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From GMM

It is not getting widespread attention, but a big battle is brewing between Sauber and Toro Rosso.

Benefitting from the Pirelli tire construction switch, and having reverted to last year's exhaust solution, Sauber has caught Toro Rosso in the constructors' championship.

The pair are now level-pegging with 31 points apiece for seventh in the constructors' world championship, which is worth several million dollars more than eighth under the financial arrangement with Bernie Ecclestone.

Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso) and Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber). (Photo: WRi2)

Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost told the Swiss newspaper Blick: "Sauber should not celebrate too soon. We made too many mistakes in the last race."

He acknowledged, however, that Korea was also the scene of a standout drive for Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg, who Tost says is "an exceptional talent".

But Franz Tost said Toro Rosso still has the edge.

"For driving skills, we are better positioned with Ricciardo and Vergne," he insisted. "Just because of (Sauber's Esteban) Gutierrez."

Another factor is that Sauber may be fully stretched in terms of its limited budget when it comes to further improving the 2013 car.

Team boss Monisha Kaltenborn admitted to Speed Week that the Hinwil based team is already "a little behind schedule" with the 2014 car, because of Sauber's recent financial troubles.

Jeff Gordon and Kevin Harvick showed, that half-way through NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup, they are not about to give up.

Gordon the last driver to qualify, who stands fourth in the standings, put his Chevrolet SS on the pole in Charlotte at a speed of 194.308mph Thursday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway).

Harvick, last week's winner from the pole at Kansas, was the next-to-last in the qualifying order, and had just posted a lap at 194.283 mph. Still Gordon bore down through turns three and four to take his nine pole at the 1.5 mile oval but with a scintillating trip through Turns 3 and 4, Gordon claimed his ninth Coors Light pole award at Charlotte and his second of the season by .015 seconds. It was Gordon's 74th career Sprint Cup pole.

Greg Biffle (193.959 mph) qualified third, followed by Jimmie Johnson (193.791 mph), Kasey Kahne (193.694 mph), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (193.535 mph) and Ryan Newman (193.458 mph), as Chase drivers captured the top seven starting spots.

Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet SS. (Photo: NASCAR)

To Gordon, who is fourth in the Chase standings, 32 points behind leader Matt Kenseth, the pole was just another indication of his team's growing confidence as the Chase progresses.

“I can tell you, I'm feeling better every race,” Gordon said. “I thought that we really started making ground up the week prior to Richmond... Every week that we perform well and lead laps and run up front builds the confidence that we can win races and put together some great runs and get the points that we need.

“At this point, we're just going all-out, giving it everything we have. We're not really thinking about points. We're just trying to win races and get the best finishes that we can. Right now we're just having fun.”

Harvick, who is 25 points behind Kenseth (who qualified 20th) said “we're racing in the thick of a championship, and qualifying well was a huge benefit for us last week, with the first pit stall. Obviously, we wanted to be greedy and get that again tonight.”

Brian Scott, Kyle Larson and Blake Koch — all making their Cup debuts — earned the 19th, 21st and 43rd starting positions, respectively.

I wasn't really familiar with the Chevrolet Equinox before I recently got the opportunity to spend a week behind the wheel. My current lifestyle doesn't warrant driving such a “big” vehicle, and you have to admit it's not the most distinctive-looking SUV out there.

For sure, I was pleasantly surprised with my tester's ride quality and overall comfort levels. On the other hand, I had my fair share of disappointments, especially when it came to modern appeal and fit & finish.


What is the Chevrolet Equinox?
The deceptively large Chevrolet Equinox sits on the fence that separates compact and midsize SUVs and CUVs. It boasts plenty of interior room, decent equipment, as well as a choice of two powerplants. It's a sensible purchase that will meet a small family's needs without providing much excitement to the driver.

The deceptively large Chevrolet Equinox sits on the fence that separates compact and midsize SUVs and CUVs. (Photo: Marie-Laurence Paquin)

2013 Chevrolet Equinox Price and Specs
While a 2.4L 4-cylinder engine (182 hp, 172 lb-ft) comes standard with the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox, my tester benefited from a new 3.6L V6 that replaces the 3.0L unit of the outgoing model. Output amounted to a healthy 301 hp, with peak torque rated at 272 lb-ft. At the same time, I recorded an average fuel consumption of 10.1L/100km after driving 90% of the time on the highway. The excellent 6-speed automatic transmission managed to keep the engine revs remarkably low, even at 100 km/h.

The 2013 Chevrolet Equinox starts at $26,935 in base LS trim. The 1LT V6 model I tested came with all-wheel drive, 18” wheels, and a few additional options for a price of $41,095 before tax and $1,500 freight and delivery charge. The more upscale 2LT and LTZ models complete the lineup.

My tester benefited from a new 3.6L V6 that replaces the 3.0L unit of the outgoing model. Output amounted to a healthy 301 hp, with peak torque rated at 272 lb-ft. (Photo: Chevrolet)

Driving the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
Nothing about this American SUV's driving dynamics really bugged me. While its size does affect manoeuvrability at times, and sportiness is not part of the experience, the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox is undeniably smooth and comfortable on the road. Acceleration is lively, but the considerable weight is felt during braking manoeuvres.

Visibility is good for this type of vehicle, and the wide-angle sideview mirrors will make it easier to tow a trailer. On the flip side, I could barely trust the rearview camera, whose image looked distorted and lacked colour guidelines, unlike many competitors.

The 2013 Chevrolet Equinox offers a high driving position, and despite being just 5'1” I quickly found myself at ease thanks to the various adjustments.

Another smart feature is the air conditioning system, which automatically fades when you make a call using Bluetooth and returns to its original setting when you hang up.

While its size does affect manoeuvrability at times, and sportiness is not part of the experience, the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox is undeniably smooth and comfortable on the road. (Photo: Marie-Laurence Paquin)

Inside and Out of the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
The exterior of the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox is fairly understated, with some interesting curves thrown in for good measure. The split front grille and sculpted taillights add a bit of flair to the whole package.

It's a different story inside the 2013 Chevy Equinox. The cabin layout looks pretty dated, and the dashboard materials feel cheap. The centre stack is cluttered and shows definite signs of age, particularly the Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning lights and icons, which appear to come straight from the past. On a positive note, MyLink proves functional, and so do the steering-wheel controls.

GM will need to work harder to further improve the fit and finish of its products. I just can't understand how a big yellow wiring harness can be seen from under the driver's seat. The competition is fierce right now; the Japanese, Europeans, and Koreans all do a better job of integrating their technologies and designing modern cockpits.

The centre stack is cluttered and shows definite signs of age. (Photo: Marie-Laurence Paquin)

Comparing the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox
Few SUVs and CUVs offer this much space at such an affordable price. Consider the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox along with its cousin, the GMC Terrain, as well as the Hyundai Santa Fe, Subaru Forester, and Mitsubishi Outlander.

Sun Country Highway is expanding its network of public charging stations with 20 new 240V stations along the 401 Highway in Ontario, allowing EV users to connect Montreal and Detroit.

This is the result of partnerships with municipal governments and local businesses and organizations to install the stations and provide electricity at each location.

On October 7th, a convoy of plug-in cars set out on a trip to inaugurate the new EV-friendly corridor.

"The 401 Highway is the busiest highway in North America, and now business travellers and eco-tourists have the option to travel emission-free -- a huge step toward a more sustainable future," said president Kent Rathwell.

The Sun Country Highway network spans across the entire Canada and offers free charging to EV users.

Sources: Sun Country Highway and Green Car Reports

Romeo, MI -- Shaken, not stirred is the best way to describe a day at the Ford proving grounds in Romeo Michigan. Here, I put the 2013 version of the F-150 through three tests: trailering with a 4,082 kg (9,000 lb) trailer, a wet skid-pad braking while executing a turning manoeuver, and a drive over the paved test strips for dynamic suspension testing. Just in case I needed a point of comparison, Ford had 2014 versions of the Ram 1500 and Chevy Silverado 1500 present, as well as the Toyota Tundra.

Ford did their best to ensure all four trucks were equally equipped. Engines and transmissions were standard: The Toyota Tundra had the 5.7L iForce V8 with a 5-speeed automatic; the Chevrolet Silverado a 5.3L Ecotec 3, aluminum V8 and 6-speed automatic; the Ram 1500 came with the new 5.7L and the new 8-speed automatic; and the Ford F-150 used the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 and a 6-speed automatic.

Amusingly enough, in two out of the three tests, powertrain had nothing to do with how well each truck performed. On the skid pad, it was about some suspension, some electronics (ABS software), and probably 15% tire choice. Only the pavement test sections gave the suspension and chassis a workout.

On the hill climb, with a 4,082 kg trailer hooked to each truck, power came into play and even axle ratios helped out, somewhat. Of course, what goes up must come down, so there was a bit of a test within the test that involved trailer hill-descent control, and to a lesser degree, trailer-sway control.

Photo: Charles Renny

Putting pickups to the test
The wet skid pad involved getting the trucks up to 40 km/hr then making a lane change. On the second run, in mid-lane change, I was to activate the ABS.

The Tundra had the most body lean and felt a bit loose under braking. The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 seemed to have the most intrusive, but least effective ABS system, while the Ram 1500 felt like a large sports car and was the only one that actually squealed the right front tire on ABS activation. The Ford F-150 managed to stay neutral in steering and to provide great breaking without any dramatics such as a nosedive or sway while turning.

Photo: Charles Renny

Test No. 2 involved four severely rough sections of pavement. Section one involved the equivalent of a heavily potholed street. I was supposed to hold the truck's speed at 24 km/hr. I can tell you right now that the road was so rough I couldn't lock my foot onto the accelerator pedal to hold the specified speed.

The second section featured larger, deeper and more spaced out potholes. I managed to hold the 24 km/hr speed for this section, as I did for the remaining ections. The third “street” was a pretty straightforward washboard road, but the speed went up to 40 km/hr. And the final stretch of rough pavement was the equivalent of a cobblestone road that had seen better days.

The pickup that fared the worst in this test was the Toyota Tundra. Taking the Toyota Tundra over this course was an exercise in frustration. No matter what I did, holding at the speeds recommended, the Tundra remained very loud inside and out, as well as uncomfortable to ride in.

In third place sits the Ram 1500, and that is based on its feeling of pounding into the large potholes like it didn't have enough suspension travel to handle the drop. It actually does have adequate suspension travel, but it was harsh. Ironically, this means that the washboard road should have sent it skittering from side to side, yet it didn't.

Second place goes to the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The first section was still rough, particularly with my poor speed control. However, during the rest of the test (the washboard road in particular) the Silverado 1500 was easily controlled. I felt quite comfortable.

The winner by a bumper length was the Ford F-150. It was the best on the first stretch of potholed road, and it went over the washboard strip without rattling my teeth one bit. The Ford F-150 was also the most controllable over all road surfaces.

Photo: Charles Renny

The last abusive test for the pickup durability challenge was the trailer hill climb. Here, the Ford F-150 came out on top by a trailer hitch. The Toyota Tundra was hampered by the 5-speed automatic, while the Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 were under a bit more strain than expected. The Ford F-150 with Ecoboost pulled the cleanest and had the highest top speed at the top of the hill, although all of them did make it to legal highway speeds going up the 7% grade.

On the hill test decent, all of the hill-descent controls worked, but Ford's had the best speed control and the easiest activation.

Photo: Charles Renny

Built Ford Tough?
When put side-by-side with the comparably equipped Toyota Tundra, Ram 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the Ford F-150 does not have the gigantic lead that it had over its competitors in the past. The introduction of new models outside the Ford name has closed the gap significantly. However, there is still a gap and it still puts the Ford F-150 ahead. It looks as if Ford will continue to claim that the F-150 “owns work” and continues to be the bestselling truck in Canada -- for now.

From GMM

Red Bull designer Adrian Newey has admitted his new car for 2014 is "ugly".

"The new Red Bull is ugly. Unfortunately," he is quoted by the German news agency SID.

Briton Newey, widely regarded as the best car designer in F1, is not at Suzuka this weekend as he focuses instead on the challenge of the radical 2014 rules.

He said he is working on the RB10 for "four of the five days" of the working week.

He said the reason for the 'ugly' 2014 car is because of the new aerodynamic rules, sending designers down the path of penning a "hook nose".

Adrian Newey. (Photo: Red Bull Racing)

But the bigger concern for F1's technical boffins is the new powertrain rules, which Newey said are "more complex than ever before".

Agreed Alain Prost, Renault ambassador: "We have three engine manufacturers, and none of them are particularly optimistic.

"Reliability is the biggest challenge at the moment, to be honest," he added.

Mercedes' Toto Wolff, however, is excited.

"A month ago I was in Maranello and saw their engine factory and thought: 'German engineering ingenuity against Italian improvisation and French laissez-faire'."

Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, however, is most concerned about the 'show'.

"Yes, it could be very frustrating to have to save fuel," said the Brazilian at Suzuka.

"I just hope it can be interesting to watch for the spectators and viewers and that it can also be interesting for the drivers," he added.

On October 11th, 2008, a Belgian driver named Luc Costermans reached a speed of 308.78 km/h with a Lamborghini Gallardo at the 125 d'Istres airfield in Bouches-du-Rhône, setting a world record for a blind driver.

Despite losing the ability to see in 2004, Costermans is still an avid auto racing fan. Earlier this week, with the help of his co-driver, Guillaume Roman, he even took part in the Rallye de France Shakedown with a Ford Focus RS, marking a first for a blind person.

Video footage of 2008:

From GMM

Pirelli has clamped down on enforcing the operating guidelines of its tires, amid rumours some teams were not playing along.

After the tire-exploding British grand prix this year, the FIA backed Pirelli's move to force teams to stay within certain operating guidelines.

The guidelines set strict limits on things like tire camber and pressures, but also pre-session tire heating, according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

The report said teams were not allowed to 'boost' temperatures in their respective heating systems beyond 110 degrees for one hour.

But a Sahara Force India team member is quoted as saying: "The heating systems are easily manipulated. If you boost more than allowed, you have an advantage."

Auto Motor und Sport said Pirelli has reacted by checking pre-running tire temperatures not only via the heating systems, but also with their own probes.

Photo: Pirelli

Car2go autopartage, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler North America, will launch its unique point-to-point carsharing model in Montreal on November 2nd, after successful debuts in Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver.

An initial fleet of 250 car2go edition smart fortwo vehicles will be available for shared use in the metropolitan Montreal area, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They will cost $0.38 per minute.

Members can pick up and drop off any Car2go anywhere within the car2go Home Area (Plateau-Mont-Royal/Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie/Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and reserved parking spaces in Ville-Marie). They don't need to drive the car back to its original location nor commit to a predetermined amount of time.

Car2go. (Photo: Daimler)

Registration for membership has already begun. For a limited time only, Car2go offers free membership and 30 free driving minutes via the promotional code "PATINS."

Car2go currently has more than 500,000 registered members worldwide. Members in Canada have the ability to use the program in all four car2go locations across the country.

Source: Car2go

Sebastian Vettel leads Mark Webber in the afternoon, however the two Mercedes were on top in the morning.

The two free practice sessions were held on a dry track and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) was the fastest in the morning ahead of his teammate Nico Rosberg. Followed respectively the two Red Bulls, the two Ferraris and the two Lotuses.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W04. (Photo: WRi2)

Jules Bianchi had a big crash. The French driver is unhurt but his Marussia was heavily damaged and couldn't be repaired for the second free practice session.

Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham) ended in the gravel as well and Pastor Maldonado lost the left rear wheel of his Williams.

Sebastian Vettel has quickly gained the upper hand during the afternoon. He set the fastest time ahead of Mark Webber, in the other Red Bull. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) is third. Kimi Raikkonen set the fourth time before putting his Lotus in the gravel.

Many runway excursions without damage during the afternoon, with Romain Grosjean, Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Max Chilton. Sergio Perez damaged his McLaren into the wall and Pastor Maldonado also hit the wall of tires. Bad day for the Venezuelan driver.

Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus E21-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

2013 Japanese Grand Prix
Suzuka - Friday, October 11 2013

Free practice session 1 - Results*
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'34"157 - 19 laps
2 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'34"487 - 19
3 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'34"768 - 24
4 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'34"787 - 20
5 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'35"126 - 14
6 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'35"154 - 16
7 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'35"179 - 15
8 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'35"364 - 17
9 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4-28-Mercedes) - 1'35"450 - 27
10 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'35"635 - 19
11 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-28-Mercedes) - 1'35"868 - 22
12 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'35"900 - 18
13 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'36"066 - 20
14 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'36"165 - 19
15 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'36"178 - 12
16 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'36"340 - 23
17 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'36"399 - 18
18 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'36"760 - 22
19 - Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'37"595 - 22
20 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'37"629 - 8
21 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'38"025 - 15
22 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'38"763 - 18

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull RB9-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

Free practice session 1 - Results*
1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'33"852 - 35 laps
2 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'34"020 - 35
3 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'34"114 - 36
4 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'34"202 - 17
5 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'34"411 - 30
6 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'34"442 - 36
7 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'34"473 - 30
8 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'34"698 - 35
9 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-28-Mercedes) - 1'34"912 - 34
10 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'35"087 - 32
11 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'35"089 - 36
12 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'35"109 - 34
13 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'35"182 - 34
14 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'35"275 - 35
15 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'35"341 - 25
16 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4-28-Mercedes) - 1'35"709 - 8
17 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'36"136 - 41
18 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'36"722 - 6
19 - Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'37"630 - 31
20 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'37"905 - 36
21 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'38"121 - 33
22 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - no time

*Unofficials timings

As reported last month, the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) is now putting the Fisker Automotive loan on the auction block in an effort to recoup some of the $168 million the struggling luxury plug-in hybrid car maker still owes.

Potential buyers had until October 7th to make a formal offer of at least $30 million (with 10% down). Despite the government being shut down, the auction will still take place as planned, according to the latest reports.

Photo: Fisker Automotive

DoE officials could pick a winner as early as next week.

Fisker, which hasn't built a car in about 15 months, does not have enough money to pay millions in outstanding bills. Restarting the company will apparently cost up to $500 million, people familiar with Fisker's finances told Automotive News.

Back in March, company founder Henrik Fisker resigned due to major disagreements with the executive management on the business strategy. A month later, 75% of the workforce was laid off.

Source: Automotive News

From GMM

Kimi Raikkonen has answered "we'll see" to speculation he will have to work with a new race engineer in 2014.

Reports say Ferrari has decided against bringing engineer Mark Slade to Maranello next year, despite his successful relationship with Raikkonen over the past two years at Lotus.

Mark Slade also worked with Raikkonen at McLaren, but Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport said Ferrari will instead promote an Italian from within the team.

"I have enjoyed working with Mark, but I enjoy working with Ferrari people too," Raikkonen, who was teamed with Chris Dyer when he won his title in 2007, said.

"It was important to be with Mark at Lotus, as he had already worked with the team and it made my life easier," the Finn told Turun Sanomat newspaper at Suzuka.

"We have had two good seasons but we'll see what happens next year," correspondent Heikki Kulta quoted Raikkonen as saying.

Kimi Raikkonen and Mark Slade, Lotus. (Photo: WRi2)

Adapted from GMM

Jenson Button on Thursday said Ross Brawn is "for sure" not joining McLaren in 2014.

Amid reports Brawn has decided to step down at Mercedes, there has been speculation linking Button's former Honda boss with McLaren.

So with McLaren linking up with the returning Honda for 2015, Button at Suzuka handballed the question to his boss Martin Whitmarsh.

However, 2009 'Brawn GP' champion Button did say: "One thing is for sure -- Ross Brawn will not join the team next season," he told F1's official website.

Jenson Button, Brawn GP, 2009. (Photo: WRi2)

That leaves the door neatly open for 2015. Button, 33, said he could also be Honda-powered again the season after next.

"There's a chance, yes," Button told reporters on Thursday. "There's definitely a chance. I think it's very special for Japan to have a manufacturer in the sport, but obviously that's not for another year and a half. We've got a long time before that and hopefully a very good year next year with Mercedes-Benz."

On his end, Toto Wolff has described as "surprising" reports team boss Ross Brawn has decided to leave Mercedes.

Wolff, who is Mercedes' motor sport director, insisted in German-language Spox: "We are all involved. Ross Brawn has some ideas for his future, as we as a team want to develop together with him. We are in constant discussions. But there was no news in recent days -- not even internally. So it is somewhat surprising that something is coming out now."

Ross Brawn and Toto Wolff, Mercedes AMG. (Photo: WRi2)

Toto Wolff denied the suggestion that the real story is that Brawn is pushing to exit because his successor Paddy Lowe is already looming.

Mercedes, on the other hand, is insisting Brawn respect his contract.

"No, not at all. There is no question of observing contracts or that Ross Brawn wants to change. There is a common discourse, all in the best interests of the team and the people involved," Wolff added.

Nonetheless, the rumours continue. Spain's sports newspaper AS said Brawn moving to Honda could be Fernando Alonso's trigger to finally accept McLaren's recent flirtations.

New Honda motor racing chief Yasuhisa Arai told British broadcaster Sky this week the Japanese carmaker wants "good drivers, (a) good team and good organisation" ready for its 2015 return.

"Those things have to be ready, have to be right, in order to have a good start," he added.

Toyota wasn't at fault in a fatal accident in which a 66-year-old woman crashed her 2006 Camry into a tree after it sped out of control in the wrong direction on a one-way road, a California jury said.

Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 10,000 cars sold in the United States from model years 2013 and 2014, including its best-selling Camry sedan, to replace faulty wiper switches.

Volkswagen AG's top executives are divided over whether and how workers at the company's Tennessee assembly plant should be represented by a union, but ultimately will insist on a formal vote by those employees, a person with knowledge of the VW...

Toyota will introduce safety systems in about two years enabling cars to communicate with each other to avoid collision.

After trailing many of its competitors in the recent engine- and transmission-technology wars, Toyota will launch a swath of powertrains in the next several years, a top powertrain randd executive said.

High-end retailer Neiman Marcus is keeping with a holiday tradition by offering another special-edition luxury automobile as part of its annual fantasy gift guide.

Chrysler Group is investing $164 million in its Saltillo North engine plant in Mexico to build reengineered 2.0- and 2.4-liter I-4 engines for export, the automaker said today.