Auto News 5

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER TARA KLEIN: Any company that picks Mad Men actor John Slattery to promote its product is already good with me. But now that I've actually driven the 2011 Lincoln MKZ hybrid, I'm even more of a fan.

The famous MG marque will take to UK roads this summer with two British-assembled cars and a new logo. Full story...

Toyota Motor Corp. will show an EV prototype version of its iQ model at the Geneva auto show next month, ahead of a sales launch in 2012. Full story...

Fiat union FIOM says it will "suspend judgement" concerning a planned takeover of Fiat's Termini Imerese plant by seven different companies as the automaker looks to exit its Sicilian operation Full story...

Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat and Chrysler, said today he doesn't foresee 'any necessity' of a merger between the two automakers before 2014. Full story...

The Pagani Huayra will pave the way for the Italian company to begin selling its cars in the United States later this year. Full story...

General Motors' chairman and CEO Dan Akerson met Chinese media for the first time on Tuesday and said the automaker would continue investing aggressively to ensure long-term success. Full story...

Mercedes-Benz is to take over distributing the Smart brand from Penske Automotive Group in a move that appears to have been prompted by corporate model range average fuel economy rules. Full story...

GM will boost its investments in China and introduce new models over the next two years to tap demand in the world's largest auto market, CEO Dan Akerson said. Full story...

Volkswagen India has built its 50,000th car in its manufacturing plant in Chakan, Pune. Full story...

Fiat will begin talks to relaunch production at a former Bertone plant, the automaker's CEO Sergio Marchionne said. Fiat bought Carrozzeria Bertone S.p.A., the production arm of Italy's Bertone in 2009. Full story...

205mph run nets Bentley ice record. Celebratory special edition model coming to Geneva.

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said the alliance with Chrysler was crucial for the group's future and reiterated he aimed to keep a strong presence in Italy under a plan to boost productivity. Full story...

The financial crisis that had most of the world in its grip by the end of 2008 is now being reflected in the Brazilian spare parts market. Full story...

In June 2008, Delphi put its global exhaust systems business up for sale which consisted of mainly hot-end exhaust components, including design and manufacture of the front-end module with catalytic converters and exhaust manifolds. A few months later, Mexico's Bienes Turgon stepped forward to buy the business. Bienes Turgon officially took over operations on 1 May 2009 under the name, Katcon Global. In this interview, Matthew Beecham talked with Jose De Nigris, executive vice president, sales and engineering, Katcon Global, and Bob Houtschilt, vice president, business development, Katcon Global. Full story...

Italian government ministers remain confident they will receive the backing of all unions to sign a deal tomorrow [16 February] in Rome concerning the future strategy for Fiat's Termini Imerese plant in Sicily. Full story...

British Prime Minister David Cameron recently quipped publicly that if the Queen asked him to a party he'd say yes, but if the Italian Prime Minister asked him to a party it might be safer to say no. Full story...

Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller has decided to establish a new product strategy department as the carmaker seeks to expand its model lineup and more than double its unit sales. Full story...

Toyota will show an EV prototype of its iQ model at this year's Geneva auto show. The prototype will be tested on European roads this year, with a potential market introduction through a leasing program in 2012. Full story...

The Chicago auto show features a muscle-car showdown. In one corner is the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and in the other is the Dodge Charger SRT8. Full story...