Auto News 5

The Fiat-Chrysler alliance will bring a big dose of Fiat's fuel-saving technology to Chrysler's gas-guzzling lineup.

Hyundai is aggressively targeting rivals such as Volkswagen, Opel and Ford with the stylish i40 in Europe's midsized segment, which is dominated by fleet sales. The automaker launched the i40 first as a station wagon in July.

Last year, the Chinese government introduced generous sales subsidies for electric cars and plug-ins -but not conventional hybrids.

Saab's owner Swedish Automobile is in substantive talks with potential investors, the automaker's North American president said.

Simon Thomas, who was Nissan's European sales and marketing boss during the automaker's recent revival in the region, has been appointed managing director of Volkswagen Group UK. He will succeed Robin Woolcock, 63, VW's UK boss since 2000.

Saab's owner Swedish Automobile is in substantive talks with potential investors, the automaker's North American president said.

Tata is turning to Jaguar Land Rover for growth and to drive international ambitions as its cut-rate Nano model faces falling sales.

Veteran Ford sales executive Mark Ovenden, who has led the carmaker's operations in Russia for the past three years, is the new head of Ford of Britain.

The Charlotte Observer is reporting that two crew members of the Earnhardt Ganassi Racing team have been arrested for narcotics trafficking. One of them, Trevor Lysne, is the front tire changer on Juan Pablo Montoya's Sprint Cup team.

Tomas Scheckter will replace Justin Wilson this coming weekend for the Indy 225 race at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Subaru will take advantage of the upcoming Frankfurt auto show to unveil the final-version XV, a five-seater crossover version concept, originally presented in Chicago earlier this year.

Suzuki announced today that it will be heading to the Frankfurt Auto Show with its new Swift Sport. This unveiling marks the first evolution of the car, which was originally launched in 2006.

Like any good auto enthusiast, I watch the UK's hit TV program, Top Gear. I've watched it for years, way back when Tiff Needell and Jeremy Clarkson used to duke it out on the track and when the ever-loveable and not-so-energetic TG Dog was on the set. And now, with James May and Richard Hammond on board, I think it's possibly the best it's ever been with incredible cinematography and some of the best on-screen chemistry on any live show I've seen.

Kurt Busch will fill-in for Brad Keselowski at Saturday's Nationwide Series race at Watkins Glen on Saturday.

I'm not a fan of hybrids. I'm not afraid to admit it, despite the raised eyebrows and scowls from greenies everywhere. I like a gas-burning, carbon-dioxide-spewing, earth-murdering vehicle that's got some oomph behind the wheel and some attitude on the road.

SunPower Corp. and Ford today announced a new partnership in which the blue oval will offer Ford Focus Electric buyers, a solar panel that can be installed at home on a rooftop.

NASCAR team owner Chip Ganassi said he is "heartbroken," over the lack of follow through from 2010.

Now, I'm certainly not of the upper crust, but I certainly can appreciate the finer things in life, especially when they come with four massive wheels and lotsa power. When you want the opportunity to feel like a member of the elite, if only for a few laps at a time, that's where the Supercar Challenge comes in.

Chrysler announced today the recall of 50,250 2008 Town & Country and Grand Caravan minivans.

General Motors executives took advantage of its second annual global briefing, a meeting with its investors, to give them a glimpse at their future plans. The Detroit News got hold of details in which we learned that the world's number one manufacturer wants to halve the number of platforms and engines used throughout its lineup.