Auto News 5

Toyota Motor Thailand (TMT) plans to terminate 350 short-term workers' contracts out of 5,500 across its Thai operations as it prepares for falling worldwide demand for its vehicles. The company this month revised down its Thai vehicle production forecasts for next year from 500,000 to 450,000 units, compared with a planned 570,000 units in 2008. Full story...

The six automakers that have pulled out of this year's Detroit auto show do not affect the long-term need for a Cobo Center expansion, says the show's co-chairman. Full story...

Nissan North America has dropped out of next year's Detroit and Chicago auto shows, citing depressed economic conditions. The decision makes Nissan the biggest automaker to skip out on Detroit's North American International Auto Show. Full story...

President-elect Barack Obama said today that he -- like members of Congress -- was surprised that the Detroit 3 CEOs were so ill-prepared for their crucial hearings last week on federal aid to the industry. Full story...

Although they were forced to retire from last weekend's Tall Pines Rally, four victories in the North American Rally Championship this season were enough for Quebecers Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard to clinch the prestigious title in front of American Ken Block. Full story...

The financial crisis continues to impact the Detroit Auto Show that will be held next January. The list of absent manufacturers is getting longer by the day, two months before the official opening of the event. Full story...

Austrian billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz has bought back the 50 per cent stake in the Toro Rosso Formula One team owned by former Formula 1 driver Gerhard Berger. Full story...

The American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association 300 members will send in their votes to elect what North America's racing community has the best to offer. Full story...

Formula One Force India test driver Vitantonio Liuzzi clocked the quickest lap at the Speedcar Series test that ended today at the Dubai Autodrome. He was among five other drivers that took the wheel at the final test before the start of Season 2 on 5-6 December, 2008. Full story...

Former Formula 1 driver and current NASCAR racer Juan Pablo Montoya has confirmed he has received and turned down offers to return to formula one. Full story...

The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI has just won the Green Car Journal's Green Car of the Year award. The editors of the Green Car Journal had chosen five finalists, but in the end the Jetta was recognized as the best of the best. Full story...

Former Formula 1 driver and current NASCAR racer Juan Pablo Montoya has confirmed he has received and turned down offers to return to formula one. Full story...

In his first interview since breaking his leg last weekend, Australian Formula 1 driver Mark Webber insists the injury will not stop him taking to the grid for the first race of the 2009 season. Full story...

The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI has just won the Green Car Journal's Green Car of the Year award. The editors of the Green Car Journal had chosen five finalists, but in the end the Jetta was recognized as the best of the best. Full story...

Although they were forced to retire from last weekend's Tall Pines Rally, four victories in the North American Rally Championship this season were enough for Quebecers Antoine L'Estage and Nathalie Richard to clinch the prestigious title in front of American Ken Block. Full story...

Brazilian Formula 1 driver Rubens Barrichello has this week continued his tirade against the Scuderia Ferrari and Michael Schumacher. Full story...

Unlike the early days of Street Rod, Pole Position and Top Gear, video game consoles like the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 are now packing more graphical processing power than the average supercomputer. Consumers have never been closer to a dazzling and realistic gaming experience- especially when the latest consoles are combined with the current breed of dazzling high-definition TV sets and ear-shattering surround-sound systems. Full story...

People looking for a solution to rush-hour traffic and jammed city streets won't buy a Volvo C30 for the same reasons they would buy a Toyota Yaris. The latter is a rational pick based on affordability and fuel efficiency. Full story...

The six automakers that have pulled out of this year's Detroit auto show do not affect the long-term need for a Cobo Center expansion, says the show's co-chairman. Full story...

Nissan North America has dropped out of next year's Detroit and Chicago auto shows, citing depressed economic conditions. The decision makes Nissan the biggest automaker to skip out on Detroit's North American International Auto Show. Full story...