Toyota Verso gets updated for 2014

Toyota Verso gets updated for 2014 We already knew the Toyota Verso MPV would be getting the option of a BMW diesel engine for 2014, but Toyota have a number of upgrades for the Verso to go along with the new engine. There’s a new trim level on offer – the Verso Trend – that slots in-between the Icon and Excel Versos – which gets a black C-Pillar decal to give the illusion of a floating roof, a bit like the Verso. Other additions for the Trend include a set of five-spoke alloys, front fogs and privacy glass with Toyota Touch 2 with Go adding in SatNav, connected services, Google Street View and TomTom Traffic info, front parking sensors and a rear view camera (part of the Touch 2 Package) to make parking easier.

Noble plans to bring the Fenix supercar to the United States with Chevrolet power

A new 200-mph, Chevrolet-powered supercar from Briton Lee Noble is headed to the United States, possibly in 2011 or 2012. Powered by either a 638-hp supercharged LS9 V8 or a 480-hp LS3 V8, Noble's new Fenix supercar will aim for Ferrari 458 Italia performance at about half the price, a performance-price offer that served Nobel well at his previous company, Noble Automotive. "The Chevy engines have partly been chosen because they have global homologation and sales in the U.S.

Crunch watch Mar 09: the auto industry in crisis

By Ben Pulman and Tim Pollard Motor Industry 31 March 2009 13:48 Tuesday 31 March 2009• Porsche said that its earnings before tax rose to €7.3 billion in the six months to the end of January – including a €6.8bn windfall from its VW share options (Financial Times)• Fritz Henderson, GM's president and chief operating officer, will step up to replace Rick Wagoner, who was ousted on Sunday as CEO of General Motors (Financial Times)• President Obama is essentially CEO-in-chief of GM – despite not owning a single cent of stock, says Detroit News commentator (Detroit News)• German chancellor Angela Merkel gives assurances that any would-be investors in GM's European arm will be given state support. Opel is asking for €3.3 billion in aid – and up to 25,000 jobs in Germany depend on it, with up to 300,000 jobs across Europe including Saab and Vauxhall (BBC News)Monday 30 March 2009• General Motors' chief executive Rick Wagoner has been ordered to resign by US president Barack Obama with immediate effect. It's part of Obama's administration's critique of GM and Chrysler's turnaround plans – he's understood to be unhappy with the plans submitted (BBC News)• New GM non-executive chairman Kent Kresa has admitted that at the company's next general meeting it will have 'a majority of new directors' (General Motors)• Chrysler will receive US government aid for the next 30 days, but the Obama administration has said that if the company cannot secure a tie-up with the Fiat Group within that time period it will not receive any more money from the taxpayers and could go into liquidation.