The Fiat 500 By by Gucci will make its official North American debut during New York Fashion Week that takes place between September 8th to September 15th. The collaboration between the two Italian brands for this limited edition 500 also coincides with Gucci’s 90th anniversary. Unique to Gucci’s Fiat are signature Gucci green/red/green stripes along...
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GM may be looking to brand its new Chevy Cruze Diesel as a performance option for enthusiasts, but that doesn’t mean it won’t deliver impressive fuel economy. In fact, quite the opposite, with the new oil burner, due out next year, targeted at the lofty 50-mpg mark. Aimed directly at the Volkswagen Jetta TDI, the...
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Honda has planned to discontinue the Ridgeline in 2013, and with this move, there is an opening for a new pickup truck. The next-gen CR-V could spawn a new compact pickup variant. The CR-V is actually based on the Civic, so the pickup would be more of car based utility vehicle much like the Ridgeline....
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The third generation Smart fortwo is on its way, hitting dealers in the spring of 2012. The electric Smart car will roll off the production line in Hamback, France and will be available in more than thirty markets worldwide when released. The third generation smart fortwo electric drive features a fifty-five kW magneto-electric motor, churning...
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Hyundai plans to launch three new or refreshed models in the next year including the i30 (known here as the Elantra Touring), the new Santa Fe and the revised i20. All three vehicles will make their official debut at next months Frankfurt auto show. The Korean automaker has not released much information on the Santa...
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Ken Block has released the fourth installment of his Gymkhana video series, aptly titled Gymkhana 4, for the flatbill wearers of the internet to enjoy and play ad nauseam. We won’t spoil any of the video for you, but it’s an appropriate follow-up to the last three mini-films. Check it out below. [vs-jwplayer movieid=”btViXvIDsi0″ width=”560″...
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Each market has its favorites when it comes to cars. People in the Middle-East prefer powerful SUV’s like the Mercedes-Benz G-class, while in America the pick-up truck reigns supreme, especially the Ford F-150. In Japan, the most popular car is neither big, nor powerful, but it fills the needs of most of its motorists. Since...
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After a 27 year absence, Fiat has had a very successful launch in North America. Currently, the 500 is available in three trim levels, but the model range is set to expand next year with the introduction of the sporty Abarth version and an all-electric 500. Fiat will also launch a fifth vehicle in 2013, a...
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Mazda is working hard at its new SkyActiv platform, which includes new engines, gearboxes and chassis designs for its cars for the next decade. Mazda spoke about new gasoline engines during a recent presentation, and also touched on the possibility of offering a clever new diesel engine to our market, but they didn’t mention anything...
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Austrian-based KTM, best known for producing motorcycles (not to mention the lightweight X-Bow racer), has teamed up with the Austrian Institute of Technology to create an electric vehicle called the E3W. The E3W (Electric 3-Wheeler) can carry two passengers for up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) using a 15kW motor and lithium-ion battery, not to...
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The perpetually-grinning, happy-go-lucky Mazda 3 will be getting a facelift for 2012. But will it still be so happy? A new version of the Mazda 3 is already giggling down Japanese streets as the Mazda Axela. Its US model will make it over as early as October, with both employing the same Skyactiv 2.0-liter direct-injection...
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Summer is almost over, which means back to school shopping. Forget about pens, pencils and binders; what about picking up a new set of wheels? Surely that will make the thought of heading back to class a little better! Kelley Blue Book has put together a list of vehicles that it believes will appeal to...
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The next-gen Suzuki Swift Sport will debut at the 64th Frankfurt Auto Show on September 13. Compared to the standard Swift, the Sport model has a more aggressive exterior and promises a “high-quality” interior with, “features that heighten excitement about the driving experience.” Powering the Swift is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 134-hp, with...
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Typically a Saab news story nowadays is either to do with financial woes or plant shut downs, however, thanks to the company’s recent injection of investor cash, both these issues will be dealt with by the end of August. With plans to move forward, Saab is now talking about the future, with an eye on...
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Electric cars not green enough for you? How about a solar powered car? Ford will be working with SunPower, an established solar provider, to build a solar energy system for the Focus electric vehicle that goes on sale later this year. Solar panels will be mounted on the car owner’s house or garage, to power...
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Diesel sales have vastly improved through the end of July, up 38.5 percent, compared to the same seven- month cycle in 2010. Volkswagen has been leading the sales with the Jetta TDI and Golf TDI. Volkswagen sold 5,206 Jetta TDI models in July, bringing the diesel powered sedan’s year-to-date total to 56,717. On the other...
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Audi says its urban concept (with trendy lowercase letters) “combines elements of a racing car, a fun car and an urban car into one radical new concept.” Well, we’ll see about that come Frankfurt. The urban concept is designed, as its name alludes, to fit into the sort of tight city spaces we still manage...
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Yoichi Yokozawa, CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America confirmed that a new Lancer SE model will be arriving this fall as a 2012 model. The SE model will receive all-wheel drive, like its Ralliart and Evolution siblings, however it will be powered by the naturally aspirated engine found in the DE, ES and GTS trims....
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While Hyundai has made great strides in the compact and mid-size segments, with the new Elantra and Sonata, arguably the car that put it on the map was the sub-compact Accent. While a less-than-great piece of engineering in the past, it did serve a purpose. With the second generation of the Accent, Hyundai has infused...
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In a seemingly unprecedented move, Toyota has released pricing on the all-new 2012 Yaris… before they’ve even revealed the car. Expected to look nearly identical to the Euro-market model (above), the Yaris will start at $14,115 for the base model 3-door version, while 5-door models will start from $15,140. A 5-door SE model will get...
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Today, Nissan announced that it will be the first automaker to offer Quick Response codes on individual vehicle window stickers across its entire 2012 lineup. The QR codes link consumers to additional vehicle information, providing a free interactive shipping experience through smartphone devices. “Nissan’s new QR code program puts important decision-making information at shoppers’ fingertips...
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American consumers buying the Fiat 500 are choosing pricier packages and customized options. The mid level Sport ($17,500) model accounts for almost half of the model’s sales in the first five months of the Italian brand in the U.S. The top level Lounge ($19,500) model represents 20 percent of sales which features bigger wheels, leather seats,...
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Nissan’s CEO, Carlos Ghosn reported back in late July that “with more than 10,100 electric Nissan Leaf vehicles already sold worldwide” the Japanese automaker is “clearly the global leader in zero emission mobility” but, these numbers were never verified. However, it has now been confirmed that Nissan has officially topped the 10,000-unit milestone globally. Nissan spokeswoman Katherine...
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MINI has launched a new marketing campaign entitled ‘Manualhood’ which celebrates the manual transmissions found in the hardtop, Clubman, convertible, and Countryman. MINI is hoping to entice even more manual-friendly buyers into showrooms that feature a full line of vehicles offering manual transmissions. The campaign also provides a platform to teach drivers how to operate...
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