Auto News 5

Volvo isn't going to develop a sedan to challenge the BMW 7 series, the Mercedes S class or the Audi A8 as it doesn't fit the carmaker's green image or the demands of its customers, CEO Hakan Samuelsson said.

Volvo isn't going to develop a flagship sedan to challenge the BMW 7 series, the Mercedes S class or the Audi A8 as it doesn't fit the carmaker's green image or the demands of its customers, CEO Hakan Samuelsson said.

Volvo won't develop a sedan to challenge the BMW 7 series, Mercedes S class and Audi A8 as it doesn't fit the carmaker's green image or the demands of its customers, CEO Hakan Samuelsson said.

Volvo won't develop a flagship sedan to challenge the BMW 7 series, the Mercedes S class or the Audi A8 as it doesn't fit the carmaker's green image or the demands of its customers, CEO Hakan Samuelsson said.

Mercedes is accelerating its dealer expansion in China, streamlining sales and bringing out a number of new or revamped models in a bid to to fix past mistakes in the market that have contributed to a growing gap with premium rivals BMW and Audi.

Mercedes is accelerating its dealer expansion in China, streamlining sales and bringing out a number of new or revamped models in a bid to to fix past mistakes in the market that have contributed to a growing gap with premium rivals BMW and Audi.

Nissan North America is eager to put a season of manufacturing glitches behind it as it prepares to turn its Canton, Miss., factory into a global export base for the next-generation Nissan Murano.

Dave Schoch, Ford Motor Co.'s recently appointed Asia Pacific chief, shrugs off critics who say the automaker is a latecomer to China.

American Honda's plant in Greensburg, Ind., built just 91 units of the Acura ILX entry-luxury sedan that debuted last summer. So does Honda have an out-and-out flop on its hands?

A year ago Toyota Motor Corp. executives in Japan questioned whether their U.S. factories could meet the exacting standards required to build Lexus vehicles. Now 50,000 units of the Lexus ES will be built in Kentucky starting in 2015.

The rise of foreign automakers in North America gained huge momentum during the dark days of the recession, accelerating the decline of Detroit 3 dominance.

General Motors is overhauling its parts program, incentivizing dealerships to beef up their inventory for more same-day repairs and to buy more of those parts directly from the factory.

Japanese and Korean automakers accounted for nearly half of all retail sales in 2012, bouncing back after inventory shortages caused by Japan's 2011 earthquake were resolved.

More than half of Americans have smartphones in their pockets or purses, and mobile devices have taken on a major role in the car-buying process, especially in the critical later stages.

In his 25th year as editor or editorial director of Automotive News, Peter Brown says he can now state with conviction that in the automotive industry, about every three years, everything you know is wrong.

Porsche has debuted a revamped version of its Panamera coupe at the Shanghai auto show where it sought to outshine Maserati's all-new Ghibli as both carmakers seek to attract customers in a luxury China market that is predicted to keep growing...

With sales slowing and government debt a growing crisis, the European auto industry is in for a rough ride over the next few years.

The head of Renault's entry-level models, Arnaud Deboeuf, will share insights on how Dacia has thrived during Europe's debt crisis at the 16th Automotive News Europe Congress on June 12 in Paris.

The European auto industry is in for a rough ride over the next few years. What are the solutions? Which companies will emerge as winners? The 16th Automotive News Europe Congress will explore answers to those questions on June 12 in Paris.

From Infiniti

Three-time Formula 1 World Champion, Sebastian Vettel Monday became the first F1 driver to experience the Sochi Olympic Park Circuit in Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia.

(Photo: Infiniti)

Vettel was joined by former F1 driver, David Coulthard in driving part of the track, which is still under construction.

Once complete, the 3.7-mile Sochi Olympic Park Circuit, scene of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, will be the third longest circuit on the F1 calendar behind Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and Silverstone in Britain.

(Photo: Infiniti)

Russia's inaugural Grand Prix race is scheduled for 2014, after the Winter Olympics. The circuit's integration into Olympic Park infrastructure is the key feature of the Russian venue.

Sochi Formula 1 circuit in figures:
Circuit length: 5,854m
Maximum speed: 320 km/h
Circuit width: 13-15 m
Number of turns: 18
Total area of the circuit construction site and its infrastructure: 36 ha
Developer and operator of the circuit is OJSC "Center "OMEGA"
Designer of the circuit: Tilke GmbH & Co.KG