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BMW may become the saviour of Mitsubishi Motor Corporation's doomed Nedcar plant at Born in the Netherlands, confirming on Monday that contract assembly discussions are taking place. A Dutch government minister had said earlier talks had started.

From 2014, it will be 'practically impossible' for new vehicles to receive a five star EuroNCAP rating if they are not fitted with an Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) system. The independent consumer organisation says that universal fitment could reduce the number of road accidents in Europe by 27%, saving around 8,000 lives a year and reducing the number of people seriously injured by around 4,000.

France plans to unveil structural measures to help its struggling auto industry stay afloat, French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici said, as the threat of closure looms over a PSA plant near Paris.

BMW Group will invest a further £250m in the MINI production factories in the UK

Engineers around the world are contorting traditional randd methods to deliver small, cheap cars for India that can compete with low-cost offerings from locals such as Tata Motors Ltd.

What makes a quality workplace? Which dealerships excel at treating employees well and have the top scores in workplace satisfaction? We have identified those dealerships and the recognition begins with this list of the top 100 places to work -- a...

Sergio Pininfarina, who died last week at age 85, never pretended to be a car designer even though his surname is the personification of Italian vehicle styling. He did almost everything else in the 50 years he ran Pininfarina S.p.A.

Fiat will bring the 500X crossover to U.S. dealerships in 2014, the company said at a press event last week. Despite the name, the vehicle will not be based on the 500 subcompact.

After the fireworks of early July 4 promotions, U.S. light-vehicle sales heated up in late June. Now automakers are preparing for a second half as strong as the first six months of a surprisingly robust 2012.

More American tradesmen will soon find themselves behind the wheel of a commercial van developed overseas. Three automakers -- Ford Motor Co.

Lower fuel prices, attractive incentives and a batch of eye-catching, redesigned models here and just around the corner are lighting a fire under mid-sized car sales. Combined U.S.

In the burgeoning world of automotive lead generators, Scott Painter was going to break out from the pack. The serial entrepreneur placed a huge bet late last year when he agreed to pay $50 million a year to Internet portal Yahoo! for his TrueCar.

Chrysler Group is close to its goal of having at least 80 percent of its dealers offering Saturday service, says the head of the group's Mopar brand.

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 Formula 1 World Champion, endured a tough time Down Under in his participation to the Sucrogen Townsville 400 round of the exciting V8 Supercars series in Australia.

Villeneuve qualified 28th and last in No. 51 Pepsi Max Crew Commodore for Race 1. He retired from the race on lap 18.

On Sunday, he again qualified last but ran reasonably well in the race to arrive home in 24th place out of 28, one lap down the winner.

Photo: Australian V8 Supercars series

The former F1 driver said all weekend long that his left hand wasn't used to all of this gear shifting!

“It was a hard race but I'm very happy. I just needed to get the laps done and see how the car went and how the tires evolved between the hard and the soft. I also got to practice my starts and the start went very well. I got three or four cars off the line so that was really good, but then into braking I braked really early, I didn't want to get mixed up,” Villeneuve told the medias after Sunday's race.

“I really had a hard time on the hard tire. Our set-up worked well on the soft tire but on the hard tire I just couldn't lean on them and that was really, really, really difficult to drive, not having done that segment of the race yesterday on the hard tires,” he added.

Photo: Australian V8 Supercars series

“I figured out after 10 laps that it was going to be a hard race because the way I was sitting in the car it was like sitting in a road car and putting a pillow behind my back. So I was moving around so much I had cramps already after 10 laps, so I knew it was going to be a long day,” Villeneuve explained.

A group of 200 lucky buyers will get their hands on the new BMW M3 Coupe Lime Rock Park Edition developed by the German automaker in collaboration with Skip Barber, owner of the Lime Rock Park race track in Connecticut.

''It's a classic car for a classic track,'' Barber claims.

Under the hood is the same 414-horsepower 4.0L V8 engine that allows 0-100km/h accelerations in 4.8 seconds. However, the car sports a bright Fire Orange paint, Anthracite and Black cloth seating with Nappa leather trim, and a new flat-bottom steering wheel in Anthracite Alcantara.

The M3's signature carbon fibre composite roof will be retained on all copies produced. Each one will be identified by a numbered plaque on the centre console, a unique decal on the left-rear quarter window, and a certificate of authenticity.

Priced at US$70,995, the BMW M3 Coupe Lime Rock Park Edition is scheduled to arrive at dealerships this September.

Photo: BMW

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Driving at night in a snowstorm or under heavy rain can be very dangerous due to the lack of visibility. Good news: a team of researchers is now working on smart headlights that can basically make rain and snow disappear.

The system uses a digital projector, camera, and 50/50 beam splitter. The camera detects rain drops and creates an image for the computer, which determines the future location of the particles so that the projector can blank them out. The driver's field of vision immediately becomes clearer, and lighting remains adequate.

Since the entire process from capture to reaction takes only 13 milliseconds, drivers won't notice anything unusual, except for an improved sense of safety.

Smart headlights are still undergoing tests. No word yet on a future market release.

Photo: ILIM laboratory

Photo: ILIM laboratory

Unveiled earlier this year at the NAIAS in Detroit, the all-new 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 is about to hit the US market.

Combining a 306-horsepower 3.0L inline six-cylinder engine with a 55-horsepower electric motor, this environmentally friendly compact emits only 139 grams of CO2 per kilometre. It also features an eight-speed autobox and lithium-ion battery that charges through regenerative braking.

The 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 offers an all-electric driving range of about four kilometres at an average speed of 35 km/h. It can also deliver emission-free mobility at up to 75 km/h, although for a much shorter a distance. Expect 0-100km/h accelerations in 5.3 seconds along with a fuel consumption rating of 5.9L/100km.

The BMW ActiveHybrid 3 will arrive at dealerships this fall with a price of US$50,195. Hopefully, the car will make it to Canada as well.

Photo: BMW

Gymkhana FIVE: Ultimate Urban Playground by DC Shoes took four days to shoot. Eager to amaze drifting enthusiasts like never before, Ken Block pulled off an unbelievable mix of speed and agility, muscling and dancing his way around San Francisco in his signature Ford Fiesta HFHV.

It's the quietest Porsche sports car I've ever driven, but that doesn't mean it's the slowest.

Unplug any thought you may have that hybrid vehicles are painfully slow and uninspiring to drive; the 2012 Panamera S Hybrid will short-circuit that notion.


Hybrid powerplant is electrifying
The gas/electric four-door Porsche is a highly sophisticated machine that won't let performance enthusiasts down. Heck, it's capable of 0-100 km/h in 6.0 seconds and 80-120 km/h in just 3.9 seconds. These specs are cited by Porsche, along with a top speed of 270 km/h.

When one considers the size of the Panamera and its four-door architecture, the performance numbers are impressive, especially considering that the core powerplant is a supercharged 3.0L V6 gas engine. Perhaps more impressive is the vehicle's ability to conserve the black gold in its tank.

The Panamera S Hybrid is rated at 8.6L/100km and 6.8L/100km, city and highway driving respectively. While fuel economy ratings are often artificial and near impossible to achieve by the average driver, such wasn't my experience with this week's tester.

The Panamera S Hybrid is rated at 8.6L/100km and 6.8L/100km, city and highway driving respectively. (Photo: Rob Rothwell)

Thriftier than expected
So let's not kid ourselves about ability to pay. Folks buying a $127,395 (as tested) Porsche aren't likely bereft of funds to fuel it. For them, the motivation to go hybrid may be more altruistic than economic. Regardless of reason, it's a good thing.

I was quite surprised at how effectively I could maximize the potential of the Panamera's hybrid technology. After a dose of seat time to get accustomed to the system's operational characteristics, I learned when to lay off the throttle and allow electrical propulsion to take over. And it wasn't necessary to slow to a crawl to maintain the spark.

The Panamera S Hybrid can move along at low highway speeds for short durations on purely electric power. The driver can also select E-Power, which aids in the exclusive use of electrical propulsion. I found this a great way to drive cost-free the six or so blocks of side streets that lead to my home.

While my average economy was all over the map due to pushing the hybrid Panamera for performance purposes and alternately babying it for economy testing, I was still capable of matching the posted city consumption rating of 8.6L/100km.

Part of the push in economy belongs to the vehicle's 8-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission. The vast selection of gearing enables the Panamera S Hybrid to match the most efficient gear to the immediate needs, whether gentle cruising or full-on track duty.

The driver can also select E-Power, which aids in the exclusive use of electrical propulsion. (Photo: Rob Rothwell)

Hybrid on-track
The track isn't where one expects a hybrid-powered vehicle to excel, yet I can verify the competency of Porsche's hybrid in such an octane-doused setting. Its combined output of 380 hp is notable, but what really delivers the goods post apex is the car's massive 428 lb-ft of combined torque.

A few months back, I wrote this comment following my track day with the Panamera S Hybrid: “I'm sure more than a few drivers were surprised to see the big four-door hybrid sled filling their rear-views”. Yes, there were a lot of exotic machines on Mission Raceway's road course that day - including an Italian tour de force - yet the electric/gas four-door from Germany more than held its own.

Activating the Panamera's Sport and Sport Plus modes keeps the gas engine more in the game, ensuring that it constantly contributes to motivation rather than shutting down when it normally would. For everyday driving, though, the gas/electric combo functions fairly seamlessly.

Its combined output of 380 hp is notable, but what really delivers the goods post apex is the car's massive 428 lb-ft of combined torque. (Photo: Rob Rothwell)

Smooth and enjoyable around town
Allied with its dual power sources, the Panamera S Hybrid exhibits two distinct personalities; one oriented toward power and performance, while the other favours luxury and comfort.

The car rides with a pleasing degree of decorum. The driver can opt to firm up the damping, but there seems to be little reason to do so; the Panamera corners with exceptional accuracy and control without engaging the Sport or Sport Plus modes.

Still, the performance purists will appreciate the ability to alter the big car's persona at the touch of a button, especially when taking it to the stallions at the track.

One aspect of the Panamera S Hybrid that does require a little more finessing to perfect than with the conventional version is brake function. As with all regenerative brake setups, the Panamera's can be slightly more difficult to operate smoothly and modulate intuitively.

The Panamera corners with exceptional accuracy and control without engaging the Sport or Sport Plus modes. (Photo: Porsche)

Hybrid highs
The 2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid is every bit a Porsche despite the absence of a howling Porsche exhaust note. This Stuttgart-derived ride is more grown-up than its pure-octane siblings yet highly capable by every measure, and surprisingly effectual when the yardstick is measuring fuel economy, and by extension, CO2 emissions.

While typical Porsche buyers may not have fuel economy topping their list of priorities, they may feel better adjusted and more socially accountable knowing that their automotive affluence is burning less fossil fuel than the preponderance of vehicles choking our communities.