Washington - The US Treasury Department on Wednesday launched a new programme to aid US car suppliers who have struggled to stay afloat as the wider industry stands on the brink of collapse.

The plan would focus on parts suppliers for General Motors Corp and Chrysler LLC, both of which face possible bankruptcy within the next few months. The two US carmakers are in a race against time to shed massive debt and cut operating costs or risk losing government support.

Seeking to enhance its presence in the Indian automobile market, Porsche SE, the maker of luxury automobiles and sports cars, announced yesterday that its luxury sports car Panamera will be launched in India by October this year. The Stuttgart, Germany based Porsche stated that it will roll out three models of its expensive sports car Panamera in India.

Russelsheim, Germany - Opel is working on a compressed natural gas (CNG) hybrid drive system in cooperation with car parts supplier Bosch and the University of Stuttgart to combine a turbo engine with an electric motor.

A prototype based on an Astra Caravan and equipped with a start- stop-system achieved a carbon dioxide emission figure of just 90 grammes per kilometre, the car maker said.

Maranello, Italy  - Manufacturers of super sports cars have just announced a host of new models as many now face an uncertain future as the global financial crisis hits a customer segment previously immune to economic downturns.

Tuning firms and the makers of premium luxury and super sports cars could in the past always rely on an extremely wealthy clientele eager to fork out several hundred thousand dollars for a new V12 with up to 700 horsepower.

Hamburg - Calling all company car users and well-heeled family fathers - the all-new E-class from Mercedes-Benz is as solid and reliable as customers of this marque expect, with a host of clever electronic trickery and greener engines too.

The new limousine also goes a long way towards restoring the model's tarnished reputation for durability after some irksome quality control slip-ups in the past.

Ingolstadt, Germany  - As part of its centenary celebrations, Audi will exhibit a 1935 Audi 225 Front Roadster, which has been reconstructed on an original frame, at this month's Essen Techno Classica show.

Audi hailed the vehicle as one of the "most spectacular cars" during the recently opened exhibition "Horch - an Audi!" at the company museum in Ingolstadt, south-west Germany.