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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

From GMM

Retirement is the right option for Ralf Schumacher, according to former F1 rival David Coulthard.

Despite Mercedes signing him up to stay in the DTM series in 2013, 37-year-old Schumacher surprised the racing world late last week when he announced he is hanging up his helmet.

Schumacher, whose older brother is the famous seven time world champion Michael, is instead moving into management, taking up a shareholding in the RSC Mucke Motorsport team.

Also hanging up his helmet late last year was Coulthard, the 41-year-old who raced in the German touring car series alongside Schumacher at Mercedes since 2010.

"I was surprised (about Ralf Schumacher's decision)," Coulthard told the Kolner Express newspaper, "because I thought he wanted to stay on for another year. But I know from personal experience how hard it is to compete against these DTM guys. For me it (retiring) was right, and I think also Ralf has realised that it is time to go."

Ralf Schumacher, Mercedes. (Photo: DTM)