First Drive: 2008 Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet - Previews

Nothing turns heads like a sexy convertible wearing Pininfarina badges on its flanks. The Italian design firm is world famous for creating pulse-quickening exotic cars such as the Ferrari 599GTB Fiorano and Maserati GranTurismo. However, the Pininfarina-badged droptop we recently took for a spin proudly wears a blue oval in the center of its grille. The Ford Focus coupe-cabriolet is designed and built by Pininfarina at its factory in Turin, Italy, at a rate of roughly 20,000 per year.

It might not have a prancing horse or trident on its hood, but the Focus is hardly a shrinking violet when it comes to drawing attention. As we drove through posh Parisian neighborhoods—where any other Ford would be considered so déclassé—the coupe-cabriolet got plenty of admiring glances.

The front end is filled with four large grilles, a pair of fog lights, and just the right amount of chrome to be tasteful but not tarty. A bold crease flows up from the headlights and hood before working its way to the C-pillar and over the trunk. Aggressive wheel-arch blisters add visual muscle without making the car look steroidal.

Our only serious issue is with the large rear overhang, made necessary by the two-piece retractable hardtop. However, we were determined to put that top to use, even if cold autumn weather meant we had to crank up the heated seats and wear goofy woolen caps. With a simple push of a button, the top slides into the trunk in a magic act that takes less than 30 seconds—quick enough to impress people at a red light.

First Drive: 2008 Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet - Previews

Nothing turns heads like a sexy convertible wearing Pininfarina badges on its flanks. The Italian design firm is world famous for creating pulse-quickening exotic cars such as the Ferrari 599GTB Fiorano and Maserati GranTurismo. However, the Pininfarina-badged droptop we recently took for a spin proudly wears a blue oval in the center of its grille. The Ford Focus coupe-cabriolet is designed and built by Pininfarina at its factory in Turin, Italy, at a rate of roughly 20,000 per year.

It might not have a prancing horse or trident on its hood, but the Focus is hardly a shrinking violet when it comes to drawing attention. As we drove through posh Parisian neighborhoods—where any other Ford would be considered so déclassé—the coupe-cabriolet got plenty of admiring glances.

The front end is filled with four large grilles, a pair of fog lights, and just the right amount of chrome to be tasteful but not tarty. A bold crease flows up from the headlights and hood before working its way to the C-pillar and over the trunk. Aggressive wheel-arch blisters add visual muscle without making the car look steroidal.

Our only serious issue is with the large rear overhang, made necessary by the two-piece retractable hardtop. However, we were determined to put that top to use, even if cold autumn weather meant we had to crank up the heated seats and wear goofy woolen caps. With a simple push of a button, the top slides into the trunk in a magic act that takes less than 30 seconds—quick enough to impress people at a red light.

Small Sports Car for Nissan?

Nissan is trying to figure out if there is room in the market for an entry-level sports car that is smaller, more lightweight, and more affordable than the 350Z.

The Japanese automaker is interested in a front-wheel-drive sports car that could compete with the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Pontiac Solstice, and Saturn Sky, Nissan North America vice-president in charge of product planning and strategy Larry Dominique tells Car and Driver in an interview.

“We’re looking at it,” Dominique says of a car that would live in the $20,000 price range, and wouldn’t really be a threat to the rear-drive Z that starts at $28,600 for 2008. The 2008 Miatas base price is $21,220; the Pontiac Solstice’s is $22,400.

Such a car would appeal to the echo boomers who can’t afford a Nissan GT-R. To this demographic, $15,000-to-$22,000 vehicles will be important, he says.

Food for thought: Nissan showed the Urge concept, a small 2400-pound, rear-drive roadster with a small-displacement engine and six-speed manual transmission, at the 2006 Detroit auto show. Designer Bruce Campbell says the Urge itself is not for primetime, but the chemistry is there and the design represents the future of a smaller sports car. Nissan would fail with a conventional baby Z sports car, he says.

Although the three-passenger Urge will not make it to showrooms, production cars in the future will have elements of the concept, Dominique tells us.
No decisions have been made yet, says Tom Lane, corporate vice-president in charge of product planning and strategy for the parent company, Nissan Motor Corporation, as feasibility studies continue. “How big is the market, really?” he asks. “I’m not sure if there is room.”

Another alternative is to make the next 350Z more efficient and lighter, Lane says of the sports car that came out in 2003 and is due for replacement next year.

BMW to Offer Factory Performance Parts

The after-market BMW parts market is filled with manufacturers claiming their equipment can squeeze more performance out of the cars then BMW can. Well, now BMW will be selling its own factory performance parts. All of the parts meet the same quality regulations as standard parts. Best of all, the upgraded equipment won't effect the original car's warranty.

Currently, there are only parts available for the Z4 and 3-series. Most of the good stuff is only for the last generation 3. But oh, how good it is. A performance exhaust claims to give five additional horsepower and lower weight by 8.8 pounds. A performance engine kit for the 330 adds ten horsepower and 8 lb-ft of torque. Other available pieces include a shift kit, suspension pieces, drilled brake rotors, air intake, and new wheels.

There are surely many BMW fanatics who will empty their wallets for these goodies, but are these parts worth the premium BMW will surely charge over similar equipment from other companies? Sure, if you want to keep your warranty. But since most of the modified cars will already be out of warranty, it will come down to how much customers love BMW. For lots of people out there, that's quite a bit.

2009 Hyundai Sonata - Auto Shows

For 2008, Hyundai has launched a mid-cycle refresh for the Sonata in Korea, where it is known as the Sonata Transform.
The rest of the world must wait until the 2009 model year to incorporate the changes. The U.S.-spec Sonata will bow in February at the 2008 Chicago auto show.

The Korean Transform receives minor visual upgrades—the design team says it didn’t want to mess with a design it considers to be successful. The bumper, the grille, and the headlights have been sharpened to help give the car a more edgy image. The Korean face lift also brings new alloy-wheel options.

The transformation continues inside, where almost all the interior plastics have been upgraded. A new center console, dashboard, and door panels are intended to project a more luxurious image than the current pieces. The sedan also gets dual-zone climate control, an auxiliary input jack for music players, and an ionization system that’s supposed to prevent mold growth. If that’s really a concern, we’re all for ionizing whatever we can.
Mechanical changes make up the biggest part of the refresh. A revised front subframe makes the Korean-spec Sonata safer in frontal collisions.

The car heralds Hyundai’s next-generation Theta engine family, a version of the four-cylinder world engine that was a joint venture of Hyundai, Mitsubishi, and the former DaimlerChrysler. World engines are already available in such vehicles as the Dodge Caliber and Avenger and the Chrysler Sebring.

Hyundai (it took the engineering lead on the world-engine project) introduces Theta II powerplants that deliver more horsepower and torque while maintaining or improving on their previous fuel-economy figures. The engine improvements were made possible by a variable induction system and variable valve timing on the intake and exhaust camshafts.
In total, Hyundai will offer five engine choices for the Sonata Transform, but North American options are whittled down to two.

The first is the DOHC 2.4-liter four-cylinder (Theta II) that will generate 175 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque, up substantially from the current 2.4-liter four-cylinder Theta in the outgoing Sonata that makes 162 horsepower and 164 pound-feet. We expect the new 2.4-liter to eventually replace the 2.7-liter V-6 in Hyundai's lineup. The other option for the U.S.-spec 2009 Sonata is the automaker's 3.3-liter first-gen Lamba V-6 that produces 239 horsepower and 228 pound-feet. Take-rate on the V-6 is expected to be about 30 percent of total U.S. sales.

Additionally, Hyundai engineers tweaked the Transform’s five-speed manual transmission for easier shifting and revised the four-speed automatic (for markets outside the U.S.) and the five-speed automatic.Hyundai will begin shipping export versions of the Sonata early in the new year.

2008 Infiniti EX35

One spouse prefers SUVs; the other craves classic sport-sedan driving delights. While satisfying both prerogatives sounds like a job for Dr. Phil, walking the perilous line between sport and utility is precisely what the Infiniti EX35 accomplishes.

Infiniti has staked out a microscopic site of unclaimed turf in the gridlocked crossover segment. Sizewise, the new EX is a low-riding BMW X3. Stylewise, it's an Infiniti G35 sedan with a bobbed tail and a hatch. Philosophically, it's a machine with the uncanny ability to maintain garage goodwill.

Mechanically, this is another shuffle of the Nissan/Infiniti FM-platform components deck. Take a front suspension from the G, bolt on a rear suspension from the FX, stir in a fourth-generation 3.5-liter V-6, and add a smart five-speed manu-matic. Keep the curb weight below two tons, whip the energy supply toward 300 hp, and avoid the severe FX suspension settings that intimidate the weak of spirit. Season liberally with electronic goodies for the gadget-afflicted.

Tidy dimensions keep the EX35 from being the jack of all SUV skills. There is no macho off-road pretense.

The back seat is roomy enough for two, although adult-size shoes must be twisted to clear the narrow door openings. While power-folding rear seats make the most of the cargo hold, the 16.8 cubic feet available (with all seats in use) falls short of a sprawling family's needs. This is an SUV for two camps: those wishing to curb a supersize habit and car folks dipping a toe in crossover waters.

Utility sacrifices are well-rewarded. The EX's speed-sensitive steering maintains a truthful dialogue with the road, especially when the optional all-wheel drive is eschewed. Thanks to a reasonably low center of gravity, firm dampers, and ample roll resistance, the body never flops like a fish out of water. The automatic transmission offers well-spaced ratios, crisp shifts, an authoritative sport mode, and rev matching on downshifts. The engine loves every unbridled run to its 7500-rpm redline.

Driving the optional eighteen-inch, V-rated Dunlop SP Sport tires throuFour interior hues are available with black-lacquered plastic and textured aluminum or real maple trim. The optional navigation system includes a 9.3-gigabyte hard drive for music storage. An eleven-speaker Bose sound system offers iPod connectivity via a USB port. Two innovations are an Around View Monitor that mixes four video-camera feeds into one bird's-eye look at your immediate surroundings and a Lane Departure Prevention system that nudges the brakes to curtail unintended lane changes.

2008 Audi A3 Cabriolet

In February of 2008, Audi will begin selling a convertible version of its A3 hatchback - in Germany. Don't expect to see an A3 Cabriolet in U.S. showrooms, at least not any time soon.
The new droptop is based on another A3 we don't get to enjoy here - the three-door hatch. Open-air A3s receive updated front- and rear-end treatments, including unique headlights and taillights. Expect these visual enhancements to make their way to the rest of the A3 lineup around the middle of 2008.

Unlike Volkswagen's small convertible offering - the Eos - Audi has chosen to go with a soft top to save weight and preserve space for four people inside, while maintaining a fastback coupe-like profile. The wider VW has a longer rear deck to accommodate its folding hard top.

In Europe, as always, engine choices are plentiful. A3 Cabriolet buyers will be able to choose from four different direct-injected, turbocharged four-cylinder engines. Gasoline options include a 1.8- or 2.0-liter TFSI, while 1.9- and 2.0-liter TDI engines will satisfy torque lovers. All engines get either a five- or six-speed manual as standard, with Audi's S tronic dual-clutch gearbox available on all but the smaller diesel.

The choices continue with the roof, which can be had as either semiautomatic or fully automatic with thermal and sound insulation. Both will fold and stow in nine seconds and feature a standard heated glass rear window.

We're disappointed that this new A3 model won't be coming here, because it looks like the VW Cabrio successor that the strangely proportioned Eos should have been.

2009 Lincoln MKS - Auto Shows

If you’ve been waiting for the all-new 2009 MKS with quiet patience, then the new Lincoln flagship is for you. This is a car all about refined luxury for the responsible types who want a little pampering and a little power—but it must be guilt-free.

For these ethical buyers, the MKS will debut with Ford’s new 3.7-liter V-6 under the hood and add a direct-injection turbocharged V-6 for 2010 to provide the power of a V-8 with the efficiency of a six. No storming the ramparts with nostril-flaring V-8s to sully the face of Lincoln. Responsible, remember?

Lincoln uses the 2007 L.A. auto show to break cover on the production MKS—we saw the MKS concept at the 2006 New York auto show (with a V-8, we might add).
Ford will start building the full-size luxury sedan at its Chicago plant next summer. Volume should be in the 40,000 range annually, with a starting price below $38,000. Orders are now being accepted.

On the style spectrum, the MKS lands between the Lincoln MKZ (formerly the Zephyr) and the sexy MKR concept that kept bringing us back to the Lincoln stand at the Detroit show in January to double-check that it was really wearing a Lincoln badge.
The look of the MKS—yes, we know the naming strategy is confusing, and we hope we don’t make a typo—is not excessive or ostentatious. That is by design, says Peter Horbury, executive director of design for the Americas, and he says it is in keeping with modern customers’ luxury demands.

But he says he also made a conscious attempt to resurrect cues from Lincolns of the past, without going retro.
The production MKS does not undergo much change from the concept, with one key exception: the front grille. Whereas the concept had a single grille similar to the one on the MKZ, the production model now sports a double-wing grille with a Lincoln badge nestled in the split. It is reminiscent of a 1941 Continental’s and the MKR concept’s, whose approval rating likely influenced the change.

“At the 11th hour, we changed the front,” Horbury tells us. “It’s the new face of Lincoln,” he says, noting it is always controversial when you change a front, as you can put brand identity at risk. We politely suggest the Lincoln identity can stand the upgrade.
The car is marked by clean, simple side lines and what someone described as “Volvo shoulders,” meaning more muscular and confident, but stopping short of being a bully. We see it, kinda. But we also don’t see a whole lot of risk taking in the body.

The interior continues the clean and simple theme to create a business-class experience, including premium leathers and wood trims, and class-leading room for passengers and cargo. The first prototype we saw had a classy two-tone black-and-cream color scheme, but the luxo sedan’s cabin will also be offered in black or light beige with gray. Fit and finish issues have been largely designed out; a piece of wood trim overlays the lid of the instrument panel where it meets the glove box, for example.

2008 Cadillac CTS - 10Best Cars

This second-gen CTS conclusively fulfills General Motors’ goal of turning Cadillac into a world-class luxury competitor. It does so by building on the strengths of the first CTS, while addressing its shortcomings. From the outside, you’ll still recognize Cadillac’s sharp-edged, wedgy styling, but the new version has a more muscular stance, greater detail refinement, and eye-grabbing features such as the enlarged grille and the front fender vents. Inside, the black plastic has been replaced by luxurious appointments that look and feel as upmarket as anything in the segment.

The Sigma platform and its all-independent suspension benefit from six years of development to deliver an excellent combination of handling, ride, and fine responsiveness. Motivation comes from GM’s 3.6-liter twin-cam 24-valve V-6, which is available in port-injected 263 horsepower and a new, 304-hp direct-injection version. Either can be coupled to a six-speed manual or a refined six-speed automatic with manual override.

The result is a ride that is easy on the eyes, comfortable on your backside, exciting to drive, and competitive with the best from Europe.

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear- or 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

BASE PRICE: $32,990

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 24-valve 3.6-liter V-6Power (SAE net): 263–304 bhpTorque (SAE net): 253–273 lb-ft

TRANSMISSIONS: 6-speed auto with manumatic shifting, 6-speed manual

DIMENSIONS:Wheelbase: 113.4 inLength: 191.6 inWidth: 72.5 inHeight: 58.0 inCurb weight: 3900–4050 lb

FUEL ECONOMY:EPA city driving: 17–18 mpg

2008 Chevrolet Malibu - 10Best Cars

Back in the ’60s, Chevy Malibus were as affordable as they are today, but they were often found in the driveways of lavish homes. That’s because they were seen as competent, practical, and stylish. For the first time in decades, you can again say the same things about a new Malibu.

This 2008 version has clean and elegant lines that stand out among family sedans that look dead boring or make do with contrived visual details. Inside, the Malibu is equally captivating, with clean instruments and logical controls embedded in a panoramically sweeping dashboard. There’s plenty of space for people and their stuff in this Malibu, which also has the versatility of a split-folding rear seat.

Under the hood comes the choice of a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine—one that’s quieter than the excellent four-cylinder in the Honda Accord—or a twin-cam, 24-valve V-6 with 252 horsepower. The Malibu’s chassis delivers an agreeable ride, responsive handling, and a degree of control feel that satisfied us on Hogback Road.
It all adds up to a Malibu that is, once again, a smart purchase for anyone seeking a fine mid-size sedan.

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

BASE PRICE: $19,995–$26,995

ENGINES: DOHC 16-valve 2.4-liter inline-4, 169 hp, 160 lb-ft; DOHC 24-valve 3.6-liter V-6, 252 hp, 251 lb-ft

TRANSMISSIONS: 4-speed auto, 6-speed auto with manumatic shifting

DIMENSIONS:Wheelbase: 112.3 inLength: 191.8 inWidth: 70.3 inHeight: 57.1 inCurb weight: 3400–3650 lb

FUEL ECONOMY:EPA city driving: 17–22 mpg

2007 Nissan Altima - Auto Shows

Built on a new platform, the ’07 Altima boasts increased structural rigidity and a wheelbase that’s one inch shorter. Nissan estimates that the 3.5-liter V-6 will have over 265 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque and that the base 2.5-liter inline-four will have over 165 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque.

Each engine comes standard with a six-speed manual, and the automatic is now a CVT. Nissan also improved the Altima’s less than stellar interior. Prices should range from about $18,000 to $30,000 when the Altima goes on sale this fall. A hybrid model will follow about a year later

Tokyo Motor Show 2007: Subaru EXIGA Concept best 7

Subaru has been promising a seven seater for years, but have yet to deliver one to their own home market as the Tribeca isn’t sold this side of Pacific. A couple of years ago it was leaning towards a minivan-style MPV, but for this year’s show they have chosen to throw a couple of seats in the back of Japan’s best selling station wagon, the Legacy, to make the EXIGA Concept.

The designers had a lot of fun inside and out. Enjoy the pics in the gallery below.

Hyundai Genesis Revealed in Korea

Today Hyundai has revealed the brand new rear-wheel-drive luxury sports sedan at a Korean media test drive preview. Yesterday the Koreans were still very secretive about the looks of their new flagship model, but today we have images of the car in its entirety.

As mentioned yesterday, the Hyundai Genesis will be powered by the new Tau V8 engine producing 375 horsepower coupled with a six-speed automatic, base models will feature either a 3.3 liter or 3.8 liter Lambda V6.

The Genesis emblem will only be featured on the Korean and Chinese market models and will not make it to the North American market. Resulting in speculations that Genesis may become a sub-brand of Hyundai just like Lexus (subsidiary of Toyota) and Infiniti (subsidiary of Nissan). Only time will tell.

More Mercedes SLC Prototype Spied

Mercedes and AMG are still hard at work in Europe and the USA on the successor of the legendary 300 SL from the fifties and sixties. Codenamed the W197, this might just be the hottest project for the coming years and is scheduled to make its first appearance in 2010.

There is not much we can tell you besides the fact that every detail is sketchy at best, but the car is being developed by AMG and should be built in the Mercedes Sindelfingen plant in Germany at a rate of 3,000 to 5,000 units annually.

The 2 seater will probably be powered by a 620 hp V8, be a few centimeters shorter than the future SL, have a tubular frame like the ’50s Gullwing 300 SL and have rear-wheel-drive. Expect a hefty price tag of somewhere between 150,00

Tested: 2008 Cadillac CTS - Short Take Road Tests

Cadillac’s sharp, wedgy “art and science” design theme has fully matured on the latest CTS, and an aluminum, dual-overhead-cam V-6 with variable valve timing and direct fuel-injection finally brings the marque’s engine room onto the same high-tech plane as the styling department.

The 304-hp direct-injection V-6 gets all the attention for now while the automotive community eagerly awaits the appearance of the supercharged V-8–powered CTS-V. Meanwhile, the 258-hp base engine is basically a carry-over from the previous-generation CTS, in which it was the optional V-6. A six of equal size to the direct-injection engine—3.6 liters with port fuel injection and variable valve timing—the now-base mill checks in $2300 cheaper than the higher-tech (and higher-power) engine.

Down 46 horses and 20 pound-feet on the DI engine, the indirectly injected base mill still brings a hearty portion of power with 258 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque. With the test gear strapped on, our six-speed automatic CTS managed a 7.0-second 0-to-60-mph romp en route to a 15.4-second quarter-mile at 91 mph. The more powerful uplevel engine (with a six-speed manual) achieves the same marks in 5.8 and 14.6 seconds at 97 mph.

2009 Honda Accord Diesel and New Honda Hybrids for 2009 - Car News

From the Tokyo auto show comes confirmation that Honda’s 2.2-liter diesel engine will come to the U.S. installed in the 2009 Accord. The aluminum engine is fairly conventional in that it has a balance shaft, dual overhead cams, and high fuel pressure. The redline should be around 4500 rpm; that’s where the Euro-spec diesel Accord we drove topped out.

Power and boost levels have not been specified yet, but we can expect at least 150 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Honda engineers say the diesel is about 44 pounds heavier than a similar gas engine, but they wouldn’t confirm the actual weight of either.

One interesting tidbit is the cast stainless-steel exhaust manifold, but the most compelling story here is the NOx converter. There are two substrate layers on the converter’s honeycomb matrix: an outer layer that stores NOx and a lower layer of platinum particles that, although it also stores a little NOx, mostly reacts with the exhaust to produce ammonia during rich combustion. The ammonia, which is described by the formula NH3, reacts with the stored NOx to produce nitrogen and water. The process is choreographed by the ECU.

Honda claims its system was developed in-house and that, unlike VW’s similar NOx trap that will be for sale soon, Honda’s is scalable to larger vehicles. In other words, Honda says it believes it can put a V-6 diesel in a Pilot or similarly sized vehicle that meets 50-state emissions without having to inject urea, as will be the case with the VW Touareg diesel. Three different engineers repeated these claims; that gives us the feeling that such a vehicle is in the works.

Official Photos and Info: 2007 Chrysler Sebring - Car News

Chrysler's Sebring was pretty hot when it debuted for 2001. Since then, every mid-size competitor has been redesigned—some more than once. These days, it seems fully half the Sebrings we see wear rental-car bar codes or "Official Use Only" government plates. So Chrysler redesigned the 2007 Sebring to challenge the perennially bestselling Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

Atop a platform that, for now, is specific to the Sebring, Chrysler built the boldly styled sedan seen here, which recalls several past and present Chryslers. The headlights and the grille evoke the defunct 300M, the upright windshield mimics the current 300C, and the hood ribs are reminiscent of the Crossfire. Sebring stylists say they looked at the Chrysler Airflite concept from the 2003 Geneva auto show for inspiration, an influence most visible in the shape of the greenhouse.

The Sebring’s underpinnings initially were developed with Mitsubishi, but Chrysler’s Japanese partner pulled out of the project for lack of funds. Consequently, the only sibling we anticipate on this platform in the imminent future is the 2007 Dodge Stratus, which we’ll see very soon.
Inside, the Sebring benefited from practicality lessons from Chrysler's successful PT Cruiser, with a high seating position-2.5 inches higher than that of the outgoing model-and a 60/40-split, fold-flat rear seat with an optional flat-folding front passenger seat to maximize cargo volume. If it's people you are carrying rather than cargo, Chrysler hopes to keep them interested by offering a bundle of gadgets including a voice-activated, touch-screen Harman/Kardon nav system with a USB port and 20-gigabyte hard drive for storing music files; a heated and cooled cup holder capable of heat-cycling a cappuccino from 35 to 140 degrees; and heated seats in leather or cloth.

Four engines will be offered, only three of which will see the U.S. market. The 140-hp turbo-diesel four-cylinder with 236 pound-feet of torque will not be offered here. We will get a choice of a base 172-hp inline-four capable of a claimed 31 mpg highway; a 190-hp, 2.7-liter flex-fuel V-6; and a line-topping 235-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 harnessed to a new six-speed automatic transaxle with manumatic control.
2007 Sebrings will start rolling into dealerships towards the end of 2006, with pricing similar to that of the Camry and Accord.-->

Hyundai-rwd-sports-coupe-uncovered

WorldCarFans sister site CarSpyShots.net has posted today these amazing shots of the all-new Hyundai rear-wheel-drive sports coupe. Snapped during a market research event, the Hyundai is standing next to its target competitor, the Ford Mustang. In an effort to minimize preconceived biases, both vehicles are painted exactly the same color as well as having all emblems covered. Additionally, participants are given a questionnaire about the two vehicles regarding their impressions in which they refer to the vehicles by a given letter. As seen in these photos, the Hyundai is wearing a sign on the front bumper with the letter F.

Although spy photos taken from research clinics are nothing new, these are the clearest photos we have seen from such an event. Normally, the specially selected participants of these market research events are obviously prohibited to have cameras. But judging by the vantage point of the photos it seems the spy photographer may have been an insider with access to the rest of the facility allowing a view from above the curtains.

The presence of the Mustang as the target competitor confirms the sports coupe will receive a V8 engine (the 4.6-liter from the Genesis) as previously reported. Codenamed BK, but often referred to as the Hyundai Mustang by Hyundai insiders, the sports coupe replaces the Tiburon but will most likely be given a new name since it has nothing in common with its predecessor as well as emphasizing a high performance rear-wheel-drive nature. The Hyundai sports coupe which is based on the BH/Genesis platform will first arrive in Asia in late 2008 or 2009, and arrive in the U.S. for the 2010 model year. A convertible version is expected to follow.

New information from NewTiburon.com. According to a participant of the focus group, two engines mentioned were a 2.0-liter trubo with 215hp and 217 ft-lbs of torque priced at $19,000 and a 3.8-liter V6 with 300hp and 280 ft-lbs of torque starting at $25,900. There was no mention of a V8 engine but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

However, the focus group was conducted in June of this year which leaves plenty of time for changes. Other features mentioned include Ipod integration in center console, bluetooth function through head unit, sunroof, mirror mounted LED turn signals and limited slip

First pic of Fisker plug-in hybrid luxury car released

Here we have the first image of the upcoming plug-in hybrid luxury car from Fisker set to debut at this year’s Detroit Auto Show in January. Developed in conjunction with Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, the plug-in hybrid will cost around $100,000 and initially be built in a run of just 100 units.

Fisker hasn’t given out any details on the car, like how much power it will produce or what its fuel economy will be, but from the picture above we can tell it will be a stunner. That’s not surprising, as the company’s namesake, Henrik Fisker, designed such cars as the BMW Z8, Aston Martin DB9 and V8 Vantage, among others.

Though the image is small, we can make out design elements from many other high-end autos including a Ferrari 599-esqe front end, some Maserati Quattroporte in the midsection and, of course, a little Aston in the rear. Check back here in January for some solid info on what this car’s all about.

Audi A4 2.0 TDI SE

We were impressed by the 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol version driven in Issue 982. But how does the model rate in 2.0 TDI diesel guise?

Audi expects this variant to be the biggest seller in the range. The longitudinally mounted direct-injection diesel produces 141bhp – up 3bhp on the old car – while torque is unchanged at 320Nm. And the unit is mated to a six-speed man­ual gearbox.

Crucially for company buyers, CO2 emissions are down from 159g/km to 144g/km, which means the A4 has dropped three tax brackets. Initially, the car will be available only in SE spec, although other trims will join the line-up throughout 2008.On the road, the oil-burner delivers strong performance and decent in-gear punch. Both engine and road noise are quieter than in the old A4, and the Audi is better to drive, too, with excellent composure in corners and impressive levels of grip.Steering is accurate and fluid, while the supple suspension does a fine job of absorbing bumps and imperfections.

For owners who want a more focused driving experience, the A4 is also available with the optional Drive Select system. This allows you to optimise the power-steering assistance, sharpen throttle response and adjust the dampers to suit your tastes.

Yet even without it, the six-speed gearbox offers a solid action, and while the A4 still lacks the driver involvement of the 3-Series, it’s more capable than its predecessor.

honda-s2000-cr-campaigning-in-25-hours-of-thunderhill

Honda has remained a formidable force at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill, an annual event held at the Thunderhill circuit between Sacramento and Redding, California.

The automaker has campaigned a number of vehicles at the 25-hour enduro over the years, including a duo of Civic Sis and a handful of Acuras. This year, Honda’s bringing out its newest track slut, the S2000 CR, to compete in the Performance Touring C segment.

Not only is this a chance for the automaker to show how competitive the new lightweight variant of the S2000 can be on the track, it’s also rolling proof of how it can be adapted for serious competition. Two S2000 CRs have been outfitted with a McMahen Autosports cage, BF Goodrich g-Force R1 racing tires, a single outlet exhaust sourced from AEM, Cobalt Friction XR racing brake pads and Goodridge stainless steel brake lines.

We’re in the midst of contemplating coverage of the 25 Hours of Thunderhill, and if we do make it up there to live blog the event, we’ll be keeping a close eye on the Honda boys.

Nissan FORUM Concept Set For 2008 NAIAS Debut

Nissan has a new family-hauler concept lined up for the upcoming Detroit Auto Show called the FORUM. The vannish machine boasts trackless sliders, no B-pillar and maybe hints at what’s in store for car buyers when the current Quest ultimately runs its course.

In addition to the sketch you see above, Nissan made the world’s shortest press release available. In fact, it’s so short, we’re not even going to bother putting it after the jump. Here it is:

Nissan FORUM Concept Set For 2008 NAIAS Debut

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 30, 2007) – Nissan’s exploration of the next generation of family transportation, the Nissan FORUM Concept, offers distinctive styling with innovations including trackless sliding doors and no B-pillars. Created at Nissan Design America, the FORUM Concept makes its public debut at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.

Seriously, it would’ve been just as effective to have it simply say, “This is the FORUM. It’ll be in Detroit.” Anyway, we’ll be in Detroit too, and we’ll tell you all about it then.

2008 Chevrolet Corvette Summary

2008 Chevrolet Corvette SummaryThe 2008

Corvette is a 2-door, 2-passenger sports car, or convertible sports car, available in 10 trims, ranging from the Coupe LT1 to the Z06 LZ3. Upon introduction, the Coupe LT1 is equipped with a standard 6.2-liter, V8, 430-horsepower engine. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. The Z06 LZ3 is equipped with a standard 7.0-liter, V8, 505-horsepower engine. A 6-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard. The 2008 Corvette is a carryover from 2007.

Spycam: Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 at Laguna Seca

GM's upcoming Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 was at Laguna Seca Raceway today for a couple hot laps between American Le Mans Series practice sessions and we're told it's already been put back on the trailer to head back to Detroit. Luckily, we were trackside to get this exclusive shot (bottom two shots courtesy of the American Le Mans Series). While this prototype still wears some of its masking, it's the clearest shot we have yet of what the production Corvette ZR1 will look like.

What do we know so far about the Corvette ZR1? We know it will be producing some 650 horses from its supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine and massive carbon ceramic brakes may very well be used to keep that power under control. Carbon fiber is reportedly being used heavily in the body of the car to reduce weight, with A and B pillars as well as the blacked-out roof being made out of the lightweight yet massively strong material.

Best guesses are that the Corvette ZR1 will make the 0 to 60 mph sprint in under 3.5 seconds and will hit a top speed of over 200 mph. Heady stuff. The official ZR1 debut will come in January 2008 at the Detroit Auto Show with a production launch later in the year as a 2009 model at a price that will likely be upwards of $100,000.

Car'07

CAR 2006 was held in Montpellier.

CAR 2008 will be held in Bourges.

Call for papers, journal JESA
As a follow-up to CAR 2006 and CAR 2007, a call for papers for publication in the journal JESA is currently open. This call is not restricted to authors of CAR 2006 and 2007 but rather open to all contributions. To submit, an intention is due July 20, 2007, and the full paper is due September 15, 2007.

This second national workshop is aimed at addressing important aspects of robot control architectures, with a specific emphasis on distribution, verification and validation, languages and modeling, and implementation of control architectures. It brings together researchers and practitioners from universities, institutions and industries, working in this field. It intends to be a meeting to expose and discuss gathered expertise, identified trends and issues, as well as new scientific results and applications around software control architectures related topics, through plenary invited papers.

ThemeDue to their increasing complexity, nowadays intervention robots, that to say those dedicated for instance to exploration, security or defence applications, definitely raise huge scientific and commercial issues. Whatever the considered environment, terrestrial, aerial, marine or even spatial, this complexity mainly derives from the integration of multiple functionalities: advanced perception, planification, navigation, autonomous behaviours, in parallel with teleoperation or robots coordination enable to tackle more and more difficult missions.

But robots can only be equipped with such functions if an appropriate hardware and software structure is embedded: the software architectures will hence be the main concern of this workshop.

As quoted above, the control architecture is thus a necessary element for the integration of a multitude of works; it also permits to cope with technological advances that continually offer new devices for communication, localisation, computing, etc. As a matter of fact, it should be modular, reusable, scalable and even readable (ability to analyse and understand it). Besides, such properties ease the sharing of competencies among the robotics community, but also with computer scientists and automatics specialists as the domain is inherently a multidisciplinary one.

Numerous solutions have been proposed, based on the "classical" three layers architecture or on more "modern" approaches such as object or component oriented programming. Actually, almost every robot integrates its own architecture; the workshop will thus be a real opportunity to share reflections on these solutions but also on related needs, especially standardisation ones, which are of particular importance in military applications for instance.

Hence, this second national workshop on control architectures of robots aims at gathering a large number of robotics actors (researchers, manufacturers as well as state institutions) in order to highlight the multiple issues, key difficulties and potential sources of advances.

Motor journalists name Corsa "Top Car 2007"

High commendation for the Corsa: It was named "Top Car 2007" by more than 140 German, Austrian and Swiss motor journalists in the "City" category, ahead of renowned competitors like VW Polo and Mini Cooper.

"We are very honored to win this award because the Corsa was elected by car experts. The Corsa didn't just convince the journalists from Germany , Austria and Switzerland . Earlier it already won the "Car of the Year" award in Denmark and ranked second in the European "Car of the Year" election.

Our customers also like the Corsa very much: We received as many as 150,000 orders, more than 50 percent over of our forecast."

Beside the award-winning Corsa, the GT ("Fun" category), Antara ("Offroad") and the integrated Flex-Fix carrier ("Innovation") also ranked high in their respective category.

Budget Car, subcompact Honda Fit

Consumer Reports calls the Fit the "best overall in a new class of fuel-efficient cars."

Fuel economy, as measured in Consumer Reports' controlled tests, was 32 mpg with an automatic transmission and 34 mpg with a manual.
"Not only is it fun to drive, but its compact dimensions pack an impressive amount of interior room and versatility," the magazine said.
The Fit got top scores in "Reliability," "Crash protection" and "Satisfaction." Its road test score was good, but not the best.
This has become a crowded market segment with a number of good entries, said David Champion, head of auto testing for Consumer Reports.
"The Nissan Versa we thought was very good," he said. "The Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent were very good."

Hot List: 10 Significant All-New 2007 Cars - Features

New technologies and reshaped market segments define this year’s most important debuts.
BY JARED GALL,

Dozens of new-for-2007 cars will satisfy every taste and need. Fuel prices show no signs of abating, so inexpensive (but not cheap) small cars are proliferating. Nissan’s Versa is a new player here, while the car that brought premium compacts to the U.S., the Mini Cooper, gets a complete redesign—not that it looks much different.

The bread and butter of the American car market, the mid-size sedan, gets thoroughly revitalized with an all-new Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Chrysler Sebring, and Saturn Aura. While Toyota and Nissan improve on what were already successful sedans, Chrysler pins its hopes on bolder styling, and Saturn imports a European Opel to get noticed.

Two of our favorite sporty cars, the Infiniti G35 sedan and the BMW 3-series coupe, get thorough overhauls and more power. The Volkswagen Eos hardtop-convertible and the self-parking Lexus LS460 L will satisfy those on a more leisurely pace. Read on for more info and photos on these ten significant new 2007 cars.