Auto News 5

BMW and Toyota have deepened their collaboration with the signing of binding agreements to jointly development a new sports car, fuel cell systems and lightweight technologies.

Russia's car market is forecast by consultants PwC to rise by around 5% in 2013, continuing the growth trend of recent years.

News 25 Jan, 2013

First look at the facelifted Volvo S60 and XC60 ahead of Geneva

General Motors and PSA will build joint vehicle programs using underpinnings from the French automaker. The first vehicles from the tie-up are due in 2016.

GM and PSA said Thursday they will build all three planned joint vehicle programs using underpinnings from the French automaker. The first vehicles from the tie-up are due in 2016.

A123 Systems says it is preparing for a closing of transactions in its asset purchase agreements with Wanxiang America and Navitas Systems that could take place next week.

Tata Motors' unit Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has started assembling an entry level Jaguar XF model at its Pune factory which has built the Land Rover Freelander since May 2011.

TRW Automotive says a resurgent US economy is aiding its performance, particularly with new products as the country bounces back from industry-wide turmoil only a few years ago.

Following high demand for the new Golf throughout Europe, with more than 100,000 orders, Volkswagen is planning additional shifts at its main plant in Wolfsburg.

Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn said the automaker must take action to increase productivity. 'The best thing we can hope for is a market stabilization' in Europe, he said.

Toyota and BMW are tightening technical ties with plans to jointly develop a sports car platform, lithium-air batteries and new lightweight materials.

Toyota and BMW are tightening technical ties with plans to jointly develop a sports car platform, lithium-air batteries and new lightweight materials.

Plenty of people were surprised this week that the original Batmobile sold for $4.6 million* at Barrett-Jackson.

Volkswagen plans to invest 785 million euros ($1 billion) over the next 5 years in a plant in northern Spain that builds the subcompact Polo model. VW is the third carmaker in recent months to boost investment in the recession-hit country.

Faced with steep sales declines, Renault may dare the previously unthinkable: Closing unproductive car plants in France.

Jaguar Land Rover said fiscal third-quarter profit growth probably stalled because of currency shifts and its cheaper Evoque SUV model attracting a higher share of buyers.

Volkswagen says it is planning additional weekend production to meet demand for the latest version of its best-selling Golf which went on sale at the end of last year.

From GMM

The strong rumours of a McLaren versus Mercedes struggle for the services of top engineer Paddy Lowe continued to develop on Thursday.

The latest behind-the-scenes rumbling is that James Allison, Lotus' young and increasingly highly respected technical director, has been sounded out by McLaren as a potential replacement for Lowe.

James Allison (on the right) discussing with McLaren? (Photo: WRi2)

The Mercedes camp, meanwhile, is sending out mixed messages.

On the one hand, spokespeople are refusing to comment, but there is little doubt the push to secure Lowe is being headed by the new German-speaking guard of Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda.

On the other side, in Brackley on Thursday, the current team principal Ross Brawn told reporters: "I am in charge".

His wading into the saga comes after reports he threatened to quit if Lowe arrives, while McLaren's Martin Whitmarsh and Ron Dennis have apparently offered Lowe more money if he stays put.

"I know all the plans for the future of the team and I hope I'm going to be a part of them for a very long time," said an emphatic Brawn.

Brawn hinted that Mercedes' moves for Lowe are on the basis of succession planning, while rumours of his impending exit have been triggered by his dithering over a "long term commitment".

"Obviously with a lot of additions, I want to see how things go before I make a final long term commitment," said Brawn, who admitted he has "talked to Paddy".

Former Renault Formula 1 driver, Robert Kubica tested a 500-bhp Mercedes C-Coupe DTM at Circuit Ricardo Tormo near Valencia, Spain today, Thursday.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

It was the first proper test of a poweful, purebred race car for Kubica who sustained multiple injuries in an accident on the February 6, 2011 whilst rallying in Italy.

The Pole Kubica wanted to see how he would perform in the cockpit after his long break due to his extensive hand and forearm injuiries.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz published a good number of photos of the test. Mercedes' new director of motorsport, Christian “Toto” Wolff attended the test.

Robert Kubica and Toto Wolff. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz)

From Mercedes-Benz press release

During this first test session in the DTM, Robert Kubica had to get accustomed to the handling characteristics of a racing car with which he was totally unfamiliar. He covered 114 laps, which equates to 456.570 kilometres, of the 4.005km circuit where he has posted so many test kilometres in Formula 1 in the past.

Photo: Mercedes-Benz

Robert Kubica:
"My first day of testing in a DTM car was great fun and I learned a lot about the series and the DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé. The first installation lap was in the dry, then a few heavy showers of rain came down and we had to wait for the track to dry out. All in all, it was a good experience, getting to know the car in different weather conditions. I was able to get to grips with the DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé and felt very comfortable in the car, even though after my long break it meant adjusting to the high downforce that a state-of-the art DTM race car produces. I'm very pleased with my performance on this first day of DTM testing and had no problems whatsoever in the car."

Robert Kubica (Photo: Mercedes-Benz)

In a time when baseball stadiums have a useful life of 20 years or so there's nothing far out of order concerning a design dating back 55 years. Or perhaps it's really a time for a change.

During the NASCAR Media Tour in Charlotte, Daytona International Speedway's President, Joie Chitwood, revealed some artist renderings which are the prototypes of a proposed redevelopment project.

Photo: Daytona International Speedway

The proposed project is designed to provide a better overall race experience for fans, including upgraded concession areas, entrances, ticket gates, grandstands and seating, as well as interactive common areas that allow for opportunities to watch a race from several vantage points.

Photo: Daytona International Speedway

Photo: Daytona International Speedway