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Former General Motors CEO Robert Stempel dies

Former General Motors CEO Robert Stempel, who led the automaker during a turbulent period of recession and restructuring in the early 1990s, has died at the age of 77. "Bob was a very popular chairman with employees, and his many accomplishments as a visionary engineer included leading the development of the catalytic converter, one of the great environmental advancements in auto history," GM said in a statement. "His knowledge of battery development led to the push for the EV1 electric car, and Bob continued to build his expertise in the electrification of the automobile after he left GM in 1992." Stempel died Saturday in Florida, the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press reported Monday night.

GM considers flagship sedan for Cadillac

Cadillac is considering a large, flagship sedan to take on the Mercedes-Benz S-class and BMW 7-series, a top General Motors official says. Mark Reuss, GM's president for North America, told Automotive News last month that a new flagship is on the table as GM maps its go-global strategy for Cadillac. A flagship would be a continuation of how GM has been positioning Cadillac's lineup to go head-to-head in each segment with BMW, Mercedes and Audi.

AutoWeek Fantasy Camp: Follow along with the fun this weekend

The 2011 AW/ZF Fantasy Camp starts this Friday, May 13, then hits the track Saturday. Be sure to check autoweek.com and our special Fantasy Camp page to see what our participants think of this year's crop of performance vehicles. They'll get on-track experience plus breakout sessions that cover ride, handling and performance.