Nissan Cedric 2000 Hood [1510500] on 2040-parts.com

Japan-market Toyota Corolla gets upscale and safety features

Toyota Motor Corp. is packing the redesigned 11th-generation Corolla with new technologies in a bid to give the compact a more upscale feel. Standard or optional on the Japanese version of the Corolla are such features as climate-controlled seats, automatic high-beam headlamp dimmers, safety belts with pre-tensioners and interior lights that turn off automatically.

GM reportedly set to sign deal on Thursday to sell Opel

General Motors Co. likely will sign a deal on Thursday to sell a majority stake in Opel to a group led by Magna International Inc., German news agencies reported, citing sources close to the negotiations. GM agreed on September 10 to sell 55 percent of Opel to Canadian supplier Magna and its Russian partner Sberbank, but the deal stumbled amid labor union demands for a veto on factory closures and concern in the UK and Spain that 4.5 billion euros ($6.7 billion) in aid pledged by the German government for restructuring Opel favored the carmaker's German factories.

Autoweek in review

On Monday, Ford and GM announced they would work together on nine- and 10-speed transmissions, we found out how to outrun a dust storm in a Lexus LFA and legendary driver Stirling Moss made some interesting comments. The embargo on the Jaguar F-Type broke on Tuesday, we learned about a documentary on the Pebble Beach Road Races and Porsche showed off its 911 RSR for race duty. On Wednesday, pictures of the next Lamborghini Aventador slipped out on the Web, the Mercedes GLA concept was revealed and the Flat Rock, Mich.