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News 22 May, 2014

Audi unveils facelift for A7 and S7 Sportback models, including new styling features, tweaked powertrains and updated tech

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Honda would like to remind you that while journalists have spent the last few years fretting whether the Big H has "

-- Bentley comes striding into the 21st century with a

What Is It?

Mercedes-Benz introduced a wagon variant of its new C-Class today at its factory in Bremen in northwestern Germany.

The new C-Class estate has been presented to the public for the first time at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Bremen, Germany. Daimler says the production plan for the model underscores Daimler's commitment to its automotive manufacturing operations in Bremen and in Germany.

Japan's Furukawa Battery has joined forces with Indonesia's second-largest automotive group, Indomobil Sukses Internasional, for the production and sale of automotive batteries in Indonesia.

The European Commission has released a strategy to reduce the CO2 exhaust from heavy duty commercial vehicles (HDVs).

News 22 May, 2014

Customers urged away from California-only 500e city car by Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne

Nissan says its new Pulsar hatchback will be one of the most high-tech, frugal and spacious vehicles in Europe's compact segment, currently dominated by VW's Golf. Nissan pulled out of the segment in 2006 due to poor sales.

Strong demand for McLaren's 650S Coupe and 650S Spider has allowed the British supercar maker to cease production of the cars' predecessors, the 12C and 12C Spider.

Nissan says its new Pulsar hatchback will be one of the most high-tech, frugal and spacious vehicles in Europe's compact segment, currently dominated by VW's Golf. Nissan pulled out of the segment in 2006 due to poor sales.

Brembo has announced a $115 million expansion at its U.S. brake component plant in Homer, Michigan, as the supplier predicts North America will become its No. 1 global market this year.

The costs of handling vehicle recalls may soon be passed to consumers if the volume and pace of recalls following GM's ignition switch crisis become the norm, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said.

From GMM

Daniil Kvyat says he is taking a "step in the dark" this weekend at Monaco.

While others in the Principality are soaking up the glamour of the 'jewel' in F1's crown, the Russian 20-year-old is thinking about his very first laps of the challenging layout.

Not only that, Sergio Perez said on Wednesday that, with the lower-grip 2014 cars and the high-torque turbo engines, Monaco will be even tougher than usual this year.

"We will see drivers make many mistakes," said the Mexican. "It will definitely be more exciting than in recent years."

'Exciting' may not be the right word for Kvyat, who began his F1 career with Toro Rosso this year as a teenager.

And he stepped into F1 straight from GP3, a lower-tier formula that did not race at Monaco in 2013.

"Monaco for me will be an absolutely new experience," said Kvyat.

"Not only have I never raced here, I have never even been on a visit. In fact, I have never raced on any street circuit.

"It will really be a step into the unknown for me," he said, explaining that he has spent only half a day driving the layout on the simulator.

Aerial view of Monaco. (Photo: WR2i)

A document released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and posted on the Wall Street Journal's website reveals that GM employees must refrain from using certain words in their communications and reports.

The automaker wants “engineering results, facts, and judgements.” Employees need to avoid “speculations, opinions, vague non-descriptive words, or words with emotional connotations.”

GM's black list includes such expressions as “dangerous,” “flawed,” “critical,” “problem,” “decapitating,” “disemboweling,” “suicidal”, “potentially disfiguring,” and “widow-maker.”

Employees are told to use more appropriate terms like “above/below/exceeds expectations” instead of “good/bad” or “does not perform to design” instead of “defective.”

Source : blogs.wsj.com