Tokyo  - Mitsubishi is to begin trials in Europe with the iMIEV, the egg-shaped city car which goes on sale in Japan this summer.

According to the carmaker's German importer in Hattersheim, the tests will help designers gauge whether the battery-powered sub-compact is suitable for the European market where it could be offered from 2010.

Only 12 Mitsubishi prototypes will be put through their paces, with the number divided between Spain, the Netherlands and Britain. Trials in other countries are set to follow.

Stuttgart  - A striking new museum which celebrates German sports car manufacturer Porsche is to open in Stuttgart on January 31.

The finishing touches are currently being made to the landmark building close to the company's head office in the suburb of Zuffenhausen.

Moerfelden, Germany  - Volkswagen-owned Seat is the latest manufacturer to announce plans for an eco-friendly, diesel-electric hybrid.

The Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive is based on the Spanish marque's Leon saloon and features the same powertrain as the recently unveiled prototype VW Golf TwinDrive which mates a 1.9-litre, 105 horsepower common rail diesel engine to a 35-kilowatt electric motor.

Waldlaubersheim, Germany  - The entries in the guest book or Book of Concerns at this church beside the autobahn in the German state of Hesse show that modern mobility and spiritual solace need not be mutually exclusive.

The comments written in English, Polish, Czech, Dutch and German are from motorists who took time off from a journey to find peace of mind beside a busy motorway in Waldlaubersheim. Some of the visitors leave behind their most intimate thoughts, wishes and prayers.

Bangkok - Honda Motor Company's exports from Thailand reached 23.6 billion baht (674 million dollars) in the last quarter of 2008, down 12 per cent compared with the same period in 2007, the Japanese auto manufacturer revealed on Monday.

Total Honda exports from Thailand in 2008 amounted to 104.6 billion baht (2.9 billion dollars), up 4 per cent on the 2007 performance, according to figures released by Asian Honda Motor Company, Honda's regional office in South-East Asia.

The end of 2009 will see launch of a third small car by General Motors, the fifth largest car manufacturer in the country. The auto major has been enjoying the success of its two car brands, Spark and U-VA in India market.

It was reported by Karl Slym, President & MD, General Motors, India at the launch of the company's bestselling SUV Chevrolet Captiva Automatic, "The new Chevrolet Mini will not be a competition to Tata Motors Nano. We are not in the numbers game. It will be positioned above the Chevrolet U-VA."