Auto News 5

The BMW Motorrad Canada Superbike squad had a successful test at the JenningsGP track in north Florida on April 14 and 15. The private session marked the debut of the new factory-backed S1000RR Superbike for 2010, the team working towards an official debut at the opening round of the 2010 Parts Canada Superbike Championship at Circuit ICAR in Mirabel, Quebec on May 28 to 30. Full story...

The French GP2 top team ART Grand Prix is bidding to become the thirteenth team on the 2011 formula one grid. Full story...

Two-time F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso set Thursday afternoon the best time of the day in his Ferrari F10 around the twisty and narrow street circuit of Monte-Carlo in the first day of practice for the famed Grand Prix of Monaco. Full story...

According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, extreme wheel nut and hub designs in 2010 are contributing to failures. Full story...

Although it will be Japanese driver Takuma Sato first participation in the Indianapolis 500 this month, the veteran Formula 1 driver will be back on a circuit where he earned, in 2004, his only podium ever in F1. Full story...

Munich, Germany--Everyone said that it was late for the ball. These same "everyones" also said, after taking a closer look at the Q7, that it was probably going to be a hit. And so it has been written. The Q7 ended it up being a crucial player in Audi's drive for 1 million worldwide sales. The landmark was obtained in 2008, they understandably fell just shy of the mark in 2009 and now, for 2010, they are well on their way to write another page in their long-standing history books. Full story...

In the wake of the USF1 calamity, another American group has signalled its intention to race in formula one next year. Full story...

Michael Schumacher and Martin Whitmarsh have accused some team bosses of wanting "chaos" and "controversy" to reign on the streets of Monaco this weekend. Full story...

NASCAR officials issued their weekly penalty report on Wednesday evening. Two Sprint Cup teams and one Nationwide Series team were involved. Full story...

Three cars, five Harley-Davidson motorcycles and five boats are among the items from bankrupt Minnesota car dealer Denny Hecker being auctioned off to raise money for creditors. Full story...

Three cars, five Harley-Davidson motorcycles and five boats are among the items from bankrupt Minnesota car dealer Denny Hecker being auctioned off to raise money for creditors. Full story...

Saab Cars North America kicked off its first sales event as a new company today -- a leasing program for the 2010 Saab 9-3. Saab can move on the marketing front now that it has begun slowly building up its U.S. pipeline. Full story...

Jeep is pricing the base four-wheel-drive model of the 2011 Grand Cherokee, the Laredo 4x4, at $32,995, $465 less than the equivalent 2010 model. Prices include shipping. Full story...

President Barack Obama gave last-minute support today to consumer advocates and other groups that oppose an exemption for auto dealers from oversight by a proposed consumer protection agency. Sen. Full story...

A formal press conference probably won't happen until this summer, but we hear that Audi dealers have received their 2011 order guides, and it looks as though the company will be going from 0 to about 70 percent of U.S. Full story...

Hisakazu Imaki, who was the first Japanese CEO of Mazda Motor Corp. after a string of Ford-assigned chiefs, will retire next month as chairman. His post will be assumed by Mazda CEO and President Takashi Yamanouchi, 65. Full story...

We love how BMW describes the M3 GTS: perfect for the track yet and#8220;officially road legal.and#8221; Full story...

A German committee that met on Wednesday on the issue of state help to Opel made progress, the Economy Ministry said, but it was unclear whether it would support the aid request for the General Motors Co. unit. Full story...

Chrysler Group has named Jody Trapasso its top corporate lobbyist. As senior vice president of external affairs, Trapasso will direct Chryslerand#8217;s government relations on international, federal and state levels. Full story...

Ford Motor Co., seeking to boost demand for its lowest-volume brands, has named a marketing chief for Lincoln Mercury for the first time in almost two years. C.J. O'Donnell, the new group marketing manager, comes from Jaguar. He was the U.K. Full story...