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Germany escaped fines after the European Union's top court said it complied with a 2007 ruling to change legislation known as the Volkswagen law which shielded the automaker from takeovers.

Ford revealed customized versions of the Focus ST on Monday for the upcoming

On Aug. 21, a team of three Land Rovers completed a 4,000-mile journey across the U.S.

UK-based supplier GKN said in a trading statement it had "made good progress in the three months ended 30 September 2013" after sales rose 16% year on year to GBP1,865m.

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen will remain French, Industry Minister Arnaud Montebourg said today, after sources said the automaker is in talks with China's Dongfeng Motor and the French government over a capital increase.

News 22 Oct, 2013

The Audi TT 2014 Coupe has been spied testing at the Nurburgring for the first time

Ford Motor Co., which purchases about $100 billion worth of parts annually, plans to reduce its roster of suppliers by 40 percent to cut the cost of building its vehicles.

The C4 Cactus, which goes on sale next year, will be the first car in Citroen's new C-Line range aimed at emphasizing practicality, fuel efficiency and low ownership costs.

Mercedes-Benz will snatch the U.S. luxury-sales crown from BMW in 2013, said Steve Cannon, CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA.

Chevrolet puts viewers right in the driver seat of the 2014 Camaro Z/28 in the latest spot from the brand.

Richard Petty Motorsports said to day that Todd Parrott, formerly the crew chief of Aric Almirola's Sprint Cup ride was “no longer with the organization.”

Last week the 1999 champion's (Dale Jarrett) crew chief was suspended indefinitely due to violation of NASCAR's substance abuse policy. NASCAR has confirmed that the Parrott has been accepted into its' Road to Recovery Program (much like driver, AJ Allmendinger, successfully completed last year).

Todd Parrott. (Photo: NASCAR)

RPM also announced, Tuesday, that Greg Ebert will serve as the interim crew chief for the No. 43 Ford and driver Aric Almirola starting this weekend at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Ebert will fulfill this role on an interim basis for the remainder of the season.

Ebert has served in the role of car chief of the No. 43 Ford for the past two seasons and has been a car chief with RPM since its inception. Before joining RPM, Ebert spent nine years at Roush Fenway Racing serving the last five of those seasons as the car chief for Matt Kenseth.

"We are confident in Greg's leadership abilities and we will give him the resources he needs to be successful," explained Sammy Johns, Vice President of Operations and Competition. "He is very familiar with our race program and gives us a more seamless transition. More importantly, he gives Aric the best opportunity to finish the season strong."

From GMM

Reaping the fruits of the collaboration with Qatar is Sir Frank Wiliams' "last big wish", he admitted on Tuesday.

A couple of years ago, the British team partnered with the soverign Arab state to establish the Williams Technology Centre in Qatar, to develop and commercialise F1-bred technologies.

Williams, 71, is still the Grove based team's boss, but he has handed over many of his responsibilities to his new deputy Claire, his daughter.

But Frank Williams told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport that he still deals primarily with the political side of F1, and liaising with the likes of the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone.

Sir Frank Williams always at work with his team. (Photo: WRi2)

And "My last big wish is to bring our partnership with Qatar to fruition," he said.

He likened the Qatar link to the late 70s, when Williams rose to the front of the grid powered by Arab-linked sponsors including Saudia, TAG and Albilad.

"I would like to do the same now with Qatar," said Williams. "I've been working on it for three years. From my experience with the Saudis. I know that patience plays an important role."

From Inside Track Motorsport News

On Saturday, February 8, 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup star Ryan Newman will be the headline star at the Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News.

During his appearance, the versatile racer will sign autographs for the fans and participate in an on-stage Q&A session. The CME takes place February 7-9, 2014 at Toronto's International Centre.

Ryan Newman is one of the most popular and successful racers in NASCAR. Currently a contender in The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup alongside stock car racing's elite competitors, Newman recently announced his plans to drive for Richard Childress Racing in 2014, piloting the team's No. 31 Quicken Loans Chevrolet.

Ryan Newman. (Photo: Inside Track magazine)

The Indiana native was the NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year in 2002 and has been a series front-runner ever since. Known as ‘Rocket Man' for his qualifying prowess, some of Newman's career highlights include winning the Daytona 500 (in 2008), the Winston All-Star race (in 2003) and the Brickyard 400 (2013).

Newman, 35, has 17 career Cup victories to his credit and has earned 51 poles in just over 430 starts.

Prior to his NASCAR career, Newman was a successful USAC Midget racer, earning the Silver Crown Series championship in 1999.

One week after his appearance at the Canadian Motorsports Expo, Newman will be at Daytona International Speedway in his first outing with Richard Childress Racing. His goal, in the Daytona 500, will be to kick off his season on a winning note with the legendary racing team, with the ultimate aim of capturing his first career NASCAR Sprint Cup title.

Target Chip Ganassi Racing's Scott Dixon and his team were awarded with a $1 million championship bonus check and with Astor Challenge Cup at the IndyCar Championship Celebration at Universal Studios Hollywood.

In addition to the championship bonus, Dixon accepted the Jostens Champions Award, a ring valued at $10,000.

Scott Dixon, 2013 Champion IndyCar. (Photo: IndyCar)

Tristan Vautier of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports accepted the $50,000 IZOD IndyCar Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award, while Josef Newgarden won the Tony Renna Rising Star Award.

Helio Castroneves of Team Penske was honored as the second-place finisher in the championship while Simon Pagenaud of Schmidt Hamilton Motorsports was honored for finishing third.

Sage Karam accepted the mini Firestone Firehawk Cup, the Firestone Indy Lights Rookie of the Year, a Jostens Champions Award valued at $5,000.

On October 22nd, 1980, the MG Motors assembly plant in Abingdon, U.K., produced its final units. The decision to end production stemmed from the company's financial struggles in the 1970s.

More than any other MG plant, the closure of Abingdon had a big impact on the auto industry.

The first MG 14/28 was launched way back in 1924, followed by the MG 18/80 in 1928, and the Midget series starting a year later. Then came the MG TC, TD, TF, and MGB models.

Sold to British Aerospace in 1988 and BMW in 1994, MG filed for bankruptcy in 2005. Since 2007, MG has been owned by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), which plans to resurrect the brand in Europe.

Sources: Vintage European Automobiles, Vosges Alsace Classic and Wikipedia.

MG F 1.8i. (Photo: MG)

That new-to-you car, crossover or minivan has a shiny body suspended on top of four wheels by a sophisticated array of springs, bushings, rods, and struts.

These components are specified, calibrated, and linked to one another to create the unique ride and handling principles intended by engineers for the ride in question. Like any other part of a used vehicle, they will eventually wear down and require attention and replacement.

In order to ensure your used-ride candidate's suspension is in good working order, a mechanical inspection of its various components is in order. A mechanic can assess the condition of your used ride's suspension system in a matter of minutes and determine if the seller is trying to pass an expensive repair off to you.

Remember: A properly functioning suspension will turn in better ride quality along with optimal tire life, safety, and handling in all situations. A suspension in need of repair can be noisy, uncomfortable, and even dangerous.

Here are some checks drivers can make on a test drive before visiting a mechanic for a full inspection.

Photo: Matt St-Pierre

Shock Absorbers
Many shock absorbers are filled with a fluid that can leak out if the part is failing or has failed. Get down low and look into the vehicle's wheel-wells for the shock absorber, which is likely located above and behind each wheel. Any obvious signs of an oily fluid leaking down the shock absorber assembly should be addressed.

Strut Mounts
Depending on the type and age of the vehicle in question, a check of its strut mounts is in order. This component lets the front struts "rotate" in relation to the body of the car, allowing the wheels to steer. When strut mounts wear out, the bearings inside of them typically fail which makes it harder to steer the vehicle and puts additional strain on the steering system.

From the driver's seat (while parked) turn the wheel fully from lock to lock, noting any binding sensation through the wheel along the way. This may be accompanied by a clicking or popping noise. If you notice any unwelcome sounds, have someone steer the wheel while you stand in front of the car with the hood popped. If the sound comes from the top of the "shock tower" area, tell your mechanic you suspect the strut mounts are worn out.

Check the Alignment
Inspect all four tires for signs of uneven wear across their treads. If one or more tire is worn more heavily at the inside or outside of its treads, the vehicle's alignment is off, which could be evidence of a suspension-related issue. Vehicles with out-of-whack alignment can wear their tires out more quickly and burn excessive fuel. Ask your mechanic to have a closer look.

Modifications
Especially on used trucks and sports cars, there's a fairly high likelihood that the suspension system has been modified. Ask the owner if they've lowered the suspension on that sports model or lifted the suspension on that truck or SUV. If they have, you'll want to make sure that the quality of the parts, and their installation, is top-notch. Suspension modifications can add a degree of visual flare and fun factor to the ride you're considering, though they can also create suspension-related problems, and may even be illegal. Be sure to have a mechanic approve any suspension system modifications on the model you're considering or opt for a model with original suspension if you have any concerns.

Bushings
Numerous rubber or polyurethane bushings are used to isolate suspension components from each other without metal-on-metal contact. As bushings age, they can crack, dry up and fall out which results in noisy contact between suspension components. Any unwelcome sounds from the vehicle's suspension could be caused by worn-out bushings.

Ride Quality
One fantastic way to determine the condition of a used ride's suspension system is to simply note is ride quality. A car with a healthy suspension will absorb bumps without much fuss, and fairly quietly, while rebounding once and settling back to its normal ride height. A vehicle that makes noise, feels unstable or bounces excessively after going over a bump likely has some suspension repairs in its near future.

From GMM

2014 could be the prelude to Carlos Sainz Jr's formula one career.

That is the claim of the 19-year-old Spaniard's namesake and father, hot on the heels of news another Red Bull-backed teen, Russian Daniil Kvyat, has secured the second Toro Rosso seat for 2014.

Sainz jr was also in the running to succeed Daniel Ricciardo at the Red Bull-owned team, and might now be considered the frontrunner for a 2015 debut.

World rally legend Sainz admitted 2014 will be a "very important" season for his son's F1 aspirations.

Carlos Sainz said his son will surely complete a second season in the Formula Renault 3.5 series next year.

Carlos Sainz father and son, during the Toro Rosso's testing in July. (Photo: WRi2)

"This year has been a race to catch up experience. He is only 19 years old, but if he is in the championship fight hopefully it will be the eve to formula one for him," added Sainz snr.

Asked if his son might combine his racing next year with a F1 test role, Sainz snr answered: "I know nothing of that.

But "It would be ideal," he is quoted by EFE news agency, "because it would mean he is getting the maximum possible experience in formula one. But I have no idea.

"I know that if something in the rules should be changed it is this, because three days a year for young drivers is nothing," Carlos Sainz snr insisted.

Green Car Journal recently unveiled the finalists for its 2014 Green Car of the Year award.

They are:
• Audi A6 TDI;
• BMW 328d;
• Honda Accord;
• Mazda3;
• Toyota Corolla.

The 2014 Green Car of the Year will be crowned during the Los Angeles Auto Show Press Days (Nov. 20 and 21).

“The diversity of this field of finalists illustrates not only that 'green' has gone mainstream, but also that there is no single approach to achieving ever higher levels of fuel efficiency and environmental performance,” says Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal. “There's something for everyone in this year's field of finalists, including clean diesel, high efficiency gasoline, and hybrid/plug-in hybrid power featured in mainstream, sporty, and executive models.”

Source: PR Newswire

Actor Patrick Dempsey' race organization, Dempsey Racing, has revealed its plans ahead of the 2014 season. They include the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the inaugural United SportsCar championship and a customer program in the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge.

The Atlanta outfit also confirmed it would continue working with Porsche, in an "expanded and formalized" relationship, a press release stated.

In 2013, Dempsey himself placed fourth in class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, on top of his many appearances in a TV series called "Grey's Anatomy".

Patrick Dempsey. (Photo: Dempsey Del Piero Racing)

Co-driving his team's 911 GTC Cup car with Andy Lally in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), he also racked up a total of three podium finishes, at Laguna Seca, Austin and Petit Le Mans, the last ALMS race before the merger with Grand-Am.

"We are looking forward to the new season and to many more successful years partnering Porsche," commented Dempsey.

The AJAC's annual TestFest is taking place this week in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Over 80 auto journalists from across the country will start the evaluation process for the 2014 Canadian Car and Truck of the Year awards.

Auto123.com's Matt St-Pierre and Miranda Lightstone are part of the group that will test every new vehicle's performance, safety, comfort, and convenience.

The winners in each category will be announced on December 3rd. In the meantime, you can follow Matt and Miranda on Instagram.