Auto News 5

BMW-Sauber Formula 1 driver Robert Kubica has no explanation for his bizarre loss of competitiveness right at the end of the 2008 season. Full story...

There is a rule of thumb in Formula 1: Standing still means going backwards. Vehicles change from race to race. Willy Rampf, the Technical Director of the BMW Sauber F1 Team, uses a selection of technical drawings to describe the constant change undergone by the BMW Sauber F1.08. Full story...

Chip Ganassi Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. will merge operations beginning with the 2009 Sprint Cup season, the teams announced in a news release Wednesday. Full story...

One would expect the smaller, development series such like the Star Mazda series to suffer from the ongoing worldwide economic crisis, but it is not the case. Full story...

This week, Auto123.com features the following road tests:The mythical Nissan GT-R, the video game star that's available for first the time in Canada. The Pontiac G8, the full-sized sedan designed in Australia and set to reconquer the hearts of nostalgic drivers. The Saturn Vue Green Line, GM's hybrid SUV that's actually the anteroom to the Volt! And don't miss our video on the 2009 Kia Sportage test drive, a compact SUV that stands out from the crowd thanks to its affordable price and reasonable fuel consumption. Full story...

As we learn that the DEI and Ganassi teams will merge for 2009, let's point out that this coming weekend will be NASCAR's grand finale for all three series and all will race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Full story...

Brazilian Formula 1veteran Rubens Barrichello has hinted he might eventually write some revealing memoirs about his formula one career. Full story...

The alliance of Montreal hoteliers has agreed to apply a one per cent 'grand prix' tax to the price of rooms in an effort to rescue the axed Canadian formula one race. Full story...

Fisker Automotive will open a new Engineering and Development centre in Pontiac, Michigan to employ as many as 200 engineers and designers. Fisker is a green American premium carmaker, and they say their new 34,000 square foot facility will house employees to support the development and production of the Fisker Karma. Full story...

We could say a lot of things about the GT-R, and how it left us all in an unstable mental condition when the time came to give it back to Nissan. But there's one thing that we can tell you right now that will make you realize how serious this car is: in the GT-R, we measured a 0 to 100 km/h time of 3.93 seconds. Full story...

The CEOs of the Detroit 3 and UAW President Ron Gettelfinger will return to Washington next week to make a case for a $25 billion federal bailout for the auto industry this year. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass. Full story...

A campaign to keep U.S. Rep. John Dingell in charge of a House committee important to the auto industry intensified today. Full story...

2009 Mercedes-Benz R320 Bluetec

It's a van! It's an SUV! It's a wagon! Well, we're not sure what the 2009 Mercedes-Benz R320 Bluetec is, but we do know it's a diesel.

Unfortunately, history has shown that neither diesels nor the Mercedes-Benz R-Class are popular in North America. So why, then, would Mercedes drop its brand-new BlueTec diesel engine into the 2009 Mercedes-Benz R320 Bluetec and sell it here?

Photo Gallery: 2009 Mercedes-Benz R320 Bluetec - Fuel Efficient News, Car Features and Reviews - Automobile Magazine

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General Motors today asked all its U.S. dealers to urge the Congress to approve an additional loan package to help the automaker deal with its liquidity crisis, dealers briefed on the matter said. GM U.S. Full story...

Oil plunged 5 percent to $56 a barrel today on Wednesday as the U.S. government hacked its global demand growth forecast again due to the slumping global economy. Full story...

Are the Detroit 3 and their allies to blame for the decline that has left them pleading to Washington for funds to survive? Or are they victims of events that would have overwhelmed any company? National media outlets, financial experts and auto... Full story...

Canada's ailing auto industry would face further strain and an increased need of government assistance if Washington bailed out the industry south of the border, the CEO of Chrysler Canada said today. Full story...

Daniel Tarullo is a law professor at Georgetown University and an expert on international economics. Full story...

Hyundai Motor Co. says it has no interest in acquiring Chrysler LCC. "Our hands are full" with various expansion plans around the world, says Hyundai spokesman Jake Jang. "We have no interest in acquiring any company. That includes Chrysler. Full story...

GAZ, the automotive group owned by oligarch Oleg Derpiska, has said that investment aimed at creating a complete line of diesel engines for commercial vehicles is a top priority Full story...