Cbr1000 Brake Calipers on 2040-parts.com

News watch July 2012: today's auto industry news

Welcome to CAR Magazine's news aggregator as we round up the daily stories in the auto industry. Top tip: news summaries are added from the top hour-by-hour Tuesday 31 July 2012•Porsche SE recorded a first half profit of €1.15bn, in comparison with €149m for the same period in 2011. The enormous jump has come not from directly selling cars, but from the group's investments in Porsche Zwischenholding GmbH and Volkswagen AG (Porsche SE)•Reuters suggests Germany's car market is in recession, but few outside the industry would know it, thanks to a controversial sales practice that inflates official statistics and paints a flattering picture of demand.

High Country trim tops out 2014 Chevrolet Silverado lineup

The Chevrolet Silverado lineup has expanded for 2014, adding a High Country trim that tops out the pickup's lineup with a chrome exterior and premium engine option. Pricing hasn't been released, but the current Chevy Silverado tops out with the Z71 and LTZ trim, which can carry prices in the mid-$40,000 range. The High Country Silverado will be slotted above those trims, but below the 2014 GMC Sierra Denali, the top-of-the-line offering from Chevy's sister brand.

EyesOn design awards 2012 winners announced at NAIAS

The Detroit-based EyesOn Design competition winners have just been announced at their traditional time, late on the second press day of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The jury, which this year included Ralph Giles (Chrysler), Derek Jenkins (Mazda), Lorenzo Ramaciotti (Fiat/Chrysler), Peter Schreyer (Kia) and Franz Von Holzhausen (Tesla) had a much greater array of products to choose from than in recent years; this is a somewhat rejuvenated Detroit auto show. From the cars on display at the show, the judges shortlisted the Ford Fusion, BMW 3-Series and Cadillac ATS for the best production car award.