AUTO SALES: GM, Ford, Honda, Toyota drag industry to 36% decline

General Motors, Ford Motor Co., American Honda and Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. all reported sales declines of more than 31 percent in December as the U.S. auto industry capped its worst year since 1992.

Suzuki A-Star concept (2007): first official pictures

By First Official Pictures 14 December 2007 10:00 Suzuki will use New Delhi’s Auto Expo next January to unveil its latest concept, the A-Star. Aimed at key evolving world markets like India, as well as Europe, the five-door A-Star hatchback will major on minimal environmental impact and real-world affordability, wrapped in what we think is some pretty striking sheetmetal. Details of the A-Star are limited, but we know it will be powered by an all-new Euro 5-compliant 1.0-litre aluminium petrol engine, hooked up to a five-speed manual transmission, that’s said to post an ultra-low CO2 rating of less than 107g/km, combined with exceptional fuel economy.

JAC SC-9 concept promises new brand identity, hi-tech interface for Beijing

The JAC SC-9 concept is the latest concept to be announced ahead of next week's Beijing motor show. A statement from the company describes this crossover as combining the "exclusivity of a luxury Gran Turismo, the flexibility of a genuine off-road vehicle and the excitement of a high performance sports car" and we're interested to see how these characteristics are brought together. Designed in JAC's Turin-based Italian Style Centre under design director Lou Tik, the SC-9 is also said to introduce a new brand identity for the Chinese carmaker as well as featuring "ground-breaking interface technology".