Car industry news

Ford looks set to sell Jaguar/Land Rover (JLR) to Tata. In a statement to JLR workers today, Ford of Europe chairman Lewis Booth said: ‘Ford is committed to focused negotiations at a more detailed...

Is the Chinese car industry learning to rationalise?  Absolutely. In order to attack world markets, China’s government and its largest automotive players have been getting cute. There’s a rush to...

CAR's associate editor Tim Pollard has won the industry's Journalist of the Year award 2007. He scooped the prestigious gong at the annual Guild of Motoring Writers awards ceremony at the RAC Club in...

The latest round of Euro NCAP results are announced today, with another round of high scores from a range of superminis and family cars. But none of the cars tested could manage more than three stars...

Vauxhall has renamed its Vectra replacement, and like we all thought, it's going to be called Insignia. According to Vauxhall the Insignia name represents 'a new name for a new era', and we'll see if...

Bargain hunters rejoice! Nissan's new GT-R costs just £34,400 in Japan - spelling out juicy savings for grey importers in the UK, where the super-coupe is tipped to cost £60,000. Even after the cost...

Mercedes-Benz World will be celebrating its first birthday this weekend, and you’re invited.  Although officially the anniversary was last week, it’ll be this Saturday and Sunday (3-4 November) that...

Chevrolet has just announced that its tiny baby, the Beat, will go into production in 2010. It will be sold in the US - and across Europe. Chevrolet previewed three city car concepts at the New York...

Aston Martin boss Ulrich Bez has told CAR Online he wants to evolve the firm's distinctive design 'for the next 20 years'. The company hopes to repeat the success of the timeless Porsche 911. The...

Lamborghini’s mean-looking €1 million Reventón may look like a stealth fighter without the wings, but a couple of Raging Bull test drivers decided to take on the real thing over the weekend. They...

London's new Terminal 5 at the world's busiest airport, Heathrow, will feature some novel facilities for forgetful travellers - including a car finder system to remind you where you parked. Opening in...

The relaunch of MG in the UK has been delayed by at least six months, CAR has learned. Production of the revised, and Lotus-tuned, TF roadster has slipped back into 2008. CAR Online was told in May...

Fiat has just announced prices for its gorgeous 500, and it’s not been greedy. As well as the 1.3-litre 75bhp diesel, and 1.4-litre 100bhp petrol, the range will now start with a 1.2-litre 69bhp...

This past weekend the foundation stone for the Ferrari Theme Park was laid on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi – one of seven Emirates making up the UAE - along with a time capsule. Under the rule of Luca di...

First Nissan brought us Birdview sat-nav giving us overhead, 3D mapping; now it's launching a parking camera that can see all around the car. Owlview anyone? Clearly Nissan has missed a trick here, as...

Fifth Gear presenter and Touring Car driver Jason Plato has been hospitalised after the Caparo he was testing burst into flames at 150mph. The T1 was being filmed for the TV show at Bruntingthorpe...

Today the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has released its annual Sustainability report. Its eighth report reveals how green and clean the UK industry is becoming - slowly. The...

Fiat’s new baby, the 500, has just achieved a full five-star Euro NCAP rating for adult safety. The 500's score of 35 points puts it ahead of cars like the Mini and Renault Clio while the 500’s...

Just as CAR Online has launched its Green cars section so the government has stepped up its ‘Act on CO2’ campaign. Earlier this week, at the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd) HQ in...

Nissan today unveiled its answer to drink-driving: the car that monitors the driver's alcohol level before every journey and stops you if you're about to break the law. Boffins at the Japanese firm...

This week has thrown up some surprising financial results for struggling car manufacturers from all corners of the industry. Last February, at the release of the Quattroporte Automatica saloon, chief...

Is General Motors winning the battle, but not the war? GM this week wrestled back its top spot as the world's biggest car maker from Toyota. The Japanese maker was the global number one in the first...

The last Vanquish rolled off the line at Aston Martin's historic Newport Pagnell factory today. Much of the historic site will be sold and turned into offices and homes. It brings to an end a long and...

Want to save £75,000 on a Rolls-Royce? The company has just launched its first approved used-car scheme at its six UK dealers, called the Rolls-Royce Provenance programme. It’s basically a carbon copy...

Potential buyers circling Jaguar and Land Rover have until 19 July to table a bid, it was revealed at the weekend. Ford is preparing to sell both luxury car makers together, although it may consider...

Gordon Murray has launched his own car company. Forget million-pound price tags; his first effort will be a radical new small car so frugal you’ll recoup its £5000 cost in four years of...

The newly independent Chrysler Group has saved its deal with Chinese maker Chery - which means that the Dodge Hornet is a step closer to production. Dodge needs a partner with which to develop new...

General Motors will unveil a European concept car built on its radical new E-Flex platform at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The concept will feature radical styling, with a diesel engine acting as...

Reports in China suggest that Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC) is once again in talks with Nanjing Automobile Corp (NAC), the owners of the MG marque and the Longbridge factory. The deal is...

The campaign to make electronic stability control (ESC) standard on all new cars by 2012 is gathering momentum - and it could save 380 lives a year, say ministers. The UK's Department for Transport...

The next generation of safety systems will take even more control away from the driver, read road signs – and even slam the brakes on for you in an emergency stop. Forget science fiction, this is...

The market for bargain basement cars costing as little as €2000 (£1400) is about to grow dramatically. CAR Online is reporting from Bosch’s annual technology seminar all week – and we grilled the...

Frank Stephenson, the man credited with designing the new Mini and Fiat's retro 500, has been appointed to head up Alfa Romeo's design centre. He replaces Wolfgang Egger, responsible for the swooping...

What Gordon Murray plans to do next

Ford has appointed Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and HSBC to investigate selling its British premium brands Jaguar and Land Rover. The move effectively signals the end of the Blue Oval's PAG...