Auto News 5

The pioneers and engineers behind the Crosley, Kaiser Darrin, Jordan Car Co., and some of Chrysler's most popular models from the 1990s, will be honored by the Michigan-based Automotive Hall of Fame museum. Full story...

LONDON -- "One of the main challenges facing the automotive world is to obtain continuous and affordable high-quality, high-speed data connection from the carriers. Although easy universal access to the internet from cars may still be long in coming to the general public, we at Parrot have already taken major steps in that direction." Full story...

The pioneers and engineers behind the Crosley, Kaiser Darrin, Jordan Car Co., and some of Chrysler's most popular models from the 1990s, will be honored by the Michigan-based Automotive Hall of Fame museum. Full story...

The first major product tie-up has emerged since Smart parent company Daimler last April signed a cooperation deal with the Renault-Nissan alliance, focusing initially on small cars, light commercial vehicles and engines. Penske Automotive Group (PAG) unit Smart USA Distributor has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Nissan Motor to collaborate on a new five-door, petrol-powered B-segment hatchback car for sale in the United States. Full story...

Penske Automotive Group (PAG) unit Smart USA Distributor has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Nissan Motor to collaborate on a new five-door, petrol-powered B-segment hatchback car for sale in the United States. Full story...

TI Automotive has been named the fuel systems supplier for up to 3m Volkswagen Group vehicles, beginning in 2011. The contract also includes the development and production of 6m fuel filler pipes. Full story...

Former GM global vehicle line executive, Peter Mertens, has joined Jaguar Land Rover as director of quality and automotive safety. Full story...

That's 'Cruze' with a 'Z', by the way. Replacing the Cobalt, which replaced the Cavalier, this new compact sedan from Chevrolet will soon launch as a 2011 model. Among many other things, the American automaker hopes the Cruze's top-notch powertrain, safety, warranty and value equation will be the automotive equivalent of a hand-grenade tossed into its competitive set-- which includes the Mazda 3, Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Full story...

Leading Indian automotive components maker Ashok Minda Group has bought Aksys in Koengen, Germany. The acquisition has been renamed Minda Schenk Plastic Solutions, Plant Koengen. Full story...

These days, turbochargers are seen as an integral and essential part of the automotive industry's portfolio of technologies deployed to reduce vehicle emissions and improve the industry's environmental performance and credentials. It's a growth sector and that's encouraging new entrants, just one of the findings in new research from just-auto that details developments and trends in the turbocharger market. Full story...

A European automotive manufacturer is a customer for a lightweight battery pack being developed by UK-based lithium-ion energy systems supplier, Axeon, and automotive technology and systems integration provider, Ricardo. Full story...

Tata Motors has acquired an 80% stake in Italian automotive design and engineering company Trilix for EUR1.8m (US$2.5m). Full story...

There were certainly some eye-catching automotive products on show in Paris last week. It was a self-confident affair for Europe's finest, a shop window for an industry that has the capability to combine cutting edge technologies with creative energy and flair to dramatic and head-turning effect. And that's how it should be; that's what auto shows are really about. Full story...

Tower Automotive LLC, the supplier owned by former Chrysler owner Cerberus Capital Management LP, today announced it has begun an initial public offering expected to generate between $93.8 million and $106.2 million for the supplier. Full story...

LIVONIA, Mich. - Jack Roush is a man who knows how to coax horsepower from an engine. ROUSH® has become an automotive powerhouse based on this simple premise, and he couldn't wait to get his hands, and his engineering team, on the new Ford 5.0L engine. The end result, and the car fans of the ROUSH Mustang have been waiting for, is the 2011 ROUSH 5XR(tm) Mustang with "more power" under the hood thanks to the factory-installed ROUSHcharger. Full story...

Automotive veteran Larry Denton is leaving his consulting gig to become president of fuel-line maker Nobel Automotive Group. Denton, 60, has been working as an independent consultant since 2008, when he left the post of Dura Automotive Systems Inc. Full story...

Hertz ended its attempt to acquire Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group after Dollar Thrifty shareholders rejected the deal, clearing the way for Avis Budget Group Inc.'s $1.53 billion takeover offer. Dollar Thrifty investors holding about 13. Full story...

The balance and progress of in- and outsourcing logistics strategies in both inbound and outbound at the major OEMs over the last decade, and the consequent rise of logistics service providers (LSPs) has in some ways mirrored the varying integration of component making at the larger carmakers. Full story...

Volkswagen Chairman Ferdinand Piech has set his sights on Fiat's Alfa Romeo as the next brand in his vast automotive empire. Full story...

VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech has set his sights on Alfa Romeo as the next brand in his vast automotive empire. "Alfa is the one brand with the biggest potential for improvement.," Piech said. Full story...