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News watch March 2010: today's auto industry news

Tuesday 30 March 2010• Mercedes has dismissed claims that its Maybach brand is for sale, after reports in the Chinese media claimed Chinese car company BYD was considering a bid for the upmarket offshoot. BYD has also denied the claims (Reuters)• Toyota president Akio Toyoda has promised his company will listen more carefully to customers and react faster in a bid to regain credibility after the Japanese car manufacturer was forced to recall millions of vehilces over safety fears (BBC)• The Obama administration is expected to unveil its finalised fuel economy and tailpipe emissions through to 2016 this week, to coincide with the opening of the 2010 New York auto show (Detroit News)  Monday 29 March 2010• Toyota has agreed to licence the hybrid technology in the Prius to Mazda, which will combine the electric system with its next-gen Sky engines. It’s part of Mazda’s plans to increase the average fuel economy of its vehicles by 30% by 2015 (compared to 2008 levels) and it hopes to have its first hybrid vehicle on sale in Japan by 2013 (Mazda)• Ford and Chinese car company Geely have signed a stock purchase agreement that will allow the latter to acquire 100% of Volvo (along with related assets including intellectual property rights).

Lambo Super Trofeo Stradale (2011) at Frankfurt motor show

Lamborghini tonight whisked the covers off the new £195,000 Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale supercar on the eve of the 2011 Frankfurt motor show. It’s the roadgoing version of the Super Trofeo race cars that compete in the European Blancpain Super Trofeo championship, a one-make series for Gallardos and their racier and richest owners. Hence the Stradale name – it’s Italian for road.

Mazda 2 facelift (2010) first picture

While it's not the best supermini out there (Ford's excellent Fiesta currently occupies that throne in CAR's world view), we've always had something of a soft spot for the second-generation Mazda 2, the principal reason being its non-subscription to the usual theory that bigger is better. Weighing in at under a tonne, it's almost a throwback to superminis of yore - and we mean that in a good way.Thankfully the new Mazda 2 doesn't appear to have changed much. The front end has received attention from the stylist's pen in order to bring it in line with Mazda's current line-up, and features new headlamps alongside a layered grille.