Auto News 5

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has named former BMW and Ford executive Ralf Speth CEO with overall responsibility for its operations. Full story...

Halfords is expanding its operations into the car servicing and repair industry with the acquisition of Nationwide Autocentres, in a deal wirth £73.2m. The move creates the largest UK operator with a specialised focus on the car parts, servicing and repair market. Full story...

Ford Otosan posted a higher-than-expected 149 percent rise in fourth-quarter net profit after exports and domestic sales campaigns lifted demand hit hard by the economic slowdown. Ford Otosan, jointly owned by Ford Motor Co. Full story...

Escape was the first domestic SUV or crossover nameplate to offer a hybrid model. And this is a "full" hybrid; it can run solely on electric power (if you're gentle on the throttle and don't exceed 48 km/h). Full story...

Brentwood,Essex - Ford's all-new C-car makes its European debut at next month's Geneva show, alongside final versions of C-MAX and Grand C-MAX which go on sale this year. There are also further product enhancements for the Ford Kuga and Mondeo and more options revealed for the new S-MAX and Galaxy. Full story...

Escape was the first domestic SUV or crossover nameplate to offer a hybrid model. And this is a "full" hybrid; it can run solely on electric power (if you're gentle on the throttle and don't exceed 48 km/h). Full story...

Ford Motor Co.'s redesigned 2011 Super Duty pickup will carry a base sticker price higher than its predecessor but will include upgraded content, such as a new six-speed transmission. Full story...

MOTORSPORTS EDITOR MAC MORRISON: I'm not much of a and#8220;truck guy,and#8221; but even with that disclaimer in mind, this vehicle just makes me laugh. And maybe that's the beauty of it. Full story...

Ford will axe the second shift at its Flat Rock Michigan assembly plant that builds the Mustang and Mazda 6 sedan, with the loss of about 900 jobs. Full story...

Detroit, MI - The 2010 Automotive Executive of the Year Innovator Award is sponsored by DNV Certification and is presented to Elon Musk, Chairman, Product and CEO of Tesla Motors, in recognition of his technology leadership and innovation, as well as his enlightened vision for the automotive industry's future. Based in California's Silicon Valley, Tesla Motors is the only automaker selling electric vehicles that are both highway-capable cars and in serial production, and the company has been credited with pushing the entire automotive industry toward EVs. Since 1964, the Automotive Executive of the Year Award has recognized excellence in industry leadership. Past recipients include Jim O'Sullivan, Carroll Shelby (Lifetime Achievement Award), Bill Ford, Jr., Dieter Zetsche, Henry Ford II, Bob Lutz, Nobuhiko Kawamoto, Carlos Ghosn, and Lee Iacocca. The Innovator Award is specially presented to a leader exhibiting dynamic impact on the industry's technological potential. "Elon Musk is a man who came from humble beginnings to accomplish the extraordinary," says Robert Djurovic, executive director of the Automotive Executive of the Year Award program, and director of automotive services North America, DNV Business Assurance US. "We are thrilled to present him with our Innovator Full story...

Ford Motor Co. will drop one shift and 900 workers at the AutoAlliance Mustang plant in Flat Rock, Mich., to increase the plant's efficiency, Ford spokeswoman Marcey Evans said today. Full story...

Ford Motor Co.'s India unit said on Tuesday it would launch its subcompact car in March and is expanding its dealer network in the fast-growing market. Full story...

Ford India, preparing for the launch next month of its new [previous generation European Fiesta based] Figo, has signed up 28 new dealers which opened their doors this week. Full story...

Ford Focus RS WRC driver Mikko Hirvonen got his quest for the 2010 World Rally Championship drivers' title off to the best possible start today by winning the opening round of the series, Rally Sweden. Full story...

The Explorer Sport Trac continues to play the half SUV/half pickup card, with a front and rear seating section like the regular Explorer, but with a small truck bed (just over 4 feet). The available hard tonneau cover is lockable and weatherproof. Full story...

Mikko Hirvonen (Ford Focus) put his advantage to 16.6 seconds to Sebastien Loeb (Citroen C4) after day 2 in rally of Sweden. Full story...

Mikko Hirvonen (Ford) is the leader after opening day of Rally of Sweden, opening round of the World Rally Championship. Hirvonen leads from Sébastien Loeb (Citroen). Kimi Raikkonen (Citroen) lost several minutes after hitting a snow bank. Full story...

The Ford Transit Connect hits the silver screen with an all-star ensemble cast in the New Line Cinema film, "Valentine's Day," which opens in theaters nationwide today. Full story...

Ford has revealed that a version of its soon to be launched two-litre EcoBoost petrol engine will power the next generation Focus ST. Full story...

Ford's just finished a year as the 'non bankrupt' American automaker, and they're not using their positive position in their home market to rest on their laurels. After launching numerous new technologies and winning several big awards for their latest models, Ford is showing its fans at the CIAS what's in the pipeline for the near future. Full story...