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Renault's international expansion strategy is bringing results with the group setting a new international sales record last year, thanks in no small part to the success of the Dacia brand.

Nissan's new GBP200m battery plant in Sunderland has begun producing batteries for electric vehicles at the factory next to its Wearside car plant.

Nissan's new GBP200m battery plant in Sunderland has begun producing batteries for electric vehicles at the factory next to its Wearside car plant.

Videos 18 Jan, 2013

Aston Martin celebrates its 100-year anniversary in spectacular aerial style

Fiat said it had signed a final agreement with Mazda for the Japanese automaker to build a two-door roadster for its Alfa Romeo brand.

Fiat said it had signed a final agreement with Mazda for the Japanese automaker to build a two-door roadster for its Alfa Romeo brand.

Videos 18 Jan, 2013

Dacia hopes a simple approach to advertising will help it sell a new range of cut-price cars

Sales data released by JATO shows that the premium brands performed relatively well in Europe's declining new car market last year.

They're just mine, other people will have other memorable lines from a week in Motown, but here's a snapshot, in no particular order, of a week in Detroit.

There were two world premieres at the Montréal auto show; one each from Honda and Mitsubishi Motors.

The media preview day of the Montréal auto show took place on 17 January.

Sales of VW brand cars in Russia rose 40 percent year-on-year in 2012. This helped VW Group, which also includes Skoda, Audi and Seat, boost its 2012 volume in the country 39 percent to 317,700 vehicles.

PSA plans to negotiate an accord with unions in the next few months to permit more flexible work conditions at its French factories as part of the effort to turn around the money-losing carmaker.

Fiat will reach full employment of its work force at Italian plants in the next three to four years, CEO Sergio Marchionne said.

French car orders fell 3 percent last month, led by declines at Renault and U.S. automakers, according to a dealership survey. The French auto market is expected to decline by up to 5 percent this year.

Viktor Mizo is all smiles and speaks fluent English as he explains why the Republic of Macedonia would be an excellent spot to build an auto parts plant. Mizo can rattle off his country's virtues faster than you can take his business card.

Mini executives admit they're not sure of their target customer for the new three-door Paceman, which is based on the Countryman SUV.

Sebastien Loeb (Citroen DS3) extended his domination of the Rally Monte Carlo After Day 3, he now holds a 1m40 advantage over the VW Polo R of Sebastien Ogier.

Sebastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R. (Photo: WRi2)

It was a short day today with only three special stages to run. Loeb maintained his lead, posting the fastest time in ESS11 and 13, while Mads Ostberg wafastest in the ESS12.

Evgeny Novikov, Ford Fiesta RS. (Photo: WRi2)

There was nothing Ogier could do to stop the nine- time World Rally Champion. The VW driver finished the day 1m47 behind Loeb.

Far behind, Evgeny Novikov (Ford Fiesta) and Dani Sordo (Citroen DS3) are having a great battle over third place.

For now, Novikov has the advantage, but he is only two seconds in front of Sordo before the fourth and final day in Monte Carlo.

Jari-Matti Latvala, Volkswagen Polo R. (Photo: WRi2)

There was another fight going on for fifth place between Latvala (VW Polo R) and Hirvonen (Citroen DS3).

Latvala had the advantage on Friday, as Hirvonen continued to drop down the order. Behind Juho Hanninen, Mads Ostberg was back to 8th position, after Byan Bouffier lost time with a spin in ESS11.

Mikko Hirvonen, Citroen DS3. (Photo: Citroen Racing)

The fourth and last day of Rally Monte Carlo will feature four special stages, including the final one crossing the famous Col du Turini on Saturday evening.

Classification after day 4:
1. Loeb / Elena (Citroën DS3 WRC) 4h16'41''9
2. Ogier / Ingrassia (VW Polo R WRC) +1'47''4
3. Novikov / Minor (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +3'19''9
4. Sordo / Del Barrio (Citroën DS3 WRC) +3'21''6
5. Latvala / Anttila (VW Polo R WRC) +4'04''9
6. Hirvonen / Lehtinen (Citroën DS3 WRC) +4'19''9
7. Hanninen / Tuominen (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +5'15''5
8. Ostberg / Andersson (Ford Fiesta RS WRC) +6'18''2

9. Bouffier / Panseri (Citroën DS3 WRC) +8'20''7
etc.

Toyota will enter just one TS030 Hybrid LMP1 car in this year's World Endurance Championship of the FIA.

Reports in Europe reveal that the Japanese car manufacturer has decided to race just one car this year to limit of costs.

The No. 7 TS030 will be driven in all rounds of the WEC by Alexander Wurz and Nicolas Lapierre.

The TS030 Hybrid Toyota won in Brazil, in 2012. (Photo: Toyota Racing)

Toyota will enter two cars at the 6 Hours of Spa and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Kazuki Nakajima will then by driving alongside Wurz and Lapierre. Toyota has yet to confirm the drivers of the second TS030.

Toyota will race an updated car this season, to be built around a new monocoque that eliminates the compromises in the 2012 carbon fibre tub, which was designed to allow the TS030 to retrieve kinetic energy via either the front or rear axle.

Check out our team's press day photo gallery of Montreal International Auto Show which takes place at the Palais des Congrès de Montréal from January 18th to the 27th.

Photo: Colin Styker/Auto123.TV