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UK new-car sales rose 11 percent last year to the highest level since 2007, bucking a gloomy trend in most of the rest of Europe.

News 7 Jan, 2014

SMMT reveals Ford Fiesta as best-selling car of 2013

Mercedes showed off the Concept GLA45 AMG at the

BMW has revealed a new autonomous driving assistant system that is capable of operating a car in a range of different driving situations -- even sending it into a wild oversteer drift on a circuit without any prompting or input from the driver.

Commuting can be a treacherous task in Northern states stung by sub-zero wind chills and measurable snowfall.

CES officially opens Tuesday, Jan. 7, but the news started happening the day before.

Chevrolet announced it will be video streaming the reveal of its much-anticipated 2015 Corvette Z06 from the

News 7 Jan, 2014

BMW has developed a fully autonomous 2 Series and 6 Series Gran Coupe, with advanced controls

News 7 Jan, 2014

Vauxhall Astra GTC range now includes a new 197bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine

Seat President Juergen Stackmann is bullish on growth in Europe, where the Spanish carmaker does 80 percent of its business.

This week's newest auto brand viral videos were a contrast between blue collar and white, work and pleasure.

BMW and Audi both plan to introduce laser headlamps this year, as the new technology is poised to challenge LEDs as the industry's showcase high-tech lighting.

Opel/Vauxhall increased its European market share in 2013 as sales of the new Adam minicar helped counter a declining auto market.

Magna International played key roles in the Mercedes-Benz CLA's interior and exterior. Mercedes credits several Magna supplied components for helping to make the CLA 180 BlueEfficiency edition one of the most aerodynamic cars in its class.

General Motors brands Opel and Vauxhall increased their market share in Europe in 2013, as sales of the new Adam minicar helped counter a declining auto market.

Joe Gibbs Racing officials announced that Sam Hornish, who previously drove for Penske Racing will race in seven races for the team sharing the No. 54 Toyota with Kyle Busch.

“I'm excited about driving the No. 54 Monster Energy car this year. It's a great opportunity for me,” said Hornish. “It's the best possible situation for me to jump into great equipment and have the opportunity to go right out and win. After working with Penske for 10 years and now to have the opportunity to partner with Joe Gibbs Racing, I couldn't have asked for anything better. These are great people, top notch. To partner with Kyle, and all this team provides, with the support of Joe and J.D., it provides me with everything I need to succeed. It's also a phenomenal opportunity for me to partner with a market leader such as Monster Energy. The brand identity and fan following that goes along with this sponsor is super. I can't wait to get into that car!”

Toyota Camry No 54, Joe Gibbs Racing. (Photo: NASCAR)

Adam Stevens returns as crew chief and Kyle Busch will return to pilot the Camry in 26 races, while Hornish will fill the driver's seat in the remaining seven races.

“We're excited to have someone of Sam's caliber joining Kyle behind the wheel of the Monster Energy Camry this year,” said J.D. Gibbs, President of Joe Gibbs Racing. “We think we have a great team there with Monster Energy and Sam will be an outstanding addition. We lost out on the owner's championship by just one point last year so our focus will be on trying to get that title back in 2014.”

Hornish, an Indy 500 winner, has spent the past two seasons driving the No. 12 car for Penske Racing in the Nationwide Series. Last season he recorded one win, 16 top-five and 25 top-ten finishes and captured four pole awards. In 99 career starts, Hornish has two wins, 28 top-five and 53 top-ten finishes. He also has made 130 career starts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

“This year will be fun with Sam and me behind the wheel of our Monster Energy Camry,” said Kyle Busch. “Last year we lost the chance for another Owner's Championship by a slim margin and I think you can expect a close battle again this season. Having an experienced guy in there to fill the role on a regular basis when I'm not there, gives Adam (Stevens, crew chief) the opportunity for real consistency. Sam was a strong competitor last year and I look forward to having him on our side this season.”

Hornish's first race behind the wheel of the No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota will be May 3 at Talladega. In addition he will race both Iowa Speedway races, Road America, Chicagoland Speedway on July 19, Mid-Ohio, and Kentucky Speedway on September 20.

"Monster Energy is all fired-up about having Sam Hornish Jr. to back up Kyle in our car for 2014,” said Mitch Covington, Monster Energy VP of Sports Marketing. “Sam is a proven go-getter and we all look forward to seeing Sam crossing the checkers in first.”

As a result of a plea bargain former NASCAR driver, Jeremy Mayfield was convicted of possession of stolen goods and possession of drug paraphernalia in Catawba County Court on Monday.

As part of the deal Mayfield's 45-day sentence was suspended, and he was instead placed on unsupervised probation for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay $88,124.41 in restitution to victims and $1,100 in fines and other costs, according to a press release from prosecutors.

Mayfield had once raced at the top of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series for Penske Racing and Ray Evernham otorsports.

In a statement, District Attorney James Gaither said the sentence was in part due to the death of one of the state's key witnesses “and the likely result should these cases have been presented to a jury without this witness.”

Mayfield's was suspended from NASCAR in 2009, when he was suspended by NASCAR, he tested, twice, positive for methamphetamine use. He has denied illegal drug use, but after two appeals the suspension was upheld.

Mayfield was charged criminally after a Nov. 1 police raid at his house turned up stolen property.

Authorities say they found heavy machinery stolen from nearby companies and equipment taken from a racing operation.

Mayfield drove in 433 Sprint Cup races over 16 years. He had five victories, his last one coming in August, 2005 at Michigan International Speedway.

Stephane Peterhansel (MINI) won the second day of the Dakar rally, and moves up to first position in provisional overall classification.

Peterhansel, last year's winner of the event, concluded the second day in 3h52''05, ahead of Carlos Sainz's buggy SMG and Giniel de Villiers' Toyota Hilux.

They are followed by the three X-Raid MINI All4s Racing of Juan Roma, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Orlando Terranova.

In provisional classification, Peterhansel now holds the lead, 28 seconds ahead of Sainz and 4m10 ahead of Al Attiyah.

Carlos Sousa, who was the first leader of the race following a win on the opening stage, had to stop on Monday after a turbo failure on his Great Wall Haval.

Stephane Peterhansel, MINI ALL4 Racing. (BMW Sports Communications)

CEO of the team, Patrick Louis resigned from his day-to-day role at Lotus.

Previously Chief Operating Officer, the French shouldered Eric Boullier since 2012, including financial matters.

Matthew Carter is promoted new CEO of Lotus. He's a trusted person of the minority shareholder Andrew Ruhan.

Patrick Louis should retain a position on the Lotus team board.

Lotus E21. (Photo: René Fagnan)

Michael Schumacher's wife, Corinna has asked the media to leave the grounds of the CHU Grenoble hospital.

According to the medical staff and Schumacher's spokeswoman, Sabine Kehm, the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion remains in a “stable but critical condition”.

In a press release published Tuesday morning, Corinna said: “Please support us in our common fight with Michael. It is important to me that you leave the doctors and the hospital so that they can work in peace. I ask you to trust their statements and leave the clinic. Please leave our family in peace.”

Meanwhile, the local Dauphine Libere newspaper wrote that the mini video camera that was fixed to Michael Schumacher's helmet has recorded the footage of his skiing accident.

Additionally, another skier also fortuitously recorded Schumacher's fall when filming his girlfriend. Both videos have been seen by the policemen in charge of the investigation.

French prosecutors will stage a press conference in Albertville, France tomorrow at 11am to provide an update into their findings into the incident.