Auto News 5

As automakers try to produce cars consumers want to buy in light of higher gas prices, the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco was built purposefully without a spare tire to make the vehicles lighter and more fuel efficient.

Looking for a pedigreed piece of racing machinery on the cheap? One could do worse than this example of a 1980 Porsche 933, listed by our good friends at

The nations of Brazil, Russia, India and China form a neat acronym - the BRICs. These countries possess rapidly developing economies, large populations and plenty of untapped potential for consumption growth as incomes rise. They are also experiencing rapid vehicle market growth as well as rising automotive industry activity. For May's briefing theme, Dave Leggett reviews the latest developments and prospects for the BRIC automotive markets, starting with China.

Sure, you could spend all of your time looking at classic

Also in today's show: Chrysler refinances its loans to pay off the government, an IndyCar driver survives a scary crash and satellite radio is on the upswing.

U.S. auto regulators have quietly closed an investigation of steering complaints in Toyota Corollas, a boost for the company trying to regain consumer trust after an explosive safety crisis marked by huge recalls.

Toyota's Prius family could continue to grow, literally, as the automaker studies an additional version of the popular hybrid that carries three rows of seats.

TRW Automotive Holding Corp. has developed a roof-mounted airbag that is designed to allow automakers create more space for interior styling compared with typical instrument panel airbags.

Mazda said its 'Skyactiv-G 1.3' direct injection 1.3-litre petrol engine will be the first of its next-generation technologies to go on sale. The engine was shown at the Automotive Engineering Exposition in Yokohama this week.

BMW set to introduce a family-oriented, front-wheel-drive version of 1-Series to rival Audi's new supermini

Toyota's Prius family could continue to grow, literally, as the automaker studies an additional version of the popular hybrid that carries three rows of seats.

Mazda's forthcoming RX-8 replacement to feature hybrid technology, new two-door will also be smaller and lighter than before

Chrysler Group has priced its previously announced offering of new secured senior debt securities (notes) and credit facilities which will help it pay off US and Canadian government loans.

Global powertrain supplier BorgWarner has completed its acquisition of the Traction Systems division of Haldex Group.

Magna Steyr's roof systems group (CTS) is producing the structurally innovative soft-top convertible system for the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet - recently launched in North America.

Honda is recalling 1,156 copies of the redesigned 2012 Civic because of a potential fuel leak.

Blame it on the 1993 Montego blue RX-7 parked a block away from my childhood home--and the cover photo of the competition yellow mica R1 gracing one of the other monthly car magazines that year.

Verano means and#8220;summerand#8221; in Spanish, though it could easily be a type of coffee or even a brand of crystal. But the idea behind the latest

Here's a scene you wouldn't expect to see among a staff of car-enthusiast writers--a bunch of long faces because a pickup leaves the fleet.

Weand#8217;ve all had to deal with back-seat drivers. Now, Citroën is recalling more than 20,000 C3 Picassos because owners may have to worry about passenger-seat drivers instead.