Auto News 5

Russian automaker Avtotor reportedly is joining with Magna to establish a manufacturing complex that includes a cluster of plants that will make cars and components in the Kaliningrad region, the centre of Russian vehicle production.

Global vehicle deliveries of Volkswagen's core VW brand increased by 13.7 percent to 498,600 in June, extending the increase in year-to-date deliveries by 10.2 percent to 2.79 million.

General Motors, in a move to appeal to new buyers, said today that it will allow consumers to return any new 2012 or 2013 model year Chevrolet for a full refund within 60 days, if they're unhappy with their purchase.

General Motors' sales in China in the first half of the year rose 11.3% from last year's previous record in the same period to 1,417,047 units.

It's time I issue a few confessions and apologies to the kind folks I met at RM's Dingman Collection auction June 9-10.

Fiat might feel flattered by the styling its French rival Renault has given to its new Clio subcompact, as it practically shouts "viva Italia." But with nothing new to match it, the Italians are in no position to boast.

If Volkswagen chairman Ferdinand Piech and his protégé, CEO Martin Winterkorn, hope to consolidate VW's position as the world's largest automaker by 2018, American consumers will need to buy a lot more new Volkswagens, Audis and Porsches.

Fiat is not ruling out closing one of its Italian plants unless it can secure extra work to the US coupled with union agreement.

BMW says it intends to continue hybrid-vehicle research on its own as it holds talks with PSA about breaking up a joint venture.

BMW says it intends to continue hybrid-vehicle research on its own as it holds talks with PSA about breaking up a joint venture.

Joint venture Dongfeng Honda Automobile has marked the start of production at its new second automobile plant in Wuhan, Hubei Province.

Nissan has set the first stone of its new manufacturing complex in Aguascalientes, its third in Mexico and the second in the state. The complex is the result of a US$2bn spend announced last January to increase manufacturing capacity needed to satisfy the high demand for Nissan vehicles in the domestic and international markets.

A group called Consumer Watchdog announced that it is suing Hyundai on behalf of drivers who purchased 2011 and

That pedigreed race cars regularly cross the block at high-profile auctions isn't exactly news. Even so, we thought our readers might like to know that the Monterey, Calif.

Sales of new cars and light commercial vehicles in Russia rose 10 percent in June, maintaining the double-digit growth that is expected to return the market to near pre-crisis levels for the full year.

Volkswagen's joint venture with FAW plans to build an assembly plant in the central China city of Wuhan, according to local media.

The auto industry's race to add gears to automatic transmissions is running out of steam. After Germany's ZF introduced its eight- and nine-speed transmissions, a press report said that Hyundai was developing a 10-speed gearbox.

Despite slow jobs growth in the United States and a tepid economy, automakers are maintaining solid North American production schedules this summer. Mike Jackson, IHS Automotive's director of North American forecasts, says U.S.

Matthew Di Leo drove to the win of round five of the Formula Tour F1600 series', held at Mont-Tremblant, Qc. His rival Michael Adams took the top step of the podium over on Sunday, for round 6.

Di Leo won Saturday, besting reigning champion Nathan Blok and eventual winner Adams to the flag. Rookies Jesse Lazare (4th), Guillaume Archambault (9th) and Marc-Antoine Cardin (9th) all made a name for themselves, by finishing in the top 10.

Gord Ross took top honours in Master, but his speed was rewarded only by a bump up the faster class. Because of the 102% rule, Ross will now have to race in Pro.

Sunday saw Adams make it first to the finish and Blok take a second consecutive second place finish. 15-year-old Lazare, in only his second career start, completed the podium.

Guy Gilain imitated Adams in Master.



Race 1 results - F1600 (Mont-Tremblant)
1.Matthew Di Leo
2.Nathan Blok
3.Michael Adams
4.Jesse Lazare
5.Duncan Murdoch
(...)

Race 2 results
1.Michael Adams
2.Nathan Blok
3.Jesse Lazare
4.Sergio Pasian
5.Michel Bonnet
(...)

Stewart Haas Racing has announced, in collaboration with Tommy Baldwin Racing, that Danica Patrick will be entered in the Oct. 21 Hollywood Casino 400 to complete her 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 10-race schedule.

One of the main reasons for choosing that 1.5 mile oval is the extra day of practice being permitted due to the repaving of the facility.

“With the testing rules the way they are, we can't test with her at tracks where NASCAR's top three series compete,” said Greg Zipadelli, SHR competition director and race strategist for Patrick. “That extra day of testing will be huge for her. With the amount of 1.5-mile ovals on the schedule, it made sense to have her compete at Kansas to better prepare her for 2013.”

Patrick made her Sprint Cup debut in the season-opening Daytona 500 Feb. 27 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and has since competed in the Southern 500 May 12 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway and the Coca-Cola 600 May 27 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

In her only NASCAR appearance there, last October, she started and finished 15th in the Nationwide Series race. She also has one IndyCar pole (July 2005) at the oval.

“I've always liked racing at Kansas Speedway,” Patrick said. “I think the extra day of testing will be very beneficial, not only to prepare for the race weekend, but to learn for the rest of 2012 and looking ahead to 2013 with Stewart-Haas Racing. The more track time I can get, the better, so I'm happy to be driving the GoDaddy.com Chevy at Kansas.”