Auto News 5

From GMM

The FIA's 'engine maps' clampdown has not cost Red Bull even a single tenth, according to the team's engine supplier Renault.

After crossing the finish line in second place just a week ago at Hockenheim - where the reigning champions were using the now-outlawed settings - Sebastian Vettel's practice best in Hungary on Friday was good enough only for eighth.

And teammate Mark Webber, in the sister RB8, was buried down the timesheets.

"We've got work to do," said the Australian. "I'm not super happy."

Engine supplier Renault's trackside operations chief Remi Taffin, however, played down suggestions Red Bull's struggle is the direct result of Vettel and Webber no longer enjoying the software 'gizmos' they had a week ago.

"It's very difficult to quantify," said the Frenchman, "but we're talking about hundredths (of seconds lost) and not at all about seconds or tenths."

German Vettel, too, was careful not to blame his Friday performance on a hobbled car, insisting a good result on Sunday is still possible.

"If you would know what is going on in the background then you would not be too interested in all the talking and stuff that has been printed in the last few days," he is quoted by the Independent.

"Fortunately tomorrow (Saturday) there is a new newspaper, and after tomorrow again, and especially on Monday, so we focus on the race here and then try to make some good news for Monday's paper."

American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings said Friday that quarterly net income fell as expenses rose and the company wrote off the cost of closing of plants in Michigan and New York. American Axle's second-quarter net profit fell to $4.

Ford Motor Credit said today that will it allow Florida customers affected by Tropical Storm Debby to delay some car and truck payments.

Also in this episode: A pair of photos may give a sneak peak of the new Lexus LS sedan, and Ford recalls older Escapes over a throttle issue.

U.S. safety regulators, responding to an inquiry by Sen.

Ford is exploring wider use of aluminum on its next-generation F-150 pickup to trim 700 pounds, boost fuel economy and meet tougher federal fuel-economy rules, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.

In coming months, GMC will be working to reignite sales growth for its popular crossovers.

Mazda is recalling 217,500 copies of the Tribute SUV--from the 2001 through 2008 model years--to fix a sticking throttle.

Take a look at the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco, as Autoweek editors spill the beans on the new sedan.

News 27 Jul, 2012

Porsche is readying a new shooting brake version of the Panamera, and our image shows how it could look when it arrives in 2015

News 27 Jul, 2012

New Mercedes S-Class will feature a new steering wheel and COMAND control, when it arrives next year

Mazda is recalling 217,500 Tribute SUVs in the United States due to a problem with the throttle that could make it difficult to slow down a vehicle after a driver fully or nearly presses down the accelerator.

Pictures 27 Jul, 2012

Toyota will reduce domestic output in the final quarter of this year by more than 10% over the June-September period to around 12,500 units a day as government subsidies for eco-friendly cars dry up next month.

News 27 Jul, 2012

Drivers who’ve owned their cars for four years or more cause fewer accidents

No re-opening is yet in sight for Maruti Suzuki's strife-torn, arsonist-attacked plant in Manesar.

Mitsubishi Motors recalled its newly-launched Mirage eco-car produced at its Laem Chabang plant in Chonburi, Thailand, due to malfunctioning fuel gauges.

Thai vehicle production grew by 33.8% year on year to a monthly record of 205,600 units in June, according to the Federation of Thai Industries.

Here's a brief run-down of reports available in our research store that caught our eye over the past week or so...

Delphi Automotive won EU regulatory clearance on Friday to buy FCI Group's motorized vehicles unit for about $972 million from private equity firm Bain Capital.