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The South Korean labor union of Hyundai narrowly voted in favor of a wage deal, averting more strikes and production losses at the automaker that has led to its first monthly sales drop in over three years.

Magna Steyr says it will not install a Polish production facility in Warsaw "for the time being" following widespread reports it could manufacture Mini and Infiniti models there from 2015.

PSA Peugeot Citroen has appointed Maxime Picat as managing director of its Peugeot brand, replacing Vincent Rambaud who is leaving the group for personal reasons.

Hyundai Motor Company is poised to move into the Myanmar market to tap what is understood to be enormous growth potential, according to media reports.

News 4 Sep, 2012

Mercedes Aesthetics S Paris Motor Show concept previews new S-Class

Pictures 4 Sep, 2012

China's policy of requiring foreign car makers to form local joint ventures is "like opium" for local firms and is failing to foster world-class indigenous automakers, according to a former minister.

Volkswagen hopes a sleek makeover for its seventh-generation Golf, to be unveiled in Berlin today, will help it remain a best-selling compact car and allow the automaker to achieve its aim of overtaking General Motors and Toyota in global sales.

Volkswagen hopes a sleek makeover for its seventh-generation Golf will help it remain a best-selling compact car and allow the automaker to achieve its aim of overtaking General Motors and Toyota in global sales.

Bill Pollack was one of the founding drivers during the early days of sports car racing on the West Coast of America.

AvtoVAZ has revealed the replacement for the 1110-series Lada Kalina, the B-segment car that has been the Russian market's best selling vehicle for the year to date.

Monthly new-car registrations fell again in Germany, France and Italy in August with mass-market brands hit hardest as southern countries bore the brunt of the euro zone debt crisis and its withering effect on consumer demand.

On Monday, three new Audi board members joined the company from different brands within the Volkswagen Group.

Suzuki plans to cut production at its car factory in Hungary. The automaker cited the "dire business environment" for the decision."

From GMM

Lotus boss Eric Boullier has revealed there is little chance Robert Kubica will return to F1 with the Enstone based team.

The Pole was a Renault (now called Lotus) driver ahead of the 2011 season, when he was seriously hurt during a minor rally in Italy.

February 2011, latest appearance of Robert Kubica at the wheel of a Formula 1 car, Lotus Renault GP. (Photo: WRi2)

For months afterwards, Frenchman Boullier said the team was supporting Kubica's quest to return to F1, but there were rumours of a subsequent falling-out.

Boullier told the Daily Mail's World of F1 blog: "He (Kubica) stopped contact with us months ago."

It emerged last week that Kubica is still pushing to recover his driving fitness, having reportedly tested a works Ford world rally car.

Eric Boullier insisted: "I cannot make any assumptions about anything because I am not in contact with him anymore."

From GMM

Sunday's terrifying first-corner crash at Spa Francorchamps has reopened the debate about whether the sport's days of open cockpits are numbered.

Paddy Lowe, McLaren's technical director, thinks Fernando Alonso's lucky escape after Romain Grosjean's flying Lotus only narrowly missed the Spaniard's hands and head on Sunday means that action is now "inevitable".

He is quoted by the Herald Sun as acknowledging that the drivers' exposed head is the last "big" safety issue for formula one.

Lowe is part of the working group that is looking into whether closed cockpits, shields, forward roll-hoops or canopies are the right solution to the problem.

"I think 2014 is intended (for introduction), as we started the project a year ago," he said.

However, it has been suggested the FIA might have to admit that the benefits of better head protection might be outweighed by its disadvantages, such as reduced driver visibility.

"Ideally a driver wants nothing in the way," said Lowe, "but in the same way as you drive a road car or even the old VW camper van with the centre pillar, you just get used to it, don't you? We found that as long as the pillars don't get too big it is something you can get used to."

In the Baltimore paddocks there were a lot of things going-on behind closed doors and, according to reports, Team Penske is trying to lure Ryan Hunter-Reay to come join the Captain's team for 2013.

As of today, Ryan Briscoe has not been confirmed for 2013 and Team Penske wants to lure the American ace who has had one of his best seasons ever, still standing second in the championship with only one race to go, close to Penske's ace Will Power.

But, it seems as though RHR is not Penske's first choice and its recent interest in the Andretti Autosport driver came only after Simon Pagenaud refuse its offer; the Frenchman unable to do anything thanks to the contract he has with Sam Schmidt's Honda-powered team.



Ryan Hunter-Reay ahead Simon Pagenaud at Baltimore, two drivers targeted by Penske. (Photo: IndyCar)

But Ryan Hunter-Reay still hasn't made his mind and his loyalty to Michael Andretti could weigh heavily in his final decision. The team is on the verge of re-signing DHR and Sun Drop as primary sponsors and they expect Hunter-Reay to stay with the team for a least a couple of years.

Meanwhile, Ryan Briscoe's management team has been busy making contacts with other teams. Although it is still possible that the Australian could be back with Penske in 2013, we have learned that Honda and Ganassi have approached Briscoe and that they would be eager to put him in Graham Rahal's empty seat.

Ryan Briscoe. (Photo: IndyCar)

Very much in demand, Briscoe has also held talks with Bobby Rahal and he could end-up as teammate to Graham Rahal who is almost certain to team-up with his father. 


We have learned also that Rubens Barichello won't be back with KV Racing next season and that the former F1 driver could find his way to Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports alongside Pagenaud. Other teams have also showed interest with the Brazilian. 


Lotus F1 Team officially confirmed Jerome d'Ambrosio as the replacement driver for the banned Romain Grosjean.

The Belgian driver will drive the E20 Lotus at Monza for the Italian Grand Prix.

Official Lotus reserve driver this season, Jerome d'Ambrosio will be back on the starting grid after his full season last year with the small Marussia team.

Eric Boullier, Team Principal, says: "When we signed Jerome as our third driver we signed a man who is highly motivated, fresh, talented and who contested the full 2011 season. We hope that this will pay dividends when he drives the car this weekend in Monza. We know that Jerome is well integrated into the team and that he did a good job when he drove the E20 at the Mugello test. Now he has the challenge of a Grand Prix at the challenging circuit of Monza, in a car which is capable of finishing on the podium."

Jerome d'Ambrosio adds: "My desire for 2012 has always been to get back into the seat of a F1 car so I am grabbing this opportunity with both hands. Monza is a fantastic circuit and I can't wait to take to the track on Friday. As third driver I have worked with the team at every Grand Prix, attending all the briefings and meetings that the race drivers do, so I am well prepared in this respect. I will hand the wheel back to Romain after Sunday's race and I hope that this one showing in Italy will allow me to show my capabilities fully."

Jerome d'Ambrosio was waiting for an opportunity with Lotus. (Photo: Lotus F1 Team)

Later today Joe Gibbs Racing has called a press conference for what we expect to announce that Matt Kenseth will be joining the team starting next year.

Since late June, when the 2003 champion announced that he'd be leaving Roush Fenway Racing, there had been speculation where the 40-year old would land.

And the worst-kept secret this year should be confirmed.

Although Kenseth had made the Chase every year, except for one year, since its' inception; he may have had the perception that he was the number two driver on Roush Fenway after Carl Edwards. And Kenseth had also won two Daytona 500 races in that span.

Matt Kenseth fighting with Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Daytona. (Photo: NASCAR)

One of the questions expected to be addressed; at the press conference is where he stands in team ranks against Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin. Hamlin is the hottest driver on the Sprint Cup circuit at the moment and a legitimate contender for the coveted Cup Championship.

Another topic of the press conference will likely be the future of Joey Logano. In his fourth full year at the Cup level the 22-year old has had only two victories, although he has 15 wins in the Nationwide Series. It's been no secret that JGR has had trouble finding sponsorship for Logano in the Cup Series next year.

And, lastly Elliott Sadler, the current point's leader in the Nationwide Series told the media at Atlanta Motor Speedway that he does not have a contract for next year at Richard Childress Racing. That leads to speculation that he will become a Nationwide driver over at JGR.

Lotus' Romain Grosjean has been given a one-race ban after the stewards at Spa-Francorchamps judged him to be responsible for causing the first-corner accident at the start of Sunday's 2012 Formula 1 Shell Belgian Grand Prix.

The ban means Grosjean will miss next weekend's Italian event, which takes place at Monza from September 7-9. He has also been fined 50,000 Euros.

Grosjean made contact with the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton as they made their way from the start line to the first corner of the race. The ensuing collision involved Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and the Saubers of Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Pérez.

Photos: WRi2