Auto News 5

Automakers are split on whether to fight the downturn in unit sales by offering more incentives on the models during 2009. Full story...

Things are not going to be easy for Jean-Pierre Laurent, who took over Renault's troubled Spanish subsidiary January 1. Spain is the European market hardest hit by the global economic slowdown. New-car sales dropped 28.1 percent to just 1. Full story...

The roadster concept Volkswagen debuted at the auto show here last week will be built, if Porsche and Audi want it too. Full story...

Sergio Cravero's promotion to CEO of Alfa Romeo is part of a broader restructuring of Fiat Group Automobiles. Fiat has created four new cross-brand functions to strengthen synergies within the company's three brands: Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Lancia. Full story...

Automakers in central and eastern Europe are being hit by Russia's decision to shut off natural gas deliveries to the region. Full story...

Investment bankers Goldman Sachs said western European car sales will drop 20 percent in 2009 to 10.7 million units. The outlook is worse than the investment bankers predicted in December. At that time they expected a 15 percent decline to 13. Full story...

Mark Rechtin has joined Automotive News Europe as a news editor. He will be based at ANE headquarters in Oberpfaffenhofen, just outside Munich. Full story...

Hyundai says smart consumers are looking for real pricing advantages in today's economy, and that they're gearing up to offer shoppers just that with a new program called Hyundai Smart Advantage. The new pricing program will see the Korean automaker offer shoppers lower cash prices and lower finance and lease rates on 8 of its most popular vehicles. Full story...

Not all of us need the space, but a big vehicle with accommodations for seven people and lots of cargo space is necessary for some. You can't take the family on a week-long road trip with an Aveo5, and you can't haul a sofa in a Cobalt. And yet, a big vehicle such as the Traverse is out of fashion right now, so timing isn't great for Chevrolet's new family wagon. Full story...

This week, Auto123.com features the following road tests: The Dodge Challenger SRT8, a modern-day pony car. The 2009 Ford F-150 Lariat Super Crew 4x4, the most popular American truck that's been completely redesigned. The Lexus IS 250, the Japanese alternative to the CTS and the 3 Series. Have a look at the videos filmed by our journalists at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and relive the key moments of the big event! Full story...

Last week, the prestigious and dependable magazine The Economist published a list of countries with the highest car ownership per resident. The average is established for 1,000 residents, and Canada holds an unexpected rank. Full story...

Joe Gibbs' star Kyle Busch will be quite busy once again in 2009, as he wants to race full-time in the Cup and Nationwide series as well as a part-time schedule in the Camping World truck series also. Full story...

Some controversy arose over comments made by new Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton over Ron Dennis' retirement from the McLaren F1 race team. Full story...

Ferrari's newly launched 2009 Formula 1 single seater, the F60, has been declared "illegal" by a specialist German motoring publication. Full story...

While Audi will contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans as part of its factory commitment with the new R15 TDI in 2009, Dr. Colin Kolles is planning to buy two Audi R10 TDI cars for his racing team. Full story...

Team Williams launched its new, 2009 Formula 1 challenger on Monday, the FW31 at the Portiamo circuit in Portugal. Full story...

Renault on Monday revealed its 2009 Formula 1 car, a slightly revised livery and a new sponsor in the form of the French oil company Total. Full story...

Both IndyCar Series' and Firestone Indy Lights' teams will participate in open tests at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Barber Motorsports Park to prepare for the 2009 season. Full story...

Some auto shows put more emphasis on the "beauty" than on the "beast". At the SEMA Show, for instance, models (or girls, as you prefer) often wear sexy bikinis. Not so at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). Not because it takes place in harsh wintertime, but more so because here, ladies who model next to the four-wheeled stars take up a different role these days. Full story...

We've seen environmentally friendly SUV's brought to market, and now, we're about to see a performance-enhanced version of the smart fortwo. Full story...