Auto News 5

New car sales in Spain rose 18.1% in January compared with the same month a year ago, according to car manufacturers' association ANFAC. Full story...

Roger Becker, Lotus' director of vehicle engineering, one of the leading lights behind the development of such vehicles as the Europa Twin Cam and the legendary Esprit, Excel, Elan, Elise, Exige models is retiring from the group after 44 years. Full story...

Fiat unions and the Italian government are becoming increasingly disgruntled over chief executive Sergio Marchionne's aggressive decision making, according to media reports in the country. Full story...

Tuner Carlsson unleashes 743bhp coupé

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Hyundai has taken the final steps needed and attended a public hearing by the city council of Piracicaba (112 miles northwest of São Paulo) for the environmental license for its first company-owned plant in Brazil. Construction is due to start in April. Full story...

Announcement reveals big cat will cost from £53,775 when it goes on sale in April.

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After cancelling its third shift late in 2008 and axing 250 workers, PSA Peugeot Citroën is already back to full production in February by reverting to the status quo - and hiring 700 new hourly employees. Full story...

Volkswagen Brazil hopes to sell 1m passenger cars and light commercial vehicles here by 2014. It also exports and has factories with current annual capacity totalling about 850,000 units. Argentine output and imports will not help: augmenting capacity will be a must. Full story...

Honda Leasing (Thailand) Co Ltd, the finance subsidiary of Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co Ltd, said it plans to offer financing on used Honda cars in Thailand this year. So far, the company has focused exclusively on providing loans for new car purchases. Full story...

As widely expected, after Toyota last week recalled its Aygo model, PSA is to recall some similar Peugeot and Citroen models built in the same Czech Republic factory. Full story...

Formula 1 veteran Giancarlo Fisichella will compete the Le Mans Series championship in 2010. The Italian will drive a Ferrari F430 entered by AF Corse. Full story...

Aston Martin Racing will enter two Works LMP1 cars bearing the iconic blue and orange livery of Gulf Oil in the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours. Full story...

Felipe Massa and the Scuderia Ferrari set the fastest time on the first day of the maiden test session of the 2010 Formula 1 season held at the circuit of Valencia in Spain. Full story...

Dodge Dakota makes a great case for going midsize. It's almost as big as a full size pickup, and the only midsizer that can be ordered with a V8, a 4.7-litre, good for 302 horses and 329 torques. Standard is the 3.7-litre V6, which generates 210 horses and 235 lb-ft of torque. Full story...

GM Vice President of Design was 9 years old the first time he saw the Cadillac Cyclone concept vehicle at the Philadelphia Auto Show. That was half a century and a lifetime of inspiration ago. Full story...

Action raged all weekend long for the photographers and journalists in the Valencia pit lane as four Formula 1 teams launched their new 2010 race cars in less than 24 hours. Full story...

In a race marked by unusual weather, heavy attrition and a record number of lead changes, Joao Barbosa held off Scott Pruett by 52.303 seconds to win the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series race in the No. 9 Action Express Racing Porsche Riley. Full story...

Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki) won his first Monster Energy AMA Supercross race of the 2010 season, in front of more than 41,000 fans in San Francisco. Full story...

Action raged all weekend long for the photographers and journalists in the Valencia pit lane as four Formula 1 teams launched their new 2010 race cars in less than 24 hours. Full story...

The other day, on my daily commute to the office, I pulled up to an amber light. As I slowed down a complete stop, a black Mercedes pulled up beside me on the left side. The stranger, a handsome dark-haired man, gave me a warm smile and lifted two fingers off of his steering wheel in a friendly little "Car Wave." I smiled back and raised my fingers in response. He motioned to my car, "Zippy" a black Nissan Cube, and nodded approvingly. The light changed. The stranger moved forward to turn left and I carried on to work. I felt a little different after the unexpected encounter. "Zippy" seemed to have acquired a little extra "Zip" if you will. I guess you could say we both had a little extra spring in our step. Full story...