There’s nothing terribly new at BMW‘s Canadian International Auto Show display, but that’s not to say there isn’t anything worth looking at. True, it’s the Canadian unveiling of the new 6 Series Convertible, but it was already unveiled in Detroit over a month ago, and isn’t terribly exciting anyway.

What is worth checking out is a very special Frozen Black Competition Package M3. Initially, BMW unveiled the limited edition Frozen Gray M3, priced extravagantly due to its exclusivity.

While there isn’t a specific number of limited edition Frozen Black models, the paint color is only available as an add-on option for those who also pick the Competition package, which includes a 10mm lower suspension, lighter 19-inch wheels, a remapped Electronic Damping Control system and more aggressive Dynamic Stability Control. That alone should make it a rare model.

Pricing for both the Competition Package and the matte-black paint comes out to a pretty shocking $9,900 (CDN). The competition package alone is $2,500 U.S., but BMW has never mentioned a U.S. pricing for the paint.

GALLERY: BMW M3 Frozen Black Competition Package

The new Chevrolet Cruze can add one more trophy to its case, being awarded the 2011 Canadian Car of the Year today at the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto.

The Cruze beat out the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Jetta TDI to receive the honor from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada.

Last year the Volkswagen Golf GTI took top honors.

Read AutoGuide’s 2011 Chevy Cruze Review here

Canada is a popular market for Mazda where the Mazda3 compact rivals the Honda Civic as the best-selling passenger car, and so it’s not a big surprise that the Japanese automaker chose the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto to announce the introduction of its SkyActiv engine and transmission in the 3.

No details have yet been provided about horsepower, engine size or fuel economy, but Mazda has said the 2012 Mazda will get the new SkyActiv-G gasoline engine and SkyActive-Drive automatic transmission.

The new powertrains are part of a push by Mazda to boost fuel economy 30 percent by 2015, which is says the SkyActiv technologies will achieve. Improvement in driveability are included, with Mazda promising improved low and mid-range torque.

In addition, the 2012 Mazda3 hatchback and sedan get a slight facelift with redesigned front and rear bumpers, a new front grille, new headlights and new styles for the 16- and 17-inch wheels.

GALLERY: 2012 Mazda3

GALLERY: 2012 Mazda3 Debut in Toronto

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

After announcing the widebody Golf24 race car for competition in this year’s Nurburgring 24 Hour race, Volkswagen has just released video of the car undergoing testing in preparation for its debut.

With the wild DTM-style aerodynamics, the Golf24 makes use of a modified version of the turbocharged 5-cylinder powerplant from the Golf R, making 434-hp and 398 lb-ft of torque.

“With the new Golf24 we are continuing our successful commitment at the Nürburgring 24-hour race. [The race] represents a very big technical challenge…[and] we want to provide an additional highlight in front of a large audience – right in time for the 35th anniversary of the GTI,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen.

The Nurburgring 24 Hour race takes place June 25-26th.

GALLERY: Volkswagen Golf24

See the video after the jump:

Continue Reading…

Bentley has bold plans to expand its vehicle range in the future, adding three all new models to its lineup.

The green light hasn’t been given to any new products yet, but according to a report by AutoCar, Bentley’s new CEO (and the former head of R&D at Porsche) has indicated the three new products will be derived from Porsche platforms.

First up will be a 5-door coupe based on the next-generation Panamera platform and offering a more sporty alternative to Flying Spur buyers, while delivering more practicality than a Continental GT. It will get a version of the current twin-turbo W12 engine delivering a solid 600-hp. Bentley’s new V8 is also a candidate and a diesel engine hasn’t been ruled out.

Following this model will be the rumored Cross Continental, an SUV based on the Cayenne but costing significantly more and with a serious focus on the ultimate in luxury.

Finally, a new grand-tourer is being considered that would take on the Mercedes SL63 and Maserati Gran Turismo and undercut the rest of the Bentley range significantly when it comes to price.

Adding these three new models, Bentley will look to top the 10,000 mark in annual vehicle deliveries and protect against future economic uncertainty.

Don’t expect to see anything soon, however, with the next Panamera not due out until 2013.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Despite original reports to the contrary, Toyota is not paying mommy bloggers to promote a recent NASA study that exonerates the company in the highly publicized ‘unintended acceleration’ fiasco.

Earlier today DearCrissy.com broke a story that MommyNetworks.org had approached her site, as well as numerous other mommy bloggers, to cover the NASA study story and create a little positive PR for Toyota. In an email, Tiffany Lewis of MommyNetworks even offered a $10 Amazon gift card for those who cooperated.

The note also asked bloggers to promote several articles favorable to Toyota, with 32 links to articles listed.

The story got out of hand when DearCrissy assumed Toyota was sponsoring the offer and therefore trying to buy good PR. While assumptions should never be made, Crissy Page of DearCrissy didn’t exactly jump to a wild conclusion in stating that Toyota was funding the scheme. Why else would MommyNetworks be paying people to generate news?

MommyNetworks has since come clean in stating that it is in now way associated with Toyota and that the automaker isn’t funding the project. Likewise, Toyota has denied any affiliation, stating in a Tweet that, “Have found no contracted affiliation w/ mommynetworks. We don’t support this type of outreach. Getting to the bottom of this.”

The question remains, why was MommyNetworks trying to buy good PR for Toyota?

[Source: LeftLane via DearCrissy]

Ferrari head Luca Cordero di Montezemolo denied reports that the company was planning to go public. “There are no current plans (to list the company). Perhaps in three, four or five years. There is no project now. Maybe there never will be,” he told Reuters.

There was brief speculation that Ferrari would be listed on stock exchanges separately from parent company Fiat.

[Source: Reuters]

Saab employees will get a day off on February 23rd to celebrate the company’s independence from GM and its resurgence as an automaker.

Slated to die during GM’s bankruptcy proceedings, the Swedish vehicle manufacturer was rescued by Dutch boutique sports car maker Spyker, and is set to launch an all-new product line over the coming years. Saab has already released an all-new 9-5 sedan and a 9-4x crossover.

The festivities will take place at Saab’s Trollhattan, Sweden facilities and include live music, presentations, awards, product displays and desserts. Saab President Jan Ake Jonsson said that the February 23rd celebrations will become an annual event.

[Source: LeftLane News]

A Chrysler worker, claiming to have been fired after ending a relationship with the son of a United Auto Workers official, is now suing the UAW for sexual harassment, gender discrimination and retaliation. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit.

Janet Burney began dating Pat Byers, son of John Byers, who was head of the UAW-Chrysler National Training Center. Shortly after, Burney was promoted and given a substantial raise. Burney claims that after the relationship ended, her position was terminated.

“Pat Byers had told the plaintiff repeatedly that as long as she was with him her job in special assignment was secure,” Burney’s lawyer Richard A. Meier said in the lawsuit. “[Burney] was terminated because she is a female who refused to continue a sexual relationship with Pat Byers.

[Source: Detroit News]

A tip given to Jalopnik states that Ford chairman Bill Ford Jr. confirmed that an Ecoboost engine will appear in the Mustang, although a timeline and engine specifications were not provided.

While speaking at Princeton University, Ford was asked by an audience member about the possibility of an Ecoboost Mustang. Ford confirmed that the turbocharged engine would reach Ford’s pony car, but no further information was revealed. Ford current Ecoboost 4-cylinder is capable of up to 247 horsepower, while the 3.5L Ecoboost V6 is good for as much as 365 horsepower. While power is somewhat diminished compared to larger V6 and V8 engines respectively, fuel economy figures make up for the performance deficit.

It’s conceivable that either application could find its way under the hood of a Mustang. A 4-cylinder Ecoboost would be a potent competitor to smaller engined cars like the Hyundai Genesis (and certainly the Mustang V6 is now a legitimate performance car in its own right), while an Ecoboost V6 could bridge the gap between the regular V6 and the 5.0 V8. Jalopnik has suggested that the “SVO” trim, which used a 2.3L turbo 4-cylinder in the 1980s, could return, but there’s little evidence to back up that notion. Then again, Ford did revive the 5.0 badge, and with children of the 1980s now in a position to buy a Mustang, it might just happen.

[Source: Jalopnik]