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South Korea's car imports have leapt from 3 percent of sales a decade ago to 14 percent today as foreign brands led by Germany's BMW and Mercedes take advantage of a free trade deal to grow sales in a once impregnable market.

When Jim Farley started his first tour of duty in Europe in 1997, he had a lot to learn. Now he's going back to run Ford's European unit. "I got my PhD in small cars walking through parking lots," in Europe, he says.

Automotive News Europe needs your help to identify the Rising Stars in the European automotive industry. The award honors executives with a pan-European profile who have driven change, fostered innovation and made courageous decisions.

The long-awaited Jeep Wrangler redesign planned for 2018 will come with an eight-speed automatic transmission that promises to dramatically improve the off-roader's fuel economy.

In 2008, the recession was raging, and dealer Joe Cardinale decided to make some changes.

Voice-recognition systems have fallen far short of their promise. Android Auto and CarPlay both use voice recognition, but CloudCar wants to go even further with JustDrive.

Ford Motor Co. began shipping finished 2015 F-150 pickups to dealers last week as it announced the new aluminum-body truck will get up to 29 percent better fuel economy than the outgoing steel-body F-150.

Mercedes-Benz thinks there's a new, hot niche in the global auto industry: $100,000-plus cars.

Toyota Motor Corp.'s top fuel cell engineer predicts the automaker will slash the cost of the next hydrogen-fueled powertrain to between one-third and one-fourth the cost of the current system.

Audi is dipping its toe into car sharing, but with a premium twist. Audi has quietly begun two pilot luxury car sharing programs in Europe - one in Stockholm and another in Berlin.

Addressing an industry conference in Traverse City, Mich., this summer, General Motors' global powertrain boss Steve Kiefer asked a room packed with about 500 people how many owned a GM vehicle.

As Nissan Motor Corp. pushes to boost U.S. market share and cut reliance on Japanese imports, it's clear which goal takes priority: selling more vehicles. Even if it takes more imports to do it.

General Motors is adding more lightweight aluminum to its vehicles. But unlike Ford Motor Co., GM is not spending hundreds of millions of dollars to retool its assembly plants for the metal.

Honda and other automakers that have recalled vehicles equipped with Takata airbags are trapped in a nasty dilemma.

Automakers are beginning to nudge the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle out of the illusion factory that is Southern California and into the broader conversation about the future of clean transportation.

From GMM

Marco Mattiacci has done little to reject rumours he is set to depart as Ferrari's team boss.

Reports throughout the Abu Dhabi weekend suggested the Roman and former Ferrari North America chief, who arrived at Maranello in April to replace the suddenly-ousted Stefano Domenicali, is on the verge of himself being replaced.

The rumours say Marlboro executive and F1 Commission member Maurizio Arrivabene, or perhaps even Ross Brawn, are set to succeed Mattiacci.

When asked if Abu Dhabi was his last race, Mattiacci said on Sunday: "At the moment I am very focused on my job just as I was when I started in April."

It is obvious, however, that more changes may be afoot at Maranello.

Piero Ferrari, the great Enzo Ferrari's only living son, was trackside in Abu Dhabi and he answered "I don't know" as to whether Brawn is set to return.

But when asked if the team's former technical director parted on good terms a decade ago, however, Ferrari insisted: "Yes."

From GMM

Rival F1 team Sahara Force India has blasted outgoing world champions Red Bull as the "cheats" of the sport.

"Red Bull gives you flexible wings," team supremo and co-owner Vijay Mallya said on Twitter on Sunday.

The former Indian billionaire's attack on the energy drink-owned team follows not just the latest flexible wing saga, but also team boss Christian Horner supposedly enraging his counterparts in a recent meeting.

Not only Mallya, but also Lotus owner Gerard Lopez have intimated to members of the F1 media that it was Horner who openly laughed at the demise of backmarkers Caterham and Marussia.

The next most endangered teams - Lotus, Force India and Sauber - have been arguing ferociously in recent weeks that the sport should more fairly distribute its almost $1 billion in annual income among the teams.

But Christian Horner is quoted by the Times as "categorically" denying that he scoffed at their plight.

"I would never decry other teams," he said. "They have my respect. For example, we have helped Caterham get into the paddock. They got gearboxes from us (in Abu Dhabi) even though we are owed money."

Start of the 2014 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. (Photo: WRi2)

But something has obviously enraged Mallya, who launched a tirade of anti-Red Bull sentiment on his official Twitter page ahead of Sunday's 2014 finale in Abu Dhabi.

"Arrogance and a superiority complex on the part of those who are paid to be in F1 should not dilute or colour those who pay to be in F1," he said.

"A big F1 team that says we small outfits should not come with bananas to a gun fight, grabs maximum money and cheats on the regulations," Mallya added.

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo were disqualified from qualifying on Saturday after the FIA deemed their front wings were illegal.

A BBC report that revealed a concealed spring was specifically designed to allow the wing to illegally bend was also 'retweeted' by Vijay Mallya.

Former Caterham technical boss Mike Gascoyne also attacked the Red Bull chief on Sunday, tweeting before the race: "Wonder if Christian Halliwell will visit the back of the grid? Will remind him of his first few years in Red Bull."

He signed off with the hashtag: "Whatgoesaroundcomesaround".

Ferrari Monday morning announced the appointment of Maurizio Arrivabene as Managing Director of Gestione Sportiva and as Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari, replacing Marco Mattiacci.

When asked if Abu Dhabi was his last race, Mattiacci said on Sunday: "At the moment I am very focused on my job just as I was when I started in April."

Maurizio Arrivabene comes to Ferrari from Philip Morris, which he joined in 1997 after a 20 years career in marketing and promotions in Italy and abroad.

Throughout his time with Philip Morris, Maurizio Arrivabene has been closely involved in the partnership with Ferrari both in Maranello and on the world's racing circuits. He has also represented all Formula One sponsors on the F1 Commission since 2010.

“We decided to appoint Maurizio Arrivabene because, at this historic moment in time for the Scuderia and for Formula 1, we need a person with a thorough understanding not just of Ferrari but also of the governance mechanisms and requirements of the sport,” declared Ferrari Chairman Sergio Marchionne.

“Maurizio has a unique wealth of knowledge: he has been extremely close to the Scuderia for years and, as a member of the F1 Commission, is also keenly aware of the challenges we are facing. He has been a constant source of innovative ideas focused on revitalisation of Formula One. His managerial experience on a highly complex and closely regulated market is also of great importance, and will help him manage and motivate the team. I am delighted to have been able to secure his leadership for our racing activities”.

“We would also like to thank Marco Mattiacci for his service to Ferrari in the last 15 years and we wish him well in his future endeavours” concluded Marchionne.

From GMM

Carlos Sainz jr could be unveiled within days as Toro Rosso's new driver for 2015.

That is the claim of the Spanish sports daily Marca, following reports in Abu Dhabi at the weekend that Jean-Eric Vergne now seems resigned to leaving Faenza after three full seasons with the Red Bull-owned junior team.

Marca said the probability is now "99 per cent" that 20-year-old new Formula Renault 3.5 champion and Spaniard Sainz will be teenager Max Verstappen's teammate.

"The announcement could even take place this week," added the newspaper.

Marca said Sainz Jr, whose father is the well-known world rally legend of the same name, will touch down in Abu Dhabi on Monday where he will test in the coming days for Red Bull.

Carlos Sainz Sr is tipped to be travelling with him.

In their pocket could be a new sponsor for Toro Rosso, with the team's existing Spanish backer Cepsa said to be departing, the newspaper reported.

Cepsa brand on Toro Rosso STR9-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

McLaren Formula 1 team ended its 20-year relationship with Mercedes-Benz at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Sunday night.

The British team is now fully focused on the new Honda era.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the team will be conducting systems and logistics checks with the Honda-engined interim car, MP4-29H/1X1 at the Yas Marina circuit of Abu Dhabi.

McLaren test and development driver Stoffel Vandoorne will be driving on both days.

“On Tuesday and Wednesday, here in Abu Dhabi, we'll be testing our hybrid McLaren-Honda MP4-29H/1X1 for the first time, following our filming day with the car at Silverstone last week,” said Eric Boullier, racing director, McLaren.

“It's an exciting time for both McLaren and Honda, and for all who sail and will sail in the good ship McLaren-Honda. Ahead of us are many weeks of hard graft, but you may be well sure we're up for the task”.