First unveiled in pre-production form at the New York Auto Show earlier this year, Acura promised the high-riding ZDX four-door coupe would make its way to dealer floors shortly without many design changes. True to their word, the folks at Acura have just released a selection of images of the controversially designed vehicle that defies categorization.

With Acura’s beak-like front fascia shield, as well as an overall design somewhere between a four-door coupe and a sportback, the ZDX also rides high thanks to the use of the company’s SH-AWD system.

Fitted with a 3.7-liter V6 engine the ZDX makes 300hp and 270 ft-lbs of torque and is mated to a new six-speed automatic transmission. Acura has still not revealed if this a dual-clutch setup (similar to Audi/VW’s DSG system), but the transmission will feature paddle shifters and Acura says it will improve acceleration and fuel-economy – hinting that it may actually be a dual-clutch setup.

Standard equipment will include 19-inch wheels, a panoramic glass roof, a hand-stitched leather interior, Bluetooth connectivity, a power liftgate and a powerful audio system with a USB and iPod interface. A Technology Package will add a navigation system, a surround sound audio system and a multi-view rear camera. An Advanced Package will then add on a blind spot monitoring system, adaptive cruise control and what Acura calls a Collision Mitigating Braking System (CMBS).

The 2010 Acura ZDX will go on sale this December and will slot in between the RL sedan and MDX SUV, meaning pricing will be somewhere between $41,000 and $47,000.

GALLERY: 2010 Acura ZDX

Official release after the jump:

Continue Reading…

Hyundai continues defy doubters, setting a new world record at the world-famous Pikes Peak Hill Climb in a race-prepped Genesis Coupe. Driver Rhys Millen piloted his Rhys Millen Racing Red Bull Hyundai Genesis Coupe drift car to a time of 12:09.397 in the rear-wheel drive Time Attack Class, beating his nearest competitor by 1 minute, 23 seconds and besting even his own previous time by 22 seconds.

“Driving the Genesis Coupe for the first time at Pikes Peak in front of thousands of fans is an amazing experience,” said Millen. “Nothing compares to the pressure and thrill of Pikes Peak while competing against yourself for the record.”

Millen also said the Genesis Coupe performed superbly, even though by the summit the tires were worn down to their steel belts.

The Pikes Peak Hill Climb, which takes place annually on Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, Colorado, starts at an elevation of 9,300 feet and finishes at an elevation of 14,110 feet – where the air is so think drivers’ reaction times begin to slow and their race car engines lose 30 percent of their power. Drivers drift around 156 corners, nearly missing guard rails and trees, while avoiding cliffs with 2,000-foot drop-offs.

2009 marks the 87th annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the second-oldest motorsports event in America, second only to the Indianapolis 500.

GALLERY: Rhys Millen Racing Red Bull Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Official release after the jump:

Continue Reading…

While Audi has made no secret that it will be releasing a convertible version of its V10-powered R8 at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the German luxury car maker has kept the car under wraps. Even the test mules spotted lapping the Nürburgring were well-masked.

Now, thanks to the intrepid reporters at U.K.’s AutoExpress we may just have an accurate idea of what the drop-top 2010 Audi R8 Spider/Cabriolet/Roadster will look like. These spy photos photos were taken during shooting of an upcoming sequel to the popular Iron Man movie. 

If you recall from the first flick actor Robert Downey Jr. had an Audi R8 in his stable of cars, and if you look closely at these photos you’ll see Downey behind the wheel.

The car is expected to keep the same 525hp, V10 engine as the new coupe but be slightly slower due to the extra weight added to help stiffen up the roofless chassis. In terms of design changes, we can see that the side blades have been removed, showing a more sculpted side to the car, while the rear clamshell gets some aggressive renting.

The R8 Roadster will be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show this September. 

GALLERY: Audi R8 Convertible

[Source: AutoExpress]

Car thefts are a daily occurrence in any major city and aren’t worthy of much media attention, until the cars being nabbed happen to have names like Rolls-Royce and Lamborghini.

Such is the case in Toronto, Canada where police now believe a thief is targeting high-end vehicles. The cars in question include a Lamborghini Gallardo, a Mercedes-Benz CLS55 AMG, a Lexus LS470 SUV and a Rolls-Royce Phantom – valued at $350,000.

All the vehicles were stolen on either July 6th or 7th from high-end rental car locations, including Affinity Luxury Car Rentals. Each vehicle was rented legitimately and then not returned, and because the renter had to provide photo ID, the police have a pretty good idea who they are looking for: Ibrahim Mehraliyev, a native of Azerbaijan now living in a Toronto suburb.

Anyone with information that might lead to an arrest is asked to contact the York Regional Police.

[Source: VWVortex]

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

To help promote the upcoming Chevrolet Volt and provide owners and potential owners with a place to discuss the ground-breaking car, General Motors has launched a new forum called ChevroletVoltage.com. And to help kick-start interest in the forum, GM has released a video of the build process for the prototype Volt cars.

The Voltage site is an official GM social networking site, intended to compliment private forms, like VoltForums.com, which are also dedicated to the plug-in hybrid.

Chevy’s VP Ed Peper says the site’s intent is, “To inform and engage concerned individuals about the movement toward alternative transportation energy source and to provide a behind-the-scenes view of how one manufacturer, Chevrolet, is working to bring its advanced extended range electric vehicle to life.”

Being a social networking site, GM doesn’t just want to promote conversation between those members of the public interested in the car, but also wants to get those same folks invoved with the staff at GM responsible for the production of the Volt; even inviting them to send topics and questions to the staff running the site. ChevroletVoltage will also feature polls and information on events related to the Volt.

Just a few days ago we reported that Bugatti had sent out invitations to a select few individuals for a party it will be hosting at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. On the invitation there was a grainy photo of what was presumed to be a new model from the company. A new Bugatti at Frankfurt only makes sense as 2009 marks the automakers centennial.

Now, Bugatti has released an “official” teaser image, showing, well… your guess is as good as ours.

The dark back-shot shows very little but does give one very big hint to what sort of powerplant will be under the hood. Judging from the eight exhaust pipes, it will most likely be the same quad-turbocharged W16 engine as found in the Veyron. Otherwise the taillights don’t give much clue to what sort of vehicle the new Bugatti will be. Perhaps a luxury sedan?

When it is unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the new Bugatti, which is rumored to be called the Bordeaux, will most likely be a concept, with a production version to follow shortly thereafter.

[Source: PistonHeads]

Earlier this year at the Geneva Auto Show, Ferrari unveiled the HGTE version of the 599 GTB, a more track oriented version of the Italian exotic car makers flagship. This of course means that anyone owning a regular 599 might a well be driving a 575 (the car’s predecessor, for those not up to date on their Ferrari models); how embarrassing.

Normally Ferrari would just make you buy the new model, but now the company is offering the HGTE setup as a Ferrari Genuine Accessories package. The package includes almost all of the HGTE goodies, although so far it’s only available in the U.K.

Models from 2008 or newer can be equipped with the complete Handling, Performance, Exhaust and Aesthetic kits at a price of £19,703 ($32,000). The Handling package includes a 10mm lower suspension with springs that are 17 percent stiffer up front and 15 percent stiffer in the rear, new settings for the magnetorheological shocks in the Sport and Race programs on the Manettino, larger anti-roll bars, lighter 3-piece forged aluminum wheels and stickier tires. The Exhaust and Performance packages are comprised of new mufflers and new ECU programming with better throttle response and faster shift times (just 85ms). As for the aesthetics, they include a new front grille with a special chrome treatment and a brushed finish for the Prancing Horse symbols.

Models from before 2008 can opt for just the Handling, Exhaust and Aesthetic kits at a price of £17,213 ($28,000), and the performance upgrades are also not available for vehicles with manual transmissions.

GALLERY: Ferrari 599 HGTE

Official release after the jump:

Continue Reading…

It may be a whole half year away but already some details are emerging about the cars expected to debut at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. And the first vehicle is the all-new 2011 Hyundai Sonata.

Recently the Sonata was spied testing in Dubai and it gave us a pretty good indication of what the vehicle will look like. Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik has said that it is intended to be a bold design that will help set the car apart from its successful Japanese competitors from Honda and Toyota. In fact, the 2011 Sonata is supposed to have a trendy four-door coupe profile.

There is no word on engine choices, but it’s not hard to guess that a four-cylinder engine will be standard with a V6 optional. High-technology items like direct-injection and a six-speed automatic transmission are also possibilities.

Additionally, Hyundai is expected to release a hybrid version of the 2011 Sonata, although that particular model is likely due out later.

[Source: Edmunds]

[Photo Credit: Assayyarat]

According to a recent report on the auto industry, published by Merrill Lynch, Ford is poised to surpass General Motors and become the top-selling automaker in the U.S. over the next four years. The reason for Ford’s forecasted success is its new line of products, including the Fiesta sub-compact (pictured above).

Currently Ford holds a 16.1 percent share in the U.S. market, surpassing Toyota for the number two spot. The Annual Merrill Lynch Car Wars study predicts that Ford’s share will increase an additional two percent, while General Motors will decline significantly, possibly by as much as five percent, putting it in the 15-16 percent range.

And if the folks at GM think they have it tough, they just need to look at Chrysler, which is predicted to drop 6 points, cutting the company’s market share in half.

Along with Ford, the big winners over the next four years are expected to be Honda and Hyundai/Kia, which will each gab an additional three percent of the market.

European brands are expected to remain steady, despite a long list of new products that Volkswagen will introduce.

[Source: AutomotiveNews via Autoblog and BusinessWeek]

Mazda is reportedly in talks with Toyota over the prospect of licensing hybrid technology from Japan’s largest automaker for use in future green cars. Currently Nissan has a similar arrangement with Toyota for the Altima Hybrid.

Mazda currently has one hybrid model, the Tribute HEV (pictured above), which is based on the Escape Hybrid and that SUV’s hybrid technology developed by Ford. Mazda is now seeking out new partners as Ford recently sold-off with much of its stake in the Japanese automaker. And with only a minority interest in the company Ford isn’t likely to share its new breed of more powerful and more efficient hybrid powertrains.

Neither Toyota nor Mazda have commented on the talks. Instead two unnamed sources familiar with the discussions were sourced in the original story in Japan’s Nikkei business paper. The deal would reportedly see Toyota supply Mazda with batteries, motors and control units. This would also help Toyota cut costs on its hybrid products by buying components in larger quantities than it has previously.

When the story broke it sent Mazda’s shares through the roof with a 12.4 percent increase. They eventually calmed to a 6.6 percent increase.

Mazda is reportedly looking to launch a hybrid model by 2013. In the mean time the automaker is still planning on improving its fuel-economy through improvements to its gasoline engines.

According to the Nikkei story Mazda and Toyota are preparing to announce their hybrid partnership in the near future.

[Source: Reuters]