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PSA Peugeot Citroen says 340 staff from its Aulnay plant have temporarily transferred to the Poissy factory in a bid to boost daily production hit by strike action at the North-East Paris site.

Videos 3 May, 2013

Watch this short action film involving Damian Lewis and the new Jaguar F-Type

US light vehicle sales continued their upward swing in April, finishing up 8.5% year on year at 1.29m for the month. Year to date (YTD) results were 6.9% ahead of the first four months of 2012.

News 3 May, 2013

Pictures of the Jaguar F-Type coupe have leaked, revealing a look similar to the original C-X16 concept

The South African government has announced a series of incentives aimed at encouraging both the local manufacturing of electric vehicles and their purchase.

GM is making progress in restructuring its money-losing Opel/Vauxhall unit in Europe, but the automaker has a long way to go, analysts say. GM's first-quarter pretax loss in Europe narrowed while rival Ford's loss widened sharply.

News 3 May, 2013

The Nissan GT-R Nismo will be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show

News 3 May, 2013

Datsun will be relaunched later this year, but there no plans to bring the low-cost brand to UK

Continental reiterated targets for 2013 as declining raw material costs and new products are offsetting a sixth year of contraction in its home region's car market.

General Motors and PSA are studying an alliance to sell large commercial vans outside of Europe, a French newspaper said.

The new issue of the Automotive News Europe monthly e-magazine goes live on Monday, May 6.

Audi is fueling its growth in China with a range of less pricey compact crossovers and sedans -- such as the A3 sedan introduced this month in Shanghai -- to expand its appeal to retail customers.

Audi executives plan to break ground on a $1.3 billion factory in Mexico with a capacity of some 150,000 cars a year. The plant will be instrumental in Audi's push to topple BMW as the world's No. 1-selling premium automaker.

Audi executives this weekend plan to break ground on a $1.3 billion factory in Mexico with a capacity of some 150,000 cars a year. The plant will be instrumental in Audi's push to topple BMW Group as the world's top-selling premium automaker.

Audi is fueling its growth in China with a range of less pricey compact crossovers and sedans -- such as the A3 sedan introduced this month in Shanghai -- to expand its appeal to retail customers.

Opel/Vauxhall says new powertrains will cut its average CO2 output 27 percent by 2020, helping the automaker comply with tougher EU emissions regulations. With 13 new engines, Opel will renew 80 percent of its engine portfolio between 2012 and 2016.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda is banking on an overhauled randd strategy to kick the company his grandfather founded into growth mode after four years of crises. The strategy will help boost Toyota's global sales beyond 10 million units a year.

IndyCar's track designer Tony Cotman is expecting more speed and more overtaking on the streets of Sao Paulo following changes that have been made to the track for the upcoming Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle.

A modification to Turns 1 and 2 of the 2.536-mile street circuit will maximize passing opportunities for the drivers as well as give them a chance to post faster lap times during qualifying.

“Turn 2 is about 10 feet wider now and the curbs that are there have been lowered, so the corner will be quicker, without question. The goal was to help improve things for double-file restarts and particularly in the rain. We've seen how difficult it can be over the years.” Said Cotman

The widening of the corner will allow cars to race side-by-side as they come off the concrete portion of the Sambadrome and into complex known as the “S” of Samba.

Cotman also said there has been some smoothening of bumps, particularly in Turn 10, as well as some drainage issues.

Start of the 2012 edition. (Photo: LAT/IndyCar)

In most Formula 1 cars, the DRS (Drag Reduction System) is activated by the driver pushing on a button located on the steering wheel. Ferrari however uses a different system.

In most F1 cars, the DRS is activated by pressing on that button and is automatically deactivated when the driver starts to brake.

“When the rear flap comes back into its original position, it takes a fraction of a second for the air flows to reattach. If the driver starts to brake hard when the two flows are still perturbed, braking is not as effective as it should be,” Laurent Mekies, head of vehicle engineering at Toro Rosso told Auto123.com.

This year's Ferrari F138 has two pedals, like in any other F1 car. But according to veteran F1 journalist and engineer, Giorgio Piola, there is a third small pedal or s switch located on the far left.

When Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa want to activate the DRS, they move their left foot to the left and press on that switch. The DRS is open.

Coming to a braking zone, they move their left foot from the DRS switch to the brake pedal. That fraction of a second gives the system enough time to return the flap of the rear wing to the high downforce position for effective braking.

Photo: WRi2

From GMM

Mercedes says it would be willing to give Robert Kubica a formula one test.

The German marque this week declined to comment on reports the Pole has been driving at the wheel of Mercedes' sophisticated F1 simulator at Brackley.

But Kubica, 28, did confirm the reports, prompting shareholder and chairman Toto Wolff to admit on Friday that the former BMW and Renault driver is "helping" Mercedes.

"If there's any chance of getting him back in a DTM touring car or F1 cockpit, we'd love to do it," he told the BBC. "Any team would love to have a Robert Kubica."

Toto Wolff clarified, however, that Kubica - whose right arm is still injured in the wake of his near-fatal 2011 crash - is now mainly focused on rallying.

"He is somebody I have known for 10 years but it's absolutely his call how he wants to help us and his main focus is rallying," he said.

Robert Kubica and Toto Wolff. (Photo: Mercedes-Benz)