Auto Shows
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This morning at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Lexus unveiled the 2013 RX 450h hybrid SUV, essentially a minor revision to its popular crossover SUV hybrid. Outside, the new RX 450h wears a new set of bumpers, complete with redesigned grille, LED daytime running lights and a reshaped headlamp. At the rear, a few tweaks to the tail lamps and license plate surround mark it aside from the previous generation RX 450h. Inside, there are similar subtle changes. Lexus says the steering wheel has been redesigned to make it more comfortable to hold, while a redesigned center console is supposedly more...
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Volkswagen Cross Coupe Concept: 130 MPG SUV Due At GenevaWhile some carmakers go down the entirely electric route and others explore different branches of hybrid technology, Volkswagen is best known for its efforts with turbodiesel engines. There's only so much you can do with internal combustion however, which is why Volkswagen's Cross Coupe concept...
Antony Ingram -
More Small, Happy Volkswagens We Still Won't Get To Buy!Volkswagen's up! minicar is one of our "forbidden fruit" cars. It's small, green, clever, does 56 miles per gallon, and is entirely unavailable in the U.S. That's unsurprising, given that it's even smaller than Volkswagen's own Polo, the Fiesta-sized subcompact also denied to U.S. buyers. VW is...
Antony Ingram -
2013 Lexus RX 450h Hybrid SUV: Geneva Show PreviewThe 2012 Toyota Prius is one of the cleanest vehicles on the road right now, but talented though it may be, not everyone wants their hybrid technology in a standard hatchback. That's where cars like the 2013 Lexus RX 450h come in, offering similar technology to the Prius, but in an altogether more...
Antony Ingram -
2012 Geneva Motor Show: Plug-In Car PreviewIt's only a matter of days now before the 2012 Geneva Motor Show opens to the press on March 6, and we'll be there to cover all the greenest new metal from the show floor. In the meantime, we've compiled a list of some new faces and more familiar shapes, all of which have one thing in common - a...
Antony Ingram -
Hyundai i-oniq: Extended-Range Electric Concept, Due GenevaKorean automaker Hyundai has revealed the first image of an electric concept due to hit the show stands at Geneva next week. Rather than a pure battery-electric vehicle though, the "i-oniq" concept uses a gasoline range-extending engine to keep the vehicle moving when the batteries die. The i-oniq...
Antony Ingram -
The 2012 Geneva Motor Show is right around the corner, and just like last year there's a heavy focus on green cars. The 2011 show debuted such exciting vehicles as the electric Volkswagen Bulli concept, a modern day VW Bus; the Rolls-Royce 102 EX; and the Range Rover range_e plug-in hybrid, and many more. To give you a clue what to expect at the 2012 show, which opens to the press on March 6, we're bringing you two preview guides. This guide covers the fuel-efficient production models and concepts due at the show - and you can expect a complete guide to all the plug-in models soon. Production...
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Production 2013 Fisker Surf To Launch At Paris Motor Show: ReportNow that Fisker has managed to launch its 2012 Karma and start delivering cars to customers, the company is looking ahead toward expanding its model range. Reports today in the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf indicate that it will unveil the production version of its 2013 Fisker Surf 'shooting brake'...
John Voelcker -
Takeri, Skyactiv Tech Take Center Stage For Mazda At GenevaWe may already be familiar with the Mazda Takeri concept car, but it's set to spearhead Mazda's assault on the Geneva Motor Show at the beginning of March. That assault includes showcasing Mazda's i-ELOOP regenerative braking technology, and its SKYACTIV range of gasoline and diesel engines, all of...
Antony Ingram -
2013 Lexus RX 450h Hybrid SUV Leaked, Debuts At Geneva ShowThe Lexus RX 450h, on sale since 2009, is set to gain a facelift this year and a sporty new trim line, to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The 2013 RX will gain some of the styling cues found on the 2013 Lexus GS range, giving the front end a sharper, more aggressive look. The...
Antony Ingram -
2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Set For Geneva, Plug-In Hybrid DueMitsubishi has picked this year's Geneva Motor Show in March to launch its new Outlander SUV. The all-new Outlander takes cues from the PX-MiEV concept seen at recent shows, and Mitsubishi says its fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas figures are among the best in its class. Better still should be...
Antony Ingram -
2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe, GT: More High-MPG Compact ModelsYesterday, Hyundai threw one of the better-attended press events at the Chicago Auto Show, launching two new models to expand its successful Elantra compact lineup. We've already shown you live photos of the 2013 Elantra Coupe and 2013 Elantra GT five-door hatchback, shot as the cars were revealed...
John Voelcker -
While Volkswagen didn't host a press conference to launch its new diesel Beetle, the carmaker put the 2013 Beetle TDI on display at the Chicago Auto Show in its first U.S. appearance. It's really the return of a long-lost friend, since VW sold the previous-generation New Beetle with a 1.9-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine from its 1999 launch through the 2006 model year. Stricter emission standards sidelined the TDI Beetle after that, but it's back in the new generation that debuted for 2012. According to details released last week by Volkswagen, the 2013 VW Beetle TDI is projected to...
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2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe Live At The 2012 Chicago Auto ShowYou've just seen the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT as we captured it live from the floor of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, and now here's its two-door companion: the 2013 Elantra Coupe. With styling and efficiency to match the sedan, the two-door offers a sportier (looking) take on staying compact and green...
Nelson Ireson -
2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Live At The 2012 Chicago Auto ShowThe 2012 Hyundai Elantra sedan nabbed a 40-mpg EPA rating, backed up by some real-world results, and it's also the North American Car of the Year. Now it has a pair of siblings: the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT and Elantra Coupe, unveiled today at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. The Elantra GT is the...
Nelson Ireson -
Nissan Invitation Concept Is Toyota Yaris, Ford Fiesta CompetitorAlthough Nissan already has a subcompact, fuel efficient hatchback in the U.S. market in the form of the 2012 Versa hatchback, the Japanese automaker has just released details on an inviting new subcompact concept car it plans to unveil at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Called the Nissan Invitation...
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield -
Kia Trackster Concept: 2012 Chicago Auto Show PreviewLike much of the auto press, we'll be at next week's Chicago Auto Show to see the covers come off the concepts and production cars. While Chicago has traditionally been a truck show, at least one maker is unveiling a concept for a small and economical--but still sporty and cool--compact car. The...
John Voelcker -
2013 Fiat 500L To Debut At 2012 Geneva Motor ShowIt's now confirmed: Fiat is following in the footsteps of MINI and delving into its past to bring back a famous nameplate for its upcoming Fiat 500 wagon. Due to be launched at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March, the new, larger 500 model will be called the 500L - the "L" standing for "Large"...
Antony Ingram -
Italian carmaker Fiat might be working hard to turn around Chrysler's fortunes, but it's own figurehead car, the 500, hasn't been as successful as they'd hoped. While the retro-styled minicar has been a massive success in Europe, the 26,000 Fiat 500s sold in its first year in North America was only around half that forecasted by Fiat. In an effort to turn around the model's fortunes, the company is considering bringing a wagon version to America, reports Automotive News. The five-door version is set to be unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in early March. Just as rival retro brand MINI...
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2013 Ford Fusion: High-MPG Engines, Hybrid, Plug-In (Video)Now that we're back from the Detroit Auto Show, we can say with confidence that the two most important cars of the show were the 2013 Ford Fusion and the 2013 Dodge Dart. The 2013 Fusion in particular got rave reviews for its styling--which blended elements of Audi A7 and even a hint of...
John Voelcker -
2013 Dodge Dart Compact Sedan: Video From Detroit Auto ShowWe brought you the actual unveiling of the 2013 Dodge Dart, complete with flashy graphics, loud music, and the car emerging in a welter of spotlights. Now, we can bring you a slightly calmer walkaround and summary of Chrysler's most important new car on video, as a complement to the full Dodge Dart...
John Voelcker -
Acura ILX Concept Walkthrough: 2012 Detroit Auto Show VideoLast week we brought you live photos of Acura's ILX compact luxury sedan from the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. As Acura's first compact sedan since the Integra, it's tasked with bringing new buyers to the brand. With sharp styling and some economical engines from the Honda Civic, it may just do that...
Antony Ingram -
Tesla Model S Electric Sport Sedan: Video From Detroit Auto ShowWith production of its ground-breaking electric Roadster now complete--despite a recent offering of some 2012 models--Tesla Motors is fully focused on bringing its Model S electric sport sedan to market and delivering the first cars to paying customers. At this year's Detroit Auto Show, the company...
John Voelcker -
2013 VW e-Bugster Electric Concept: 2012 Detroit Auto Show VideoAt the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, Volkswagen rolled out an all-electric, two-seat coupe-speedster concept based on its iconic Beetle. With a powertrain borrowed from the VW Golf Blue e-Motion—including the 85-kW (114-hp) electric motor, 26.5-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, plus...
Bengt Halvorson