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Fiat is not ruling out closing one of its Italian plants unless it can secure extra work to the US coupled with union agreement.

BMW says it intends to continue hybrid-vehicle research on its own as it holds talks with PSA about breaking up a joint venture.

BMW says it intends to continue hybrid-vehicle research on its own as it holds talks with PSA about breaking up a joint venture.

Joint venture Dongfeng Honda Automobile has marked the start of production at its new second automobile plant in Wuhan, Hubei Province.

Nissan has set the first stone of its new manufacturing complex in Aguascalientes, its third in Mexico and the second in the state. The complex is the result of a US$2bn spend announced last January to increase manufacturing capacity needed to satisfy the high demand for Nissan vehicles in the domestic and international markets.

That pedigreed race cars regularly cross the block at high-profile auctions isn't exactly news. Even so, we thought our readers might like to know that the Monterey, Calif.

A group called Consumer Watchdog announced that it is suing Hyundai on behalf of drivers who purchased 2011 and

Sales of new cars and light commercial vehicles in Russia rose 10 percent in June, maintaining the double-digit growth that is expected to return the market to near pre-crisis levels for the full year.

Volkswagen's joint venture with FAW plans to build an assembly plant in the central China city of Wuhan, according to local media.

Despite slow jobs growth in the United States and a tepid economy, automakers are maintaining solid North American production schedules this summer. Mike Jackson, IHS Automotive's director of North American forecasts, says U.S.

The auto industry's race to add gears to automatic transmissions is running out of steam. After Germany's ZF introduced its eight- and nine-speed transmissions, a press report said that Hyundai was developing a 10-speed gearbox.

On Tuesday afternoon AJ Allmendinger has released a statement in reaction to NASCAR's reaction to the results of a mandatory drug test.

AJ Allmendinger, Penske Racing. (Photo: NASCAR)

While NASCAR says that he failed the test it did not disclose what prohibited substance was found.

Under NASCAR procedures the sample is divided into an “A” and “B” sample.

Anyone, driver, crew member or official has the right to request that the “B” sample is also tested.

Allmendinger's statement reads:

"I have informed NASCAR that I have requested that the 'B' sample be tested, following the steps according to NASCAR's 2012 rule book regarding this situation. I fully respect NASCAR's drug usage policy and the reasons they have it.

I am hoping this can get resolved as quickly as possible so that I can get back to driving the No. 22 Penske Racing Dodge. I am sorry that this has caused such a distraction for my Penske Racing team, our sponsors and fans.

Obviously I would never do anything to jeopardize my opportunity here at Penske Racing or to my fellow drivers. I am very conscious about my training and health and would never knowingly take a prohibited drug."

Earlier in the day Penske Racing Team owner, Roger Penske, said on SiriusXM radio “We're standing behind him until we hear the results.”

Due to the NASCAR suspension Penske Racing announced yesterday that Sam Hornish Jr. who filled in for Allmendinger in Saturday night's Coke Zero 400, will also fill-in at this week's race in New Hampshire.

Stewart Haas Racing has announced, in collaboration with Tommy Baldwin Racing, that Danica Patrick will be entered in the Oct. 21 Hollywood Casino 400 to complete her 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 10-race schedule.

One of the main reasons for choosing that 1.5 mile oval is the extra day of practice being permitted due to the repaving of the facility.

“With the testing rules the way they are, we can't test with her at tracks where NASCAR's top three series compete,” said Greg Zipadelli, SHR competition director and race strategist for Patrick. “That extra day of testing will be huge for her. With the amount of 1.5-mile ovals on the schedule, it made sense to have her compete at Kansas to better prepare her for 2013.”

Patrick made her Sprint Cup debut in the season-opening Daytona 500 Feb. 27 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and has since competed in the Southern 500 May 12 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway and the Coca-Cola 600 May 27 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

In her only NASCAR appearance there, last October, she started and finished 15th in the Nationwide Series race. She also has one IndyCar pole (July 2005) at the oval.

“I've always liked racing at Kansas Speedway,” Patrick said. “I think the extra day of testing will be very beneficial, not only to prepare for the race weekend, but to learn for the rest of 2012 and looking ahead to 2013 with Stewart-Haas Racing. The more track time I can get, the better, so I'm happy to be driving the GoDaddy.com Chevy at Kansas.”

Matthew Di Leo drove to the win of round five of the Formula Tour F1600 series', held at Mont-Tremblant, Qc. His rival Michael Adams took the top step of the podium over on Sunday, for round 6.

Di Leo won Saturday, besting reigning champion Nathan Blok and eventual winner Adams to the flag. Rookies Jesse Lazare (4th), Guillaume Archambault (9th) and Marc-Antoine Cardin (9th) all made a name for themselves, by finishing in the top 10.

Gord Ross took top honours in Master, but his speed was rewarded only by a bump up the faster class. Because of the 102% rule, Ross will now have to race in Pro.

Sunday saw Adams make it first to the finish and Blok take a second consecutive second place finish. 15-year-old Lazare, in only his second career start, completed the podium.

Guy Gilain imitated Adams in Master.



Race 1 results - F1600 (Mont-Tremblant)
1.Matthew Di Leo
2.Nathan Blok
3.Michael Adams
4.Jesse Lazare
5.Duncan Murdoch
(...)

Race 2 results
1.Michael Adams
2.Nathan Blok
3.Jesse Lazare
4.Sergio Pasian
5.Michel Bonnet
(...)

Canadian race car driver Patrick Carpentier last year said that the NASCAR Nationwide race in Montreal was to be his last professional race of his career. However, he changed his mind...

During last year's race, Carpentier was pushed off track by a rival and was forced into retirement. The Joliette, Quebec native was highly disappointed to retire on such a bad note.

However, his fans will be delighted to learn that Carpentier will be back in action one more time. It was announced Tuesday that he will contest in the NAPA Auto Parts 200 NASCAR Nationwide race at circuit Gilles Villeneuve next month.

Patrick Carpentier, Michael Waltrip Racing. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

The former Formula Atlantic champion and ChampCar driver will be driving the No. 99 Toyota Camry of Michael Waltrip Racing entered by RAB Racing and sponsored by NAPA Canada,

His crew chief will be the vastly experienced Scott Zipadelli.

Marc-Antoine Camirand (BMW 330i) got his consecutive wins tally up to four this weekend by clinching both Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC) rounds held this past weekend in Mont-Tremblant.

"Another perfect weekend! But this time, it was much closer," admits Camirand.

All weekend long, he had Mathieu Audette (Acura RSX), back behind the wheel, on his tail. Mathieu's brother, Rémy, who drove the car last time out at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, was supposed to sit this round out, but had the chance to race in B-Spec, thanks to Lombardi Honda.

Mathieu took a string of second places, plus the fastest lap of the race on Sunday.

Rémy came in second Saturday, and third Sunday, behind the almighty Nick Wittmer (Honda Fit), who took his seventh and eighth (out of eighth) consecutive wins of the season, in Tremblant.

Jean-François Dumoulin (Honda Fit), in Lombardi's second B-Spec car, swapped positions with Rémy, finishing third on Saturday, and second on Sunday.

Sasha Anis rounded out the top three both times in the Super Touring class.

In Touring, Jacques Bélanger (Honda Civic Si) got full marks. Daniel Blanchette (Honda Civic Si) and PJ Groenke (MINI Cooper S) crossed the finish behind him Saturday, and Michel Sallenbach (MINI Cooper S) and Jocelyn Hébert (Honda Civic Si) on Sunday.

Omega Tool Corporation inadvertently uploaded a video showing the front fascia of the new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette. On corvetteonline.com, the clip went from private mode to being deleted, which might confirm a leak.

Still, fans of the mythical sports car have something to chew on as they wait for its official debut at one of the upcoming US auto shows.

Source: blogautomobile

The 2013 Dodge Dart will be featured in a new 90-second commercial debuting Tuesday, July 10th, during the Major League Baseball All-Star Game broadcast.

Viewers will witness the birth of the car, from design to production, with the sound of "No Church in the Wild" by Jay-Z and Kanye West.

The TV spot will be followed this summer by 30- and 60-second versions airing on major broadcast and cable networks as well as in movie theatres, right on time for the Dodge Dart's arrival in dealerships.

Dying to see what the 2014 Mazda6 will look like? The Japanese automaker has just released a few pictures and a short video to whet your appetite.

The next generation of Mazda's midsize car was initially scheduled to make its debut at the 2012 Paris Auto Show in September, but it now appears that Moscow will serve as the launch pad about a month earlier.

Executives insist that the new Mazda6 won't be a copy of the striking TAKERI concept, however.

The 2014 Mazda6 will likely go on sale in the US sometime in 2013. Stay tuned for Canadian availability.

Source: Carscoop

From GMM

Mark Webber insists he is not worried Red Bull will ignore his bid for the 2012 world championship.

With two wins to his name now, the Australian is Fernando Alonso's closest challenger for the title, and a full 16 points ahead of Red Bull's reigning double world champion Sebastian Vettel.

But in 2010, the 35-year-old sensed he was not racing on a level playing field, famously declaring his Silverstone win was "not bad for a number two driver" and earlier slamming his glass on the table after answering a question about driver equality.

Mark Webber, however, insists things will be different in 2012.

Second wins for Mark Webber this season. (Photo: Red Bull Racing)

"They (Red Bull) know that this year's championship is so open that we don't have the luxury of maybe just seeing how the season might unfold if you put the energy and the focus on one car," he is quoted by the Melbourne newspaper The Age.

Asked if he thinks he will enjoy equal number one status with Vettel, Webber added: "Yes, I believe that, for sure."

Team consultant Dr Helmut Marko told Sport Bild: "There will be no team orders; the drivers can race freely."

And boss Christian Horner added: "Having both drivers competing for the title is a good headache to have."

But it's uncharted waters for Vettel, as he pushes to restore his old status as the Red Bull favourite.

Bild newspaper said after the British grand prix that the 25-year-old German is current "nothing more than the number two".

Sebastian Vettel insisted: "It's too early to start counting up points."