Due to the number of models that BMW and other automakers will be debuting at the Frankfurt Auto Show in a few weeks, MINI is reportedly getting ready to launch two new models online later this week.

The first of the vehicles is the Countryman crossover, which has been spied several times. The second vehicle is the much rumored Speedster, however, that debut is expected to still be in concept form.

MINI is aiming to make a large expansion over the next few years, particularly in the U.S. where it recently announced a massive extension of its dealer network. A MINI crossover like the Countryman is certain to help increase sales volume on this side of the pond.

[Source: MotoringFile]

Lexus is set to debut a new hatchback model for the European market at the Frankfurt Auto Show next month and now word comes that the U.S. may also get this luxurious hot-hatch. Initially it was believed that the baby Lexus would not be offered in North America as it would be too close to the HS250h hybrid, which will not offered in Europe.

Rumored to be called the CT, Lexus has filed for patents on the names CT200h, CT300h and CT400h.

Thought to be sold exclusively as a hybrid, Automotive News is reporting that several engine options would be available, including two diesels. The diesels, however, would not be offered in North America.

Lexus is planning this new model to take on cars like the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and Volvo C30, in the premium compact market.

There is no confirmed word on engine’s or pricing, but with the CT200h name we suspect the luxury hatch will use a similar setup to the Prius, with an electric motor mated to Toyota’s 1.8-liter four-cylinder, making roughly 200hp. Pricing is expected to be around the $30,000 mark.

[Source: Automotive News via Autoblog]

Chinese manufacturer BYD is getting ready to introduce its electric car to the U.S. in 2010.

According to the Wall Street Journal, BYD’s chairman Wang Chuanfu said the lithium-ion battery powered e6 will be ready ahead of schedule with a limited run of a few hundred vehicles.

With an estimated price tag of $40,000, BYD says the e6 has a range of 249 miles on a single charge.

BYD is a relatively new player in the auto industry. Up until 2003, BYD (which stands for “Build Your Dreams”) produced lithium-ion batteries for devices such as cell phones. BYD established its automotive arm in 2003 and has since earned the backing of Warren Buffett’s MidAmerican Energy Holdings which owns a 10 percent stake.

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

National Geographic’s Traveler magazine has put together a list of the 50 best road trips. Included in the list are perennial favorites like California’s Pacific Coast Highway; Cape Cod, Massachusetts; the Florida keys and the Arkansas Ozarks.

International drives include Provence, France; the Pirate Route in Jamaica; New Zealand’s North Island and the Flower Route in the Netherlands.

Canada also rates highly with five of the top 50 drives. Recommended are Banf and Jasper National Parks in Alberta; pretty much all of the province of British Columbia; the Manitoba prairies; the Montreal, Quebec area and (one of our favorites) the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

And while we don’t want to call into question the talents of fine folks at National Geographic, Newfoundland’s Gros Morne National Park should surely be included a well.

[Source: National Geographic]

Honda is planning to bring an electric car to market in the U.S. by 2015. News comes from a company spokesman in Japan, as reported in the daily business paper Nikkei.

The new model would be a minicar and rumors point to a concept or prototype of the electric Honda to debut at the Tokyo Auto Show this Fall.

Both Toyota and Volkswagen have expressed plans to develop electric cars, while Nissan recently debuted its electric Leaf (pictured above), which is set to go on sale in the U.S. next year.

[Source: Reuters]

Maserati will debut its first-ever four-seater convertible at this year’s Frankfurt Auto Show. While rumors of a convertible based on the GranTurismo’s popular and stunning platform have existed since the day the coupe model was introduced, we now know the name to be GranCabrio.

Maserati is keeping most of the details secret until Frankfurt, but we do know that the GranCabrio will be powered by the company’s top-level 4.7-liter V8, making 433hp. This seems to indicate that unlike Maserati’s other models, the 405-hp  4.2-liter V8 will not be offered. What this also may indicate is that a GranCabrio S model could make even more power. After all, with the added weight of the necessary chassis stiffening required in a drop-top, the 433hp model will likely be about as fast as the base-engine coupe.

And speaking of weight, Maserati was wise to keep it as low as possible by opting for a soft-top, rather than a hard-top.

In its press release, Maserati says that this third model completes the three-pronged Maserati trident, which we can take to mean the company won’t be coming out with any new models any time soon.

Look for more details on September 15th when the drop-top Maserati makes its official debut in Frankfurt.

GALLERY: 2010 Maserati GranCabrio

Official release after the jump:

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MINI is set to offer a limited number of Rally Edition versions of the Clubman S model in the U.S. This new car will feature plenty of upgrades and will include a John Cooper Works aero kit – with the JCW tuning kit sold separately.

Only 70 Rally Edition models will be made with most U.S. dealerships receiving just one. All cars will come with a roof rack, roof basket and black driving lamps, as well as Rally Green mirrors and Side Scuttles and silver Sport Stripes.

In addition, all model swill come with the following list of options:

• Midnight Black (A94),
• Roof in Body Color (381)
• Sport Package (ZSP) – DTC (5DT)
• White Turn Indicators (785)
• Xenon Headlights (522)
• 17” Black Wheels
• Roof Rails (386)
• Anthracite Headliner (ZAH)
• Piano Black Interior (4BD)
• Automatic climate Control (534)
• Leather Steering Wheel w/Multifunction
• Comfort Bluetooth (6NE)

Dealers will offer the special Rally Edition model with either a summer package consisting of 17-inch Black Web-Spoke wheels with performance tires or an all-season package with 17-inch Black Crown Spoke wheels with all-season tires and a Cold Weather Package.

Deliveries are expected in October with a base price of $32,999.

GALLERY: MINI Clubman S Rally Edition

[Source: Motoringfile]

With the debut of its Series 4 Supercharged Challenger at the Woodward Dream Cruise, Hurst Performance decided to bring back the company’s classic silver and black color combo. The limited edition silver and black cars come with a metallic red Hard-Drive pistol grip Hurst shifter, 20-inch one-piece Hurst wheels and a custom Hurst/Katzkin interior with red inserts, red stitching and red logos. In addition each car will get Hurst red and black logos on the dash and grille with badging on the wheel center caps and embroidered logos on the floor mats.

All Performance Series cars get Hurst’s Air-Speed rear spoiler, an Eibach suspension as well as new shocks and sway bars, a Magnaflow catback exhaust, BF Goodrich KDW tires and K&N air filters. Series 3 through 5 get Vortech superchargers, with the Series 4 model shown here making 572hp and 528 ft-lbs of torque.

“We are honored to be here in Flint today to introduce the newest Hurst Executive Hot Rod,” said Hurst chairman Nate Shelton, who was joined by Hurst legend Doc Watson and Ron Flint of Hurst Performance Vheicle to unveil that car at the “Back to the Bricks” event in Flint, Michigan. “The Back to the Bricks celebration is the perfect place for us to join Doc and introduce this stunning car as a tribute to Hurst’s legacy.”

“I am proud to be part of the continuation of a great Hurst tradition.” said Watson. “These wonderful vehicles should prove to be some of the most collectible Hurst cars in the future.”

GALLERY: Series 4 Supercharged 2010 Hurst/HEMI Challenger

Official release after the jump:

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Ahead of its official debut, we now know what the 2011 Hyundai Sonata will look like, thanks to a selection of spy photos taken during the car’s pre-release photo shoot.

On the image above we get a great idea of what the new front fascia of the Sonata will look like, and we also get a glimpse at how the official images show such a wide angle of the interior of a car – by chopping the roof off.

Hyundai has continued to promise the new Sonata would be a class-leader in terms of design and while we have to admit we doubted that statement after seeing earlier spy photos, these images certainly show an impressive four-door coupe profile. From the back, the design of the trunk certainly seems reminiscent of the Mercedes CLS.

There are even interior shots which show an interior that looks significantly more premium than you would expect for a mid-sized family hauler.

GALLERY: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Spy Photos

[Source: Hyundai-Blog]

Volkswagen showcased the 2010 Golf TDI at this year’s New York Auto Show but since then the German automaker has been quiet about actually bringing the fuel-efficient diesel back to the U.S. Now it appears that decision has been made as Volkswagen U.S.A. has now put up live pages on its website giving full details of the new 2010 models – including the Golf TDI. (Those pages aren’t linkable from the home page however, and likely won’t be until the official announcement from VW).

Much like its Jetta sibling the Golf TDI will get VW’s 2.0-liter turbo diesel motor with 140hp and 236 ft-lbs of torque. Fuel economy is rated at 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway with either the six-speed manual or VW’s incredible quick-shifting DSG automatic. Interestingly, however, the EPA actually has the TDI listed at 30/42 mpg. As for performance, the serious amounts of torque help this fuel-miser hit 60 mph in a reasonable 8.6 seconds.

Standard features include a 3-spoke leather wrapped steering wheel, air conditioning, cruise control, power locks/windows/mirrors, 17-inch wheels, ABS, stability control, a tire pressure monitoring system and six airbags.

The 2010 Golf TDI will be available as both a two-door and four-door model, priced at $21,990 and $22,590 respectively.

[Source: Volkswagen]