Auto News 5

Daimler presented the new 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT this week, much to the delight of high-performance car enthusiasts around the world. This German rocket produces 462 horsepower in base trim and 503 horsepower in GT S trim.

"The Mercedes-AMG GT shows sports car enthusiasts around the world what AMG is capable of", said Prof Thomas Weber, member of the Daimler Board of Management responsible for Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, and stressed Mercedes-AMG's importance within Daimler's engineering network.

It's the second vehicle to be entirely developed by Mercedes-AMG.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff says the German team is open to the idea of loosening the current Formula 1 engine freeze rule.

It is widely recognised that the Mercedes V6 power unit is in a class of its own this year in terms of top end power.

This winter, the engine suppliers currently involved in F1 (Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault) will be allowed to develop their turbo hybrid engines by way of a token system.

However, Austrian Wolff says suppliers are now looking at allowing those tokens to be spent throughout the season rather than just the off-season.

Taking to Sky Sports F1, Wolff said “You don't want to open up the homologation and the freeze, the question is about consuming those tokens at any given moment during the year, but it is early days”.

“We are going to reconvene and discuss properly and see what we do, but we [Mercedes] are pretty open to everything. If we at the same time can work on our engine then we have no problem,” Wolff added.

Japanese driver Takuma Sato has become the latest former-Formula 1 driver set to compete in Formula E by signing with Aguri Suzuki, who he drove for between 2006 and 2008.

The Verizon IndyCar competitor has been signed in time to compete in the all-electrical series' inaugural race weekend, which takes place in Beijing, China this weekend.

Sato -- a long-time Honda supported driver -- will be filling in for Antonio Felix da Costa, who is confirmed for the team but is unable to compete at the weekend due to DTM commitments.

Sato has been competing in the Verizon IndyCar series since 2010 and successfully tested the team's Formula E car at Donington Park in August.

Mazda unveiled a more athletic fourth-generation Mazda2 hatchback today, deploying its latest Skyactiv drivetrain and chassis technologies into the subcompact segment.

Toyota, the last of the world's major automakers without a full assembly plant in Mexico, is scouting the country for possible factory sites, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said.

At least two big Hertz Global Holdings Inc. investors plan to meet this week with its new chairwoman to propose adding industry veteran Roger Penske to the board, people familiar with the plans said.

Ford has found the automated parking feature offered on several of its nameplates works pretty much as it's supposed to.

Next month, Lincoln will kick off its first significant marketing campaign for the Lincoln Navigator since 2007, brand executives said at a press event here.

Visteon is exploring a plan to split into two companies, one focused on electronics and the other on climate controls, people familiar with the matter said.

Visteon is exploring a plan to split into two companies, one focused on electronics and the other on climate controls, sources said.

News 10 Sep, 2014

Is it legal to use Apple Watch wearable technology while driving?

The federal probe into auto loans made to people with spotty credit is doing little to derail sales of bonds backed by the debt, even as investors demand more to own the riskiest pieces.

Following General Motors' CEO Mary Barra's announcement earlier this week her US flagship brand Cadillac will begin offering advanced "intelligent and connected" vehicle technologies on some 2017 model year vehicles, Delphi Automotive has said it will supply the technology.

PSA is to merge two of its aftersales networks currently operating separately to serve customers of the Peugeot and Citroën brands.

TRW has announced it has signed a definitive agreement to divest its engine valve business for US$385m in cash to Federal-Mogul.

Opinion 10 Sep, 2014

We've had morsels of good news for motorists recently but Mike Rutherford thinks we're just been sweet-talked ahead of the 2015 election

AutoNation is expanding its footprint in the Pacific Northwest by buying four luxury-brand dealerships in the Seattle market that generate more than $350 million in annual revenue.

Established Fiat-Chrysler supplier Harman has anounced it makes the Uconnect infotainment system in the EMEA markets Jeep Renegade.

Features 10 Sep, 2014

We meet some of the growing band of car modifiers giving their customers the best of British

Honda has revealed the first images of the brand's new European version of its small SUV ahead of its world premiere at the 2014 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris next month.