Mazda has just announced that starting next year it will begin leasing an all electric versions of its new Mazda2 sub-compact. Few details are available, but the EV will have a driving range of 200 km (124 miles) and the lease program will be offered to government agencies and fleet customers in Japan. This expansion...
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Ferrari has just announced the official replacement for its 612 Scaglietti model, calling the new FF a revolutionary vehicle. That it certainly is, defying convention with a “shooting brake” style body, and offering both AWD and the company’s HELE start-stop system. The FF still sits four, and Ferrari claims it does so in added comfort...
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Chevrolet has announced that the Camaro SS Convertible will be the official 2011 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car. White with orange stripes, the car is styled after the ’69 Camaro pace car with 50 special edition models slated to be built. The first of the 50 will be auctioned off through the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale event this...
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If you ask the folks at Porsche‘s marketing department, they’ll tell you the German sports cars are an unforgettable driving experience. And we agree. That, however, is not the case for Jermaine Pennant, a British soccer player who recently admitted to forgetting he even owned one. According to Spanish newspaper Marca, Pennant was only reminded...
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While it doesn’t get a lot of press, Infiniti has climbed up the luxury ladder to become the fourth largest luxury brand in the U.S. And over the past two years, the company has expanded globally as well. But with sales just half those of brands like Lexus, BMW and Mercedes, Infiniti is missing something,...
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While concentrating on its newly acquired Saab brand, Dutch sports car maker Spyker is still in the business of building its own unique machines. Debuting over a year ago, the Aileron Spyder follows after the coupe model, but its about to get one major change. Powering the hard-top is a version of Audi’s 4.2-liter V8,...
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BMW has just announced a new turbocharged 4-cylinder powerplant that will first appear in the BMW X1. Replacing the current 3.0-liter straight-six overseas, it will be found under the hood when the X1 hits dealers in North America. The new TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder engine displaces just 2.0-liter but makes 245-hp at 5000 rpm and 258...
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It’s been rumored for quite some time now, but Porsche has finally confirmed plans for a 4-cylinder boxer engine. In an interview at the Detroit Auto Show, former R&D boss Wolfgang Durheimer told AutoCar that the new engine could feasibly be used for the Boxster and Cayman. It’s also believed to be introduced in the...
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Mercedes will add hybrid technology to its flagship performance vehicles as a way to improve fuel economy rather than add performance. The move is very much the opposite of the Lexus hybrid philosophy, which is designed to deliver added power without an increased carbon footprint. The news comes via Daimler exec Herbert Kohler, who is...
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Well ahead of it’s planned debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March, Mazda has announced the debut of the Minagi crossover concept. The latest vehicle to take the crossover segment further down-market, the Minagi Concept is rumored to wear the CX-5 badge and will compete in a class of cars popularized by the Nissan...
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[vs-jwplayer movieid=”5QXqGbBy0Vo” width=”640″ height=”385″ autoplay=”0″] The official unveiling of the Ford Vertrek Concept at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show gave us our first chance to explore what will eventually become the next Escape. Based on the same architecture as the 2012 Ford Focus, the Vertrek will be a global vehicle, and is also set to...
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[vs-jwplayer movieid=”Woi6jm_nfIA” width=”640″ height=”385″ autoplay=”0″] After 13 years on the market, Toyota has finally decided to expand the Prius name into a complete lineup of vehicles, starting with the Prius V. And why not; the Prius has already grown into a brand, described by Toyota Division VP and General Manager Bob Carter as being synonymous...
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After suffering significantly in the recent recession, Jaguar Land Rover, like a lot of automakers, learned a few lessons and intends to put into practice a new product strategy that would help protect the company in the future. While it’s not official, judging from JLR’s moves so far, the three key aspects of the new...
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Rumored for some time now, MINI is set to introduce a rival to the Golf GTD in Europe at the Geneva Auto Show. Powered by a 2.0-liter BMW turbo-diesel, the car should make around 143-hp and a more robust 225 ft-lbs of torque. But there’s more. MINI will reportedly introduce the more potent diesel powerplan...
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The future of Mitsubishi in America is tied very closely to its production facility in Normal, Ill. Having suffered significantly in the market over the past several years (sales for 2010 were just 55,683 units compared to 345,111 in 2002), the Japanese automaker is planning a shakeup. According to Automotive News, Mitsubishi will build vehicles...
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Lagging behind both Ford and General Motors when it comes to bringing hybrids to market, Chrysler will introduce an electrified version of its flagship 300 sedan for 2013. The 2013 Chrysler 300 hybrid will get a new 8-speed automatic transmission and it’s believed the hybrid system will rely on the company’s new Pentastar V6 engine....
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Due to overwhelming demand, not to mention lackluster sales for the original hybrid version, Honda will bring to market its CR-Z turbo model, possibly as early as this year. Facing new competition from the Hyundai Veloster, and aiming to offer something in line with higher-performance versions of the MINI Cooper, the CR-Z turbo will reportedly...
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In a bid to capitalize on the publicity surrounding this year’s Australia Grand Prix Formula 1 event, Lexus will hold the world’s first hybrid only race. The field will be made up exclusively of CT200h models, just as Lexus introduces the car to the Aussie market. Aiming to change the perception that hybrids are only...
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Hardly the most attractive car on display at the Tokyo Auto Salon, the TES Concept T-Sports might be one of the most exciting for regular folks in search of an affordable sports car. Since the first introduction of Toyota‘s FT-86 Concept, rumors have surfaced that the cost of development of the car has risen and...
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First debuting at the Australian International Auto Show, Lexus rolled out the CT200h F-Sport model as part of its display at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon. Unlike the IS-F Club Performance Accessory or the IS-F CCSR, this F-Sport model is confirmed for production. Taking the new Lexus hybrid hatchback to a more dynamic level, the...
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Looking forward to Subaru‘s version of the Toyota FT-86 Concept? Sure you are! But what if you could get your hands on another STI-tuned Toyota-derived Subie. Um….. maybe not. Unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon, the Trezia STI gets an overhaul by the legendary Subaru Technica Institute. Never heard of the Trezia? We don’t blame...
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If you’re looking for the VIP section at the Tokyo Auto Salon, this is it. The RH9 Club, is a loose network of tuner shops that have built Nissan GT-Rs that can run a 9 second quarter mile or faster. As the legend goes, the shops all meet and discuss tuning ideas and even build...
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[vs-jwplayer movieid=”6PgX0lBApyI” width=”640″ height=”385″ autoplay=”0″] Previous to its unveiling at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, Hyundai had already announced some of the most important details about the new Veloster. We were told it would be powered by a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes 138-hp and 123 ft-lbs of torque and offered with either a 6-speed...
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A year ago Honda officially announced the introduction of the HSV-010 GT race car, the company’s successor to the NSX in the Japanese Super GT Series. A purpose-built race car with a 500-hp 3.4-liter V8 engine, sadly, no production car will ever be derived from the HSV-010. That new is all the more disappointing when...
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