From GMM
McLaren supremo Ron Dennis has suggested he would not step in to prevent Fernando Alonso from returning to the British team.
With the Woking based team looking ahead to its new era with works Honda power from 2015, boss Martin Whitmarsh has made no secret of his desire to see Alonso at the wheel.
But when Dennis was still on the pitwall in 2007, he and Alonso fell out spectacularly, with the two-time world champion splitting from the team after just a single, tumultuous season alongside Lewis Hamilton.
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Fernando Alonso and Ron Dennis, McLaren, in 2007. (Photo: WRi2) |
So with Alonso showing signs of being unhappy at Ferrari this year, and now paired with Kimi Raikkonen for 2014 reportedly against his wishes, the 32-year-old might be looking for a new team for 2015 and beyond.
Ron Dennis, 66, while no longer in charge of F1 matters, remains the McLaren Group chairman, although reportedly with a non-executive status at present.
When asked specifically about Alonso, Dennis told the
BBC: "One has to recognise the first objective of any grand prix team is to win races.
"Whatever obstacles sit between a team wanting to win and winning, be it engineering, fiscal or human issues, you resolve them. You never say never," he added.
General Motors, which acquired Saab in 2000, announced plans to eliminate the brand from its operations on December 18th, 2009.
Hit hard by the recession earlier that year, GM officially put Saab on sale in February. Dutch-based automaker Spyker Cars made a bid, but GM ended talks in December due to deadline problems, and later announced that Saab would be eliminated the following year if it failed to secure a buyer before the close of 2009.
Yet, on January 26th, 2010, GM officials confirmed that they had come to an agreement with Spyker. The transaction did little to resurrect the agonizing Saab, which again changed owners in 2012 (NEVS).
Now, there is hope on the horizon. The Trollhättan plant is still open, and a new production model -- the 220-horsepower Saab 9-3 -- rolled out on December 2nd, 2013.
Source : wikipedia.org
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Photo: Wikipedia |
The new MINI John Cooper Works Concept, which will be presented for the first time at the 2014 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit next month, offers a preview of the next generation of the elite sports model. No technical specs have been provided, however.
Featuring exclusive Bright Highways Grey paintwork, familiar MINI red accents (mirror caps, roof, hood), bespoke aerodynamic features, and 18'' John Cooper Works light-alloy wheels in a newly developed design, the MINI John Cooper Works Concept also stands out with a black-surround front grille, LED headlights, and large air intakes.
More details to come during the NAIAS media days.
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Photo: MINI |
No, Samsung doesn't plan to build an electric car. However, the company's patent applications in the U.S. and South Korea this year cover parts and technology that could be used in electric vehicles at some point in the near future.
According to the Wall Street Journal, these patents are for tires, motors, as well as human-machine interfaces.
Samsung still has a 19.9% stake in Renault-Samsung Motors. What's more, its battery-making affiliate, Samsung SDI, has supply deals with automakers like BMW, Chrysler, and Mahindra. There are also talks with Tesla Motors, a person familiar with the matter told the newspaper.
The patent filings reveal that Samsung is simultaneously working on a technology for controlling vehicles based on a driver's medical condition.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Ford is taking its dealership training program worldwide. It is part of the automakers' ongoing effort to improve customer service and increase buyer loyalty.
Toyota will be back in the Super Bowl in 2014, this time to help launch the brand's redesigned Highlander mid-sized crossover.
Which is safer, a car sold in the United States or in Europe? Automakers see little or no difference, but they have struggled to win over regulators, who are wary of an industry push to make safety standards interchangeable across the Atlantic...
GM will raise sticker prices on the next-generation Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe by $1,000 to $3,000 when the big SUVs go on sale in the spring.
Acura is following Dodge's Ron Burgundy act with some comedic commercials tailor-made to go viral.
Peugeot's new 308 is a key model for a company facing challenging times. Dave Leggett took it for a drive and heard from Peugeot about an industrial strategy that has involved major investment in new product.
Brian Fulton has been promoted to vice president in charge of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA.
The board member leading Microsoft's search for a new chief executive expects an appointment to be made early next year, the first time the company's board has been so specific on timing.
Volvo will pull the wraps off a concept at the Detroit auto show to illustrate the direction of styling for the redesigned 2015 XC90 crossover.
A few weeks ago, the NHTSA issued a recall for
A top UAW official said the union wants to eliminate the two-tier wage system that pays new automotive workers at a lower rate than veterans.
Nissan hopes its revived Datsun brand will lure Russian buyers who might have bought used cars.