Daily Auto News: Oct. 16, 2006

By High Gear Media Staff

High Gear Media Staff

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TheCarConnection Drives: 2007 MINI Cooper S

Mercedez CLK 55

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New Clean Diesel Fuel Is Here

New, cleaner diesel fuel - with sulfur reduced 97 percent compared to the fuel it will eventually replace - is opening the door to a new generation of diesel vehicles in the United States. The new ultra-low sulfur fuel went on sale Sunday and has replaced 80 percent of the old diesel formulation at stations across the nation. With its relatively low sulfur content - 15 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur compared with 500 ppm found in the old fuel - the new fuel is a significant milestone in making diesels as clean and popular as they are in European markets.

Delphi-UAW-GM Deal Nearing

Delphi is close to reaching a memorandum of understanding that would provide the bankrupt supplier a way to keep critical supply contracts with General Motors, sources inDetroit said over the weekend. The talks between the bankrupt supplier and General Motors seem to be leading to a big contribution by the automaker. In addition to offering Delphi a future lifeline, GM also would agree to subsidize Delphi's labor costs, according to reports. It would also end the threat of a strike against Delphi by the United Auto Workers (UAW). Delphi would remain GM's largest supplier when it leaves bankruptcy, while GM's annual bill for parts would fall by roughly $2 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. At the same time control of the company would pass into the hands of hedge funds.

Nissan Rogue

Nissan Rogue for Detroit

A picture's only worth a few dozen words when it comes to the Rogue, the newest Nissan. The new vehicle - shown only in this bare corner sketch - will make its debut at the Detroit auto show in January. Nissan offered no other details on the vehicle, which is expected to be a compact SUV smaller than the company's existing Murano. Stay tuned for details.

Scion xB Release Series 4.0

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The latest limited edition Scion will be the xB Release Series 4.0. The new edition, coming to showrooms next month, gets "Maziora Torched Penny" exterior paint, a color-shifting hue from Nippon Paint Co. A spoiler and a new grille accent the boxy exterior; inside, a color-keyed Razo shift knob shows up in manual editions along with special floor mats and other badging. Scion plans 2500 copies of the 4.0 for a $1930 premium for automatic 4.0s over the base price of $14,030; manual editions will be priced $50 higher.

FROM THE SOURCE headlines from the latest press releases

GM Expands OnStar Services to All Mobility-Adapted Vehicles

Name	Symbol	Last	Change
Autobytel, Inc.	ABTL	3.19	0.00 (0.00%)
Autoliv Inc.	ALV	56.28	+0.20 (+0.36%)
AutoNation Inc.	AN	20.85	-0.03 (-0.14%)
ArvinMeritor Inc.	ARM	14.48	+0.08 (+0.56%)
American Axle & Mfr. Holdings Inc.	AXL	17.95	+0.05 (+0.28%)
Ballard Power Systems Inc.	BLDP	6.04	-0.10 (-1.63%)
BorgWarner Inc.	BWA	59.81	-0.46 (-0.76%)
Cummins Inc.	CMI	135.14	-0.76 (-0.56%)
DaimlerChrysler AG (ADR)	DCX	51.07	+0.06 (+0.12%)
Dura Automotive Systems	DRRA	0.25	+0.02 (+8.70%)
Eaton Corporation	ETN	70.30	-1.40 (-1.95%)
Ford Motor Company	F	8.17	-0.06 (-0.73%)
General Motors Corporation	GM	32.99	+0.33 (+1.01%)
Gentex Corporation	GNTX	14.20	-0.09 (-0.63%)
Goodyear Tire & Rubber	GT	14.56	-0.17 (-1.15%)
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (ADR)	HMC	34.68	-0.66 (-1.87%)
Johnson Controls Inc.	JCI	82.47	+0.20 (+0.24%)
Lear Corporation	LEA	24.28	+0.10 (+0.41%)
Magna International Inc.	MGA	74.76	-0.44 (-0.59%)
Motorola Inc.	MOT	26.20	+0.62 (+2.42%)
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (ADR)	NSANY	23.73	-0.05 (-0.21%)
Sonic Automotive Inc.	SAH	23.30	+0.03 (+0.13%)
Siemens AG	SI	84.40	-1.18 (-1.38%)
Sirius Satellite Radio	SIRI	3.88	+0.03 (+0.78%)
Toyota Motor Corporation (ADR)	TM	116.20	-0.73 (-0.62%)
TRW Automotive Holdings	TRW	25.03	+0.31 (+1.25%)
Tower Automotive Inc.	TWRAQ.PK	0.064	0.00 (0.00%)
United Auto Group Inc.	UAG	23.79	+0.03 (+0.13%)
Visteon Corporation	VC	8.35	+0.27 (+3.34%)
XM Satellite Radio Hold.	XMSR	12.05	+0.32 (+2.73%)