Auto News 5

Aston Martin cut its pretax loss last year by a third to 25.4 million pounds (32.3 million euros) as the company said it had seen a small rebound in demand for high-end cars. The automaker sold 4,200 cars in 2013, up from 3,800 in 2012.

UK new car sales in 'plate change' September rose 5.6% year on year to 425,861 units.

Faurecia says it is seeking ways to slash the price of carbon fibre as it looks to the increasing use of composite materials and natural products to offer lightweight solutions for mass market models.

Suzuki is in the advanced stages of development of a new 1.6-litre, four cylinder diesel engine for Europe as well as a 1.5-litre version for use primarily by its Indian operations.

Opinion 6 Oct, 2014

The Paris Motor Show gave us a chance to say hello and wave goodbye, says editor-in-chief Steve Fowler

The US light vehicle market is heading for around 17m units in 2015, Ford CEO Mark Fields told just-auto at the Paris Motor Show.

News 6 Oct, 2014

September marks the biggest month for car sales since 2004 and 31 months of consecutive growth

Dieter Zetsche and Carlos Ghosn dispelled speculation that the industrial partnership between Daimler and the Renault-Nissan alliance could crumble once they are not around to instill a sense of unity in their teams.

Thailand's Board of Investment confirmed it has approved investments worth a total of THB52.7bn (USD1.61bn) for the second phase of the country's Eco-Car programme.

Valeo says it has become what it terms as the OEM with the largest global growth as the European economy continues to rebound.

Domestic sales by South Korea's five main automakers increased 9.5% year on year to 110,662 units in September, after declining 6.5% in August, according to data released individually by the vehicle manufacturers.

UK car sales rose 6 percent in September, the 31st consecutive month of growth and the best September since 2004. The market is on track to sell 2.45 million new cars this year, which would be the highest level for ten years.

UK car sales rose 6 percent in September, the 31st consecutive month of growth and the best September since 2004. The market is on track to sell 2.45 million new cars this year, which would be the highest level for ten years.

Burned by four recalls of its redesigned Fit Hybrid in just nine months, Honda Motor Co. is overhauling its randd process to intercept problems better.

Chrysler Group will launch a plug-in hybrid version of the next-generation Chrysler Town and Country minivan late next year.

When Warren Buffett signed a deal to buy Van Tuyl Group last week through his Berkshire Hathaway Inc. investment company, he clearly signaled that the top four dealership groups are in his sights.

There were more hits than misses at the Paris auto show, a sign that even with a sluggish European market, automakers are willing to take chances with new designs.

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn's plan to make the alliance one of the top three global automakers by 2016 could be derailed if Russia's largest automaker, AvtoVAZ, fails to recover from the country's latest market collapse.

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 Formula 1 World Champion with Williams-Renault, said F1 must change its safety car protocol following the terrible crash of Jules Bianchi Sunday in Japan.

In pouring rain, Adrian Sutil lost control of his Sauber, and hit the tire barriers. A heavy tractor was sent out to recover the stricken Sauber, but Jules Bianchi lost control of his Marussia and hit the tractor.

The Canadian claims the safety car should have been deployed as soon as Sutil's car needed recovering.

"The rules have to be changed concerning the safety car," said the former winner of the Indy 500.

"When I was racing, and afterwards, I was always saying that any time there is an accident there should be a safety car.

"There should not be room for judgement. If someone has to go out to pick up a car stranded on the track, it's simple.

"Accident means safety car, and that's it. It should have been like that for years. America has had that forever."

Safety car at the start of the Japanese Grand Prix. (Photo: WRi2)

The son of the late Gilles Villeneuve thinks that critics who feel races are neutralised too often are wrong, and that the risk of another car colliding with a stationary vehicle is too high to cover such situations off with yellow flags.

"The problem now is every time the FIA send the safety car out all the media and fans complain, saying they destroyed the race," he added.

"So now they second-guess themselves. It's a lose-lose situation.

"Yes, sometimes it does slow the race down a bit, but at least you avoid cases like today, and you avoid the human aspect of having to make a decision.

"Whenever I was racing, if I had a crash I was always worried about another car crashing into me.

"I never really like just having yellow flags. You do slow down, but how much? And you could have a puncture, or a suspension failure.

"I'm amazed something like this has never happened before. I think we've just been lucky before.

"Quite often people spin when other cars have spun and they just miss them by inches."

From nascar.com

In a race that saw Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup favorites Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt Jr. fall by the wayside, Joey Logano earned a ticket to the Eliminator Round of the Chase with a hard-fought victory in Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.

Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford, leads Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 42 Target Chevrolet. (Photo: Getty Images/NASCAR)

Logano beat rookie Kyle Larson to the finish line by .480 seconds to notch his fifth victory of the season, tied with Team Penske teammate Brad Keselowski for most in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this year. The win was Logano's first at Kansas and the eighth of his career.

Kyle Busch ran third, posting his first-ever top-five at a track that has plagued him mercilessly in races past.

Martin Truex Jr. came home fourth, posting his first top-five of the season and his second consecutive top-10. Carl Edwards was fifth, with fellow Chase drivers Ryan Newman and Denny Hamlin right behind him in sixth and seventh, respectively.

Crew members for Jimmie Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet, work on the car after the crash. (Photo: Getty Images/NASCAR)

Jimmie Johnson was involved in a wreck and finished 40th, Dale Earnhardt Jr. suffered a flat right front tire sent him hard into the wall, and Brad Keselowski was running fifth when he blew a right front tire and slammed into the wall.

Logano can now enjoy the next two races at Charlotte and Talladega worry-free, assured of earning one of the eight spots in the Eliminator Round.

Point standings:
1. Joey Logano, 3048 points
2. Kyle Busch, 3042
3. Carl Edwards, 3039
4. Ryan Newman, 3039
5. Denny Hamlin, 3037
Etc.