A week ahead of the Detroit Auto Show, New Delhi’s Auto Expo is increasingly becoming a big deal – especially in regards to small cars. With India likely to become one of the world’s largest markets, automakers are eager to get their foot in the door. One manufacturer that already has a huge presence in the county is Suzuki and its looking to stay competitive and current, looking to expand its product offerings from more than just mini-cars, to functional people-haulers.

This week at the Auto Expo 2010 show in New Delhi, Suzuki showcased just such a vehicle, the R3 MPV concept. Based on a stretched version of the same platform that underpins the SX4, this MPV seats six and is expected to be powered b one of Suzuki’s small (1.2-liter or 1.4-liter) gasoline four-cylinder engines, while a Fiat-sourced 1.3-liter diesel is also a possibility.

Suzuki is rumored to have already given the R3 MPV the green light for production, with sales starting in 18 to 24 months. While deisgned for the Indian market, with the increasing popularity of MPVs in other markets, including North America where Mazda has had success with Mazda5 and both Ford and GM are looking to introduce MPVs, the R3 could become more of a global vehicle that Suzuki had initially planned.

GALLERY: Suzuki R3 MPV Concept

[Source: AutoCar]

If there’s one lesson the global economic crisis taught automakers, its that the need to diversify their products and not focus too much on the high return-on-investment established markets. Now there’s plenty of talk about building low-cost cars for places like China, India and Brazil.

In a bid to grow with these emerging auto markets, Honda has just introduced the Honda New Small Concept at the Auto Expo show in New Delhi, India. With seating for five an a futuristic design, a production version of the concept is already on the way and will hit the market in 2011.

Honda says the new small-car will be, “beyond the expectations of customers in rapidly growing markets and offer it at an affordable price.”

It is set to go on sale in India and Thailand, with sales likely expanding to other emerging markets after that.

GALLERY: Honda New Small Concept

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First shown at the Seoul Auto Show last Spring, Hyundai will display its Blue-Will concept at the Detroit Auto Show in just a few days time. A showcase for hybrid and other green technologies, the Blue-Will is a plug-in hybrid and according to Hyundai could actually make its way to production, competing against vehicles like the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid.

Powered by a 152-hp 1.6-liter direct-injection 4-cylinder engine and a 100kW electric motor, the Blue-Will uses a lithium-polymer battery pack to achieve 50-55 mpg in standard hybrid mode, or as much as 106 mpg in plug-in hybrid mode.

Until then, however, a similar non-plug-in hybrid setup will debut in the all-new Hyundai Sonata hybrid, which is due out later this year as a 2011 model.

Some interesting highlights of the Blue-Will include a CVT transmission with drive, park and reverse controls that are operated via a touch-screen, as well as a thermal generator on the exhaust manifold that converts heat to electric energy.

GALLERY: Hyundai Blue-Will Concept Debut in Frankfurt

GALLERY: Hyundai Blue-Will Concept

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Dodge doesn’t have much in the way of new models for 2010, but a new Performance Appearance Package gives the Challenger an even more aggressive look and is sure to be a box checked on the order form of many Mopar fans. Priced at $1,995 for the interior package, it includes a new paint-matched hood with a raised hood scoop, a rear “Go-Wing” spoiler and a strobe stripe graphics kit.

An interior kit is also offered, with a Mopar-branded T-handle shifter, a metallic pedal kit (automatic only), custom door-sill guards, new floor mats and even a car cover. Pricing is set at $945 for the automatic transmission and $780 for the manual.

The kit is available as a factory option and can be had on SE and R/T models in any of the following colors: TorRed, Bright Silver Metallic, Brilliant Black Crystal and Bright White.

GALLERY: Dodge Challenger Performance Appearance Package

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The minivan segment continues to shrink with Nissan announcing that it won’t offer its unattractive Quest model in 2010. A replacement is planned, but not for at least a year or two.

Nissan attributes the production gap to a change in its production facilities, with the Quest being built at the company’s Canton, Mississippi plant, where it also assembles the Nissan Titan pickup truck, Armada SUV and Infiniti QX56. Nissan’s plan is to move Quest and QX production to Japan in order to make room for a new vehicle line at the Canton plant.

Nissan’s willingness to miss a whole year or more in the van’s production schedule certainly speaks to the minor roll the model plays in Nissan’s product lineup. In fact, the Quest already had one hiccup in its lifetime, with a production stoppage in 2003.

Nissan says it isn’t planning on leaving the minivan segment, which has recently seen automakers like GM and Ford pull out. What remains to be seen is if a new van from Nissan will be a full-sized model akin to traditional vans like the Dodge Caravan, or if the next Quest (or Quest replacement) will follow after more modern, compact vans like the Mazda5 and upcoming Ford C-Max.

[Source: Automobile]

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

After much anticipation, Cadillac has finally announced all the details of the new 2011 CTS-V Coupe. The high-powered version of the new CTS Coupe, which debuted at the LA Auto Show, is powered by the same supercharged 6.2-liter V8 found in the CTS-V sedan, with an incredible 556-hp at 6100 rpm and 551 ft-lbs of torque at 3800 rpm. That’s enough to propel the 2+2 seater to 60 mph in an incredible 3.9 seconds.

But the CTS-V Coupe is so much more than a straight line performer, following in the Michelin PS2 tire marks of the V sedan – the first production four-door to run a sub eight minute lap time at Germany’s famed Nürburgring. In fact, the V Coupe should lop off a few more seconds thanks to a rear track that is one-inch wider than the sedan. With the same wheelbase as the four-door, the V Coupe also gets a lower center of gravity thanks to an overall height that is roughly 2-inches (51mm to be precise) lower. The front and rear overhangs are even shortened, with an overall lengh that is also reduced by 51mm.

Other performance highlights include 19-inch wheels and some massive brakes with high-performance Brembo six-piston front calipers with 15-inch rotors and four-piston rear calipers with 14.7-inch rotors. And helping out in terms of delivering a performance oriented (or comfort oriented) ride are GM’s amazing Magnetic Ride Control shocks, which monitor the road every millisecond and adjust shock pressure. First used on Corvettes, this technology is now used by the likes of Ferrari. For the CTS-V Coupe, Cadillac offers the shocks with two pre-sets, Tour and Sport, so a driver can set the car for their preferred driving mode.

As for how the car looks, well, Cadillac certainly didn’t disappoint. The CTS Coupe’s sleek profile gets a very masculine V treatment including some impressive big grilles up front, as well as a massive bulge in the hood to make room for all that engine. The overall look of the car is undeniably like the CTS, however, Caddy designers only carried over the headlights, front fenders and grille from the sedan, along with the instrument panel and center console on the inside.

Now the only thing left to do is drive it, and if it’s anything like the sedan, the V Coupe will absolutely walk all over its German competition.

The new CTS-V Coupe will make it’s world debut at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show on January 11th and is set to go on sale in early Summer.

GALLERY: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

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In a world of increasingly strict fuel economy and emissions regulations, what the future holds for Porsche under new ownership by Volkswagen is not yet clear, but the German sports car maker isn’t taking any chances and is already looking ahead to smaller engines. In an interview with the U.K.’s AutoCar, Boxster model line director Hans-Jurgen Wohler said that a four-cylinder engine or even a three-cylinder turbocharged engine might be both necessary and acceptable.

“A Boxster with a four-cylinder engine, or maybe even a three-cylinder turbo, could produce between 180bhp and 200bhp,” said Wohler, commenting that as the original Boxster made 200-hp from a 2.5-liter engine, it might be something that Porsche customers would be interested in and which wouldn’t devalue the brand.

Strict new emissions laws in Europe don’t target automakers that sell fewer than 300,000 units annually, but those niche-market manufacturers still have to show a reduction in emissions of 25 percent in 2012, compared to 2006. New ownership by Volkswagen may mean that Porsche has to comply to the rules of the larger automaker.

But changes to the Bosxter aren’t going to save Porsche from government taxation due to missed emissions targets, argues Wholer.“The Boxster isn’t the volume seller for us that everyone thinks,” he said. “On current performance, it’s worth 15,000 units per year maximum.”

That being said, if Porsche is required to make drastic emissions reductions then it will have to do so in other high-volume models. Alternatively, a new entry-level model, using either the 4-cylinder or turbocharged 3-cylinder engine Wohler mentioned, would help significantly.

[Source: AutoCar]

Later this week General Motors is expected to pronounce on the fate of its loss-making Swedish unit, with a potential purchase by Dutch exotic car maker Spyker still a possibility. In an interview with AOL Autos, Spyker CEO Victor Muller discussed many of his plans to rejuvenate Saab, as well as another plan to sell his company’s high-priced exotics through Saab dealerships.

Currently Spyker models like the 400-hp C8 Aileron (above) sell for close to $300,000 and can be bought through certain Bentley and Lamborghini dealerships. Future Spyker models might also benefit from the purchase by using a version of Saab’s impressive all-wheel drive setup. In return, Muller hopes to maintain Saab’s dealership network of 218 showrooms.

As for the Saab product line, Muller wants to concentrate on the 9-3, 9-4x crossover and 2010 9-5. He dismissed the possibility of an entry-level 9-1 model, but did say that he’d love to see a production version of the Aero X concept finally make it to market. And with Saab’s low volume exotic car experience, Spyker might just be the company to make this a possibility.

A decision by General Motors on the future of Saab is expected this Wednesday, January 7th.

[Source: AOL Autos]

In a bid to offer competitive products with the likes of BMW and Audi, Mercedes-Benz will offer a wagon version of the upcoming second-generation CLS. The car will compete directly with vehicles like the new BMW 5 Series GT and Audi A7 Sportback.

Based on the same architecture as the CLS sedan and, therefore, the E-Class, the CLS Wagon (or Estate) is expected to arrive late in 2011 as a 2012 model. The CLS sedan is due out later this year. According to a report in the U.K.’s AutoCar, this new model is part of a larger plan by Mercedes to use existing platforms for more models in an effort to reduce costs.

The CLS Wagon will take its design inspiration from the Concept Fascination, pictured above. A new concept car, set to be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in a weeks time, should also give some clues to the future of Mercedes design.

AutoCar also reports that a new lineup of turbocharged and direct-injection V6 ad V8 engines will be used in the new CLS and CLS Wagon, which should help improve fuel consumption by as much as 25 percent over the current powerplants. Those engines will arrive in a facelifted CL model due out later this year.

GALLERY: Mercedes Concept Fascination

[Source: AutoCar]

Mercedes will bring to market a C-Class Coupe to compete directly with cars like the BMW 1 Series and grab important entry-level customers. Earlier this year the luxury automaker released the E-Class Coupe and now this C-Class coupe is expected later this year as a 2011 model.

Above is the first image of the upcoming 2011 C-Class Coupe, looking slightly stubbier than the E. And with no B-pillar to speak of, it not only looks sleek, but gives an obvious hint that a C-Class convertible is also in the works.

Power will reportedly come from a direct-injection version of the company’s 3.5-liter V6, as well as a smaller displacement engine with twin-turbos. Expect that motor to make roughly 300-hp.

In addition, an AMG version could potentially follow in 2012, using AMG’s planned twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 engine.

[Source: InsideLine]