Auto News 5

The racing season has really gotten under way last weekend with the annual Rolex 24 at Daytona. A few NASCAR drivers took part in the event won by the Donahue/Garcia/Rice/Law team driving a Porsche-Riley. Full story...

Matt Kobyluck won the NASCAR All-Star Showdown held at the Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, California last weekend. Full story...

It is "possible" Rome may organise a formula one street race, a spokesman for the Italian capital's council has admitted. Full story...

Team Williams is yet to agree to be formally affiliated with formula one's first official theme park, set to open in Dubai later this year. Full story...

The organizers of the Montreal Auto Show, which just wrapped up, weren't that surprised to see a slight decrease in attendance. In point of fact, according to official numbers 186,320 visitors passed through the turnstiles, a 9% decrease compared last year's 204,000. Full story...

The Formula 1 entrant currently known as Honda on Tuesday played down negative speculation about the team's future. Full story...

The new Acura LMP1 car set the fastest time in its maiden outing in preparation for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Full story...

The European carmaker once famous for bicycles and sewing machines is readying a range-extended electric car to show crowds at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. Russelsheim-based Opel has announced that their latest green creation will wear the 'Ampera' name badge, and that the model will be displayed in Geneva from March 5 to 15, 2009. Full story...

Legendary automaker Aston Martin has confirmed on Monday plans to take on Peugeot and Audi in a bid for outright victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2009. Full story...

Canadian driver Bruno Spengler concluded a three-day test in Estoril, Portugal at the wheel of the C-Class DTM car of Mercedes-Benz. Full story...

The Formula 1 entrant currently known as Honda on Tuesday played down negative speculation about the team's future. Full story...

Toyota team president John Howett has confirmed suggestions that Toyota F1 engine boss Luca Marmorini departed because of the Japanese team's policies, as well as the sport's technical restrictions. Full story...

Porsche is offering shoppers an optional upgraded sports-exhaust system for the 911. Even in standard form, the iconic sports car exhibits a distinctive engine note by way of its unique boxer-engine layout and the relatively short length of its exhaust system plumbing. Full story...

After 10 days of activities, the 2009 edition of the Detroit Auto Show wrapped up on Sunday with overall attendance falling short of last year's numbers. This is the sixth consecutive year that the show has seen a decrease in attendance, and the numbers dropped by a substantial 50,000 visitors in 2009. Full story...

The French Senate has approved a bill amendment giving permission for the construction of a formula one circuit near Paris, the sports daily L'Équipe said. Full story...

Mercedes-Benz has built a strong reputation in North America... and it needs to stay that way. Sporty or not, the various models in the portfolio are either very luxurious (think S-Class), impeccably designed (CLS-Class) or supremely comfortable (GLK-Class). Company executives are awfully proud of this image, and they're quite aware that such refinement needs to trickle down to smaller products in the lineup, even entry-level cars. Full story...

Mercedes-Benz has built a strong reputation in North America... and it needs to stay that way. Sporty or not, the various models in the portfolio are either very luxurious (think S-Class), impeccably designed (CLS-Class) or supremely comfortable (GLK-Class). Company executives are awfully proud of this image, and they're quite aware that such refinement needs to trickle down to smaller products in the lineup, even entry-level cars. Full story...

Honda Motor Co. said early Tuesday it is cutting production in North America and Japan by another 50,000 vehicles to match rapidly shrinking demand. The move slashes projected North American output to 1. Full story...

Opel will unveil its vehicle that uses the range-extending powertrain first shown in the Chevrolet Volt, at the Geneva motor show in March. Full story...

Reports that Volkswagen has delayed or canned its plan to build a plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., are false, said Volkswagen Group of America CEO Stefan Jacoby. Full story...