After information and photos of Mercedes’ plug-in hybrid S-Class emerged last week, Mercedes has now officially confirmed the car will debut tomorrow (September 15th) at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

Better yet, Mercedes R&D boss Dr. Thomas Weber says the technology is likely to debut in production form in the next generation S-Class. “Although it will take some time before this model can go into series production, our engineers will be working full steam to carry out the necessary integration measures and ensure that all components can meet the tough everyday demands required of a luxury long-distance sedan,” he said. “We’ve already got all the key technology we need for such a dream car, which is why I see it being included in the next generation of the S Class.”

As for the vehicle itself, thanks to a direct-injection 3.5-liter V6 engine mated to a 60hp/184 ft-lb electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack, the car is capable of using just 3.2 liters of gasoline per 100 km – that’s 73.5 mpg! Possibly more shocking is that the car doesn’t sacrifice performance, with a 0-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds. Additionally, the electric motor will be able to power the car emissions-free for 18 miles.

Charging the S500 Plug-in hybrid takes 4.5 hours with a conventional outlet, or just one hour with a raid charger.

We’ll be sure to bring you more on the car from the Frankfurt Auto Show with live coverage starting tomorrow, September 15th.

GALLERY: Mercedes S500 Plug-In Hybrid

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Last week we brought you a story about Ford’s upcoming C-Max that is scheduled to debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show tomorrow (September 15th). We suggested that the multi-activity vehicle could eventually find its way to U.S. shores. Today, we’d like to revise our suggestion as Ford has released images of the Grand C-Max – a more likely candidate for North American shores.

Like the standard C-Max, the Grand C-Max is based on the same global architecture that is found in the upcoming next-generation Ford Focus and will be powered by an turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine.

Compared to the standard, the Grand C-Max gets a longer wheelbase with three rows of seats. There is room for 7 thanks to a three-person middle row with two captain’s chairs joined by a removable third seat. The MAV also gets sliding side doors much like a conventional minivan or the Mazda5.

As we suggested in our last story, with Ford selling off much of its stake in Mazda and the Mazda5 being a dominant vehicle in an emerging market segment in North America, we could definitely see Ford bring a version of the Grand C-Max to this side of the Atlantic to take back a segment it once owned (literally and figuratively).

GALLERY: Ford Grand C-Max

So much for private unveilings. Just a day after Bugatti displayed its next supercar at an exclusive event in Molsheim, France, pictures of the super-sedan have wound up online.

Previously thought to be named the Bordeaux, the car’s actual name is Galibier – which refers to a difficult stretch of road in the Alps that cyclists take each year during the Tour de France.

As the name suggests, he Galibier is powered by a version of the Veyron’s 16-cylinder engine. There’s no word on power output, but we have no reason to doubt it could easily make 1,000hp. To speed is rumored to be roughly 217 mph and the engine will reportedly be a FlexFuel powerplant capable of running on ethanol.

The design of the car isn’t exactly beautiful (sort of Panamera-like), but then, the Veyron never took our breath away either. The body features exposed metal and a dark-blue carbon fiber weave. Up front it’s all Veyron and out back there are eight exhaust pipes.

One unique feature inside is the Parmigiani Reverso Tourbillon timepiece which can be remove and warn as a watch by the owner.

GALLERY: Bugatti Galibier 16C Concept

[Source: NetCarShow]

Record sales in Canada may convince Hyundai to open a new manufacturing plant in the country, says Steve Kelleher, President and CEO of the company’s Canadian subsidiary.

Hyundai sales in Canada are projected to reach a record 95,000 in 2009, up 25 percent, while the overall market is down 15.5%. Hyundai has posted record results for seven straight months, pushing the company to sixth place in Canadian sales.

Kelleher says he hopes the record numbers will convince Hyundai to open a new manufacturing plant in Canada by 2012.

“I don’t have a real firm number, but I’ve kind of got people listening to the idea that if we get to 150,000 vehicles annually in Canada in three years, we got to take another hard look at a plant here,” Kelleher said in an interview with the Toronto Star.

Hyundai opened a plant in Bromont, Que. in 1989 but it was only operational for four years before closing as sales crashed in North America. Hyundai then began a slow recovery that picked up steam over the last five years. The company held a 1.4% market share in 1997 but recent success has raised its stake to 7.5% this year.

[Source: Toronto Star]

Audi has been teasing the world with rumors of an electric car debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show, but executives have gone so far as to flatly deny the existence of an electric R8.

Now the folks over at WorldCarFans have received a selection of renderings for an R8 called the E-Tron. (Apparently Tron is a running theme this year, with BMW’s Vision EfficientDynamics Concept looking like something from the movie).

The photos show an obvious R8 profile with several differences, including a new front grille, different headlights, a new rear end design and wheels. Most notably different, however, is the interior, which shows a clean cockpit with an LCD screen between the main gauges. There is also an LED screen on the driver’s A-pillar.

Unless Audi decided to fess-up to the Electric R8, we’ll have to wait until the automaker’s press conference tomorrow (September 15th) at the Frankfurt Auto Show and keep watching ElectricityUntamed.com.

GALLERY: Audi R8 E-Tron Concept

[Source: WorldCarFans]

A day prior to the MF5 Roadster’s unveiling at the Frankfurt Auto Show, bespoke German automaker Wiesmann has released a single teaser image of the powerful sports car.

Much like the MF5 coupe, the Roadster is powered by the same 5.0-liter V10 engine found under the hood of the BMW M5 and M6. Making 507hp, Wiesmann estimates a 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 192 mph.

Other than being a drop-top we don’t expect much else new and the MF5 Roadster promises the same sort of goodies, including air bags, ABS and stability control – which you’re bound to need.

Only 55 versions of the MF5 Roadster will be built at an asking price of 189,500 Euros (roughly $250,000). Wiesmann also offers an MF4 Roadster powered by new M3′s 4.0-liter V8.

We’ll be sure to bring you more info and plenty of images on the MF5 with live coverage from the Frankfurt Auto Show starting September 15th.

Official release after the jump:

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Kia is unveiling its new MPV, the Venga, at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

Based on the No. 3 concept model Kia displayed at the Geneva show, the Venga has a 103-inch wheelbase, longer than most cars in its class. Kia says the interior will also be  roomier than its competitors with space typical of a larger class vehicle. For comparison sake, it has a footprint roughly the size of a sub-compact Ford Fiesta, but interior room closer to the compact Focus.

The sliding 60/40 rear seat folds flat into the floor for larger cargo space while some models will have a tilt-&-slide all-glass panoramic roof.

The Venga will be powered by 1.4 and 1.6 gas and diesel engines, producing between 74 hp and 113 hp. All models will feature Kia’s Idle Stop & Go (ISG) technology.

The Kia Venga will be available across Europe later this year. There was no mention as to whether the Venga will make it over to North America and considering the existence of the Rio and Rio5, we don’t expect it.

GALLERY: Kia Venga

[Source: Autocar]

Notoriously good at keeping secrets, Toyota has decided to blow its own cover and has released a smattering of details on the Auris HSD Concept that will debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show tomorrow (September 15th).

Designed specifically for the U.K.,the Auris HSD Concept uses the same Hybrid Synergy Drive powerplant as found in the current third-generation Prius. With a 1.8-liter gasoline engine and electric motor, power output should be about the same with 134 ponies under the hood. With a slightly heavier package acceleration should be close with a 10 second 0-60 mph time. Fuel-economy is expected to be similar as well, but not quite as high as the Prius, due in part to a drag coefficient that isn’t quite as good as 0.28 cd, as compared to the Prius’s 0.25 cd rating. The Prius gets a rating of 51/48 mpg, so even a close rating will still be impressive.

Aerodynamic enhancements have been made over the current Auris, however, with different front and rear bumpers, underbody panels, a larger rear spoiler, a ride height that has been lowered by 20mm, low rolling resistance tires and special 18-inch wheels that cut air turbulence in the wheel arches.

Like the Prius, the Auris HSD Concept will get four driving modes, including ECO, Power and EV mode. The EV mode will allow the car to travel 1.25 miles or 2 km on just electric power at speeds up to 31 mph.

Another similar feature between the two cars are solar panels on the roof which work to power the fans in order to keep the car cool when parked. Toyota says it continues to look into ways to expand the use of solar panels on its hybrids and shows an example on the Auris HSD with solar panels on the dash that can be used to power cellular phones.

Toyota plans to bring a production model of the Auris HSD Concept to market in the U.K. in the second half of 2010 and will build the hybrid at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK (TMUK) in Burnaston, U.K. The launch of this new model will usher in a new era for Toyota in Europe as it plans to offer all of its models with hybrid technology by 2020.

As the Auris is based on the Corolla platform, can a hybrid Corolla be far behind?

GALLERY: Toyota Auris HSD Concept

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Technically speaking, Bentley already unveiled its Arnage successor at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, but the regal British automaker was tight-lipped about any specifics.

Details of the new Mulsanne will be unveiled tomorrow (September 15th) at the Frankfurt Auto Show, where we expect to learn about the impressive fuel-economy improvements Bentley has made with this new model. About all we do know is that the Mulsanne, much like the Arnage, is powered by a 6.75-liter V8. The engine has been reworked almost entirely, however, and we expect this model to be able to run on ethanol as well as gasoline. And of course, the engine’s power output will increase as well.

The design is certainly impressive with a massive front grille with huge circle headlights and lots of chrome.

As for the car’s name, it comes from the same place as the Arnage – France’s famous 24 Hours of Le Mans, Circuit de la Sarthe race track. On that track the Mulsanne straight is actually two straights, which have been divided up with a chicane so as to limit the overall speed that race cars can achieve. Modern racers have to slow from over 200 mph to 65 mph to run the chicane, before taking to the second-half of the straight.

GALLERY: 2010 Bentley Mulsanne

Along with the official debut of the highly-anticipated Mulsanne flagship, Bentley will also unveil a new “Continental Series 51″ limited edition version of the GT and GTC at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

“The Series 51 Continental models represent Bentley exterior and interior styling at its most vibrant and will enable customers to order ‘off the peg’ from an exclusive range created by Dirk van Braeckel’s renowned team of Crewe-based designers,” said Bentley in a press release.

Series 51 models will come with three-tone interiors as well as an available two-tone exterior paint scheme. The first of the series will debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show on September 15th with an interior made up of Imperial Blue leather, Linen seat and door inserts with Newmarket Tan leather accents.

Additional bespoke items include “Series 51″ kickplates, special “Engine Spin” aluminum accents, Amboyna veneer wood and special 14-spoke 20-inch wheels.

GALLERY: Bentley Continental GT and GTC Series 51

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