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japanese cars

Subaru Announces Record Year With 15 Percent Spike in Sales

Subaru Announces Record Year With 15 Percent Spike in Sales
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In a year where most automakers saw staggering sales losses that pushed many to the brink of bankruptcy, and some over it, Subaru is one of a handful of companies sad to ring in the New Year and see 2009 fade into history. With an onslaught of new products designed at a wider segment of... Continue Reading...

Report: Suzuki SX4-Based R3 MPV Concept Debuts in India

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Report: Suzuki SX4-Based R3 MPV Concept Debuts in India
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A week ahead of the Detroit Auto Show, New Delhi’s Auto Expo is increasingly becoming a big deal – especially in regards to small cars. With India likely to become one of the world’s largest markets, automakers are eager to get their foot in the door. One manufacturer that already has a huge presence in... Continue Reading...

Honda New Small Concept Targets Emerging Markets, Headed to Production in 2011

Honda New Small Concept Targets Emerging Markets, Headed to Production in 2011
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If there’s one lesson the global economic crisis taught automakers, its that the need to diversify their products and not focus too much on the high return-on-investment established markets. Now there’s plenty of talk about building low-cost cars for places like China, India and Brazil. In a bid to grow with these emerging auto markets,... Continue Reading...

Report: Nissan Axes Quest Minivan for 2010, Replacement In the Works

Report: Nissan Axes Quest Minivan for 2010, Replacement In the Works
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The minivan segment continues to shrink with Nissan announcing that it won’t offer its unattractive Quest model in 2010. A replacement is planned, but not for at least a year or two. Nissan attributes the production gap to a change in its production facilities, with the Quest being built at the company’s Canton, Mississippi plant,... Continue Reading...

Leaked: Honda CR-Z Video Stills Slip Out

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Leaked: Honda CR-Z Video Stills Slip Out
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***See AutoGuide’s LIVE 2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here*** We’ve already seen several images of Honda’s upcoming CR-Z thanks to a leaked company brochure and now we have more images of the hybrid “sports car” thanks to some leaked video stills. There’s not a lot new here, but we do get to see several new... Continue Reading...

Report: Lexus Says New V10 Will be Exclusive to LFA

Report: Lexus Says New V10 Will be Exclusive to LFA
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Yesterday we reported on rumors that the Lexus LFA’s 4.8-liter V10 engine would find its way into the upcoming GS F. Today Lexus of Europe is denying those rumors. Via Twitter, Lexus of Europe said that the high-revving V10 engine is bespoke, hinting that its pretty much exclusive to the Japanese brand’s new supercar. We... Continue Reading...

Report: Lexus GS-F to Get LFA’s V10

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Report: Lexus GS-F to Get LFA’s V10
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Over the past few weeks we’ve heard several rumors and reports that Lexus is planning to build an F version of the GS model. Designed to run against the likes of the E63 from Mercedes, CTS-V from Cadillac and M5 from BMW, even the big 5.0-liter V8 from the IS-F wouldn’t be enough to make... Continue Reading...

Video: Honda HSV-010 Sounds Even Better Than the Lexus LFA

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[vs-jwplayer movieid=”lCqY-vAX4EA” width=”560″ height=”340″ autoplay=”0″] We’re still in awe over the HSV-010 and now there’s even more testosterone pumping video of Honda’s new race car on track at Suzuka. Reportedly powered by a tiny 3.4-liter V8 engine, we can only assume it revs to typically Honda heights to achieve all 500-hp. It certainly sounds like... Continue Reading...

Spied: Honda NSX Race Car Replacement Testing at Suzuka, With Video

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Honda’s race-only replacement for the NSX has now been spied undergoing testing at Japan’s famous Suzuka track. Called the HSV-010 (HSV standing for Honda Sports Velocity), the car is powered by a 3.4-liter V8 engine that makes roughly 500-hp. The car will race in the GT500 class, where all cars are limited to around 500-hp.... Continue Reading...

Detroit Preview: Secret Toyota Hybrid Concept A Subcompact

Detroit Preview: Secret Toyota Hybrid Concept A Subcompact
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***See AutoGuide’s LIVE 2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here*** Toyota has said it will unveil a new hybrid concept car at the Detroit Auto Show, and according to recent reports it will be a subcompact and will go on sale in 2012. Two teaser photos of the car most certainly show a small car and... Continue Reading...

Leaked: More Honda CR-Z Hybrid Photos Give Detailed Look at Interior, Engine

Leaked: More Honda CR-Z Hybrid Photos Give Detailed Look at Interior, Engine
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***See AutoGuide’s LIVE 2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here*** New photos of the Honda CR-Z have surfaced online, this time showing the new hybrid sports car’s interior and engine. Inside the cabin looks quite premium and has a typically Honda design. The seats look extremely well bolstered, although head room doesn’t exactly look plentiful. There... Continue Reading...

Video: Lexus LFA Takes to The Track in Japanese Commercial

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[vs-jwplayer movieid=”zdIBR9mcIQk” width=”480″ height=”295″ autoplay=”0″] With just 500 cars being built and a price of $375,000, the LFA isn’t really the sort of thing that you make a commercial for – but Lexus went ahead and did it anyway. Besides, this isn’t about marketing the car, but the Lexus brand as a whole. The commercial... Continue Reading...

Report: Toyota Planning Striped-Down and Beefed-Up FT-86 Track Version

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Report: Toyota Planning Striped-Down and Beefed-Up FT-86 Track Version
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Toyota built the FT-86 Concept to re-energize the brand’s image and it seems to have done just that, with young auto enthusiasts the world over itching to get their hands on the production version of this entry-level rear-drive sports car. Company press releases have boasted about the car’s handling capabilities and now it seems Toyota... Continue Reading...

Report: Acura NSX Replacement Arrives to Run in Japan’s Super GT Series

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Report: Acura NSX Replacement Arrives to Run in Japan’s Super GT Series
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It’s here at last… sort of. Above is a lone photo of the replacement to the Honda/Acura NSX – at least in race car trim. Called the HSV-10 GT, or Velocity Sports Honda, this track only exotic is built to run in the GT500 class of Japan’s Super GT series. As cars in that class... Continue Reading...

Report: Ford and Mazda Agree to Continued Partnership… But for How Long?

Report: Ford and Mazda Agree to Continued Partnership… But for How Long?
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Last week any future cooperation between Ford and Mazda seemed unlikely after Ford president Mark Fields announced the two companies would no longer share platforms. Now company execs on both sides are reasserting a “long-term partnership.” Both Ford CEO Alan Mulally and Mazda CEO Takashi Yamanouchi have been in talks to discuss future collaborations. News... Continue Reading...

Rumor Mill: Acura Abandons “Tier One” Goal for Volume Sales

Rumor Mill: Acura Abandons “Tier One” Goal for Volume Sales
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Acura is reportedly moving away from its brand strategy to become a “tier one” luxury automaker in favor of volume sales. While no official word has been given by Honda or Acura representatives, the news has been reported by Honda fan site, TOV, which claims that several dealerships have been told a new strategy will... Continue Reading...

Report: Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid Officially Launched With Retail Sales Starting in Late 2011

Report: Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid Officially Launched With Retail Sales Starting in Late 2011
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After displaying a concept version of the Prius Plug-In Hybrid (PHV) at the Frankfurt, Tokyo and LA Auto Shows, today Toyota officially announced the introduction of the production model in Japan. Starting immediately and carrying over the next six months, Toyota will build and ship 600 Prius PHVs to different markets around the world with... Continue Reading...

Detroit Preview: New Toyota Dedicated Hybrid Concept to Debut in Detroit

Detroit Preview: New Toyota Dedicated Hybrid Concept to Debut in Detroit
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***See AutoGuide’s LIVE 2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here*** Toyota will debut an all-new hybrid concept vehicle at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in just a few weeks. This new concept will be a dedicated hybrid model, meaning that like the Prius, it will only be offered as a hybrid. Toyota has... Continue Reading...

Report: Nissan to Resurrect 240SX as a Genesis Coupe, FT-86 Competitor

Report: Nissan to Resurrect 240SX as a Genesis Coupe, FT-86 Competitor
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Recently we’ve heard several rumors about Nissan resurrecting its 240SX model, with each report becoming more credible. The latest comes from the folks at InsideLine, who say Nissan is in fact planning to bring back the 240 (known as the Silvia in Japan), which will be aimed at the younger and less affluent side of... Continue Reading...

Report: Volkswagen Considered Mazda Before Suzuki Deal

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Report: Volkswagen Considered Mazda Before Suzuki Deal
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Before Mazda solidified its deal to buy up a 20 percent stake in Suzuki earlier this week, it was considering adding a different Japanese automaker to its lineup. A report in Automobile magazine dissects the decision by VW and why it eventually didn’t go with Mazda, which is now almost completely independent of Ford. Despite... Continue Reading...

Report: Next Generation MX-5 Miata Could Get 70-MPG

Report: Next Generation MX-5 Miata Could Get 70-MPG
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Mazda is looking to return to its roots when the next generation MX-5 Miata debuts. According to a report by InsideLine, the car will take inspiration from the MX-5 Superlight Concept and weigh just 2,200 lbs. Mazda has already announced that starting in 2011 it aims to cut the curb weight on all of its... Continue Reading...

Report: Next Generation Nissan GT-R Could Be a 600-hp Hybrid

Report: Next Generation Nissan GT-R Could Be a 600-hp Hybrid
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Nissan’s next generation of the iconic GT-R may be a hybrid sports car. According to a report in Japan’s Best Car magazine, the R36 GT-R could use a 440-hp gasoline engine mated to a 160-hp electric motor. This would allow the car to output as much as 600-hp in some modes, while attaining impressive fuel... Continue Reading...

Report: First Photos of Mugen-Tuned Honda CR-Z Leaked

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Report: First Photos of Mugen-Tuned Honda CR-Z Leaked
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Hot on the heels of a leaked brochure outlining the many details of Honda’s upcoming CR-Z hybrid sports car, a similar brochure showing a modification package by famed Honda-tuner Mugen has appeared online. No details on the kit have been confirmed but judging from the photo we’re looking at a new aero package including front... Continue Reading...

Official: Volkswagen Buys 20 Percent Share in Suzuki

Official: Volkswagen Buys 20 Percent Share in Suzuki
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Months of rumors and a more credible report yesterday have culminated in the official news that Volkswagen will take a 20 percent share in Japanese automaker Suzuki, worth $2.5 billion. Volkswagen has its sights set on becoming the world’s largest automaker and with Suzuli’s small-car expertise, it hopes to make a large expansion into developing... Continue Reading...
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