Volvo has decided to axe the V70 wagon model from its product lineup in North America. The news comes as a result of a leaked dealer document obtained by Autoblog. The decision was reportedly made as sales of the XC60 and XC90 have stolen buyers at either end and so offering the V70 just didn’t make sense any more. As a way to keep V70 lovers coming back to Volvo, the Swedish automaker has decided to offer a front-drive version of the XC70 wagon (essentially a lifted V70) starting in 2011.

Other product changes to the Volvo lineup include the elimination of a V8-powered S80 model. Instead, the T6 version will be bumped-up to 300-hp and 325 ft-lbs of torque. The result will be just 11 fewer horsepower, but a significant gain in fuel economy.

Also on the chopping block are the low-output versions of the S40 and V50 models. For 2011 the entry-level 168-hp 2.4-liter has been cut, meaning both models will now be offered exclusively with the more powerful T5 engine with its 227-hp. In addition, Volvo has made the decision to no longer offer either all-wheel drive or a manual transmission.

[Source: Autoblog]

Ahead of it’s North American premiere at the New York Auto Show next week, BMW has just announced pricing for the new 2011 5 Series model. The MSRP for a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-powered 535i model will start at $50,475 and jump to $60,575 for the 550i and it’s 400-hp, twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8. (Pricing includes $875 for shipping). Both models are slightly lower than the outgoing 5 Series, although with Mercedes having dropped its E-Class pricing considerably, the 5 Series is now the more expensive buy.

As always with a German luxury sedan, options will drive that price much higher. A premium package will add $1,800 to the 535i, while a Premium 2 package will add $4,900 to the 535i and $2,800 to the 5550i. Adding Nappa leather will also add $2,450 or $1,000 respectively. Other pricey options include a rear-seat entertainment system for $2,200, Adaptive Cruise Control for $2,400 and night vision with pedestrian detection for $2,600. Oh, and don’t forget the $2,200 Sport Package that includes Driving Dynamics Control (same as on the 7 Series and Z4), which lets the driver choose from Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport+ driving settings, which control the throttle response, transmission shift points, power steering assistance level and traction control. It also includes Dynamic Damping Control, which constantly changes the car’s shock settings and includes a 10mm lower ride height. Finally, the sport package includes Active Roll Stabilization, with hydraulic stabilizer bars that actually firm up when body lean is detected.

Highlights for the new 5 Series include an 8-speed automatic transmission, a new multi-link front suspension, an electronic limited slip differential, a heads up display and a new iDrive system (that is vastly improved and which we thoroughly enjoyed on the new 7 Series).

For more info on the new 5 Series after its North American premiere, click the link below on or after March 31st.

2010 New York Auto Show Coverage

GALLERY: 2011 BMW 5 Series

Official release after the jump:

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The next generation S-Class models will be offered exclusively as hybrids in North America, according to a report by Autoblog. Exempt, however, will be the high-performance AMG models. Mercedes will deliver the new model in 2012.

Currently Mercedes offers three non-AMG models, including two gasoline models – the 382-hp 5.5-liter V8-powered S550 and the twin-turbo 5.5-liter V12-powered S600.  There’s also the brand’s first hybrid, the S400 (reviewed here) with a lithium-ion battery, 3.5-liter V6 and a rating of 26 mpg on the highway. Apparently, the popularity of that model is part of the reason behind the decision at Mercedes.

It’s not clear if Mercedes will offer just one hybrid S-Class or perhaps two different options, one with more power and lower fuel economy and one with less power and increased fuel economy.

[Source: Autoblog]

Hyundai has just released the above teaser image of the Sonata Hybrid, which will get its world premiere at the New York Auto Show next week. The new 2011 Sonata (reviewed here) already has quite the sleek profile, but this hybrid version aims to give an aggressive and sporty appeal to cars in the hybrid segment.

And while it seems to share to visual resemblance with the new Sonata, it looks mostly identical (at least from this teaser shot) to the i-Flow concept, recently unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show. The i-Flow is said to inspire the European version of the new Sonata and it would seem as though the hybrid Sonata will share that look.

As for the Hybrid Sonata’s engine, Hyundai has released no info on the powerplant other than that it will use a lithium-polymer battery. We’ve heard two possible options, the first using the company’s 2.4-liter GDI Theta II engine, while the other could use the Blue-Will Concept’s 1.6-liter direct injection engine. The later, Hyundai claims, is capable of 50-55 mpg.

We’ll bring you more on the Sonata Hybrid as well as Hyundai’s other New York Auto Show premieres (a turbocharged model and the Equus luxury sedan) with live coverage starting March 31st.

Hit the link below starting on the 31st for our live updates from the NY Auto Show:

2010 New York Auto Show Coverage

GALLERY: Hyundai i-Flow Concept

Unveiled in concept form at the Chicago Auto Show earlier this year, a forum member at Temple of Vtec became an amateur spy photographer when he snapped several photos of what appears to be the production version of the 2011 (or possibly 2012) Honda Odyssey. The pictures were taken on the 1010 Freeway in Woodland Hills, CA.

Like the concept, this model has the same general style as the previous generation (current generation) Odyssey. Honda has used plenty of subtle camo, but the larger front grille is obvious and the black paneling on the side is being used to cover the new rear window design as shown on the concept (below). The production model also promises to be lower and wider than the current model, giving increased room and improving handling.

During Honda’s press conference at the Chicago Auto Show, a company representative confirmed that the 2011 model will get improved fuel economy of 19-mpg city and 28-mpg highway, which should help the Odyssey maintain retain its segment-best fuel economy rating.

See the link below for more spy photos at Temple of Vtec.

GALLERY: Honda Odyssey Concept

[Source: TOV]

Earlier today we reported that RealTime Racing would be taking their expertise to the new GTS class in World Challenge. So perhaps there’s a changing of the guard with a new manufacturer poised to enter the World Challenge Touring Car class – Scion

Toyota’s youth brand is no strangers to all forms of motorsports, sponsoring and fielding cars in road racing, time attack, drag racing and even drifting. Sure some of these cars aren’t even close to what you get off the lot as a commuter, but Scion has continued strengthened its brand and image by posting fast lap times and setting records. Two cars and three drivers will be campaigned throughout the season with all the world’s attention turned to St. Petersburg, Florida this weekend for the first race of the season.

The Scion tCs are equipped with a plethora of parts from OE Scion, TRD (including their supercharger, intercooler and big brake kit) and Dan Gardner Spec (DG-Spec), performance parts that Gardner has developed over three years of racing Scions. Gardner’s resume of racing includes 2009 championships in NASA PTC and WERC Endurance E1. His partner-in-crime for the No. 36 car will be Tom Lepper, veteran club and Grand-Am driver who took top honors in the US Touring Car Championship series in 2009. The second car, the No. 18 Scion tC, will be piloted by 18-year-old Robert Stout, 2009 NASA PTA National Champion.

Make sure to check out the full press release and a video of testing after the break. And be sure to have your TVs set and ready for the playback of this weekend’s event.

[Source: World Challenge News]

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Thanks to some spy photos obtained by the folks at InsideLine, we now know that Kia is planning to introduce a five-door hatchback to the Forte lineup. It’s not clear when the car will debut or exactly what it will be called; there’s the obvious Forte hatchback, or the Forte5 name (in reference to the Sectra5). Or perhaps it will be called the Forte Touring – like the Elantra Touring.

We can be confident it will come standard with the 156-hp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and there’s a good change the larger and more powerful 173-hp 2.4-liter engine will also be offered. Interestingly, the spy photos (follow the link below) show the hatchback wearing the same wheels as the coupe – perhaps suggesting that Kia will take the hatchback in a sporty direction. While unconventional (at least on this side of the Atlantic), a sporty hatch would compete perfectly with the car’s main competitors: the Volkswagon Golf and Mazda3. A sporty hatchback will also be important for Kia’s continued expansion in Europe.

[Source: InsideLine]

For those of us who grew up and believing that Honda and Acura were the only “cool” auto manufacturers in the world, RealTime Racing had the coolest of the cool. From NSXs to Integra Type-Rs to RSXs to TSXs, RealTime Racing campaigned some of the most beautifully built touring car racers of the last two decades.

Being 11-time World Challenge Champions is no easy task and it looks like RealTime Racing is looking for a whole new challenge for 2010. “Coming into the new year we had a decision to make: Remove a number of go-fast bits and run in Touring Car, or tune up our TSXs to try and be competitive in GTS,” explained ’08 Touring Car champion Cunningham. “It’s a faster group of cars – anything from other Acuras and Lotus, all the way to big iron like Corvette and Viper.”

Those big sports cars probably won’t to be too popular, however, with the field likely to be dominated by the Acuras and a fleet of BMWs that are expected to make the jump to GTS.

By being able to build on top of an already strong and championship-proven platform, RealTime Racing will once again return as the favorites for us enthusiasts growing up loving all things Honda and Acura. This may just be the excitement we’ve all been waiting for from World Challenge; seeing new-generation Acura TSXs competing against heavy American muscle and other nimble counterparts. The official release from RealTime Racing available after the jump.

We’ll be sure to see how the RTR Acuras compete, with the first race of the season taking place this weekend in St. Petersburg, FL.

[Source: RealTime Racing]

GALLERY: Real Time Racing Acuras

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Earlier today we reported on a story that Scion would unveil a new Toyota-based iQ model at the New York Auto Show. Now TheCollegeDriver.com is claiming to have several sneak peek images of the 2011 Scion tC – the second-generation version of the flagship car in the Scion brand. The site also says this new car will be unveiled at the NY Auto Show next week.

At first glance the above photo looks almost entirely like the current tC, but after closer inspection its obvious that the front wheels seem to have been pushed much further forward, helping reduce overhangs and improve handling. Regardless, the photos certainly seem to show an evolutionary approach – which is a good thing, as the tC was a handsome coupe to begin with. A few other photos have also leaked out, but they don’t show much other than a shiftable automatic transmission.

We contacted Scion and they won’t confirm the tC or iQ. They did, however, tell us about a new website called ScionDimension.com which will tease photos of a car (or cars) ahead of the New York Auto Show, starting March 26th. The site also has a place to sing up to get more info and a downloadable widget to give you more info on new Scion products. It will also serve as a portal to get photos and information on whatever is unveiled in New York. Plus, it will host streaming video of the unveiling live on March 31st.

Visit the Scion Dimension site here: ScionDimension.com

AutoGuide will also bring you full New York Auto Show coverage starting March 31st, so stay tuned. For our live coverage, click the link below starting March 31st:

2010 New York Auto Show Coverage

GALLERY: 2011 Scion tC Sneak Peek

[Source: TheCollegeDriver]

With the launch of the all-new 2011 Mustang GT ongoing, the team at InsideLine decided to strap the new 5.0-liter pony to a dyno to see just how accurate the car’s claimed numbers are. If you’ll recall, Ford officially boasted a total of 412-hp and 390 ft-lbs of torque.

A total of seven pulls were done with the final few runs laying down 395-hp at 6600 rpm and 365 ft-lbs of torque at 4350 rpm. InsideLine claims that due to the solid rear axle the ‘Stang will only see a drivetrain loss of roughly 11 to 13 percent power. And it doesn’t take a calculator to figure out that the 17-hp difference between the claimed flywheel number and the dynoed wheel horsepower number is far less than that. So what gives? Well, there are two possibilities. The first is that the pre-production models are pumping out more power than stock. The second option is that Ford has underrated the car’s 412-hp number – always a smart move.

Normally a car with 412-hp would lay down numbers closer to 360 whp. Instead, with 395 tested whp, it looks like the new 5.0 ‘Stang makes closer to 440-hp. Not bad!

InsideLine says all pulls were done on a Dynojet 248 chassis dyno in 4th gear using 91 octane and with a 3 percent weather correction factor.

See after the jum for a video of the dyno pull:

[Source: InsideLine]

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