Porsche remains loyal to its successful customer teams and drivers in major international GT series. In the American Le Mans Series, works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Long (USA) want to defend their championship title with Flying Lizard Motorsports in the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, worldwide the most successful GT vehicle in the 2009 season. Porsche works drivers Marc Lieb (Germany) and Richard Lietz (Austria) strive to defend their Le Mans Series (LMS) title in 2010 in the Felbermayr Proton 911 GT3 RSR. Like in 2009, Porsche works driver Patrick Pilet (France) supports the IMSA Performance Matmut team at the wheel of a GT3 RSR in the LMS.

On the occasion of the season-closing “Night of Champions” in the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, Wolfgang Dürheimer, Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development at Porsche AG, underlined the great importance of GT racing: “We at Porsche are keen that GT sport enjoys steady, long-term development. Indispensable pre-requisites for this are stable regulations, predictability, cost control – and common regulations between the F.I.A. and A.C.O. organisations.” In saying this, he asks the governing bodies to show more judgement and transparency in the categorisation of different vehicles, earlier establishment of regulations and a mutual agreement on containing costs.

Suzuki on Wednesday said it will sell 19.9 per cent stake to Germany's Volkswagen for about $2.5 billion. The cross-border deal is expected to have a positive fall-out for Suzuki subdivides worldwide, which could become hubs for supplying small cars through Volkswagen's strong network.

Suzuki confirmed the deal, but it is too early to speculate on its implications on Suzuki's subdivisions. The deal means Volkswagen and Suzuki see much value in the arrangement in terms of technology sharing. Volkswagen has looked at Suzuki obviously from a small car angle, says a Suzuki spokesman.

Although details are yet to be worked out, he said India may become an original equipment manufacturer and supplier of small cars for Volkswagen. Suzuki Motor said its strengths are in producing small-size vehicles and having the support of customers in Japan, Southeast Asia, and Asia as a whole.

It said the two companies -- Suzuki and Volkswagen -- will focus on emerging markets and making environmentally friendly cars. The Japanese company said the world automotive industry is in the midst of significant changes where manufacturers risk being left behind in the market if they are late in adopting environmentally friendly hybrid and electric cars.

A new roll for Volkswagen: The Wolfsburg based automobile manufacturer starts the 2010 Dakar Rally as defending champions. Following the first ever victory by a diesel automobile – namely the Race Touareg in January 2009 – the brand is confronted again twelve months later by the toughest test that motorsport has to offer. As Motorsport Director Kris Nissen is responsible for the operation title defence in Argentina and Chile, which begins on 2 January and runs over 14 stages and includes 9,000 competitive kilometres. An interview with the 49-year old Dane about the sporting demands, the technical pioneering role and the main goal for the 2010 "Dakar”.

Why does Volkswagen compete in the Dakar Rally?

"The ‘Dakar’ represents an excellent platform for an internationally active manufacturer like Volkswagen to demonstrate technical expertise, and this in the toughest motorsport discipline overall. Compared with other leading categories the ‘Dakar’ offers a broad platform since these events are followed by billions of people around the world. The media interest is unique. Television reports are broadcast in 189 countries. This is another reason why we are involved in the ‘Dakar’.”

Poetic hyperbole is an occupational hazard when it comes to writing about such cars as the new Alfa Romeo 8C Spider. Nonetheless, I will endeavor to keep my cool and resist the urge to quote some other great historical poets. It won't be easy, however, because if ever there was a car more lovely and more temperate than a summer's day, it's the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider.

Arriving on the heels of the similarly dreamy Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Coupe, the Alpha Romeo 8C Spider carries on as a sort of style and performance emissary for a rejuvenated Alfa Romeo.

Mechanically, the Alpha Spider parallels the hardtop 8C, with a Ferrari-built 444 horsepower 4.7-liter V-8 driving the rear wheels through an aft-mounted 6-speed automated manual transmission, actuated by paddles behind the steering wheel. The Alpha Romeo 8C Spider prudently forgoes the weight, complexity, and bulk of a retractable hardtop, instead employing a two-layer folding canvas roof with one-button electro-hydraulic operation.