Auto News 5

A spokesperson for Ford of Britain has told just-auto that the Focus Electric will be launched in the UK early in the fourth quarter. The car for European markets will be manufactured alongside other Focus variants at Saarlouis in Germany.

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: This 2013 Infiniti JX35 is one of those cars that the more I drive the more I like.

Bob King was elected UAW president in June, 2010, by delegates at the UAW's 35th Constitutional Convention in Detroit. King, who is known for his activism and passionate beliefs in social and economic justice, served three terms as a UAW vice president. In his last term as vice president, he directed the Ford, Severstal, and Competitive Shops/Independents, Parts and Suppliers (IPS) departments. He talked to Simon Warburton at last week's Detroit Auto Show.

Daimler has begun production of a coupe-styled Mercedes compact alongside the B class in Hungary. The CLA is one of three new compacts that the automaker is planning to launch before 2015.

News 25 Jan, 2013

The new Zafira and 3008, and C3 Picasso and Meriva will share platforms

News 25 Jan, 2013

Production of the Jaguar XF has begun at JLR's facility in Pune, India

Renault has fought back against suggestions by one of its major unions it is mulling closing two plants in France if productivity improvements are not agreed.

News 25 Jan, 2013

BMW and Toyota have announced plans to co-develop a new sports car, fuel cells, lightweight tech and more

Volkswagen plans to produce its Golf hatchback in Mexico as part of a push for market share in North America, where it trails global rivals.

Nissan Motor plans to build a new hatchback model at one of alliance partner Renault's French factories, Les Echos newspaper reported.

Porsche will extend the 3-year contract of its CEO, Matthias Mueller, by one year to October 2014. Mueller, 59, took over the top job at the sports car maker from Wendelin Wiedeking in 2010.

News 25 Jan, 2013

Our spies have caught the sporty new Skoda Octavia Estate vRS testing in Scandinavia

Daimler has delayed plans to launch a fuel-cell powered variant of its B-class compact and is now in talks with possible partners Renault-Nissan and Ford on sharing the technology and reducing costs.

Hot. It was hot in Southern California, 75 all week and climbing. Bright blue day. No clouds above. The sun bore down upon the foreheads of people sitting on their sundecks, sweating through their chinos.

Fiat has received trade unions' go-ahead for a layoff scheme at its Melfi plant in southern Italy that will allow it restructure the plant before producing a new Jeep and a Fiat model there.

Saab is raising fresh hopes in its Swedish hometown as the mothballed brand gears up for another revival, more than a year after it went bankrupt.

Mercedes-Benz's redesigned S-class range will grow from three vehicles to five with the addition of a convertible and an ultraluxury sedan.

Kia will unveil a ''provocative and racy'' new concept vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show in March -- and we have some preliminary pictures to prove it.

This sporty model will no doubt turn a lot of heads, especially with a different interpretation of the company's signature tiger-nose grille and headlight arrangement.

Unfortunately, that's about all the information we have so far. Expect further details and additional images when the Geneva Motor Show kicks off.

Photo: Kia

In North America the news off-the-track can take priority of news on the track.

During the 31rst Annual NASCAR pre-season Media Tour the biggest actual news of the week seemed to be Kasey Kahne's haircut.

Then, on Friday morning, Danica Patrick, confirmed to the Associated Press one of the worst kept secrets in the garage (and some media) that she was dating fellow Sprint Cup driver, and two-time Nationwide Series Champion, Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

"I have a boyfriend, his name is Richard," she said adding that the couple waited until after the media tour was over to avoid conflicting with the serious business of racing news.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (Photo: NASCAR)

Last fall Patrick filed for divorce from her 47-year old husband Paul Hospenthal after a seven-year marriage.

Stenhouse, who at 25 is five years younger than Patrick, also confirmed the development after dodging questions during the media tour.

Oh, and if you missed it Kasey Kahne showed up at the Hendrick Motorsports stop sporting a modified buzz cut called a fade because the hair is shaved close to the sides of the head leaving a mop of almost regular length hair on top.

Team owner Rick Hendrick, kept his cool upon seeing that haircut but told the press he offered Kahne $20 “to finish the haircut.”

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone has backed the changes taking place at Mercedes.

Earlier, beleaguered team boss Ross Brawn played down claims the F1 chief executive may be playing a role in the power struggle, as Austrians Niki Lauda and Toto Wolff reportedly pull their weight against Brackley's old guard including Brawn and Nick Fry.

Asked about the shakeup, Ecclestone - holidaying in Kitzbuhel, Austria - told Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper: "I hope it means that Mercedes is much stronger.

"I trust that the new team leaders Niki Lauda and Toto Wolff ... it's new people with new ideas.

"Mercedes has the best engine, strong drivers, enough budget -- I would be disappointed if they are not at the front," the 82-year-old added.

Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team