A round up of today's other stories in brief...
EU considers more CO2 cuts
EU environment ministers meeting in Luxembourg this week will consider a deeper long-term cut in carbon dioxide emissions from cars, but environmentalists consider it a poor substitute for strong short-term action.
Slovenia, which holds the rotating presidency, has proposed that the EU aim for a long-term target for cars of 95g/km by the year 2020, 40 per cent below the current EU average.
GM to cut jobs and costs because of rise in the price of petrol
General Motors is to introduce a series of steps to cut jobs, costs and its exposure to slow-selling trucks and SUVs in response to a rise in petrol prices that that the car maker now sees as permanent. Chief executive Rick Wagoner, speaking to reporters after a restructuring plan was approved by the firms board, said GM would close four North American truck plants and add shifts at two plants making more popular car models.
In addition, Wagoner said GM was reviewing the Hummer brand and could sell the military-derived SUV brand, which has become a synonym for gas-guzzling excess. "US economic and market conditions have become significantly more difficult," said Wagoner, who said higher gasoline prices have caused consumers to swap out of trucks and SUVs faster than the carmaker had expected.
Lancia's Delta here in January
Lancia has unveiled its new Delta, aimed at relaunching Fiat's underleveraged premium brand outside Italy to a broader customer base.
The brand returns to Ireland with the new Delta model early next year.
Analysts say the Delta will truly need to stand out in Europe's crowded premium-car market if Fiat is to succeed in building Lancia's franchise beyond Italy, where it sells about 80 per cent of its cars.
New Astra seen on test
When Ford released its re-designed Focus and the first spy-shots appeared of the new Volkswagen Golf VI, it was only a matter of time before a revised Opel Astra broke cover.
This is the third important German hatchback and it will replace the current model next year, which will appear at the Geneva motor show in March next year.
Key to the new profile is a new front fascia and the massive rear bumper with the parted taillights are yet visible.
The prototype did have undisguised headlights, so we're now able to clearly see their new design and layout. The new car looks somewhat sleeker and yet more elegant.
The engine range will be similar to that used in today's cars (75- to 240-bhp petrol units; 90- to 150-bhp diesels), but we expect greener engines to arrive shortly after the car's introduction in about a year's.