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Italian dealers association Federauto says the country's plan to offer a government subsidy of up to 5,000 euros to buyers of electric vehicles is a waste of money because the scheme is flawed.

ZF Friedrichshafen says it increased its workforce by 6% last year creating around 4,200 jobs globally, with some 2,000 of these added in Germany.

VW Group is edging closer toward taking full control of its Swedish truck division, Scania, after its buyout offer won broad support from shareholders and fell just short of an acceptance threshold.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles CEO Sergio Marchionne plans to turn Alfa Romeo into a standalone company, Automotive News Europe reports.

On April 29, 2004, the last Oldsmobile rolled off the line and took the century-old badge with it.

-- The C-01 certainly qualifies as the lightest vehicle Lotus has ever built, because it's a bicycle.

According to a poll conducted on behalf of tire manufacturer Bridgestone, 6 percent of American adults would prefer to get a colonoscopy than to change a flat tire.

Pictures See all 15 pictures 30 Apr, 2014

News 30 Apr, 2014

Aston to ditch VH architecture for an all-new platform in next-generation of sports cars, beginning with new DB9 in 2016

News 30 Apr, 2014

A successor to the mighty Veyron has begun testing, with a more powerful version of 8.0-litre quad-turbo W16 engine

Daimler's first-quarter operating profit more than doubled as its expanded compact car range and demand from China and the U.S. boosted vehicle sales to record levels.

Daimler's first-quarter operating profit more than doubled as its expanded compact car range and demand from China and the U.S. boosted vehicle sales to record levels.

Daimler's first-quarter operating profit more than doubled as its expanded compact car range and demand from China and the U.S. boosted vehicle sales to record levels.

Supplier TRW, which counts on Europe for nearly half of its global sales, reported a 23 percent increase in first-quarter earnings. The company also raised its full-year revenue forecast.

Magna International is expanding its powertrain operations in Mexico with a $75 million plant to produce all-wheel-drive systems for Audi.

Supplier Tenneco, which counts on Europe for about a third of its global sales, saw its first-quarter net income slip 15 percent to $46 million because of one-time restructuring costs.

Volvo and Google have begun testing self-driving cars on city streets, a crucial new phase in the quest to make the technology a standard feature in automobiles.

Several medias, including the respectable Autosport, report April 30th that Azerbaijan will host a Formula 1 after having signed a deal with Bernie Ecclestone.

Bernie Ecclestone, President and chief executive of Formula One Management and Azad Rahimov, Azerbaijan's Minister of Youth and Sports signed the agreement.

"We have signed the deal with Bernie Ecclestone and will announce it officially with an event in Baku shortly," Rahimov declared in the feature posted on “Inside the games” business magazine.

The race is set to take place in 2016 and should be called Grand Prix of Europe.

The city of Baku has a street circuit that is already the scene of some motorsport action.

For the last two years it has staged The City Challenge Baku, an event for GT3-cars, which takes place on a 4.4-kilometre circuit around Crystal Hall, the venue built to host the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, and the National Flag Square.

From GMM

Formula one is pushing ahead with efforts to make its new V6 engines louder.

After decades of screaming, naturally-aspirated V12s, V10s and V8s, the markedly lower volume of this year's energy-recovering turbo 'power units' was a shock.

"I did not find it exciting," said former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya, as he explained to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport why he watched only the first five laps of the recent Chinese grand prix on television.

"And I missed the noise," the Colombian added. "At least on TV. I don't know how the engines sound in reality, but I think it is definitely not close to the screams of the high-revving V10s from my time."

The Bahrain Grand Prix new format. (Photo: WRi2)

Also unhappy is F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, who recently said Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault will work on making the 1.6 litre 'power units' sound better.

The first meeting to discuss potential solutions was in Shanghai, and Italy's Autosprint reports that more meetings are taking place away from the paddock this week.

"We're at the beginning of a consultative process," confirmed Renault's Rob White.

"I think we need to be realistic about the scope of any action that we might take but of course we're sensitive to the subject and we'll certainly participate in any of the studies that might lead to actions being taken," he added.

Given the fundamental infrastructure of the new engines, with the turbo collecting energy that would otherwise be heard as noise, it has been suggested one of the only things that can be done is a change to the exhaust pipe design.

Autosprint correspondent Alberto Antonini said an Italian company is on the verge of being commissioned to look into possible solutions.

Sometimes there's a concept car on display at an auto show that catches your eye. You walk by, but you just have to go back for a second look.

At the North American International Auto Show in 2013, Nissan had such a concept named the Resonance. It was a showcase of the design language and direction the Japanese brand wanted their crossovers to go.


Fast forward to April 2014. It's a blustery day outside and temperatures mimic that of winter. However, inside the walls of the Jacob Javits Center in New York City, the third generation Murano is heating things up.

Why? Because it has an uncanny resemblance to the Resonance Concept and it's darn cool-looking. Atop the stage, the Murano can certainly be described as bold. From the front, you'll notice the V-motion front end, LED boomerang lights, and the unique “floating” roof.

Nissan remarks, “As the halo vehicle for Nissan's expanding range of bold crossovers and SUVs, the latest Murano also expresses a new Nissan design direction.”

It's not style alone that will get crossover buyers excited about this third generation, five-passenger vehicle. The Murano will come equipped with a 3.5L DOHC V6 internal combustion gasoline engine with an output of 260 horsepower and 240 lb-ft torque. It will then be matched with an Advanced Xtronic transmission, which is the company's continuously variable transmission (CVT.) The 2015 Murano will also be available with front- or all-wheel drive configuration.

Fuel economy results have yet to be published, but Nissan is confident in their new vehicle. It's projected to be enhanced by approximately 20% versus the current generation Murano, due to the approximate 130lb overall weight reduction, enhanced aerodynamics, and engine/transmission efficiencies.

Giving the driver and passenger the comfort they'd like while in the cabin, this crossover will ride on a lightweight four-wheel independent suspension; independent strut front, multi-link rear.

Getting back to the cabin, Nissan uses the words “social lounge” to describe the interior environment. That translates into a cabin that is designed to be a comfortable place in which you can relax and enjoy yourself. And, of course, enjoy the company of others joining you for the ride.

In regards to the social lounge feel, can you expect a refined lower-height instrument panel, wide centre console, advanced NASA-inspired Zero Gravity front and outboard rear seating, and the airy atmosphere created by the large windows and available oversized Power Panoramic Moonroof. Centered between the outer wings is a large information and control centre with a standard 8” colour display with multi-touch control including NissanConnect with Navigation and Mobile Apps.

The 2015 Nissan Murano will be offered in four grade levels when it goes on sale in late 2014: S, SV, SL, and Platinum.

Another cool factoid about the 2015 Murano is that it will be assembled in the United States (the previous two generations were produced in Japan), becoming the ninth model in production at the Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant in Canton, Mississippi. The Murano will be exported from Mississippi to more than 100 markets around the world.

Photo: Alexandra Straub