World-Business/Auto news

The cream of Nissan retailing have been recognised in Geneva. After being shown the stars of the Nissan motor show stand, Juke, Micra & Leaf, the top performers were handed awards celebrating excellence in 10 categories.

The BMW Group recorded positive earnings for the financial year 2009 as planned despite the ongoing worldwide financial and economic crisis. Profit before tax rose by 17.7% to euro 413 million (2008: euro 351 million). Net profit amounted to euro 210 million (2008: euro 330 million/-36.4%) due to the higher effective tax rate.

The Alfa Romeo MiTo is already a global success story. Sold in 34 countries and on five different continents, it has won wide acclaim for its unprecedented fusion of head-turning high end style, engineering flair, dynamic performance and driving pleasure.

Acura’s past success in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) leads to a new challenge in 2010. As the first manufacturer to win two ALMS class championships in a single season, (Patrón Highcroft Racing in LMP1 and Lowe’s Fernandez Racing in LMP2), Honda Performance Development (HPD) will set-out to defend its title in the combined LMP1 and LMP2 classes.

The current Toyota recalls have had massive effects on the automaker's sales but the issues have had less of an impact on current Toyota customers than owners of other auto brands, according to a recent survey conducted by Corporate Research International (CRI), a national leader in customer feedback and consumer insights.

The North American Ferrari Challenge Series 2010 season opener will take place on March 12-14 at Miami's Homestead Speedway.

Both the Mercedes SLS AMG Safety Car and the Mercedes C63 AMG Medical Car will run throughout the 2010 season with liveries displaying the Make Roads Safe campaign logo and the web site address for more information on the UN backed road safety initiative.

The new, robust M4 and M6 motorbike batteries from Bosch are specially designed for motorbike use. The M6 motorbike batteries from Bosch with modern AGM technology are completely leak-proof, extremely shakeproof, and maintenance free.

Daimler Buses has once again won a contract, and as a result will deliver a total of 239 buses to Sardinia by the end of July 2010. The orders were placed by four Sardinian public transit authorities: CTM Cagliari, ATP Nuoro, ASPO Olbia and ATP Sassari.

Soave will lead the reintroduction of the Fiat Brand in North America, beginning with the Fiat 500. She holds full profit and loss responsibility for the Fiat product portfolio in North America.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) today announced that the all-new Toyota 4Runner mid-size sport utility vehicle (SUV) has earned its highest ranking of “good” in their frontal offset high-speed crash ratings.

The all-new 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty delivers best-in-class torque, horsepower, towing and payload capability – and does it all more efficiently, resulting in less fuel usage and extended maintenance intervals that can translate directly into bottom-line savings for customers.

São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil – Mercedes-Benz do Brasil signed a contract today with the Brazilian bank Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Económico e Social (BNDES) for a loan in the amount of R$ 1.2 billion (roughly €460 million).

Protecting customers is critical as Ford moves to the forefront of in-car personal technology. Ford’s popular SYNC system allows owners to connect digital media players and Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones to their vehicle’s entertainment system and operate them with voice commands.

Arriving at Acura dealerships in the late fall, the Sport Wagon will join the TSX lineup, which already includes the 4-cylinder and V6-powered sports sedans.

The new e-tron model series from Audi will gain another new member at the Geneva Motor Show: The Audi A1 e-tron is a Mega City Vehicle (MCV) with an innovative drive technology.

Toyota and the Clean Energy Partnership announced today (5 March) that Toyota has become a new international auto partner for the organisation.

Even more dynamic, lighter, more powerful and stunning – the Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Superleggera is the new top model in the Gallardo line-up.

Power like a big V6, fuel economy like a modest four-cylinder unit – Audi presents the A8 hybrid as a technology concept at the Geneva Motor Show. Its two propulsion units – a 2.0 TFSI and an electric motor – develop a total output of 180 kW (245 hp) of system power and 480 Nm (354.03 lb-ft) of torque.

With over 600,000 units sold, Volkswagen Sharan is the favourite vehicle of countless families all over Europe. Coming now, with a world premiere at the 2010 Geneva International Motor Show (4th to 14th March), is a completely new generation of this best seller.