Auto News 5

The UK government's Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has admitted he wished talks with the Treasury and Bank of England on help for car financing schemes had 'gone quicker'. Full story...

Heavily indebted German bearings maker Schaeffler Group has won more time from creditor banks to restructure itself, two sources familiar with the situation told Reuters on Thursday. Full story...

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today the government had a political responsibility to try to help struggling General Motors unit Opel. Full story...

Norway's $300 billion-plus wealth fund has excluded Chinese automaker Dongfeng Motor Group from its portfolio on ethical grounds, and put German Siemens under observation, officials said on Friday. Full story...

Toyota Motor Corp. plans to develop a new low-price hybrid car aimed at undercutting rival Honda Motor Co.'s Insight, the Nikkei business daily reported on Friday. Full story...

Germany overtook the U.K. in February to become Ford of Europe's biggest European sales market, the company said today. Ford sold nearly 10,000 more cars in Germany than in the U.K. last month. Full story...

Toyota plans to develop a new low-price hybrid car aimed at undercutting rival Honda's Insight, the Nikkei business daily reported on Friday. Full story...

Germany overtook the U.K. in February to become Ford of Europe's biggest European sales market, the company said today. Ford sold nearly 10,000 more cars in Germany than in the U.K. last month. Full story...

Workers in a small French town hurled eggs and insults at managers on Thursday to protest the closure of a tire plant by German car parts group Continental that would eliminate 1,120 jobs. Full story...

Germany overtook the U.K. in February to become Ford of Europe's biggest European sales market, the company said today. Ford sold nearly 10,000 more cars in Germany than in the U.K. last month. Full story...

Subaru of America is promoting Tomohiko Ikeda, who steered the automaker to the industry's only U.S. sales gain last year, to a senior post in Japan. Full story...

Toyota Motor Corp. plans to develop a new low-price hybrid car aimed at undercutting rival Honda Motor Co.'s Insight, the Nikkei business daily reported on Friday. Full story...

Subaru of America said Tomohiko Ikeda, who steered the automaker to the industry's only U.S. sales gain last year, is being promoted to a senior post in Japan. Full story...

An accelerated investment of $174 million for highway improvements in B.C.'s interior will create jobs, stimulate the economy and improve road safety, announced Canada's Transport and Infrastructure Minister, John Baird, and British Columbia's Transportation and Infrastructure Minister, Kevin Falcon today. Construction on the first of the highway projects is expected to begin in the upcoming construction season. Full story...

It's refreshing to drive a Pontiac sedan that's pushed rather than pulled. There was no way that GM could get serious about offering a true performance Sedan in North America without reverting to a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) platform. Fortunately, GM's Australian Holden Division had the answer. Full story...

Automobili Lamborghini has released the first photographs of a limited edition Murciélago LP 650-4 Roadster. The Roadster version of the Murciélago will offer an uprated 6.5 litre V12 engine that produces 650 hp along with permanent four-wheel drive: hence the model's LP 650-4 moniker. With 660 Nm of torque, top performance is at 0-100km/h in 3.4 seconds. The top speed is around 330 Km/h. Full story...

Driving at high speeds, improving active handling safety and enjoying unforgettable events with like-minded people - all this is what the AMG Driving Academy stands for. The new programme for the 2009/2010 season offers an even wider choice of events during which sports car enthusiasts with racing ambitions can improve their driving skills under the guidance of professional instructors. A new member of this team of experienced AMG instructors is the former DTM, ITC and FIA-GT Champion Bernd Schneider, one of Germany 's most successful racing drivers. Full story...

Talks about Michael Schumacher's expiring Ferrari contract will only take place in the summer, according to his long-time agent Willi Weber. Full story...

The final day of testing of the BMW Sauber F1 Team for the 2009 season has now passed. After taking the F1.09 for its maiden outing in Valencia on 20th January, Robert Kubica tested the car in Bahrain, Jerez and Barcelona. Full story...

Just as the Brawn GP Formula 1 car's sterling test pace is surprising, so too is the apparent struggle of reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton's employer McLaren. Full story...