You’re looking at the mid/rear-engine V-12 application of Ferrari’s HY-KERS hybrid system. The reason you care is because a version of this powertrain will put out at least 900 hp in the next Ferrari super-dupercar, the successor to the Enzo . The Italian brand announced some details about the system at the Beijing auto show. This adaptation of the HY-KERS system is similar to that previewed on Ferrari’s 599-based HY-KERS concept two years ago. Big layout differences: The distance between the engine and transaxle has been shortened to zero, the engine has four extra cylinders, and Ferrari has added a generator in place of the alternator. (Also worth mentioning: While this bears the KERS name, a true F1-style KERS system uses a flywheel to store energy for short time in the absence of batteries or transistors. This setup is more conventional.) The green box on top of the transmission is the hybrid power unit, and the other green unit hanging off the back is an electric motor designed to bolt up to Ferrari’s existing seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. That rear motor is responsible for boosting output and recapturing energy during deceleration; it is attached to one of the two clutches in the transmission and therefore only works when the gears on that shaft (likely 1, 3, 5, and 7) are in use. The new front generator acts somewhat like a clutched alternator in that it can decouple during acceleration to reduce or eliminate drag. This is similar to the setup used in GM’s eAssist system, although the Ferrari motor is only used to generate power for the batteries and accessories and doesn’t feed it back into the powertrain. Ferrari says it has reduced the weight and size of the electric components, which gets it closer to a target of 1 kW of additional power for every kilogram added (that works out to 0.6 hp per pound). It’s also expecting a 40-percent reduction in emissions (and, therefore, fuel consumption) with the revised system, compared to 30 percent in the prior iteration. Like the V-12 in the new F12berlinetta , this system’s engine uses multispark ignition for increased combustion efficiency and employs variable-length intake runners. Comparison Test: 2011 Ferrari 458 Italia vs. 2011 McLaren MP4-12C,...

On the list of mankind’s vital pursuits, racing ranks with procreation, fine dining, and the consumption of refreshing beverages. Speed is fundamental to any human’s spiritual well-being. So, when the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) tempted us with a new easy-entry B-Spec road-racing category, primal urges drove us to find out which of the four cars gathered here offers the quickest path to enlightenment. Keep Reading: B-spec Racers: Honda Fit vs. Kia Rio 5, Mazda 2, Mini Cooper Hatchback – Comparison Tests View original here: B-spec Racers Compared: We Swarm Laguna Seca in the Honda Fit, Kia Rio, Mazda 2, and Mini Cooper See more here: B-spec Racers Compared: We Swarm Laguna Seca in the Honda Fit, Kia Rio, Mazda 2, and Mini Cooper

On the list of mankind’s vital pursuits, racing ranks with procreation, fine dining, and the consumption of refreshing beverages. Speed is fundamental to any human’s spiritual well-being. So, when the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) tempted us with a new easy-entry B-Spec road-racing category, primal urges drove us to find out which of the four cars gathered here offers the quickest path to enlightenment. Keep Reading: B-spec Racers: Honda Fit vs. Kia Rio 5, Mazda 2, Mini Cooper Hatchback – Comparison Tests View original here: B-spec Racers Compared: We Swarm Laguna Seca in the Honda Fit, Kia Rio, Mazda 2, and Mini Cooper More here: B-spec Racers Compared: We Swarm Laguna Seca in the Honda Fit, Kia Rio, Mazda 2, and Mini Cooper

For this year’s Beijing auto show , Audi created not one, but two Q3 -based concept vehicles; the first is the sporty RS Q3 , and the second is this yellow crossover called the Jinlong Yufeng, which apparently is geared towards Chinese kiteboarding enthusiasts. Chinese lesson: “Jinlong Yufeng” translates to “golden dragon in the wind.” The wind portion of the concept’s name references its kiteboarding theme, while the dragon part is a nod to 2012 being the Year of the Dragon. We’re pretty confident that you can figure out the golden part. Keep Reading: Audi Q3 Jinlong Yufeng Concept – Auto Shows Read more: Audi Q3 Jinlong Yufeng Concept: Kiteboarding Meets The Year of the Dragon [Beijing Auto Show] See original here: Audi Q3 Jinlong Yufeng Concept: Kiteboarding Meets The Year of the Dragon [Beijing Auto Show]

For this year’s Beijing auto show , Audi created not one, but two Q3 -based concept vehicles; the first is the sporty RS Q3 , and the second is this yellow crossover called the Jinlong Yufeng, which apparently is geared towards Chinese kiteboarding enthusiasts. Chinese lesson: “Jinlong Yufeng” translates to “golden dragon in the wind.” The wind portion of the concept’s name references its kiteboarding theme, while the dragon part is a nod to 2012 being the Year of the Dragon. We’re pretty confident that you can figure out the golden part. Keep Reading: Audi Q3 Jinlong Yufeng Concept – Auto Shows Read more: Audi Q3 Jinlong Yufeng Concept: Kiteboarding Meets The Year of the Dragon [Beijing Auto Show] More here:  Audi Q3 Jinlong Yufeng Concept: Kiteboarding Meets The Year of the Dragon [Beijing Auto Show]

The Mercedes S-Class has long been a leader in the car world, introducing new features that eventually trickle down to the ordinary, affordable family cars we buy. There’s a problem with this system. More » Continued here: COTD: Sonderklasse Edition [Commenter Of The Day] Excerpt from: COTD: Sonderklasse Edition [Commenter Of The Day]

While the car is still in the works, and Honda has been focusing on dual-clutch gearbox and CVTs, that doesn’t mean that none of their car models would carry a conventional automatic transmission anymore. As a matter of fact, insiders say that the Honda Acura could carry a 9-Speed Automatic transmission by German firm ZF when it rolls out in 2014. This was earlier reported in 2011, but it was not so clear on whether the manufacturer would use an 8- or a 9-speed gearbox. Now, it has been reported that Honda is leaning to the latter, more powerful automatic gearbox. The manufacturer for the automatic, who has been unknown a few years ago, was also revealed to be the German company ZF. Does the gearbox sound familiar? It actually is because it was actually showcased by Chrysler and the same gearbox will appear in a number of Fiat/Chrysler vehicles in the next few years. While Chrysler officials have been mysteriously keeping quiet about the subject, insiders have also revealed that the Liberty under the Jeep brand would be carrying this new transmission. ZF calls this gearbox the 9HP. It is perfect for the front and AWD platforms, and has an impressive torque of 354 pound-feet. The gear spread of this box is at 9.84:1 which is quite wide and is said to make the vehicle more fuel-efficient. It’s not as wide a berth as the 25% Ford is promising, but 10%- 16% of fuel savings is still quite significant. The perfect engine paired with this gearbox should have 1900 rpm. Should this be achieved, the vehicle could run as fast as 75 miles an hour. Honda executives, when interviewed, also refused to confirm or to deny their use of this gearbox on one of their 2014 vehicle. However, they do have lines which would be perfect for the gearbox. This includes the Acura, Odyssey and the Pilot. Go here to read the rest: 2014 Honda, Acura will adopt 9-speed automatic gearbox of ZF by 2014

Acura has announced pricing and more details about the ILX, their new entry-level sedan set to go on sale May 22. The ILX will be positioned beneath the TSX in the Acura line up, providing a more affordable, and efficient, starting point. The ILX is based on the compact Honda Civic , but it distinguished with different suspensions and sheet metal, along with more refinement, sound deadening, and upgraded interiors. Base, hybrid, and sporty models will be offered. We had an opportunity to drive all three versions this week, both at a media event and at our test track. All do a credible job of masking their humble Civic roots, with reduced noise levels and a quieter, more refined ride than their more pedestrian platform mates. The more upscale interiors are more Acura like, for better and for worse. What that means is the ILX generally spares riders the hard plastics and cheap look and feel of the Civic, but it also gets the somewhat busy and disjointed dash layout of other Acura models, with scattered small buttons and controls. The base car provides a reasonable balance of handling with ride comfort for its size, with adequate performance from the 2.0-liter four cylinder and five-speed automatic. The 2.4-liter model is sort of a Civic Si for grown ups, with more power and sportier handling than the base ILX, and any transmission you like as long as it’s a six-speed manual. The hybrid uses the same 1.5-liter engine, electric motor, and CVT automatic transmission used in the Civic hybrid. Pricing Base ILX 2.0L models get a 150-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and five-speed automatic transmission, and they will start at $25,900, including power sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, Internet radio interface, and Bluetooth. A $3,300 premium package adds heated leather seats, an upgraded audio system, active sound cancellation, and other amenities. Topping the range is a $2,200 technology package with navigation, AcuraLink telematics system with traffic and weather information, and hard drive media storage, for a grand total of $31,400. The sportier ILX 2.4L is available only with the Premium package and is priced at $29,200. Hybrid 1.5L models start at $28,900 and cost $34,400 with the technology package. Destination charges add $895 to all of the above prices....

The Women’s World Car of the Year (WWCOTY) has been announced: the Range Rover Evoque. No surprise there, really – the Land Rover WAG-wagon is just like a regular Range Rover, but it’s easier to reverse and less likely to hit other objects in the hands of a woman, because it’s smaller. Before you write in, we are, of course, joking. But if you’re wondering what Women’s World Car of the Year is, it was set up in 2009 to create an award specific to “the fastest growing consumer segment in the world and arguably the most influential.” That’s women. A more detailed explanation can be found here , but the all-female WWCOTY judging panel evaluates the cars differently to the main World Car of the Year panel, looking specifically at ‘female’ values. They are: safety, value-for-money, aesthetic appearance, storage space, child-friendliness, ease-of-driving, colour, sex appeal and environmental footprint. So, the car that best satiates a woman’s desire for all those things in 2012 is the Evoque – a car that could only muster a design award in the official World Car of the Year contest, which was won overall by the VW Up. Here are the WWCOTY winners in full, including the runners up in each category: Women’s World Car of the Year, supreme winner 2012 Range Rover Evoque BMW 3-series Audi Q3 Family car BMW 3-series Audi Q3 Ford Focus Luxury car Range Rover Evoque Jaguar XJ Audi A6 Sports car Porsche 911 Jaguar XKR Mercedes Benz SLK Economy car Honda Civic VW Up! Ford Fiesta   Continued here: Range Rover Evoque voted Women’s World Car of the Year Continued here:  Range Rover Evoque voted Women’s World Car of the Year

The third-generation Accord was the first Honda production car to employ double wishbone suspension both front and rear. Today’s Nice Price or Crack Pipe AeroDeck is a not for US model you might have cracked a wishbone over, but will its price make that wish come true? More » Go here to read the rest: For $7,500, Hit The Deck [Nice Price Or Crack Pipe] Original post:  For $7,500, Hit The Deck [Nice Price Or Crack Pipe]

Toyota Prius loyalty about same as best-selling Camry? OK. Not a lie, but a deceptive load of crap Have you heard about the new hybrid loyalty study? Almost 2/3’s of hybrid owners won’t reconsider another hybrid. Of course, no where in the study is such a claim made. It’s just that many in the press care little for the truth, only the advertising revenue any story can bring. Headlines don’t really have to tell the truth, right? They just have to drive traffic, then you can tell the truth, maybe . Anyway, did a little study on brand loyalty, and wouldn’t you know, hybrid loyalty isn’t all that different than overall brand loyalty. Wow. You mean hybrid buyers act, well, just like everyone else when buying another car? No way. How dare they? In 2011, Experian Automotive found that Kia led all automakers with brand loyalty at 48 percent. Chevy, Honda, Hyundai and Toyota all came in right around 40 percent ( more on brand loyalty )? So, roughly speaking Toyota Prius loyalty is the same as Toyota Camry loyalty? OMG! Toyota must be on the verge of bankruptcy, right? How can the Camry survive if Toyota buyers are only loyal to the Toyota brand 40 percent of the time? Yet, somehow 40 percent brand loyalty made the Camry the best selling car in America, and the second best selling vehicle — only to the Ford F150 — overall. Suddenly, 40 percent loyalty — put in context — doesn’t sound so bad. I guess what they say is true, arm a bunch of morons with a little data and watch out. In reality, Toyota Prius brand loyalty is right in line with Toyota brand loyalty. Why should the Prius be different than a Camry? Because its a hybrid? Is it really so hard to believe that many buying hybrid cars today are just like, well, regular car buyers? Impossible! More here:  Hybrid loyalty study an outrageous lie. For morons only

Just 20 percent of Honda hybrid owners bought another hybrid in 2011 Could two car families and limited hybrid supplies be skewing the results? Pretty scary Polk study regarding hybrid car buyers, at least at first glance. According to Polk just 35 percent of past hybrid buyers shopping in 2011 bought another hybrid, although Toyota Prius buyers — at 41 percent –  buoyed these averages higher. But, I wonder, do many that own a hybrid also own another vehicle? And what about the 2011 hybrid supply shortage? For instance, perhaps many that bought a Prius a few years ago are now replacing their Toyota Sienna minivan with a new minivan. If this were the case, then 50 percent of the time such two-car owning, hybrid buyers would be buying a non-hybrid. Furthermore, 2011 was not a good year for hybrid car sales because supplies were severely limited. According to Honda, hybrid supplies still have not recovered from the tsunami/earthquake. Similarly, for most of 2011 Toyota Prius supplies were also limited — some months extremely limited. Thus, many hybrid buyers returning to the market in 2011 found limited supplies and even fewer deals. Interestingly, in the 4th quarter, the hybrid re-buy rate jumped 10 points compared to the third quarter — as supplies finally began to recover. Likewise, in 2008 hybrid supplies were also limited and hybrid buyers faced dealer markups as high as $5000. In 2009 and much of 2010, on the other hand, the economy and gasoline prices crashed. Thus, every year covered in this study had major variables that impact car buying decisions. Anyway, certainly no one should expect hybrid buyers to remain hybrid buyers. Unfortunately, choices are still very limited in the hybrid space. Plus, today for instance, there are many more deals on non-hybrids, and if you’re short of cash, the best upfront price is hard to pass up for most Americans — even if that choice costs more long term. Ultimately, I don’t read too much into this study, and there are a lot of confounding variables. I’ve never bought the same car twice in a row, nor have my parents. And if you drive a Prius and want to try something a little different, for example. there aren’t many hybrid options. Thus, maybe you’ll try a Jetta...

Relative newcomers to the mid-size sedan segment, the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima haven’t taken long to rise to the top of the class. In just a few generations, the pair have gone from distant finishers to highly ranked competitors that now rank in sales alongside vehicles like the Nissan Altima, Honda Accord and Ford Fusion–and for good… Read more from the original source:  Hyundai Sonata Vs. Kia Optima: Compare Cars

Taking on the competition While new to North America last year, the Mazda2 is in its second generation and has been an award winning car in both Europe and Asia. The front-wheel-drive subcompact was completely redesigned for the 2011 model year and was left untouched for 2012. The Mazda2 competes in the crowded subcompact segment and takes on the likes of Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa, Honda Fit, Ford Fiesta, Chevrolet Sonic, Fiat 500, Hyundai Accent and Kia Soul. This week we’ll be test driving the Mazda2 Touring model ($15,855). Touring model gets extra upgrades Inside, Mazda2 Touring comes standard with reclining front bucket seats with six-way adjustable driver’s seat, 60/40 split folding rear seats, tilt steering column, remote keyless entry, and full power. It gets upgraded cloth upholstery with three-dimensional seat fabric with red piping, six-speaker sound system, and a multi-functional leather steering wheel. Outside it gets a rear roof spoiler, fog lamps, and 15-inch alloy wheels. The 2012 Mazda interior is about what you would expect from the segment. There‘s not a lot of flash, but it gets the job done. Hard plastics are used throughout the cabin which is typical for this class. There isn’t much legroom in the back, but the 60/40 split rear seats fold flat to allow for 27.8 cubic feet of cargo space. Small but potent The Mazda2 uses a proven 1.5-liter double-overhead-cam 16-valve four-cylinder engine that produces 100 horsepower and 98 pound-feet of torque. While it doesn’t sound like much, the variable valve timing gives it more low-rpm torque and higher-rpm horsepower. The Mazda2 will run 75 mph in the fast lane all day long and is fun to drive. We test drove the Mazda2 with the four-speed automatic and felt it was a bit slow to respond pulling hills. The five-speed manual would offer a sportier driving experience.The automatic and the manual are rated the same with an EPA estimated 29 City/35 Highway mpg. The suspension uses MacPherson struts in front and a trailing-arm torsion beam in back which kept the 2 flat in the corners with very little body lean. The Mazda2 delivers on its zoom zoom promise The Mazda 2 is very competitive in the subcompact segment that offers so many choices. Its exterior styling is eye-catching and sporty and...

Acura’s lineup is being given a complete makeover. After realizing its strategy in the past decade just wasn’t working, Honda decided to make a change. Acura would abandon its push to compete head-to-head with top-tier brands like Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Instead, Acura would compete in the near-luxury realm against Buick and Lincoln. We’ve seen evidence this with the ILX (although we don’t think that’s a value proposition….)RDX, and now RLX. The TL got an update not too long ago that helped smoothen out some of its edges. So far, the hot-selling (well, comparative to the rest of the lineup) MDX has been the only product left untouched. You can sure a new one is just around the corner. The RLX Concept previews Acura’s update to its lackluster RL flagship. RLX is in keeping with Honda’s recent habit of introducing models badged as “concepts” that are anything but. The good news is that the RLX looks way better. It is actually a good-looking vehicle now, while the previous RL wasn’t attractive in the least. The RLX largely achieves this by being inoffensive. Like the rest of the updated lineup, the RLX’s front end design is much more muted than previous Acuras. The “Power Plenum” grille has been tamed and it works now. Progress! Moving to the rear, the RLX is very good-looking, but that is because we’ve seen it somewhere else. The RLX appears to draw heavily from the BMW 7-Series around back. Given that it and the S-Class rank high in a lot of people’s minds, we don’t think that was accidental. The interior hasn’t been revealed (they’re saving a reveal of that for the production debut, who knows when….) but the RLX Concept’s powertrain is pretty impressive. The RLX Concept features Acura’s new hybrid Sport Hybrid Super-Handling All-Wheel drive system that we’ve been hearing about, combined with a 3.5-liter V-6. The result is 370 horsepower, a great figure. Hybrid SH-AWD is an area where we see Acura innovating, so we hope this spreads across the lineup soon. While we’re used to Acuras that just up until recently had five-speed trannies, the RLX Concept has a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox unit. Is this exact powertrain...