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South Africa is to become the fourth country for Nissan's ongoing campaign to launch or return the Datsun brand to selected countries.

News 10 Jun, 2014

Fresh faced Honda Civic spied testing in the UK, with official revealed expected before the end of the year

Pictures See all 6 pictures 10 Jun, 2014

We spent the morning driving the new Lotus F1 car around the Nurburgring. Let that sink in for a minute.

-- Jalopnik's vaguely entertaining Opposite Lock details

OK, so there's no Mazda Miata. We lied. (If you say the title 10 times fast, though, your face may turn the resplendent shade of blue Mazda once used for its

A lighter Ford Fusion, like any lighter car, is something enthusiasts have been championing for years. And on the surface, Fusion Lite sounds like the name of a brand-new soft drink.

News 10 Jun, 2014

Renault buys out Caterham’s 50 percent stake in Alpine sports car brand, bringing an end to joint venture

News 10 Jun, 2014

The MINI Cooper SD three-door combines a hot hatch worrying 168bhp with 69mpg running costs

A man at an outdoor cafe stares at a Mini, puzzled, as two women enter, and two men step out almost simultaneously. Miraculous transformation?

A number of car factories are at risk of closure because of overcapacity in the European auto industry. PSA's factory in Rennes, France, and Honda's plant in Gebze, Turkey, are highest on the list, according researchers.

BMW, Jaguar Land Rover and Daimler ranked one, two and three in European plant capacity usage last year, according to data from research firm Inovev. All three automakers turned that efficiency into profitability.

Ford will keep production of the Fiesta in Germany after agreeing with workers to cut assembly costs. Reports had said Ford could move Fiesta production to its Romanian factory where the B-Max is built.

Capacity utilization at Europe's vehicle plants should reach 70 percent this year. A return to the 2007 high of 85 percent is not expected until 2020 #8211; if ever #8211; forecasters say.

If you've ever had an off-road adventure, particularly an off-road adventure in a Jeep, you owe a debt of gratitude to Mark A. Smith.

General Motors committed fraud while settling claims over a 2004 accident that left one man dead and his fiancee pleading guilty to a crime, the victim's family said in a lawsuit seeking to reopen the case.

Mercedes AMG driver, Lewis Hamilton told the Austrian Times that he knows nothing about the Red Bull Ring, the circuit that will stage the Austrian Grand Prix in less than two weeks.

"I don't know which way Turn One goes if I am honest but I will find out before I get there. Nico [Rosberg, his teammate] has driven it before in Formula BMW, I would have thought. But I will be on it for the next one, doing my best," Hamilton told the Austrian newspaper.

The 2008 F1 World Champion with McLaren will now spend time on the Mercedes AMG simulator to speed up his preparation.

"I just want to get ready for the next race. I have a lot of training planned and I am in the simulator," he said.

"Years and years ago when I was probably 13, I played it on a computer game, but once I get on the simulator, I will learn quickly,” Hamilton explained.

The Red Bull Ring. (Photo: Red Bull)

At the U.K. launch of the Tesla Model S, CEO Elon Musk told journalists that he will share the patents for the company's Superchargers in an effort to speed up the development and mainstream adoption of electric vehicles.

Musk believes a universal charging system is the only way to go, and other EV manufacturers should follow the lead.

Beyond profits, Tesla's head honcho cares about bringing the electric car to the masses more than anything. Of course, that means costs will go down and Tesla will be able to sell even more units. Everybody wins.

Source : engadget.com

Photo: Tesla

From ACO

After 12 years in Formula 1, and nine Grand Prix victories, Australian Mark Webber races this weekend at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

A race he had seen twice before in 1998 and 1999, but was not able to complete a lap in the race. For his return and that of his new employer Porsche, Webber has a modest ambition.

For 15 years you have not competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. What are your first impressions here?
Mark Webber (Porsche): ”I forgot how the public was so enthusiastic at scrutineering. It was incredible! This puts you directly into the atmosphere of the race”.

And the circuit, has it changed a lot since 1999?
“It is me who has changed (laughs). The last time I came, I was young and I had a lot of pressure. I had to prove my worth. Today I'm here to bring my "value added" to the team. This completely changes my perception of things ...”

In speaking with the team, is it not difficult to learn to work in a group?
“I love sharing with other drivers (Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard). That said, I always want to feel powerful and show my top speed!”

Does this mean that you will go for pole position?
(Pause) ” I don't know yet ...”

And victory for you?
“For the return of Porsche at Le Mans, finishing the race would be OK. For me, Audi remains the team to beat”.

What is your schedule for today?
“I always have a disciplined approach to a race. I try to stay calm, eat well and sleep well to enable me to compete as well as would be physically possible.”

Nissan USA today announced on Instagram ''the next chapter in our #Nissan story to an audience that has always shared our passion for #performance.''

Some believe the teaser shows the Vision Gran Turismo concept, which could be a preview of the next-generation Nissan GT-R (R36).

The official reveal is scheduled for June 16th, so count the days!

Source : motorauthority.com

Photo: Nissan