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Fears are being expressed that the end of import tariffs on built-up car imports to Vietnam - under trade agreements - could cause manufacturers with assembly plants to quit Vietnam unless there are compensatory tax breaks from the government.

Michelin may miss its goal of boosting sales by 3 percent this year on weak European and emerging markets, a French daily reported, citing the company's finance chief Marc Henry.

Jaguar Land Rover is joining other automakers in seeking to make its vehicles more intelligent in a bid to win over city dwellers who are more fixated on smartphones than cars.

Jaguar Land Rover is joining other automakers in seeking to make its vehicles more intelligent in a bid to win over city dwellers who are more fixated on smartphones than cars.

News 23 Sep, 2014

Jacked-up, SUV-style city car ‘concept’ joins army of Citroens headed for 2014 Paris Motor Show

Pictures See all 3 pictures 23 Sep, 2014

News 23 Sep, 2014

Ford has revealed more details of the engines and safety kit in the new Ford Mondeo

News 23 Sep, 2014

Fiat reveal a subtle teaser video of the new 500X crossover, to be officially unveiled at the Paris Motor Show next week

Smart now commands the No. 1 position with a spot meant to crack down on jay-walking.

New Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales says he's 'confident' he can make the money-losing brand profitable again by cutting jobs, adding dealers and boosting the sports car maker's lineup.

The executives chosen as 2014 Automotive News Europe Eurostars achieved success by exceeding expectations. Sogefi CEO Guglielmo Fiocchi is this year's Eurostar winner for Supplier CEO.

New Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales says he's 'confident' he can make the money-losing brand profitable again by cutting jobs, adding dealers and boosting the sports car maker's lineup.

Toyota turned to its styling center in southern France to create the 'emphatic new design language' displayed on the C-HR crossover concept the automaker will display at the Paris auto show next week.

New Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales sees no reason to change the British sport car maker's timeless bonded aluminum 'tub" because he says it remains a benchmark for vehicle dynamics and fuel efficiency.

The CIK-FIA World KF and KF-Junior Championships were held at Essay in France and Michael Schumacher's son Mick drive a brilliant race to climb on the podium.

Mick started his racing career under the name of “Mick Betsch” from the name of his mother, Corinna.

Since December 2013, Mick was entered in world karting events under the name of “Mick Junior”.

The 15-year-old drives for Tony Kart and is supported by Petronas, sponsor of the Mercedes AMG Formula 1 team.

Mick Junior. (Photo: CIK/KSP)

In Essay, Mick claimed second place in the KF Junior category.

“I would have loved to win - that's obvious. It's always very different to say I am the World Champion compared to I am the runner-up. But I am very happy with the result”, Mick told local paper Ouest-France.

Mick Junior (DEU, left), Enaam Ahmed (GBR) and Mauricio Baiz (VEN). (Photo: CIK/KSP)

From press release

After a two-race absence from the FIA World Rallycross Championship, former F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve re-joins Albatec Racing aboard the team's No. 25 Peugeot 208.

Alongside Team Principal Andy Scott, Villeneuve will join 40 of the world's top rallycross racers for round 10 at World RX of Italy at the Franciacorta track, near Milan.

Jacques Villeneuve, Albatec Racing (Photo: Albatec Racing)

Venue of the pre-season Media Day, the Franciacorta track is a new addition to the 12-round, IMG-promoted World RX, and will offer 1.6km of bumper-to-bumper, door handle-to-door handle, lights-to-flag action.

“I'm really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel in Franciacorta, it's a track on which I have some knowledge having testing there previously at the media day, and it's a country where I have a lot of support from the local fans and media, so I hope to put on a good show,” Jacques Villeneuve said.

“I believe the track will suit my driving style well and naturally I've been watching Andy and the team's progress with interest over the last two races, they've done well to reach the semi finals against such strong competition and I'll be going flat out to ensure there are two Albatec Peugeot 208s up at the front in Italy.”

Adapted from GMM

Fernando Alonso's future with the Scuderia Ferrari is almost certainly in serious doubt.

Some Spanish media sources continue to insist that the frustrated Spaniard is not interested in leaving the crisis-struck Italian team for McLaren-Honda, or even reigning world champions Red Bull.

Still, the latest rumours suggest McLaren could now be heading towards a highly experienced line-up of Alonso alongside Jenson Button to spearhead the new Honda era at McLaren.

That would leave rookie Kevin Magnussen in the cold.

All of a sudden, the young Dane is admitting his future might not be secure.

"It would make no sense to go from McLaren to a smaller team," Magnussen is quoted by Russia's f1news.ru.

"If I do not manage to be successful with McLaren and meet their expectations, then I'm not good enough to be world champion anyway."

Kevin Magnussen (McLaren) fighting with Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) at Spa-Francorchamps. (Photo: WRi2)

Alonso-Ferrari
At the very same time, strong signs that not all is well between Alonso and Ferrari's new boss Marco Mattiacci are becoming ever more concrete.

Authoritative reports are quoting Mattiacci as having given unusual answers to very direct questions about Alonso's position at Ferrari after the Singapore grand prix.

"Fernando is still with us in 2015? At the moment, yes," he said.

"He has a contract until 2016, but there is an ongoing discussion also about how we will define the relationship."

Italy's respected and specialist La Gazzetta dello Sport on Monday claimed Alonso has now "expressed his intention to leave Ferrari" after conditions placed on his continuing position were not accepted or met.

The report quoted Mattiacci as saying: "We must have the courage to change and not rest on the laurels of the past.

"I have been asked to lead this and not everyone can like it," he added.

The Spanish sports newspaper Marca, however, quoted Mattiacci as insisting in Singapore that "Nothing has changed in my relationship with Fernando this weekend".

Fernando Alonso, fourth at Singapore, with Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

But, clearly referring to the management upheavals at Maranello this year, he also said: "I do not know any company that makes such profound changes where everyone can be happy about it.

"Some like it and some do not. But sometimes you have to have the courage to change."

More signs of the clash between Mattiacci and Alonso could be detected in their assessment of Ferrari's performance in Singapore.

Mattiacci claimed the team has made clear progress since Monza.

"We had the pace of Red Bull -- it is clear that the car has improved," said the Italian.

But Alonso said: "My teammate was 45 seconds behind me."

Each day brings its number of wild rumours. Tuesday, one such rumour from Europe concerns a plan to save the Lotus Formula 1 Team.

It is no secret that the Enstone-based team -- owned by Genii's Gerard Lopez -- is not in the best financial state. Additionally, the performance of the Lotus E22 has been quite disappointing so far this year.

German magazine Sport Bild wrote Tuesday that Flavio Briatore (who still manages the career of Fernando Alonso) got in touch with teams Red Bull Racing and Mercedes AMG about a possible new home for Alonso.

The magazine added that Briatore is trying to convince Canadian billionaire, Lawrence Stroll, to invest in Lotus.

Briatore would then take Alonso to Lotus in order to revamp the image of the team. Keep in mind that Lotus will have Mercedes-Benz power units starting in 2015.

Lance Stroll, son of Lawrence, has just captured the title of the Italian Formula 4 Championship and seems to be en route to F1.

From GMM

Korea is casting jealous eyes on the success of Singapore's city night race as it plans to return to the F1 calendar.

South Korea's first foray, at the desolate, highly unpopular and debt-making Yeongam circuit between 2010 and 2013, is now looked back upon as an unmitigated failure.

But Korean officials are now looking for a way back into F1, meeting with Bernie Ecclestone throughout the Singapore grand prix weekend.

Indeed, the publication Today reports that a Singapore-like city night race on the downtown streets of Seoul, the capital, is now on the cards for 2016.

"Today understands the Briton (Ecclestone) has warmed up to the proposal," said the correspondent.

Formula 1 at Singapore. (Photo: WRi2)

The proposal is being led by Chung Yung-cho, who was also central to the original Yeongam project before he was dismissed by the race organisers.

A source said: "Chung showed Bernie prints of the proposed street layout and he liked it.

"They are now talking about the rights fee and have tentatively agreed to have a race in the city centre of Seoul in 2016.

"The business model for the Singapore grand prix is attractive, and if we can do the same in our city, it makes more sense for people to buy tickets to watch the race.

"I think it will work for Korea this time if Bernie and Chung can reach a deal," the source added.

Sauber Formula 1 Team has gone 14 Grands Prix without scoring a single point and in Singapore both of their cars failed to reach the finish for the fourth time this season.

Times are very difficult financially and there are currently a lot of rumours about a possible takeover of the team.

“Well, since Peter (Sauber) bought the team back from BMW it was clear that we are always open to a strong partner,” said team principal Monisha Kaltenborn in an interview posted on Formula1.com.

“We always had a strong partner in the past if you look at Credit Suisse or Red Bull or Petronas - even if they have not been shareholders in the classic meaning - so this is nothing new to us. We also know that if you want to be competitive today you need a strong partner as a private team. From that perspective we have had several talks in the past - and that is all I can say,” he added.

In regards to reports that suggest that Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll would be in talks with the team, she replied: “As I said, a strong partner is always a good fit - but I cannot comment any more at this point”.

In regards to the Russian deal that emerged late last year, Kaltenborn said it is not dead.

“It is not falling apart. The problem is things take their time and there is no way that we can affect that time line. And maybe things come up for the other side that simply were given more priority. The line between private and public is a very thin one in Russia. Certain political situations equally affect partnerships - and that has also happened. So there is not much you can do but wait”, she replied.

Sergey Sirotkin, Sauber, at Bahrain. (Photo: WRi2)

The 2014 season so far has been very difficult and frustrating for all Sauber personnel. Why has gone wrong?

“We have not forgotten how to make good cars. This year's challenger is not one of our good cars - but it's also not the worst car!” Kaltenborn explained.

“We know why this all is happening. We know where we went wrong, but we also see that the powertrain plays an important role this year - that has been proven by other powertrains throughout the grid. We do not have the most competitive one [Ferrari], which makes it very difficult for a team like ours when you are limited on the resources to try and compensate. But we have to live with that and I am sure that our engine supplier is doing everything because they (Ferrari) are suffering equally. So we both have to go through this,” she said.