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ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: This 2013 Volkswagen Beetle TDI is possibly the most fun I've had in a Beetle ever. And I never liked these things, either.

Opel management board member Thomas Sedran will be the new head of Chevrolet and Cadillac in Europe. Sedran faces a tough task boosting Chevrolet's falling sales in the crisis-hit region.

Opel strategy chief Thomas Sedran will be the new head of Chevrolet and Cadillac in Europe, taking over for the departing Susan Docherty. Sedran faces a tough task boosting Chevrolet's falling sales in the crisis-hit region.

Opel strategy chief Thomas Sedran will be the new head of Chevrolet and Cadillac in Europe. Sedran faces a tough task boosting Chevrolet's falling sales in the crisis-hit region.

So-called 'Active Multibeam LED' headlights will be launched by Mercedes-Benz in 2014, the company has revealed.

Toyota has announced that a robot - or 'robonaut' - in which it has played a key development role, has been been cleared to take part in the first robot-human conversation experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Shareholders have voted to retain both CEO Carlos Ghosn and the board of Nissan Motor for a further two years.

News 26 Jun, 2013

Nissan gives Micra the Nismo treatment, but it won't be coming to the UK

Pictures 26 Jun, 2013

News 26 Jun, 2013

Kia are set to launch a range of high-performance models under the 'GT' brand if it proves a hit with buyers

General Motors has confirmed the appointment of Alan Batey as senior vice president, Global Chevrolet, which accounts for more than half of GM's sales worldwide. Batey will also serve as the head of US Sales, Service and Marketing for Chevrolet, Buick and GMC.

The XV Hybrid, the first Subaru with a petrol-electric powertrain, has been launched in Japan.

The XV Hybrid, the first Subaru with a petrol-electric powertrain, has been launched in Japan.

Renault has high hopes for its new Twingo minicar, which will switch to a five-door layout in a move that may help the automaker win customers downsizing from larger vehicles.

Renault has high hopes for its new Twingo minicar, which will switch to a five-door layout in a move that may help the automaker win customers downsizing from larger vehicles.

Videos 26 Jun, 2013

We have a mashup of four, six, eight, 10 and 12 cylinder engines in an orchestra of car sounds

Ford, the fastest-growing major foreign automaker in China this year, said its sales gain will outpace the industry in 2013 as customers buy new models.

Ford, the fastest-growing major foreign automaker in China this year, said its sales gain will outpace the industry in 2013 as customers buy new models.

Chery Automobile has divided its models into four series, Arrizo, Fulwin, QQ and Tiggo, as part of a brand reorganisation.

From GMM

Ross Brawn has hit back at Red Bull's "spin", after the reigning world champions said sitting out the young driver test next month will not hurt Mercedes.

At the end of the recent 'test-gate' hearing, the FIA tribunal banned Mercedes from attending next month's test for rookie drivers at Silverstone.

But Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko said that is hardly a penalty at all.

"You can't really try anything in the young drivers test," he said. "The drivers at the wheel are just learning about formula one, while Mercedes had three days (in Barcelona) with their regular drivers."

However, team boss Brawn has hit back at Marko's claims by insisting that missing the test is in fact "significant".

"To downgrade the test and to make out it is not significant is not correct, and just an attempt by teams concerned to distort the facts. I think we have a very tangible loss," he is quoted by the Telegraph.

Photo: WRi2

Ross Brawn suggested missing Silverstone will not simply equalise Mercedes' advantage of having run with race drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg with the 2013 car at Barcelona in May.

"It is a different league quite frankly to have a three day test, over 1500 kilometres, with new parts, with race tires that are those we race. It is unfortunate the spin that some teams are putting on the punishment that it is not significant," he said.

Brawn's view is even backed by Jonathan Neale, the managing director of the similarly Mercedes-powered McLaren team.

"With the paucity of track testing that we have at the moment, missing the young driver test is obviously problematic. They (Mercedes) will be sorry to miss it," he told reporters in a Vodafone teleconference.

Nonetheless, even serving the 'test-gate' penalties will likely not end the finger-pointing at Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton admitting that a good result this weekend will be inevitably traced back to the highly controversial test.

"People will jump to conclusions I am sure," he is quoted by British newspapers.

"We have had a couple of positive races because those circuits have been easier on tires. That's just made it look like we have had a benefit from the Pirelli test," added the 2008 world champion.