Ferrari‘s next flagship supercar, the successor to the 2003 Enzo, will be influenced by the Bugatti Veyron, although Ferrari declined to specify what parts of the vehicle were inspired by the world’s most powerful car.

A Ferrari source reportedly told Autocar “The world is a very different place to how it was when the Enzo was launched. It has moved on completely. And we are Ferrari – we do not take part to make up the numbers.” Compared to the opulent Veyron, the Enzo was more of a spartan, single-minded vehicle focused solely on performance, and this could perhaps signal the biggest departure from not only the Enzo, but the F50 and F40 supercars which preceded it, and were known for their raw, uncompromising nature.

The next flagship F-car is confirmed to have an active aerodynamics system, which is featured on the Veyron, but an move towards luxury, as well as the active aero, wouldn’t square with Ferrari’s previous desire to shed weight from the Enzo, as seen by their Millechilli design study, which envisioned a flagship supercar weighing a mere 2200lbs. We’ll have to wait until 2013 to find out for sure, as that marks the 10th anniversary of the Enzo’s debut, and in keeping with Ferrari tradition, the correct timeframe to debut a new supercar.

[Source: Autocar]

Dealers may be in for an arduous summer as Japan’s auto parts shortage is on track to choke off new vehicle deliveries for months, with dealers potentially receiving no new vehicles until September.

The best case scenario will be a resumption of production on May 9th, after Japan’s traditional holiday break. But manufacturers are still unable to comment due to the unstable nature Japan’s auto industry, which is still reeling from the natural disasters that rocked the country in March.

“We are currently planning North American production for next month based on parts availability, so we are not yet ready to project our situation,” Mike Goss, a spokesman for Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America told Automotive News. “We are planning the best we can, but everything depends upon parts. It’s a very fluid situation, changing daily.” The paper reports that Toyota will continue Japanese production at 50 percent capacity, and reassess the situation after June 6th.

Nissan declined to publicly comment, but told dealers that it will only receive 7,500 vehicles from Japan and Mexico in May, down from the usual 40,000. Dealers are beginning to fret over inventory levels, which will only take them through the end of May. Honda, as well as Toyota dealers are reporting similarly reduced numbers, while even General Motors is said to be producing and allocating vehicles in a conservative manner, due to uncertainty over parts supplies and the overall marketplace.

[Source: Automotive News]

This may, or may not be, the first photo of Porsche‘s upcoming hardest-core GT3 model, the GT3 RS 4.0.

As the name suggests the car is powered by a larger displacement version of the flat-six engine making as much as 500-hp by some reports. That’s 50-hp more than the ‘regular’ GT3 RS model.

The photo comes via the TeamSpeed forum, which has been a reliable source of info for vehicles like the GT2 RS, although more recent ‘leaked documents’ on this new car have been less than credible.

Porsche has been entirely silent on the matter – as expected.

[Source: TeamSpeed]

Nissan has announced a ‘service campaign’ for all 5,300 of its Leaf electric cars to fix a software glitch that has been reported to prevent the car from starting. In total roughly 500 vehicles in the U.S. are affected by the service bulletin – which isn’t technically a recall because it’s not safety related.

Nissan will reprogram the control module after looking into customer complaints that the car wouldn’t start on occasion.

While a blow to the initial roll-out of the first mass-produced EV, on a positive note the Leaf does make it easy to notify owners of the issue, with Nissan sending a message through the car’s onboard telematics system advising them to visit their Nissan dealer for a fix.

First debuting in concept form at the Geneva Auto Show in March, Mazda has now confirmed that its Minagi Concept will be badged as the CX-5 when it goes into production. That will be quite soon, with Mazda set to reveal more details on the Minagi and its SkyActiv engines at the New York Auto Show this week. The CX-5′s official debut will take place at the Frankfurt Auto Show this Fall.

The CX-5 will join the MAzda lineup as the brand’s newest crossover and will sit as an entry-level vehicle below the CX-7 and CX-9. It will also be the first model to incorporate the brand’s new KODO design language, first shown on the Shinari concept.

As for the SkyActiv powertrain, look for something similar to what will arrive in the 2012 Mazda3,with a direct-injection 2.0-liter 4-cylinder making around 163-hp and 155 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and getting close to 40-mpg. The CX-5 could also be the first Mazda to sport a diesel engine in North America.

GALLERY: Mazda Minagi [CX-5]

Rumors had indicated that Jeep would unveil a high-powered version of its Grand Cherokee at the New York Auto Show this week, and a new report by Automotive News seems to confirm as much. But the Grand Cherokee SRT8 won’t be the only heavyweight to hit the stage in New York, with the Chrysler brand also preparing to unveil a more potent version of its 300 sedan.

With both models expect a lower and stiffer suspension, plus some more aggressive bodywork, not to mention larger wheels and upgraded brakes.

Look to the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 for what will power the beasts, with that car making use of a new 6.4-liter V8 engine that delivers 465-hp and 465 lb-ft of torque. Both models should be able to do the run to 60 in under 5.0 seconds.

Look for full details and photos from the live reveal in the Big Apple, with AutoGuide’s 2011 New York Auto Show Coverage here.

[Source: Automotive News]

Volkswagen has just revealed the all-new 2012 Beetle, returning the ‘Bug’ to its retro-styled ways. You’ll have to pardon the poor photos though. Officially that isn’t supposed to have debuted yet, but Motor Trend busted the embargo so we’re using their grainy pics.

The replacement for the ‘New Beetle’ the car is set to debut first at the Shanghai Auto Show and then at the 2011 New York Auto Show on Wednesday. Sitting 0.5-inches lower than the previous car, it’s also 3.3-inches wider. With a significantly improved interior, it’s near-luxury inside and that theme flows throughout with items like bi-xenon headlights and 19-inch wheels.

Continuing to be a front-driver, engine choices are no surprise with the usual selection of gasoline and diesel powered VW mills, including a 200-hp 2.0 TFSI, a standard 170-hp 2.5-liter 5-cylinder and a 140-hp TDI engine with 236 lb-ft of torque and a 29/40-mpg rating. The 2.5-liter engine comes with the choice of a 5-speed stick shift or 6-speed manual, while the turbo gas engine gets either a six-speed stick or six-speed dual-clutch unit and the brand’s XDS electronic differential, which first debuted on the 2010 GTI.

Look for live photos on Wednesday, April 20th with out New York Auto Show here.

GALLERY: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle

***UPDATE: Official images now included***

Honda will reveal the all-new 9th generation Civic lineup at the New York Auto Show on Wednesday. Totaling six models, the next-generation of the Civic will include a Coupe and Sedan, Si Coupe and Sedan, Hybrid, Natural Gas model and even a high-mpg HF model.

Powered by a 1.8-liter i-VTEC engine, the new Civic comes up just shot of the 2011 Hyundai Elantra with a 39-mpg highway rating compared to the Korean model’s 40-mpg number. Honda is able to achieve this number without direct-injection, a dual-clutch transmission or even six gears. Yup, the 2012 Civic continues to rely on a 5-speed auto-box.

Those looking for improved fuel economy can opt for a special HF model that makes use of special aerodynamic pieces to help deliver 41-mpg highway. Maximum Honda fuel economy is available with a new Civic Hybrid that gets a 4-mpg bump to achieve a 45-mpg combined rating, while those with a penchant for performance can turn to the Civic Si with a larger 2.4-liter 4-cylinder making 200-hp and 170 lb-ft of torque.

Look for full details on each car Wednesday, March 20th with AutoGuide’s 2011 NY Auto Show coverage here.

GALLERY: 2012 Honda Civic Lineup

[Source: Automotive News]

Get more news and info on the 2012 Honda Civic at 9thGenCivic.com

With a new compact crossover tipped to be in the production schedule for Buick, look for it to take inspiration from the new Envision SUV concept, revealed today at the Shanghai Auto Show.

Continuing to take Buick’s styling in a more progressive direction, this latest concept still retains trademark Buick cues, like the waterfall grille.

Power comes from a plug-in hybrid drive with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine mated to two electric motors and an 8-speed transmission that can be operated in either automatic or manual modes (dual clutch?). A lithium-ion battery pack stores the power, and a solar panel on the roof helps deliver added electricity to minimize the work required of the powertrain.

Differing from the Voltec powertrain, the gasoline engine will power the wheels, but only when significant power is required, such as when driving up a hill or under sudden acceleration. Under low speeds and steady cruising, electricity powers the wheels and when the battery runs out of juice, the gasoline engine will help recharge it.

The vehicle itself sits on a chassis made up of magnesium, aluminum and even carbon fiber components and uses GM’s electromagnetic suspension to deliver one of the fastest reacting suspensions in the world. Plus, the AWD system lets power be distributed to each 22-inch wheel independently.

Inside the Envision gets a stunning cockpit with a ‘yin and yang’ themed interior, using galaxy-blue and sand-beach white leather, with a large center armrest that runs the length of the car. Technology doesn’t stop at what’s under the hood either with an onboard router that enables web access through your smartphone, while a new touch screen interface also displays info on the windscreen. That heads-up display also works for the back-up camera, with the objects behind the car being shown on the windshield in 3-D.

It’s not clear how many of these technologies will make it into the production vehicle, but it’s clear Buick is moving forward with plans to bring a small SUV to market soon.

GALLERY: Buick Envision SUV Concept

The big reveal for Lexus at this year’s New York Auto Show will be the LF-Gh Concept, foreshadowing the next-gen GS luxury sedan and setting the tone for all future Lexus model designs.

But there will be one other Lexus we haven’t seen before on display, a widebody CT200h built by Fox Marketing. It looks like the full reveal won’t happen until the show on Wednesday, but Fox Marketing has released a teaser image of the car on its Facebook page.

Part of a larger plan by Lexus to attract younger customers to the brand, they’ve set out to debut several custom CT200h models at different shows throughout the U.S. Back at the Chicago Auto Show in February, Lexus displayed a Five Axis-tuned CT.

Look for plenty of photos on Wednesday, April 20th at AutoGuide’s 2011 NY Auto Show coverage page here. And see the entire show preview here.