Auto News 5

GP2 Series' organisers revealed Tuesday the name of the thirteen teams signed for the next three years. Full story...

Two names, Citroën and Lacoste, have come together with a shared vision - to cultivate boldness, creativity and optimism.  The result of these common values: the new Citroën Lacoste concept. Full story...

Bernie Ecclestone has backed Karun Chandhok to return to the formula one grid next year with a "better car". Full story...

Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli resume testing of its new, 2011 Formula 1 tires on the super fast circuit of Monza, home of the Italian Grand Prix. Full story...

Canadian race car driver Patrick Carpentier will be back behind the wheel of the NASCAR Sprint Cup car later this season to compete in at least three races. Full story...

Former Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen is the famous name now linked with Renault for 2011, but Vitaly Petrov is still valued by the team, Renault F1 Team owner Gerard Lopez insists. Full story...

Aston Martin's ultimate expression of design, engineering and craftsmanship; the One-77 is being readied for production. The 7.3 litre V12 engine, as part of the development process, has been certified at 750bhp and 750Nm of torque, positioning it as the most powerful naturally aspirated road car engine in the world today. Full story...

David Coulthard has indicated he intends to stay in the German touring car championship DTM into the near future. Full story...

Bernie Ecclestone has vowed to keep the F1 calendar at a maximum of 20 races per season. Full story...

A new coupe is coming to town, and it's going to shake-up the status quo. Scion--Toyota's youth division--will be opening 45 dealerships across the country later this month. They will aggressively market their three Scion models--tC, xB and xD--to the Y-generation. Setting Scion apart from other manufacturers that have taken aim at the urbane hipsters is the ability to customize a Scion by selecting from a catalogue of 75 dealer-installed Toyota TRD accessories that modify suspension setups, exhaust systems, brakes and many other aspects of a Scion including appearance. Full story...

The Scion xD is a cool little sub-compact 5-door that serves as Scion's entry-level ride. It's generously equipped for its MSRP of $17,200, and it's totally customize'able with Toyota's long list of TRD bits and pieces. Without adding any of the dealer-installed components available to personalize one's xD, it's an attractive looking ride that conveys a sense of sportiness in both sight and sound. I appreciate the vehicle's clean lines and attractive proportioning; I also like its slightly brazen exhaust note. Full story...

100% electric Peugeot's latest concept car is a visually striking two-seater roadster with a futuristic styling and an original architecture, designed to offer intense driving sensations as a celebration of the Marque's 200th anniversary. Full story...

Volvo Cars has announced the launch of the all-new S60 and V60 R-Design models - created to deliver a dynamic driving experience in a coupé-style saloon or versatile Sportswagon. Featuring a specially developed chassis, the new R-Design models ensure that the driving experience matches the car's sporting appearance. The all-new Volvo S60 and V60 R-Design will be introduced in autumn 2010. Full story...

For the very first time Citroën's striking Survolt electric concept and an Agni Z2 electric superbike went head-to-head at Thruxton race circuit. Full story...

The Virgin Racing Formula 1 Team announced that it has signed Belgian driver Jerome D'Ambrosio in an evaluation role for four of the remaining five Grands Prix of the 2010 season. Full story...

First Look: Lotus Elite Concept

Pointing towards profitability.

Lotus hopes to completely reinvent itself by 2016 and the Elite is our first glimpse at what the brand's future holds. If all goes according to plan, the production Elite will hit the streets in April of 2014 and Lotus will become profitable around the same time. New Lotus Group CEO Dany Bahar doesn't hide the fact that the little British brand hasn't made money in more than 15 years and that trend needs to be reversed immediately.

Photo Gallery: Lotus Elite Concept - 2010 Paris Auto Show - Automobile Magazine

First Look: Lotus Elite Concept | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

Full story...

R. L. Polk and Co. has named Tim Rogers president of the automotive information and marketing company's business unit, replacing Joe Walker. Polk said Rogers will oversee all business objectives, policies, and strategic direction at the company. Full story...

GM has announced a demonstration project to explore market needs and customer acceptance of battery electric vehicles in Korea. Full story...

Ford Motor Co. has hired former Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai designer Joel Piaskowski to head all exterior design for Ford in the Americas. The assignment includes all Ford brand and Lincoln models, Ford Motor spokesman Alan Hall said today. Full story...

Senior officials from the UAW plan to travel to Italy next week for a meeting with Fiat S.p.A. CEO Sergio Marchionne and a pitch to bring jobs to the United States for its suppliers. Full story...