Dodge appears to be readying a special edition of the Viper to celebrate the car’s three generations of American performance before the legendary V10-powered machine is retired.

We noticed on the LA Auto Show website that one of the World Premieres listed is a Dodge Viper. Now were obviously not getting an all-new Viper for one model year, so we’re left to assume this will be a special Final Edition model. And if the ACR is any testimony to what Dodge can do, this Viper is sure to be extreme.

After all, the ACR still holds a significant margin over the Corvette ZR1 and Nissan GT-R on the Nürburgring and track versions of the car have proved themselves time and time again in motorsports. Since the takeover by Italian automaker Fiat, it has been announced that 2010 would be the last year for the Viper.

When asked about a “Final Edition” Viper, Dodge reps were coy, but promised us more news later today. We’ll keep you posted. There is, of course, the possibility that the debut is not a Final Edition model but a concept version of a future Viper successor – but then we’d think the info would be listed in the “Concepts” category on the LA Auto Show website.

Just unveiled in its domestic market of South Korea, the all-new Kia Cadenza is set to be introduced throughout several markets in the months to come, including in the U.S. where it will replace the Amanti.

Contrary to speculation the car does not ride on the Genesis sedan’s rear-drive architecture (sigh…) but rather on an all-new front-drive platform, which Kia says it will use in additional models in the future. The new platform, along with lighter suspension components, will help the car to weight roughly 287 lbs less than the old Amanti. The new vehicle is slightly shorter than the outgoing one, but Kia says the wheelbase has increased to 112-inches, which should afford some extra interior room.

Several engines will be offered, but we expect that once the car debuts in North America it will come with the top-level 3.5-liter V6 with 286-hp and 249 ft-lbs of torque. Kia claims a 0-62 mph time of 7.2 seconds and an average fuel economy rating of 25 mpg.

“With the Cadenza, we have created an all-new, large sedan that will revitalize Kia’s fortunes thanks to its exciting appearance, strong performance and luxurious cabin which will guarantee a much broader consumer appeal, attracting thousands of new customers to our brand,” said Kia Motors President Hyoung-Keun Lee.

The automaker’s top designer Peter Schreyer had this to say, “Our new sedan looks masculine and luxurious. Today, people recognize a Kia at first sight: well balanced proportions, flowing greenhouse and dynamic window graphic plus the big wheels, give this car its confident stance, dignity and elegant personality. The distinctive ‘tiger nose’ front with its signature grille and headlights are evidence of Kia’s new self-confidence. Kia Cadenza is a big step into the future – another quantum leap for Kia.”

The Cadenza is set to launch in North America, however, Kia’s North American operations have not given a timeline for the car’s debut.

GALLERY: Kia Cadenza

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Remember back when Honda announced pricing for its Insight hybrid would start at under $20,000 and Toyota, in a bid to compete, said it would offer the Prius for just $21,000? Several months later, and the launch of the Prius II, III, IV and V and Toyota is now saying the Prius I isn’t likely to ever see production – not for average consumers anyway.

According to a report on AllAboutPrius, Toyota spokesman Greg Thome said a test of the market with the Prius I resulted in just 177 units sold – all of which were to fleets. As a result, Toyota has no immediate or future plans to offer the entry-level Prius I to consumers.

The move isn’t surprising as it turned out that Honda’s Insight, with its smaller passenger space and less efficient engine, wasn’t much of a competitor to the Prius after all.

Thome did say that the Prius I would have been an incredibly stripped-down version, without items like cruise control, the Touch Tracer Display, Smart Key, EV mode, a rear wiper, heated mirrors, a heat vent for the rear seat, foldable rear headrests or underbody spoilers. And considering the Prius II starts at $22,400, the extra $1,400 seems like a small price to pay.

[Source: AllAboutPrius]

With high-end automakers like Ferrari and Lamborghini announcing that they will not be participating in the LA Auto Show this year, we’re thankful that Porsche has decided not to keep its high-performance goodies from us. Along with the updated GT3 RS model, Porsche will use the LA show to debut its updated 2010 911 Turbo in North America.

The car made its world premiere at the Frankfurt Auto Show a few months back and while it doesn’t look that different (Porsche’s never do), there’s a long list of updates.

For starters the Turbo gets an all-new, larger 3.8-liter engine with direct-injection, making 500-hp. Possibly more important, however, is the fact that the clumsy bush-buttons have been replaced with paddle shifters with the addition of Porsche’s impressive 7-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission.

Porsche says the new Turbo will be capable of a 0-60 mph sprint in just 3.4 seconds and can blast on to a top speed of 194 mph.

The new engine is also significantly more fuel-efficient than the previous Turbo, consuming just 24.1 mpg with the manual transmission (compared to 22.1 mpg before), meaning it avoids the gas guzzler tax in the U.S. And when combined with Porsche’s PDK tranny the Turbo gets even better mileage at 24.8 mpg.

The 2010 Turbo will be lighter than it predecessor and feature updated versions of Porsche’s PTM and PSM systems. A PTV (Porsche Torque Vectoring) system will also be offered for the first time.

Coupe models will be priced at $132,800 ($165,300 CDN), with the Cabriolet costing $143,800 ($178,400 CDN).

See AutoGuide’s Live 2009 LA Auto Show Coverage Here Starting December 2nd

GALLERY: 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo Debut in Frankfurt

Porsche will give North American audiences their first look at the updated 2010 GT3 RS when the car debuts alongside the revised 2010 911 Turbo at the Los Angeles Auto Show in just a few weeks time. The new car gets even more extreme, but, claims Porsche, is now even easier to drive, with more power, a wider front track, a reduced curb weight and increased downforce.

Thanks to an increased displacement from 3.6 to 3.8-liters, the new engine makes an additional 15-hp for a new total of 450. That power hits the ground (as it should) through a rear-drive setup and a six-speed manual transmission. Plus, the gear ratios for the 2010 model have been shortened further for increased acceleration.

As the GT3 RS is all about performance through light-weight, additional weight has been shaved off the body of the GT3 RS through the use of a titanium exhaust. Porsche will also offer an optional lithium-ion battery in place of the standard lead battery, which will help save an additional 22 lbs.

In terms of handling, the GT3 RS gets a dynamic engine mounts, which change their stiffness depending on how the car is being driven. A new special PASM suspension setup has also been included that takes into account not only the RS’s wider rear track, but also its wider front track (new for 2010). Inside those flared fenders you’ll find 19×9-inch wheels with 245/35/19 tires up front and 19×12-inch wheels with 325/30/19 tires in the rear.

The 2010 GT3 RS will be available as of March with pricing is listed at $132,800 ($163,000 CDN).

See AutoGuide’s Live 2009 LA Auto Show Coverage Here Starting December 2nd

GALLERY: 2010 Porsche GT3 RS Frankfurt Debut

In a weeks time at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Subaru will display its Hybrid Tourer Concept which will be the focal point of an announcement that the Japanese automaker will introduce a hybrid engine in 2012.

The new gas/electric hybrid engine will be a first for Subaru and will be based on one of the company’s boxer engines. In the Hybrid Tourer Concept, the hybrid setup works with a direct-injection 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer engine. The concept version uses lithium ion batteries and uses two electric motors (one for the front and one for the rear), to help deliver optimum all-wheel drive performance.

The setup uses only the rear electric motor at low speeds, while under normal driving conditions, the gasoline engine is used. When more power is needed, the rear electric motor again kicks in. And finally, for optimum grip, the front motor will be engaged when needed – for example when accelerating up a hill.

It is not clear if Subaru intends to debut its new hybrid engine in a new vehicle (possibly based n the Hybrid Tourer Concept) or if this new hybrid engine will be used to offer hybrid versions of vehicles like the Impreza, Legacy, Outback, Tribeca and Forester.

See AutoGuide’s Live 2009 LA Auto Show Coverage Here Starting December 2nd

GALLERY: Subaru Hybrid Tourer Concept

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Toyota was all ready to create a little positive marketing for itself by entering its new 2010 4Runner in the grueling Baja 1000 race. The only problem is, Hummer also signed up and decided to spoil all the fun.

Both the 4Runner, piloted by a host of drivers, including Ivan “Ironman” Stewart, a 22-time Baja winner and member of the Off-Road Motorsorts Hall of Fame; and the Hummer H3 driven by 20-time winner Rod Hall (and others), were entered in the Stock Mini class, meaning that they received only minor modifications.

The Hummer proved victorious, but it was close with the H3 only overtaking the 4Runner in the last 30 miles of the 673-mile race. The win now gives Rod Hall a total of 21 class victories, and solidifies Hall’s claim to being the only driver to have competed in all 42 Baja 1000 races.

“These production trucks are the right size. They’re fun, take a lot of abuse and just keep running and running,” said Rod Hall. “You’d be surprised at how much abuse the H3 can take.”

For the record, there were only three vehicles entered in the Stock Mini class, however, just finishing the race is its own little victory, as this year only 185 of 328 total vehicles (just 56.4 percent) of the vehicles entered made it to he checkered flag.

The Hummer H3 Alpha driven by Chad Hall of Rod Hall Racing also managed a victory in the Stock Full Class.

“Off-road motorsports is an integral part of Hummer’s vehicle development process and a cornerstone of the brand’s DNA,” said Hummer CEO James Taylor. “We’re extremely proud of the team’s resilience to earn these stock class victories and congratulate the Rod Hall Racing program on another successful Baja 1000. Race after race, they continue to prove the rugged nature of Hummer vehicles.”

The overall Baja 1000 winners were Andy and Scott McMillin, who covered all 673 miles in just 14-hours, 19-minutes and 50-seconds in their Trophy Truck Class Chevy Silverado.

[Source: SCORE and Hummer]

Audi is reported to be planning a new supercar that would fit in above the R8 in the company’s lineup. Based on the same platform as the successor to the Lamborghini Murciélago, the new supercar would be mid-engined and use a version of Audi’s aluminum spaceframe chassis, with bits of carbon fiber added in to further reduce weight.

Even more exciting is the possibility that this vehicle, both wider and longer than the R8, would use a turbocharged 5.0-liter V10 motor to make as much as 600-hp! When combined with Audi’s quatro system, this new Audi supercar could then be capable of a 0-60 mph run of around 3.5 seconds.

The report comes from the U.K.s AutoExpress, which claims that several prototypes of the car have already been testing on the Nürburgring, but have been disguised as Lamborghinis.

As for the name, one has to assume Audi would continue to use the names of its race cars, with the R10 following the R8 on the track.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Swedish supercar maker Koenigsegg has canceled its plans to buy the struggling Saab brand from General Motors, leaving the future of the brand in jeopardy.

“We’re obviously very disappointed with the decision to pull out of the Saab purchase,” said GM President and CEO, Fritz Henderson.  “Many have worked tirelessly over the past several months to create a sustainable plan for the future of Saab by selling the brand and its manufacturing interests to Koenigsegg Group AB. Given the sudden change in direction, we will take the next several days to assess the situation and will advise on the next steps next week.”

The news isn’t entirely surprising and has so far been par for the course after GM’s decision to sell its Saturn brand to the Penske Automotive Group fell through a few months back. And just a few weeks ago GM reneged on its plan to sell its European Opel brand to a group headed by Canadian autoparts maker Magna International Inc. GM is in the process of closing its Pontiac brand and is still working to sell-off the Hummer brand to Chinese heavy industry company Sichuan Tengzhong – although it wouldn’t be a surprise to see that deal now fall through.

The move to sell off the brands was part of GM’s larger restructuring plan, arranged as a part of the company’s bailout by the U.S. and Canadian governments.

It is not clear if GM intends to find another buyer for Saab, to keep the brand, or to shut it down. The situation is certain to delay the launch of the all-new 9-5 model.

[Source: Automotive News]

The highlight of Subaru’s LA Auto Show display will be the WRX STI Special Edition model, which gets upgrades donated from the Japanese-market spec C model. Available in Aspen White paint, the real highlight of the Special Edition STI is an upgraded suspension that comes directly from the Japan-only spec C model. Additional upgrades include a set of custom spec C wheels.

The suspension modifications include a 1-millimeter thicker rear stabilizer bar, stiffer rear subframe bushings, front springs that are 16 percent stiffer and rear shocks that are 29 percent stiffer. As for the wheels, they will come in a special charcoal color and measure 18×8.5-inches.

All other aspects of the car remain unchanged, including the 305-hp boxer engine.

Subaru will built just 125 Special Edition models in the Aspen White color, before the car goes into series production and becomes available in standard STI colors.

In addition, Subaru will also announce the release of a new WRX Limited model, which gets all the goodies of the Premium trim, but adds leather interior, a standard moonroof and Sirius satellite radio.

AutoGuide will bring you more on both models with live coverage from the LA Auto Show starting December 2nd.

See AutoGuide’s Live 2009 LA Auto Show Coverage Here Starting December 2nd

GALLERY: 2010 Subaru WRX STI Special Edition

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