Auto News 5

Toyota agreed to pay US$ 32.4 million in federal fines (one of $16.375M and another of $16M) after failing to comply with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The automaker delayed recalling nearly 6 million vehicles suspected of gas pedal entrapment and faulty steering rods. Full story...

According to 4WheelsNews, Kia is on the verge of replacing the unpopular Amanti. Its replacement, probably named Cadenza, would be launched in the first half of 2011. Full story...

Replacing the Sebring, a mid-size sedan notable only for its mediocrity, the new Chrysler 200 will first have to overcome the dismal legacy left to it by its predecessor. Full story...

Hydro-Québec and Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada Inc. (MMSCAN) are pleased to announce that the first five all-electric i-MiEVs have arrived in Boucherville and are currently being prepared for their new drivers. Once installation of the data logging equipment that will be used during the trials is complete, Boucherville Mayor, Jean Martel, and employees from the City of Boucherville, the Centre de santé et de services sociaux Pierre-Boucher and Hydro-Québec will be able to pick up the test vehicles, just in time for the holidays. Full story...

Hot on the heels of renewed talk of a F1 'breakaway' series, reports quote Ron Dennis as accusing Bernie Ecclestone of stealing the sport's commercial rights from the teams. Full story...

Despite being ousted by two F1 driver development schemes in the space of a year, Mirko Bortolotti is not giving up on his dream. Full story...

Fernando Alonso has tipped key technical rule changes for 2011 to contribute to more "spectacular" racing. Full story...

Pat Fry is the most obvious change to Ferrari's personnel structure for 2011, Luca di Montezemolo reveals. Full story...

Jerome d'Ambrosio will make his F1 debut in 2011 alongside Timo Glock, the Virgin team announced on Tuesday. Full story...

The GP2 series has unveiled its 2011 calendar which consists of nine rounds, all events part of  the official Formula One support series. Full story...

We know full-well that you and yours are more concerned at the moment with buying those last-minute gifts, trimming the tree and writing Christmas cards than thinking about cars, most of us are in the same boat. Full story...

It's no secret that MINI is known for its miniature cars. A retired mechanic from New Zealand who goes by the name of Lester Atherfold put the emphasis on his car's name by shrinking it more than two feet so that it could fit inside his RV. Full story...

At the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China, Nissan took the opportunity to unveil the Sunny, the Japanese automaker's latest global sedan destined for sale in 170 countries under various names. The industry's observers are predicting that the model is the next Sentra. Full story...

No longer just a teaser, the revamped and extremely luxurious edition of the Range Rover Sport by Project Kahn has finally been unveiled. Full story...

Toyota agreed today to pay two more safety fines for a total of $32.4 million, the maximum allowable under U.S. law, to settle federal investigations over whether the company notified regulators of safety defects in a timely fashion. Full story...

Kumho Tire USA is launching and#8220;Kumho Tire Driveand#8221;--a free multicar racing game application for car enthusiasts who use Apple products. Full story...

Auto supplier Takata is introducing a new driver-alertness warning system to the commercial trucking industry to keep drivers awake. Full story...

Hyundai Motor Co. released information about its new i40 station wagon on Monday. Full story...

Toronto-Dominion Bank is near an agreement to buy Chrysler Financial, the lender once owned by the third-largest U.S. automaker, from Cerberus Capital Management LP, said three people with knowledge of the matter. Full story...

Cadillac, seeking to sustain its post-bankruptcy sales momentum, has tapped actor Laurence Fishburne to be the voice of a new TV ad campaign that will debut with the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. Full story...