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.

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

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.

From GMM

Jean Todt looks set to remain FIA president for a second term.

The former Ferrari chief (135 votes) beat ex world rally champion Ari Vatanen (49 votes) to the post in late 2009.

67-year-old Frenchman Todt's first term ends late this year, and he is eligible to run for another four years.

Reports by the French-language AFP and La Presse claim Todt has secured the ongoing backing of the motoring federations in North, South and Central America.

"When the people in North, South and Central America say with one voice that you must be present, it is clear that making the decision to continue will be easier," Jean Todt is quoted as saying.

"It will weigh heavily in my thinking. There is still some way to go, but if you have a team pushing you to continue, it is obvious that it makes you want to continue," he added.

Sebastien Loeb's racing team - Sebastien Loeb Racing - will contest the FIA GT Series this season. Here are two photos of his McLaren GT3 in the final livery.

Loeb and two of his teammates, Mike Parisy and Andreas Zuber tested the car earlier this week at Magny-Cours in France.

The team will run two McLaren MP4-12C GT3s, and the season will begin at the end of the month in Nogaro, France at the Coupes de Paques.

Photo: Com'On! Racing

Photo: Com'On! Racing