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Subaru will gradually adopt the angular face of the Viziv concept crossover shown at the Geneva auto show across its lineup, the brand's global design chief says.

Subaru will unveil a hybrid version of its Subaru XV Crosstrek small crossover at next week's New York auto show. The car will be the brand's first gasoline-electric vehicle and employ technology based on Toyota Motor Corp.'s hybrid system.

Skoda is confident that deliveries this year will rise as the introduction of new or updated models, including a new large SUV, the Octavia compact and the Rapid Spaceback compact hatchback, offsets a drop in European demand.

Audi customers buying the A8 sedan in the United States will have to live without new matrix-beam headlights because of a 45-year-old regulation that prohibits their use on U.S. roads.

Volkswagen in China will recall 384,181 vehicles to fix a gearbox problem.

ROAD TEST EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: Prior to the 2013 model year, the S5 coupe was equipped with a

The European Union's industry committee has backed a compromise that would give carmakers limited leeway in the race to cut CO2 emissions in line with targets while rejecting German calls for more lenient rules.

News 20 Mar, 2013

In this week's issue we drive the new Clio Renaultsport and look at how to minimise the cost of classic car ownership

VW Group's recall in China to fix defective gearboxes may cost it more than $600 million. The recall affects 384,181 vehicles including the VW Golf Audi A3, China's quality inspector said.

Johnson Controls has announced the expansion of its interiors plant in East London, South Africa.

New vehicle sales in the Philippines increased by over 35% to 14,332 units in February, from 10,591 units a year earlier, according to member data jointly released by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of Philippines Inc (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association.

Indonesia's largest automotive components manufacturing group, PT Astra Otoparts, announced plans to issue new shares in May to raise funds to pay off debt and for business expansion.

New vehicle sales in Thailand continued to grow strongly year-on-year in February, by 42.3% to 129,910 units, with order fulfillment still high from the government's first-time buyer incentive scheme which expired at the end of 2012.

Thai Rung Union Car Plc (TRU), a Thai-listed vehicle modifier and components manufacturer, plans to invest THB 500 million (USD 17 million) this year to expand capacity and increase revenue by 15% from last year's THB 3.78 billion.

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (TMMI) started up operations at its new USD340 million assembly plant in Karawang in West Java in mid-March, producing the Etios Valco 1.2L small hatch-back.

Hourly workers at Ford's plant in Genk, Belgium, will get $750 million in severance as part of a deal to close that factory by the end of 2014.

Mazda hopes to have a bigger impact in the shrinking mid-sized segment with the new Mazda6. Buyers are increasingly switching to crossovers from sedans.

Opel says it will build the next generation of its Mokka subcompact crossover in Europe and not in Korea, where the current model is manufactured.

Been a while, hasn't it? No, seriously, when were you this impressed by an F1 rookie's race debut as you were with Jules Bianchi's last time out in Melbourne? Fernando Alonso with Minardi in 2001, maybe? Or Sebastian Vettel in Toro Rosso colours in 2008? Either way, it's been a long time since a new driver made such an impression in their debut race.

Undoubtedly, the young Frenchman who comes from the Ferrari Driver Academy showed himself to be the best of the newcomers after an impressive drive to 15th in a Marussia - whilst vastly improved and now with KERS - that should not really be there. Then again, a driver wouldn't be noticed by Ferrari for his mediocrity would he?

Photo: WRi2

Certainly, you could argue that the much-hyped Valtteri Bottas was the most impressive of the rookies with a mature drive to 14th in a tricky Williams, and don't forget he also comes highly rated from Sir Frank Williams, a man who were you to cut him, would seep petrol.

However, also do not forget that Sir Frank also rated Antonio Pizzonia... It just appeared that Bottas performed little better than Bruno Senna who he replaced. Given the hype, it was just all a little underwhelming.

Furthermore, Bianchi was also the sole backmarker to finish on the same lap as the leaders. This placed him ahead of his teammate Max Chilton, and the two Caterhams of Giedo van der Garde, and compatriot Charles Pic who drove for Marussia last season.

Expect some serious head scratching from Pic, as the Caterham looked to be in possession of some seriously evil handling traits and given Bianchi's 19th place lap time was almost two seconds quicker than Pic's in 22nd, was by far the slowest car on the grid.

Photo: WRi2

Although Bianchi had every right to describe himself as “very happy” and unable to “imagine a better start” to his Formula 1 career, these post-race quotes were a master class in understatement.

Other figures - race lap times, qualifying times - make for further impressive reading. Whilst 19th place on the grid seems about right for where a newcomer in a Marussia should be, Bianchi placed the car ahead of Chilton by almost .800 of a second, and around half a second behind Esteban Gutierrez's Sauber in 16th and the Williams of Pastor Maldonado one place ahead in 15th.

Of all of Bianchi's achievements last weekend, setting the 11th fastest lap time with a 1m30.454 was the most outstanding. This put him on the same page - in terms of lap time - as Vettel (1m30.409), Button (1m30.198) and Massa (1m30.239), and made him by far the quickest of 2013's new drivers.

To put it into perspective, Bottas clocked a 1m30.652 as his best effort. The Marussia driver's sector times also made an impression as the first sector saw him once again keep on the pace of Vettel and Massa.

Photo: WRi2

Still, the story of Jules Bianchi almost did not happen at all. Following a ‘this is not a shoot-out, honestly' shoot out with Adrian Sutil for the second Force India over the winter, the young Frenchman lost out to Formula 1's latest comeback kid and it seemed he would have to spend another year on the side-lines as a reserve driver.

Then the issue of then Marussia driver Luiz Razia's funding cropped up... Razia was ousted, Bianchi was given the seat and had just two days to get used to the Marussia before the team prepared to head to Melbourne.