As expected, Dodge has redesigned the interior of the Caliber for 2010, marking a significant improvement over the previous design. In addition, a new 2.2-liter diesel engine will be added to the lineup in Europe, where the 2010 model will debut this month at Germany’s Frankfurt Auto Show.

The new interior design also features plenty of quality materials including chromed HVAC vents and cluster rings as well as a chrome surround for the shift bezel and instrument panel. The door armrest and center console now also feature soft-touch material. Other features include a new automatic climate control system, a nine-speaker Boston Acoustics audio system, a Chill Zone storage bin for drinks,m LED lighting around the cup holders and reclining rear seatbacks.

For Europe a new 2.2-liter turbo-diesel makes 163hp and 236 ft-lbs of torque, a 16 percent increase in horsepower and a 3 percent increase in torque. This translates to a towing capacity that is improved by 25 percent to 3,300 lbs – significantly more than most entry-level crossovers.

In the U.S., Europe and elsewhere, the 2010 Caliber will come with either a 2.0-liter or 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. The top-level (now that the SRT4 model has been discontinued) 2.4-liter makes 170hp and 162 ft-lbs of torque. As for the 2.0-liter motor, it replaces the old 1.8-liter engine and makes 156hp and 140 ft-lbs of torque.

GALLERY: 2010 Dodge Caliber

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Volkswagen will debut a new set of ultra-efficient BlueMotion diesels at the Frankfurt Auto Show in just two weeks. Included in the list are the new BlueMotion versions of the Polo, Golf and Passat.

First up is the ultra-efficient BlueMotion Polo sub-compact, which is powered by a 75hp 1.2-liter diesel engine. Improving even on the already impressive Polo TDI that gets 56 mpg, this new car gets 71.3 mpg! Equipped with a 12 gallon (45 liter) tank the BlueMotion Polo has a theoretical travel distance of 847 miles (1,363 kilometers).

Next is the BlueMotion Golf, which gets 61.9 mpg, while still producing 105hp and 185 ft-lbs of torque, allowing it to hit 62 mph in 11. 3seconds and top out at 120 mph (190 km/h) on the German autobahn.

Finally, there’s the BlueMotion Passat, a mid-sized car that gets 53.5 mpg. It might not get up to speed very quickly, taking 12.5 seconds to 62 mph thanks to the same 105-hp engine as found in the Golf, but with a large 18.5 gallon (70 liter) tank it can travel 989 miles (1,591 km) at a time, which Volkswagen says equates to just seven fill-ups per year.

We’ll be sure to bring you more on VW’s new BlueMotion models from the Frankfurt Auto Show, starting September 15th.

Official release after the jump:

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Rumors have surfaced that Acura is planning to get back into the entry-level luxury segment, with a possible RSX successor coming in 2012. The new model would reportedly be based on the next generation Honda Civic which is due out in 2011 and would compete with vehicles like the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and Volvo C30 in the growing premium compact segment.

Making the possibility more likely are rumors that the upcoming European Lexus CT hatchback may find its way to North America after all. Then again, Honda has never been a company to follow the lead of others.

Currently Acura offers no coupes in its lineup after killing off the RSX in 2006. An entry-level four-door Acura, the CSX, is offered exclusively in Canada, however.

[Source: eGMcartech]

Looking more like something that might roll out of one of the many Porsche tuner shops in Germany, than off the production line, the new 911 Sport Classic marks Porsche’s return to building limited edition models. And while these ultra rare cars will make for excellent collectors items, as Porsches they are also incredible driving machines for the genuine enthusiasts.

The 911 Sports Classic is based on the rear-drive Carrera S platform, but gets a wider rear track by 1.73-inches. Power comes from a 3.8-liter flat-six motor with direct-injection, but thanks to a new intake manifold with six vacuum-controlled switching flaps, power has been increased 23 hp for a total of 408hp.

Built by Porsche Exclusive, a department dedicated to creating the company’s most highly customized vehicles, the Sport Classic unmistakable sets itself apart from the rest of the 911 lineup. Included in the long list of custom features are the Sport Classic Grey paint, custom 19-inch wheels, Espresso Nature natural leather and plenty of soft Alcantara, a custom front lip and the classically Porsche ducktail spoiler reminiscent of the 1973 Carrera RS 2.7.

Other standard features include PCCB Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes, a mechanical rear differential and Porsche’s PASM suspension system which lowers the car by 20 mm (0.79 inches).

Just 250 versions of the 911 Sport Classic will be made.

GALLERY: 2010 Porsche 911 Sport Classic

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The U.S. auto industry showed continued improvement in the month of August, helped on by the Obama Administration’s Cash for Clunkers program.

Ford was once again a big winner as sales increased 17.2 percent over last August, a significant improvement over the 2.4 percent growth in July – which was thought to be good at the time.

Honda posted a 9.9 percent increase while Toyota pulled itself from the gutters with a 6.4 percent gain.

Unfortunately for GM and Chrysler, the turnaround seems to have left them behind, with GM slipping 20.1 percent and Chrysler dropping 15.4 percent. Both of those numbers are worse than in July, with GM dropping 19.4 percent and Chrysler dropping 9.4 percent then.

Two smaller players in the U.S. market that are now poised to become larger players are Hyundai and Subaru. Hyundai saw an increase of 47 percent, while Subaru posted 51.5 percent growth. Volkswagen also posted growth of 11.4 percent.

Current estimates now put the total number of vehicle sales for 2009 at the 14.4 million mark, a significant increase from the sub-10 million units forecasted during the height of the recession.

[Source: Automotive News]

See the full U.S. Auto Industry August Sales Results after the jump:

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Set to debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show in mid-September is the new 2010 Volvo C70 retractable hard-top convertible. While the car isn’t entirely new, the redesign shows a noticeably different body with design cues from the S60 Concept and the new XC60 crossover. Volvo will also offer the C70 in a new Flamenco Red Pearl paint. Out back, the C70 now also gets LED tail lights.

Inside, a slight dash redesign helps keep things modern and luxurious.

“The Volvo C70 has classic convertible lines and a strong identity of its own,” explains Fedde Talsma, Exterior Chief Designer at Volvo Cars. “We’ve carefully redesigned the front and rear with a more aggressive presence that more closely mimics the new XC60. Inside, we’ve upgraded the materials to enhance the C70′s atmosphere of luxury and enjoyment inside the car.”

As expected, the C70 is incredibly safe. Included in the vehicle’s long list of safety features are roll-over bars that deploy when necessary. Volvo’s Rollover Protection System (ROPS) even uses metal spikes on the bars to break through the car’s rear glass. In addition, side curtain airbags are included, which have been mounted to the doors in the absence of a roof structure.

The C70′s roof opens and closes in a lengthy 30 seconds. One great feature, however, is that the trunk can be opened separately of the roof compartment. This is ideal as so many hard-top convertibles require you to life the incredibly heavy rear clamshell to access the trunk.

As for the engine, it continues to be Volvo’s turbocharged five-cylinder with 227hp and 236 ft-lbs of torque.

For more info on the C70, be sure to check back for our live coverage from the Frankfurt Auto Show starting September 15th.

GALLERY: 2010 Volvo C70

Official release after the jump:

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Honda has officially revealed the 2010 Accord Crosstour Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV), which will go on sale this Fall, competing head-to-head with vehicles like the Toyota Venza.

“Our concept is to broaden the appeal of the Accord line-up by leveraging traditional Accord strengths of fun-to-drive performance and handling while also adapting to dramatic shifts in the light truck marketplace,” said Erik Berkman, VP of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “The Accord Crosstour accomplishes that by offering a modern interpretation of a CUV while integrating the refinement and efficiency of a premium sedan.”

“We know SUV buyers like the commanding view of the road that comes with a high eye-point and like the comforts of living with an SUV. This vehicle meets the needs of buyers looking for those attributes yet at the same time want an image that is different from a conventional SUV.”

Honda has yet to release specifications on the model but the Crosstour will be positioned as the highest level Accord and will likely cost a $2,000 premium over sedan models. Honda promises sporty Accord-like driving dynamics along with all the advantages of a crossover, like an excellent view of the road, AWD and plenty of cargo room.

GALLERY: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

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Porsche’s new owners at Volkswagen are aiming to make some big changes at the German sport car maker, including eliminating any models that aren’t sports cars. That’s right, both the Cayenne SUV and Panamera sedan are reportedly on the chopping block, according to a recent report in the U.K.’s CAR magazine.

In an article an unnamed source says that Volkswagen’s board has voted to kill off both models after their current life-cycles, which should stretch until around 2016.

“VW Group has plenty of SUVs and saloons [sedans], it doesn’t need Porsche to build them,” said an inside source to CAR.

VW and Porsche CEO Ferdinand Piech is leading the charge to return Porsche to a pure sports car company and leave sedans and SUVs to other areas of the 10-brand conglomerate. For our part, we hope the Panamera can live on in a second generation vehicle as some sort of stylish Audi.

This move is bolstering rumors that Porsche will bring to market a car something along the lines of VW’s BlueSport Roadster Concept, that fits in below the Boxster. Ideally this new model would keep the Porsche brand pure, while enabling high volume sales.

[Source: CAR via LeftLaneNews]

The first official photo of the upcoming Lexus hybrid hatchback concept car has been released. The new car, expected to be called the CT200h when it finally makes its way to production in 2010, is being called the LF-Ch by Lexus for now.

Originally designed specifically for the European market, which will not get the Hs250h, recent rumors have suggested it may also makes its way to the U.S.

The LF-Ch is a premium-level hatchback designed to take on vehicles like the BMW 1 Series, Audi A3 and Volvo C30.

There is no confirmed word on engines 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: CAR]

Please pretend for a moment that you didn’t already see our article on the leaked images of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata. Now take a look at these renderings of the upcoming sedan.

Sure they look cool. Renderings always do. What’s nice to know is that now that we have seen real images we know that when Hyundai finally does officially take the wraps off the 2011 Sonata we won’t be disappointed. The car is indeed a sculpted work of art, aimed at luring away Camry and Accord customers with its sexy four-door coupe profile.

Along with these two renderings, Hyundai did give us a tiny bit of info on the new Sonata. Some standard and available items include a push button ignition, paddle shifters and a panorama roof.

Hyundai also confirmed a new 2.0-liter engine with a six-speed automatic transmission, which will deliver 30 mpg.

GALLERY: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Renderings

GALLERY: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Photos

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