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From GMM

Pirelli's Paul Hembery is confident Jaime Alguersuari will be back on the grid soon.

After losing Red Bull's backing and his Toro Rosso seat at the end of last season, the now 22-year-old Spaniard kept his F1 dream alive by accepting the role as official tyre supplier Pirelli's main test driver.

This week, he is in action at Belgium's fabled Spa Francorchamps.

"These days there are few opportunities for drivers to drive formula one cars," Paul Hembery told El Confidencial.

"Right now Jaime is doing almost 700 kilometres a day, the equivalent of two grands prix. This year he will do six tests which is basically 12 grands prix. For him it's a fantastic opportunity to get back in. And I hope he can, because he has the talent for it. Sometimes you have to step back to step forwards, like (Romain) Grosjean, who had a hard time at first but is now able to show his maturity and preparedness. I hope it's the same for Jaime," added Hembery.

Jaime Alguersuari driving the Pirelli R30. (Photo: Pirelli)

Wildfires threatening the Colorado Springs area have forced postponement of the 90th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, which was scheduled for July 8.

Hendrick Automotive Group is renaming its eight Kansas City-area dealerships over the next 10 months. The dealerships' names will change from 'Superior' to 'Hendrick,' the company said in a statement Wednesday.

GM landed six of the top 10 vehicles in Total Car Score's Top 10 Best American Cars of 2012 list. Five of the GM vehicles ranked in the top six -- the Cadillac SRX was ranked ninth.

The U.S. auto industry is in full recovery mode and industry leaders are taking to the commencement circuit to tout the turnaround and recruit critical engineering and management talent.

Also in this episode: The SVT Raptor gets some upgrades for 2013, the Toyota Avalon goes hybrid and 12 cars from the Ruger collection go up for auction.

A group of Ford retirees is calling for rejection of the automaker's offer of a lump-sum payment instead of monthly pension checks, The Detroit News reported today.

2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman ALL4 - Enter the Automatic

Is the automatic the solution to the problem of the undersized clutch and the 1.6-liter's turbo lag?

"Give this car a nice automatic or a DSG," suggested senior online editor Phil Floraday at the start of our Mini's penultimate month in our hands, "and it might be enough to get me to look past the car's styling and its weird interior." Your wish, Mr. Floraday, is granted -- at least in the sense that an automatic-equipped Mini Countryman arrived in the office just days later. Is the automatic the solution to the problem of the undersized clutch and the 1.6-liter's turbo lag, which combine to make driving around town "a real pain in the a**," to quote Phil once again?

Photo Gallery: 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman ALL4 - Four Seasons Update - June 2012 - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2011 Mini Cooper S Countryman ALL4 - Four Seasons Update - June 2012 - Automobile Magazine

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General Motors India is to add the Chevrolet Sail, Enjoy and an updated Spark to its locally-built range by year-end, killing off the outdated Aveo, U-VA and Optra models at the same time.

The big news for the Limited trim option of the 2013

First Drive: 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

Higher power, higher expectations.

The standard, 138-hp Hyundai Veloster overpromises and underdelivers. Its tame, unexceptional dynamics contrast with the wild styling and the curious three-door package. Yet even as we abandoned our hope for a Korean revelation during our first drive of that car last October, we remained optimistic that Hyundai would take a mulligan with the upcoming turbocharged model.

Photo Gallery: First Drive: 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: First Drive: 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo - Automobile Magazine

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Ford has added five companies to its group of preferred suppliers as part of its Aligned Business Framework.

While many in the Autoweek office are convinced that

For the first time since the 1980s, and let's face it, 1991 was the '80s, Ford will stash a four-cylinder engine in the Taurus sedan.

Full details and prices have been announced for the new Mercedes A-Class, which will start from £18,495

After spending Friday and Saturday at the 2012

Investors suing Porsche SE over its botched 2008 takeover of Volkswagen suffered a setback to claims for more than 4 billion euros ($4.99 billion) of damages as German court hearings exposed initial cases as sketchy.

McLaren will debut the revised MP4-12C alongside a Union Jack-liveried GT3 racing version

Four car makers are in the top 10 of best global green brands according to Interbrand's 2012 report.

Renault Samsung Motors (RSM) is to receive fresh investment from its largest shareholder, Renault Group chief operating officer Carlos Tavares has stated.