Auto News 5

Champions of the 2009 Quebec Rally Championship Simon Dubé and Pat Lavigne won Saturday the triple crown at the series first outing in Charlevoix since 2002. Dubé and Lavigne finished 21 seconds before Bruno Carré and Yvan Joyal in overall standing but in front of Éric Courchesne and Frédérick Prigge in the Jon Nichols Cup. Daniel Gauthier and Daniel Pilote completed the podium in this class. Full story...

Spain will extend subsidies for car buyers this year and next, its industry minister said. Full story...

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen aims to deepen its cooperation with BMW AG beyond engines and into components and purchasing, CEO Phillipe Varin said. Full story...

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen aims to deepen its cooperation with BMW AG beyond engines and into components and purchasing, CEO Phillipe Varin said. Full story...

PSA could see an operating loss of between 1-1.5 billion euros this year, CEO Philippe Varin said, narrowing an earlier forecast. Full story...

Independent contract carmaker and convertible roof-top specialist Karmann is nearing liquidation as new orders remain out of sight and customers remain unwilling to pay their bills. Full story...

Volkswagen is offering to save Karmann from going bust, a German magazine reported. The coachbuilder and convertible roof-top specialist is most famous for building the VW Beetle-based coupe dubbed the Karmann Ghia. Full story...

Volkswagen is offering to save Karmann from going bust. The coachbuilder and convertible roof-top specialist is most famous for building the VW Beetle-based coupe dubbed the Karmann Ghia. Full story...

Behind Swedish Audi driver Mattias Ekström, who claimed pole position, Gary Paffett will be starting from second place, only one position ahead of points' leader Scheider. Full story...

Five-time World Rally Champion Loeb got his quest for a sixth crown off to a great start, ending the opening day as rally leader, but after a thrilling nip and tuck scrap for the lead only 5.3 seconds separates him from Hirvonen in second place. Full story...

Like many more recent Hyundai models, the Sonata attracts scores of shoppers with its value-based pricing, nice-looking body and promise of lengthy warranty coverage. The fifth-generation of the Korean automaker's elemental family car is now on sale, doing battle with the likes of the Ford Fusion, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. In fact, it's already gone through a mid-cycle facelift. Full story...

One of the surprises at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show comes from Japanese manufacturer Suzusho. Called "Supasse V," this little two-seater features scissor doors, a lightweight unibody chassis and exclusive suspensions developed by the company's head honcho, Toshio Suzuki, with the help of his two sons. Full story...

A new EU project SARTRE is being launched to develop and test technology for vehicles that can drive themselves in long road trains on motorways. This technology has the potential to improve traffic flow and journey times, offer greater comfort to drivers, reduce accidents, and improve fuel consumption and hence lower CO2 emissions. Full story...

Personalisation and customisation everywhere you go - the Personal Radio Research Project conducted in the context of BMW ConnectedDrive already showed in 2007 what potential lies in connecting the car's entertainment system to the World Wide Web. And while this service was intended only for audio content, it was clear even from the start in what direction users would develop their consumption of media in the vehicle. Full story...

Bernie Ecclestone insists he is prepared to scrub Britain's name from the 2010 calendar if Silverstone does not want to pay the going rate for its formula one race. With Donington's chances now all but over, it had been expected that the F1 chief executive might move to safeguard the British grand prix by reaching an alternate deal with the race's traditional venue. Full story...

Michael Schumacher has been tipped for a role at the FIA alongside his friend and former Ferrari boss Jean Todt. Todt was on Friday elected to succeed Max Mosley as the Paris based Federation's new president, and seven time world champion Schumacher was present as the votes were counted in the French capital. Full story...

After Hendrick Motorsports teammates, Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin, finished battling for the pole, rival Ryan Newman stepped up and claimed it for himself at Martinsville, VA. Newman, driving for Stewart-Haas Racing which obtains NASCAR Sprint Cup chassis and motors from Hendrick Motorsports, bumped Gordon off the pole, his second of the year and the 45th in his career. Full story...

Nelson Piquet Snr has threatened legal action against Renault if the French carmaker does not apologise. Earlier this year, the former triple world champion's son was fired by Flavio Briatore, before the team's boss was ousted amid the crash-gate scandal and banned for life from involvement in motor racing. Full story...

Bernie Ecclestone has hit out at Brawn GP for not sewing up a deal with F1's new world champion Jenson Button. Button, 29, has expressed his desire to stay with the Brackley squad in 2010, but is holding out for a return to the salary he was contracted to receive this year: about $13m. Full story...

Dodgeand#8217;s redesigned 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty pickups all carry lower prices than the old models theyand#8217;re replacing. The base model 2010 Ram 2500 regular cab 4x2 with a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 starts at $28,165, including shipping. Full story...