Auto News 5

Former Formula 1 driver Kimi Raikkonen could return in Formula 1 alongside Robert Kubica at the Renault F1 team next season. Full story...

The hopes of American sports car enthusiasts will be realized. Audi announced today that it is bringing the 360-horsepower Audi TT RS coupe to the U.S. market by the third quarter of 2011. Full story...

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Chrysler Group LLC today announced details of the new 2011 Chrysler 200 mid-sized sedan. Offering consumers exceptional craftsmanship inside and out, a refined and spirited driving experience, innovative technology, an abundance of standard safety features and an extraordinary level of standard content, the 2011 Chrysler 200 is an exciting alternative for customers that want style and substance, all at a surprising value. Full story...

Today, the Fiat Brand releases the first images of the Fiat 500 Sport model, which like the original 500  (Cinquecento) from more than 50 years ago, features iconic Italian design,  and is developed to be an ultra-efficient and stylish option forNorth American drivers.  Full story...

Hyundai will kick off an intensive period of product launches by unveiling two important new models at this year's Paris Motor Show. First of these exciting new models is Hyundai's new B-segment MPV, named ix20. The ix20 is the second European model to adopt Hyundai's new 'fluidic sculpture' design language which helps differentiate it from the boxy 'minivan' image typically associated with the segment. Full story...

The BMW X3 made an interesting statement when it first debuted back in 2004. It was one of the first compact SUVs created by a premium brand, and a brand that was predominantly known for sports sedans. Full story...

A 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage sold for a world record price of E414,500 (CDN$ 550,000 approximately at issue time) at the Bonhams auction held during the 'Weekend de l'Excellence Automobile' on the former site of the French Grand Prix circuit of Reims-Gueux, on Saturday 11th September 2010. It exceeded its pre-sale estimate of E300,000- 400,000. Full story...

During the recent Grand Prix of Italy, the Scuderia Ferrari team managed to execute one of the fastest pit stops ever performed during a Formula 1 race, allowing Fernando Alonso to vault ahead of race leader Jenson Button. Full story...

GP3 series' driver Rio Haryanto has earned a test drive in a Virgin Racing VR-01 Cosworth Formula 1 car at the end of the year. Full story...

Although it has been a tough slog, two of the biggest names at Ford say that the blue oval team is ready to take on the Chase and end Jimmie Johnson's streak at four NASCAR Sprint Cup titles. Full story...

Toyota Motor Corp. plans to introduce six new hybrid vehicles by the end of 2012 and bring an electric vehicle to the U.S. market that year as well. Full story...

A123 Systems opened an advanced automotive battery factory today in Michigan that President Obama heralded as 'central to the next generation of cars. Full story...

British carmaker Mini is branching out and bringing an electric scooter concept to this year's Paris motor show. Mini teased the Scooter E Concept by posting some sketches on its Facebook page. Full story...

British carmaker Mini is branching out and bringing an electric scooter concept to this year's Paris motor show. Mini teased the Scooter E Concept by posting some sketches on its Facebook page. Full story...

NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: The CX-7 is an impressive crossover that presents well in style and function. This engine returns more than adequate power, with smooth acceleration aided by the efficient six-speed automatic transmission. Full story...

In today's News Brake: A recap of the weekend's racing action, the Mazda BT-50 prepares for its debut, and we test-drive the 2011 Nissan GT-R . . . But Wait, There's More! Full story...

2011 Ford Fiesta SES

Ford's Fiesta is a fantastic driver, with excellent composure, a comfortable ride, and satisfying handling in an economical package.

With so much buzz about the Fiesta over the past year and a half, you'd almost forget that the car is actually a typical small hatchback. The engine isn't terribly powerful, although it has a 20-hp advantage over Mazda's mechanically similar Mazda 2. I'm looking forward to sampling the dual-clutch transmission on another Fiesta later this year, but I suspect that the manual transmission will still be the enthusiast's choice for the Fiesta.

Photo Gallery: 2011 Ford Fiesta SES Editor's Notebook - Automobile Magazine

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An employers body representing South African component makers says talks to resolve the crippling strike in the industry should conclude tonight (13 September) "one way or another." Full story...

You only need a couple of freeway ramps, and maybe a couple miles of open road over which to exercise the BMW Alpina B7, before you start thinking this might be the best 7-series ever. Full story...

What is it? Full story...