Volkswagen dropped a non-surprise today in the form of the five-door variant of its Up! city car. We’ve pretty thoroughly covered the three-door Up! since its debut at last year’s Frankfurt auto show, including a first-drive report , and found it to offer handsome styling, decent road manners, and excellent fuel economy. This five-door version was previewed in part by the Cross Up! concept , which VW showed in Frankfurt along with five other concepts based on the Up!. The differences between this new model and the three-door, as you’d expect, are minor. The five-door Up! shares all of its exterior and interior dimensions; trim-level designations; and either a 60- or 75-hp, 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine with its slightly less practical sibling. Besides the two additional doors, the five-door’s only cosmetic difference is a flatter beltline. (The three-door’s rear windows feature a jaunty upkick.) If you were expecting the Up! with extra doors to gain the capacity for a fifth passenger, you’re out of luck—it still seats just four. Like the standard Up!, the five-door will stay in Europe. It goes on sale there this summer, and it will cost €475 more than the three-door model. Original post: Volkswagen Introduces Five-Door Up! Variant for Europe See the rest here: Volkswagen Introduces Five-Door Up! Variant for Europe

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has revealed that the Model X crossover will be unveiled February 9 at the company’s design studio in California. Musk announced the debut via Twitter , but didn’t say whether we should expect a Model X concept car or a production-ready example. A concept version of the Model X was expected to make an appearance at last year’s Frankfurt auto show but didn’t. The production X, which may go on sale in late 2013 , will use a version of the Model S electric sedan’s platform and should carry a base price similar to that car’s, as well. See the original post: Tesla CEO Announces Model X Crossover Debut Date of February 9 Read the original post: Tesla CEO Announces Model X Crossover Debut Date of February 9

“This world is an awful big machine.” —Woody Guthrie, 1943 “This iQ is an awful small machine.” —Car and Driver, 2012 Manufacturers are so jittery about peddling micro subcompacts that they’ve resorted to intellectual flattery.  A thinking person would surely have purchased a TH!NK, at least before Ford lost faith in its Norwegian electric-car experiment and expelled it from class. If  you’re the brainy sort, you’d naturally opt for a Smart Fortwo, recently suspended by Roger Penske and sent off to see the stern principal, Mr. Daimler.  And now comes the Mensa bunch, whose IQs would surely route them to an iQ, at least if this latest Scion can find a class that will accept its grades. For the nonce, the iQ is standing in the A-segment hall, late for class, occasionally tapping timorously on the homeroom door. Keep Reading: 2012 Scion iQ – Road Test See original here: Scion iQ Tested, All of America Becomes a Comedian View original here: Scion iQ Tested, All of America Becomes a Comedian

It’s one thing to keep a single example of a desirable car in as-delivered condition in hopes of cashing in after production winds down. It’s another to have fifteen pristine brand-new copies of the fastest cars Ford ever sold become available all at once. More » Read the original here: Is This Guy Selling 15 Undriven Ford GTs? [Found On EBay] See the original post here: Is This Guy Selling 15 Undriven Ford GTs? [Found On EBay]

An interesting story to follow has been the (supposed) revival of DeTomaso in Italy. Italian businessman Gian Mario Rossignolo purchased the bankrupt company in 2009. His plan called for three new models: a crossover, sedan and sports car. He planned to sell 8,000 cars a year, 3,000 crossovers, 3,000 sedans and 2,000 sports cars. The DeTomaso Deauville was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2011. Uninspiring, the Deauville is a Cadillac SRX-based model that was supposed to have Italian craftsmanship be its big selling point. You know, a nationalistic play to the Italian market. Its unfortunate that it is as safe of a design as you can get. The sports car was going to be a revival of the Pantera (which arguably, should have gone first before the crossover). The new Pantera was slated to be shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. When the car failed to materialize, it was a worrying sign for DeTomaso. Then came news of significant money issues in October. An Indian investment company was supposed to have supplied a shot in the arm to DeTomaso, but the deal never materialized. Now, CarsUK.net is reporting that the Deauville has been licensed to a Chinese company for about $23 million USD at current exchange rates. It isn’t clear exactly what the deal entails. Licensing is a broad term – it isn’t the same as selling the entire product line. A Chinese company could be manufacturing the car on contract with DeTomaso. Or a company could simply want it for the Chinese market while DeTomaso moves forward with its plans for Italian production. Either way, we need more details! $23 million can be burned through very quickly when developing new cars so it isn’t a sure thing that this will save the whole company. A lot of DeTomaso’s problems come down to the issues Italy is facing as a nation. The economy just isn’t in good shape over there, and investment cash is tight. Stay tuned for more details. Unfortunately, we wouldn’t be surprised to hear more ominous news in the future. Related posts: DeTomaso Deauville Resurrects Historic Marque DeTomaso Pantera To Launch At Frankfurt Show in September Here We Go Again: Saab Inks Tentative Deal With Chinese Distributor Pangda Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts...

At the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, BMW revealed an X6 M model equipped with BMW M Performance Parts. The aggressive and sporty looking Sports Activity Coupe now makes its way into the 2011 Essen Motor Show, the largest tuning and aftermarket show in Europe. While the model introduced in Frankfurt was painted in a Melbourne Red color , the X6 M present in Essen features the beautiful and classy Alpine White paint, along with the famous M racing stripes. The BMW X6 M sports M Performance 21 inch alloy wheels double spoke 310 M, rear spoiler in carbon (525 euro), front grille in black (120 euros), carbon fiber bumper (1500 euros), M Performance side gills (750 euro) and tail fins (100 euros). Inside, the X6 M comes equipped with Silverstone leather, black carbon fiber and M Performance steering wheel in Alcantara. All these options add about 21,000 euros to the already pricey X6 M. A similar equipped model sells in Europe for around 130,000 euros. [Photos: BimmerToday ] Read more from the original source:  2011 Essen Motor Show: BMW X6 M with M Performance Parts

BMWBLOG is attending an international media event where we will spend some time behind the wheel of the all-new 2012 BMW 3 Series. Our own Shawn Molnar will bring you first impressions of the F30 3 Series, both on track and on back roads. In the mean time, respectable UK magazine EVO delivers their own test drive review of the 3 Series. What’s it like to drive? Very impressive. Despite being a bigger car it doesn’t feel it, thanks to that 40kg weight loss over than the outgoing model. It retains the same balance and handling qualities from before, only now it also rides better. Improvements to run-flat tyre technology allied to damping developments and a stiffer chassis have combined to make this 3-series more composed than ever before. Sport mode can be used all the time, and Sport+ won’t rattle your fillings out. How does it compare? Positively. It steps the game on from the previous generation and is destined to build on the success that has seen some 12.5 million 3-series sold since 1975. Chief rivals – the Audi A4 (261bhp/214g/km) and Mercedes C-class (201bhp/161g/km) – can’t match the BMW’s 245bhp/149g/km performance and economy balance, and it’s more fun to drive, too. Anything else I need to know? Inside the cockpit remains as driver focused as before – to the extent that front passenger space feels a little impinged. There are three main trim levels – Modern, Luxury and Sport – although we won’t get the Sport here in the UK, as M Sport will arrive in March.” Full review at EVO View post:  EVO: 2012 BMW 3 Series Test Drive

Our favorite type of review just went live at Car and Driver . The U.S. magazine once again puts head-to-head the BMW M3 Coupe and the new Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe. As they point out, the M3 Coupe has won all of the previous five comparisons and “its success annoys some people.” Will the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe can take the reign? Let’s see an excerpt from the great review. “The C63’s foremost attribute is its 6.2-liter V-8. Hand-built at AMG in Affalterbach, Germany, this V-8 is more than 50 percent larger than the M3’s 4.0-liter. One consequence is 50 percent more torque—443 pound-feet versus the M3’s 295—so the C63 doesn’t need to work hard to scare a passenger or to get the attention of a cop. On public roads, the Benz’s engine is more insistent and shoves harder than the M3’s. Its vitality is ever-present. The exhaust reports a firestorm of combustion, and it’s seriously loud. Engines this big will have you describing to people in Chevy Camaros the displacement in cubic inches. “It’s got a 379,” you’ll say while picking your teeth. In the M3, the driver needs to work harder, downshift frequently, and spin the BMW V-8 to find its power and voice. The C63 driver just needs to make sure his engine is running. — It’s a wash if we add up the “Vehicle” categories. The Mercedes scores a point each on ergonomics and interior styling. Benz’s controls are slightly easier to use than BMW’s, and the C-class’s refreshed interior is modern and elegant. The BMW is all business, but it’s starting to look a little old—no surprise there, since an all-new 3-series arrives next year.” — And it seems like the BMW M3 remains the top dog in its segment. “The M3 didn’t win solely based on our subjective assessment, though. Our Competition-package–equipped M3 also scored major points for its superior skidpad grip, 70-to-0 braking performance, and slalom speed. Those points, along with the subjective handling victory, gave it the tiniest of edges over the Benz.” Full review at Car and Driver See the original post here: Car & Driver: 2012 BMW M3 Coupe vs. 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe

The dam has sprung a leak—brace yourself for a flood of 911 variants. The first volleys of what will soon become a crushing salvo have landed. Following the introduction of the 2012 911 at the Frankfurt auto show, Porsche is starting the rollout of the full 991 family with the Carrera and Carrera S cabriolets. Keep Reading: 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera / Carrera S Cabriolet – Car News Here is the original post: 991 Variants, the Beginning: 2012 Porsche 911 Cabriolet See the original post here:  991 Variants, the Beginning: 2012 Porsche 911 Cabriolet

When a 23 year old introduces an electric super car to the world with a claimed 1,088 hp, 2,802 lb-ft of torque and a top speed of 189 MPH, people are going to listen—very suspiciously. That is exactly what Croatian designer Mate Rimac did at the Frankfurt Auto Show when he introduced the “Concept One”. More » The rest is here: See the 1,088 hp electric "Concept One" on the move [Video] Read the original:  See the 1,088 hp electric "Concept One" on the move [Video]

It’s no secret that Ford’s follow-up to the Focus ST will be a hot version of the smaller Fiesta. And the Fiesta ST concept , first shown at the Frankfurt auto show this year, is the same loosely disguised hint at a future production model headed to this year’s L.A. auto show. But there’s one, okay, two differences. This ST concept previews the five-door version that we’d almost certainly get, while those Europeans would be offered a three-door, just as they are now with the regular Fiesta. The vital stats: 180 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque from a turbocharged, direct-injected 1.6-liter inline-four and a six-speed manual. Check back with us during the L.A. auto show on November 16 and 17 for more photos and a peek at the Fiesta ST’s rally-inspired interior. Until then, check out a few photos below to whet your appetite. See the original post here: Ford Bringing Five-Door Fiesta ST Concept to L.A. Auto Show Read the original here:  Ford Bringing Five-Door Fiesta ST Concept to L.A. Auto Show

Subaru has already revealed the production version of the XV crossover concept from the 2011 Shanghai auto show , and the company has now told us that the high-riding Impreza hatch will come to the U.S. next year. What the car ultimately will be called when it’s traipsing around northern Vermont is up in the air, however, with Subaru spokespeople telling us the badge has yet “to be decided.” The crossover will replace the Outback Sport, but may not carry over that moniker. The production XV that Subaru brought to the Frankfurt auto show featured three engine choices, including a gas 1.6- or 2.0-liter boxer four from the company’s new “ FB” engine family and a new boxer diesel for Europe. Three transmissions are on offer: five- or six-speed manuals and an optional CVT. We’d expect the U.S.-market XV to mate the 2.0-liter four with the five-speed manual or the CVT, at least at first, as the same combos can be found in the 2012 Impreza . Read more here: Subaru XV Crossover Coming to U.S. Next Year, May Get a Different Name Continued here:  Subaru XV Crossover Coming to U.S. Next Year, May Get a Different Name

During today’s press conference announcing the New Jersey Formula One race, officials quoted one UK newspaper as saying the prospective street circuit would “race like Spa, look like Monte Carlo.” Awesome. So how’d they find such a pitch-perfect site? Google Earth, apparently. More » See more here: New Jersey F1 circuit first spotted on Google Earth [New Jersey F1] See the original post here:  New Jersey F1 circuit first spotted on Google Earth [New Jersey F1]

An 87-year-old horticulturist from Indiana was pulled over on 1-94 west of Ann Arbor, Mich., last Friday for tailgating. And then things got weird. When it was over, the senior citizen and $2.9 million worth of cocaine were in police custody. More » Here is the original post: 87-year-old caught with 228 pounds of cocaine in truck [Cocaine] Read the original:  87-year-old caught with 228 pounds of cocaine in truck [Cocaine]

Honda debuted a refreshed 2012 Insight hybrid for Europe at the Frankfurt auto show earlier this year, and now that car’s updates have made it to the U.S.-market car. Honda’s changes to the Insight include a handful of styling tweaks and minor interior improvements similar to the freshening the popular Fit subcompact also received for 2012 , but the nip and tuck is definitely minor. The biggest changes are to the Insight’s styling, which is toughened up by larger and more aggressive intakes on the front fascia, new head- and taillights, and new wheel designs. EX models are still the only Insights that ride on aluminum wheels, but all trim levels get a new grille with a blue stripe that Honda says is representative of the car’s “high-tech hybrid identity.” There’s also a thinner rear spoiler that affords more visibility through the split rear window. Functionally, the tweaks to the front and rear bumpers and underbody contribute to a 1-mpg boost in the Insight’s city, highway, and combined fuel-economy numbers. The final figures are 41 mpg in the city, 44 on the highway, and 42 mpg combined; those numbers are still well short of the Toyota Prius’s (51/48/50), but the Insight is a far more involving car to drive. Honda improved the Insight where it needed to most: the interior. The company didn’t make any drastic changes, but it added thicker sound insulation, classed up the seating surface materials, and added an updated navigation system with an integrated backup camera. Those changes should address at least some of the complaints we levied against our recently departed long-term Insight ; most of our barbs were reserved for the hybrid’s loud operation and dated nav unit. One of the things we did like on our long-termer was its seats, and Honda has added synthetic leather to the chairs’ bolsters on EX models and fancier cloth for the thrones in the LX. Honda also tweaked the rear-seat area and headliner to eke out a bit more room for back-seat passengers, and refreshed the look of the gauge cluster. The 2012 Insight is powered by the same Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system as last year. IMA combines the efforts of an 88-hp, 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine and a 13-hp electric motor to move the car with no authority whatsoever...