Auto News 5

Volvo and Saab, struggling to revive slumping U.S. sales, need to find distinctive design and the right price tags to win sales from luxury brands such as BMW and Daimler's Mercedes-Benz, experts say. Succeeding in the U.S. Full story...

U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., said he is outraged China's government may force automakers to surrender electric-vehicle technology in return for selling cars in the world's most populous nation. Full story...

Land Rover will price its Range Rover Evoque starting at 30,000 pounds (about $40,000) in the UK. Land Rover issued more information about the two-door Evoque ahead of the model's public debut at the Paris auto show later this month. Full story...

Early U.S. sales for Ford Motor Co.'s Fiesta show that consumers are buying higher-end versions of the new small car, boosting the automaker's profit on sales in a traditionally low-margin segment, company officials said. Full story...

Former GM executive Richard M. Donnelly has been named chairman of the board at heavy-duty vehicle maker Oshkosh Corp. Donnelly, 67, will assume the position on Feb. 1, 2011. He succeeds Robert Bohn, 56, who is retiring as CEO on Dec. 31. Full story...

VW will start building a $550 million gasoline engine plant in Silao, in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, next month. The plant will be completed by 2013 and have a capacity of 330,000 engines a year. Full story...

Renault and Nissan will jointly develop a platform for at least 10 models to reduce its suppliers and lower procurement costs by about one-third, the Nikkei business daily said. Full story...

Given his history of making shrewd long-term business decisions, it makes sense that Ferdinand Piech wants to ensure that no one #8211; especially members of his family #8211; can mess with his auto empire before or after he dies. Full story...

Early U.S. sales for Ford Motor Co.'s Fiesta show that consumers are buying higher-end versions of the new small car, boosting the automaker's profit on sales in a traditionally low-margin segment, company officials said. Full story...

Mahindra and Mahindra may back Italian financier Simone Cimino's plan to build electric cars at Fiat's Termini Imerese car factory in Sicily. Full story...

The event marks the first time 3-D footage will be broadcast in a public area. As a part of the takeover, Honda will run 3-D CR-Z commercial footage on the Times Square HD screen and Sony will provide 3-D Gran Turismo 5 racing simulators. Additionally, Maxim Magazine models will distribute copies of their special 3-D October issue and Honda will sponsor a special performance from chart-topping hip-hop trio, N.E.R.D. Full story...

The 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost stands ready to challenge and conquer the harsh environment that makes the world-famous Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 an unparalleled test of man and machine - and the world racing debut for Ford's EcoBoost engine. Full story...

German driver Michael Schumacher swiftly dismissed on Thursday rumours he is considering returning to retirement at the end of the 2010 season. Full story...

Hello, my name is Mathieu St-Pierre, I'm 34 years old, married, have two cats, a mortgage, a lawn mower and am addicted to... racing road cars on a track! Full story...

Bespoke design will take centre stage for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars at Paris this year, as five models featuring the company's extensive personalization programme take to the stand.  The collection includes a sumptuous Phantom Extended Wheelbase in Gunmetal metallic with Sunrise leather interior and a Carrara White metallic Phantom Drophead Coupé with Hotspur Red leather interior.  A Phantom Coupé and two Ghosts complete the presentation. Full story...

The event marks the first time 3-D footage will be broadcast in a public area. As a part of the takeover, Honda will run 3-D CR-Z commercial footage on the Times Square HD screen and Sony will provide 3-D Gran Turismo 5 racing simulators. Additionally, Maxim Magazine models will distribute copies of their special 3-D October issue and Honda will sponsor a special performance from chart-topping hip-hop trio, N.E.R.D. Full story...

Mercedes DTM competitor Paul di Resta looks set to make his formula one race debut in 2011 with team Force India. Full story...

French rally driver Sebastien Loeb has told people magazine Paris Match that he could retire from the World Rally Championship at the end of next season. Full story...

Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa, who raced for Sauber Motorsport this season, has been signed up as a second Pirelli test drver. Full story...

Just one day after NASCAR officials disclosed that they had spoken with the Richard Childress Racing Team for an out-of-specification car at Richmond they announced that Clint Bowyer's New Hampshire winning car was also out of regulation tolerances. Full story...