Auto News 5

Samyang Optics of Korea signed a distribution agreement with ZAP, a US company specialising in the selling electric vehicles. This agreement provides Samyang with exclusive rights to manufacture, assemble and market ZAP's complete line of electric trucks, vans, motorcycles, scooters and ATVs in Korea. Full story...

American steel is largely missing from the premium vehicle scene these days, and that's something Cadillac's looking to change. With a rapidly-expanding CTS lineup, a fresh new ad campaign, and a recent update to one of their most important models, the SRX, they're zoning in on the luxury shopper's dollar. Full story...

Key figures of the Mercedes GP team have admitted they have work to do to bring the new W01 car up to speed. Full story...

Just when the NASCAR series are about to get down to business comes this, stop press, news. Full story...

The ambitious Stefan GP outfit may have this week hammered the final nail into the coffin of the 2010 formula one entrant Campos. Full story...

Robert Kubica insists that Renault's new car is not just a newly liveried version of its uncompetitive predecessor. Full story...

New Ford Twitter technology is out of sync with national movement to discourage distracted driving and legislation banning use of cell phones, texting, ect. by drivers to curb accidents/injuries. Full story...

The Mercedes GP Petronas Formula 1 team confirmed Thursday that veteran Nick Heidfeld will join the team as Reserve Race Driver and Test Driver for the 2010 Formula One season. Full story...

Long time McLaren race engineer Mark Slade has resurfaced at the Renault team for 2010. Full story...

The seedlings for the first 100 hectares (250 acres) have been planted. Daimler AG has started a new project for the cultivation of the biodiesel raw material jatropha in the south of India. Full story...

The Obama Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on February 3 final revisions to the National Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS) for 2010 and beyond. The announcement affirms the important role biofuels play in creating new jobs, growing the economy, diversifying energy needs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Full story...

I've had a few weeks to digest my latest trip to Cobo Hall for the Detroit Auto Show. As I reminisce, I can't help but remember the good moments and highlights. In short, the Honda CR-Z and Ford Focus really made my day. And that, in itself, means a whole heck of a lot. Full story...

Audi announced its driver line-up for the most important sports car race of the year, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Capello-Kristensen-McNish, Bernhard-Dumas-Rockenfeller and Fassler-Lotterer-Treluyer will drive the three TDI Audi R15s next June. Full story...

The Super Bowl is a monster. Every year, the National Football League championship is watched by over 100,000 million viewers, making it an ideal venue for marketers and top manufacturers... who can afford a 30-second spot during the game to promote their new products. Full story...

Auto123.com finally managed to get a hold of 1997 Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve to get an update on the wild rumours that circulate around his potential return to Formula 1. Full story...

DETROIT- The Chevrolet Tahoe Police 2WD vehicle was found to have the lowest lifecycle cost in the law enforcement market by Vincentric, a company specializing in the area of automobile lifecycle analysis. Vincentric recently released their 2010 law enforcement vehicle market analysis that measured 20 mileage/lifecycle timeframes and the Tahoe Police 2WD enjoyed the lowest lifecycle cost in the majority of scenarios. Full story...

Although stoplights are one of the most common and effective traffic-control tools available, they can also be a cause of accidents, especially when they go out. Cities across the nation have tried to increase energy efficiency and safety by switching from incandescent stoplights to long-lasting LED traffic lights only to discover that these new lights present a new set of problems. Full story...

Perhaps you are a hardcore fan of the Dodge Challenger, in love with your Jeep® Liberty, think your Chrysler 300C is red-carpet worthy, one of those people who would not be caught driving anything other than your award-winning Ram truck or can't wait to buy more Mopar® accessories for your Dodge Challenger. Full story...

Visually different from most of its contemporaries, and totally different from every other Volvo car. The Volvo PV36, perhaps better known as the Carioca, is an exciting chapter in the Volvo history. It is also quite famous in automotive history if you consider how few examples were actually built and by such a small manufacturer like Volvo Car Corporation. Full story...

Toyota Canada is aware of a small number of isolated reports of inconsistent brake feel in certain 2010 model year Prius vehicles and we are investigating those reports. Full story...