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Kongsberg Automotive (KA) says it has received nomination from a major - unnamed - European OEM for supply of the complete manual gear shifter system.

News 31 Oct, 2014

Jaguar's upcoming SUV has been spied in testing on UK soil for the first time

Growth in China's auto market is forecast to halve to 7 percent this year, an industry body said, citing a slowing economy which weakened further in the third quarter.

BorgWarner, which counts on Europe for about half its global sales, reported a 13 percent increase in revenue and flat net income for the third quarter after one-time charges.

Jaguar Land Rover moved another step closer to gaining greater control of its destiny with the opening of its $750 million engine plant near Wolverhampton, England.

Johnson Controls, which counts on Europe for more than 40 percent of its sales, posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit.

Succession is not an imminent topic at Daimler or Volkswagen, the CEOs of both carmakers said, adding that any potential candidates would most likely come from within their respective companies.

Ferrari is worth as much as 12 billion euros on the open market based on Chairman Sergio Marchionne's most optimistic blue-sky estimate. The true value will be a hot topic for months.

BMW has found a unique way that 3-D printing could help some assembly workers at a plant in Germany do their jobs.

As a design leader at companies such as Ford and Volvo, Peter Horbury has always been the outsider with great insight, the foreigner able to identify style motifs native to a particular country and put them to good use.

The latest issue of the Automotive News Europe monthly e-magazine goes live on Monday, Nov. 3. This month's edition looks at why megaplatforms are a must-have for any automaker with global ambitions.

Ferrari is worth as much as 12 billion euros on the open market based on Chairman Sergio Marchionne's most optimistic blue-sky estimate. The true value will be a hot topic for months.

The next-generation Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid will be quicker off the line, quieter and go farther in electric mode than its predecessor, General Motors engineers said today.

BorgWarner reported today a 13 percent increase in revenue and flat net income for the third quarter after one-time charges.

Johnson Controls posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit, driven by higher sales of its car seats in North America and a lower expected tax bill.

As a design leader at companies such as Ford and Volvo, Peter Horbury has always been the outsider with great insight, the foreigner able to identify style motifs native to a particular country and put them to good use.

Succession is not an imminent topic at Daimler or Volkswagen, the chief executives of both carmakers said today, adding that any potential candidates would most likely come from within their respective companies.

James Verrier, BorgWarner Inc. CEO since January 2013, is working to double the size of the giant supplier from $7.5 billion in revenue to $15 billion by 2022.

Mercedes AMG's Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in both free practice sessions held Friday ahead of the US Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

The track was a little bit slippery this morning because of a night rain. The McLarens of Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button set the pace early in the first session before Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg emerged fastest.

Button ranked third ahead of Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso) and Magnussen.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG (Photo: Rene Fagnan)

Very good work from the rookies: Felipe Nasr was 8th in the Williams and Max Verstappen was 10th in the Toro Rosso.

The end of the session saw a number of drivers undertake a ‘virtual safety car' test being analysed as one possible response to the accident suffered by Marussia driver Jules Bianchi in Japan.

Second free practice session

Lewis Hamilton maintained his position at the head of the field in practice two, beating his teammate Rosberg by just three thousandths of a second.

The new nose of the Lotus E22. (Photo: Rene Fagnan)

Both Mercedes drivers reported gearbox problems with a downshift issue for Rosberg and Hamilton having an issue changing from fourth to fifth. Hamilton was stopped early with a suspected hydraulic issue.

Fernando Alonso ranked fourth in his Ferrari, one place ahead Daniel Ricciardo in the fastest Red Bull RB10.

Felipe Massa (Williams), Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) and Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso) followed in order.

Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari (Photo: Rene Fagnan)

Forced to start the race from the pit lane, Sebastian Vettel worked on his race set-ups and was classified a lowly 18th.

US Grand Prix, Austin, Friday 1st free practice session*:
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 1m39.941 - 28 laps
2 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1m40.233 - 32
3 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m40.319 - 27
4 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m40.887 - 33
5 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m40.987 - 29
6 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m41.065 - 27
7 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m41.463 - 20
8 - Felipe Nasr (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m41.545 - 19
9 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m41.722 - 24
10 - Max Verstappen (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m41.785 - 32
11 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m41.907 - 21
12 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m41.965 - 23
13 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m42.329 - 28
14 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m42.333 - 23
15 - Sergio Perez (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m42.359 - 23
16 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m42.516 - 24
17 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m42.598 - 5
18 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m43.229 - 26

US Grand Prix, Austin, Friday 2nd free practice session*:
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 1m39.085 - 18 laps
2 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1m39.088 - 34
3 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m40.189 - 29
4 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m40.390 - 30
5 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m40.457 - 36
6 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m40.543 - 32
7 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m40.631 - 34
8 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m40.641 - 38
9 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m40.698 - 36
10 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m40.800 - 25
11 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m40.828 - 37
12 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m41.054 - 31
13 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m41.110 - 36
14 - Sergio Perez (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m41.123 - 35
15 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m41.158 - 37
16 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m41.332 - 33
17 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m41.420 - 34
18 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m43.980 - 19
*Unofficial timing

Mercedes AMG's Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in both free practice sessions held Friday ahead of the US Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

The track was a little bit slippery this morning because of a night rain. The McLarens of Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button set the pace early in the first session before Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg emerged fastest.

Button ranked third ahead of Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso) and Magnussen.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG (Photo: Rene Fagnan)

Very good work from the rookies: Felipe Nasr was 8th in the Williams and Max Verstappen was 10th in the Toro Rosso.

The end of the session saw a number of drivers undertake a ‘virtual safety car' test being analysed as one possible response to the accident suffered by Marussia driver Jules Bianchi in Japan.

Second free practice session

Lewis Hamilton maintained his position at the head of the field in practice two, beating his teammate Rosberg by just three thousandths of a second.

The new nose of the Lotus E22. (Photo: Rene Fagnan)

Both Mercedes drivers reported gearbox problems with a downshift issue for Rosberg and Hamilton having an issue changing from fourth to fifth. Hamilton was stopped early with a suspected hydraulic issue.

Fernando Alonso ranked fourth in his Ferrari, one place ahead Daniel Ricciardo in the fastest Red Bull RB10.

Felipe Massa (Williams), Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) and Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso) followed in order.

Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari (Photo: Rene Fagnan)

Forced to start the race from the pit lane, Sebastian Vettel worked on his race set-ups and was classified a lowly 18th.

US Grand Prix, Austin, Friday 1st free practice session*:
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 1m39.941 - 28 laps
2 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1m40.233 - 32
3 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m40.319 - 27
4 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m40.887 - 33
5 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m40.987 - 29
6 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m41.065 - 27
7 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m41.463 - 20
8 - Felipe Nasr (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m41.545 - 19
9 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m41.722 - 24
10 - Max Verstappen (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m41.785 - 32
11 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m41.907 - 21
12 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m41.965 - 23
13 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m42.329 - 28
14 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m42.333 - 23
15 - Sergio Perez (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m42.359 - 23
16 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m42.516 - 24
17 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m42.598 - 5
18 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m43.229 - 26

US Grand Prix, Austin, Friday 2nd free practice session*:
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 1m39.085 - 18 laps
2 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1m39.088 - 34
3 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m40.189 - 29
4 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m40.390 - 30
5 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m40.457 - 36
6 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m40.543 - 32
7 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m40.631 - 34
8 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m40.641 - 38
9 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-29-Mercedes) - 1m40.698 - 36
10 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m40.800 - 25
11 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m40.828 - 37
12 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m41.054 - 31
13 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m41.110 - 36
14 - Sergio Perez (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m41.123 - 35
15 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1m41.158 - 37
16 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m41.332 - 33
17 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m41.420 - 34
18 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m43.980 - 19
*Unofficial timing