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Nissan rekindles Almera with new Golf rival

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 08 April 2010 09:26 Nissan plans to re-enter some of the heartland markets it departed with the loss of the Almera and Primera, CAR can reveal. It's a U-turn from a strategy that saw Nissan desert mainstream models in favour of crossovers and niche cars such as the Qashqai and Note. In an interview at the signing of the Daimler-Renault-Nissan cooperation yesterday, the Japanese firm's global product chief told CAR a new Golf rival to replace the unloved Almera was underway.'There's a live, upstream project,' Andy Palmer confirmed.

U.S. unveils blueprint to tackle driver distraction

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Thursday the agency isn't looking at new regulations to address distracted driving, but rather is calling on automakers to step up voluntary efforts to combat risks with new technologies and education. LaHood, who's made distracted driving a top automotive safety priority of the Obama administration, said he's met with the CEOs of numerous automakers and feels confident "they're committed to safety." He even praised Subaru of America for a TV ad that highlighted the dangers of driver distraction. The commercial featured a father talking to his teenage daughter about the risks of using a cell phone while on the road.

Mini introduces two special editions

Mini has introduced two special-edition Coopers, the Mini Baker Street and the Mini Bayswater. The company says the models were made to spread London's signature style in the year the country hosts the Olympic Games. The Baker Street package is available only on the base Cooper, while the Bayswater package can be had with Cooper or Cooper S underpinnings.