Honda has just confirmed that it will build two additional hybrid models that will go on sale in Japan starting in February 2010. The first is the highly-anticipated CR-Z hybrid and the  second is a hybrid version of the sub-compact Fit.

Both models will use Honda’s IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) hybrid system, a less sophisticated setup to the one currently running in cars like the Toyota Prius and Ford Fusion Hybrid. Honda did say, however, that it is developing a new hybrid system, which will most likely be an updated two-mode system capable of running for a certain distance on just electric energy. That system will initially be used in mid to large -sized vehicles, like the Honda Accord.

The CR-Z first launched at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show and now that the Insight has been introduced the resemblance is obvious. We just hope the CR-Z stays true to the fun driving dynamics of the CRX and doesn’t use the out-dated torsion beam rear suspension of that the Insight uses.

Honda did not say if either model would be available outside Japan.

GALLERY: Honda CR-Z

Official release after the jump:

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Well ahead of the car’s launch at the Frankfurt auto Show this September, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG super car has been revealed by not one but two European sources. The first is respected German car magazine AutoBild and the second is the lesser-known Autowereld publication from the Netherlands.

The design of the 571hp, 6.2-liter super car is most certainly reminiscent of the iconic 300SL gullwing, something which isn’t surprising considering the new SLS was designed to pay homage to that great sports car by using the very same type of doors.

There is the possibility that both publications are using an identical artist’s rendering, but that seems unlikely.

GALLERY: Mercedes SLS AMG

[Source: Autowereld and AutoBild]

Porsche might not be in the running for the title of the fastest sports car on the famed Nürburgring, but it can now claim the fastest lap by a sedan. According to a report in German auto pub Auto Sport, the four-door Panamera recently flew through the Green Hell in a time of just 7:56 – three seconds faster than the Cadillac.

Driving the 500hp Panamera Turbo to this new record was legendary World Rally Championship (WRC) racer and official Porsche test driver Walter Röhrl.

Until now the CTS-V has held the record since May 9, 2008, when it blew away its German competitors and was the first sedan to ever run a sub-eight minute lap.

With the current situation at GM it’s unlikely the company will seek to take back its record by running the CTS-V again. We suppose they can always take solace in the fact that the big American sedan costs less than half of a Panamera Turbo; the Turbo retailing for $132,600, and the CTS-V costing just $59,995.

[Source: Sport Auto]

Calling the Pontiac G8 “Too good to waste,” GM’s new product boss, Bob Lutz, has just announced that the car will live on, rebadged as a Chevrolet Caprice. The news comes as a surprise, considering GM’s CEO Fritz Henderson has been unwavering in his insistence that the car would be eliminated from the New GM.

Apparently part of the reason for the move is due to the fact that GM has an internal agreement with Holden, the Australian arm of the company that makes and sells the car as the Commodore in its home market. Currently GM sells the Comodore in markets like the middle east badged as a Chevy.

Lutz did not say if the new body style would be available for the U.S. market by 2010, of if consumers would have to wait until 2011.

So while GM looks to pave a new future full of green cars, it appears as though old-man-Lutz still wants General Motors to build cars for performance enthusiasts. He even said that a high-performance “V” version of the upcoming Cadillac CTS Coupe is still a possibility.

In addition, Lutz even commented that a “V” version of the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon was not completely out of the question. “I’m sure we’ll build at least one,” he said.

[Source: Automobile Magazine]

If you are traveling to Italy any time soon Hertz now offers the ability to rent an exotic sports car. It may surprise you to learn, however, that these exotics are not of the Italian variety; they are British.

Hertz has just signed a deal with Lotus that will see a fleet of bright yellow Elise SC models offered as a part of the Hertz Fun Collection.

“I am delighted that Lotus Cars has entered into this agreement with Hertz, giving us the opportunity to make our stunning world class sportscars available to the rental market,” said Michael J. Kimberley, Group Lotus plc CEO. “The iconic and multi award winning Lotus Elise and the stunning Lotus Exige are the perfect fun rental cars for those who desire exclusive and high performance motoring.”

This is not the first time a rental car agency has offered Lotuses, however, as several years ago select Enterprise Rent-A-Car locations in cities like L.A. and Las Vegas offered the Lotus Elise at a more than reasonable price of $200 a day.

The Elise SC may not sound overly powerful at 218 horsepower but thanks to the car’s light weight it can hit 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. It’s also quite good on gas using just 20/26 mpg (city/highway). And because it’s a small car it’s easy to drive around those tight Italian roads. Just remember to pack light, the Elise doesn’t offer a lot of cargo room.

Official release after the jump:

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Jay Leno has confirmed that he will make an appearance on the most famous (and infamous) car show in the world, Top Gear. Leno has been traveling through the U.K. all week, including introducing the world to the new Jaguar XJ yesterday.

Leno will appear in “The Star in the Reasonably Priced Car” segment, where the legendary comedian will get to try his skills around a race track in an econo-box. Leno was even coached by The Stig.

The spot is scheduled to run in a few weeks and will also include an interview with Leno by Jeremy Clarkson.

[Source: JayLenosGarage]

Today Hyundai introduced a hybrid version of its compact Elentra sedan for the Korean marketplace. This mild-hybrid system makes use of an unconventional 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that is powered by LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), or what is also known as propane. That engine is then mated to an electric motor, which receives its power from Lithium Ion Polymer battery packs.

Together these two motors combine to make 134hp and propel the hybrid Elantra to 62 mph in 11.7 seconds, which, says Hyundai, is about two seconds faster than the Civic Hybrid. Hyundai claims the car will deliver $1,100 in saving annually over a conventional gasoline powered car, but much of that savings has to do with the fact that LPG costs roughly half the price of gasoline.

In total, Hyundai claims the Elentra LPI (liquid petroleum injected) Hybrid gets an average of 41.9 mpg. To achieve this it also has a Start-Stop function and an ‘Eco Guide’ tree icon to let drivers know when they are driving in a fuel-efficient manner. There is also an E or “Eco Drive” gear, which the driver can select, to optimize gearing, while increasing the level of electric power assistance and regenerative braking.

Hyundai will build 7,500 units for the Korean market with a starting price of 20.5 million won ($16,180). There are no immediate plans to export the car to other markets, but the Korean automaker is exploring the possibility in regions where LPG is readily accessible.

GALLERY: Hyundai Elantra LPI Hybrid

Official release afteer the jump:

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For many months now Mercedes has been teasing us with photos and details of its upcoming SLS supercar and now the German automaker has added a surprise twist. A while back it was made known that the SLS would come with a 6.2-liter V8 with 571 hp and 479 ft-lbs of torque. Now Volker Mornhinweg, the head of Mercedes’ high-performance AMG division, says another powerplant will also be available – an electric one.

Called the SLS eDrive, this green version of the SLS will make use of lithium-ion battery packs, powering an electric motor that will make 392 kW (or 526hp) and 649 ft-lbs of torque. The SLS eDrive will offer serious performance with a 0-60 mph time of under four seconds and a top speed of 120 mph – all with zero emissions. Range is expected to be between 93 and 112 miles.

The lithium-ion battery packs will be situated low in the car, where the gasoline-powered model’s torque-tube is located. The space where the gas tank would be will also be used.

While Mercedes recently began a partnership with U.S. electric sportscar maker Tesla, Mornhinweg says this project is independent of that and they are working with German battery-experts Evonik.

Outside the SLS eDrive will look identical to the gasoline powered model, but inside there will be some slight differences with special controls and gauges.

Suspension changes up front will have to be made, however, as the current front double-wishbone suspension doesn’t leave room for the electric motors that will power the front wheels. Don’t worry though, this isn’t a front-drive car, but rather an all-wheel drive model, as electric motors will also be located in the rear.

The SLS eDrive is still a long way off from production, especially as the standard gasoline-powered SLS won’t make it to market until late 2010 as a 2011 model. It is tentatively scheduled as a 2015 model.

[Source: Autoweek]

Today the sun rose on a New General Motors, a move which will also see the sun set on a lot of people’s careers. GM emerged from bankruptcy protection at 6:30 a.m. Eastern Time with news of a serious corporate restructuring plan that will take effect over the next few months.

Due to leadership (and in some cases arm-twisting) by the Obama Administration, the new GM,  headed by CEO Fritz Henderson, is poised to return to its once-great status after shedding its debt and healthcare obligations by a massive $48 billion. Much of this comes as the UAW made serious concessions in accepting a new contract with the automaker. GM also hopes to significantly reduce its cash-burn after eliminating a third of it’s dealership network. Additionally, the automaker looks to profit from the sale of the Saturn, Saab and Hummer brands, as well as through selling-off much of its stake in its European operations, including Opel to Canadian autoparts manufacturer Magna International.

“Today marks a new beginning for General Motors, one that will allow every employee, including me, to get back to the business of designing, building and selling great cars and trucks and serving the needs of our customers,” CEO Fritz Henderson said in a statement.

Henderson’s plan will see 6,000 (or 20 percent of) white-collar employees lose their jobs by October, with 35 percent of all executives being dismissed. Many executives will be cut from the company’s old Automotive Strategy Board and Automotive Product Board, a complex, multi-tiered system of management which will be axed in favor of a small committee that will meet weekly to make decisions about the future of the company.

Henderson says the move will cut those making the decisions at GM in half as the automaker focuses on its four key brands – Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac.

Sales and Marketing will also no longer be under the leadership of one individual, as that part of the company is split. Sales will report directly to Henderson, who was unclear about what that meant for the current Sales & Marketing boss, Mark LaNeve. GM will also bring back veteran Bob Lutz to manage marketing, as well as design, brands and communications.

This will be a particularly vital role as GM looks to introduce a new line of vehicles into the marketplace to help re-brand the company. In total 10 new vehicles will launch in the U.S. in the next 18 months, with 17 overseas.

[Source: Automotive News]

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Back in April, Nissan set a new personal-best lap time at the Nürburgring and now video of that run has made its way onto the web. The car is Nissan’s revised 2010 GT-R and at the wheel is Nissan’s top test driver Toshio Suzuki.

The 2010 GT-R boasts 5 more horsepower than the previous model, as well as a revised transmission, new tires and a retuned suspension. Those tweaks allowed the new model to hit a 7:26.7 lap time, down from the 7:28 recorded a year earlier.

The time puts the GT-R just behind the Corvette ZR1, which ran a 7:26.4. The Dodge Viper ACR still dominates the two, however, with a 7:22.1 second lap.

We wonder if this video evidence will be enough to silence the disbelievers at Porsche

[Source: Carscoop]