Two takes on the turbocharged sedan. All told, Chevy will be scattering 51 vehicles throughout SEMA’s various halls this year. Ten of those will be Cruzes, two of which we checked out prior to heading to Vegas. Keep Reading: Chevrolet Cruze Dusk and Z-Spec Concepts Headed to SEMA View original here: Chevrolet Cruze Dusk and Z-Spec Concepts Headed to SEMA Read the original: Chevrolet Cruze Dusk and Z-Spec Concepts Headed to SEMA

Today, Mazda tweeted “Sneak a peek at some #Mazda @SEMASHOW cars: MX-5 Spyder & Turbo2,” and included a link to images of the two Vegas-bound cars. What’s an MX-5 Spyder and a Turbo2? Mazda offered just a single image of each car along with a brief caption, but here’s what we’ve ascertained. Mazda MX-5 Spyder The MX-5 Spyder (pictured above) has a skimpy bikini top in place of a normal folding roof. The move should save some weight, which, combined with Brembo brake calipers and a clearly lowered suspension, implies a harder-core take on the regular car, in the spirit of the similarly Spyder-ed Porsche Boxster . Aside from the minimalist top, the Spyder has a unique, streamlined front fascia with a larger central intake, a lower spoiler, and cooling ducts for the front brakes. As to power, we don’t know squat at this point, but we’re going to pretend it’s a quad-rotor Wankel just for funsies. Mazda Turbo2 As its name suggests, the Turbo2 is a turbocharged Mazda 2—but which engine is under the hood isn’t clear. The car’s supplied caption reads: “One of our most powerful turbocharged engines in our lightest platform. ’Nuff said!” Mazda’s most powerful turbocharged engine is the 263-hp, 2.3-liter four that lives under the hood of the Mazdaspeed 3. The CX-7 crossover uses a 244-hp version of the same engine, but either seems wildly over the top for the featherweight Mazda 2. (Let us be clear: We’re totally game for a 2 with between 140- and 160-percent more power—our long-term 2 could certainly be quicker.) The least-likely but slightly more sane engine candidate would be the 178-hp, 1.8-liter turbo four from ye olde Mazdaspeed Miata ; maybe there was one sitting on a shelf somewhere. Engine talk aside, the Turbo2 looks track ready—even more so than Mazda’s B-Spec racing 2 —with its jaunty rear wing, cool graphics package, and sticky track rubber. Read the original: Mazda Bringing MX-5 Spyder, Turbo-Powered 2 to SEMA—We Immediately Want to Drive Both View post: Mazda Bringing MX-5 Spyder, Turbo-Powered 2 to SEMA—We Immediately Want to Drive Both

Put your automotive knowledge to the test in the new Consumer Reports Moto Quiz . Parked on a tab within the Consumer Reports Facebook page , the Moto Quiz challenges players to identify the most reliable car in head-to-head matchups. The game is broken into rounds of 10 matchups. Simply click on the button for the car you think is most reliable, then continue on to the next pair. After 10, you’ll be given a score and your performance will be rated on the iconic Consumer Reports scale, from Poor to Excellent. You can improve your score by playing another round. The scores can be posted on a leaderboard, and your accomplishments can be shared with friends via Facebook and Twitter. In fact, you can challenge friends to top your score via social networks to see who has the highest Moto IQ. The trick to boosting your score is not only accuracy, but also the number of plays. By playing additional rounds, the score continues to add up. You might find the winning answers in some pairings to be surprising. Each winner is given a brief description, and you can link over to the complete model page to learn more about its specific reliability details, as well as how it performs in our tests. Should you want to brush up on the reliability findings in general or learn about the methodology , visit our dedicated car reliability section . There you’ll find many articles, lists, and tools related to reliability, as well as owner satisfaction . Click over now to play the Consumer Reports Moto Quiz . Read the original here: How well do you know cars? Play the Consumer Reports Moto Quiz and find out!

Will a sports coupe help usher in the lithium-based Prius 4? Or is a split battery approach the best option for the fourth generation Prius? When Toyota launched the third generation Toyota Prius without lithium, there was some disappointment. Likewise, when Toyota announced that the 2012 Toyota Camry hybrid would also continue to use NiMH batteries, there was further disappointment. However, I’ve never agreed with this NiMH-based disappointment, and while I think the fourth generation Toyota Prius 4 will offer lithium, I believe NiHM could still play an important role in Toyota’s hybrids for some time. In my opinion, if lithium was obviously so much better than NiMH for hybrid cars , then the lithium-powered Hyundai Sonata hybrid , for example, would offer better pricing and fuel economy advantages compared to the Camry hybrid. But it doesn’t. In fact, the new Camry hybrid offers a far more cost-effective package, especially based on some real world tests that found Sonata hybrid fuel economy missed its EPA-rating by as much as 10 mpgs. Nevertheless, lithium is going to replace NiMH in most hybrid cars, eventually, and Toyota is slowly making this transition. For instance, in Europe and Japan Toyota is already switching to lithium in the Prius V . Likewise, the Prius plug-in hybrid will also rely on lithium. Consequently, once Toyota stabilizes its lithium supply chains, it only makes sense to quickly convert the fourth generation Prius 4 into a lithium hybrid. It’s simply the best path to a scalable battery advantage. But that doesn’t mean that Toyota should completely kill off NiMH. For instance, why not keep NiMH in the smaller and cheaper Prius C in the short term? Such a move could probably help keep costs down by enabling Toyota to take full advantage of its NiMH investments. Likewise, perhaps Toyota could continue to build the NiMH-based third generation Prius as the cheaper base model of the conventional Toyota Prius — something Toyota considered doing with the 2nd gen Prius when the 3rd gen Prius was heading for launch. Unlike any other automaker, Toyota has a very significant NiMH advantage, and if they can use that advantage to build the most cost-effective hybrids, they should. Ultimately, moving hybrid technology...

The Basics: BMW’s smallest offering in the U.S., the 1-Series, carries forward into 2012 with a few tech upgrades but otherwise unchanged fundamentals, including its pair of engines and trims. That’s not a bad thing, however, as the 1-Series continues to be one of the most impressive entry-level luxury sports cars on the road. Technically, there… More here:  2012 BMW 1-Series

Occasional Jalopnik contributor and avid Ferrari collector Chris Harris apparently needs some extra money to cover his insurance premiums, so he’s picked up some shift work as a cab driver. Specifically, the Top Gear Live taxi. More » Here is the original post: Chris Harris gets sideways in a London taxi [Video] Here is the original:  Chris Harris gets sideways in a London taxi [Video]

Back when we announced that the redesigned-for- 2012 Honda Civic LX scored too low to be recommended, we were asked what would have happened if we tested the up-level Civic EX. Given how much interest from our readers there is in the popular–and previously high-scoring–Civic, we bought one to find out. Let me explain why we selected the Civic LX for the initial test: Honda sells approximately the same number of LX and EX Civics. We chose the less expensive $19,405 LX because its price falls more in line with the typical $20,000 small sedan in our Ratings than does the $21,275 EX. The EX has 16-inch wheels and tires instead of the LX’s 15-inch running gear. But thanks to Honda’s strict options packaging, the EX trim also includes a mandatory sunroof, which pushes up its price. As you’d expect, the EX’s bigger wheels and tires do improve braking distances and cornering grip, but those measures improve to merely OK rather than class-leading. Opting for the heavier, bigger-tire-shod EX also brings a fuel economy cost–one mpg overall in our instrumented testing. Here’s how those performance numbers for the two Civics compare to our current CR Top Pick small sedan, the $18,205 Hyundai Elantra GLS: Braking distances dry/wet (feet) Avoidance manuever speed (mph) Fuel economy, CR measured overall (mpg) Civic LX 143/158 51.5 30 Civic EX 137/153 54.5 29 Hyundai Elantra GLS 136/139 55.5 29 Overall, while the Civic EX does score better than the LX, it still doesn’t score high enough for us to recommend. That’s because multiple inherent problems remain, including a choppy ride, abundant road noise, , vague steering, and cheap interior. We do expect the Civic to be reliable, but that alone doesn’t make it a good car. That brings us back to the Civic EX’s price. While we don’t score cars based on price, it costs a fairly high sum for what you get. An Elantra Limited, with a sunroof, leather, and 17-inch alloy wheels comes in at $21,205. We haven’t tested one, but it’s likely that those additional features would improve its score over the already-top-scoring Elantra GLS. Never mind that a few hundred dollars more buys a bigger Hyundai Sonata. Hopefully Honda can address the Civic’s...

Many have speculated on why the late Steve Jobs never put a license plate on his cars . Was it because he preferred to pay whatever fines he incurred just so he could “Think Different”? Nope. He got away with it — legally — thanks to a California loophole. More » Read the original here: The real reason why Steve Jobs drove without a license plate [Steve Jobs License Plate] See the original post here: The real reason why Steve Jobs drove without a license plate [Steve Jobs License Plate]

We have just learned from one of our sources that the new BMW 3 Series will make its public debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. Scheduled in January, the Detroit event remains one of the biggest car shows in the world and many automakers choose to debut their products in the snowy Michigan area. The all-new 2012 BMW 3 Series had its world debut earlier this month in Munich. The F30 3 Series Sedan was penned by Christian Weil, the very same designer responsible for the 5 Series GT. The interior design was created by Christian Bauer who also designed the current generation 6 Series coupe and convertible. Similar to the new F20 1 Series, the new 3 Series will be offered with a standard package and M Sport package, as well as three new lines: Sport, Luxury and Modern. These will provide an extensive customization program for customers by offering more up-front options. The styling of the 2012 BMW 3 Series is considered to be an evolution of the previous model. The styling follows the design language seen in the new 5 Series, with concave and convex shapes providing a sporty stance and image. The flanks of the  car are shaped by an eye-catching double character line running alongside each other. At the front, the headlights have been completely redesigned. For the first time, the lights end directly in the kidney grill, providing a 3D look. The kidney grill also inherits the 3D aspect as seen on the new 6 Series. The rear lights continue the BMW L-shaped design positioned at the outer edges of the rear – accentuating the broad face of the wheels and wide track of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan. Inside, the new BMW 3 Series combines luxury with sportiness and different combinations of interior trim can be seen across the three lines: Sport, Luxury and Modern. The driver-focused orientation of the cockpit is emphasized in the F30 3 Series, with the right side of the dash angled towards the driver by seven degrees. The beautiful black panel display is now available for the fuel gauge, speedometer, tachometer and oil temperature gauge. The 2012 Detroit Auto Show opens its doors on January 12th. Stay tuned for live BMWBLOG coverage from the show floor! Go here to see the original:  New BMW 3 Series will debut at 2012 Detroit Auto Show

Cat, say good-bye to the bag. Early this morning, scanned images of an accessory brochure for the upcoming rear-drive Toyota FT-86 sports car hit the web . The photos, although blurry, not only give away the FT-86’s production styling, but several cool features it might have as well. The FT-86 and its Subaru BRZ sibling are set to be officially unveiled at the upcoming Tokyo auto show. Here in the U.S., we will get the Subaru version and a Scion-badged FT-86 called the FR-S . The exterior of the Toyota is largely predictable, and successfully cobbles together styling elements from the various concept cars that preceded it. The car’s profile, headlights, taillights, and rear diffuser are all familiar pieces. The front fascia is a bit toned down from the show cars’, which were festooned with LED running lights and barb-like splitter extensions; the production car has taken on a 2012 Camry SE -like mug. As we already mentioned, the leaked brochure is something of an accessory catalog, so the gaudy trim on the door and rocker panel extensions probably aren’t stock FT-86 fare. Having never seen inside any of the FT-86 concept cars, we’re getting our first look at the Toyota’s interior with this brochure. The good news is that the cockpit appears functional and sporty, although we aren’t sure whether the trim and two-tone color scheme is stock or to what extent the interior in the photos has been accessorized. The gauge cluster puts the tachometer front and center, flanked by a speedometer to the left and fuel and temperature gauges to the right. The car’s front seats look very promising and feature large thigh and torso bolsters. The center stack is attractive and houses dual-zone climate controls, a starter button, and what looks like a radio-delete panel just below the center air vents. Unfortunately for the hard-core sports-car fans out there hoping for a stripped-out, lightweight model, we think the panel simply hides the audio controls (the interior has automatic climate control and seat heaters, so dropping the radio doesn’t make a whole lot of sense). As previously reported, the FT-86 will be available with two six-speed transmissions—a manual and an automatic—and both can be seen in the photographs. Behind the shifter is a...

Most Formula One cars end up on display or in the private collections of the über wealthy. A car like the McLaren MP4/6 Ayrton Senna drove to the F1 World Championship in 1991 should be in a museum. That’s why I thought it was so strange when I thought we found it collecting dust in the space above the shipping-and-receiving office of an aerospace company in Salt Lake City, Utah. More » Originally posted here: How I nearly made the most important barn find in motorsports history [Secret Cars] View original here:  How I nearly made the most important barn find in motorsports history [Secret Cars]

Starting November 24, car2go will be launched in Amsterdam. It will start with 300 smart fortwo cars and these vehicles will help people travel anywhere without the hassle of booking a car in a rental office. Amsterdam will be the 5 th city to have the service. Press release from Daimler AG: 300 smart fortwo electric drive vehicles set to arrive in Amsterdam by end of November 29 ct per minute makes e-mobility affordable for everyone New pricing model for all European car2go locations Amsterdam – car2go today announced the official launch of one of the world’s first large scale all-electric vehicle carsharing fleets in Amsterdam. Beginning November 24th, 300 smart fortwo electric drive vehicles will be available for on-demand mobility, without the necessity of returning them to a fixed rental station. Even recharging of the electric vehicles is not mandatory after each rental, because the range of the smart fortwo electric drive is eight to ten times higher than the average operating distance of a car2go rental. Amsterdam will be the fifth city with a car2go service globally, but the first in Europe with an all-electric fleet. Together with Amsterdam’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure, which only uses energy from renewable resources, the car2go fleet of local zero emission cars is improving air quality and, due to the compact smart two-seater vehicle, is saving valuable space in the city center, of the beautiful capital of the Netherlands. The launch of car2go Amsterdam will introduce a completely new pricing structure for car2go, not only for Amsterdam but also for existing and future car2go locations throughout Europe. “The 300 white smart fortwo electric drive from car2go fit with the commitment of Amsterdam to improve the air quality of the city, focusing particularly on the reduction of the pollution caused by businesses which drive many kilometers in the city like taxi and delivery traffic. Expectations are that many kilometers will be driven with the car2go vehicles and, therefore, it is very positive that they are driven by an electric motor,” says Eric Wiebes, alderman for traffic, transportation and air quality of the city of Amsterdam. “After all, these vehicles are emission-free and that is good news for the health of the...

Today at High Gear Media, the production Toyota FT-86 leaks out while Audi releases details surround the refreshed 2013 A4 lineup. Toyota sees production delays due to flooding in Thailand, and Suzuki is bailing on some major auto shows. All this and more in today’s car news, right here on The Car Connectoin Ford’s MyKey technology is going to be… Excerpt from: Toyota FT-86 Leaked, 2013 Audi A4, 2015 Tesla Roadster: Today’s Car News

Some say he dreams entirely in Times New Roman and that he was once engaged to Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s corset. All we know is, his name is Jeremy and he can deliver a line as well as Jimmy Carr. What’s Jeremy Clarkson’s best line on Top Gear ? More » See original here: What’s Jeremy Clarkson’s best line on Top Gear? [Video] Read the original: What’s Jeremy Clarkson’s best line on Top Gear? [Video]

It was launched in mid 2011, and the first time it was seen in public, everybody predicted that it will replace even the most successful city bus in the world – it is the new generation Citaro. And now, the Mercedes- Benz Citaro already got a Grand Award, the Busworld Kortrijk / Belgium. It was made after a team of expert judges from the European Coach and Bus Week tested the buses for a week. They looked at the design, interiors and most especially, the new security features. “ The new Mercedes-Benz Citaro is the first bus, which together with the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) can be delivered. We are please that our team was able to again, play a leadership role in the safety of public transport to take,” said the director of marketing, sales and after sales of Daimler buses, Angela Titzrath Grimm. See original here: The New Citaro Bagged a Grand Award