Auto News 5

Toronto, ON - CAW President Ken Lewenza and CUPW President Denis Lemelin will issue a joint statement tomorrow, Friday May 8 at a press conference in Windsor, Ontario calling on Canada Post Corporation to ensure all new vehicles expected to be purchased by the national postal service are made in Canada. Full story...

May 7, 2009 At the Annual General Meeting of May 6, 2009 Louis Schweitzer, Chairman of the Board of Directors, confirmed that he would not renew his directorship. The Board of Directors named Carlos Ghosn Chairman of the Board of Directors, alongside his current responsibilities, and appointed him President and CEO of Renault. Full story...

NEW YORK,-Equipping teenagers' cars with in-vehicle monitoring devices can help teens be safer drivers by alerting them and their parents about risky behaviors, a new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study finds. Yet the devices may turn out to be tough sells not only to the beginning drivers but even to their parents, and over time the teens may become less cautious if they think their parents aren't paying attention. A companion survey indicates that most parents think the technology helps their kids be better drivers. Full story...

Petter Solberg says he will not drive his current Citroen Xsara WRC on the next round of the World Rally Championship, the Rally d'Italia Sardegna. Full story...

Frenchman Nelson Philippe (HVM Racing) succeeded in passing his rookie orientation program as he was the only driver to benefit from limited track time at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway before a heavy rain arrived. Full story...

Mercedes-Benz's motorsport director Norbert Haug has moved to calm speculation that car manufacturers are considering pulling out of formula one. Full story...

Formula 1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone said that new teams will be evaluated carefully before being shown to the 2010 formula one grid. Full story...

The Renault Formula 1 Team has abandoned KERS at least for the next seven races, the Spanish sports newspaper Diario AS claims. Full story...

The first official FIA Formula Two Championship test has concluded at Snetterton, with Canadian Rob Wickens finishing the day at the top of the timesheets with a time of 59.433s. Full story...

Whitby, ON - MINI Canada has debuted a new spring campaign to promote the MINI hatchback and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the MINI brand. The new campaign will feature advertising in both traditional mediums as well as some newer avenues. The campaign, which focus on the performance, individuality and heritage of the MINI brand, will feature transit shelter ads, superboards and online banners as well as resto- bars and fitness ads, and grocery store adbars. Full story...

There was a time when it was laughable to think a contender in North America's tough compact car market would have come from Korea. Kia's only been selling cars here for 10 years, but progress evidenced by their product expansion and competitiveness is arguably impressive. In fact, they've been out-performing much of the industry all spring. Full story...

Every season, the first European Formula 1 race is an opportunity for at least one team to show off an impressive new motor home. Full story...

There was a time when it was laughable to think a contender in North America's tough compact car market would have come from Korea. Kia's only been selling cars here for 10 years, but progress evidenced by their product expansion and competitiveness is arguably impressive. In fact, they've been out-performing much of the industry all spring. Full story...

Last year's winners of the Volvo Adventure, Green Sail from Russia, saved an entire park from being turned into a shopping centre in their home town of Nizhny Novgorod. On June 5-10, it is time for this year's finals in the global environmental competition. Will the consequences of the ten finalists' projects be equally dramatic? Full story...

Grand Prix drivers on Thursday sided strongly against Max Mosley, after the FIA president suggested the sport could live without Ferrari. Full story...

The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 earned top honors in Edmunds' Inside Line head-to-head competition of full-size pickup trucks. The Dodge Ram 1500 beat the 2009 Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado and Toyota Tundra. The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram continues to win accolades, receiving 15 awards since its introduction last fall. Full story...

After the initial four races of the season, BMW-Sauber's was the most visibly changed Formula car in the Barcelona garages. Full story...

The SBK circus come to Monza this wee-end, the exciting high speed track near Milan, and home of the draft, high speed corners that lead to long straightaways, and tight chicanes. Full story...

General Motors is expected to report a deep loss on Thursday for the first quarter in its last earnings report before the deadline for a restructuring and a potential bankruptcy filing. GM, surviving on $15.4 billion in U.S. Full story...

If consumers can overcome the connotations that ride shotgun with buying a new car from an automaker in bankruptcy, there are some deals to be had on Chrysler vehicles. Full story...