Pininfarina, the Italian design house responsible for such classics as the Ferrari 250 GT, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, and the Cadillac Allanté, has released photos of its new “elegant and refined sports sedan” concept, the Cambiano, ahead of the 2012 Geneva auto show . The concept is named after the town where the firm is based, and where it opened its Styling Center 30 years ago. (Whether the indebted company will exist to celebrate further anniversaries, at least under family ownership, remains uncertain .) Lancia Florida II Press information isn’t available yet, but a report from Automotive News (subscription required) pegs the car as a plug-in extended-range hybrid that incorporates four 80-hp in-wheel electric motors and a diesel turbine (!) engine. The turbine is the range-extender, recharging the batteries when they are depleted; it also will feed power directly to the electric motors if there’s no juice on tap. Thus equipped, the Cambiano supposedly can reach 62 mph in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph; short bursts up to 171 mph are also claimed to be possible. The car is said to have a total range of close to 500 miles, including almost 130 miles in pure electric mode. Actual performance and range likely are limited to just enough to get it on the show stand under its own power. Pininfarina refers to the concept as a sports sedan, despite it not featuring four doors: There is one large door on the driver’s side and two smaller doors on the passenger side, the rear one opening suicide-style. The interior is as cleanly designed as the exterior, and features a wood floor and stitching-free upholstery. In the Automotive News report, Pininfarina says the Cambiano is inspired by the 1957 Lancia Florida II (pictured above). Stay tuned for more details and photos live from Geneva. Original post: Pininfarina Cambiano Sports-Sedan Concept Revealed [Geneva Auto Show] See the original post here: Pininfarina Cambiano Sports-Sedan Concept Revealed [Geneva Auto Show]

Its Geneva auto show debut is a week away, but Jaguar’s XF Sportbrake—that’s Coventry-ese for wagon—has been revealed in a brochure scan posted on an Italian blog . (This comes after the English company had itself supplied “spy” photos a few months ago.) Jaguar boss Adrian Hallmark is looking to move the company from niche player to mainstream contender, and this model will play a critical role for Jaguar in Europe, where a huge percentage of vehicles in the XF’s class are sold as wagons. (In some countries, wagons even outsell their sedan counterparts.) Without so much as seeing the real thing, much less driving it, we can confidently state that the XF Sportbrake will be leagues better than Jaguar’s last wagon effort, the X-type. That’s because the XF sedan is an excellent car , where the X-type sedan and wagon were made mostly of disappointment and class-below Ford Mondeo bits. We expect the engines to include four- and six-cylinder diesels. An all-new gasoline V-6 , derived from the company’s V-8, also has a good chance of being offered. Whether V-8 versions make the cut, we don’t know. You are free to salivate at the prospect of an XFR Sportbrake with Jaguar’s 510-hp supercharged V-8, or a 550-horse version that uses the XKR-S ‘s engine. All-wheel drive could show up in the next few years, as it will be introduced for the XF and XJ sedans. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that any version of the XF Sportbrake will be sold in the U.S. Evaporating wagon sales have led BMW and Audi to kill the wagon versions of the 5-series and A6 in the States, while the A4 wagon has been recast as the almost-crossover A4 Allroad . Official photos and info of the XF Sportbrake should be available very soon. View post: Jaguar XF Sportbrake Brochure Leaked [Geneva Auto Show] Go here to see the original:  Jaguar XF Sportbrake Brochure Leaked [Geneva Auto Show]

Call us a little strange (it wouldn’t be the first time), but we think it is pretty hard to make a 1959 Dodge W100 Power Wagon any cooler than they were when they left the factory. The combination of the Power Wagon’s Forward Look styling and rugged functionality make them a nearly perfect old truck in our eyes—even in showroom stock condition. More » Read the original post: Rare Vintage Power Wagon Has Modern Diesel Power [Found On EBay] Here is the original:  Rare Vintage Power Wagon Has Modern Diesel Power [Found On EBay]

They didn’t know exactly what to call it or precisely how to market it, but this vintage advertisement suggests Isuzu had at least one specific purpose in mind for the Trooper—escaping the equally confused local police. More » View original post here: Here’s Proof A 1984 Isuzu Trooper Can Successfully Outrun The Cops [Video] Read more here: Here’s Proof A 1984 Isuzu Trooper Can Successfully Outrun The Cops [Video]

Facing the double whammy of a stressed economy and high gasoline prices, drivers are feeling pain at the pump and in their wallets. When it comes time to buy a replacement car, it is no surprise drivers are placing a priority on fuel efficiency. Fortunately, there is an increasing number of choices that are pushing the boundaries for good fuel economy. The list below highlights the best and worst vehicles in overall fuel economy based on Consumer Reports testing. In the past year, our testing program added electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, and both new categories set a high bar for efficiency. As in the past, hybrids and diesels continue to provide better fuel economy than similar-sized conventional vehicles. With stricter fuel economy standards coming down the road, as well as rising consumer demand, we are seeing traditional cars also offer improved fuel economy. However, performance in our tests often differs from marketing claims, underscoring the importance of looking beyond the hype to find the right choice for you. (Learn how we test for fuel economy.) Best Model MPG Nissan Leaf (electric car) 106* Chevrolet Volt (plug-in hybrid) 61** Toyota Prius (hybrid) 44 Toyota Prius V (hybrid) 41 Honda Civic Hybrid 40 Lexus CT 200h (hybrid) 40 Smart ForTwo 39 Honda Insight EX (hybrid) 38 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE 38 Volkswagen Golf TDI (diesel, manual) 38 Volkswagen Passat TDI SE (diesel) 37 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI (diesel, manual) 36 Honda CR-Z EX (hybrid, manual) 35 Worst Cadillac Escalade 13 Dodge Ram 2500 (diesel) 13 Ford Expedition EL 13 Lincoln Navigator 13 *Miles-per-gallon equivalent (MPGe) **Composite of electric and gasoline operation. See our complete fuel economy list to see the most efficient vehicles in many categories. Here is the original post: 2012 Annual Auto Issue: Best and worst cars for fuel economy

Hello, fellow friends of tropical fruit! Here’s some simple mango math to keep you occupied, preferably while you’re driving a rental car in Rajshahi, a city in Bangladesh on the banks of the lower Ganges where this fabulous roundabout is located. More » View original here: Drive Around In Circles At Bangladesh’s Mango Roundabout [Infrastructure] Read the rest here:  Drive Around In Circles At Bangladesh’s Mango Roundabout [Infrastructure]

Justin sells trucks at Pro Trucks Plus LLC. We know this because he made the worst internet sales pitch we’ve ever seen. Watch as he rambles through the sale of a lifted Ford F250 “STANDARD CAB LONGBED 4X4 POWERSTROKE DIESEL.” More » See the rest here: Meet The Internet’s Worst Lifted Truck Salesman [Video] Read the original:  Meet The Internet’s Worst Lifted Truck Salesman [Video]

The Michigan father whose drunkenly made his nine-year-old daughter serve as designated driver during a late-night convenience store run last October will not be serving jail time for charges related to the bizarre incident. More » More here: Drunk Dad Who Used Nine-Year-Old Daughter As Designated Driver Not Going To Jail [Car Crime] Go here to read the rest: Drunk Dad Who Used Nine-Year-Old Daughter As Designated Driver Not Going To Jail [Car Crime]

I know it may hurt your eyes, but this is the best the interwebs can come up with right now when it comes to leaking an image of the upcoming 2013 SRT Viper. The image that you see of what the new Viper could look like comes from a blown-up thumbnail found on the website T-Hunted . They publish several images previewing upcoming Hot Wheels miniature cars. As a kid many of you played with Hot Wheels and some of you still do. With that in mind, you may already know that Hot Wheels cars are pretty accurate scale renditions of cars. So, until the new 2013 Viper is officially revealed, this image, along with the teaser snippets released by SRT, is all that we have to drool over for now. The 2013 Viper is said to be officially unveiled at the New York Auto Show in April 2012.   Read more: Suspected 2013 SRT Viper Image Leaked Onto Web Read the rest here: Suspected 2013 SRT Viper Image Leaked Onto Web

Ford's 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine. Image: Ford Motor Company Automobiles with three cylinder engines have long been the butt of jokes among auto enthusiasts. Anyone who’s ever driven a Geo Metro, for example, knows that acceleration wasn’t one of the car’s strengths. It returned amazing fuel economy and offered a fair amount of practicality, but getting from point A to point B in a hurry wasn’t one of its strong points. Even four-cylinder engines weren’t always enough to keep car guys amused, but automakers have now topped 100 horsepower per liter in normally aspirated engines. Throw some forced induction into the recipe, and suddenly the smaller and lighter engines have serious potential. That’s Ford’s thinking behind its latest engine, a 1.0-liter, three-cylinder EcoBoost model that’s currently under development. Reports from Autocar , via Left Lane News , say that Ford is pushing to get 177-horsepower from the engine, courtesy of both an electric supercharger and a conventionally spun turbocharger. While the performance variant probably wouldn’t be a mainstream engine, it could make an appearance in a Focus model slotted below the Focus ST, or in a higher-performance version of the subcompact Fiesta. In more pedestrian trim, Ford is planning on building some 1.3 million units of its three cylinder per year. Ford is also rumored to be working on a 320 horsepower version of its 2.3-liter four, likely using a similar method of combined forced induction. When it comes to engines, it looks like sixes are the new eights, fours are the new sixes and triples are the new fours. Since less weight equals better handling, we’re good with this plan.   See the original post: Ford Working On A 177-Horsepower Triple: Report Original post: Ford Working On A 177-Horsepower Triple: Report

When we hear about rear-wheel drive platforms, our ears perk up. That’s because they are the best suited to performance applications. General Motors just launched a new RWD platform Alpha, and it is a scalable architecture designed to support cars like the ATS, CTS and next-generation Chevrolet Camaro. Alpha compliments the larger Zeta platform at the company. At Chrysler, there is one main RWD architecture, LY. It supports the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger. It is destined to provide underpinnings for future Maserati and potentially an Alfa Romeo flagship. According to Motor Trend though, Fiat/Chrysler is looking to develop a new platform for smaller RWD vehicles. The reasoning is dual-pronged: Dodge wants it for a Challenger replacement and Alfa Romeo needs a new platform to go head-to-head against BMW. LY would be fine for a full-size Alfa Romeo, but isn’t scalable down for smaller applications. This has hampered the Challenger in competition with the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang. MT reports that instead of a new Challenger, a smaller Barracuda will be developed as its replacement. This fits in with rumors that the Camaro will be downsizing on Alpha for its next-generation. What we haven’t heard anything about before though is the Challenger name being dumped. It doesn’t make sense to do that, especially since Barracuda is from the Plymouth brand. As such, we think Challenger will be retained, as it does have name equity. As for downsizing and a less-retro design though, that is very much in the cards. In addition to the Challenger replacement, the smaller platform would underpin a range of smaller Alfa Romeos. Alfa’s lineup is currently front-wheel drive. If Alfa really wants to go head-to-head with BMW, it will require more investment from Fiat than ever before. That is a must if they hope for Alfa to make a splash in the United States. Any new Alfa Romeos developed with RWD are likely to be pretty far out, especially if development on this has just begun. That leaves Alfa’s return to the U.S still in flux until we hear anything official from Fiat. Related posts: Next-Generation Porsche Panamera Platform Could Underpin New 928 Alpha Platform Could Spawn Cadillac Roadster, Crossover U.S.-Spec Alfa...

Joining the hot new NASCAR Ford Fusion next year will be the vehicle you see here, which is purportedly the 2013 Dodge Charger stock car. It looks angry. Did we make it mad? More » See the original post: The New Nascar Dodge Charger Is One Mean-Ass Stock Car [Nascar] View original post here: The New Nascar Dodge Charger Is One Mean-Ass Stock Car [Nascar]

  It’s wintertime! A season that brings extreme cold temperatures and the presence of snowflakes , this time of year drives many creatures to insulated environments. For car lovers thirsting for the nectar of the freshest flowers set to blossom for the 2012 vehicle year and beyond, winter is also known as the indoor auto show season. Started in the more temperate climate of Los Angeles, recent indoor auto shows in Detroit and Chicago were staged as a sanctuary to the automobile-addicted crowds. In the Great White North known as Canada, the midday point of winter has crowds seeking a cure to the blahs of the season. The 2012 Canadian International Autoshow at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre is the strong medicine needed to reenergize love and vision of mechanical beauty. For the forth year in a row, I have been greanted coveted media access to this large Canadian exhibition serving as a hotbed for automobiles and ideas. Of course, with such an enviable gift comes the responsibility to communicate the attitude of this major industry to esteemed readers. Despite the fact many new production or concept cars have previously been fixtures at other auto shows around the world, there remained an infectious mood of enthusiasm from media members and most importantly the auto company executives/staff throughout media day. While auto companies in the 2010 and 2011 exhibitions offered only anecdotal details of better times ahead, the 2012 Canadian International Autoshow has become the chosen destination for past optimism. At the 2012 show, the Detroit Three automakers were back in brilliant form. General Motors delivered an automotive pageantry left unseen for years. Featuring bloated 7-brand line-up in 2009, General Motors’ bankruptcy greatly affected the size of their Canadian International Autoshow present in the following year. Shrinking to about 1/3 the floor space, GM steadily regained its convention center real estate in addition to market share. This year GM presented the Cadillac ATS and XTS sedans as well as the Buick Encore crossover . From the Hot Wheels prepared Camaro, the Chip Foose-prepared Foose Cruze to the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 , General Motors hammered a home run with their presentation at the 2012 auto show. The Chevrolet Corvette...

It is with great pleasure that we bring you our first auto show video reel from the show floor. We’ve mixed in the highlights of the day and we’re confident the ending will make you salivate, just a little. Stay tuned to BMWBLOG for increased video content, and be sure to check back in short order our video interviews from the show floor. This marks the 37th annual Canadian International Auto Show (CIAS), Canada’s most important auto show. Thanks to the crowds of spectators and out of city visitors, the show provides Toronto’s economy with a 165 million dollar shot in the arm. Maybe they can spend some of this money fixing our atrocious roads so that we can actually drive some of these cars around without losing a filling? Not likely. At least the cars look beautiful under the hot lights, and if you can dodge the pot holes on your way out of the city proper, you’ll be in for some amazing drives on wide open country back-roads. See more here: CIAS 2012: BMWBLOG Video Coverage

If you wanted a rear-wheel drive mainstream sedan in the past, your choices in the past were. Today, that isn’t the case as much. Most mid- and full-size cars are front-wheel drive. Things are a bit different in the luxury segment, but even there many manufactures like Audi, Acura and Lincoln use front-wheel drive platforms as a basis. Thankfully, all-wheel drive has come into play as a strong force. If you really want a more mainstream RWD sedan though, the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger are pretty much your only options. Thus, when Hyundai developed its rear-wheel drive platform it created a lot of goodwill with enthusiasts. And not only was it RWD, on the sedan there is a V-8 option. Kia, which has a bolder, more performance-oriented mission than Hyundai, hasn’t used the platform yet. That is about to change this year though – and Kia just released a few sketches of its RWD, V-8 flagship. The previous sentence is all the proof you need that Kia is on a roll. The car was previewed by the Kia GT Concept, and there is a lot of strong influences from that car. Up front there are large, all-LED headlights and the entire design sports Kia’s bold design that we love. The hard edges and highly modern surfacing has worked really well on models like the Optima and Sportage. Based on these sketches, the new “KH” sedan looks like a home run. It promises to be one of the most exciting introductions of this year. What we’re wondering right now is where Kia is going to price it. Is it going to be priced lower than the Genesis, going up against cars like the 300? Or, will it work to have more of a performance edge than the Genesis? These are all questions we’re looking forward to seeing Kia answer. Stay tuned. No related posts. Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Originally posted here: Kia Previews Its Rear-Wheel Drive, V-8 Sedan