World Auto News & Reviews

In order to properly celebrate the marque’s 75th anniversary, Jaguar has announced it will be returning to the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans sports car endurance race. Jaguar will officially return to the starting grid on June 12.

Jaguar’s Le Mans entrant will be a XKR GT2 run by JaguarRSR. Scott Pruett and Marc Goossens will be among the drivers piloting Jaguar’s Le Mans return.

Jaguar captured its first Le Mans win in 1951 with the company’s C-type. Jaguar has taken home 7 Le Mans wins in total, the last coming in 1990 with the Jaguar XJR-12.
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A year after the unveiling of its LAMPO concept study at the 2009 Geneva Salon, and Protoscar is returning to the international Swiss motor show this year with a new take on its all-electric roadster study.

Aptly named LAMPO2, the two-seater model features a newly designed aerodynamic body that retains the previous study’s rear wheel covers as well as a refreshed interior that boasts a large digital instrument panel.
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Assuming for a moment that you won’t be watching any stages live, what could possibly be better than strapping into the living room recliner and watching World Rally Championship coverage here in the United States? How about watching that very same coverage in glorious high definition? You’re in luck, as Discovery’s HD Theater plans to air the entire 2010 season, the start of which is coming up fast.
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Off the back of a record breaking December, Mazda Australia has started 2010 with its second best January on record. A total of 6,658 retails in January equated to a 1.9pc year-on-year increase and an overall market share of 8.9pc according to January VFACTS figures

Underscoring Mazda’s sales success in January was the ongoing popularity of the stylish and compact Mazda3, which notched up 3,223 sales making it Australia’s best-selling small car and second overall.

While the light Mazda2 and medium Mazda6 maintained their positions amongst the leaders in their respective segments, it was Mazda’s range of stylish, insightful and spirited SUV’s that really took the market by storm in January.
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Meet the all-new Seat Ibiza Sport Tourer or ST for short that was unveiled today ahead of its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in the beginning of March. The third member of the Ibiza family after the five-door and three-door (SC) models, is a subcompact estate and it will go on sale in most parts of Europe by early summer.

As anticipated, the production version of last year’s Frankfurt Show IBZ study has lost all those edgy styling elements such as the hidden rear door handles and the sharper tail lamps that made the concept look so special.
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Toyota may be the world leader in hybrid vehicle technology, but the Japanese automaker has no immediate plans to offer a hybrid system in its Scion line of vehicles. Instead, Scion will continue to focus on vehicles with a price tag south of $20,000.

Speaking with Wards Auto, Scion vice president Jack Hollis revealed the youth brand hasn’t completely ruled out hybrid powertrains for future models, but noted the added cost of today’s hybrid systems doesn’t mesh with Scion’s value image. “We really still feel (hybrids) fit into the Toyota lineup better than the Scion lineup, from a pricing structure,” Hollis said.
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In a move that was expected by both parties and industry analysts alike, Chrysler has secured a contract with diesel engine supplier Cummins, to continue production of the 6.7-liter six-cylinder turbodiesel for Ram Heavy Duty pickups and commercial chassis trucks. The contract extension means that the 21-year business relationship will remain secure into the near future.

Despite Chrysler’s struggles due to an aging portfolio in an otherwise very fresh market, Chrysler maintains a strong reputation concerning its diesel engines. The Cummins diesel is often revered as the best diesel in the light-duty truck market – making the relationship with Cummins vital for Chrysler’s Ram brand to remain a leader in the segment.
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