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NMeda: Motor sports is really for every one. Glad to know »
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online spiele: Hi there, You have done a fantastic job. I will d »
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jd: Reading this I was reminded of the book " »
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John E.: Thanks. Perhaps you should consider "Guest Posting »
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DARPA awards Phase 2 SBIR contract for HEV motorcycle prototype
January 20, 2015 By Neville -
Report: Hyundai to cut price of FCV in Korea to compete with Toyota
January 20, 2015 By Neville -
Nissan LEAF is best-selling EV in Europe for fourth year in a row
January 20, 2015 By Neville -
Ford of Europe designer Stefan Lamm joins VW’s Seat brand
January 20, 2015 By Sean -
Ford’s German production to raise as demand rebounds
January 20, 2015 By Sean
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Sunday Morning News wk of 7 December

BMW i8 wins another prize: Design of the Year Award
There is one thing we just have to appreciate about BMW, even beyond the great quality of their products, and that is the way they keep true to a concept.
Whenever a car maker releases a concept of a certain model, it passes several stages before reaching production form, and that final form usually is so much more bland and tasteless.
Yet BMW manages to keep the styling almost unchanged from the concept phase up until it reaches assembly lines. And that is a good thing, as most concepts tend too look quite amazing. The same thing has happened with the i8 hybrid supercar, which didn’t really change much in design from the first form until now.
In fact, the car is so good that it already started gathering prizes under its belt, well before it is released unto the streets. And we can’t help but notice this happening in a similar fashion to its smaller brother, the i3. Now, after already making 2nd place as the best surpercar in a top 100 released by Jeremy Clarkson, it also managed to get a 1st prize in Automobile Magazine’s 2014 Design of the Year Award.
This doesn’t really come as a surprise, as not many working vehicles can pull that kind of looks on a relatively low budget. So I guess congratulations are in order for the German car maker their i8 model.
BMW said to mull first engine plant in U.S. or Mexico
BMW Group is said to mull building engines in the United States or Mexico for the first time and expanding vehicle production in the region to capitalize on growing demand.
Briton Batey to head GM’s most profitable region
GM has given responsibility for its most profitable region — North America — to Alan Batey, a hard-charging 50-year-old Briton who has zoomed through the automaker’s executive sales ranks over the past four years.
Toyota targets 5,000 to 10,000 fuel cell sales a year
Toyota is confident that fuel cell vehicles will be price competitive against other zero-emission cars before 2030, a top executive said
GM doesn’t owe $450M in retiree medical benefits, judge rules
A federal judge said GM is not required to pay $450 million to cover medical benefits for retirees, in a defeat for the UAW that dates back to the automaker’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.
PSA and Dongfeng agree deal outline, report says
PSA and Dongfeng Motor have agreed on the main terms of an alliance backed by a $4.1 million to $5.5 billion capital injection for the French carmaker, the Financial Times reported.
A Range Rover, a ski jump and a leap of faith
Sometimes you’ve got to relinquish complete control to a silicon brain. My experience took place in a Range Rover Sport on the ridiculously steep landing area for a ski jump in Germany’s Black Forest.
SGL says up to 300 jobs affected by cost-cutting program
German carbon fiber specialist SGL Group said that its global work force will be reduced by up to 300 jobs as part of a cost-cutting program.
GM gives PSA backing for Dongfeng deal
PSA has won GM’s backing for a tie-up with China’s Dongfeng Motor, the French automaker said, adding that the partners have lowered the savings goals for their scaled-down European alliance.
Toyota wants TNGA platform to close gap with VW, Hyundai
The Toyota New Global Architecture will cut development costs by 20 percent to 30 percent and help create more appealing products to better compete with VW and Hyundai, a top r&d executive said.
General Motors sells Ally stake for $900 million
GM completed the sale of its 8.5 percent stake in Ally Financial for about $900 million as the automaker moves to sever ties from its former financing arm
Firm created by Microsoft co-founder invests $30M in TrueCar
TrueCar, reportedly considering an initial public offering next year, said Vulcan Capital — a private equity firm created by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen — has invested $30 million in the vehicle-shopping site.
Browning out as head of VW of America; Michael Horn named president and CEO
Jonathan Browning has been replaced as CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, capping a year of struggle for the German brand in the United States. Michael Horn, 51, will take over for Browning, 54, as president and CEO of the company’s U.S. arm on Jan. 1
Plastic Omnium opens China technical center
French supplier Plastic Omnium opened a technology center for its exterior parts division this month near Shanghai to support business growth in China
VW group sales rise 4% boosted by China, U.S. demand
Volkswagen’s group vehicle sales rose by 4 percent in November as strong China and U.S. demand helped offset a flat Europe. The group’s 11-month volume is 8.68 million as the automaker aims for record sales of 9.5 million this year.
VW may build Seat SUV at Skoda plant
VW Group may build an SUV for Spanish brand Seat at a Skoda plant in the Czech Republic, company sources say. Seat lacks an entry in the booming segment.
VW replaces Browning as U.S. boss with company veteran
Volkswagen is replacing Jonathan Browning, its North America chief, with Michael Horn, a 23-year company veteran who currently leads the automaker’s global aftersales operations. Browning’s departure caps a year of struggle for VW in the U.S.
GM exodus would put Australian auto industry near extinction
Australia’s century-old automotive industry is stepping closer to extinction after GM joined Ford in deciding to stop making cars in the country — and Toyota appears likely to be the next to exit.
Turkish auto output rises 12% in November
Turkish vehicle production jumped 12 percent in November, the Automotive Manufacturers’ Association (OSD) said


