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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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

SGL Group, the materials supplier for carbon fiber reinforced parts in BMW's electric cars, is in talks with Audi, Porsche, GM and other carmakers to supply carbon fiber for a wider range of automotive components, its CEO said.

From Citroen Racing

Nine-time World Rally Champions, Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena are to return to action in a DS 3 WRC at the Rallye Monte-Carlo, opening round of the 2015 World Rally Championship.

This one-off appearance, at the most prestigious rally on the World Rally Championship calendar, will support the launch of the DS Brand.

The two DS 3 WRCs are nominated to score points in the Manufacturers' championship will be driven by Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle - already confirmed as a works crew for the full season - and by Loeb and Elena.

They will take on the challenge once again as they return to road racing more than a year after the end of their shared career.

Often unpredictable due to the weather conditions, Rallye Monte-Carlo will provide the Franco-Monegasque pair with the perfect opportunity to use their immense experience.

Sebastien Loeb, Citroen DS3 WRC, Monte-Carlo 2013. (Photo: WRC)

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)

From press release

Ohsweken Speedway officials are proud to announce a partnership with Sam Donnelly of Klotz Canada Synthetic Lubricants to become the title sponsor of Micro Sprint racing at Ohsweken.

Beginner, Junior, Senior, and Expert divisions compete on the Micro Sprint track at Ohsweken on Thursday nights during each summer, and provide an excellent training ground for the next generation of dirt track stars.

Donnelly has been a supporter of Ohsweken Speedway in the past through his Klotz Canada brand, and travels frequently from Ontario's Kawartha Lakes region to attend races at the track each season.

His support of Micro Sprint racing is a welcome addition, as track officials work to grow the grass roots divisions at Ohsweken.

From GMM

As their fierce rivalry this year came to its zenith on Sunday, Nico Rosberg was notably gracious in defeat.

The bullish German had spent the Abu Dhabi weekend firing psychological barbs at Lewis Hamilton, but on Sunday he was beaten off the line by the Briton before technical problems began to strike.

Rosberg and Hamilton, old friends and boyhood karting teammates, have clashed memorably in 2014 as their in-house title battle intensified.

But as the non-alcoholic rose water flowed on the podium amid fireworks in the sky, the defeated Rosberg was gracious in defeat.

"He (Hamilton) did a little bit of a better job than me in the races this year. Tiny bits that I need to find," he said.

Earlier, although he finished the race just 14th, Rosberg even made his way into the pre-podium room to congratulate his rival, and the pair embraced and shared some of the first words they have uttered to one another for weeks.

"He just came into the room, very, very professional," said Hamilton, "and he just said 'fantastic'. He said 'you drove really well'. And the same to him -- all year long he drove incredibly well, especially in qualifying, so hats off to him."

Nico Rosberg partying with Mercedes team. (Photo: WRi2)

Nico Rosberg also graciously attended Mercedes' post-race team party, even though he said watching the champagne flow for Hamilton was "a bit hard".

But the pair once again came face to face, with Rosberg explaining: "I said 'you deserve it'. He was the best driver on the grid this year, and it was a great battle between us. And I race for battles such as this."

Rosberg's disappointment will be compounded on Tuesday when he must return to the cockpit of his recently-malfunctioned car for the post-race Abu Dhabi test.

"Right now I have to say that I am not really in the mood for it," he admitted late on Sunday.

Lewis Hamilton admitted that their embraces and handshakes may "ease" some of the tension that has characterised their rivalry in 2014.

He said: "He was graceful enough to come up to me and see me after, which I really appreciated. It was really big of him to be able to do that. It's very, very tough, I know what it's like losing a championship so, for sure, we'll keep working at it."

Lewis Hamilton, world champion 2014, and Nico Rosberg. (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

Team boss Toto Wolff said he was also happy to see how gracious Rosberg was in defeat.

"The most emotional I felt today was when I saw Nico going up to congratulate him," he told German television.

"That's outstanding by Nico because I know the discussions we had after Spa, where the relationship was exactly the opposite. So I'm very happy for both of them because it needed Lewis to accept Nico's congratulations," he added.

"It probably would have been exactly the same the other way around," Toto Wolff told the RTL broadcaster. "For us it is great that we have two such great sportsmen in the team."

Formula 1 teams will participate Tuesday and Wednesday to the final test session of the 2014 season held at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi.

Confirmed drivers will take part in these tests, such as Kimi Raikkonen with Ferrari and Nico Rosberg with Mercedes AMG.

Several rookies will also get the chance to get some valuable mileage in an F1 car, such as GP2 drivers Raffaele Marciello (Ferrari), Jolyon Palmer (Force India), Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren) a Formula Renault 3.5 series, champion, Carlos Sainz junior and Mercedes DTM driver, Pascal Wehrlein (Mercedes AMG).

Test line-ups:

Tuesday November 25
• Red Bull Racing: Carlos Sainz Jr
• Mercedes AMG: Nico Rosberg
• Ferrari: Kimi Raikkonen
• Lotus: Esteban Ocon
• McLaren: Stoffel Vandoorne
• Sauber: Marcus Ericsson
• Sahara Force India: Jolyon Palmer
• Toro Rosso: Max Verstappen
• Williams: Valtteri Bottas
• Caterham: Will Stevens

Wednesday November 26
• Red Bull Racing: Daniel Ricciardo
• Mercedes AMG: Pascal Wehrlein
• Ferrari: Raffaele Marciello
• Lotus: To be announced
• McLaren: Stoffel Vandoorne
• Sauber: Marcus Ericsson
• Sahara Force India: Spike Goddard
• Toro Rosso: Max Verstappen
• Williams: Felipe Nasr
• Caterham: Will Stevens