Auto News 5

Jaguar Land Rover says it expects this year's sales to exceed last year's as the UK, Europe and North America help compensate for a sharp decline in China demand.

Nissan has emphasised a growth strategy for Europe based on product strength in crossovers and electric powertrain as well as the introduction of advanced autonomous drive technologies.

Not wanting to miss out on one of the hottest trends in the industry, Toyota said it will jump into the compact crossover segment next year with a new model it's tentatively calling the C-HR.

News 15 Sep, 2015

Toyota CEO Akio Toyodo confirms that radical hybrid crossover concept is in near-production form

News 15 Sep, 2015

Exclusive: Renault design boss says the new Renault Scenic will play the role of Cupid for stressed parents

The United Auto Workers union said just after midnight Tuesday (14 September) it would extend its national labour agreement with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles on an hour-by-hour basis, signalling hope it could reach a tentative pact on a new four-year deal overnight, marketwatch.com reported though there was no sign of that so far. At 5am EST, the Detroit Free Press' Alisa Priddle tweeted: "...still awaiting UAW deal with Fiat Chrysler."

General Motors chief Mary Barra was very clear last night - there is no deal to be done with Fiat Chrysler. She told a press conference on the eve of the Frankfurt IAA show: "There is no future in discussions. This is not a new topic and we have studied (Fiat boss) Mr Marchionne's proposals in detail and taken outside advice and decided that a deal is not the right thing for GM shareholders.

IBM has announced a new IBM Cloud-based service to help automakers turn driver and vehicle data into actionable insights for predictive vehicle maintenance, real-time diagnostics on engine trouble, and to guide drivers to the most efficient traffic routes. By 2020, 90% of new cars will be equipped with extensive connectivity services. To make the most of this connectivity, automakers are increasingly using IoT solutions that help to securely deliver data generated from cars directly to the cloud for near real-time analysis.

News 16 Sep, 2015

Audi's all-new S4 debuts at Frankfurt show, with more power, less weight and a new turbocharged engine

BMW was forced to end a press conference at the Frankfurt show after chief executive officer Harald Krueger collapsed on stage. The CEO, 49, was escorted offstage by two assistants following the incident Tuesday, which took place shortly after the briefing started. Krueger is being treated by a doctor after the "moment of dizziness," BMW spokesman Maximilian Schoeberl said in a statement, adding that the CEO's condition is stable and he's recovering well.

European car sales increased by 11 percent in August, the second-largest gain this year, as rising economic confidence boosted demand for SUVs. Eight-month volume was up 8.6 percent to 9.38 million.

News 15 Sep, 2015

Suzuki has revealed a new 'S' grade for the Vitara crossover, with 138bhp 1.4-litre Boosterjet turbo petrol engine

Porsche unveiled its answer to Tesla -- the Mission E electric four-seat sports car. The concept provides a glimpse at the brand's first battery-powered model, which could arrive by the end of the decade.

Ferrari plans to stick to making high-end sports cars, avoiding the stampede to market an SUV or an electric model, as the traditional engine growl is part of what customers pay for.

Suppliers Continental and Valeo are hoping to turn rear- and side-view mirrors into relics of the past.

BMW Group CEO Harald Krueger collapsed on stage at the Frankfurt auto show. Krueger is recovering well after a "moment of dizziness," BMW said.

Bentley's push behind its first-ever crossover, the Bentayga, landed two hits on our list.

Volkswagen plans to enable its cars to send and receive data as well as drive on their own. "By 2020, we will have transformed all of our new cars into smartphones on wheels," CEO Martin Winterkorn said.

Nissan's belief in its batteries has risen to a new level. The automaker said that the Leaf's new 30 kilowatt-hour battery will be covered by an eight-year, 160,000km warranty, up from a five-year 100,000km warranty.