Auto Racing

DEARBORN, MI– Ford’s all-new Transit full-size van, which goes on sale late next year, will be offered with a new clean-running 3.2-litre Power Stroke® five-cylinder diesel, further bolstering Ford’s lineup of fuel-efficient cars, trucks and SUVs.

The new diesel, Ford’s second in North America, already has established a proven record for reliability, durability and refinement in the global Ford Ranger truck sold in world markets. The new Power Stroke Diesel will be the only five-cylinder diesel engine available in a commercial van in North America.

DETROIT, MI - After years of dismal sales, Ford's Lincoln luxury brand is reintroducing itself with a new name and a new midsize sedan.

The brand is returning to the name Lincoln Motor Co. as it launches its new MKZ sedan. That was its name before founder Henry Leland sold the brand to Ford in 1922, and it was used in advertising all the way through the 1970s and 1980s, Lincoln chief Jim Farley said. Consumer research showed that people found the name change intriguing."It's a refreshing change to highlight what will be great about Lincoln going forward, which is impeccable service and really breakthrough vehicles," Farley told The Associated Press in an interview Monday.

The MKZ will arrive at dealerships this month. It starts at $35,925, or about the same as its archrival, the Lexus ES 350. A hybrid version is the same price. The MKZ is the first of seven new or revamped Lincolns that will go on sale by 2015.

TORONTO - Canadian auto sales are on the road to besting their 2011 performance, with sales for the first 11 months of the year up 6.5 per cent to nearly 1.6 million vehicles, according to an industry watcher.

DesRosiers Automotive Consultants said Monday year-to-date vehicle sales in Canada rose to 1.57 million with one month left in the year.

"A solid December is widely expected, and Canada has a chance at breaching the 1.7 million unit mark, potentially making 2012 one of the best-ever years for new vehicle sales in this country," Dennis DesRosiers said in a report. "We suspect that the market will come in just shy of record levels, but second best on record is very likely. And there should be more to come over the next few years as the market is expected to continue to grow."Sales have only broken the 1.7 million mark in one year, 2002, when about 25,000 of those vehicles were sold to Americans buying because of favourable exchange rates.

Several New Models to Enter the North American Market, Announcements on Motorsports and Diesel

IRVINE, Cal – Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today confirmed the announcement of several North American vehicle debuts at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show. The all-new 2014 Mazda6 mid-size sedan, updated 2014 CX-5 compact SUV and face-lifted 2013 CX-9 mid-size SUV will make their first continental appearances. All vehicles are scheduled to be on sale this winter. A global debut from Mazda Motorsports as well as official timing and vehicle application for the U.S.-destined SKYACTIV-D 2.2-liter clean diesel engine also will share the stage.