As a European automaker, its more than just a little strange that Volvo has never offered a small 5-door hatchback, considering cars like the VW Golf, Audi A3 and 5-door BMW 1 Series sell in such huge numbers overseas. True, Volvo has had the V50 for many years now, but it’s always been a bit too big for that smaller segment, and a bit too small to compete with wagon versions of the Passat, BMW 3 Series and Audi A3.

In the past Volvo had released a design sketch of a C30 5-door and now Stefan Jacoby, the company’s new CEO, has confirmed it will head into production, hitting the market in 2012.

The car is expected differentiate itself from the current C30 with a new front-fascia, and according to Jacoby it should, “express what Scandinavia stands for – high values for human beings, strong social security and welfare.” We’ll assume he means the health, happiness and prosperity type of welfare, not the hand-out from the government, food stamp, live in an urban ghetto, where’s my baby daddy type of welfare.

[Source: InsideLine]

Normally a mid-cycle refresh doesn’t get this publicity, but then again, the Nissan GT-R isn’t just any car. Nissan just just announced that the updated 2012 version of its halo sports car will debut at the LA Auto Show this November.

Nissan will release official specs on the new model in the lead-up to the show, but rumors have suggested that it could boast as much as 500-hp and sport a long list of upgrades that include lighter RAYS wheels, better aerodynamics, suspension adjustments and even a rear-wheel drive mode.

Nissan has released a selection of photos of the new 2012 model, showing off new bodywork and the stunning Aurora Flare Blue Pearl paint.

AutoGuide’s coverage of the LA Auto Show starts November 17th. Until then, see our complete LA Auto Show preview here.

GALLERY: 2012 Nissan GT-R

Official release after the jump:

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MINI has decided to move ahead with production plans for the Beachcomber Concept, but the new model could take one of two very different directions. According to a report by AutoCar, company product planners are currently debating between two different models: a two-door Countryman, called the Canyon; and a 4-door rendition of the classic Moke.

While technically sporting 4-doors, the Moke would feature rear suicide doors that hinge at the back. Looking more like the Beachcomber concept, the Moke would have a dune-buggy-like style with lift-out roof panels and a rear window that could drop into the rear liftgate to give a Jeep Wrangler-like open air feeling.

On the other hand, MINI may opt to move ahead with the Beachcomber as a two-door sportcross model – essentially a two-door version of the new Countryman.

The debate rages on a MINI and while we’d actually like to see both models make it to market, the Countryman is more likely considering the greater potential for significant volume sales.

[Source: AutoCar]

For the first time the 2012 Honda Civic has been spied completely undisguised, with both photos and video showing the new compact sedan undergoing hot weather testing in Dubai. Looking not all that different from the current model, Honda seems to be moving away from its more provocative design language to a style that’s intended to not offend anyone.

The overall shape looks to be designed specifically for aerodynamic purposes and with a cabin that looks taller, there’s a resemblance to the first-gen Prius – although with harder lines.

According to Car Middle East, the cars being tested feature a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder, which is much smaller than the current 1.8-liter unit. It’s not yet clear if Honda is planning to use direct-injection with this smaller displacement engine in order to keep power at a suitable level. The car does, however, have an ECON button that would upshift the transmission sooner for improved fuel economy.

Other changes include an interior with push buttons for the climate control rather than the traditional knobs.

We’ll be sure to keep an eye on the Civic and see just how close the production models stick to these prototypes.

[Source: Car Middle East]

Check out the video after the jump:

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Unveiled at the Australian International Auto Show, the Subaru XT-S Edition gets a long list of upgrades, including WRX-like power, to transform Suby’s compact crossover into a performance-minded machine. While the current top-trip XT model develops roughly 225-hp, the XT-S makes a total of 260-hp and 256 ft-lbs of torque.

Sadly, there is no manual transmission, but Subaru has upgraded the auto-box from the outdated 4-speed unit to a five-speed box. And of course, there’s all-wheel drive.

An upgraded suspension is also part of the package, as are 17-inch wheels, while inside the crossover gets Alcantara-lined seats, drilled aluminum sport pedals and special XT-S Edition gauges.

Technically, the XT-S Edition is a concept, but it will head into production for next year. What isn’t clear is if we’ll ever see it. Built by Subaru Australia, the Forester is a big hit in that country, ranking second only to the Toyota RAV4 in sales for its segment.

GALLERY: Subaru Forester XT-S Edition

General Motors has just issued a recall for almost 400,000 Chevrolet Impala models for seat belts that may have been installed improperly. The recall affects 392,409 vehicles from 2009 and 2010, which may have incorrectly installed seatbelt anchor bolts. As a result, in an accident the seatbelt anchor could come detached, thereby failing to hold a passenger in place.

No accidents or injuries have been reported.

GM will send a recall notice by mail to owners of affected vehicles and is preparing a fix for the vehicles at no charge.

Not to be overshadowed by the 21 year old Saudi student with an extravagant luxury car collection, Nguyen Quoc Cuong – nicknamed Cuong Dollar – has a luxury car collection that probably trumps any we’ve ever seen… and it’s all in Vietnam.

The guy doesn’t even have an accurate count of how many cars he has, but his so-called favorites are a Lamborghini Gallardo SE, Lamborghini Gallardo, Ferrari 360 Spider, Ferrari F430, Ferrari F430 Spider… you get the point yet? He’s got cars and he’s got lots of them. Clearly his family is wealthy and the photos of the cars at the luxurious home shows just that.

Going through the extensive gallery, there’s obviously a handful of Lamborghinis and Ferraris, an Audi R8, a couple of Bentleys, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, a couple of Porsches, a Mini Cooper, some domestic muscle… and even what looks like a cop car. We don’t even know what to say, we’re pretty speechless, especially when it’s almost dizzying to figure out what cars he actually has in his collection.

[Source: Asiantown.net]

Hit the jump to see photos of all his cars, and check out the link above to see even more cars and his ex-girlfriends. Who said money can’t buy happiness?

[Ed. Note: It has come to our attention that some of the photos referred to in this article and sourced to Asiantown.net may not be of vehicles belonging to Nguyen Quoc Cuong. AutoGuide is currently looking into origin of the story and the photos.]

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Yes we know, there seems to be an app for everything these days, but TyreSafe’s contribution to the ever-growing iPhone App Store is a nice freebie. You can simply install the app to your phone, enter in your vehicle’s information and it’ll let you know the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended tire settings in both psi and bar.

It’s one of those things almost everyone neglects. We just assume our tire pressures are good to go and off we drive. Even worse, many owners just notoriously toss in 38-42 psi and think it’s fine for their tires without ever checking what’s recommended for their vehicle. So kudos to TyreSafe for coming out with a handy little app that’s free for iPhone users to download and use.

And for those without an iPhone, TyreSafe offers all their data on their website. You can never be too safe with your rubber you know.

[Source: Auto Evolution]

Not so long ago we revealed that Merdad was working on a Porsche Cayenne coupe conversion, and now it looks like they’re introducing two renditions of the current-generation Cayenne to the world at the MPH (Prestige & Performance Motor) show.

Merdad will be showing off their new 3-door Porsche Cayenne 902 coupe alongside the Merdad 5-door rendition. No exact details have been disclosed, but they’re telling us to expect anywhere from 550-hp to 750-hp.

“We are very proud that this creation has brought together many British engineers and designers who have contributed to bringing this fantastic beast to the table. We now feel the time is right to unveil the Merdad Cayenne 902 Coupe and the Merdad 5 door to the world at MPH and are excited to see what the visitors to the show think of its unique design and unbelievable power will truly set the show and the rest of the world alight,” stated the founder and creator of Merdad.

We’ll keep an eye out for the debuts in November.

GALLERY: Merdad Porsche Cayenne

Official press release available after the break.

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Although Mike McCarthy’s officially endorsed Ford F-150 Baja 1000 race truck, powered by Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin turbo V6 has been getting a lot of press lately, there’s another outfit that’s been diligently working on their own rig. Also competing in the Best In The Desert race series is Randy Merritt and his team Mongo Racing.

Until now, BITD race trucks were only allowed to run normally aspirated V8s or diesels, but now the series has altered the rules to allow the EcoBoost to compete, in the stock 8000 and 8100 classes, giving Merritt and crew an opportunity to jump on the new bandwagon. However, much like on main street, the EcoBoost is polarizing opinion in the race series – some loving it, others hating it.

With its diesel-like torque curve, the EcoBoost delivers the low down grunt noticeably absent from the older 4.6 and 5.4-liter V8s, but, still there are many who are skeptical about the reliability of  this new technology – part of the reason why Ford has gone to great lengths to put together an add campaign where an EcoBoost engine is flogged within an inch of its life in multiple scenarios, including use in McCarthy’s Baja Race Truck.

In the BITD series, however, Merritt notes another potential issue –  those threatened by the new engine, simply because they’ve invested a lot of time and money in tuning normally aspirated V8s. “It’s pretty exciting to do something new like this,”  he says, “but there are a lot of haters, people are scared of technology.”

Merritt has been desert racing since 1993 and was the 2006 BITD factory stock champion; though even he admits, that with technology this new, everything’s still up in the air. Nevertheless, this coming weekend at the Blue Water Desert Challenge race in Arizona, Mongo Racing is going to give it their best shot with their latest F-150. It will be interesting to see how the EcoBoost truck performs in anger.

[Source: Pickup trucks.com]