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Americans plan to keep their cars longer, AutoPacific study finds

In another chilling sign that auto sales are likely to remain stalled, a new study finds that Americans intend to keep their cars longer, indicating a general concern about the industry and the overall economy. The number of new-car buyers planning to keep their rides more than four years has risen to 59 percent, according to a study released Tuesday by California marketing research firm AutoPacific. That's an increase from last year, when about 45 percent of new buyers intended to wait more than four years for their next purchase, and it's up from 2005's tally of 46 percent.

Roads warning as massive transformer is moved

ONE OF THE BIGGEST abnormal loads ever transported on the roads will be trundling across the west of England this weekend - at an average speed of 4mph. The giant transformer, measuring almost 330ft long and weighing around 640 tonnes, will travel the 80 miles between Didcot in Oxfordshire and Avonmouth in Bristol. Police warn the trip will affect roads in Wiltshire, Bath and north-east Somerset and south Gloucestershire between 7pm on Friday and 6pm on Sunday.

More on Alfa Romeo's rear-drive strategy

The revised Alfa Romeo plan that Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is expected to announce next April focuses on a new, still unnamed rear-wheel- and all-wheel-drive architecture. A key aim of the new plan is to boost Alfa's global presence. "With our current segment coverage and our geographical footprint, we compete in about 5 percent of the global market," Alfa's European boss, Louis-Carl Vignon, said in an interview.