Bugatti president and CEO Wolfgang Durheimer confirming that Bugatti will move forward with producing the 16C Galibier isn’t the biggest news about the super sedan, rather, it’s the fact that Bugatti will be offering a hybrid variant of the car. In an interview with CAR Magazine, Durheimer announced more details on the Galibier program and what Bugatti will be offering for its luxury sedan.

As we already know, the standard Galibier will also utilize Bugatti’s potent W16 power plant but a hybrid option will also be available. Durheimer expressed the importance of being socially acceptable in various markets that might demand a more quiet vehicle. By offering an EV mode with the Galibier, the luxury sedan will have more versatility in an already limited market.

“When the mayors of cities know we can make cars that run silently, I don’t expect they will allow cars that pollute into city centres,” Durheimer said. “But I can’t imagine a Galibier owner leaving their car at the park-and-ride and catching a bus. That’s why we need to offer a hybrid with this car, so owners drive up to the hotel silently in EV mode. But not every Galibier needs to be a hybrid – in places like Dubai it is not what the market wants.”

With the Veyron’s production fading into the horizon, many will anxiously await the production of the Galibier which will be limited to 3,000 units.

[Source: Car Magazine UK]

After much buildup Chevy has finally revealed the new 2012 Malibu ahead of its debuts this week at the Shanghai and New York Auto Shows. Nearly three-inches wider and with a big new grille, the Malibu cuts an imposing look more along the likes of what we’re using to seeing from the full-size sedan segment. Boxy flared rear fenders show a design influence from the Camaro, as do square taillights.

The Camaro theme also continues inside with gauges inspired by the iconic sports car. But this is no retro machine with a high-tech color flip-screen built into the dash that is used for the new Chevy MyLink telematics system used to operate many of the car’s high-tech features.

The car’s added width results in improved room inside the vehicle says Chevy, plus there’s more rear legroom too. The added width also translates to improved handling. With a MacPherson strut front end and multi-link rear GM claims, “It has been engineered to be best-in-class and on par with more expensive sports sedans.”

Powering the car is a new 2.5-liter direct-injection 4-cylinder making 190-hp and 180 lb-ft of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. During the car’s reveal, it was announced that a version of the Malibu will get more than 35-mpg.

GM has indicated that the Malibu will only be available as a 4-cylinder mode, but look for a more potent turbocharged 4-cylinder within the next year.

And because the Malibu is a family car it will come with plenty of safety equipment including 10 airbags and OnStar, plus an optional rearview camera and lane departure warning system with forward collision alert.

Look for live photos Wednesday, March 20th from the car’s debut at the New York Auto Show and see AutoGuide’s complete preview and coverage of the show here.

GALLERY: 2013 Chevy Malibu

Ever since Saab Automobiles was cut free from General Motors and taken over by Spyker it’s been struggling to move forward.

Issues concerning financing, dealer networks and ultimately production  have plagued the company. However, with manufacturing having been halted as the company looked to secure new funding, there are signs that the dark skies over Trollhattan might finally be clearing.

According to website Saabs United (sounds more like a soccer team if you ask us), the Swedish government has given Saab the go-ahead to secure more funding from a European bank. In addition, Saab’s manufacturing plant is now run by a company called Saab Automobile AB Properties, in which Russian businessman Vladimir Antonov has a controlling interest.

Needless to say there are certain conditions regarding the funding and the recommencing of vehicle production, namely the price paid for any property to be fair, that the money borrowed will go through a bank with no connection to Antonov and that he himself will have to resolve any outstanding questions regarding his past history and business dealings.

Barring any issues and provided everything remains above board, Spyker hopes that production of Saab cars will be rolling once again by the beginning of May. Here’s to hoping that happens.

[Source: Saabs United]

Drivers are looking to cut a lot of things to save on fuel, but vehicle size isn’t one of them. According to a poll conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, most car buyers are planning to purchase the same size of vehicle as the one they are currently driving.

The results show that 56 percent of those drivers polled said they were going to keep their next vehicle the same size as their current model. Only one-quarter plan to go a size smaller and 19 percent are going to super-size to a larger model. Breaking it down to age and location, older drivers and Northeast buyers (gas prices tend to be higher in this area) are more likely to buy the same size, while drivers aged 18-34 years were planning on going bigger.

Looking at the trends, it is likely that older buyers are cutting costs (retirement pending and kids out of the house) so they don’t need a large vehicle. On the opposite end of the spectrum, younger car buyers are going bigger due to the fact that they are starting families and need all the room they can get.

Are you planning on buying a new vehicle this year? Are you going smaller, sticking with the same size or going with a larger model? Let us know in the comments section below.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

It competed in (and completed) the gruelling Targa Newfoundland last September. Now the same Kia Forte Koup, that was driven by Adam Hill and Mark Kostick of Team ‘Wishful Thinking,’ is now going to be auctioned off for charity.

The team, which partnered with The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada, managed to raise more than $100,000 during the race, in addition, Kia dealerships across Canada contributed to the cause by committing part of the proceeds from the sale of each new vehicle between August 16 and September 18 last year.

The Targa Kia Koup, now having finished its auto circuit tour, is being auctioned on eBay and all proceeds from the sale will go to the Children’s Wish Foundation. For more information on the auction, click on the link below.

[Source: Kia]

The BMW Z4 sDrive28i Roadster will be the first BMW to get a 4-cylinder engine in the United States since the BMW 318i was offered in the early 1990s. But unlike the underpowered 1.8L mill of yore, this new 2.0L 4-banger will pack a turbocharger, helping it make 240 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. The 260 pounds of twist arrives at 1,250 rpm, giving the car some urgency down low.

Fuel economy is said to be up 20 percent when equipped with the optional 8-speed automatic, the gearbox that will undoubtedly find a home in many Z4s, even if its not our choice of transmission. The base model 6-cylinder, with a 3.0L naturally aspirated engine, weighs about 3,240 lbs, a not exactly svelte number, but with the added boost, we expect the Z4 to put up respectable, but not thrilling acceleration numbers – even though this model is likely being sold to those who value “show” greatly over “go”.

While the British Royal Family are known for their patronage of British cars (with the Queen favoring Land Rovers and Prince Charles being a notable Aston Martin owner), Audis have been making an appearance in the  family’s fleet over the last decade, and the Daily Mail reports that the company offers some very favorable terms to the Royal Family to help sway their car purchases.

As valued customers, the House of Windsor is given a 60 percent discount off the sticker price, and their cars are personally delivered. While Prince Charles favors an A8 and an A6 Allroad station wagon, Prince Harry and Kate Middleton both drive A3 hatchbacks. Prince William seems to drive the most exciting car of the bunch, a dark grey S4 with the previous generation 4.2L V8.

While giving the cars away for free would undoubtedly raise concerns about bribery and other unsavoury tactics, the steep discounts offered help sidestep those questions will giving Audi excellent exposure. With the upcoming royal wedding, and Kate Middleton’s status as a style icon, Audi seems to be making some solid moves to get their brand associated with the “right” crowd as they try and take on blue chip German brands like Mercedes-Benz and BMW.\

[Source: Daily Mail]

Honda will offer their Civic compact car with a new small diesel engine by 2013, but for now it looks like Europe and other markets will get it, with North America seemingly shut out.

With a new Civic set to debut in world markets in 2012, Honda is mulling various options, with world markets set to get the 150 horsepower i-DTEC engine. Europe will likely get a new generation of diesels, since offering one is a key to sales success on the continent. For now, it looks like Honda will stick with conventional gasoline powered variants, but never say never.

[Source: Indian Autos Blog]

Dodge has released their 2012 Avenger R/T, a slightly hotter version of their mid-size Avenger sedan, with a stiffer chassis, R/T badging and a Pentastar V6 good for 283 horsepower.

Unfortunately, the sole transmission offered is a 6-speed automatic, a decidedly unsporting choice for a supposedly performance oriented car. The slushbox does help with fuel economy, helping the Avenger R/T to return 19 mpg in town and 29 mpg on the highway. Stiffer springs and a larger rear anti-roll bar should help in the handling department, while a Boston Acoustics 276 watt stereo and 30 GB hard drive will keep your ears filled with the sweet melodies of something besides the Pentastar V6.

Look for more photos from the car’s reveal this week at the New York Auto Show.

GALLERY: Dodge Avenger R/T

If you’re buying a Jaguar XKR, you are probably the kind of customer who expects to be swaddled in leather, but an Italian special edition tore the leather out and replaced with with plaid Alcantara.

The example pictured above is finished in a pattern known as “Prince of Wales check” and is a bit more subdued than the hipster style Buffalo plaid we were expecting. The car in question is actually a super-rare XKR 75, which already came with an exclusive leather interior. Guess this new material makes the car even more rare – but maybe not any more tasteful.

[Source: Autoblog]