to 60" in the sale of vehicle-appearance protection products over the past few years. Full story...

Volkswagen Group design director Walter de' Silva hopes to add "something positive" to the design of Porsche's new models, beginning with the Cajun SUV. Full story...

Nissan is considering a deal-sweetener as it prepares to launch global sales of the all-electric Leaf: free rental car use for trips beyond the Leaf's 80-100 mile battery range. Full story...

Lincoln dealers have until early January to make a life-or-death decision: Invest to meet service and dealership standards or lose the franchise. Full story...

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has fallen hard since its U.S. business peaked at 354,111 vehicles sold in 2002. In 2009, sales tumbled 45 percent, amid a 21 percent industrywide slide, to 53,986. Full story...

Jaguar is planning production feasibility studies of up to 2,000 cars a year for its new 780-hp supercar, sources say. Full story...

Harald Hamprecht is returning to Crain Communications Inc. as editor-in-chief of Automotive News Europe. Full story...

Volkswagen Group design director Walter de' Silva hopes to add "something positive" to the design of Porsche's new models, beginning with the Cajun SUV. Full story...

John Perez's plan to find an undiscovered global automaker and deliver it to the United States burst into flames -- just when it was a whisker away from success. In August, after four years of waiting for Indian truckmaker Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. Full story...

Good news for North American fans of the Ford Focus ST - unlike its predecessors, the newest iteration of the turbo-charged hatchback will make its way to our shores... but not until 2012. Full story...

Luca di Montezemolo's post-race message for Felipe Massa was "subtle but powerful", according to one formula one writer. Full story...

Spain's leading FIA official has been told the inaugural Korean grand prix will go ahead as scheduled in two weeks. Full story...

With three races left to run in 2010, McLaren's title-winning rhetoric has turned a corner. Full story...

With McLaren's charge fading and Fernando Alonso going it alone for Ferrari, the rivalry between Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel will be in the spotlight during the now three-race run to the 2010 world championship. Full story...

The new version of the Sonata, equipped with a turbocharged engine, will soon make its way into Canadian Hyundai showrooms with a $28,999 MSRP. Full story...

Russian driver Mikhail Aleshin secured 2010 World Serie Renault 3.5 crown after a thrilling final in Barcelona. Full story...

I find it hard to believe that 40-years have flowed under the bridge since the original Z-car was introduced in North America. Known in 1970 as the Datsun 240Z, this two-seat coupe was a game changer amidst a field of American muscle cars. It provided a lean, sophisticated alternative to the gas-hoarding V8-powered behemoths pushed by Detroit that could eat-up a quarter mile in good time but couldn't get out of their own way on a track. Full story...

Kamui Kobayashi was the hero of Sunday's Japanese grand prix, enhancing his growing reputation as the launcher of kamikaze overtaking moves. Full story...