Auto News 5

Qatar is "seriously" considering taking a stake Porsche, Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani told Qatar's Al-Arab newspaper in remarks published on Tuesday. Full story...

The Russian car market could fall by 60% this year, according to a Russia government minister's reported remarks. Full story...

A proposal to ban sales of new gasoline-powered cars in Norway starting in 2015 could help spur struggling carmakers to shift to greener models, Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen said on Saturday. Full story...

The Canadian unit of Chrysler may not need to seek bankruptcy protection, even if the company does so in the United States, Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said on Saturday. Full story...

German Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said on Saturday that Austrian-Canadian auto parts supplier Magna International is a potential investor in General Motors' struggling German unit Opel. Full story...

The Obama administration is exploring ways to expand financing to car dealers, the head of the National Automobile Dealers Association said today. Full story...

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, today announced the successful development of a prototype of its Subaru Plug-in Stella electric vehicle (EV), which will be introduced this summer in Japan. FHI will provide the Ministry of the Environment, Japan with fifteen units of the Plug-in Stella prototype for verification test which will be conducted by five prefectural and city governments. Full story...

Tokyo (April 24, 2009) - The Renault-Nissan Alliance (the Alliance) have formed a partnership to explore the development of Zero Emission Vehicles program with Environment Bureau of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Full story...

Car companies are known for claiming their designs are inspired by racing or aviation themes. Mini is going in a different direction: the beach. Full story...

An automobile dealers group plans to urge the Obama administration on Thursday not to eliminate any dealers or force General Motors and Chrysler into bankruptcy. Full story...

Eye-catching two-seater drop-top is set to be firm’s fastest, most daring model to date – and it will go head-to-head with Mazda MX-5 and Honda CRZ.

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Chrysler LLC plans to provide a fleet of 250 all-electric Chrysler Town and Country concept minivans to the U.S. Postal Service, the company said today in an announcement geared to coincide with Earth Day. Full story...

The latest debt reduction offer by Chrysler lenders is unacceptable because it would yield the lenders an unjustified return, an Obama administration official has said. Full story...

Volkswagen said on Wednesday it will build its new minicar range in Slovakia. VW said the first cars from its New Small Family will roll off the production line in Bratislava at the beginning of 2011 for delivery to global customers. Full story...

Renault hopes its new Grand Scenic minivan can win back customers who have drifted away from minivans to small SUVs. Full story...

New MINI Speedster revealed, Jaguar XFR driven, best 7-seaters tested, first official look at new McLaren

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The latest debt reduction offer by Chrysler LLC's lenders is unacceptable because it would yield the lenders an unjustified return, an Obama administration official said. Full story...

Chrysler invented the minivan 25 years ago. More than 12 million minivan sales later, Chrysler today showed off four all-electric Chrysler Town & Country minivan concepts to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) as part of the USPS Earth Day celebration. Full story...

After the successful unveiling of the new MINI Convertible this spring, MINI dips its toe into the stylistic future of travel. Teaming up with renowned brands Airstream and Republic of Fritz Hansen(TM), the carmaker has embraced the theme of "mobile living" in developing an innovative design study with a down-by-the beach feel. The collaboration has spawned a unique combination of a 6.80-metre-long Airstream trailer and a modified MINI Cooper S Clubman, one whose appeal extends beyond the reaches of the watersports scene. Full story...

Italy Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said today he backs a possible Fiat-Chrysler alliance. Full story...