Originally expected to debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show, it appears as though those waiting to get their hands on MINI’s new Countryman crossover will have to wait a little longer… again. After the Frankfurt delay it was expected the CUV would appear at the next major auto show: Detroit. Now word comes that instead of being unveiled on U.S. soil in January, the Countryman won’t appear until the Geneva Auto Show in March.

The reason for the holdup has to do with MINI’s parent company. BMW has contracted Magna Steyr to build the Countryman in Austria, but that plant is currently the location where the BMW X3 is built. As an incredibly profitable vehicle for BMW (and apparently still a reasonably high volume seller) BMW is loathe to hault production before it starts building the new X3 in the U.S.

So in order to squeeze ever last cent out of the original X3, BMW is delaying the Countryman.

Word of this development comes from the MINI-freaks at MotoringFile, who have also learned that the Countryman will come with a banded AWD line, much like BMW’s xDrive, which will be called All4.

[Source: MotoringFile]

Porsche’s new CEO has said that the German sports car maker is open to sharing the Panamera platform with other Volkswagen Group brands. He even went so far as to say that (gasp!) the iconic 911 platform could be used across brands.

Michael Macht, the new Porsche boss who was practically hand picked by Volkswagen to run the brand after the former CEO was ousted, has said that he would like Porsche to operate as an independent but cooperative pillar within the expanding VW Group umbrella. “Porsche needs to become a strong pillar of VW, as well as having its own production and research and development capabilities. It is important to 
use synergies as well as having independence,” he said in an interview with the U.K.’s AutoCar.

Ever since Porsche’s attempt to take over Volkswagen failed and VW turned the tables by buying Porsche, rumors of product sharing started popping up. Stoking those flames were reports that Volkswagen would cut the Panamera, leading some to speculate that the new vehicle would live on as an Audi, Bentley or Bugatti product. This, however, is the first we have heard about opening up the 911 platform for use by other automakers.

Macht did say that apart from the V6 engine that will find its way into an upcoming Panamera model, Porsche would not use any other VW powerplants.

Porsche is also rumored to be working on a smaller sports car that would fit in under the Boxster. Thought to be based on the VW BlueSport, Macht said that such a car would have to be “exclusive,” which could mean that if a Porsche does get the sports car platform, neither VW nor Audi would.

[Source: AutoCar]

With Hyundai gaining ground on the international stage, Toyota has decided to take the fight to the Korean automaker on its home market. Earlier this week Toyota introduced four models in South Korea: the Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius and RAV4. The more mainstream cars join the lineup of Lexus vehicles, which Toyota Motor Corp has sold in Korea since 2001.

The challenge is a big one for Toyota as nearly 70 percent of vehicles sold in the country are either Hyundais or Kias (Kia being a division of Hyundai). Toyota’s cars will also be priced higher than its domestic counterparts, however, they will be less expensive than other Japanese vehicles (Honda and Nissan) that are already sold in the country.

Toyota expects sales volumes of just 500 units per month for the remainder of this year with an increase to 700 units next year. The company has said dealers have already accepted 1,500 orders.

In moving into the Korean market, Toyota isn’t just sending a message to Hyundai, but also to its domestic rival Honda, which holds 20 percent of the Korean import vehicle marketplace.

[Source: Korean Times]

The sale of GM’s European Opel division to Russian-backed Canadian autoparts maker Magna has been put on hold. The on-again, off-again saga is off-again as GM board is set to meet on November 3rd to review changes to the agreement.

The changes, include a request by the German Economy Minister to GM, asking the company to clarify that the decision to choose Magna over rival Belgian bidder RHJ International was due to business and not political reasons. That may be difficult for GM to do as the German government had promised a significant loan to Opel if Magna was chosen, with the understanding that Magna’s proposal would keep more jobs in Germany.

Recently the European Commission put pressure on the German government to clarify that the proposed aid was available to any bidder and not just to Magna – which it seems was not the case. If the German government changes its tune, that may cause GM to favor Magna’s Belgian competitor and put the entire deal in jeopardy.

[Source: Automotive News]

Mazda is examining whether or not to bring diesel powered cars to North America. Seita Kanai, the company’s R&D boss, recently told Automotive News that diesel Mazdas are already being tested in the U.S.

With certain emissions regulations standing in the way, the biggest holdup that Mazda faces is if it can make a concrete business case for the cars. “As an engineer, ideally I would want to introduce diesels, but I am not sure if it makes a business case,” said Kanai, commenting that the company would need to sell as many as 10,000 units to reach profitability. With strict emission regulations on the way, however, loss-making diesels may be a clever way for the automaker to meet CAFE standards and avoid government penalties.

Roughly a year ago Mazda announced that instead of going the hybrid route it was going to look into diesels while improving the efficiency of its gasoline powered vehicles. This week the company displayed several of those new technologies and recently announced it would begin looking into hybrid technology.

One of the engines featured in Tokyo was a new 2.2-liter turbo diesel motor that is expected to deliver a 50 percent fuel-economy improvement over the current engine, which gets 31.4 mpg (average) in the CX-7 diesel (pictured above).

With Mazda’s hybrid program still in its infancy, diesels may be used in the interim. If Mazda were to start selling diesels in North America they would be the only Japanese automaker to do so. Currently Volkswagen (a long time proponent of diesels) is expanding its diesel offerings in North America with considerable success.

Even if the diesel plan does go ahead, it is not clear if Mazda intends to sell diesel versions of its SUVs or if it would follow in VW’s footsteps and offer fuel-miser versions of cars like the Mazda3 or the upcoming Mazda2.

[Source: Automotive News via LeftLaneNews]

With the 2010 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty models revealed almost a year ago, the new work trucks are finally set to go on sale, with pricing ranging from $28,165 all the way up to $51,095. The Power Wagon also returns for 2010 at a price of $45,780. It comes exclusively as a 2500 4×4 Crew Cab with a 6-foot 4-inch box and includes electric locking differentials (front and rear), an electronic disconnecting sway bar, 32-inch BFGoodrich tires, Bilstein shocks, skid plates, a Warn 12,000-pound winch and a 4.56 axle ratio for serious off-roading.

In total the 2010 Ram HD gets three cab styles (regular, crew-cab and Mega Cab) and two cargo box sizes (6-foot, 4-inches and 8-foot), as well as single and dual rear wheels and five trim level s (ST, SLT, TRX, Power Wagon and Laramie). 2010 is the first year Dodge is offering the Ram HD with a crew cab.

The base engine is a 383-hp 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with 400 ft-lbs of torque, while the real big dogs get a 6.7-liter Cummins diesel with 350 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque available at just 1500 rppm.

Across the board the Dodge says it has added more standard features while droping the price and increasing the truck’s towing capacity.

The Ram 3500 with the Cummins diesel offers a towing capacity of 18,500 lbs with a max payload of 5,110 lbs. Auto-box dually models with the 4.10 rear end get an increased Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) of 24,5000 lbs – up 500 lbs. The 4×2 3500 models increase from 23,000 lbs to 24,000 lbs. Both 4×4s and 4×2s get increased Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) due in part to larger front axle U-joints. Diesel 4×4s now have a rating of 5,500 lbs (up from 5,200 lbs) and diesel 4×2s get a 5,000 lb rating (up from 4,700 lbs.) The 2500 4×4 crew cab diesel trucks get an increase GCWR of 9,600 lbs – up from 9,000 lbs.

To help with towing, Dodge has equipped its new Heavy-Duty trucks with a towing mode as well as an Electronic Range Select, which lets drivers manually limit the highest available gear, and perform manual upshifts and downshifts based on road speed and engine rpm.

3500 models now come standard with 7×11-inch tow mirrors with larger convex glass surfaces. Instead of using separate mirrors for seeing around a large trailer, these mirrors fold out and up to do double-duty.

Outside, the new Heavy-Duty Ram models come with unique styling cues for 2010 and yet maintain the new Ram look. One particular change is in the size of the grille, with a larger front opening and taller hood to accommodate (and feed air to) the 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel. Heavy-Duty models also get a unique bumper design to allow better access to the tow hooks and winch on Power Wagon Models.

Inside, the Heavy-Duty models get heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel, memory seats, navigation, adjustable pedals and numerous audio/video options including a 10-speaker sound system and SIRIUS Backseat TV with three channels.

Heavy-Duty Mega Cab models also boast best in class interior room with the largest and longest cab (143.2 cubic feet and 111.1 inches long); the most interior  volume (72.2 cubic feet); the most cargo volume behind rear seat (7.7 cubic feet); the largest flat-floor load area (16.8 square feet); the most second-row leg room (44.2 inches); the largest rear-door opening (34.5 inches wide, 35.5 inches high); the largest rear-door open angle (85 degrees); and first-ever reclining rear seats (22- to 37-degree seat-back angle).

The Ram Heav Duty models will officially go on sale later in 2009.

GALLERY: 2010 Dodge Ram Heav Duty and Power Wagon

GALLERY: 2010 Rodge Ram 2500 and 3500

More information and pricing available after the jump:

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Earlier this week at the Tokyo Auto Show, Toyota drew back the covers on its new compact sports car concept, the FT-86. Using a Subaru engine, it has long been rumored that the rear drive car would also be sold as a Subaru, with with an all-wheel drive layout. Now word comes that Suabru’s high-performance STI division is planning a version of the car.

According to AutoExpress, the STI version would offer a larger naturally aspirated (rather than turbocharged) boxer engine. Currently the FT-86 (aka the Toyobaru) uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that is rumored to make around 200-hp. The 2.5-liter motor would push the output closer to 250-hp.

An STI version would also get a set of big wheels, flared fenders, a firmer suspension, better brakes and some race-inspired interior treatments.

We don’t expect the production Toyota model to debut until the Geneva Auto Show in March, with the Subaru probably a year behind that.

GALLERY: Toyota FT-86 Concept

[Source: AutoExpress]

After quite literally years of anticipation, Lexus has officially revealed its latest flagship, the LFA. As the automaker’s first supercar, so far, the LFA does not disappoint.

The car’s functional exterior is artfully designed and we’d go so far as to say it looks more impressive than vehicles it rivals – like the Ferrari 599. That body is made primarily of light-weight carbon fiber, as is the chassis, which helps keep the car’s weight down to just 3,263 lbs. When you combine that with a 4.8-liter V8 that revs to 9000 rpm and makes 552-hp and 354 ft-lbs of torque, you get a luxurious exotic that can hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and top out at 202 mph!

As for the cost? Yikes! Lexus is charging $375,000. That, however, is the price of exclusivity as just 500 LFAs will be built.

GALLERY: Lexus LFA

Photos by Kevin Duke

GALLERY: Lexus LFA Official Photos

Full details after the jump:

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Toyota has officially unveiled the FT-86, a concept car that is set to inspire an upcoming compact sports car. The name FT-86 brings together Toyota’s past and future, with the “FT” coming from the FT-HS hybrid concept from a few years back, while the “86″ is donated from the AE-86, a small rear-drive, two-door Corolla-based sports car (called the Hachi-Roku), made famous by drifters.

The design of the car in many ways mimics the bold look of the Lexus LFA supercar and yet on a smaller and more subtle scale. Power comes from a 2.0-liter Subaru-sourced boxer engine although the output is not yet known. The production model, like the concept will be rear-wheel drive and is expected to cost around $20,000, undercutting the Hyundai Genesis Coupe as a fun and affordable sports car.

Toyota has never really been in the sports car business but it is making bold statements, saying the FT-86 will have, “racecar-like handling.” We’ll hold our judgment until we get the production model out on a race track.

GALLERY: Toyota FT-86 Concept

Get more FT-86 News Here

Mazda’s design boss is working hard to convince company executives to build a successor to the RX-7. He has even gone so far as to create design sketches for the next generation sports car.

In an interview wit the U.K.’s AutoCar, Ikuo Maeda said that the car would be a two-seater and like it’s predecessors, it would be powered by a rotary engine.

Mazda has been without a halo car since the third generation vehicle ceased production in 2002. The RX-8 was brought to market shortly thereafter, but as a significantly more pedestrian sports car.

AutoCar suggests that if Madea is successful we should expect a concept next year. Much like the rest of Mazda’s lineup it will probably have a more progressive design – hopefully along the lines of the Furai concept, pictured above.

[Source: Autocar]