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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.

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.

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.

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

Negotiators for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the UAW continued bargaining after their current contract was extended on an hour-by-hour basis past a 12:01 a.m. ET Tuesday deadline.

The high-performance electric car market is shaping up to be a high-profile battleground featuring some of the world's most glamorous brands after Porsche and Audi unveiled models to challenge pioneer Tesla Motors.

Ford said it would begin using a new type of aluminum from supplier Alcoa to make some parts for the F-150 pickup later this year, in a step toward eventually replacing more steel components with aluminum.

Toyota expects sales in Europe to fall slightly by 1 to 2 percent this year as higher deliveries in the western part of the region are unlikely to offset a sharp drop in Russia. The automaker said 2016 sales growth could be around 1 percent.

The F-Pace, Jaguar's first crossover, will be priced from $43,385 when it goes on sale in May as the luxury brand enters a key segment and aims to significantly boost U.S. sales.

Supercar fans got a first look at Lamborghini's topless 2016 Huracan Spyder tonight ahead of the 2015 Frankfurt auto show. U.S. pricing will be $262,350, not including taxes and delivery.

General Motors CEO Mary Barra said the automaker's investors haven't been beating down the company's door to discuss a potential GM-Fiat Chrysler Automobiles merger since FCA chief Sergio Marchionne renewed buzz about a deal last month.

VW is using the redesigned Tiguan, its top-selling SUV, to put the focus back on its vehicles after being plagued by leadership issues since the departure of former Chairman Ferdinand Piech.