Auto News 5

Cadillac's United States sales chief Bill Peffer is out after less than 10 months, the brand's third head of sales to leave in two years as the executive turnover continues inside GM's sales organization.

Volvo Trucks has launched its I-Shift Dual Clutch, a system it claims is the first transmission on the market with a dual clutch for heavy vehicles.

Cooper Tire Asia has formally dedicated its new Asia Technical Centre (ATC) in Kunshan, China, which is also the site of the Cooper Kunshan Tire (CKT) manufacturing plant, around 30 miles from Shanghai.

PSA CEO Carlos Tavares has appointed a boss for the company's European operations and recruited a former top Renault executive to head manufacturing in his latest management changes at the automaker.

According to a report from Reuters, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., which owns

-- If you've never heard of the film "In Car 956," it's exactly what it sounds like: five-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell, in his Porsche 956,

The Lancia Stratos, a car that needs no introduction, has seen astronomical appreciation lately.

It's one thing to have a workable understanding of how a mechanical system functions, but another entirely to explain it all to a layperson. Coilovers, for example, might make perfect, intuitive sense to you.

Mercedes-Benz has exposed a refresh of the the CLS sedan and CLS

Jaguar Land Rover plans to build the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Freelander SUVs at a new plant in China operated with joint venture partner Chery Automobile, a source said.

Jaguar Land Rover plans to build the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Freelander SUVs at a new plant in China operated with joint venture partner Chery Automobile, a source said.

Jaguar Land Rover plans to build the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Freelander SUVs at a new plant in China operated with joint venture partner Chery Automobile, a source said.

Giti Tire says it is to build a new manufacturing plant to meet growing demand in the North American market.

American Honda's newly independent Acura division has dropped the hybrid version of the ILX sedan for its 2015 model year, with just 227 cars having been sold so far this year.

Tesla Motors has revealed more details of its forthcoming Model X to those who have ordered the vehicle.

GM CEO Mary Barra will tell the U.S. Congress today that she 'will not rest' until the automaker has fixed problems that allowed a deadly flaw in the Chevrolet Cobalt to fester for more than a decade.

BMW sales in China have been boosted by the group's consumer finance unit, which was launched in the country four years ago. The carmaker's China finance boss, Uwe Stadtler, explained how BMW plans to expand the unit's business.

From GMM

Fabio Leimer is at F1's crossroads.

The reigning GP2 champion missed out on a race seat on this year's grid, but Tages-Anzeiger newspaper says he now has a solid offer on the table.

Marussia is offering to make Swiss Leimer, 25, its test and reserve driver with immediate effect.

"He could enter right now as a test driver for Marussia," his manager, Sven-Oliver Mangold, confirmed.

"It has even been promised that next year he will be one of the regular drivers," Mangold added.

He said it will cost Leimer a sponsorship figure in the "low single-digit million range".

Therein lies the problem. Until now, Leimer's career has been bankrolled by the wealthy Rainer Gantenbein, who over the years has ploughed over EUR 15 million into the burgeoning driver.

But Gantenbein said some months ago that he is "no longer willing" to burn money on the F1 dream, because the sport's system of pay-drivers is "sick".

"It's a bottomless pit," he insisted. "At some point you have to pull the plug."

Fabio Leimer, 2013 GP2 Champion. (Photo: WRi2)

Leimer's manager Mangold, therefore, is scrabbling to raise the necessary money before other opportunities also start to slip away.

He said talks with a "prominent Swiss company" have fallen through.

"I always get the same answer: we only sponsor teams, not individual athletes," said Mangold.

In the meantime, the clock is ticking.

"Marussia has suggested (Leimer contest) the test at Silverstone and then to target the next race," said Mangold, referring to the German grand prix next month.

And what if that deadline passes? "Then formula E would be an alternative," he said, amid reports many well-known names are rescuing and rebuilding their careers in the FIA's new all-electric single seater series.

A Tesla spokeswoman ended months of speculation by confirming that the new Model X crossover will enter production early next year. Pricing has yet to be announced, though.

Tesla sent an e-mail to reservation holders on Monday saying the Model X will come standard with falcon wing doors and all-wheel drive. Third-row seating will be optional.

“We'll also deliver a level of functionality and practicality that will exceed what you saw on the concept vehicle,” the e-mail read.

The electric car maker plans to build about 10,000-15,000 copies of the Model X annually. Customers can reserve theirs on the company's website by making a minimum $5,000 deposit.

Be patient, however: As of October 2013, Tesla had already received more than 6,000 pre-orders.

Source : autonews.com

Photo: Tesla

Visitors at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the U.K. (June 26-29, 2014) will get to see the Ferrari California T and 458 Speciale, not to mention the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, which will receive the Compasso d'Oro design award.

The Ferrari California T uses a 560-horsepower 3.8L turbocharged V8 engine to sprint from 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds. While output is up 70 horsepower from the regular California, fuel economy is 15% better.

Photo: Ferrari

Unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show, the Ferrari 458 Speciale is more powerful than the 458 Italia. In fact, its 597-horsepower 4.5L naturally aspirated engine is the most potent V8 ever built by Ferrari, allowing 0-100 km/h acceleration in a mere 3.0 seconds.

Photo: Ferrari

The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta will return to Goodwood after winning the 2013 International Engine of the Year award in the Performance Engine and Above 4-litre class and the 2012 Top Gear award for Supercar of the Year. Now, it will add one of the oldest and most prestigious accolades in the world of design: the Compasso d'Oro.

Photo: Ferrari

Finally, the Scuderia Ferrari team will be demonstrating the 2009 F60 Formula 1 car driven by ex-F1 driver Pedro de la Rosa. Special guests Kimi Räikkönen and John Surtees will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the latter's F1 Championship title.

Photo: Ferrari