Mercedes will add hybrid technology to its flagship performance vehicles as a way to improve fuel economy rather than add performance. The move is very much the opposite of the Lexus hybrid philosophy, which is designed to deliver added power without an increased carbon footprint.

The news comes via Daimler exec Herbert Kohler, who is in charge of future technologies and engineering at the Mercedes parent company. He even went so far as to say hybrid AMGs are, “a given.”

At least initially, Mercedes will follow the improved fuel economy strategy for hybrids, with Kohler commenting that the first vehicles will get start-stop technology as well as brake regeneration.

[Source: AutoCar]

Well ahead of it’s planned debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March, Mazda has announced the debut of the Minagi crossover concept.

The latest vehicle to take the crossover segment further down-market, the Minagi Concept is rumored to wear the CX-5 badge and will compete in a class of cars popularized by the Nissan Juke. At the recent North American International Auto Show, Hyundai showed the CURB concept, which is also set to hit production as tiny crossover, while the Buick is also rumored to be planning the Encore for this segment – although with a focus more on luxury.

Taking styling from the Shinari concept, it’s a bold new vehicle for Mazda and one that’s likely to come with one of the automaker’s new SKY powertrains.

GALLERY: Mazda Minagi Concept

Get AutoGuide’s complete 2011 Geneva Auto Show preview here.

According to Ralph Gilles, Chrysler Group design chief, the next generation Dodge Viper will be drop dead gorgeous – the car’s look being inspired by “a naked woman on a beach,” he declared at a recent Detroit press conference.

However, the new car, to be launched next year as a 2013 model, will have a different mission than its predecessors. Rather than being a brutish, all-out muscle type sports car, relying on cubic inches and brawn to get the job done, it will be conceived to go head to head with the likes of the Corvette and Porsche 911, with features designed to woo drivers away from those iconic machines.

That will probably also mean targeting younger buyers. According to Rebecca Lindland, an auto industry analyst with IHS, “Dodge needs to do more to make the Viper an aspiration to consumers and the redesign gives them a chance to “make it a renaissance of that vehicle. There are not a lot of younger people, and by younger I mean under 45, who [currently]  aspire to own a Corvette or a Viper.”

Perhaps, but given the Fiat influence, now might be the perfect opportunity for Chrysler [and Dodge division] to really knock one out of the park and deliver a car with broader appeal, yet one that doesn’t sacrifice its core raison d’etre.

Although Gilles didn’t give any specifics regarding the 2013 Viper, he recently instructed his design staff to take a ‘breather’ after styling 16 vehicles since 2009. The reason? A chance for them to get creative again, on cars like the upcoming Viper.

“We’ve been working so quickly and so fast that we’re not innovating like we used to,” he said.

He also mentioned that the new Viper won’t use Fiat engines and although it will be profitable; “sales volume isn’t important.” Chrysler expects to sell most new Vipers in North America, with just trickle likely headed for overseas markets, including Europe.

[Source: Automotive News]

Ford will invest $400 million in their Kansas City, Missouri assembly plant after the state government agreed to a series of tax breaks. “This investment and promise of a new vehicle to be built in Kansas City reinforces Ford’s commitment to U.S. manufacturing and American jobs,” said Ford President of the Americas Mark Fields.

Ford’s investment will ensure nearly 3,750 full-time employees remain on the company payroll. Ford builds both the Escape and F-150 at the plant, but the Escape’s demise means that Ford will likely build its Vertek crossover at the plant sometime around 2012.

[Source: Left Lane News]

Nissan‘s Cube has had a lukewarm reception outside its home market of Japan, and sales have been so poor in Europe that Nissan has decided to axe the vehicle entirely.

Nissan is citing exchange rate issues between the yen and the euro as the underlying cause, but the dismal sales are likely an equal culprit in the company’s decision.

Nissan dealers are apparently sold out of the car, save for a few outlets in central London.

[Source: WhatCar?]

With Porsche sales having recovered on par with pre-recession levels in the United States, Porsche’s CEO Matthias Mueller said that the brand is looking at adding production facilities in the United States or China so that the brand can meet its target of 200,000 sales by 2018.

“We will consider this year whether to start production in Asia or North America,” Mueller said to German magazine Focus. Porsche’s German plants are judged to be to small to handle this sort of capacity. With the Boxster previous built at a factory in Finland, Mueller said that building Porsches in China or America would not betray the brand’s heritage.

Porsche is eyeing production of its ucoming Cajun SUV in China. The company will also open up a test track for customers near Shanghai’s Formula 1 track, and expand its Chinese dealer network from 35 stores to a total of 100 sometime in the future.

[Source: Autoweek]

Hyundai was able to achieve a 45 percent market share in South Korea in 2010, falling well below its target of 52 percent. Luckily, the failure to meet the target thanks to phenomenal growth from the Kia brand, owned by Hyundai and Kia’s new Optima and Sportage.

For 2011, Hyundai is targeting a more modest 47 percent with their new Grandeur sedan and the Veloster sports coupe. Hyundai’s main competitors, Daewoo and Renault-Samsung, lag behind Kia and Hyundai significantly. South Korea still remains Hyundai’s largest market despite phenomenal growth in the United States.

[Source: Reuters]

With Lamborghini boss Stephan Winkelmamnn desiring a third vehicle for his company’s product lineup, the Lamborghini Estoque appears to have been given the go-ahead rather than the obvious choice of an SUV.

Although Lamborghini pioneered the exotic SUV segment with its outlandish LM002, the company will forge ahead with the Estoque, after Audi decided to approve its ultra-luxury A9 4-door coupe. The Estoque will hopefully double sales for Lamborghini and increases revenues for the brand, allowing them greater independence from parent companies Audi and Volkswagen. Expect Lamborghini’s V10 and V12 engines, as well as all-wheel-drive, to make an appearance.

[Source: AutoExpress]

The launch of the 2012 Fiat 500 may present some problems for parent company Chrysler, as only 20 percent of Fiat franchises will be ready to go in time for the vehicle’s launch in late February.

In addition, the initial batch of cars will only have manual transmissions, even though Fiat expects most 500s to be ordered with a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Those cars won’t arrive until March or April. Chrysler launched their first Fiat dealership this month in Los Angeles.

[Source: Autoweek]

The United Auto Workers continued its campaign of irrelevancy as its President, Bob King, launched a series of veiled threats at foreign automakers with American plants (such as the Honda plant seen above), while simultaneously stating that the very survival of the UAW is at stake – and the organization of a foreign automaker’s plant is the key to the UAW’s continued existence.

“If we don’t organize these transnationals, I don’t think there’s a long term future for the UAW — I really don’t,” said King in a speech to members of a political conference held in Washington, D.C.

Despite the fact that foreign automakers offer equivalent or better wages than UAW plants, King is aggressively targeting them, with King planning to pick a target within 90 days. Other actions include targeting dealers of the chosen automaker for protests, and asking automakers to comply with “fair bargaining” principles, despite that fact that it runs counter to the complete absence of collective bargaining in foreign auto plants. “They don’t fear us and they think they can’t get away with it,” King said, in an almost naked display of insecurity regarding his own relevance.

King was at least cognizant enough to acknowledge that the UAW was a spent force, stating “Here’s the terrible position we’re in autos. Because we’ve fallen so far in the percent of workers represented by the UAW in autos” the union can’t demand big increases because of non union competitors. “So if we go in, we dramatically raise fixed costs for Ford, General Motors or Chrysler, we’re shooting ourselves in the foot. … We don’t want to disadvantage the (Detroit 3) companies.” King ended his speech by telling UAW members that Barack Obama’s re-election in 2012 would be beneficial for the UAW, due to his pro-union stance.

[Source: The Detroit News]