Auto News 5

The German government is continuing to look at options for helping Opel. Full story...

Skoda may cut around 870 jobs, or around three percent of its workforce, during 2009. Full story...

2009 Volkswagen CC, 2009 Nissan Maxima, 2009 Mazda 6 - Midsize Sedan Comparison

Busting out of the thundering herd, the Volkswagen CC, Nissan Maxima, and Mazda 6 stand apart from the mid-size multitudes.

Many are the mid-size sedan offerings, and most are sold in large numbers. Naturally, whenever a product is produced in great quantities, its very popularity will cause a subset of its audience to seek an alternative. Something a bit sportier, or more luxurious, or more stylish. The Volkswagen CC, the Nissan Maxima, and the Mazda 6 all hail from mainstream automakers, yet all three address this desire for something more in a mid-size car.

Photo Gallery: 2009 Volkswagen CC, 2009 Nissan Maxima, 2009 Mazda 6 - Midsize Sedan Comparison - Automobile Magazine

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Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn has been elected the new president of the European automakers' group ACEA. Ghosn said his priorities would be dealing with the economic recession and the increasing importance of fuel-efficient cars. Full story...

Sales of BMW and Mercedes-Benz cars fell by about 25 percent in November, compared with a year earlier. The German premium brands suffered as even well-heeled consumers kept a tight grip on their wallets. Full story...

BMW group global sales have been hit hard by the economic downturn with sales plunging by 25.4 percent in November. Full story...

Volkswagen is to slash its production in Russia by 13% next year, a top executive said yesterday (4 December). Full story...

This time, they left the corporate jets at home and drove for hours all the way from Detroit to the steps of the US Capitol in Washington, DC. General Motors' Rick Wagoner brought the production Chevy Malibu hybrid and prototype Volt (and R&D chief Lawrence Burns), Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli stepped out of a prototype electric Jeep and Ford's Alan Mulally came in a hybrid Escape. Then, as the Senate Banking Committee hearing came to order, they ate humble pie and encountered scepticism. Halfway through the hearings, there's still no guarantee Congress will agree to bail the Big Three out. Full story...

This time, they left the corporate jets at home and drove for hours all the way from Detroit to the steps of the US Capitol in Washington, DC. General Motors' Rick Wagoner brought the production Chevy Malibu hybrid and prototype Volt (and R&D chief Lawrence Burns), Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli stepped out of a prototype electric Jeep and Ford's Alan Mulally came in a hybrid Escape. Then, as the Senate Banking Committee hearing came to order, they ate humble pie and encountered sceptism. Halfway through the hearings, there's still no guarantee Congress will agree to bail the Big Three out. Full story...

Japanese squad pulls out of Formula One as economic crisis tightens its grip. Full story...

The success of premium-priced small cars and the Smart car has prompted Mercedes-Benz to consider introducing the next generation of A- and B-class models in North America. Full story...

Busy Toyota stand includes clever range-topping iQ. Full story...

Good to talk with clever new sat-nav. Full story...

1966 Citroen DS21 Chapron Decapotable - Bonjour, Mademoiselle

Road trips are unpredictable. Affection is uncontrollable. And love - love! - is a 1966 Citron DS21 Chapron Dcapotable.

This is a story of how I fell in love with a car.

Photo Gallery: 1966 Citroen DS21 Chapron Decapotable - Citroen Vintage DS Convertible - Automobile Magazine

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Volkswagen's Czech unit Skoda Auto will cut 3 percent of its workforce, or 870 employees next year, daily Mlada Fronta Dnes reported, citing a union chief. Full story...

Honda Motor pulled out of Formula One racing Friday to save more than $978 million a year as it scrambles to cut costs amid the global market meltdown. Full story...

Toyota Canada Inc. cut the ribbon on a new C$1.1 billion ($859 million) assembly plant in Woodstock, Ontario on Thursday, bringing about 1,200 new jobs to a sector that has been losing jobs rapidly. Full story...

TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. withdrew full-year earnings and sales forecasts on Thursday due to the upheaval in global automotive markets that has forced vehicle producers to cut production. Full story...

Jari-Matti Latvala emerged from the Welsh forests this evening as overnight leader of Wales Rally GB, with a 12.9sec lead over second placed man Sebastien Loeb. Full story...

The 2008 battle for the manufacturers' championship in NASCAR's Sprint Cup started in a very unusual way last January. Full story...