Auto News 5

Following a successful test in November of last year, IndyCar's KV Racing Technology signed Canadian Mikael Grenier as an affiliate driver.

Gernier, a former Indy Lights front runner, tested one of the team's Dallara DW12 at Sebring late last year.

The Stoneham, Quebec native will take part in team meetings and will possibly test for the team, if circumstances allow that is.

Mikaël Grenier au volant de la Dallara de KV Racing. (Photo: Vanessa DC)

“We are very happy to have Mikael be associated with KV Racing Technology,” said Steve Moore, general manager at KV Racing Technology.

“Mikael did a good job during the test earlier this year and we felt a more formal association was warranted. We look forward to having him attend several races this year in an effort to accelerate his learning curve with an eye toward developing a more substantial relationship in the future.”

“I am very grateful to Kevin Kalkhoven, Jimmy Vasser and Steve Moore for the opportunity to be associated and work with KV Racing Technology,” Grenier said in a press release.

“This is a great opportunity and I plan on taking full advantage, learning as much as I can. My goal is to race in the IndyCar Series and hopefully, this opportunity will help me achieve that goal.”

EcoMotors, a Michigan-based engine maker backed by Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates and venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, has formed a joint venture in China with a subsidiary of First Auto Works.

Four years after introducing a small crossover with a polarizing design, Nissan plans to change as little as possible on the 2015 Juke. Except to make it a bit more polarizing.

Ford on Tuesday introduced new versions of two medium-duty commercial trucks, vehicles that -- for the first time in years -- will be built without the help of Navistar, Cummins or Allison Transmission.

News 4 Mar, 2014

Alfa Romeo will enter a new phase of exciting rear-wheel drive products from 2015, says Fiat-Chrysler CEO

Keith Crain, who has led Automotive News for more than four decades, has been elected to the Automotive Hall of Fame. Crain will join Volkswagen AG Chairman Ferdinand Piech, customer satisfaction pioneer J.

Keith Crain, who has led Automotive News for more than four decades, has been elected to the Automotive Hall of Fame. Crain will join Volkswagen AG Chairman Ferdinand Piech, customer satisfaction pioneer J.

Subaru brought a new concept to the Geneva Motor Show this week, dubbed Viziv2.

News 4 Mar, 2014

Forget MPVs or larger SUVs, MINI has no plans to build anything bigger than the Countryman

Volkswagen's plan to build a budget car for emerging markets has stalled because the automaker is struggling to meet cost targets for the vehicle.

The average fuel economy of new U.S. light trucks, cars, SUVs and vans sold in February rose 0.1 mpg from the revised figure for January, to 25.2 mpg, according to a monthly report from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

Subaru of America has named Tomomi Nakamura as CEO effective April 1, taking over from Takeshi Tachimori.

Having teamed up with BMW , the Pininfarina-designed concept received the Good Design award of 2013 with the

Chrysler Group has idled 325 workers at its Belvidere, Ill., assembly plant for a week because of slow sales of the Dodge Dart.

Fiat doesn't necessarily need to build the roadster announced with Mazda early last year with an Alfa Romeo badge, Fiat Chrysler Automobile CEO Sergio Marchionne said.

The Civic Type R will hit the stage and hopefully give us some insight to what some of the styling elements of the 2015 production model will look like.

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., in an op-ed published by The Wall Street Journal today, accused the UAW of trying to silence public officials as part of the union's appeal of a failed organizing vote at Volkswagen AG's Tennessee assembly plant last month.

The decision to withdraw Chevrolet from Europe was made to "clear the runway for Opel and Vauxhall," said Dan Ammann, president of General Motors and chairman of Opel's supervisory board.

We first saw the Juke three years ago and it opened up a class of vehicles we didn't really know existedand#8212;the frumpy compact crossover segment.

News 4 Mar, 2014

Manufacturer reveals it could eventually go zero-emission, while hybrid could become most popular power