Don Prudhomme’s original 1971 Barracuda Hot Wheels funny car, restored by The Snake himself, will be offered with no reserve at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction next month. Get all the latest automotive news in the Executive Briefing. 

Today’s headlines:

+   Stunning the motorsports world, newly crowned Formula 1 champion Nico Rosberg, 31 years old, has suddenly announced his retirement from racing. More at Autosport. 

+   U.S. auto sales rebounded in November, increasing 3.7 percent over last year to 1.38 million units, with Ford and GM posting increases and Chrysler reporting a 14.3 percent decline. More at The Detroit News. 

+   Volkswagen’s truck and bus unit will invest $446.5 million in Brazil over the next five years to offer new products, modernize its Resende plant, and develop connectivity services. More at Reuters. 

+   Monster Energy Drink will become the title sponsor of NASCAR’s top racing series, replacing Sprint

\in a multiyear deal with details not yet disclosed. More at the Charlotte Observer.

+   Photographers have spied the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class coupe with revised S-class styling nearly without camouflage on the road in Germany. More at Autoblog. 

+   Cadillac has unveiled the DPi-V.R. prototype that will compete at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in February with the Wayne Taylor and Action Express teams. More at Sportscar365.com. 

+   Toyota will unveil its all-new 2018 Camry at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, says American sales chief Bob Carter. More at the Detroit Free Press. 

+   BMW will invest $534 million in new self-driving and digital technologies over the next 10 years with its i Ventures venture capital division. More at Automotive Business Review. 

+   Roush Fenway Racing will downsize significantly for 2017, campaigning two Ford entries in NASCAR’s premier series for Trevor Bayne and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. More at ESPN. 

+   China’s Minister of Finance has announced a new 10 percent sales tax on luxury cars and SUVs that cost the equivalent of $190,000 or more. More at Motor Trend.

+   Don Prudhomme’s original 1971 Barracuda Hot Wheels funny car, restored by The Snake himself, will be offered at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction January 14-22. More at Hemmings Daily. 

+   Four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon will join Wayne Taylor Racing to drive a Cadillac prototype in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in February. More at Motorsport.com.

Review the previous Executive Briefing from November 28 here.

Photo courtesy of Barrett-Jackson. 

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