Renault has released a video explaining how the compact Twin’Run concept came to life.

This compact sporty concept weighs just 950 kg and is powered by a mid-mounted 316bhp 3.5-litre V6 with 280 lb ft of torque found also on the Megane Trophy. Power is sent to the rear wheels via six-speed sequential gearbox and a limited slip differential, enabling it to hit 0-62 mph in just 4.5 seconds, while the top speed is 155 mph.

This is a true pocket rocket. Amazing concept and there are already some rumours circulating about a Renault 5 Turbo revival. Even if we don’t get the hot Renault 5 Turbo successor, some of the Twin’Run’s styling will make it to the next-generation Twingo.

Renault will end Better Place partnership after bankruptcy filing

Renault is ending a five-year partnership with Better Place LLC after the operator of electric-vehicle charging stations announced plans to shut down. The two companies have worked together in Israel and Denmark since 2008

Not satisfied with OnStar’s steady profits, GM wants to create a global 4G powerhouse

Not satisfied with OnStar’s steady profits, GM wants to create a global 4G powerhouse
General Motors’ OnStar telematics unit has quietly become a profit margin superstar. Analysts peg OnStar’s revenues at about $1.5 billion annually, with a margin of 30 to 35 percent.

Caterham working on a new entry-level Seven

As Caterham celebrates 40 years of developing and manufacturing the iconic Seven, the company has announced a new affordable entry-level model, taking the brand back to its simple design roots but remain entirely true to Caterham’s mantra of delivering “accessible fun”.

The new car will be priced at under £17,000 and will pay homage to the brand’s engineering DNA of ‘adding lightness’, with a super-compact, flexible and EU6-compliant engine.

The new unnamed car will be launched in Autumn, with first deliveries expected before the end of 2013.

E class gets some S-class features

Mercedes-Benz isn’t waiting for the E class redesign in 2016 to outfit its mid-sized range with some of the high-tech equipment that was developed for the S-class sedan

Microsoft: Chrysler has plans for our infotainment system

Chrysler Group is equipping some of its lower-trim vehicles with a Microsoft-based infotainment system used by Fiat — and, according to the software maker, more vehicles

Renault shrugs off electric car setback

Renault said the collapse of a joint venture aimed at making electric cars more appealing would not hold back its plans for battery-powered vehicles.

Renault wins loan for Twingo from EU investment bank

Renault will use a 400 million euro ($517 million) loan from the European Investment Bank to help develop its Twingo minicar.

Germany has complied with court ruling on VW Law, EU court adviser says

Germany has complied with a court ruling over a law that gives the state of Lower Saxony veto rights over Volkswagen, an adviser to Europe’s highest court said

Nazi past keeps VW from celebrating landmark event

Volkswagen’s Nazi past kept it from celebrating the 75th anniversary of a big event in the automaker’s history.

During a gala celebration on May 26, 1938, Adolf Hitler laid the foundation stone for what would become VW’s Wolfsburg plant.

Mercedes-Benz GLA taxi car testing at the Nürburgring

The Mercedes-Benz GLA taxi version caught on the Nürburgring hints at a new special version for taxi companies around the world. Currently Mercedes E-Class and B-Class are used as taxi models around Europe.

The GLA concept made its debut in April at the Shanghai Auto Show and the production model is expected to debut in September at the Frankfurt Auto Show with a wide range of 4-cylinder petrol and diesel engines producing up to 211bhp. AMG variant will deliver around 360bhp.

Car fuel efficiency in Europe falls further below automaker claims, study says

The gap has widened between the fuel efficiency that carmakers declare for their models and the reality for drivers, with luxury German vehicles showing the biggest divergence

Former Saab Chairman Muller will be questioned in Swedish tax inquiry

Former Saab Chairman Victor Muller will be called in to answer questions related to a Swedish inquiry into alleged tax offenses at the carmaker, the country’s Economic Cr

Volkswagen agrees to 5.7% pay raise for German workers

Volkswagen agreed to raise wages for German workers by 5.7 percent over 20 months as the country’s biggest manufacturing union helped employees tap into the company’s growth

Wanted for the Internet of Things: Ant-Sized Computers

A computer two millimeters square is the start of an effort to make chips that can put computer power just about anywhere for the vaunted “Internet of Things.”

Much could be done with data gathered from the depths of the human body, or every corner of the environment, but getting it requires a new breed of tiny computers.

The tiny KL02 microcontroller, made by Freescale, was created to enable swallowable wireless computers, and contains an energy efficient processor, memory, and RAM.

If the Internet is to reach everywhere—from the pills you swallow to the shoes on your feet—then computers will need to get a whole lot smaller. A new microchip that is two millimeters square and contains almost all the components of a tiny functioning computer is a promising start.

PSA denies report of share sale to raise capital
GM’s French partner considers move to pay down debt, paper says

PSA has denied a French newspaper report that said it was planning to sell new shares to raise capital. The automaker says it is committed to reducing its cash-consumption rate 50 percent in 2013 and reaching the break-even level by 2014 after burning through 3 billion euros ($3.87 billion) last year.

Porsche names China chief; shuffles executives in North America, other markets

Porsche named Deesch Papke as its new China CEO as part of a wider management reshuffle in markets including North America and Australia as the sports car maker seeks to double global sales by 2018.

PSA discusses new capital hike, report says

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen is considering a new capital increase after burning through 2.5 billion euros ($3.21 billion) in cash in the past year, a French newspaper reported.

Chinese interior-trim supplier Huaxiang acquires German counterpart HIB

Ningbo Huaxiang Electronic Co., a major Chinese interior-trim supplier, has acquired German counterpart HIB Trim Part Solutions Group. HIB supplies wood, metal and carbon fiber interior trim to BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen Group.

Germany’s Continental develops navigation system for PSA in China

German supplier Continental has developed a multimedia navigation system for PSA vehicles in China.

Audi dealer China Yongda targets 14-fold surge in sales after VW agreement

Audi dealer China Yongda Automobiles Services Holdings said it aims to boost sales by 14-fold in five to six years after signing an agreement with VW Group giving it priority to sell new models and take control of certain dealerships in China.

Chevrolet Trax joins Opel Mokka in growing segment

Chevrolet says the Trax will not compete with the Opel/Vauxhall Mokka, its sibling model, even though both small SUVs will offer the same engines and transmissions

Fiat preparing $10 billion in financing for Chrysler merger, report says

Fiat is in talks for as much as $10 billion in financing from a pool of banks to buy the Chrysler Group stake it doesn’t own and refinance the two automakers’ debt.

Nissan pulls Facebook ads amid concerns about offensive content

Nissan has pulled advertisements from Facebook because of offensive content on the social media site.

Ford joins Europe car-sharing sector as demand surges

Ford says its car-sharing program is the first in Europe that has an automaker backing a nationwide program together with dealerships.

Ford is the latest automaker to offer car-sharing in Europe, where demand for the service is forecast to grow to 15 million users in Europe by 2020 from 700,000 today, according to Frost & Sullivan.

McLaren says its Asia sales will double this year on China demand

McLaren forecasts that sales in Asia will more than double this year on demand from China as the carmaker prepares to open its first four dealerships in the market

Faurecia is poised to deploy cost-cutting plan for Europe

Faurecia said its efforts to reduce costs will be in place by the end of next month. The supplier plans to eliminate about 3,000 jobs in its home region.

Germany has complied with ruling on VW Law, EU court adviser says

Germany has complied with a court ruling over a law that gives the state of Lower Saxony veto rights over Volkswagen, an adviser to Europe’s highest court said

Jaguar Land Rover global sales rise 19%

Global vehicle sales at Jaguar Land Rover rose 19 percent in the three months ended March 31, helping to offset losses at Indian parent Tata Motors.

FAW Group sedans will challenge Audi in China

FAW Group has started sales to the public of its new Red Flag sedans, pitting the symbol of Communist privilege against Audi for China’s elite.

Fiat reassures Italy on jobs as Chrysler merger looms

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne assured Italy’s industry minister at that the automaker will not cut jobs in its home market.

Renault says it has no plans for Mitsubishi tie-up

Renault denied a French newspaper report that it is holding cooperation talks with Mitsubishi Motors

Renault’s Dacia will not get a minicar, Tavares says

Renault’s Dacia will not join Europe’s minicar segment, the automaker’s Chief Operating Officer Carlos Tavares said. The segment is gaining in importance as the economy slumps.

Driver’s license in Japan comes with a large helping of numbing ritual

Japan’s automakers love to moan about all the red tape that discourages young people here from buying cars: high taxes, thickets of registration, the need to show proof of an overnight parking spot, onerous inspection regimes.

Add to all that the trials and travails of simply getting a driver’s license and then keeping it.

It was a five-hour odyssey at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police’s sprawling traffic safety center — replete with a two-hour remedial course on rules of the road.

Fiat awaits court verdict ahead of Chrysler merger

Fiat will wait until a legal dispute is resolved between the automaker and the United Auto Workers’ retiree healthcare trust before merging with Chrysler, Fiat Chairman John Elkann said