Ahead of any official announcement from Lamborghini, news and photos of the upcoming LP570-4 model have leaked into the net. Courtesy Romanian auto site Automarket, we have these two images of the ultra-raw LP570-4 SV.

There are no hard details, but conveniently, Lamborghini’s naming pretty much tells us all we need to know. The 570 indicates a 10-hp jump to 570 ponies, while the “-4″ lets us know that this is in fact an all-wheel drive exotic.

In addition, the SV badge means that like the LP670 SV, this will be a light weight and aggressively styled Lambo (as though there were any other kind). As is obvious from the photos, there is also a significantly sized rear spoiler. Expect a total curb weight around 3,300 lbs.

We had expected this model to arrive at the Geneva Auto Show in March, but with these “leaks” often timed, perhaps Lambo’s latest model will bow at the Detroit Auto Show next week.

GALLERY: Lamborghini LP570-4 SuperVeloce

[Source: Automarket via Jalopnik]

***See AutoGuide’s LIVE 2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here***

Details of the mid-cycle refreshed 2011 BMW 3 Series have leaked online with rumors that the car will make its world debut at the Detroit Auto Show next week. Along with typical updates, a new trim level is expected to be added, the 335is.

This new model would include either a dual-clutch paddle shift transmission or a Sport Automatic and get special styling and aerodynamics. Some M Sport trim options will also be included, such as an M Sport steering wheel. In addition, it is expected that the 335is will feature the same engine tweaks  found on the upcoming Z4 sDrive35is, with 335-hp and 332 ft-lbs of torque.

As for the standard models, look for mostly cosmetic changes with new front and rear bumpers as well as LED lights. Some minor interior trim changes are also expected, as well as some new options, like automatic high beam assist.

We’ll be sure to bring you full details, with live coverage of the 2010 Detroit Auto Show starting January 11th.

[Source: BimmerFile]

The upcoming 2011 Ford Focus will get a tiny 1.2-liter EcoBoost engine, but not until several years into its production and probably not in North America. According to a report by Motor Trend, two new EcoBoost engines are planned by Ford, with the other being a 0.9-liter 3-cylinder engine which will make its way into the Fiesta.

The 1.2-liter motor, while most likely too small for the U.S., certainly wouldn’t disappoint, however, with an output of roughly 135-hp and 135 ft-lbs of torque. And with Chevy recently unveiling a new turbocharged 1.4-liter engine for the Cruze, if a 1.4-liter is possible, why not a 1.2?

As EcoBoost engines, both would be turbocharged and feature direct-injection.

For is putting a lot of focus on EcoBoost engines, as the downsizing effect naturally reduces the weight of the car – which means less horsepower is necessary to achieve the same acceleration. In addition, they reduce fuel consumption and emissions while the lower weight makes for a better handling car.

The new EcoBoost engines are expected in Europe during a mid-cycle refresh of the new Focus and Fiesta lines, replacing the current 1.6 and 1.8-liter motors.

In North America, Ford will soon deliver a 2.0-liter EcoBoost motor, capable of making 200-hp and 221 ft-lbs of torque. It is expected to replace many of the V6 offerings in vehicles like the Fusion and Escape. In addition, a new 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine with around 180-hp and 180 ft-lbs will arrive later this year in the new Focus-based C-Max MPV.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Despite reports earlier in the year that Lexus might be overtaken by BMW in the race to sell the most luxury cars in the United States last year, Toyota’s luxury arm surged ahead in the second half of 2009 to maintain its title. With sales of 215,975 units in 2009, Lexus handily beat the 196,502 total by BMW solidifying itself as the luxury sales leader for the 10th straight year in a row.

Solidifying the title were strong sales in December, where Lexus moved 28,565 units, an increase of 22 percent over the same period a year before.

In July BMW had taken the lead from Lexus, but the Japanese luxury automaker’s sales picked up in the second half of the year with the introduction of the 2010 Lexus RX, a vehicle that in many ways has become the new BMW 3 Series and middle-class status symbol.

Placing a close third in the running was Mercedes-Benz with 190,604.

All other brands were distant with Cadillac moving 109,092 units just ahead of Acura with 105,723 units, Lincoln with 82,847 units and Infiniti at 81,089 units.

In total, sales of luxury cars in 2009 were way down with Lexus selling 17 percent fewer units this year and BMW down 21 percent for ’09.

[Source: Bloomberg]

With its product offerings growing stale, Toyota’s youth-oriented Scion brand will introduce an all-new model at the New York Auto Show this spring. With Detroit’s auto show just around the corner, the New York show in late March/early April seems distant, especially with the Geneva Show seperating the two, but the debut is all part of Toyota’s plan to introduce 10 new or significantly refreshed products in 2010.

The Scion brand hasn’t had a new model since the second generation xB launched in 2008 and with the brand’s focus squarely set on being fresh and new, its product offerings as of late have been anything but. There are no details on what the new model will be, but last year at the New York Auto Show Scion did display the iQ concept (above). Based on the Toyota iQ city car sold overseas, it has been modified signifciantly but uses the factory 1.3-liter 4-cylinder engine with 99-hp.

A replacement for the aging tC is also a strong possibility, as the flagship vehicle for the brand and competitor to cars like the Civic Coupe, is desperately in need of replacing.

In addition, the this Scion model, Toyota says it will deliver a significantly revised version of one of its models (vague, we know) at the Chicago Auto Show, while an all new dedicated hybrid concept is set for the Detroit Auto Show in just a few days time.

[Source: USA Today]

***See AutoGuide’s LIVE 2010 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here***

***UPDATE*** Official images and specs on the Chevy Aveo RS Show Car can be seen here ***UPDATE***

It’s certainly not much to go on, but this single teaser image at least gives us a general idea of the shape of the 2011 Chevrolet Aveo, and so far we’re impressed. The photo comes to us via GM’s VP of communications Chris Preuss on Twitter, from a meeting between GM execs and the UAW, where they previewed the new 2011 Aveo and announced that it will be built at GM’s Orion plant in Michigan.

“It’s a new day and new opportunity,” said UAW president Ron Gettelfnger.”GM will be the only company building a B-car in America. We can make this a success.” In the past Aveo models were manufactured in Korea.

Little else is known about the new Aveo, but the sporty RS trim model that is set to debut at the Detroit Auto Show next week is expected to feature the 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine first shown in the new Chevy Cruze. In the Cruze, this engine makes 138-hp and gets 40 mpg on the highway.

Supporting these rumors Preuss also tweeted a quote from another GM exec, saying that, “Aveo will have great performance…functionality and connectivity…leading safety and fuel economy.”

In addition, GM North America President Mark Reuss commented that, “Aveo is going to be a success.”

We’ll get our first look at the all-new sub-compact January 11th at the Detroit Auto Show.

[Source: Twitter]

As of late there has been a great deal of discussion about the possibility of BMW adding an M-badged version of the 1 Series to its lineup and now we have confirmed reports that the model has been given the green light. The 1-Series M will get a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline six engine, but with 350-hp.

This engine will differ significantly from the one currently found in the 135i. Instead, the 1-Series M-car will use a version of the new turbo 3.0-liter, which recently debuted in the 535i GT, which offers even more linear power delivery. Also scheduled is a more efficient intercooler setup. Power will be put to the ground via a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox and torque is expected to be rated at around 310 ft-lbs.

The car will slot in directly below the M3 in the German automaker’s lineup and is expected to cost around $45,000. In an interview with the U.K.’s AutoCar, BMW M division boss Kay Segler said that, “With the modular production processes in place at BMW, it is possible to create performance cars that customers can not only dream about owning but also realistically afford.”

As for the rest of the car, weight is expected to be not much more than 3,300 lbs, which should help the smallest M-car to deliver a 0-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds and be an absolute hoot in the twisties – and on the track!

Other highlights include 18-inch wheels, a revised suspension setup and a subtle M aero kit.

Along with being more powerful, the new engine is also more fuel efficient and thanks to brake energy regeneration and the possibility of a start-stop system, the more powerful model will use roughly the same amount of fuel as the current 135i.

BMW has yet to release official details on the car, but it is expected to go on sale in 2011.

[Source: AutoCar]

Ferrari is preparing to launch an ultra-high performance version of the 599 GTB, based on the 599XX that debuted at last year’s Geneva Auto Show. According to a report in EVO magazine, the car is set for production and will get a revised version of the standard 6.0-liter V12 engine with no less than 700-hp! It will also get a new name, the 599 GTO, making it the first F-Car to wear the GTO badge since the iconic 288 GTO.

Recently Ferrari changes the classification of the 599, from a GT car to a “Sports Car.” That might not mean much on it’s own, but it allows Ferrari’s development team to build this GTO version of the car in the same manner that it built the Scuderia version of the F430.

That being said, expect quicker shift times (60 milliseconds, down from 100 milliseconds) as well as a significantly lower curb weight and a revised suspension setup. We expect the new 599 GTO to hit 60 mph in roughly 3.2 seconds (down from 3.7) with a top speed well above 200 mph. In fact, the car’s new performance characteristics might make it the fastest road-going Ferrari ever!

GALLERY: Ferrari 599XX

[Source: EVO]

While 2009 was a tumultuous year for automakers, the worldwide economic crisis pushed the auto industry into the mainstream automotive media’s spotlight, making big automotive news stories even bigger. And while new products continued to be introduced, they garnered possibly even more attention that ever before. With that in mind, we thought we’d take a look back at some of the Top 10 biggest stories of 2009 for an automaker that didn’t recoil, but continued on, unveiling an all-new version of one of its most important models, delivering a new exotic car to market, promising an electric car in the future… and making some big changes in its motorsports program. That automaker is Mercedes-Benz.

#10 Mercedes Goes Green With New Hybrids

Slow to adapt hybrid technology, German automakers began to take on the Japanese luxury hybrids in 2009. Mercedes launched two important hybrid models, the S400 Hybrid and the ML450 Hybrid. The S400 Hybrid was the first Mercedes hybrid to go on sale and is also the first mass production automobile to use a lithium-ion battery. Priced at $87,950 it uses an electric motor and 3.5-liter gasoline V6 to produce 295-hp, while getting mileage of 19/26 mpg – an improvement of 26 percent over the S550 in the city. Despite its high-tech battery pack, the S400 Hybrid is a mild-hybrid, which limits its fuel economy.

The second hybrid model from Mercedes is the ML450 Hybrid 4MATIC. A lease-only model, for either 36 or 60 months, at either $659 or $549 per month, the ML450 is the first two-mode hybrid (like the Toyota Prius) from Mercedes. The ML450 uses a 3.5-liter V6 engine and two electric motors to make 335-hp and 381 ft-lbs of torque. Unlike the S400 Hybrid, it will be able to operate exclusively on electric power for short periods of time. Its fuel economy is rated at 21/24 mpg (city/highway), which is roughly the same as the ML350 Bluetec diesel at 18/25 mpg. This is also a 46 percent improvement over the fuel economy rating of the similarly-powerful ML550.

The next step for Mercedes in the field of hybrids comes with the Vision S500 Plug-In Hybrid, which debuted at the Frankfurt Auto Show and foreshadows a plug-in hybrid version of the next generation S-Class. Thanks to a direct-injection 3.5-liter V6 engine mated to a 60-hp/184 ft-lb electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack, the car is capable of getting an amazing 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.

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In a year where most automakers saw staggering sales losses that pushed many to the brink of bankruptcy, and some over it, Subaru is one of a handful of companies sad to ring in the New Year and see 2009 fade into history.

With an onslaught of new products designed at a wider segment of the market, Subaru managed to move 216,652 units in 2009, up a solid 15 percent from last year and topping the company’s previous best year (2006), where it sold 200,703 vehicles.

With continual good news almost ever month in 2009, Subaru ended the year on a high note with December sales up 33 percent to 23,074 units, as compared to last year.

“We really owe this tremendous success to both our retailers and employees, who executed the business plans we set in place. Along with our vision and their belief in the Subaru brand, they helped make that vision a reality,” said Tom Doll, EVP and COO of Subaru of America.

“Subaru is well-positioned to continue its success into 2010,” said sales VP Tim Colbeck. “We have the right products, marketing and dealer network providing us with a strong foundation for future growth.”

Official release after the jump:

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