For everything that is wrong with Hummers, they are, apparently, good at off-roading. Proof of that lies in the success of Rod Hall Racing’s Team Hummer effort, which just swept the stock classes at the Best In the Desert (BITD) Racing Association’s FabTech Desert Classic 2008 season finale.

Chad Hall crossed the finish line first (earning him not only the race victory but the stock full SUV class victory) in his Hummer H3. Moments later his brother Josh crossed the line in an H2 SUT, earning the stock full truck class championship.

Then team owner Rod Hall crossed the line in his H3 to secure the stock mini class championship.

The hat-trick not only secured individual and class victories but it also capped-off the 2008 season – the most successful season for Hummer Racing since the team was founded in 1993.

Official release after the jump:

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In a move to keep up with the high price of fuel, as well as deal with environmental concerns, GM has developed new XFE-models of some of its most popular trucks. The Xtra Fuel Economy (XFE) package will be offered on the 2009 Silverado, Tahoe, Sierra and Yukon trucks.

The significant alterations to the trucks, in terms of their mechanical makeup, weight and aerodynamics result in an EPA-estimated five percent increase in highway fuel economy and a more than seven percent increase in city fuel economy.

The trucks now achieve a 15/21 (city/highway) rating compared to the 14/20 rating for non-XFE models.

Importantly, the XFE models do not get a reduction in power. The XFE package is available on 2WD models equipped with the 5.3-liter V-8 with the six-speed transmission. On Silverado and Sierra models, the six-speed transmission gets a high-capacity cooling package to deliver a 7,000 lb towing capacity – up from the standard model’s 6,600-lb towing capacity. All XFE models come quipped with a fuel-saving 3.08 rear axle.

Other factors for the improved fuel-economy include lightweight wheels with low rolling resistance tires, lighter suspension components and improved aerodynamics.

A full list of all the unique XFE features is listed after the jump:

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Recently MINI delivered 500 MINI Es (electric versions of the popular MINI) to California, New York and New Jersey to begin an exciting new pilot project. Each vehicle is powered by a 204hp electric motor, which draws power from a lithium-ion battery. MINI claims the vehicles are good for 156 miles on a single charge and that a recharge will take just 2.5 hours with a special wallbox that allows a more powerful 240 volt output. Recharge is also possible with a conventional wall plug.

With the 204hp and an immediately available 163 ft-lbs of torque, the MINI E can hit 60 mph in 8.5 seconds – a number that is less impressive than you might expect due to the curb weight of 3,230 lbs (573 of which are battery weight).
MINI estimates the cost of running the MINI E to be roughly $1.80 every 62 miles.

MINI E Concept

Complete MINI E product information after the jump:

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For 2010, the Milan will be offered with the same revolutionary hybrid engine found in the new Ford Fusion. Both vehicles are rated at an EPA tested 41 mpg on the highway and 36 mpg in the city – besting the Camry by 2 and 6 mpg respectively.

“For sophisticated consumers looking for a stylish hybrid, the Milan now offers them the most fuel-efficient hybrid sedan in its class,” says John Felice, general manager, Ford, Lincoln Mercury Marketing.

Highlights of the new Hybrid system include:

* New 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (155 horsepower/136 lb.-ft. of torque) mated to an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission or e-CVT.
* Intake Variable Cam Timing (iVCT), which allows the vehicle to more seamlessly transition from gas to electric mode and vice-versa. The spark and cam timing are varied according to the engine load to optimize efficiency and emissions.
* Enhanced electronic throttle control reduces airflow on shutdowns, reducing fueling needs on restarts.
* A wide-band lambda sensor analyzes the air-fuel ratio and adjusts the lean/rich mixture accordingly to keep the system in balance and to minimize emissions.
* A new smaller, lighter nickel-metal hydride battery has been optimized to produce 20 percent more power. Improved chemistry allows the battery to be run at a higher temperature and it is cooled using cabin air.
* An added variable voltage converter boosts the voltage to the traction battery to operate the motor and generator more efficiently.
* A new high-efficiency converter provides 14 percent increased output to accommodate a wider array of vehicle features.
* Smarter climate control system monitors cabin temperature and only runs the gas engine as needed to heat the cabin; it also includes an electric air conditioning compressor to further minimize engine use and maximize comfort.
* The regenerative brake system captures the energy normally lost through friction in braking and stores it. Nearly 94 percent energy recovery is achieved by first delivering full regenerative braking followed by friction brakes during city driving.
* A simulator brake actuation system dictates brake actuation and delivers improved brake pedal feel compared to the previous generation braking system.

Mercury Milan Hybrid

Full Mercury Milan Hybrid details after the jump:

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Unveiled at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, Rolls-Royce held the official street-launch of the new Coupé in Abu Dhabi – a market that continues to grow for the regal British brand.
Powered by the same 6.75-liter V-12 engine found in the sedan and Drophead Coupé, it makes 453hp at 5350 rpm and 531 ft-lbs of torque at 3500 rpm, good enough for a sprint to 60 mph n just 5.6 seconds – not bad for a vehicle that weights 6,724 lbs!

Rolls also boasts that the Cpupé has segment leading fuel economy – a fact that is not only irrelevant considering who is buying these cars, but also ironic considering where the launch took place.

Compared to the massive sedan, the Coupé is 9.8-inches shorter in length but features many of the Phantom’s signature styling cues. Owners can almost guarantee no other model will look like theirs as Rolls-Royce offers the Coupé in any one of 44,000 different colors.

One original item is the optional “starlight headliner.” Made of 1,600 fiber-optics, it can give the impression of a star-filled night sky (or of a Las Vegas Casino built in the 1960s).

Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé

Official Press Kit after the jump:

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As Mitsubishi used the LA Auto Show to showcase its i MiEV electric car, several models were sent out onto the roads of California for real-world testing.

Based on a gasoline-powered version of the same car that Mitsubishi currently sells in Japan, the i MiEV uses a 330-volt lithium-ion battery to power a magnet electric motor. The battery makes 47 kW, which, says Mitsubishi, can move the car quicker than it’s 64hp gasoline sibling.

Because the battery is located low in the car the cabin is spacious and the center of gravity is very low. Mitsubishi says the i MiEV will be able to travel 100 miles on a single charge.

The i MiEV is currently undergoing testing for production and Mitsubishi claims it will be the first “new generation” lithium-ion-powered electric vehicles to hit the market.

Official release after the jump:
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Eight years after the Scion brand was launched in the U.S., Toyota’s youth-oriented offshoot will open dealerships in Canada in 2010. With a dealership-within-a-dealership approach, Scions will be available at several Toyota stores in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Expansion to other urban centers (or “centres” as they say in Canada) is expected but not yet official.

Scion will enter the Canadian marketplace with all three of its vehicles, the tC sport coupe, the xD five-door hatchback and the cube-shaped xB five-door hatchback.

And of course, all Scion models in Canada will be available with numerous accessories and upgrades, from wheels to shift knobs and from stereo systems to TRD (Toyota Racing Development) performance parts.

“Scion is a unique brand, yet still a member of the Toyota family so it benefits from the same high standards as our Toyota and Lexus lines,” said Larry Hutchinson, Director of Toyota Canada Inc., commenting that in the U.S. 70 percent of Scion buyers are new to Toyota, and over fifty percent of Scion owners migrate to a Toyota vehicle as their needs and wants evolve.

For more information on Scion Canada visit: www.scionnation.ca

Official release after the jump:
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As of December 31, 2008, General Motors ceased its endorsement deal with Tiger Woods after nine years. The deal, reportedly worth up to $7-million annually, ended due to several factors, including the current hardships in the auto industry. A joint press release also stated that Woods is eager for more personal time after the news that he and his wife are expecting their second child.

The sponsorship agreement that saw the 14-time major winner endorse Buick products in the USA, Canada and China.

“Tiger has been a great friend to GM and a fantastic asset through the years helping to bring consumer awareness to many new GM products,” said Mark LaNeve, General Motors North American Vice President of Sales, Service and Marketing.

In a statement, Woods returned the good will, stating that, “I am very proud of the long standing partnership I’ve had with GM and have enjoyed being a part of the company’s dramatic product evolution. We’ve had a lot of fun together and I participated in some unique and rewarding activities. We’ve enjoyed a tremendous partnership over the years and we will maintain strong ties with the many people at GM we call friends.”

Official release after the jump:
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Maserati won’t say much about the new QP that it plans to unveil at the North American
International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, but it does claim the Sport GT S will be the
“sportiest” version of its famous sedan.

Using a modified version of the 4.7-liter V-8 found in the “S” model, power is rated at
433hp, a modest increase of 8hp. As the output and engine are the same as the one
found in the GranTurismo S, we can assume torque is equal as well at 363 ft-lbs.

Other “sporty” upgrades include updated transmission software for faster shifts, a
lowered ride height with stiffer springs and an exhaust system that features pneumatic
valves that open to really let the Italian V-8 scream.

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S

Official release after the break:

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While generating 700hp and 657 ft-lbs of torque from a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter boxer engine is incredible, such things are hardly out of the ordinary at RUF. What is amazing, however, is that this car, while looking an awful lot like a Carrera GT, is actually loosely based on a 997 Turbo. Even more amazing is that RUF designed the car with the engine mid-mounted, rather than in its standard rear-mounted position.

The entirely new body of the CTR 3 is made of steel, aluminum and carbon-Kevlar, with aluminum for the doors and carbon-Kevlar for the body shell. This makes for an incredibly light (3,086 lb) vehicle.

The combined low weight and high horsepower help the CTR 3 to accelerate to 62 mph in 3.2 seconds with a run to 124 mph in just 9.6 seconds. RUF claims a top speed of 234 mph!

RUF CTR 3:

Get complete specs on the brakes, wheels and transmission after the jump:

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