Auto News 5

VW has been given approval by the European Union for its planned purchase of various auto businesses belonging to bankrupt German company Karmann. The decision paves the way for the automaker to start production of a new Golf convertible next spring. Full story...

Porsche's supervisory board signed off on developing a smaller, cheaper SUV, which will be aimed a younger customers who can't afford the Cayenne SUV, the German brand's best-selling model. Full story...

It's widely believed that on-board Internet access will become a regular option in cars as technology makes the necessary mass-market breakthroughs in the next few years. Full story...

Toyota will pay to fix about 650,000 Prius models worldwide for a coolant pump glitch that could cause the top-selling hybrid to overheat and lose power. The repair campaign covers Prius cars for the model years 2004 to 2007. Full story...

Fiat's deal to supply Opel/Vauxhall with at least 250,000 units of a new light van range has some interesting background that must have executives at both companies experiencing a little déjà vu. Full story...

Fiat will supply GM's Opel/Vauxhall unit with at least 250,000 units of a new light van. The vehicles will succeed the Opel/Vauxhall Combo and will be built on Fiat's existing platform for its Doblo van. Full story...

U.S. November auto sales held above 12 million vehicles on an annual basis, a gain of about 10 percent from a year earlier, driven by month-end discounts and a slow return in consumer demand, according to analysts. Full story...

Toyota will cover the cost of repairs to 650,000 Prius cars that have a coolant pump problem that could cause the hybrid to overheat and lose power. The repair campaign covers Prius cars for the model years 2004 to 2007. Full story...

Santander looks likely to end its sponsorship of the McLaren team after the Spanish bank's "transition" to Ferrari in 2010. Full story...

Porsche has officially announced their intention of introducing new model ranges in order to increase their offering to the buying public. The first result of this decision will be the Cajun, an efficient and sporty entry-level SUV/CUV made to attract new and younger customers. By enlarging the range of available products, the company is clearly indicating that they are not different from others, as they want to improve sales figures and that the best way to do so is through volume. Full story...

Former Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton revealed on his personal Twitter account that he performed his first virtual tests of next year's car on the McLaren simulator. Full story...

Penske Racing rewarded Brad Keselowski's Nationwide Series winning crew chief, Paul Wolfe a promotion to the NASCAR Sprint Cup for 2011. Full story...

Sitting through "Ironman" yet again with a good friend's ten-year old, it occurred to me that the film was a virtual showcase of Audi's lineup. Full story...

The first Chevrolet Volt available for retail sale will be offered at public auction with the proceeds benefiting math and science education in the Detroit Public Schools. General Motors North America President Mark Reuss made the announcement of the event at Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant, where the car is assembled. Full story...

The 100% electric Nissan LEAF has been awarded 2011 European Car of the Year, beating 40 contenders to win Europe's most important motoring prize. Voted by 57 motorist journalists coming from 23 European countries, it's the first time in the 47-year history of the annual competition that this award is given to an electric vehicle. Full story...

There are some people who don't believe in downsizing. For them, bigger is better, and you won't convince them to trade-in their full-size SUV for something smaller, something more environmentally-friendly. Forget it. Won't happen. Full story...

Heikki Kovalainen has been ordered to bed for a few days to nurse "heavy concussion" sustained at the weekend in Germany. Full story...

The FIA has released on Tuesday the 2011 provisional Formula 1 entry list and six teams are yet to confirm their full driver line-ups. Full story...

The name "Wolf" is well known in the Formula 1 world. It was at the wheel of the gorgeous Wolf WR1 that South African driver Jody Scheckter nearly clinched the 1977 World Championship! Full story...

News about Nico Hulkenberg's future in formula one might be imminent, according to his management. Full story...