AutoWeek Daily Drive — Monday, November 16, 2009

HOME   |   CAR NEWS   |   CAR REVIEWS   |   RACING   |   AUTOSHOWS   |   SUBSCRIBE   |   MARKETPLACE Monday, November 16, 2009                  A teaser shot of the new "Silver Arrow" race car.... Mercedes buys Brawn GP, will sell off stake in McLaren Mercedes confirmed on Monday that it has purchased a 75.1 percent share of Brawn GP and will relaunch it as a works team in 2010. Mercedes has agreed to sell its 40 percent shareholding in McLaren back to the McLaren Group over the next three years. However, it will continue to supply engines to McLaren. Mercedes has been joined in the purchase by the Abu Dhabi government-owned group Aabar ...   Make like a tree and Leaf: We drive Nissan's coming electric vehicle From behind the wheel, the production version of the Nissan Leaf electric car is smooth and silent, feels nearly friction-free and offers all the prodigious torque inherent in an electric car. That's what we found after a short drive around Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday. The body you...   Schumacher wins sixth-straight Top Fuel title Tony Schumacher found another way to win an NHRA Top Fuel championship Sunday at Pomona Raceway, edging rival Larry Dixon by just two points to claim his sixth-straight and seventh overall world title. The difference came down to the small bonus Schumacher and his U.S. Army team earned in...   Back in the Saddle: Saleen is poised for a comeback with a potent Mustang Saleen traditionally has been about speed--specifically, frenetic Mustangs. But lately, it's been more about controversy. And lawsuits. And piles of other stuff, none of which translates well to fast cars. But now that it has been absorbed by a group of Michigan-based auto-parts companies,...   BMW delays X3's U.S. launch to push custom orders BMW is delaying the U.S. introduction of the redesigned X3 to launch a system designed to encourage buyers to custom-order the crossover to their specifications, says Jim O'Donnell, president of BMW of North America. The delay could put the X3 in U.S. showrooms in mid-2011, up to six months... You May Have Missed...   Jimmie Johnson dominates at Phoenix, closes in on fourth straight title Like the champion he soon will be again, Jimmie Johnson and his No. 48 Chevrolet team rebounded in impressive fashion Sunday afternoon at Phoenix International Raceway. A week after losing more than half his points lead in an early-race accident in Texas, the three-time and reigning NASCAR champion ...   Rick Hendrick: No deal in place with Danica Patrick, don't expect decision soon Team owner Rick Hendrick told the Associated Press Sunday he has no deal in place to bring Danica Patrick to NASCAR, and he expressed uncertainty that she'll ever make a serious stock-car effort. “I think they're not even close to making a decision on whether to even do it this year or next... CLICK HERE TO UNSUBSCRIBE from the AutoWeek Daily Drive E-mail or to sign up for other AutoWeek e-mail products. IMPORTANT: Please add AutoWeek.com to your E-mail Address Book to ensure you will continue to receive our newsletters. Please DO NOT reply to this e-mail. You will not receive a reply if you use this e-mail address. Crain Communications, 1155 Gratiot Ave. Detroit, MI 48207.