Auto News 5

Daimler said it and other German automakers took an initial step toward resolving a safety scare over a new air-conditioning refrigerant developed to meet an EU mandate.

NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: The 2013 Range Rover Sport is expensive, powerful and a bit of a gas hog.

About 200 companies that have dealings with Toyota Motor East Japan are launching a cooperative in the firm's Tohoku foothold as soon as this month.

The all-consuming rivalry McLaren and Ferrari display on the F1 racetrack was transferred to the Geneva auto show as the two carmakers unveiled competing million-euro hybrid hypercars.

A significant demonstration is planned for this afternoon (7 March) outside the Geneva motor show by the Mississippi Alliance for Fairness at Nissan (MAFFAN), campaigning for union representation at the automaker's US plant.

Renault chief Carlos Ghosn wants the French government to take measures to replace the most polluting old diesel models in France.

As our list of vehicle and concept world premieres attests, this year's Geneva motor show media preview days saw a bumper crop of new models revealed. Glenn Brooks, our man at the Palais des Expositions, reports his observations.

Car sales in Western Europe fell by 10.6% in February, according to data released by LMC Automotive.

Ssangyong Motor expects to return to profitability in 2015, its chief executive said, with financial help from parent Mahindra and Mahindra helping it to update its product line.

Kia has said that its Slovakian plant turned in a net profit of EUR155.5m in 2012. It also produced a record 292,050 vehicles last year, 15% up on 2011.

Hyundai plans to double its advertising spending in Europe in a bid to build on market share gains at a time when struggling rivals like Opel and Peugeot are becoming more aggressive in cutting prices.

Getting a van up on two wheels is not for the faint of heart. One has to be driving with a purpose, so common sense goes, as if he's escaping from, say, the

Two years ago, Estonia adopted the Euro, The Artist won Best Picture among insufferable film bores who never saw it,

Infiniti hopes to win European buyers for its Q50 sedan by offering it with a diesel engine from Mercedes-Benz.

UK new-car registrations rose 7.9 percent to 66,749 in February as the market continued to defy the downward trend in other key European markets.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is betting billions of euros that Alfa Romeo and Maserati will help drive the automaker's money-losing European operations back into the black by 2015-2016.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is betting billions of euros that Alfa Romeo and Maserati will help drive the automaker's money-losing European operations back into the black by 2015-2016.

People could argue all day about the most important debut at the Geneva auto show.

From GMM

Pedro de la Rosa is predicting a close race to the 2013 title.

Red Bull, McLaren, Lotus, Mercedes and Ferrari have all looked quite closely matched in pre-season testing.

New Ferrari tester and veteran F1 driver de la Rosa said: "The championship will be decided in the last race.

"The differences between the teams is minimal, and so it is the details that will make the difference," the 42-year-old Spaniard is quoted by Speed Week. "The one who wins will have made the fewest mistakes, with a car that has been developed the best."

Ferrari and Red Bull, ready for the 2013 season. (Photo: WRi2)

Ferrari's chief designer Nicholas Tombazis agrees with de la Rosa's assessment about "details".

"We immediately saw some small illegalities," said the Greek engineer, undoubtedly referring to Williams and Caterham's exhaust transgressions, and possibly the Renault engine maps story.

"For the rest," he told Autosprint, "with these rules, I don't think we will see something like 2009 with the double diffuser."

Arguably the biggest surprises of the winter have been the apparently improved pace shown by Lotus, but particularly Mercedes.

"Nico Rosberg had a great final day of testing," said world champion Sebastian Vettel, "which shows how dangerous he and Lewis Hamilton will be."

The Geneva Motor Show has barely gotten underway, yet Mitsubishi is announcing the world premiere of its G4 Concept at the Bangkok Auto Show on March 27th.

The G4, which stands for “Global 4-door Sedan,” will be rolled out globally when it enters production. Just like the small, nameless hatchback that debuted in Montreal in January, it houses a 1.2L 3-cylinder engine that produces 78 horsepower through a CVT -- definitely not enough for a Lancer replacement.

This prototype will star in Bangkok alongside the GR-HEV Concept (unveiled in Geneva), Mirage, Lancer EX, Triton pickup, and Pajero SUV.

Come back for more details in the coming weeks.

Photo: Mitsubishi