After going through the equivalent of 160,000 miles worth of grueling tasks, Ford will take apart an Ecoboost V6 selected for the evaluation process, in a bid to demonstrate that the boosted V6 can be a viable alternative to traditional V8s.

The V6, which was randomly pulled from the regular production line, was put into action in a variety of tasks, from racing in the Baja 1000 to towing over 11,000 pounds for 24 hours straight. At the end of the test process, Ford dynoed the motor and found that it still produced 360 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, just as it did when it left the assembly line.

[Source: Ford]

Hit the jump to see the official press release

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With the Tokyo Auto Salon around the corner, Japanese tuners are working and wrenching around the clock for their 2011 debuts. One of these tuners is Axell Auto, which is currently working on a widebody conversion kit for the infamous Nissan R35 GT-R. And it looks like Axell Auto is looking to claim the title of most radical GT-R in the world with the debut of the finished product.

The crazy widebody reminds us of days long gone, almost a creation that would come from Veilside’s factory. The front end of the GT-R isn’t bad, but the excess use of vents throughout the rest of the kit – especially the rear – is far too aggressive for our tastes.

From the Lamborghini side skirts to the cheesy 1995 Honda Civic hood venting to the obligatory LED running lights, every aspect of this kit is a thing of beauty when compared to the rear end.

We’ll be sure to snap some pics of the car in person from the Tokyo Auto Salon next month.

GALLERY: Axell Auto Widebody Nissan GT-R

[Source: Jon Sibal]

There was a time when Ford cars regularly sold in excess of 200,000, units, heck the original Ford Taurus sold well over 300,000 per annum in the late ’80s. But times change.

Today, the best selling car in America struggles to sell 300,000 copies annually, but if anything, the T0yota Camry is consistent. It’s been the most popular car in the U.S. for years and with 296,581 delivered so far for 2010, it appears things aren’t likely to change soon. The Honda Accord is on track for the runner up spot with 253,073, while the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic follow, with 244,024 and 231,955 units sold during the same period.

And what have you noticed from these stats? That’s right, all these cars are Japanese brand vehicles, what about the homegrown stuff that used to top the sales charts for years? Well, in recent years the big three have lost market share, particularly in the mid-size and compact car segments, however, that might be set to change. The Ford Fusion, revamped for 2010, posted a 21.5 percent gain in sales for November, versus a year earlier, making it the first car from Dearborn to top the ‘magic’ 200,000 sales mark since 2004.

Ford, on average, has been selling around 10,000 Fusions per month during 2010 which isn’t too shabby these days. Winning Motor Trend‘s 2010 ‘Car of the Year’ honor certainly hasn’t hurt either.

[Source: Ward's Auto]

Everyone’s favorite sports car is set to get a bit smaller in it’s next generation, as reports claim that the base engine in the 2012 Porsche 911 will move from its current 3.6L to a more compact 3.4L displacement.

With the Boxster Spyder putting out 320 horsepower from a 3.4L motor, a bump to an output of around 340 horses is not unreasonable, while the Carrera S models get a 3.8L mill putting out just under 400 horsepower. Weight will be reduced by 45 pounds, while the wheelbase is set to grow by about half an inch. The 911 will bow at the Frankfurt auto show in September.

[Source: World Car Fans]

The new Chrysler 200 is reportedly set to add another trim level to its lineup, with an emphasis on sportier handling and more agressive looks. Dubbed the 200S, the new car will echo the Chrysler 300S, a trim level offered on the larger 300 cars that bridges the gap between the standard 300C and the rowdy 300C SRT-8.

Although Chrysler hasn’t confirmed any specifications, except it to shed the 200′s discrete, rental lot looks for some bigger wheels, a lowered suspension and possibly a body kit.

[Source: Allpar]

For more information on the Chrysler 200, such as information, pricing and the latest news, please visit http://www.200forums.com.

Brazil has become a very important market for car companies. It is now the fourth-largest car consuming market in the world, and one of its most popular segments is car-based pick-up trucks.

These vehicles make-up about 7 percent of the market in Brazil. Fiat, which is the largest volume brand there, is now going to offer a sports version of its Strada pick-up truck called the Sporting.

Think of this as a Chevrolet El-Camino of sorts. The Strada Sporting is a sporty looking vehicle that is half car, half pick-up truck. However, unlike the El-Camino, the Strada Sporting is not likely to win many drag races, since it only has a 1.8-liter, 16-valve, four-cylinder engine that produces 130 hp when running on petrol, and 132 hp when running on ethanol. So power is not its main attraction, but its appearance is.

To differentiate it from its lesser versions, Fiat has given the Strada Sporting a new aero kit which includes a front spoiler, side skirts and wheel-arch extensions, all painted in body color. It also gets new 15-spoke, 16-inch rims to complete its sporty appearance.

Inside, you get leather wrapped steering wheel, leather wrapped hand-brake lever and a leather wrapped gear-shift knob. You also get unique seat trims, red seat belts, aluminum pedals and revised instrumentation.

All of these sporty accessories don’t come cheap though. Base price for the Sporting is equivalent to $27,400. But if you’re a young farmer, construction worker or delivery boy who wishes to stand out, this might be the truck you’ve been looking for.

[Source: Carscoop]

Earlier this year, German Tuner Xenatec announced that they’d be producing Maybach’s 57S Coupe. And now just in time for the new year, Xenatec has the first one released to the public and it’s for sale up on JamesList. The asking price for the first of 100 limited units is a little shy of $950,000.

The Maybach 57S Coupe by Xenatec (aka Cruiserio) is powered by a Mercedes AMG 6.0L V12 powerplant pushing out 605-hp and 738 lb-ft of torque. The first unit is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and is finished in a nice, classy black. We look forward to some more units from Xenatec. And to think, we doubted they’d actually ever build this beast.

GALLERY: Maybach 57S Coupe by Xenatec

[Source: JamesList]

While most of us relate bright pink luxury and exotic vehicles to Paris Hilton (or perhaps Barbie), the infamous heiress wasn’t the one ordering up this custom Ferrari California.

Surprisingly the pink shade is a nice and exotic one, matching the convertible Ferrari quite well. The car was spotted in Shanghai and we can’t say it’s as bad as you’d expect when you hear the words “Pink Ferrari.” And besides, with 460-hp from a high-revving Italian V8, we wouldn’t kick a Prancing Horse out of our garage, no matter what the color.

GALLERY: Bright Pink Ferrari California

[Source: GT Spirit]

Read AutoGuide’s Ferrari California Review by Clicking Here

Things are tough in Europe right now. Recent freezing temperatures almost ground things to a halt in parts of the continent, causing many people to become stranded during the important Christmas holiday season.

On the economic front, things have been equally glum – several member states continue to struggle with crippling levels of debt, while austerity measures have been enacted in others. In Germany, Europe’s engine room, things are also far from rosy, particularly as it relates to goods and services in the luxury sector.

As far as demand for premium cars, things are in a deep slump, with sales down more than 25 percent compared with a year ago. However, several companies, including BMW and Mercedes-Benz have cut their employees’ traditional holiday between Christmas and New Year, keeping plants and components suppliers humming along. Why? Well despite demand for premium cars having fallen off in the home market, export orders are up – specifically in Brazil, China and the United States.

According to results compiled by Autodata Corp in the US, the premium car market has seen an overall growth of 11.1 percent in 2010, with BMW sales up by 11.6 percent, Mercedes-Benz by 18.6 percent and Audi by a whopping 23.6 percent.

In China, things are even better. Currently, 9 out of the top 10 best selling luxury car brands in the country are German and the market has expanded by approximately 40 percent in 2010.

There are also signs of slowly rising demand in some European countries too – according to the VDA, the German Car makers Association, projected demand for luxury vehicles is scheduled to rise from 2.7 million to 5.5 million vehicles next year. So while German auto workers might be grumbling about shorter ‘traditional’ holidays, it appears that they’ll at least have something to smile about as we head into the new year.

[Source: Detroit News]

Another tire game rolls onto the iPhone. Get your engine revving with Kumho Tire Drive.

Kumho Tire USA is behind this free multicar racing game application for fans of speed. The Kumho Tire Drive game puts you behind the wheel of a supercar outfitted with Kumho tires. You take on curvy city streets, as well as famous tracks from around the world. And depending on the weather and track conditions, you can pick which Kumho tires will get you to the finish line first.

But it’s not all about how fast you can go. The game also comes with a garage feature that lets you trade in your points to upgrade your ride. You can turn your basic set of wheels into a classic muscle car or a luxury classic automobile. These points can also be used to modify your supercar with hood scoops, rear spoiler, custom paint and decals.

You can download the app for free from the Apple Store in January, and watch for it to come to Android phones in the near future.

[Source: Autoweek]