With the all-new 2011 Hyundai Sonata 4-cylinder now on sale with its best-in-class power and fuel economy, the Korean automaker will launch turbocharged and hybrid versions of its mid-size sedan at the New York Auto Show in late March. The Hybrid Blue Drive model is expected to use the new 2.4-liter GDI Theta II engine and a lithium polymer battery pack. As for the Turbo, it will be a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with direct-injection and make at least 250-hp according to Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik.

AutoGuide will bring you live coverage of the 2010 New York Auto Show starting March 31st. In the mean time, read our glowing review of the 2011 Sonata here:

2011 Hyundai Sonata First Drive

Cadillac has announced that it will re-launch itself as a brand in Europe under the new Cadillac Europe division name. The new Cadillac sees Europe as an important market (as suggested by the CTS SportWagon) and so the new models and brand will be announced at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show.

Joining Cadillac’s current small offering in Europe will be the CTS SportWagon, SRX crossover and the CTS Coupe. The 556-hp CTS-V Coupe will also prepare to hit the German autobahn and Italian autostrada.

In addition to these models, Cadillac will also show the rest of its lineup including the CTS and CTS V sedans as well as the Escalade Hybrid.

We’ll be sure to bring you full coverage of the Geneva Auto Show starting March 1st.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

Official release after the jump:

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Over the weekend, the first three of eight “Naomi for Haiti” special edition Lotus Evora sports cars were auctioned off, with the first car fetching $496,000. The vehicles, created by supermodel Naomi Campbell and Lotus Design Director Donato Coco, were auctioned off at the Fashion for Relief event held during Fashion Week in London with all proceeds going towards relief efforts in Haiti. Car number one was purchased by Campbell’s boyfriend Vladimir Doronin.

The second car sold for another huge sum, $430,000, while a third car fetched an undisclosed sum.

“I am incredibly grateful to everyone who has generously donated their time and effort to make Fashion For Relief happen,” said Campbell. “I’m thrilled with the support from Lotus and to have teamed up with my great friend Gino Rosato for this important cause. I hope we continue to raise as much awareness and funds as we can.”

Gino Rosato, Director of Corporate Affairs at Lotus Cars stated, “I am very proud to welcome my good friend Naomi into the Lotus family. We are delighted to be able to work together to raise money for such a worthy cause. The Fashion For Relief event has proven to be exceptionally successful and it is fantastic to be able to help the nation of Haiti.”

The remaining five “Naomi for Haiti” Evoras are being auctioned off at, www.naomiforhaiti.com.

Naomi Campbell will announced the total funds raised by the effort during the Lotus press conference at the Geneva Auto Show on March 2nd.

Official release after the jump:

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Kia has just released a single teaser image of the aggressively-styled 2011 Kia Optima (sold as the Magentis in some markets), which will debut at the 2010 New York Auto Show. Based on the same platform as the Sonata, this Optima is also likely to get coupe-like styling and feature Kia’s bold grille (as shown in the sketch above).

We can also expect similar engines, including the Sonata’s GDI 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with 198-hp, with a turbocharged 4-cylinder and hybrid model to follow. In fact, it’s possible that Kia will launch the 2011 Optima as a hybrid.

We’ll be sure to bring you full details on the car when it debuts at the New York Auto Show in late March.

Official release after the jump:

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Ahead of its debut at the Geneva Auto Show in just over a week’s time, Mercedes has unwrapped the F800 Style concept, which was foreshadowed in the Design Concept sculpture at the Detroit show. While Mercedes has released pages upon pages of dry reading about the possible future powerplants that an F800 production model could get, we’re more interested in its design. After all, what you’re looking at is likely to be a very close representation of what the second generation CLS will look like.

For those who even feign interest in concept car engines and the far-off possibility that we’ll all be driving around in emissions-free vehicles any time soon, the F800 can be equipped with two different engines and yes, one is a fuel-cell version. The second is a more realistic alternative; essentially the same setup found in the S400 hybrid, but with a plug-in feature. It uses a V6 gasoline engine, an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack to deliver 18 miles of emissions-free driving. It also makes 400-hp, which is quite an increase from the s400′s 295-hp rating.

Other highlights include some new technology, like Distronic Plus Traffic Jam Assistant, which essentially takes active cruise control to a new level by steering the car at speeds below 25 mph. (Very cool)! There’s also an advanced Pre-Safe 360-degree system that works to detect rear-impacts and prevent a rear-impact from pushing you into another car in front.

We’ll bring you more on the F800 concept with live Geneva Auto Show coverage starting March 1st.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: Mercedes-Benz F800 Concept

Official release after the jump:

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After photos of the car leaked over the weekend, Audi has now confirmed that the RS5 will in fact debut at the Geneva Auto Show on March 2nd and, as we suggested, it will be powered by a 4.2-liter V8. Power is rated at 450-hp at 8250 rpm, while maximum torque of 317 ft-lbs is available from 4000 to 6000 rpm. Combined with Audi’s S-tronic dual-clutch 7-speed transmission, quattro all-wheel drive and a 3,803 lb curb weight the RS5 can accelerate to 62 mph in 4.6 seconds – which isn’t quite as exciting as we might expect for a 450-hp car.

Featured for the first time on the RS5 is Audi’s new crown-gear differential, which allows for up to 70 percent of the power to be distributed to the front wheels, or as much as 85 percent to the rear wheels. Under normal operation, the RS5 has a 40:60 rear-bias. In addition, the RS5 features an electronic limited slip differential, that slows the inside wheel in a turn when wheel spin is detected. Plus, an optional sport differential will be made available, distributing power between the rear wheels.

The RS5 sits 0.79 inches lower than the A5 and comes standard with 19-inch wheels (20s are optional). Other highlights include 14.37-inch, 8-piston front brakes, as well as optional carbon-fiber brake discs. There’s also Audi’s drive-select program to control different levels of throttle response, steering, transmission gear changes, the sport differential and even the exhaust system. As for the big rear spoiler, it pops up at speeds above 74 mph and automatically retracts at 50 mph.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: Audi RS5

Rear more about the RS5 below:

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Ahead of its official debut at the Geneva Auto Show next month, a complete brochure for the Audi RS5 has leaked online showing the muscular coupe in all its bright red glory. Looking at the photos it’s clear that the RS5 will follow in the tire treads of the RS4 and RS6, delivering massive amounts of power in a low-slung, fender-bulging package.

What the leaked brochure doesn’t give us, is the important info – like what engine is under the hood and how much horsepower it makes. Some have speculated it could use the RS6′s V10, while others suggest the S4′s Supercharged V6. We have reason to believe the RS5 is more likely to be powered by the RS4′s high-revving 420-hp V8, as suggested by the single tachometer photo which shows a redline at above the 8000 rpm mark – just like on the RS4.

We have to think this RS5 could focus more on light-weight than horsepower. After all, last year Audi did release info on an A5 using an aluminum (rather than steel) frame, along with a carbon fiber hood and trunk, that weighed just 2,888 lbs.

We’ll keep you updated, with live coverage of the Geneva Auto Show starting March 2nd.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: Audi RS5

[Source: Ausmotive]

Just days after he said he wouldn’t, Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda has accepted an invitation to testify before the House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform, which will examine the automaker’s recent spate of recalls.

“I have received Congressman Towns’ invitation to testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on February 24 and I accept,” said Toyoda in a statement issued by Toyota today. “I look forward to speaking directly with Congress and the American people.”

At a press conference earlier this week, Toyoda announced his company’s plans to reform its safety standards, but at that time Toyoda declined to speak before Congress. Instead he planned to send Toyota North America president Yoshimi Inaba.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has made known his plans to get to the bottom of the Toyota recalls, announcing that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will use its statutory powers to obtain documents from Toyota and investigate how it learned of the defects in vehicles and when it knew about them.

Official release after the jump:

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No auto show would be complete without the obligatory special edition/limited edition/crazy horsepower Bentley debut. The 2010 Geneva Auto Show will have one and, surprise, it’s a Continental. OK, so we’re having a tough time getting excited, but surely there will be plenty of folks who will lust after the Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible, the drop top version of the highest-horsepower Conti.

Under the hood the twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12 makes 621-hp and 590 ft-lbs of torque, allowing for a 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph. It will also run on E85, which is a lame attempt on Bentley’s part to feign interest in even having an interest in the environment.

Unlike its coupe counterpart, the soft-top convertible retains the rear seats, meaning it’s not quite as light-weight. And despite the fact that Bentley managed to cut out 198-lbs as compared to the GTC Speed, the Supersports should still weigh in at around 5,300 lbs.

Pricing hasn’t been released yet, but with the coupe priced around the $270,000 mark, expect something close to $300,000.

We’ll have more info and plenty of pics when Bentley officially unveils the 2011 Continental Supersports Convertible at the Geneva Auto Show on March 2nd.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible

Official release after the jump:

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Back in 2007 Buick showed the stunning Riviera Concept and now it appears just such a vehicle isn’t as far fetched an idea as might previously have been though. In an interview with Automotive News, Buick and Chevy design director John Cafaro said that his role at Buick involved, “being a zealot for getting Buick more youthful, more spirited and probing ideas for coupes, more expressive vehicles.”

Again, back in 2007, the Riviera sounded nice (and looked spectacular) but Buick wasn’t really an innovator. Quite the opposite really. But with the launch of the LaCrosse and now the return of the Regal, we’re starting to see more interesting things from the conservative brand. Heck, it would appear as though the high-output Regal Show car will actually see production as the Regal GS. And the Regal isn’t the extend on Buick’s down-sizing either with a new smaller in the works, while a smaller Enclave model is also being talked about.

Cafaro didn’t say much more on the matter, so we’ll just have to keep hoping that the Riviera can be more than just a concept – perhaps even featuring the Regal GS’s 255-hp turbocharged 4-cylinder with AWD.

[Source: Automotive News via Autoblog]