Auto News 5

Renault and PSA/Peugeot-Citroen are repaying a third of the 6 billion euros ($7.6 billion) they received in French government loans to help them through the financial crisis. Full story...

Smart has revealed more plans for a plug-in electric scooter that it will debut at the Paris auto show. Full story...

Russian automaker GAZ expects sales in 2010 to rise well above its earlier target of 25 percent volume growth as the country's auto market recovers from the downturn, its top executive said on Thursday. Full story...

Carlos Ghosn, Renault-Nissan CEO, said he had 'no hesitation' in declining an offer last year from the U.S. government to lead General Motors. Full story...

Ford has canceled plans to move production of its Kuga SUV from Germany to the United States as currency exchange rates no longer favor U.S. production. Full story...

Smart has revealed more plans for a plug-in electric scooter that it will debut at the Paris auto show. Full story...

Group 1 Automotive extended president and CEO Earl Hesterberg's employment contract through Dec. 31, 2015, and raised the chief executive's base salary 10 percent. Under a new employment agreement effective Sept. Full story...

Carlos Ghosn, chief executive officer of Nissan and Renault, said he had 'no hesitation' in declining an offer last year from the U.S. government to lead General Motors. Full story...

Group 1 Automotive Inc. has extended CEO Earl Hesterberg's contract through Dec. 31, 2015, and raised his base salary 10 percent. Under a new employment agreement effective Sept. Full story...

The circuit of Nogaro, located in the Gers region in France celebrated its 50th anniversary and staged an extraordinary event, the 50th Historic Grand Prix. Full story...

Helsinki, Finland - Scandinavian electric vehicle (EV) maker, THINK, today announces its entry into the Finnish market, with the immediate start of sales at Helsinki EV Motor Show 2010. Full story...

Just a quick note to let you know that many things are going on right now at Auto123.com. First and foremost, we are very happy to welcome back Lesley Wimbush to our ranks as a collaborator. Her first review was on the impressive Tesla Roadster and next, she will report back from France after having taken the new CL-Class for a spin. This multi-talented lover of all things horse-related is and will be an asset to our team! Go Lesley! Full story...

Teams McLaren and Red Bull racing got off to a strong start at Monza on Friday at the Grand Prix of Italy. And watch for Ferrari perform well on home soil... Full story...

The new GP2 spec car, which will be run starting next season, has been unveiled on Friday in the paddock in Monza at the Italian Grand Prix Full story...

STUTTGART, Germany and ATLANTA, - Just one year after its initial market launch in Europe, the Porsche Panamera has exceeded sales expectations with customer deliveries of 22,518 internationally. Full story...

Rüsselsheim - Opel's Vice President of Design Mark Adams gave his team the briefing: "show me the most emotional side of Opel's new design language, 'sculptural artistry meets German precision'." What they created, the GTC Paris concept car, will be shown for the first time at the Mondial de l'Automobile 2010 (October 2 - 17). Full story...

Auto123.com published its own version of the 2011 IndyCar provisional schedule yesterday. Looks like we were right as the official calendar unveiled today is exactly as we had anticipated. Full story...

McLaren driver and former World Champion Lewis Hamilton has hit out at the FIA's plans to penalise formula one drivers for road traffic infractions. Full story...

Former World Rally Champion Petter Solberg (Citroen C4) is the leader after the first day of Rally Japan. Full story...

St. Sauveur, Quebec - Last May, Japanese automaker Suzuki launched its largest and most sophisticated sedan ever in Canada. It's called Kizashi, which roughly translates into "something great is coming". Still hot from the oven, this surprising four-door deserves to be recognized for its many qualities. After all, there isn't anything quite like it in the brand's low-profile product family. Full story...