Auto News 5

Mini is finding its feet in China after a slow start following its introduction in 2005. Back then it recorded just 430 sales but last year it hit a record 15,500.

LMC Automotive has raised its forecast for US light vehicle sales from 14.3m to 14.5m in 2012. The upward revision has been prompted by recent strong sales.

Zhongsheng, a major Chinese auto retailer has acquired a 70 percent stake in German vehicle-personalization specialist Carlsson to meet rising demand from wealthy Chinese car owners for custom bodies and tuned engines.

Delphi has put its toe back in the acquisition water with the announcement it intends to purchase FCI Group's Motorised Vehicles Division (MVL) for EUR765m (US$962m).

Renesas Electronics, the world's biggest maker of automotive microcontrollers, plans to raise capital of 100 billion yen ($1.

Two highlights for the j-a crew this week; days of sunny hot weather after the coldest and wettest autumn anyone can remember and the annual SMMT Test Day at Millbrook.

What is it?

BMW named Karim Habib as head of design for its automobiles division. Habib takes over the role from Adrian van Hooydonk, who had been doing the job in addition to his responsibilities as BMW's group design chief.

BMW named Karim Habib as head of design for its automobiles division. Habib takes over the role from Adrian van Hooydonk, who had been doing the job in addition to his responsibilities as BMW's group design chief.

Toyota Motor said on Friday it plans to roll out eight models of compact cars for emerging markets, starting with the Etios that was launched in India in December 2010.

Officially there are no plans to shift any South Korean General Motors production to Europe but unofficially it 'could' happen.

What is it?

Dodging parking tickets has become a postcode lottery, according to new figures released today

Fiat says it is open to expanding its newly announced partnership with Mazda and building the Japanese automaker's vehicles at Fiat and Chrysler factories worldwide.

Fiat says it is open to expanding its newly announced partnership with Mazda and building the Japanese automaker's vehicles at Fiat and Chrysler factories worldwide.

Toyota said it would roll out eight compact car models tailored for emerging markets by 2015 in an attempt to catch up to front-runners such as Volkswagen and General Motors.

Toyota said it would roll out eight compact car models tailored for emerging markets by 2015 in an attempt to catch up to front-runners such as Volkswagen and General Motors.

A top German union official will explain to hourly employees at Volkswagen's U.S. plant in early June that his group will not pressure them to join the UAW union, the automaker's top labor representative said.

We're certain that, like us, you are glad to see the leaves out, the sun high in the sky and temperatures soaring.

There are many guilty pleasures in life and one of our absolute favorites is to cruise around in a convertible. With the top down and wind in our hair (at least for some of us), work and stress become a thing of the past.

Here's our Top 10 fave convertibles currently available:


10. 2012 Volkswagen EOS

Photo: Sebastien D'Amour

While some automakers arbitrarily name their vehicles, or make up words, VW called their four-seater the Eos on purpose. When the car was first introduced in 2005, VW marketed the Eos as being the “dawning of a new era” for VW. More details on the 2012 Volkswagen Eos.

Continue reading Top 10 convertibles for 2012

Johnny Cecotto Jr perfectly took advantage of his pole position to secure his first GP2 win during race 1 in Monaco.

The Venezuelan driver, who was quickest in free practice, then in qualifying, has confirmed in the first race, after he resisted pressure from Swede Marcus Ericsson, who finished with only half a second deficit at the checkered flag.

Johnny Ceccotto Jr, Addax. (Photo: GP2 Series)

Caterham driver Giedo Van der Garde takes third position ahead of championship leader Davide Valsecchi. Stéphane Richelmi, the man from Monaco, clinched 8th position, which gives him the big advantage to start from pole position for race 2 presented on Saturday on his home soil.

That was the first win in GP2 for a driver from Venezuela, a country that already celebrated his first Formula 1 win with Pastor Maldonado two weeks ago in Barcelona.

Monaco - Race 1:
1 - Johnny Cecotto - Addax - 42 laps in 59'42"521
2 - Marcus Ericsson - iSport - 0"5

3 - Giedo Van der Garde - Caterham - 5"0
4 - Davide Valsecchi - Dams - 16"3

5 - Max Chilton - Carlin - 17"3

6 - Jolyon Palmer - iSport - 21"8

7 - James Calado - Lotus - 25"6
8 - Stephane Richelmi - Trident - 42"2
Etc.