New Car: 2012 Chevrolet Corvette

Regular (and even irregular) readers already know this, so for those who are unfamiliar with this institution, an introduction: Hi, we’re Car and Driver, and we hate the seats in the Corvette. Today, Chevy’s plastic fantastic isn’t so much a sports car as it is a budget supercar. But, in our every encounter with it, we come away just as appalled at its seats as we are amazed at its capabilities.

Although the next-generation Vette is less than two years away, Chevrolet has nonetheless made some enhancements for 2012 models that include, at last, respectable thrones—specifically, the same ones found in the Centennial Edition Corvette. (But without the microfiber suede inserts, which will be optional.) With distinct lateral and shoulder bolsters, the seats should greatly help drivers and passengers enjoy the Corvette’s formidable performance without bouncing between armrest and center console.

Additional interior touch-ups include tweaks to the steering-wheel trim and additional padding on the center console and armrest areas. With two new tweeters on the dash, the optional Bose sound system ups its speaker count to nine, and for fancier tastes, the optional leather interior now offers contrasting stitching in red, blue, or yellow. Incidentally, the brake calipers can also be ordered in red, yellow, silver, or gray. How about one of each?

The 2012 Corvette also gets some performance-oriented upgrades as well, though the lion’s share of them go to the hard-core Z06 model, which arguably doesn’t need anything more than more grip to handle the 505 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque from its 7.0-liter V-8. Fortunately, additional grip it will get, in the form of newly available Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Zero Pressure tires. They will be available as part of the Z07 handling package for the Z06, and also for the ZR1 as part of its new PDE performance package. Measuring 285/30-19 in front and 335/25-20 in back, the new tires will help the Vette corner at more than 1.1g, according to Chevy. (That claim is not as outrageous as it may seem. We’ve recorded 1.07 in both a Z06 and a ZR1.) Also helpful are the new lightweight aluminum wheels paired with the new tires, which will be offered in satin black or machined finishes. More important, each wheel weighs about five pounds less than its counterpart on the current car.

Also new to the Z06 is Performance Traction Management, which, in a nutshell, is multiple, driver-selectable stability control programs and launch control. While we love tire smoke and yaw as much as anybody, the prospect of a more-controllable Z06 sounds good to us. Rounding out the changes for the 2012 Corvette are a newly available racing-style full-width rear spoiler for the Z06 and ZR1 as part of the Z07 and PDE packages, respectively. The Z06 also is available with a new carbon-fiber hood.

If you want to see these changes up close, your first opportunity will be a special event at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where production of the 2012 model commences this July. And if you’re us, you’re excited for another opportunity to belt in the test gear and head to the test track—this time, with better seats.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Spied: 2013 Ford Fusion

More than five years after its introduction, the Ford Fusion remains one of the Blue Oval’s most popular models, but the end is in sight for the current car. Ford is hard at work on the next generation of its mid-size sedan, which will finally ditch its antiquated Mazda-based platform and ride on bones shared with its European counterpart, the Mondeo.

Captured here as a development mule wearing much of a current Mondeo body, the second-generation Fusion will arrive next year as a 2013 model. Like the new 2012 Focus and next-gen Escape, the Fusion will adopt Ford’s Kinetic global design language, which the Mondeo has worn since 2007. Just how much the 2013 model will evolve from the current Mondeo’s appearance remains to be seen, however, as heavy camouflage on this mule covers everything that isn’t a current-gen part, and even much of what is under the wrap looks to be largely current-production.

We are more confident discussing what Ford didn’t have to disguise: powertrains. Ford will likely offer the 2013 Fusion with at least one naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine making around 170 or so hp. A powerful V-6 like the one available in the current car isn’t likely, as a turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder should take over as the top mill. The turbo 2.0-liter will make 247 hp in the upcoming Focus ST, and would do quite well as the uplevel engine in the Fusion. The hybrid will definitely return, and we expect to see its combined fuel-economy rating squeak past the 40-mpg mark. (The current hybrid’s combined figure is 39 mpg.)

Our hope is that at least one of these engines will come with a traditional manual transmission (the European Mondeo certainly will offer the option), but six-speed automatics and dual-clutch trannies will do the shifting for the majority of American Fusions. More significant, perhaps, the Fusion will receive a fair amount of Euro-flavored chassis tuning to match its European styling. That bodes well for the Fusion: The more European Ford’s U.S.-market products feel, the more warmly they tend to be received—we just crowned the Focus champion of a hard-fought five-car comparison test. If the next Fusion is anything like its little brother, Ford won’t have any trouble maintaining the car’s sales momentum.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class 2011

Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class 2011



Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class 2011



Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class 2011

Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class 2010

Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class 2010



Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class 2010



Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class 2010

New Concept Car: Zagato TZ3 Stradale

Here's how to celebrate in style! Italian coachbuilding firm Zagato has unveilied a new addition to its TZ line up, the TZ3 Stradale, introduced as part of the firm's ongoing centenery celebrations in Alfa Romeo's honour.

While there's an Alfa badge on the bonnet, a trademark triangular front grille and swoopy styling normally associated with the Italian brand, the car is in fact American underneath. The stunning carbon-fibre bodywork hides the mechanicals from a Dodge Viper ACR - that means an 8.4-litre V10 engine with 600bhp, enough power to blast from 0-62mph in under four seconds.

It marks the fourth addition to Zagato's TZ range, which includes the TZ and TZ2 from the sixties as well as the TZ3 Corsa unveiilied last year at the Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza on Lake Como, Italy.

That model was based on the Alfa 8C Competizione, but remained a one-off track-only special. The TZ3 Stradale on the other hand will be made in extremely limited numbers. Three have already been sold, for an undisclosed price, to American, Japanese and European collectors with another six still up for grabs. For more details click here.

Thanks to: Auto Express

Mercedes-Benz GL-Class 2011

Mercedes-Benz GL-Class 2011



Mercedes-Benz GL-Class 2011



Mercedes-Benz GL-Class 2011

Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class



Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class



Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class

Hot News: Renault Plans Smaller Evoque

Renault’s Captur, the small crossover concept unveiled at the recent Geneva motor show, will be developed into two showroom models, say company insiders.

The mainstream version will be a small five-door similar in size to the Nissan Juke, with which it will share a Renault-Nissan Alliance platform. The other will be a three-door version, possibly with some unique design features; think of the three-door Range Rover Evoque, but on a smaller scale.

The coupé version could be the first of its kind in this class and will provide Renault with an unusual model of similarly stylish appeal to the Mini Cooper and Citroën’s DS3, against which Renault currently offers little competition.

The production version of the five-door Captur should appear well within two years, and the three-door probably shortly after.

Renault’s next concept will be a van inspired by the theme of ‘work’, the next stage in the cycle of life that design chief Laurens van den Acker has employed to rekindle Renault’s design flair.

The small, fully glazed van will hint at the next-gen Kangoo. It will appear first at the Frankfurt show this autumn.

Thanks to: Autocar

New Concept Car: LUXGEN Neora

Little-known Taiwanese manufacturer LUXGEN has unveiled a groundbreaking new plug-in saloon. With an impressive claimed range of 249 miles per charge – way over twice as far as a Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-MiEV will travel – and with much more power than both of them combined, the Neora is an enticing proposition.

LUXGEN says that the Neora’s electric induction motor produces 241bhp, which is enough to whisk the 1600kg saloon to 62mph in 6.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 155mph, thanks to its aerodynamic outline. The company claims that the front wheel drive Neora’s 48kWh lithium ion batteries can be 80 percent recharged within one hour.

The interior is packed with technology including a heads up display, a LED screen for rear passengers and another nine inch screen on the dash for navigation functions and communication with other vehicles. The Neora’s centre console uses recycled wood, which is free from processing and dyeing.

LUXGEN has hinted that the concept will become a reality, but not whether it will make it to the UK. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

New Car: 2011 Bentley Continental Supersport ISR

Bentley has released its most powerful car ever, the Continental Supersports Convertible ISR (Ice Speed Record). The car was built to celebrate the Supersports convertible breaking the world ice speed record in February with a speed of 205.48mph in the hands of four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen.

Limited to just 100 cars worldwide, the new ISR pumps out 631bhp and 800Nm from its six litre twin-turbo W12 engine, which helps it sprint to 62mph in 4.0 seconds and on to 100mph in 9.5 seconds. Four-wheel drive, 420mm carbon ceramic front discs and eight piston calipers provide grip and stopping muscle to match the power. A new exhaust provides a rortier exhaust note under acceleration.

Differentiating the ISR from the standard car is a dark grey ‘metallic look’ soft top and 20-inch dark tinted alloy wheels. The four seat interior is livened up with generous helpings of leather, diamond-quilted alcantara and red-weaved high-gloss carbon fibre, while red piping and stitching has been added to the seats, doors, steering wheel and gearshift panels. The car’s infotainment system includes a 30GB hard drive and eight-inch touchscreen which controls the car’s audio system, telephone, suspension settings and sat nav.

Bentley is also offering a Mulliner design package for more extroverted styling which includes bright red alloy wheels with a diamond turned metallic finish, red accented bonnet vents and a set of bold “Supersports ISR” graphics along the car’s flanks.

Despite the performance the ISR can run on petrol, E85 (bio-ethanol) or any combination of the two. This offers a potential reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 70% between fuel being mined and being burnt in the engine.

The ISR is available to order now at Bentley dealerships, priced at £189,300. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

New Car: 2013 Opel/Vauxhall Astra GTC

Finally, it’s official... We revealed the best spy shots yet of Vauxhall’s new three-door Astra here – but only now has the company released approved pictures of the sleek, production-ready car.

The roadgoing version retains the dramatic styling of the model seen at last year’s Paris Motor Show, including the deep new front grille, blistered wheelarches and swept-back LED ‘eyebrow’ headlights.

At the back, the sloping roofline tapers neatly into the curved tail-lamps. And although details such as the 21-inch alloys and low rear bumper are axed, it will still be one of the best-looking hatches on the market, and take the fight to Renault’s Mégane Coupé.

Vauxhall is promising the GTC will be the finest-handling car in its class, and will seat five adults in comfort. Full details of the engine line-up and pricing won’t be revealed until UK sales begin on 7 June. Expect to see the same petrol and diesel units as in the five-door, with a 300bhp VXR model due early next year.

The production GTC will make its world debut at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show, ahead of first customer deliveries later in the autumn. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

New Car: 2012 Opel/Vauxhall Corsa OPC/VXR

Infamous for cramming ever more power into ever smaller cars Vauxhall’s VXR hooligans have squeezed an extra 13bhp into the Corsa VXR Nurburgring Edition.

With a new total of 202bhp and 280Nm of torque from its 1.6 litre turbocharged engine the little Corsa will race from 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds and on to a credible 143mph. These increases result from tweaks to the turbocharger and engine management, a sports exhaust and the engine’s new-found appetite for 98 RON petrol.

Helping to harness the extra muscle the chassis and brakes have been beefed up and a mechanical multi-plate limited slip differential added to improve traction and reduce understeer. The VXR Nurburgring also sits on specially commissioned Bilstein springs and dampers that were tuned on the Nurburgring’s notorious Nordschleife north loop and lower the car by 15-20mm.

New 30 per cent lighter Brembo brakes add more stopping bite while the Corsa’s ABS, traction control and stability control have all been recalibrated. Helping the Nurburgring Edition to stand out from lesser Corsas are a stainless steel dual exhaust, forged high gloss grey alloy wheels and Nurburgring logos inside and out.

The Corsa VXR Nurburgring Edition goes on sale in late May at £22,295. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

Spied: 2013 Cadilac SRX Plug-In Hybrid

Cadillac can’t seem to settle on a powertrain for its hot-selling SRX. The second-gen crossover was introduced in 2010 with Saab’s turbocharged 2.8-liter six as an option (it was sacked early this year; no big loss) and a 3.0-liter V-6 as the base engine (also gone for 2012). Both are being replaced by GM’s 3.6-liter V-6, which will be the only available motivator for now. A plug-in hybrid version—caught here by our covert photogs—should join the lineup soon enough. The 2013 model year also will bring a mild interior update with touch-sensitive controls.

These fresh spy shots show a pretty plain-looking SRX with one major exterior difference: a second fuel door stitched into the left rear quarter panel. (If it weren’t for the sloppy welds, we may not have noticed the extra orifice.) This Caddy’s range will be extended not by a second gas tank, but by a plug-in hybrid system charged through the port under that flap. And if you had any doubt that this is indeed a hybridized Cadillac, check the hybrid-badged Dell laptop sitting inside. Proof positive.

The system likely will be an evolution of the plug-in system almost offered on the Saturn Vue Green Line two-mode hybrid—the brand was killed before that ute could see the light of a showroom. As such, a V-6 (smaller than the 3.6 used in Saturn’s iteration) or even an efficient four-cylinder would suck the gas, while a lithium-ion battery would supply amps. The trap-door grilles offered in the eAssist Buick LaCrosse as well as the upcoming Chevy Malibu Eco may be applied here to aid aerodynamics.

Aside from the engineer’s computer cluttering up the cabin, this prototype show some other interior updates coming to all SRXs. Chief among them is a static center touch-screen display, which replaces the pop-up-toaster-style unit on the current car. Below that, you may notice a complete lack of controls. Instead, there’s some metal trim that resembles a Guy Fawkes mask, which we expect will become the touch-sensitive interface for multimedia, navigation, and climate-control adjustments. GM has already gone this route on the Volt, and it’s similar to Ford’s MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch systems, which use capacitive-touch sensors and sliders in place of buttons and knobs. Whereas the Volt gets its functions silkscreened onto the respective button-replacing areas, Cadillac appears to be going the backlit route, possibly so that functions can be changed depending on what’s being controlled.

The same style of controls also can be seen on the steering wheel, where the all-black areas will light up with their functions. The wheel sits below a revised gauge package; the hood over the pod has been reshaped, and the gauges themselves go more traditional, eschewing the current car’s center LCD. We expect most, if not all, of its info—plus hybrid-specific data—will instead be seen on the new, bigger center screen.

The updated interior should arrive at the same time as the plug-in model, and be a part of all SRX variants, regardless of powertrain. The touch-sensitive infotainment controls probably will spread throughout the Cadillac lineup. The CTS is a good candidate for a retrofit, and we already spotted the system in the upcoming XTS. As for the plug-in model, we’re hopeful Cadillac can get acceptably large rocker-panel decals to announce its hybridity—they’ve worked so well to move hybrid Escalades.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Mercedes-Benz GL-Class 2010

Mercedes-Benz GL-Class 2010



Mercedes-Benz GL-Class 2010



Mercedes-Benz GL-Class 2010

PURDUE'S CELERITAS CAR SCORES 2,200MPG

With fuel costs topping $4.50 per gallon in some components from the country, a auto that expenses a fraction of a penny per mile to drive (and looks like it belongs on the street) is certain to obtain our focus. The 275-pound, 2,200MPG Celeritas appears to be the closest we have come to getting a solar-powered auto that could one day get for the streets, even so, which explains why the car scored first prize inside the Urban Concept category in this year's Shell Eco-marathon. Whilst it can only transport a single person (the driver),

Read more »

Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

Mercedes-Benz GL-Class



Mercedes-Benz GL-Class



Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

GEELY ENGLON SC7 RV

GEELY ENGLON SC7 RV

Becoming a part owner of Manganese Bronze, the maker of the famous London Black Taxis, Geely thought it could be a great notion to introduce a neighborhood version inspired (but not based on) by the original model. The SC7-RV's styling is an odd mix of classic and modern day lines with the car measuring four,390mm in length, 1,820mm in width, and 1,555mm in height. Power comes from many different gasoline and diesel engines matted to either manual or automatic gearboxes.

EMGRAND EC6-RV GEELY “MINI COOPER,”

The Emgrand EC6-RV is modest hatchback model with a style that appears to have been influenced by one or far more cars from Mini’s lineup. The five-door hatch measures 3,845mm lengthy, 1,763mm wide, and 1,430mm tall, with power coming from either a 1.5-liter naturally-aspirated four, or a 1.3-liter turbocharged engine with a manual or a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission

2011 GEELY GLEAGLE GS-CC

 GLEAGLE GS-CC

At the Shanghai Show, Geely launched a coupe-convertible version of its GS Cabrio, known as the GS-CC. The two-door model attributes a two-piece electrically folding hardtop that stows away inside the trunk at a push of a button.

Read more »

GLEAGLE GX6 SHANGHAI 2011

GLEAGLE GX6 SHANGHAI 2011

one of Geely’s most intriguing proposals is the GX6 little crossover that features a very Kia-like interior design. The GX6 has a 2461mm lengthy wheelbase, and measures 4,120mm long, 1,755mm wide, and 1,600mm tall.

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GLEAGLE GC6 SHANGHAI MOTOR SHOW

GLEAGLE GC6 SHANGHAI MOTOR SHOW

The GC6 is an reasonably priced compact-size family sedan with a wheelbase of 2,600mm [168.9-in.] that measures four,470mm in length [176-in.], 1,730mm in width [68.1-in.],

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GEELY MCCAR AT SHANGHAI MOTOR SHOW

We’re not sure how Geely came up with its name, but the McCAR is a idea study for a sub-compact model with sufficient space to pack a little foldable electric scooter behind the rear hatch. The urban commuter is created to be equipped with either a gasoline-electric hybrid or a fully electric powertrain having a 12kW battery, great sufficient for a driving range of about 150 kilometers or 93 miles.GEELY MCCAR AT SHANGHAI MOTOR SHOW

Now this actually was clever. A tiny urban automobile with a choice of battery or hybrid power - and there is even a scooter within the back.

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NEW LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR LP700-4 IN NEW PROMO FILM

Whether or not you’re a diehard Lamborghini fan or just get excited about exotic supercars in general, you’ll find that the new Aventador LP 700-4

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Test Drive 2011 Holden VE Series II SS V8 Ute

Test Drive 2011 Holden VE Series II SS V8 Ute

2011 is often a quite unique year for two Australian motoring icons. For 1, it’s the 50th anniversary of Queensland’s first permanent, purpose-built raceway: Lakeside Park. It’s also marks the 60th anniversary of Holden’s FX Utility, a vehicle widely regarded as by enthusiasts to be the forefather of the house grown Aussie “ute”. In recognition of these historic occasions, we took a Holden VE Series II SS Ute for a test drive and headed north to attend the first of Lakeside’s three 50th anniversary events. Component 1 of this feature will cover my impressions of the Ute, whilst part two will take inside the event itself. So let’s get cracking.

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Mercedes-Benz G-Class 2011

Mercedes-Benz G-Class 2011



Mercedes-Benz G-Class 2011



Mercedes-Benz G-Class 2011

NY Show 2011 Highlights: Suzuki Kizashi Apex Concept

Suzuki’s Kizashi line consists of, well, just the Kizashi sedan. One engine, front- or all-wheel drive, stick or CVT. We don’t mind—a fact attested to by the praise littering the logbook in our long-term test car—but Suzuki needs more flavors of Kizashi if it wants to be a player in the mid-size sedan segment. At the 2011 New York auto show, the company is previewing two directions in which it could expand the Kizashi line: the hybrid EcoCharge concept and the rather more invigorating turbocharged Apex concept.

Behind the Kizashi Apex’s aggressive fascia and superbike-inspired graphics is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder boosted to between 275 and 300 hp by a Garrett turbocharger and an air-to-liquid intercooler. (That’s about 100 hp more than the production car’s max of 185.) The Apex is equipped with a six-speed manual transmission. Suzuki implies that if it puts this car into production—and we think it will—a manual will be the only choice. We definitely approve.

Other cool features found on the Kizashi Apex are LED fog lights, 19-inch wheels in a finish Suzuki calls “burnt asphalt,” and an interior finished in an intense combination of black leather and blue Alcantara.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

NY Show 2011 Highlights: Suzuki Kizashi EcoCharge Concept

Suzuki’s Kizashi line consists of, well, just the Kizashi sedan. One engine, front- or all-wheel drive, stick or CVT. We don’t mind—a fact attested to by the praise littering the logbook in our long-term test car—but Suzuki needs more flavors of Kizashi if it wants to be a player in the mid-size sedan segment. At the 2011 New York auto show, the company is previewing two directions in which it could expand the Kizashi line: the hybrid EcoCharge concept and the rather more invigorating turbocharged Apex concept.

At the other end of the spectrum is the kinder, gentler Kizashi EcoCharge hybrid concept. Combining a 2.0-liter inline-four producing 144 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque with a 20-hp electric motor and a six-speed automatic transmission, the pearl-white concept is said to achieve a 25-percent gain in highway fuel economy. That would take it from the 30 mpg of the current CVT Kizashi—with its 2.4-liter—to somewhere around 36 mpg. Since hybrids tend to offer greater benefits in the city than on the highway, its overall combined rating also could end up over 30 mpg.

As much as we dig the idea of a Kizashi with another 100 or so horsepower, variations with this sort of fringe appeal aren’t likely to get the Kizashi onto more shopping lists. Then again, they aren’t likely to knock it off anybody’s list, either. Bring 'em on.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

NY Show 2011 Highlights: 2012 Subaru Impreza

One of the more important debuts at this year’s New York auto show is the 2012 Subaru Impreza, shown in both sedan and five-door body styles. But the 2012 Impreza is more than just another transportation appliance; if you read Car and Driver with any regularity, you know that the Impreza is nothing but a WRX or an STI waiting to spread its turbocharged wings.

Subaru previewed the 2012 Impreza last fall at the Los Angeles auto show with the sinister-looking Impreza concept. Alas, the production version is predictably tamer, though it does have a more-protuberant chin, more-defined “hawk-eye” headlamps, and bulging fenders. Interesting details include a sharply raked windshield that starts nearly eight inches further forward on the hood than the glass on today’s model. Similarly, the beltline is considerably lower, and the windows are enlarged for improved visibility. Near-vertical body sides with squared-off bumper caps help reduce drag, à la Toyota Prius. Especially from the rear three-quarter angle, the 2012 Impreza is more than a little busy, but we’ll take busy over outright ugly any day.

While the 2012 Impreza looks bigger than the 2011 model, the only dimension that actually grew was its wheelbase, which increases from 103.2 inches to 104.1. Both hatchback and sedan models retain their 68.5-inch width and their overall lengths. Still, cargo space for the five-door manages to increase by 3.4 cubic feet with the rear seats up and by 5.3 with them folded. Best of all, the Impreza actually lost about 160 pounds, weight savings we hope will also apply to the forthcoming WRX and STI.

Subaru will offer the car in base, Premium, and Limited trim levels, but all Imprezas offer the same level of safety equipment, which now includes a knee airbag for the driver and the stability control that is government-mandated on all vehicles for 2013. What the Impreza seems to lack, however, is stirring interior design. Even in cushy Limited form, the interior wow factor is about nil.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

NY Show 2011 Highlights: Scion FR-S Concept

Whether you call it the Subelica or the Celibaru, Toyota’s version of the new rear-drive 2+2 sports coupe being co-developed with Subaru and codenamed the FT-86 will land in the U.S. as a Scion.

Blazing red, with a gaping maw and atomic-insect headlights, the two-door Scion FR-S (which means Front-engine, Rear-wheel-drive, Sport—woo, clever!) may represent a sort of defibrillator to the chest of Toyota’s youth division, where sales remain lackluster since the 2007 redesign of the xB and 2008 introduction of the xD. The tC was re-skinned this year, but looks starkly similar to the outgoing car. Also coming to Scion showrooms in July is a three-door mini-car called the iQ.

Just a clay model with no interior right now, the FR-S is currently slated to arrive in Scion showrooms in mid-2011, although the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan have thrown Toyota's product timing into chaos. As Scion is strictly a North American brand, a Toyota-badged version will launch simultaneously in Europe and Asia. Expect that car and the production Subaru version to show up at this fall's Tokyo show.

With a length of 168.2 inches and a wheelbase of 101.2 inches, the FR-S is one to two inches shorter in both measurements than the last-generation Celica. Its 2.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-four engine—sourced from Subaru—uses Toyota’s D4-S fuel-injection system, which features both port- and direct injection and switches between them to optimize efficiency.

Horsepower figures were not quoted, but with direct injection in the mix to help boost specific output, the engine should be good for at least 200 hp. Toyota says the mounting of the flat-four low and behind the front axle will keep the center of gravity down and centered for better handling. It also helps front-to-rear weight distribution.

Buyers will have a choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. A limited-slip differential will be standard. It’s hard to say how much of the FR-S is real (the roof, doors, hood, and trunk are probably production-spec) and how much is auto-show glam. The staggered-width wheels by Five Axis—20 x 8.5-inchers in front and 20 x 10.5 in rear—are certainly show-stand parts that won’t make it to production. The exaggerated rear undertray with dual exhaust “exits”—read: one exhaust, two tailpipes—also may be extra makeup for the show.

The arrival of the FT-86 as a Scion surprised some (especially if they had been under a rock for the last week), but division vice president and general manager Jack Hollis says the car was slated to be a Scion early in its development. It definitely represents a commitment by Toyota to the floundering brand.

The production FR-S will have narrow fenders, but likely will be similar in overall styling to this concept. According to Hollis, the car has undergone a styling makeover since Toyota president Akio Toyoda declared last year that the company's styling is too staid, and that it should be more passionate. An FT-86 concept shown at the 2009 Tokyo auto show had more slab-like sides and a less-aggressive face. Also, the FR-S's rear end draws strongly from the Lexus LF-A supercar, a characteristic not on the original FT-86 show car.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

NY Show 2011 Highlights: 2012 Porsche Panamera S Hybrid

Volkswagen's corporate parts bin is a great resource, and it's something from which all of its brands get to pluck. This includes Porsche, which took the easy route of adding a gas-electric version to the Panamera lineup by performing a little hybrid-system transplant surgery. The result, the 2012 Panamera S hybrid, makes its debut at the 2011 Geneva show.

The combination of a supercharged, direct-injected 3.0-liter V-6 and an electric motor is not only used in the Cayenne, but also in the Volkswagen Touareg hybrid; the 333-hp gasoline engine is an Audi unit that, in different states of tune, can also be found sans hybrid tech in the S4, S5 convertible, A6, and Q7. With the assistance of a 47-hp electric motor, total power reaches 380 hp, channeled here only to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. All other Panameras sold in the U.S. come with a ZF-supplied seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission, while Europeans also can choose a six-speed manual.

Porsche believes the Panamera hybrid's performance is good enough to justify adding the "S" badge. In reality, however, its performance may be closer to that of the standard, V-6–powered Panamera. With the hybrid, Porsche claims a 0-to-60-mph time of 5.7 seconds; top speed is 168 mph. The last 300-hp base Panamera we tested, equipped with the PDK and aided by all-wheel drive, hit 60 mph in 5.0 seconds and went on to a top speed of 160 mph. The corresponding data for the 400-hp, V-8–powered Panamera S: 4.7 seconds and 174 mph. That said, Porsche tends to conservatively estimate performance, but the lack of the fast-acting PDK transmission and all-wheel drive likely will hamper the hybrid’s launch.

Despite all of the power, the hybrid should shine in terms of fuel consumption, at least in the city. The regular Panamera S is rated for 16 mpg city/24 highway, and we (conservatively) estimate that the hybrid will return 21 mpg in the city and 25 highway. We'll have to wait for the EPA to rate the car for official figures.

What's a hybrid without the option to drive in full-electric mode? Maybe not as satisfying, as buyers of the Mercedes-Benz S400 hybrid are experiencing (or, rather, not experiencing). But the Panamera won't disappoint: Drivers can accelerate up to 50 mph on electricity alone, although the range in this mode is just 1.3 miles. Additionally, when the driver lifts off the accelerator at higher speeds, the gas engine will shut off and then be declutched from the drivetrain. Porsche calls this "sailing"; we'd call it coasting, and with the function active up to 103 mph, the cops will sometimes call it speeding.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

NY Show 2011 Highlights: 2012 Porsche Panamera Turbo S

This new Turbo S model is the fastest, most powerful variant of the Porsche Panamera yet.

The twin-turbo 4.8-litre V8 super-saloon has had a power hike over the Turbo model on which it is based, from 493bhp to 542bhp, taking it beyond its Mercedes S63 AMG (518bhp) and BMW 760Li (537bhp) rivals. The Turbo S’s top speed is 191mph, 3mph higher than the standard Turbo, while its 3.8sec 0-62mph time makes it quicker than a 911 GT3 RS (4.0sec).

Porsche engineers have fitted titanium-aluminium turbine wheels to the turbochargers and revised the engine control management of the Turbo S to boost power and performance. Torque is also up in the S over the standard Turbo, from 510lb ft to 553lb ft when driven in Sport and Sport Plus modes, and up to 590lb ft is available with an overboost function.

These increases have been made without sacrificing economy, which stays at 24.6mpg combined, due to the lighter weight and lower inertia of the turbine and compressor wheel in the turbochargers.

Several dynamic systems are offered as standard on the Turbo S. Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control boosts cornering stability, while Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus works with an electronically controlled limited-slip differential to apply a variable torque split to the rear wheels for greater traction and agility. A Sport Chrono Package Turbo revises suspension and engine controls for a more “sporting” drive in Sport Plus mode.

Styling changes include new 20-inch Turbo II wheels, a sports exhaust and a two-tone leather interior. The Turbo S goes in sale in June, priced from £122,623, a near £20k hike over the standard Turbo.

Thanks to: Autocar

NY Show 2011 Highlights: 2012 Nissan Versa

Nissan’s biggest news at the New York auto show is small in scale, but important in terms of a market segment that’s likely to expand in direct proportion to escalating fuel prices. Meet the 2012 Versa sedan, the second generation of Nissan’s four-door subcompact. While it will again have a five-door hatchback sibling, Nissan is spreading the auto-show love and brought only the sedan to New York. Riding on a new architecture with new sheetmetal and a revised engine, the 2012 Versa is about as new as new gets in the car biz.

Describing the new Versa’s shape as forgettable might sound like a backhanded compliment, but let us explain. The front-end styling of the original Versa drew catcalls and Bronx cheers from just about everyone everywhere it went. So the good news with the redesign is that the first gen’s jack-o-lantern visage is gone, replaced by a much more conventional design similar to other contemporary Nissans. It suffers from a certain degree of inconspicuousness, but, on the other hand, it can’t be called ugly—and it manages to look like a bigger car.

That’s a tribute to the design, because at 175.4 inches overall, the 2012 car is actually 0.6 inch shorter than its predecessor. The illusion is probably rooted in the proportions. Nissan has reduced the front overhang, added 2.7 inches to the rear overhang (which pays off in trunk space), and reduced the Versa’s height by 1.2 inches, bringing it down to 59.6. Inside, Nissan claims the new sedan’s rear seat provides more legroom than a BMW 5-series’, a Lexus LS460’s, or a Mercedes E-class’s. Nissan lists total interior volume at 90 cubic feet. And speaking of volumes, the new car’s trunk expands to 14.8 cubic feet, versus 13.8 for the current sedan.

That’s all thanks to the Versa’s new foundations. Although its wheelbase, width, and track are unchanged, Nissan insists that the architecture is new—specifically, that it is a new global platform, V (replacing B). The V platform is simpler than the structure it replaces, using 20 percent fewer components, with a corresponding reduction in curb weight of 150 pounds, a laudable achievement in an age of steadily escalating mass (in response to steadily escalating safety mandates from NHTSA).

Thanks to: Car and Driver

NY Show 2011 Highlights: 2012 Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe

Mercedes is aiming to outgun BMW’s M3 coupé and the Audi RS5 with this hardcore AMG version of its recently launched two-door C-class.

The C63 AMG coupé produces up to 480bhp from its normally aspirated V8 motor, putting it well clear of its two German rivals and giving the model raw acceleration that wouldn’t disgrace a mid-engined supercar.

Unlike the recent CLS AMG, the C-class coupé from Mercedes’ in-house tuning division sticks with the familiar 6.2-litre, normally aspirated V8 engine. In the latest spec, the unit produces 451bhp and 443lb ft, more power and considerably more torque than the BMW (295lb ft) or the Audi (317lb ft). That’s enough to take the C-class from 0-62mph in 4.5sec, with a limited top speed of 155mph.

However, Mercedes will also offer an AMG Performance Package for the car, swapping the front brakes for composite items, adding interior flourishes and adopting the pistons, connecting rods and crankshaft from the version of the engine used in the gullwing SLS AMG supercar. The tweaks increase power to 480bhp (torque stays the same), cutting a further 0.1sec from the 0-62mph time.

Just one transmission is available: AMG’s seven-speed Speedshift automatic. It offers a number of modes, accessed via a rotary controller (another SLS AMG carryover), that cut shift times to as little as 100ms. There’s also launch control.

The C63 AMG coupé gets a different chassis set-up from the regular two-doors, with three-link front suspension, multi-link rear suspension and wider track at both ends. There’s also more negative camber, thicker anti-roll bars and revised spring and damper rates.

The visual cues include an AMG front splitter, LED daytime running lights, side air vents, five-spoke AMG alloy wheels, bespoke side sill panels, a rear diffuser and twin chrome exhaust tips.

Interior features include an AMG performance steering wheel (coated in Alcantara if you specify the Performance Package), metallic trim, AMG sports seats, covered with a new breathable man-made fibre called Dinamica, and piano black finish on the instrument panel.

The C63 AMG coupé will be officially launched in July, around a month after the regular two-doors. Final prices have yet to be specified, but expect them to be around the same figure as the M3 coupé’s £57,190 sticker.

Thanks to: Autocar

NY Show 2011 Highlights: Mercedes A-Class Concept

With automakers from St. Petersburg to Seoul presenting show cars heralded as the future of wheeled urban logistics, the Mercedes-Benz A-class concept taking the stand at this year’s New York auto show is a breath of fresh air. (It also will be simultaneously unveiled at the Shanghai auto show.) There are no electric motors spinning the rubber here—a conventional engine and transmission motivate the curvaceous car. It previews Benz’s upcoming competitor for the Audi A3, Volkswagen Golf, and BMW 1-series.

Benz’s first preview of its next-gen small cars came via the F800 Style concept, and this A-class concept moves the design language one step closer to reality. Still, despite this car’s connection to an actual future product, don’t expect everything from the concept on the stand in New York to be duplicated in production.

Among the A-class’s pure auto-show fantasies: the LED-lit turn signals delicately integrated into the sliver of a mount for the side-view mirrors and the “star-filled sky” pattern on the grill and lower air dam. The same can be said for the wheels—very cool, but very much not happening.

Other aspects of the concept’s design are no less bold—but more realistic. The prominent strake starting behind the front wheel and sweeping up to the top of the rear fender is abrupt; it could be toned down for the real deal, and the same goes for the AMG-esque hood strakes. The elegant side-window profile recalls those on several Mercedes coupes, and the ginormous headlights, which here are illuminated by LEDs and integrate fiber-optic daytime running lights, are straight outta the CLS.

Both the current, second-gen A-class and its predecessor were front-wheel drive, and the next A will be no different. The concept packs a transversely mounted 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood—it’s turbocharged and direct-injected, and Mercedes says it’s good for 210 hp. The engine is from the automaker’s newest family of four-bangers. It’s hooked to a new dual-clutch transmission, and though the company is mum on its number of gears or provenance, we’d guess that it has at least seven cogs.

Unlike previous A-classes, however, this model and its spin-offs—more on those below—will sit much closer to the ground. The first two A-class generations had a “sandwich” floor meant to accommodate the batteries for an electric-drive system. It never happened in much volume—some 500 A-class E-cells were leased—but the layout meant that even the conventionally powered cars looked like mini MPVs. As the new A-class concept demonstrates, the dorky upright look will be reserved for the B-class, while the A is more reminiscent of Volkswagen’s racy Euro-market Scirocco.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

NY Show 2011 Highlights: Lexus LF-Gh Concept

The Lexus GS sedan can be considered the Jan Brady of luxury sedans. Capable, but generally unremarkable and hardly a segment-smasher. Evidently, Lexus’s middle child is ready to shake things up, and will strut its stuff as the LF-Gh hybrid concept on the show stand at the 2011 New York auto show.

Lexus claims to have started with a clean sheet of paper, but from the side it looks a lot like a scaled-up version of the IS sedan, while the body-side contouring appears virtually identical to that of the big LS. The LF-Gh measures 192.5 inches long by 73.6 inches wide, making it about 2.5 inches longer and almost two inches wider than today’s GS450h. However derivative of its production siblings the car may be, it should be noted that the LF-Gh’s more-conventional sedan shape represents a shift from the fast profile of GS generation three. But don’t rule out the introduction of a sexy five-door fastback to the GS lineup, to counter the likes of the Audi A7; it’s possible that the Japanese company could jump on that German-led bandwagon.

Among the immediately noticeable stylistic elements are LED headlamps rendered in funky bubbled glass; an attractive rear end with razor-sharp taillamps that wrap around the side; and of course, the massive, pinched “spindle-shaped” grille, which shows there’s a pulse at the Lexus design studio—it’s bound to stir up some controversy. Also worth noting are the separate L-shaped banks of LED running lamps up front and the sharp sheetmetal-to-bumper cutline at the rear. Lexus says that the LF-Gh concept “explores a minimization of traditional features such as side mirrors and door handles,” the result of which looks pretty cool here but definitely won’t make production.

The company was short on details regarding the interior other than to mention it will be driver-oriented—a sharp departure from the current GS—and will feature a clock with a three-dimensional face. (So, uh, a regular clock?) Lexus also declined to say much about what’s under the skin of the concept, other than to mention the 20-inch wheels are turned by one of its hybrid powertrains; presumably, this means a V-6/electric combo that will beat the current GS450h’s 292 hp, 267 lb-ft of torque, and EPA city/highway ratings of 22/25 mpg. Production models will certainly also have six- and possibly eight-cylinder gas-only options.

Oh, and get used to that grille—it previews the faces of Lexuses to come.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

NY Show 2011 Highlights: 2012 Kia Soul

Kia’s well-designed, well-equipped, and rather fun Soul has made a lot of friends around here. Now, two years after the boxy hatch’s launch, Kia is showing off a mid-cycle refresh for the 2012 model. Previewed at the 2011 New York auto show, the update includes more content, more power, and a few surprising touches.

First, the fun part: Thanks to direct injection, the base 1.6-liter four-cylinder now puts out 135 hp and 121 lb-ft of torque (up from 122 hp and 115 lb-ft for 2011’s 1.6). Fuel economy also increases, jumping from 26 mpg city/31 highway to 28/34. A six-speed manual replaces last year’s five-cogger as the standard transmission. The available 2.0-liter four also gets a boost, landing at 160 hp and 143 lb-ft of torque (versus 142 hp and 137 lb-ft), with fuel economy rising three ticks on either side of the equation, to 27/33. That consumption applies to both the six-speed manual and the newly available six-speed automatic. It will take more power than that, of course, to make the Soul truly fast, but a bump in output accompanied by an increase in fuel economy is a good start.

Exterior styling updates include new LED taillight clusters for higher-spec trims, along with ritzy LED projector headlights. All Souls get a redesigned hood and new front and rear bumpers, as well as body-color door handles and mirror housings.

The cabin is promised to be quieter, thanks to a thicker insulation panel in the dash, although the driver can offset that by exploring the upper volume ranges of the Infinity audio system now available on fancier trims. Top-spec Souls also offer the option of either navigation or Kia’s UVO voice-controlled infotainment system, although, oddly enough, the two options cannot be ordered in tandem. Other surprisingly upscale options include heated leather seats, automatic climate control, and a push-button starter. If that doesn’t seem particularly unexpected to you, consider that pricing isn’t likely to climb much from the $14K–$20K range of the current model. See now why we like the Soul?

Thanks to: Car and Driver

NY Show 2011 Highlights: 2012 Kia Rio Sedan

Kia's subcompact, the Rio, has always been misleadingly named. A more appropriate—but admittedly less alluring—moniker would have been the Kia Des Moines: a fine enough place to spend a few hours, so long as you can get out after that. With the 2012 Rio, unveiled at the New York auto show, the name is . . . well, it’s still misleading, but there are myriad substantial improvements.

When the outgoing Rio launched, a Kia exec was proud to report that the car would still offer U.S. customers the option of hand-cranked windows. Doing so cost the company more money than if the car had only been available with power windows, but the move was meant to convey the Rio's value. We're happy to say that, while new Rios still will be available with crank windows, the company has higher-tech ways of making the Rio easy on owners' wallets.

First, out comes the old 1.6-liter four-cylinder boat anchor, which made 110 hp, and in goes a new 1.6-liter that uses direct injection to crank out 138 hp. Of more interest to the frugally minded, Kia is estimating that the engine will be good for 30 mpg city and 40 highway when the EPA gets around to officially rating the new car. That means that, in addition to meeting the magic 40-mpg rating (Kia's ad agency will no doubt be thrilled), the Rio will join its sibling, the equally new Hyundai Accent, and the upcoming Chevy Sonic at the top of the horsepower ratings for the class. In comparison, our long-term Mazda 2 is rolling along with 100 ponies under the hood. While the Rio probably won't be as slender as the 2291-pound Mazda, Kia does tell us that the engine in its new subcompact is 29 pounds lighter than was its counterpart in the previous car.

The new Rio will be offered as a sedan or a five-door hatchback (known as Rio5), and in three trim levels: LX, EX, and SX. Both body styles will be offered with the choice of manual or automatic gearboxes packing six forward ratios. Even more underhood tech is available should buyers opt for the Rio's Eco package, which adds an engine stop/start system—we imagine this will be a necessary option to score that 30-mpg city rating.

Thanks to: Car and Driver