Auto News 5

Ultimate version of four-wheel drive supercar gets more power and a price tag to match

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Vehicle sales in Vietnam rose by 76% to 6,961 units in January, compared with depressed year-earlier sales of 3,958 units, according to data released by the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA). Full story...

Malaysia's Berjaya Corp has agreed with China's BYD Auto Company to explore opportunities to assemble the latter's F0 passenger car for sales across south-east Asia. The memorandum of understanding lasts for six months, by which time a decision is expected to be made. Full story...

My wife and I have been together for just about 11 years. My career in the automotive journalist business began almost exactly 11 years ago as well. Because of this, I know that my wife is not with me for my weekly shiny new wheels. Also, said wife cares nothing about cars and essentially couldn't care less that I'm testing a $15,000 Kia or a $150,000 Audi. Full story...

Kamui Kobayashi has admitted that the manner in which his career turned around late last year surprised even himself. Full story...

Both in talks with Campos and USF1, Christian Klien and Andy Soucek are still not writing off their chances of being on the Bahrain grid. Full story...

The engineers at Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, have developed a new top-of-the-range sports car for the customer who will only settle for the very best in terms of power, performance and driving dynamics: the 911 Turbo S. Full story...

Danica Patrick will make her NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in the No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet this Saturday at Daytona International Speedway, JR Motorsports general manager Kelley Earnhardt announced Monday. Full story...

Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet does not rule out returning to formula one at some point in the future. Full story...

Capstone Turbine Corporation (www.capstoneturbine.com) (Nasdaq:CPST) today announced that Velozzi, a Los Angeles-based car designer and manufacturer, will become the first auto company to integrate Capstone's ultra-clean C65 and C30 microturbines into a electric supercar and a crossover vehicle. Full story...

This spring, BMW will write the latest chapter in the story of the world's first Sport Activity Vehicle, the BMW X5. With new powertrains and refined coachwork, the new BMW X5 will make its North American debut at the New York International Auto Show in April and reach BMW showrooms later this spring. Full story...

The engineers at Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, have developed a new top-of-the-range sports car for the customer who will only settle for the very best in terms of power, performance and driving dynamics: the 911 Turbo S. Full story...

British newspaper says Formula 1's struggling new teams could miss the season opener next month and escape penalty. Full story...

Nelson Piquet Jr. will be back at the high-banks of Daytona International Speedway on Friday night after making his stock car debut in the ARCA series here this past weekend. Full story...

After her first race of spins and banging fenders, Danica Patrick's team has announced that she'll be making her NASCAR debut in the Nationwide Series race this Saturday at Daytona Beach. Full story...

Two of the wildest and rarest 2010 Dodge Challenger models will soon be available to Dodge fans and collectors to commemorate 40 years of Dodge Challenger performance; the 2010 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic and Challenger SRT8® Furious Fuchsia editions. With its Furious Fuchsia Pearl Coat exterior paint and all-new Pearl White leather performance seats, these limited-edition Dodge Challenger models deliver the best of modern American muscle-car characteristics--unmistakable design, world-class handling, powerful HEMI® V-8 engines and technology--now in one of the most significant hues. Full story...

According to some serious European web sites and magazines, the future of Russian Vitaly Petrov at Renault F1 Team is now in jeopardy. Full story...

DEARBORN, Mich.,- Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) engineers are taking high performance to a new level with the 2011 Ford Shelby GT500, resulting in a car that has an all-new aluminum-block engine, even better driving dynamics and handling, improved fuel economy and more horsepower than ever. Full story...

GRAPEVINE, Texas - GM announced today that its new lineup of heavy-duty diesel pickups will have B20 biodiesel capability. B20 fuel is a blend of 20-percent biodiesel and 80-percent conventional diesel, which helps lower carbon dioxide emissions and lessens dependence on petroleum. The announcement was made at the National Biodiesel Conference. Full story...

Last time I wanted to discuss slipping and sliding-- it was largely to vocalize that I didn't feel that the indicator light served a respectable purpose. Today I have something quite different to discuss-- how much fun it can be to drive in (controlled) conditions where that particular light stays on the whole time! Full story...