Toyota Offers Retirement Incentives to 10 Percent of its Total U.S. Workforce

Sales of Toyota and Lexus vehicles are on the rise in the U.S. this year, with both companies being on the rebound after a catastrophic 2011. Yet the Japanese carmaker is offering retirement incentives to around 2,000 of its workers in the U.S.

This measure, which involves 10 percent of its employees in the States and is aimed at those who have worked 22 years or more for the company, is Toyota’s attempt to manage the aging of its workforce.

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Mazda CX-5 Beats Toyota GT86/Subaru BRZ, Wins Japan Car of the Year Award

With less than a month remaining until the end of the year, all kinds of “Car of the Year” awards will inadvertently start to pop up. Some, of course, are much more important than others are; and the Japan COTY title belongs to the former category. In 2011, the winner was the Nissan Leaf, which had also been awarded the World and European COTY titles.

This year, Mazda won the crown with its CX-5 compact crossover getting 363 votes, 45 more than the second-placed Toyota GT86/Subaru BRZ “twins”. BMW’s 3-Series was third, while it’s interesting to note that the top 10 was evenly split between Japanese and European models.

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Porsche Boss Confirms 928's Spiritual Successor with Panamera Coupe, Mulls Sedan and Sports Car

When it comes to future models, nothing is written on stone, especially when we are living what the Chinese like to call, "interesting times", as carmakers frequently make new plans and discard old ones, depending on how the economy is doing.

As far as Porsche's future is concerned, the Stuttgart-based company is already in the final development phase of two brand new models, the mid-size Macan crossover and the 918 Spyder hybrid supercar, both of which will launch next year.

Speaking to Autonews Europe, Porsche boss Matthias Mueller talked about the company's plans and the models that are currently under discussion.

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Bugatti gets Artsy with New Veyron Grand Sport Bernar Venet

From a variety of two-tone color theme specials to even more exotic examples like the one featuring porcelain fittings, Bugatti has made sure that no two Veyrons are alike.

The Molsheim, France based carmaker continues this tradition with the presentation of yet another bespoke Veyron, this time a 1,200PS Grand Sport convertible designed by renowned French sculptor Bernar Venet.

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The Real Steel: Kuratas is a Giant Transformers-Like Robot You Can Drive on the Road

Here's one way to re-discover and bring the inner child that hides in you out in the world: it's named the Kuratas and it comes to us from Japan – could it have been from anywhere else?

The Transformers-like Kuratas is the work of Suidobashi Heavy Industries (SHI) and in particular, artist Kogoro Kurata and robotics expert Wataru Yoshizaki. The 4.5-ton robot stands 4-meters (13.1 feet) tall and can be controlled either by a driver who sits in the cockpit or via a smartphone.

It is capable of reaching speeds of up to 10km/h or 6mph on the road, with SHI also offering the possibility of fitting the robot with guns that in civilian form shoot plastic bottles or fire BB pellets.

In an intro piece about the robot, the Japanese company tells us:

"'KURATAS' is an art piece. It is not a normal vehicle, so it doesn't guarantee your safety and comfort. However, it does makes your dream of becoming a robot pilot comes true."

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Dacia Announces Prices for Third UK Model, the Sandero Stepway

One by one, Dacia is releasing pricing for its UK bound models. Following the announcements on the Sandero supermini and Duster compact SUV that start at £5,995 and the £8,995 respectively, the Renault Group-owned brand said on Monday that the Sandero Stepway will be available from May 2013 with prices ranging from £7,995 to £10,795, or from £600 more than equivalent Sandero models. Read more »

ABT Bids Farewell to VW Golf GTI Mk6 with Last Edition Special at Essen Motor Show

With the presentation of the VW Golf GTI Mk7 Concept alongside the regular Golf hatchbacks at the Paris Motor Show in September, it’s only a matter of time before we see the production ready model – as little as three months, if the Germans decide to show the car in Geneva, as we've heard. 

To honor the departing model, German tuning brand of all things related to the VW Group, ABT Sportsline, introduced a "Last Edition" version of the current Golf GTI Mk6 at the Essen Motor Show, which runs until December 9.

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