Auto News 5

Former GM global vehicle line executive, Peter Mertens, has joined Jaguar Land Rover as director of quality and automotive safety. Full story...

Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche says he is ready to do the "previously unthinkable" at subsidiary Mercedes to help it meet its goal of becoming the world's most fuel-efficient premium carmaker. Full story...

European car company chiefs expect government budget cuts to discourage consumers from making large purchases next year, dampening hope that the region's car sales will recover from a bad 2010. Full story...

Carmakers are looking to the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) markets to dispel the dark clouds over Europe, which is the only large global auto market forecast to shrink this year. Full story...

Former GM powertrain executive Bob Purcell will become chairman and CEO of Protean Holdings Corp., a fledgling developer of in-wheel electric drive systems. Purcell, 58, who retired from GM in 2008, had been a board member and adviser to Protean. Full story...

Volkswagen may expand production of a mid-sized sedan designed for U.S. customers to China in a bid to win buyers in the world's biggest auto market. The model, which will be sold in the U.S. in the second half of 2011. Full story...

Volkswagen has released new teaser images of the mid-sized sedan slated for assembly in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Full story...

VW's group design director Walter de' Silva says he is ready to create a new Alfa Romeo range if the German automaker acquires Fiat's sporty brand. Full story...

Volkswagen AG may expand production of a mid-sized sedan designed for U.S. customers to China in a bid to win buyers in the world's biggest auto market. Full story...

A survey released this week suggests that revised fuel economy labels proposed by federal regulators will confuse many likely car buyers -- and will emphasize the wrong information. Full story...

The so-called BRIC markets -- Brazil, India, Russia and China -- will build more cars than the mature markets of Europe, the U.S. and Japan next year. VIPEP countries could be the next growth opportunities for automakers. Full story...

Nissan presents the Sentra SE-R Spec V as an inexpensive, economical sports sedan targeted at those who are wise with their money yet yearning for a little performance when they turn the key. I suspect that there's a pretty significant market for this sort of vehicle. It bridges the gap between the performance desires of a young "tuner" and the realities that tuner will face upon starting a family. Full story...

Briton Peter Warr, who was best known as a former team boss of the legendary Team Lotus Formula 1 squadron, has passed away in France on October 4th. Full story...

Former team principal Bob Bell has left the Renault Formula 1 Team, the Enstone-based squadron announced on Wednesday. Full story...

Kimi Raikkonen has broken his silence to scold Renault and reveal he will not be joining the Enstone based formula one team in 2011. Full story...

Vitantonio Liuzzi has played down rumours Force India is planning to replace him at the end of the season. Full story...

The son of a former F1 driver is reportedly targeting a test driver seat with the Lotus team. Full story...

Korea's new formula one circuit is almost complete, an official of the Yeongam venue has revealed. Full story...

Detroit/Stuttgart. smart USA intends to launch a five-door car on the US market within the next 15 months. This was announced by smart USA in Detroit today. Full story...

That's 'Cruze' with a 'Z', by the way. Replacing the Cobalt, which replaced the Cavalier, this new compact sedan from Chevrolet will soon launch as a 2011 model. Among many other things, the American automaker hopes the Cruze's top-notch powertrain, safety, warranty and value equation will be the automotive equivalent of a hand-grenade tossed into its competitive set-- which includes the Mazda 3, Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Full story...