Latest News

Ford considering compact for Lincoln brand
Although Ford’s Lincoln and Mercury brands have been wallowing in mediocrity for the past few decades, both brands have actually been showing some signs of life as of late. While Mercury hasn’t had a unique vehicle in eons, the brand’s quality is now top notch and continues to win award after award. Lincoln has a bit more fight left in it and is in the midst of a vast product rollout. That rollout looks to continue into the foreseeable future, and could actually include a new compact for the luxury brand.

BMW mulling four-cylinder 3, 1-series for U.S.
BMW was one of the few automakers to actually post a sales gain in August, but it reported the smallest improvement with only a 1 percent increase in sales. While BMW as a whole only saw a modest increase, the brand’s economical four-cylinder MINI brand saw an impressive 34 percent gain. MINI’s strong sales are no doubt related to the brand’s excellent fuel economy, which has BMW brass considering offering even more economical models.

VW offers zero percent financing on ‘08 models
With the bottom falling out of the U.S. new car market, most automakers are scrambling to find ways to move excess inventory. General Motors has already announced that it will be extending its employee pricing event through September – which will now include most 2009 models – and now Volkswagen has announced that its 2008 models will be available with zero percent financing.

Citroen Hypnos Hybrid concept
With the 2008 Paris Motor Show quickly approaching, Citroen has released renderings of a new crossover set to grace its stage at the Paris show. Dubbed the Hypnos Hybrid concept, the coupe-like concept will follow the design pattern first laid out by Infiniti’s FX range but will add in a serious bit of green credentials.

2010 Cadillac CTS Coupe with almost no camo!
A new round of spy photos show Cadillac’s forthcoming CTS Coupe undergoing some final testing. Less than two weeks ago, photographers spotted a prototype with less disguise than ever before. These latest images show a car with slightly more black tape on its rear end, but with production taillights rather than the placeholders seen on the last tester.

2010 Honda Insight unveiled
Honda today revealed a “concept” version of its 2010 Insight hybrid. Prototypes of the Prius-fighter were spied multiple times over the summer undergoing testing, so this thinly-veiled concept can best be thought of as a production preview. The car will be on display at the Paris International Auto Show next month..

Hyundai, HKS team up for SEMA show car
Hyundai and aftermarket parts maker HKS have combined talents to create a specially tuned version of the upcoming Genesis coupe for the SEMA show in November. Though specific details haven’t been released, the Genesis show car will feature a tuned 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and a unique ground-effects kit.

Mazda unveils Kiyora concept ahead of Paris show
Mazda has unveiled its upcoming Kiyora concept car prior to its official unveiling early next month at the Paris Motor Show. The concept, the latest in Mazda’s nature-themed design studies, previews a small urban compact car that would slot below the Mazda2 in the automaker’s lineup should it reach production.

GM extends employee pricing through September, adds most ‘09 models
General Motors’ Employee Discount for Everyone promotion probably saved the General from seeing a 30+ percent sales drop off in August, and it looks as though the promotional event will also help to buoy September’s sales numbers.

NHTSA closes book on Tacoma cases
Although Toyota and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have racked up 431 complaints of unintended acceleration in 2004 to 2008 model year Tacoma pickup trucks, the Federal investigation involving the incidents has officially been closed, with no cause found.

August sales results: Three win, the rest lose
As expected, August is shaping up to be one of the worst months in recent history for new car sales. Although several automakers have yet to report August’s numbers, as of now, only three automakers have posted sales gains, none of which are named Honda.

Leaked image reveals 2010 Mazda MX-5
The updated 2010 Mazda MX-5 is reportedly set to get new styling to bring it closer in line with the recently unveiled Mazda6, and a leaked image appears to prove that design direction. Although Mazda has yet to confirm when the new MX-5 will debut, it is widely believed that the new roadster will make its first appearance at next month’s Paris Motor Show.

Ford has tested EcoBoost to 500,000 miles
Ford has a lot riding on the upcoming EcoBoost twin-turbocharged and direct-injected V6 motor - so much so, in fact, that the automaker announced today that testing engines have endured the equivalent of 500,000 miles of bench testing. Ford’s goal is not only longevity but also reliability, an end result that the automaker expects to see based on what will amount to 1 million miles of testing before the engines are released to the public.

2008 BMW M3 Sedan
The new M3 follows in the footsteps of its predecessors by being the ultimate high-performance upgrade to the already-excellent BMW 3-series line-up. If you want the best of the best in a car with a less-than-six-digit price tag, the M3 continues to be that car.

Honda Reveals 2009 Civic Coupe
Following on the heels of the unveiling of the 2009 Civic sedan, the wraps have come off the two-door version. As expected, the coupe shares the subtle design upgrades with its four-door counterpart and promises to continue offering Civic buyers a sporty alternative.

The latest addition to VW's R-Line range delivers family fun in just 5.6 seconds.
The fastest car in Volkswagen Australia's expansive range is now a family sedan and its wagon variant.
The R36 Passat is the third in a series of racy vehicles from the exclusive Volkswagen Individual line, joining the Touareg R50 and the two-year-old Golf R32. And it's the fastest new kid on the R-rated block, with a blistering - and completely plausible - 5.6sec sprint time (5.8sec for the wagon).

F1 Legends At 35th Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races
Formula One Drivers Add High-Speed Skills and Thrills to Toyota Race of Legends at Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races
International Field of Drivers Vie for $25,000 Charitable DonationTorrance, Calif. - June 10, 2008 - Some of the most respected former Formula One (F1) drivers are ready to go wheel-to-wheel in this year's Toyota Race of Legends at the 35th annual Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races, presented by Toyota. In addition to good-natured bragging rights, these drivers are looking to secure a $25,000 check that will be donated to the winner's selected charity.