Auto News 5

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (FCA) has confirmed the merger of Fiat SpA with and into FCA (formerly Fiat Investments NV) became effective on 12 October.

Citroen will launch a production version of the C1 Urban Ride concept if public response is favorable, the brand's CEO Linda Jackson said. The SUV-styled concept is based on the brand's C1 minicar.

German supplier ZF Friedrichshafen established a joint venture with China's Beijing Automotive Industry Corp. to build passenger-vehicle chassis parts for BAIC and its other joint ventures with Daimler and Hyundai.

Opinion 14 Oct, 2014

The new Vauxhall Corsa proves GM is no longer playing catch-up, says editor-in-chief Steve Fowler

Kia has just enjoyed its best September yet in Britain, with 13,292 cars delivered. And the top model? The Sportage, which is selling better than ever in recently updated form.

News 15 Oct, 2018

BMW is getting ready to pull the covers off its flagship X7 SUV, whetting our appetite with a front-end teaser image

News 14 Oct, 2014

A test mule version of what appears to be the new BMW X7 has been seen for the first time in spy shots

The Volkswagen Group didn't dominate the world premieres list, a 1970s DS21 devoid of Citroen badges was exhibited, Jaguar's XE drew only modest praise, and Volvo went properly premium - just some of the many highlights from the 2014 Paris Mondial de l'Automobile.

Investors cautiously greeted the Wall Street debut on Monday of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles , a move that shifts the carmaker's center of gravity away from Italy and caps a decade of dealmaking and tough restructuring by CEO Sergio Marchionne.

Suzuki's plant in Hungary will continue to operate at reduced capacity as production of the Splash and SX4 runs out ahead of the launch of the new Vitara model, a report said.

Suzuki's Hungarian plant will continue to operate at reduced capacity as production of the Splash and SX4 runs out ahead of the launch of the new Vitara model, a report said.

The newest hot entry on our viral video rankings this week comes from Nissan Canada promoting its sponsorship of high school football.

Klaus Busse, Chrysler Group's head of interior design, and his team enjoy hiding what they call "Easter eggs" throughout Chrysler Group vehicles for owners to discover.

Nissan designers in southern California have reshaped the Murano for 2015 with curvier and more sensual body lines to stand out from the crowd as it did when originally introduced 12 years ago.

Renault design boss Laurens van den Acker wants the brand's cars to "seduce" customers with their French styling. The styling chief explained his strategy in an interview with Automotive News Europe.

From GMM

It is more and more certain that Jean-Eric Vergne will secure at least one more year with Toro Rosso.

Earlier, the 24-year-old Frenchman had been left out in the cold by the Red Bull junior team, as teenage Max Verstappen was signed up for 2015.

But with Daniil Kvyat subsequently called up by Red Bull's senior team, it emerged that the energy drink company is reluctant to pair Verstappen, a 17-year-old rookie, with yet another inexperienced youngster for 2015 like Carlos Sainz jr.

Team owner Dietrich Mateschitz has now been asked by Speed Week if Vergne is set to stay at Toro Rosso in 2015.

The billionaire answered: "To have an experienced driver next to a very young driver is quite a strong argument."

Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso-Renault. (Photo: WRI2)

Mateschitz also hit back at Red Bull's rivals who have criticised the signing of a driver as young and inexperienced as Verstappen.

"They all wanted Verstappen," he told Kleine Zeitung newspaper. "Only now that he is with us is there suddenly this great outcry."

Finally, Dietrich Mateschitz confirmed that world champion Sebastian Vettel's contract with Red Bull will officially conclude "five days after the last race" in Abu Dhabi.

Two-time Formula 1 World Champion, Spaniard Fernando Alonso is still widely expected to leave Ferrari at the end of the season.

However, talking to Sky Sports F1 in Sochi last weekend during the maiden Russian Grand Prix, Alonso mentioned he expects to race in Formula 1 next season.

The former Renault F1 driver said his plans for 2015 are ‘set', strongly suggesting that he has no intention of taking a one-year sabbatical, as some rumours suggest.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

“My future is already set - or already set in my mind for some months. Now we are finalising everything, it is not a big thing,” Alonso said to Sky Sports F1 in Sochi.

“You need to be patient, you need to wait a little bit,” Alonso answered when asked about the date for a formal announcement.

“I cannot say anything until everything is completely done but it's good and I will do the best for my future and the best for the future of Ferrari because it is the team that I love. When you know it you will say ‘it was so obvious you will do that”, he added.

From GMM

A French journalist has played down reports he said a helmet-mounted 'GoPro' camera was to blame for F1 legend Michael Schumacher's brain damage.

A few days ago, Jean-Louis Moncet reportedly told Europe 1 radio that he recently met with Schumacher's 15-year-old son Mick, who was with his father when the seven time world champion fell whilst skiing last December.

"The problem for Michael was not the hit, but the mounting of the GoPro that he had on his helmet that injured his brain," he was quoted as saying.

GoPro is a popular and highly successful American brand of high-definition, lightweight video camera often used in action sports.

But after Moncet's comments were widely reported, Reuters said shares in the GoPro company plummeted by as much as 16 per cent.

"We are trying to get more information about the original report from Jean-Louis Moncet," said a GoPro spokesman.

"His tweet this morning suggests the comments didn't come from a family member," he added.

Jean-Louis Moncet's tweet read: "Stop all speculation! I say I saw Mick Schumacher, I don't say where, I don't say I talk with him or I did an interview with him. Clear?"

The Marussia Formula 1 team has issued the latest medical update on Jules Bianchi's condition today, Tuesday October 14.

The is the press release:

“Yokkaichi, Japan
14 October 2014, 00.00hrs local/16.00hrs BST

At the request of the family of Jules Bianchi, and in conjunction with the Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi, the Marussia F1 Team is able to provide the following information regarding Jules' medical condition:

The past nine days have been extremely difficult for Jules and his family. As a consequence of the accident at Suzuka, a number of medical challenges have needed to be overcome and the situation remains challenging due to the diffuse axonal traumatic brain injury Jules has sustained.

Jules remains in a critical but stable condition in the Intensive Care Unit of Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi. The Bianchi family continue to be comforted by the thoughts and prayers of Jules' many fans and the motor sport community. In particular, the many demonstrations of support and affection during the course of the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi were of enormous comfort to Jules' parents and the relatives and friends also present at the hospital.

The family will provide further medical updates when appropriate.”