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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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

Oh, glorious luxury, stunning craftsmanship, sumptuous materials, striking look how you seduce me so. There's something truly alluring about a Bentley. It catches the attention of all it passes, both young and old. They understand they're in the presence of something spectacular. This is one of those vehicular pinnacles few reach -- Rolls-Royce being the other.

As I feel the weight of the Bentley key in my hand, heavy with purpose, I gently slide into the cream-coloured diamond quilted leather seats, close the door with a solid, slightly dramatic “thunk,” and take a moment.

Deeply inhaling the scent of hide and new car, I gently run my eager fingers over the perfectly stitched leather steering wheel and across the winged B logo in the centre. The clear crystalized shifter begs to be put in drive as I depress the start/stop button to awaken the oxymoronically brutish twin-turbocharged V8.

To check out our full review on the 2014 Bentley Continental GT V8S, head on over to Auto-Venus.com.

Photo: Philippe Champoux

From GMM

Caterham could be left stranded without tires ahead of the forthcoming Japanese grand prix, according to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

The report said a source close to F1's official tire supplier has "unofficially confirmed" that Pirelli is warning Caterham it must urgently make a payment ahead of the Suzuka race early next month.

Backmarker Caterham almost collapsed mid-season following the withdrawal of support of founder Tony Fernandes, who sold the team suddenly to a mysterious group of Swiss-based Middle Easterners.

Caterham CT05-Renaut at Monza. (Photo: WRi2)

"I believe our team was not set up to race in Silverstone," one of the new bosses, Manfredi Ravetto, confirmed in Singapore. "This is the truth.

"Since new ownership came on board, I think we managed not only to race in Silverstone but also to arrive to Singapore. I must say it's not a very easy task," he admitted.

"The financial situation is not one of the easiest. We inherited a situation which was more than critical," said Ravetto.

It is rumoured the situation was so critical that Christijan Albers, who became Caterham's team boss after the takeover, quit once he realised that debts could not be paid.

De Telegraaf claims Pirelli "is one of the main creditors" of ailing Caterham.

"The paddock is buzzing with rumours that Caterham will not be in the paddock at the end of the season," it added.

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."

From GMM

Le Mans stars Andre Lotterer and Mark Webber have made less than flattering comparisons between their sports car machines and the modern F1 racer.

In their musings, today's formula one does not fare well.

For instance, reigning Le Mans winner Lotterer made a one-off appearance for Caterham at Spa this year, but then reportedly turned down the chance to reprise his effort at Monza.

Andre Lotterer, Caterham, at Spa-Francorchamps. (Photo: WRi2)

As a young Jaguar tester, Lotterer came close to building a full career in F1 but he admitted to NBC that although he "didn't make it, I have a very happy and beautiful career".

Lotterer, 32, said working at Le Mans with Audi is "amazing", but he also races in Japan's premier open wheeler series, Super Formula.

"Then on the other side, I have the purest and fastest race cars around the corners in the world, in Super Formula," he said.

"They're so precise, and you don't want the race to end. The cars do exactly what you want. The combination of both things, sporting wise, are really good."

He acknowledged that Super Formula cannot compete with F1 in terms of its media profile.

"For people who don't know that much about racing, many think it (F1) is the only thing.

"But in terms of racing, F1 isn't what it used to be anymore. I got to feel that when I did my race.

"There's not much grip from the tires and not much downforce in the corners. You can't go flat out. But it was still a good experience," Lotterer added.

Andre Lotterer, Audi R18 e-tron quattro, winner of the 6 Hours of Austin, Texas. (Photo: WRi2)

He hinted that he did not look into extending his 2014 flirt with formula one due to the modern shape of the pinnacle of motor sport.

"F1 could be another challenge but at 33 years old, you want to go into a good challenge," said the Belgian-raised German.

"What I mean by that is that you're in a team for 2-3 years, well funded and with everything healthy. But apart from the top 3-4 teams, nobody can offer you that in F1.

"So 7-8 years ago there were more manufacturers, but now is not the right time," he explained.

Also contemplating the difference between sports cars and F1 in the past days has been Mark Webber, the 13-time grand prix winner who left the grid to join Porsche at the end of last season.

"One of the biggest differences between F1 and a prototype is the downforce," he is quoted by Spain's El Confidencial.

"The other is the tires. The Michelin (at Le Mans) is a real racing tire, a tire that everyone can enjoy, while the Pirelli in formula one is for show business," said Webber, 38.