Auto Mobiles Updates

CARSCOOP

2012-02-12T04:03:00.001-08:00

CARSCOOP

BMW Reveals 2013 M6 Coupe and Convertible with 560HP Bi-Turbo V8 [30 Photos]
2013 Lexus RX Facelift gets Spindle Grille and New F Sport Variant
Polish Woman Fails Miserably in Driving Lesson, but was it Really her Fault?
NHTSA Drops a $3 Million Fine on BMW for Untimely Reporting of Recalls

BMW Reveals 2013 M6 Coupe and Convertible with 560HP Bi-Turbo V8 [30 Photos]

Posted: 11 Feb 2012 04:36 PM PST

The famous M badge returns to BMW's 6-Series range with the official unveiling of the new M6 Coupe and Convertible models ahead of their world premieres at the Geneva Salon in March and the New York Auto Show in April respectively.

Not surprisingly, at the heart of the M6 lies the same 4.4-liter V8 engine with two twin-scroll turbochargers found in the latest M5 sedan with the internal designation S63Tü.

Just as it does in the M5 saloon, the eight-cylinder unit produces an output of 560-horses (412kW) between 5,750 and 7,000 rpm, and a peak torque of 680Nm (502lb-ft) between 1,500 and 5,750 rpm. BMW also tells us that the rev limiter intervenes at 7,200 rpm.

All that power is transferred to the road through a standard 7-speed M-Double Clutch Transmission (M-DCT) and BMW's Active M Differential which optimizes power transfer between the rear wheels. Down the line, the Bavarian automaker may also offers a 6-speed manual gearbox in the United States like it did with the new M5.

2013 Lexus RX Facelift gets Spindle Grille and New F Sport Variant

Posted: 11 Feb 2012 04:34 PM PST

The photos you see here are scans from a leaked brochure of the Japanese market 2012 Lexus RX that has received a mid-life facelift, three years after its market launch in early 2009. The updated RX will be available in North America as a 2013 model.

Following in the footsteps of its bigger brother, the 2013 Lexus LX 570 that was introduced in January, the refreshed RX gains a new fascia featuring Lexus's new trademark spindle grille along with revised headlamps sporting LED daytime running lights and a redesigned front bumper.

Also new are the tail lamp graphics and the alloy wheel designs.

The interior gets a news steering wheel design and refreshed trim options while as Carscoop tipster Leopaul pointed out; Lexus will also be offering a new optional rear-seat entertainment system on high-range models.

Polish Woman Fails Miserably in Driving Lesson, but was it Really her Fault?

Posted: 11 Feb 2012 11:16 AM PST

Taking your first driving lessons is kinda like taking your first baby steps; it can be a nerve-wracking experience and you're bound to make mistakes. However, some mistakes can be more costly and far more dangerous than others...

A woman from Częstochowa, Poland, got herself into a life-threatening situation during a driving lesson in an enclosed area when she accidentally stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brake driving the Suzuki Swift hatchback right into a concrete barrier and out to a main freeway!

Luckily, there were no cars crossing the road at the time.

NHTSA Drops a $3 Million Fine on BMW for Untimely Reporting of Recalls

Posted: 11 Feb 2012 08:55 AM PST

U.S. federal safety regulators have slapped a $3 million (€2.3 million) fine on BMW North America for delays in reporting and not providing enough information on its safety defects and recalls. The fine will be paid into the Treasury Department's General Fund.

Automakers are required by law to notify the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) within five business days of identifying a safety defect or noncompliance and to promptly conduct a recall.

CARSCOOP

2012-02-11T04:04:00.001-08:00

CARSCOOP

SCOOP: BMW i8 Hybrid Sports Coupe Poses on Film for us
USW Says New Record U.S. Trade Deficit with China Threatens Auto Jobs
Subaru to Debut European BRZ and Impreza Hatchback in Geneva
Japan Opens New 1.6 Mile-Long “Dinosaur Bridge” to Reduce Tokyo’s Traffic Jams
BMW to Reveal New M6 Coupe in Geneva and M6 Cabrio in New York
George W. Bush Says he Would Bail Out U.S. Carmakers Again if he had to
Bertone Returns to Geneva to Celebrate its 100th Anniversary with Nuccio Concept
Russia's Got Talent: Karate Girl Takes a Fit and Attacks SUV
SPIED: New Citroën C4 Saloon Trots out to Scandinavia for Some Winter Tests
A Whole Lotta Supercars Crammed Together in a Swiss Showroom
Elia Dresses Up Renault Wind in F1 Colors
Kia Ramps up Optima's U.S. Production as it Expects it to Become its Best-Seller in 2012
Bentley Continental GT V8 Literally Goes Airborne Above Munich
NHTSA Investigating 830,000 Toyota Camrys and RAV4s Over Door Fires
Maruti Suzuki Sells its 10 Millionth Vehicle in India
Canadian Digs Out Basement Using Only Radio Controlled Scale Tractors and Trucks...Since 1997!
Opel Launches New Corsa “Kaleidoscope” Edition in Europe
Pininfarina Video Teases its Geneva Motor Show-Bound Cambiano Coupe Concept
Only in Japan: New Stripped Down Toyota 86 RC and Subaru BRZ RA
Tesla Unveils New Model X CUV with Falcon Wings and Seating for Seven
New FT-Bh Affordable City Car Concept Leads Toyota’s Geneva Motor Show Lineup

SCOOP: BMW i8 Hybrid Sports Coupe Poses on Film for us

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 06:55 PM PST

BMW aims to establish itself as a manufacturer of premium green vehicles through its new "i" sub-brand starting with the i3 hatchback in pure EV and extended-range EV flavors in 2013 and shortly after the i8 hybrid sports car, which is obviously the more interesting proposal of the two.

Following up on the spy pictures of the camouflaged production version of the i8 that we showed earlier in the week, our scoopsters also snagged a video of the test car quietly (perhaps too quietly for a BMW coupe) running around on the snow which you can watch after the break.

USW Says New Record U.S. Trade Deficit with China Threatens Auto Jobs

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 06:27 PM PST

In 2011, U.S exports rose by 14.4 percent to a record US$2.1 trillion That's the good news. The bad news is that imports also set an all-time high record of US$2.7 trillion, a 13.8 percent increase over 2010. It's really not that hard to realize that the result is a deficit of 0.6 trillion – or US$558 billion, to be exact.

More than half of this trade deficit is with China, a startling US$295.4 billion. Even though U.S. exports to world's most populated country rose by 13.1 percent to US$103.9 billion, it was offset by a 9.4 percent increase to a record US$399.3 billion in imports from China.

The auto industry was amongst those sectors that set new deficit records: last December alone marked an increase of US$1.8 billion in imported vehicles, parts and engines.

Subaru to Debut European BRZ and Impreza Hatchback in Geneva

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 04:38 PM PST

The upcoming 82nd Geneva International Motor Show in March will host the European debuts of two new Subaru models, the BRZ sports coupe and the latest generation of the Impreza hatchback.

The BRZ, which recently went on sale in Japan after its world premiere at last year's Tokyo Motor Show, is expected to reach European showrooms this summer, with more detailed information including pricing to be released in Geneva.

Japan Opens New 1.6 Mile-Long “Dinosaur Bridge” to Reduce Tokyo’s Traffic Jams

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 03:52 PM PST

Tokyo was one of the cities bidding for the 2016 Summer Olympics. It eventually lost to Rio de Janeiro, yet the infrastructure that was created in order to boost its chances of hosting the Games is proving worth the investment.

One such example is the four-lane, 1.6-mile (2.6 km) Tokyo Gate Bridge. Nicknamed "Dinosaur Bridge" due to its unusual shape, it will open this weekend to vehicles after a decade of construction.

According to Bloomberg News, the so-called Dino Bridge cost 113 billion yen (US$1.45 billion), but the Japanese government expects it to yield 19 billion yen (US$246 million) annually, carrying 32,000 vehicles each day between the capital and a man-made island where a new container terminal is being built.

BMW to Reveal New M6 Coupe in Geneva and M6 Cabrio in New York

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 02:54 PM PST

For the past couple of years, we've been following the development of the next generation BMW M6 in both coupe and convertible guises but now the time has come to begin the final countdown for their reveal

According to sources, the new M6 Coupe will make its grand premiere at the 82nd Geneva International Auto Salon in early March with the Convertible to break cover about a month later at the 2012 New York International Auto Show in April.

George W. Bush Says he Would Bail Out U.S. Carmakers Again if he had to

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 02:10 PM PST

You'd be hard-pressed to find any similarities between the current and the former presidents of the United States. Yet, Barack Obama and George W. Bush actually do have one thing in common: they both agree that bailing out the bankrupt U.S. car industry was the right thing to do.

Bush, whose extension of bridge loans to U.S. automakers was one of the last decisions before he left office, gave the closing address to the annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) convention.

The former President said Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke warned him that, unless the administration took drastic measures, a new depression was imminent.

Bertone Returns to Geneva to Celebrate its 100th Anniversary with Nuccio Concept

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 01:49 PM PST

One of Italy's great coachbuilders, Bertone, will celebrate its centennial at the upcoming 2012 Geneva Motor Show with the world premiere of a new sports coupe concept called the Nuccio.

For the time being, all we get from Bertone are two sketchy renderings that hint at an edgy design, possibly inspired from the Italian company's wedge-shaped supercars of the 1970s.

Russia's Got Talent: Karate Girl Takes a Fit and Attacks SUV

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 01:02 PM PST

Just a warning; if you ever happen to travel to Russia, you'd better be on the lookout for a black Mazda6 sedan with a hefty blonde passenger. She's trained to kill your vehicle if you ever cross paths with her, so watch out… Amuse yourself for about a minute in the video that follows below the jump. Read more »

SPIED: New Citroën C4 Saloon Trots out to Scandinavia for Some Winter Tests

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 12:25 PM PST

The PSA Citroën-Peugeot may be facing some troubles in Europe due to the financial and budgetary crisis, but life goes on and Citroën is looking for ways to increase its sales with the presentation of new models in the mainstream categories.

After the introduction of the new generation of the C4 compact hatchback in 2010, the sub-premium DS4 last year and more recently, the Mitsubishi-based C4 Aircross, the French carmaker is now preparing another proposal for the popular C-segment, the C4 sedan.

A Whole Lotta Supercars Crammed Together in a Swiss Showroom

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 11:49 AM PST

Belinda Carlisle was right: Heaven is a place on earth. And we think we've just found it. The automotive heaven is located in Switzerland, in a showroom full of so many supercars that we lost track of the number.

The place is packed with both modern and classic exotics. Lamborghini fans would be most delighted as there are quite a few Aventadors, many versions of the Gallardo, Murcielago and Diablo from standard models to racing cars, as well as three rare Miuras and an LM002 SUV.

Elia Dresses Up Renault Wind in F1 Colors

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 11:34 AM PST

Albeit a little late to the party as Renault and Lotus parted ways in F1 at the end of 2011, German tuning firm of all things related to the Renault Group, Elia, has presented a Formula 1-themed version of the Renault Wind.

The small French roadster is dressed in the former Lotus Renault GP team's colors with decorative livery placed throughout the body of the car.

Kia Ramps up Optima's U.S. Production as it Expects it to Become its Best-Seller in 2012

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 11:30 AM PST

Ironically, increased demand can prove to be quite a problem for car manufacturers. Kia knows this well: despite posting a 37 percent increase in sales last year, it reckons it could have done even better if only it had the capacity to produce more vehicles.

Its all-new Optima mid-size sedan has proved to be a big hit in the U.S. in its first year, tripling its sales compared to 2010 to 84,590 units.

Bentley Continental GT V8 Literally Goes Airborne Above Munich

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 10:38 AM PST

First we had the Bentley Continental GT W12 taking up snow sports and more specifically ski joring by lugging around world champion Franco Moro, and now, the British premium carmaker has pulled off another stunt, this time far more impressive.

Bentley celebrated the arrival of the new 4.0-liter V8-powered Continental GT Coupe in Germany in a dramatic way by suspending the car under a helicopter and taking it for a ride or rather a flight above downtown Munich.

NHTSA Investigating 830,000 Toyota Camrys and RAV4s Over Door Fires

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 10:19 AM PST

Federal safety regulators have opened a preliminary investigation into a possible fire risk in approximately 830,000 Toyota Camry sedans, Camry Solara coupes and cabriolets and RAV4 SUVs from the 2007 model year.

The U.S National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that it has received six consumer complaints, and other manufacturer reports supplied through Early Warning Reporting data submissions, all of which allege a fire in the driver's side door.

Maruti Suzuki Sells its 10 Millionth Vehicle in India

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 09:53 AM PST

Suzuki's local Indian affiliate, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, reached an important landmark this week with the production of its 10 millionth vehicle in the Indian domestic market.

The milestone model was a red Suzuki Swift that was delivered to customer in Coimbatore from the company's Manesar assembly plant near New Delhi. The automaker has been active in India since December 1993 and attained 5 million domestic sales in February of 2006.

Canadian Digs Out Basement Using Only Radio Controlled Scale Tractors and Trucks...Since 1997!

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 09:01 AM PST

Excavating a basement using professional machinery is nothing new but doing it with radio controlled (RC) scaled models is something unheard of. Welcome to the little big world of Joe, from Saskatchewan, Canada.

For the past 15 years (!), Joe has been digging out his basement at an average annual rate of 8 to 9 cubic feet using nothing more than RC tractors and trucks!

And we're talking about the whole nine yards here - he starts by transporting the excavator on an RC truck to the basement, unloads it, digs and uses other trucks to transfer the dirt up to the ground through a spiral ramp! He even has a miniature rock crusher!

"I feel quite fortunate to have stumbled onto this basement excavation idea, it's been a great past time to date dreaming up new ideas to tackle different projects along the way," Joe wrote on the Scale4x4rc forums where he also posted pictures and videos of his feat.

Opel Launches New Corsa “Kaleidoscope” Edition in Europe

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 07:49 AM PST

With the fourth generation of the Opel Corsa entering its sixth year in the market, the German automaker is trying to beef up interest in the supermini with the release of another special edition version.

This one is called "Kaleidoscope" and it affords a more individualized look to the Corsa.

The Kaleidoscope is available with a choice of two special metallic exterior colors called "pepperdust" and "technical grey", which are combined with glossy black roof, black mirror housings and for the first time, a black grille frame. It also rides on dark 17-inch wheels and gets chrome exhaust pipes.

Pininfarina Video Teases its Geneva Motor Show-Bound Cambiano Coupe Concept

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 07:17 AM PST

There's a new teaser out for Pininfarina's Cambiano concept coupe, only this time, the Italian design house opted to release a video that incorporates all the previous renderings and then some more.

While there's a lack of information from Pininfarina, the video shows a two door coupe concept with seating for four and a unique glass roof housing. The official presentation of the Cambiano will take place at the 82nd Geneva International Auto Salon in March. Hop over the break to watch the short clip.

Only in Japan: New Stripped Down Toyota 86 RC and Subaru BRZ RA

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 06:59 AM PST

The Toyota 86 and the Subaru BRZ go hand in hand, in whatever they do. The two brands have launched stripped down variants of their respective models in Japan offering a low cost solution for those buyers looking to use the coupes for track racing, as a blank canvas to create their own project or simply to own the most affordable variant.

The Toyota 86 RC and the Subaru BRZ RA are very similar, the only main difference being that the Toyota model gets unpainted front and rear bumpers. From there on, on the outside, both models come with unpainted door handles and mirror caps, 16-inch steel wheels, while there are no fog lights up front.

Tesla Unveils New Model X CUV with Falcon Wings and Seating for Seven

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 05:59 AM PST

The electric carmaker named after one of the most original and greatest inventors and thinkers of all time introduced a brand new CUV called the Model X, which is based on the running gear and chassis of the Model S sedan.

Tesla says its latest creation fuses the utility of MPVs with the style of SUVs offering an available all-wheel drive option and seating for seven in three rows of seats.

New FT-Bh Affordable City Car Concept Leads Toyota’s Geneva Motor Show Lineup

Posted: 10 Feb 2012 05:24 AM PST

In the aftermath of Toyota's below-par performance in 2011 due to natural disasters and the strength of the yen, the Japanese automaker decided to focus its efforts for a comeback mainly on hybrid models such as the Prius family.

Therefore, today's announcement that five out of the six Toyota models that will make their world or European premieres at the Geneva Motor Show in March will be hybrids, comes to no surprise.

CARSCOOP

2012-02-10T04:07:00.001-08:00

CARSCOOP

Spy Shots: Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spotted Again in Detroit
New 2012 Ford B-MAX Opens Up to Us, Shows its Sliding Doors
Powerplay: Audi Unleashes New TT RS Plus Coupe and Roadster with 360-Horses
Opel and Vauxhall Refute Wall Street Report as “Speculation”
SCOOP: The Not so New Opel Astra Sedan Takes Shape
Mazda Records US$1.3 Billion Loss, “Actively” Seeks Partner
Infiniti Brings us a Behind the Scenes Video of the M Hybrid vs Porsche Panamera Spot
New Vauxhall Combo Goes on Sale in the UK, will Come to North America as a Ram
Karma is, Indeed, a Bitch: Toyota Yaris Driver gets what he Deserves
Aston Martin Cygnet: Project Kahn Tries to Make Something Out of Nothing
Facelifted 2012 Seat Exeo Sedan and ST Arrive in the UK
2013 BMW 640i Gran Coupe Priced at $76,895 in the States, See How it Compares against its Rivals
New Smart Fortwo Edition Sharpred Brings Out its Darker Side
Nissan SUV Slams Stationary Honda Civic that was Getting Ready to Street Race [NSFW]
Toyota Ramps up Production of Highlander SUV and Corolla at its U.S. Plants
Nissan Asks Fans to Help Tune the Ultimate 370Z Coupe; How Would You Upgrade it?
New 2012 Kia Optima SX Limited Edition adds Some Bling
Cadillac's CTS-V Coupe Racecar Enters the Virtual World as it Joins iRacing
Meet the Final Production Version of the Aston Martin V12 Zagato
This is it: The New Chevrolet Cruze Station Wagon
All-New Mitsubishi Outlander Breaks Cover, Lineup will Include a Plug-in Hybrid Variant

Spy Shots: Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spotted Again in Detroit

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 06:18 PM PST

An associate of one of our spy photographers stumbled upon a camouflaged Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatchback at a gas station in Detroit on Wednesday morning.

The Italian compact model was covered in what looks like a matte black vinyl wrap with all Alfa Romeo logos hidden. Now, before you jump to the wrong conclusions, let us tell you that this isn't the first time we've seen the Giulietta in the States.

In fact, back in 2010, a whole truckload of Giuliettas was snagged on a Michigan freeway heading towards the Chrysler Group's headquarters in Auburn Hills. For all we know, this may be one of the leftovers.

New 2012 Ford B-MAX Opens Up to Us, Shows its Sliding Doors

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 04:55 PM PST

Ford continues the slow strip tease of its all-new B-MAX small MPV prior to the production model's grand premier at the 82nd Geneva International Auto Salon in the beginning of March.

This time we get a full-blown photo of the B-MAX's innovative hinged front doors and sliding rear doors that integrate the central body pillars, which Ford called "Easy Access Doors".

The design allows for 1.5-metre (close to 5 feet) wide unobstructed openings on either side of the B-segment multi-activity vehicle.

Powerplay: Audi Unleashes New TT RS Plus Coupe and Roadster with 360-Horses

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 04:23 PM PST

Evidently, every little bit of power matters for Audi, which has just lifted the covers off a new version of the TT RS featuring some subtle mechanical and styling upgrades. The new model is called the TT RS Plus and will be available in both Coupe and Roadster formats.

At the heart of the new flagship TT lies a modestly beefed up version of the regular RS' 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder engine that gains 20PS (20bhp) more power and 15Nm (11.06 lb-ft) more torque lifting output to 360PS (355bhp) and 465Nm (342.97 lb-ft). A new sound flap promises to improve the five-pot's aural beat.

Like the model it is based upon, customers can choose between a six-speed manual gearbox and a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission that comes with a launch control function to optimize acceleration from a standing start. Power is channeled to all four wheels through Audi's quattro permanent all-wheel drive system.

Opel and Vauxhall Refute Wall Street Report as “Speculation”

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 03:37 PM PST

GM regained the title of the world's number one automotive group in 2011, but its European division losses must have surely dampened the celebrations.

In fact, the Wall Street Journal reported this week that General Motors is losing its patience with Opel and Vauxhall after their fourth quarter losses and wants to make deeper cuts – and fast. The newspaper cited an unnamed GM source as saying that "if Opel is going to get fixed, it is going to get fixed now and cuts are going to get deep."

SCOOP: The Not so New Opel Astra Sedan Takes Shape

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 02:45 PM PST

Opel may have been responsible for the development of the Astra being the first to launch the five-door hatchback, Sports Tourer station wagon and three-door GTC variants amongst GM's global brands, but there's one body style it will be the last to get and that's the four-door sedan model.

The Astra sedan essentially made its debut as the new Buick Excelle GT in China back in the summer of 2010 followed by the North American 2012 Buick Verano at last year's Detroit Motor Show.

Now, our spies bring us pictures of the Opel Astra model while testing in Germany. There's no camouflage up front so we can see that the Opel-flavored version sports the same fascia as the European Astra.

The automaker's engineers covered the rear end, but from what we can tell, the only differences with the Buick models concern the tail lamp graphics and possibly the removal of the chrome eyebrows to create a more three-dimensional look, along with a differen license plate holder and the incorporation of a spoiler lip to the boot.

Mazda Records US$1.3 Billion Loss, “Actively” Seeks Partner

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 02:06 PM PST

Last week, Mazda forecast a net loss of 100 billion yen (US$1.29 billion) for the fiscal year that ends March 31 and a 2 percent drop in its global sales, to 1.25 million units.

This is the fourth year in a row than Mazda records negative results and it's also the company's second biggest loss in the last 11 years after the US$2.0 billion damage it posted in the previous fiscal year that ended in March 2011.

Infiniti Brings us a Behind the Scenes Video of the M Hybrid vs Porsche Panamera Spot

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 01:30 PM PST

Remember how Infiniti's M Hybrid beat the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid in a quarter mile duel for a new commercial that aired last month? Well now, the Japanese carmaker is gining a behind-the-scenes look at what went on during the filming of the spot.

Aside from seeing the M Hybrid burning some rubber the only other interesting bit in this video is the blacked out Mercedes-Benz ML film car - which, of course, goes unmentioned by Infiniti. Watch the two-and-a-half minute long clip after the break.

New Vauxhall Combo Goes on Sale in the UK, will Come to North America as a Ram

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 01:05 PM PST

The latest generation of the Fiat Doblo van has the fairly unique (but not sole) distinction of being offered more or less unchanged by several different auto brands. These include Opel and its sister company in the UK, Vauxhall, and starting from early 2013, the Chrysler Group's Ram Truck division will also offer the van in North America.

For the time being though, Vauxhall has launched sales of the New Combo in Britain. The light commercial vehicle is available with a choice of four diesel units ranging from a 1.3-liter CDTi with 89bhp (90PS) to a 2.0-liter CDTi delivering 133bhp (135PS).

Karma is, Indeed, a Bitch: Toyota Yaris Driver gets what he Deserves

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 12:31 PM PST

Don't you just hate it when another driver won't let you merge into traffic or cross a road even though he or she won't move on more than a car's length? Of course you do which is why we're going to assume that you'll find the following video staring the driver of a previous generation Toyota Yaris hatchback extremely rewarding...

Aston Martin Cygnet: Project Kahn Tries to Make Something Out of Nothing

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 12:08 PM PST

There are plenty of reasons not to buy into Aston Martin's cover up of the Toyota iQ, but if you have already paid twice or perhaps even three times as much for a cooler grille and a luxed up interior and still aren't happy about the way the Cygnet looks and sounds, Project Kahn has some select upgrades for you.

On the outside, the British tuner fits the Cygnet with its own alloy wheels that are available in various colors (size 17-in. up front and 18-in. at the back), a new set of brake calipers finished in heat resistant paint, again in whatever color the customer wants, and bespoke exhaust tail pipes.

Facelifted 2012 Seat Exeo Sedan and ST Arrive in the UK

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 11:32 AM PST

We first saw the mildly updated for 2012, Seat Exeo, at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show and now both the sedan and ST station wagon variants of the previous generation Audi A4-based model are available for order in the United Kingdom.

Prices start from £19,480 RRP (recommended price on the road) for the base sedan model fitted with an 118bhp (120PS) 2.0-liter turbo diesel. Other engine options include two more 2.0-liter TDI diesels with 141bhp (143PS) or 168bhp (170PS) and a 2.0-liter TFSI turbocharged petrol with 208bhp (211PS).

2013 BMW 640i Gran Coupe Priced at $76,895 in the States, See How it Compares against its Rivals

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 01:07 PM PST

Have US$76,895 to spare? For that coin, you can get in the brand new 2013 BMW 640i Gran Coupe, which is the initial model of the Bavarian firm's sports saloon that arrives in the U.S. showrooms early this summer.

The 640i Gran Coupe is powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six gasoline engine delivering 315hp at 5,800 to 6,000 rpm and 330 lb-ft of peak torque on stream between 1,300 and 4,500 rpm. Power channeled to the rear wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission.

New Smart Fortwo Edition Sharpred Brings Out its Darker Side

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 10:06 AM PST

"Sharpred" is the name of the latest special edition model from Smart and will be available this May in a limited run of 1,800 examples as a Coupé and as a Cabrio with either a 70bhp (52kW) mhd petrol engine or an 82bhp (62kW) petrol unit.

What separates the Sharpred from its lesser Fortwo siblings is the two-tone color theme with the main body and 15-inch alloy wheels painted in black and the Tridion safety cell and door mirror housings finished in a contrasting red color.

Nissan SUV Slams Stationary Honda Civic that was Getting Ready to Street Race [NSFW]

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 08:59 AM PST

We're not saying it can't happen, but the last thing you expect to see on an open road at night is two motionless vehicles occupying both regular lanes. Is it that difficult to see that this is something extremely dangerous for all parties involved? Apparently, the answer is yes…

Too bad these drivers had to find out the hard way when an unrelated Nissan SUV slammed into a Honda Civic hatchback that was standing still revving its engine as the owner was preparing to race another Civic on an unnamed road in Tampa, Florida.

The person who uploaded the video said that despite the severity of the crash, -fortunately- no one was hurt. You can watch the accident as it happened in the clip that follows after the break (beware; foul language).

Toyota Ramps up Production of Highlander SUV and Corolla at its US. Plants

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 08:36 AM PST

After the natural disasters that crippled its production in 2011, Toyota is pulling ahead with a new plan to make up for the lost ground. This week, the number one Japanese automaker announced that it will increase production of the Highlander mid-size SUV at its Princeton, Indiana plant from late 2013. Read more »

Nissan Asks Fans to Help Tune the Ultimate 370Z Coupe; How Would You Upgrade it?

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 08:12 AM PST

For the past decade or so, the 350Z and its successor, the 370Z, have offered mainstream buyers with a regular budget in many markets around the world the opportunity to own a fine-tuned and powerful rear-wheel drive sports car without breaking the bank.

Nissan is now reaching over to the same crowd to help create the ultimate Z car with the launch of "Project Z" that was announced today at the Chicago Auto Show where the Japanese company also unveiled the de-fanged 2013MY 370Z facelift.

And how will Nissan do that, we hear you ask? The answer is through its Facebook channel where fans will propose and vote on potential modifications while following the progress of the tuned 370Z online

"Together we'll create a vehicle that expands on the already outstanding performance and style of the Nissan 370Z with a balance of street and track ready modification," said Jon Brancheau, vice president of Nissan Marketing, NNA.

New 2012 Kia Optima SX Limited Edition adds Some Bling

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 07:41 AM PST

Along with the snazzy Track'ster concept study, Kia also revealed a new range-topping version of its Optima sedan called the SX Limited at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.

The SX Limited, which as you may recall was teased through Kia's Super Bowl XLVI commercial this past Sunday, is based on the 274-horsepower turbocharged Optima SX adding a little bling to the mix with new 18-inch chromed alloy wheels, a chrome-accented rear spoiler, LED daytime running lights and red front-brake calipers.

Cadillac's CTS-V Coupe Racecar Enters the Virtual World as it Joins iRacing

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 07:01 AM PST

More and more automakers are looking to promote their vehicles to a younger and typically affluent crowd through popular racing games.

Today we learn that GM's Team Cadillac Racing has collaborated with iRacing.com, which is one of the most popular online motorsports games, offering players the chance to drive a virtual version of the CTS-V Coupe racer.

Meet the Final Production Version of the Aston Martin V12 Zagato

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 06:34 AM PST

Aston Martin has released the first official images of the final production version of its new limited run V12 Zagato that we first laid eyes on as a concept in both road going and racing flavors at last year's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy

The new V12 Zagato will make its world premiere at the 2012 Kuwait Concours d' Elegance next week with its European debut to take place at the Geneva Salon in early March.

As the name suggest, it was designed as the ultimate Vantage by Italian coachbuilder Zagato to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its first partnership with Aston Martin, the 1962 DB4GT Zagato.

This is it: The New Chevrolet Cruze Station Wagon

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 05:56 AM PST

We've been hearing rumors about the possibility of GM adding a third body style to the range of its Chevrolet Cruze for quite some time now.

Well, there's no need to speculate any longer as this morning, the Detroit automaker officially revealed the all-new Chevrolet Cruze Station Wagon ahead of its global premiere at the 82nd International Geneva Motor Show early next month.

All-New Mitsubishi Outlander Breaks Cover, Lineup will Include a Plug-in Hybrid Variant

Posted: 09 Feb 2012 05:33 AM PST

Just a little over two months after Mitsubishi teased the new Outlander with the second iteration of its Concept PX-MiEV at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, the Japanese company lifted the wraps off the production model that will make its world premiere at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show in early March.

Even though we only get a single picture from Mitsubishi, it's easy to see that the all-new Outlander is almost a carbon copy of the PX-MiEV II right down to the design of the alloy wheels.

This doesn't mean that there aren't differences over the study but that they are limited to details such as the conventional headlamp units, exterior mirrors and door handles while Mitsubishi also added a pair of fog lamps up front.

Car Buying Tips To Save You Money

2012-02-09T05:15:00.001-08:00

Car Buying Tips To Save You Money

Car Buying Tip; Beware Of The Switch!

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 11:15 PM PST

Buying a Car can be a taxing ordeal, but make sure you are aware of the Car Salesman offering you the Switch!

When you buy a Car, you probably go to a dealership looking for a specific Vehicle. Has a Car Salesman ever had you look at a totally different Car? The Car Salesman is going to try and sway you to a Car that he/she is going to make the most money on, speaking from experience. You may be looking at a New Car and the Salesman tells you that he has one with a few miles on it that you can save some money on.

This tactic is set up for several reasons. If you are asking for a discount on the new Car or it is slightly out of your budget, there is usually a Program Car with a few miles on it that will fit your budget. Number one, this takes the New Car away from you instead of discounting the car to your offer. This tactic works well because you either buy the used one that the dealership and Salesman make more money on, or, you bring your offer up on the New Car. Either way, beware of the switch and what is really going down.

CARSCOOP

2012-02-09T04:03:00.001-08:00

CARSCOOP

MT Pits 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S Aganist 2012 Corvette Grand Sport
Spy Shots: New BMW i8 Coupe Wears its Production Outfit for Testing
Fisker Forced to Halt Work on Delaware Factory After U.S. Blocks Loan
Ford Says New B-MAX is Best In-Class when it Comes to Fuel Economy and CO2 Emissions
Hyundai's New Elantra GT and Elantra Coupe Make their Video Debuts
Arab Spring Brings Increased Car Sales in the Middle East as Governments Toss Around Money
Man Builds a Gaming Cockpit out of an Opel Astra
New Toyota Prius C Hybrid Hatch Priced from $18,950*
Nissan Debuts NV200 Compact Cargo Van at the Chicago Auto Show
Video Footage Shows Police Officers Beating a Driver in a Diabetic Shock [NSFW]
GM Officials Shocked by Opel & Vauxhall's Latest Losses, Demand Much Deeper Cuts
Opel Shows More of its 276HP Astra OPC Hot Hatch
Chrysler Reintroduces Brand in the UK with £10 Million “Different Is What We Do” Campaign
MINI Beware: Kia Thinks Big with Track'ster Concept that Could Spawn a 3-Door Soul
February Recalls: Toyota RAV4, Honda Accord, Crosstour and Ridgeline, Ford F-53/59 and Maserati GranTurismo
GMC Freshens up Acadia and Acadia Denali Crossovers for the 2013MY
Autocar Compares Nissan GT-R with…BMW M5 Sedan
Opel Drops a New Batch of Photos of the Mokka Crossover
Hyundai Debuts New 2013 Elantra Coupe to Take on the Honda Civic
Hyundai i30 Gains the Elantra GT Moniker for North America [28 Photos]
New 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible with 650HP

MT Pits 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S Aganist 2012 Corvette Grand Sport

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 06:18 PM PST

Chevrolet's Corvette and Porsche's 911 are two of the most recognized and longest living sports car nameplates in history. Both models have evolved in many ways over the years but also remain true to their heritage.

The 2012 Porsche 911 was only just introduced into the market this year sporting an entirely new platform and a lighter body, while the sixth generation of Corvette has been with us since 2005 and has entered its final year of production as Chevrolet will present an all new model next year.

Nonetheless, since we live in the "today", Motor Trend's editor-at-large Angus MacKenzie took the 436-horsepower 2012 Corvette Grand Sport and compared it with the 400-horsepower 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S.

Spy Shots: New BMW i8 Coupe Wears its Production Outfit for Testing

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 05:24 PM PST

The last time we showed you a prototype of the BMW i8 hybrid sports car it was in May of 2011 with a scoop video of the car undergoing cold-weather testing. Now, our spy photographers captured another prototype of the i8 being driven on the snow.

So what's new about this test car? Well, a lot actually, as whereas the previous prototype was based on BMW's second concept for an i8, the car featured here is the final production version.

The design of the i8 has progressed with BMW moving the exterior mirrors from the window to the corner of the doors and refining other details such as the door handles, headlamps, bumpers and even the alloy wheel designs.

But while the Bavarians have made some necessary changes, the overall shape of the car along with the aerodynamic details like the rear wings and air channels in front of the rear wheel arches remain unchanged. We still don't know if the production model will keep the concept's butterfly-style doors.

Fisker Forced to Halt Work on Delaware Factory After U.S. Blocks Loan

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 04:24 PM PST

Making yet another pun with Fisker and its Karma is easy. After all, the California based carmaker has faced several problems with its extended-range hybrid luxury sedan over the past couple of years. However, its latest issue is quite serious.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has frozen Fisker's access to the federal loan it was awarded for engineering of the Karma (US$169 million) and production of the midsize Nina sedan (US$359 million), which will be priced much lower than the $100K Karma.

Ford Says New B-MAX is Best In-Class when it Comes to Fuel Economy and CO2 Emissions

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 03:49 PM PST

Since we are getting closer to next month's Geneva Motor Show, Ford wanted to share more details on its all-new B-MAX, and more specifically to brag about its fuel consumption and CO2 emission ratings, which the Blue Oval says bring it to the top of its class.

When equipped with the 1.6-liter TDI diesel that produces 95PS (94hp), the new B-MAX delivers 4.0 lt/100km (70.6mpg UK or 58.8mpg US) and CO2 emissions of 104g/km. This compares to between 109 and 119 g/km CO2 and between 4.1 and 4.6 lt/100km for the Ford model's chief (diesel-powered) rivals, which include the Opel Meriva, Citroen C3 Picasso and Renault Modus.

Hyundai's New Elantra GT and Elantra Coupe Make their Video Debuts

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 02:51 PM PST

So you want to see the newest additions to Hyundai's Elantra range on film, do you? If the answer is yes, follow the break to watch the first videos of both the Elantra GT, which is the North American version of the European market i30 hatchback, and the Elantra Coupe that is based on the sedan model sold in select markets around the world.

For more information regarding the two newly introduced Hyundai models that premiere at this week's 2012 Chicago Auto Show, visit our previous posts on the Elantra GT here and the Elantra Coupe here.

Arab Spring Brings Increased Car Sales in the Middle East as Governments Toss Around Money

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 02:09 PM PST

When oil prices go up, car sales, especially those of gas-guzzling models, go down. There's one place, though, where the exact opposite is happening right now: it's the Middle East where new car sales are booming.

Sure, many countries in the region, like Bahrain and Syria, are facing severe political turmoil, but on the other hand, since oil prices are on the rise with crude oil having gained 6.7 percent over the last 12 months, revenues of local governments have increased accordingly.

Said governments, wanting to avoid uprisings, are injecting cash into the economy increasing their citizens' income.

Man Builds a Gaming Cockpit out of an Opel Astra

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 01:36 PM PST

If you're into cars, then it's very likely that you're also into racing games like the PS3's Gran Turismo, the Xbox 360's Forza or online sims like iRacing.

Since most auto enthusiasts / gamers want to play in an environment as close to reality as possible, they usually end up swapping the regular controller for a steering wheel, pedal and gearbox set and the couch for a racing seat - chassis combo.

However, some gamers take the idea to far more extremes, like YouTube user "NBJAG" who is currently in the process of creating a real life simulator using the interior and parts of the exterior of a first generation Opel Astra from the 1990s with the Thrusmaster T500 RS steering, pedal and TH8 gearbox bundle.

New Toyota Prius C Hybrid Hatch Priced from $18,950*

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 12:49 PM PST

Toyota has released pricing on its new Prius C, which is the third hybrid model to join the Prius range in the States after the original liftback and the new minivan.

The subcompact hatchback will arrive at Toyota dealerships in March 2012 with prices starting from $18,950, not including a $760* destination, processing and handling fee that puts the total to $19,710.

Nissan Debuts NV200 Compact Cargo Van at the Chicago Auto Show

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 12:16 PM PST

The Nissan NV200 compact cargo van made its North American debut today at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. The commercial version of New York City's NV200 Taxi joins Nissan's expanding lineup of professional vans that includes the full-size NV Cargo and Passenger variants.

Even though the NV200 Cargo is making its first appearance on U.S. soil, the compact van is already available in more than 40 countries around the world. However, the North American NV200's body has been extended 7.9 inches (200 mm) compared to the regular models sold elsewhere.

Video Footage Shows Police Officers Beating a Driver in a Diabetic Shock [NSFW]

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 06:11 PM PST

The "shoot first ask questions later" approach of some police officers from Henderson City in Nevada resulted in the cruel beating of Adam Greene who was suffering from a diabetic shock at the time.

The incident took place more than a year ago but the video footage from a Highway Patrol vehicle was released on Tuesday after Green reached a settlement in his federal lawsuit against the Henderson police department.

According to the police report, a patrol car spotted a Honda Accord weaving among lanes at about 4 a.m. on October 29, 2010, before it came to a stop near Lake Mead Parkway and Boulder Highway in Henderson. More Nevada State Troopers and Henderson police cars soon arrived to the scene.

GM Officials Shocked by Opel & Vauxhall's Latest Losses, Demand Much Deeper Cuts

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 11:06 AM PST

It surely came as no surprise to General Motors executives that their European division is once again, bleeding cash. After all, they knew that Opel and Vauxhall had already lost US$580 million in the first nine months of 2011.

However, as the Wall Street Journal reports, they weren't prepared for the "horrendous" fourth quarter losses Therefore, despite declaring last week that it is determined to turn around Opel, GM is now seriously reconsidering its options.

According to the report, an unnamed GM official said on Tuesday that the U.S. group is almost fed up with its European brands' inability to make progress: "There is an increasing frustration with Opel and a feeling that the cuts two years ago did not go deep enough. If Opel is going to get fixed, it is going to get fixed now and the cuts are going to be deep."

Opel Shows More of its 276HP Astra OPC Hot Hatch

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 10:40 AM PST

After the new Mokka shots [pun intended], Opel's Geneva Motor Show presentation continues with some fresh pictures of the brand-new Astra GTC, which will be marketed as the Vauxhall Astra VXR in the United Kingdom.

The most powerful (regular production) Astra ever is based on the sporty-looking Astra GTC three-door hatch and features a 2.0-litre turbocharged direct injection engine developing 280PS (276hp/206kW) and a maximum torque of 400 Nm (295 lb-ft).

Chrysler Reintroduces Brand in the UK with £10 Million “Different Is What We Do” Campaign

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 10:00 AM PST

A 60-second spot that aired during the break in Sky TV's Super Bowl coverage last Sunday was the opening shot in Chrysler's new advertising campaign with which it re-launches the brand in the United Kingdom.

The commercial shows the 300C sedan cruising through Detroit and then emerging through a tunnel in the streets of London, where it is joined by the rest of the brand's UK line-up. It is very similar to this ad only now we see Chrysler's re-badged Lancia models as well.

MINI Beware: Kia Thinks Big with Track'ster Concept that Could Spawn a 3-Door Soul

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 09:19 AM PST

Without doubt, the spotlights at this year's edition of the Chicago Auto Show are on the Koreans. Following the presentation of Hyundai's new Elantra GT and Coupe models, its sister company Kia has unveiled an impressive concept model for a sporty, three-door version of the Soul called the Track'ster

Of course, if you throw in a pair of round headlights and vertical tail lamps, the Track'ster could very well be a conceptual proposal for high-performance Mini model…

That's not to say the Track'ster hasn't got character but many details like the alloy wheel designs, the blacked out front pillars, the two-tone paint job and the prominent LED driving lights on the lower part of the front bumper do have a certain British flavor.

"The idea was to make the Track'ster tough looking, like a bulldog," said Tom Kearns, chief designer for Kia's Californian design studio, which was responsible for the creation of the Track'ster.

February Recalls: Toyota RAV4, Honda Accord, Crosstour and Ridgeline, Ford F-53/59 and Maserati GranTurismo

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 08:44 AM PST

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced several recalls in the first week of February.

Starting with Toyota, the Japanese carmaker has issued a recall on a total of 427 RAV4 vehicles manufactured from November 24, 2011, through December 19, 2011, because the curtain shield airbags may not deploy. Toyota said it would check the RAV4s and if necessary, replace the assemblies. The safety recall is expected to begin in early March.

GMC Freshens up Acadia and Acadia Denali Crossovers for the 2013MY

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 08:02 AM PST

At the 2012 Chicago Auto Show today, GMC lifted the wraps off its facelifted Acadia crossover that enters the new model year with a retouched exterior, higher quality materials inside and new safety features.

The exterior redesign brings a new front end with a more prominent and upright grille with three-bars that was previewed by GMC's recent concept models like the Sierra HD All-Terrain, along with LED running lamps, and new headlamp and bumper designs.

At the back, we find new taillamps, a re-sculptured bumper, a wrap-around rear glass and a new rear spoiler, while GMC also introduced a fresh set of 18-, 19- and 20-inch wheels.

According to GMC, the interior benefits from upgraded soft-touch materials, with French stitching and a red ambient light that flows across the dashboard.

Autocar Compares Nissan GT-R with…BMW M5 Sedan

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 07:29 AM PST

If you thought Road & Track's comparo with the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and the Nissan GT-R was kind of a stretch given the huge price difference between the two coupes, we wonder what you'll have to say about Autocar's video test of the Nissan GT-R and the BMW M5 saloon.

The British magazine admits that the BMW M5 and Nissan GT-R "are not conventional rivals" but adds that both "have around 550bhp, cost nearly £75k and promise brutal performance" which it says, justifies a comparison.

Opel Drops a New Batch of Photos of the Mokka Crossover

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 06:40 AM PST

We've already showed you the Mokka small crossover but today, Opel and its sister brand Vauxhall published a fresh set of photos including the first shots of the interior.

We'll remind you that the Opel Mokka and the Buick Encore that was revealed at last month's Detroit Motor Show are one and the same with the only differences concerning the design of the front grille, the interior trims and the available engine choices.

Hyundai Debuts New 2013 Elantra Coupe to Take on the Honda Civic

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 06:12 AM PST

The GT hatchback isn't the only addition Hyundai is making to the Elantra's North American lineup as the South Korean automaker also revealed the sporty looking Coupe model at the Chicago Auto Show.

While pretty simple in its execution, the transformation from four-door sedan to a two-door coupe seems to work visually.

Aside from the elongated front doors, the Coupe also gets different fog lamp surrounds, black trim on the lower part of the rear bumper and a new trunk incorporating a spoiler in the design.

It's also half an inch longer than the sedan at 178.7-inches, while the rest of the dimensions remaine the same at 69.9-inches wide, 56.5-incnes tall with a 106.3-in. wheelbase.

Hyundai says that the Elantra Coupe's total interior volume of 110.2 cubic feet and 14.8 cubic feet trunk both exceed the 2012 Honda Civic Coupe and 2012 Kia Forte Koup by "large margins".

Hyundai i30 Gains the Elantra GT Moniker for North America [28 Photos]

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 05:30 AM PST

The compact hatchback that we came to know as the Hyundai i30 in Europe, Australia and other parts of the world was introduced in North America on Wednesday as the all-new 2013 Elantra GT.

Set to make its world premiere later today at the Chicago Auto Show, the GT expands the range of the Elantra offering Hyundai a direct rival to the Ford Focus, Mazda3, Subaru Impreza and Volkswagen Golf hatchbacks.

New 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible with 650HP

Posted: 08 Feb 2012 06:08 AM PST

Some said it would be unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show while others that it was doubtful whether it would get the full 650HP V8 treatment of the tin-top model. All we know is that Ford proved them all wrong today with unveiling the 2013 Shelby GT500 Convertible that debuts at the Chicago Motor Show.

Ford says that it chose the Windy City show instead of a more high-profile show like Detroit because 20 years ago, it launched its Special Vehicles Team at the same venue. And to make sure that the car's owners don't forget it, it added SVT commemorative lighted sill plates.

Car Buying Tips To Save You Money

2012-02-08T05:23:00.001-08:00

Car Buying Tips To Save You Money

Clint Eastwood Chrysler Super Bowl Commercial

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 05:51 AM PST

The Clint Eastwood Super Bowl commercial was a very patriotic look at America and the impact the Car Industry has on the US. This commercial was a Chrysler commercial although it felt like a US workforce and Auto Industry commercial.

The Auto Industry seems to be coming on strong after the bail out with GM climbing to the top once again. The US Auto Industry is trying to catch up and make cars that are sought after and bring back confidence in the buying public.

Some are saying this was a commercial for the government and the role it played in saving the Auto Industry. What do you think?

CARSCOOP

2012-02-08T04:07:00.000-08:00

CARSCOOP

First Official Photos of 2013 Acura ILX Sedan and RDX Crossover
Spy Shots: New 2013 Porsche Cayman S Pictured Inside and Out
Is this Hyundai Driver Extremely Lucky or Talented?
Study Shows that New U.S. Market Vehicle's Fuel Economy Improved by 14 Percent from 2008-2012MY
New Mercedes-Benz B-Class gets the Brabus Treatment
And the Most Viewed Commercial during Super Bowl XLVI was….
Patent Images Show the 2013 Acura ILX Sedan in Production Form
Massive Pileup in Helsinki Involving Around 100 Vehicles Captured on Film [NSFW]
Hyundai Still Thinking About Making Genesis a Separate Luxury Brand
Bentley Continental Takes on Alpine Sports
Nissan Unveils Subtly Facelifted 370Z Ahead of the Chicago Auto Show [27 Photos + Video]
Cadillac Tells us how it Makes New ATS Sound Like it Does
How Did This Happen? Chevy Impala Explodes During Oil Change
SCOOP: Skoda Caught Trying out New Superb Scout
Fiat Panda Arrives in the UK with a Starting Price of £8,900
Tuned Dodge Challenger SRT8 Stirs up a Crowd in London
New Special Edition Fiat 500 ID Limited to 500 Units for Germany
Buick Regal Gains New Auto Transmission for GS and Standard eAssist for 2013MY
Volkswagen to Introduce Golf GTI Cabrio at the Geneva Motor Show?
Fiat Launches 2012 Punto in Europe, Releases New Photo Gallery and a Video

First Official Photos of 2013 Acura ILX Sedan and RDX Crossover

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 06:17 PM PST

We don't have to wait until Wednesday for the 2012 Chicago Auto Show to open its doors to the press to see what the production versions of Acura's 2013 ILX compact sedan and RDX crossover look like as the Japanese carmaker has just released the first official photos.

As we expected, the transition from concept to production didn't bring many changes on either model, just some minor tweaks to the bumper trims and the placing of smaller and less extravagant alloy wheels.

Starting with the ILX, while based on the current Civic, Acura has made considerable efforts to differentiate the compact model from its Honda sibling, both inside and out. Acura says that the primary target customers for the ILX are "Generation Y- successful 20 and 30-somethings moving into the luxury car ranks but looking for high-value propositions in their purchases."

Spy Shots: New 2013 Porsche Cayman S Pictured Inside and Out

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 05:04 PM PST

Next up on Porsche's product menu for 2012 is the introduction of the all-new, second-generation Cayman coupe, which is the closed roof variant of the latest Boxster roadster.

Talking about the roof that is the primary difference between the two models, our latest scoop pictures give us a very clear view of its styling.

If you take a close look at the photos of the current and next generation of the Cayman that we've added below, you'll see that in the new model, the shape of the top looks more integrated into the car's design and less of an afterthought.

Is this Hyundai Driver Extremely Lucky or Talented?

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 03:12 PM PST

To answer our own question, probably a little bit of both, though the first thing that comes to mind upon viewing the clip is that the person driving the Hyundai Getz is reckless for zipping through traffic on a road with reduced traction due to the snow and ice.

Nevertheless, you cannot but admire the fact that the driver managed to get out of this hazardous situation without hurting anyone.

There's a good chance that the Getz didn't even touch the other cars on the opposite side of the road during its crazy slalom, but we're not entirely sure about that one. Pass the jump to watch the incident which starts at around 30 seconds into the video.

Study Shows that New U.S. Market Vehicle's Fuel Economy Improved by 14 Percent from 2008-2012MY

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 02:22 PM PST

While President Obama's initiative for a significant reduction in vehicles' fuel consumption and CO2 emissions may sound very ambitious to some, a new study by the University of Michigan Transport Research Institute shows that car manufacturers have managed to improve their new cars' fuel economy by 3 mpg in the last four years.

If this doesn't sound a lot, then consider that according to the study, the average fuel economy of all 2012MY light vehicles available on the U.S. market is 21.5 mpg US (10.9lt/100km). That's a far cry from the 54.5 mpg US (4.3lt/100km) target set for 2025, but still an impressive 14 percent up or +3.0mpg from 2008MY's average of 18.9 mpg US (12.5lt/100km).

New Mercedes-Benz B-Class gets the Brabus Treatment

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 01:45 PM PST

Coinciding with the European market launch of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz B-Class, Brabus has released its first tuning take on the small MPV. For the time being, the German tuner's offerings include upgrades for the exterior, interior and the chassis with the engine kits to become available later in the year.

On the outside, Brabus has prepared an aero kit that comprises a front spoiler that attaches directly to the front bumper and a rear apron housing a diffuser and the new quad tail pipes.

And the Most Viewed Commercial during Super Bowl XLVI was….

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 01:13 PM PST

To the dismay of Patriot fans, the New York Giants won the Super Bowl XLVI. But aside from the real game on the field, there was also another game taking place on television sets. We're talking of course about the advertising war.

According to Kantar Media Audiences' commercial ratings analysis, Cadillac scored the highest audience, averaging a 43.5 average household rating with its "Green Hell" ad on the new ATS that aired at 9:37 EST.

The study also found that the ATS commercial was the most-viewed single advertising spot in U.S. television history surpassing the previous record holder, which was "Miss Evelyn," a spot for the Chevrolet Camaro in Super Bowl XLV last year.

Patent Images Show the 2013 Acura ILX Sedan in Production Form

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 12:31 PM PST

We're only a day away from the official presentation of the production version of the 2013 Acura ILX compact sedan at the Chicago motor show but we've managed to get our hands on the patent images providing us with our first look at what has changed and not over the concept model we saw in Detroit last month.

Acura had already told us that the Detroit show car was very close to the production model that will follow so it's overall styling don't come as a surprise.

Like all production models, the 2013 ILX stands a little bit higher and rides on smaller wheels, while Acura also simplified the design of the front bumper openings and replaced the concept's LED strips with regular fog lights.

Massive Pileup in Helsinki Involving Around 100 Vehicles Captured on Film [NSFW]

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 12:05 PM PST

The severe and long-lasting cold spell across Europe has led to many deaths and has been blamed for hundreds of motorway accidents around the continent including a massive pileup that took place on the Lahti highway located close to Helsinki in Finland, this past weekend.

According to media reports, the Lahti incident involved around 100 vehicles of all kind of sizes and resulted in many injuries, but thankfully, no fatalities.

In the video that follows, the passengers of one of the vehicles that lost control and ended up on a snow bank on the Lahti highway filmed some of the pileups. You can check it out after the jump.

Hyundai Still Thinking About Making Genesis a Separate Luxury Brand

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 11:38 AM PST

Korean carmakers have made impressive progress in the last decade. From below-par products that were chosen by people who wanted a new car and couldn't afford anything pricier, Hyundai and Kia models quickly become competitive in most segments.

And we're not the only ones who say this; even VW's boss is wondering why his company's products can't match Hyundai's quality in certain areas.

No matter how good a car is, though, preconceptions die hard. For certain people, the badge on the hood says a lot about not only the car, but themselves as well; no quality survey, iPad manual, road-test review or 10-speed auto transmission is not going to change that in the foreseeable future

Bentley Continental Takes on Alpine Sports

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 10:59 AM PST

Bentley is giving a new twist to ski joring, which is a winter sport that usually involves a skier being pulled by a horse or dog(s), to promote the capabilities of its all-wheel drive Continental model series.

The British automaker took the 564bhp Continental GT to Switzerland's Alpine passes at the Saanenland region and paired it up with 16-times ski joring world champion Franco Moro.

Watch how the odd pairing turned out in the video clip that follows after the jump.

Nissan Unveils Subtly Facelifted 370Z Ahead of the Chicago Auto Show [27 Photos + Video]

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 10:28 AM PST

Less than 24 hours before the grand opening of the 2012 edition of the Chicago Auto Show and Nissan has lifted the covers off its mildly updated 370Z sports car that goes on sale in the U.S. next June as a 2013 model.

The changes on all configurations of the 370Z including the Coupe, Roadster and the NISMO edition are extremely subtle.

Starting with the Coupe and Roadster, on the outside, you'll probably notice the revised front bumper that gains vertical LED daytime running lights in a similar position that the older 350Z featured reflectors.

Nissan's designers also added a red reflector to the rear fascia that replaces the previous black center cover. The regular coupe now rides on newly designed 18-inch wheels while the Sport Package equipped models gain revised 19-inch alloys, red-finish brake calipers, and what Nissan describes as "Euro-tuned" shock absorbers.

Cadillac Tells us how it Makes New ATS Sound Like it Does

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 10:00 AM PST

Nürburgring lap times are all good and well and a great marketing tool. However, for the vast majority of your average consumer, how fast a professional racing driver can lap the Nordschleife makes little to no difference at all when it comes to choosing a car.

Sure, it can be a measure of a car's handling abilities in extremes. In everyday driving, however, other things are much more important – unless your name is Walther Rorhl or you are a test driver.

Looks are important, and handling and ride even more so. Safety is, of course, paramount. Have you ever considered another aspect that is omnipresent whenever you turn on the ignition key?

How Did This Happen? Chevy Impala Explodes During Oil Change

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 09:12 AM PST

We know that there are certain dangers involved when you're servicing a car but an explosion happening after an oil change is something you don't often hear about.

The accident occurred during a regular oil change on a 2001 Chevrolet Impala sedan and was caught on film by a security camera.

The two workers are seen completing the service with one of them entering the Chevy and turning on the engine presumably to circulate the oil, at which point we see flames shoot out and then an explosion in the engine bay.

SCOOP: Skoda Caught Trying out New Superb Scout

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 08:22 AM PST

The Scout moniker is for Skoda what the Allroad nameplate is for Audi. In other words, it is used to describe the mildly tweaked "faux off-road" versions of Skoda's regular passenger models.

With the exception of the Yeti, which is a crossover anyway, the only other model in Skoda's current range (the Citigo won't launch before May) that does not include a Scout version is the flagship Superb.

But that's about to change as the Czech manufacturer was spied out in the open testing a Scout version of the roomy Superb Combi.

Fiat Panda Arrives in the UK with a Starting Price of £8,900

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 08:01 AM PST

One of the Fiat Group's most important new cars of 2012 has arrived in the UK. The first deliveries of the third generation Fiat Panda will begin at the end of this month with on-the-road prices starting from £8,900 for the base petrol model rising to £12,250 for the top-of-the-range diesel variant.

The new Panda is available at launch with a choice of three Euro 5-specification engines including a 69bhp 1.2-litre petrol, an 85bhp 0.9-litre TwinAir turbocharged two-cylinder petrol, and a 75bhp 1.3-litre MultiJet 2 turbodiesel.

Tuned Dodge Challenger SRT8 Stirs up a Crowd in London

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 07:26 AM PST

The Dodge Challenger, even in SRT8 form, may not be the quintessential sports car, but it is one of those vehicles that will grab the attention of by passers on the road – especially if it's tuned to look like a real life Hot Wheels car.

This footage of the Challenger SRT8 was captured in London. The modified muscle car is said to be owned by the London Motor Museum. You can watch the video right after the break.

New Special Edition Fiat 500 ID Limited to 500 Units for Germany

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 07:09 AM PST

Fiat continues to churn out special edition variants of its 500 city car like there's no tomorrow. The latest one is called the 500 ID and it was created exclusively for the German market. Only 500 examples will be built each carrying a base price of €13,500 (about US$17,600).

The exclusivity of the 500 ID comes in the form of its two-tone exterior color theme with matching interior trims.

Buick Regal Gains New Auto Transmission for GS and Standard eAssist for 2013MY

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 06:44 AM PST

The 2013 model year brings some updates for the Buick Regal sedan, namely a new automatic transmission option and the discontinuation of the 2.4-liter base model.

The new Aisin AF40 six-speed automatic with Driver Shift Control will be available as a no-cost option instead of the existing six-speed manual gearbox on the 270HP Regal GS. Buick says that acceleration matches the manual with an estimated 0-60 mph sprint time of 6.7 seconds.

Volkswagen to Introduce Golf GTI Cabrio at the Geneva Motor Show?

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 06:23 AM PST

You may remember that at last year's Wörthersee fest in Austria, Volkswagen showed the Golf GTI Cabrio and Golf R Cabrio concepts. Today, we learn that there's a good chance that we'll see, if not both, at least one of the drop top models entering production.

The news comes from British car magazine Autoexpress that claims Volkswagen will introduce the production version of the Golf GTI Cabrio at next month's Geneva Motor Show.

If true, it could be the last version of the sixth generation Golf before Volkswagen lifts the covers off the new model at the Paris Motor Show this fall.

Fiat Launches 2012 Punto in Europe, Releases New Photo Gallery and a Video

Posted: 07 Feb 2012 05:58 AM PST

Following its presentation at the Frankfurt motor show last year, Fiat has published new photos and a video of its subtly tweaked Punto supermini as sales begin across Europe

Perhaps the most important update for 2012 concerns the addition of the 85HP 0.8-liter two-cylinder TwinAir turbocharged gasoline engine. In addition, Fiat's engineers have added two new technologies to the 85HP 1.3-liter MultiJet 2 diesel engine, the Intelligent Alternator and Intelligent Flow, both of which help lower CO2 emissions to 90g/km.