Auto News 5

It is tough to say whether the RVR comes in two models or three. The official designations are SE and GT, but the SE is available in 2WD with a five-speed manual transmission, while the upper trim automatic is 4WD only as is the tricked-out GT. Mitsubishi was kind enough to send me an SE with 4WD. With trim levels as close as they are in the SE and GT, I know it was an SE because I had a regular key (or what passes for one these days) and not the passive, keep-it-in-your-pocket fob.

May 2011 might historically be regarded as the period when the full effect of Japan's natural disaster were first felt, at least in the automotive business. In the Tsunami's wake, plants, factories and assembly lines were shut down and most have yet to return to producing anything.

The first production two-seater in the MINI line-up since the brand's renaissance in 2002 has just been launched. The MINI Coupe offers trademark styling and promises unbridled driving fun. And it looks like a home run.

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee-Cruising the gently-rolling back roads through Lynchburg, Tennessee, our route winds and undulates through sleepy towns and past hillsides studded with round hay bales. The air is so thick in the 98-degree heat that it hangs in dense, lazy blue skeins on the hilltops.

It looks like Porsche's upcoming baby off-roader, the Cajun, is set to sport an Audi Q5 platform and a brand new V6 twin-turbodiesel engine. As the first Porsche designed under the watchful eye of Volkswagen Group's Group chief designer Waller de'Silva, the Porsche Cajun will be manufactured in Leipzig, Germany.

Last Saturday, Fiat president and CEO Sergio Marchionne admitted he offered to buy the 1.7% Chrysler stake held by the governments of Canada and Ontario for 125 million.

Like Monaco, Montreal is a semi-permanent facility but the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is faster with a low-grip surface: two parameters that have a far-reaching effect on tire wear.

Lotus Renault GP made contact recently with the Quebec authorities to discuss the conformity of the RS31's livery with the anti-tobacco legislation in force.

We don't know about you guys but we petrol-heads at Auto123.com can and will never get enough of cars. Prime example: Vacation time. We can't and don't leave our work behind.

I had an epiphany of sorts this morning; or rather, my husband did. If we all drove like taxi drivers, there would be a lot less traffic and a lot less accidents on the road.

In April, we learned that the MINAGI concept would be mass-produced under the moniker CX-5. According to whatcar.com, the compact crossover will be available for order in September 2011, with the first deliveries slated for March 2012.

NASCAR officials announced that they have fined team owner, Richard Childress, $150,000 for an altercation in the garage area following the completion of a NASCAR Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway.

The global democratization of photo radar demonstrates that police forces can count more than ever on automated solutions to catch delinquent drivers and concentrate on other matters. After speed detectors, motorists may well have to contend with sound detectors as well.

Gasoline and diesel are like cats and dogs - put them together and disaster ensues every time. Yet, during a presentation given by Chrysler during the Department of Energy's 2011 Merit Review in Washington D.C., the automaker announced the development of a radical prototype engine that burns a combination of gasoline and diesel, in an effort to make its fleet more fuel-efficient.

A contact between front runners Alex Tagliani and Andrew Ranger helped Robin Buck to earn his first ever victory in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series event presented at the ICAR circuit on Sunday.

GM is giving former unit Saab a lease on life 18 months after almost killing off the Swedish brand.

Volkswagen AG plans to boost production in Russia in the medium term, a spokesman for the company said, to tap into growth outside its home market and take advantage of incentives.

Fiat has offered $125 million to buy the Canadian government's stake in Chrysler Group LLC as it moves swiftly to strengthen its control of the U.S. automaker, Fiat Spa CEO Sergio Marchionne said on Saturday.

Pang Da's $157 million pact with Dutch firm Spyker to keep its Saab brand on life-support faces the sobering reality of one remaining, but knotty issue -- winning the blessing of the Chinese government.

Pang Da's $157 million pact with Dutch firm Spyker to keep its Saab brand on life-support faces the sobering reality of one remaining, but knotty issue -- winning the blessing of the Chinese government.