Auto News 5

Plug-in hybrid concept teased ahead of it's public debut at next month's Chicago show.

Full story...

Online retailer of ex-fleet cars carsite.co.uk has announced the appointment of Sir Trevor Chinn as chairman. He is also an investor in the company. Full story...

European trade policy should ensure Asian automotive competitors did not enjoy overwhelming advantages with the European Commission (EC) providing industry support, said German Automotive Industry Association (VDA) president Matthias Wissmann. Full story...

Toyota Motor Sales USA (TMS) last night said it would recall about 2.3m Toyota branded vehicles to correct sticking accelerator pedals, a move separate from the current recall of around 4.2m Toyota and Lexus vehicles to reduce the risk of pedal entrapment by incorrect or out of place accessory floor mats. The announcement came just hours before ABC News aired a prime time news report about unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles followed later in the evening by a separate investigatory programme. Full story...

Car sales in the so-called BRIC markets of Brazil, Russia, India and China will grow from 19m units last year to 27m units in 2014, according to a study by the Boston Consulting Group with General Motors and Volkswagen in the best position to take advantage of that growth because they are already well-established there. Full story...

Subaru will become the seventh Japanese brand in Korea when it begins sales in April through Subaru Korea, a 100%-owned subsidiary of the stainless steel wire maker KOS Group. Full story...

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a EUR400m loan to Ford Romania to help it expand and modernise its Craiova assembly plant, tooling up for a small car model. Full story...

Suzuki needs to stay humble and not have illusions about itself as "the world's top automaker" despite its recent tie-up with Volkswagen, chairman Osamu Suzuki told the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo. Full story...

Perfect weather conditions enabled Felipe Massa today to complete a special test session started in the morning behind the wheel of a F2008 provided by Maranello's F1 Clienti department. Full story...

West Point, Georgia -- Well here we are in America's deep south, ready to sample some local fare. It's not fried chicken. It's not pecan pie. It's not sweet tea. It's the all-new 2011 Kia Sorento. This new Sorento is the first vehicle to be produced at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG), a new $1 billion facility, which has the capacity to build 300,000 vehicles a year. Full story...

Several years ago, Mazda did something very important in the family sedan segment when they built a sedan that was incredible to look at and exceptional to drive. That sedan was called the 6-- and it's now entered its second generation on sale. Full story...

MONTREAL, - Still two (2) days remain to experience the 42nd Edition of the Montreal International Auto Show (MIAS). The event will officially close its doors at the Palais des congrès de Montréal on Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 8 p.m. Full story...

Wolfsburg, - The Passat CC is making an elegant appearance on our roads with its coupé lines and sporty note. Effective now, the Passat CC - previously designed to carry four persons - is available with an optional new rear bench that turns it into a five-seater. Full story...

With the 2010 season fast approaching, Scuderia Toro Rosso just confirmed on Friday that Spaniard Jaime Alguesuari would drive for the team this year. Full story...

Five months after suffering a broken back, Australian driver Will Power was back in the cockpit of a Dallara-Honda Indy car as he made a successful return in a private test at Sebring earlier this week. Full story...

West Point, Georgia -- Well here we are in America's deep south, ready to sample some local fare. It's not fried chicken. It's not pecan pie. It's not sweet tea. It's the all-new 2011 Kia Sorento. This new Sorento is the first vehicle to be produced at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG), a new $1 billion facility, which has the capacity to build 300,000 vehicles a year. Full story...

Frenchman Sebastien Ogier has moved to within 48 seconds of the Monte Carlo Rally lead with his sixth stage victory. See here our photo gallery! Full story...

German driver Timo Glock revealed on Friday that Virgin Racing will run its 2010 car for the first time at Silverstone on February 4. Full story...

No big surprise news at NASCAR's R& D Center in Concord, North Carolina as cars have already been on the track testing a return to spoilers (or blades) from the hated rear wing. Full story...

Several drivers were tested behind the wheel of an Audi A4 DTM for a possible race seat in this year's DTM series. Full story...