With the new 2012 Honda Civic lineup having just been announced at the New York Auto Show, it’s natural for Honda lovers to scratch their heads and wonder where the hatchback variant is. Or better yet, where the Si hatchback version is.

Apparently right now it’s only available in the brilliant minds of Photoshoppers worldwide. Neal McDaniel over at the Temple of VTEC whipped up his own Civic Si Hatchback Concept rendering that has many of us wondering if Honda will make it a reality. Though we feel it shares one too many lines with the CR-Z hybrid, the idea of a Civic Si hatchback from the 2012 Civic lineup is appealing.

For the rendering, Neal wanted to point out several of the modifications he did: true “One Motion” design, shortened front and rear overhangs, tinted headlights with clear corners, revised a-pillar garnish with kink, lowered ride height, 18-inch wheels, cleaner rocker panels, a slightly lowered roof line, extended rear passenger windows, slightly wider stance, more orange in color and factory tint.

[Source: Temple of VTEC]

Click here to read AutoGuide’s 2012 Honda Civic Si Review

Discuss the 2012 Honda Civic at 9thGenCivic.com

Perhaps there’s nothing more fitting than a Mercedes-Benz rolling on the mean streets of Camden or Newark. And it’s about high time the company got some credit: in a story that just happens to hit the right buttons, Mercedes-Benz USA was voted one of the best places to work in New Jersey, where they pump fists and not gas.

For the second consecutive year to boot, Mercedes’s American headquarters in Bergen County were cited by NJBIZ Magazine as one of the best large-sized company (over 250 employees), coming in 6th and gaining a position over last year—and being the only car company on the list.

“Mercedes has a long tradition of doing business in the Garden State,” said Ernst Lieb, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA. “To achieve this accolade in a recovering economy is a true statement of how unified we are, working together to inspire our entire organization and deliver the dream that customers associate with the Mercedes-Benz brand.”

Perks at Mercedes include the 3rd-floor water cooler filled with Jager bombs, a call center that plays Ke$ha for hold music, and for being one of the few offices that doesn’t overlook Staten Island.

Chrysler is preparing to pay back $6.6 billion on government loans, but the company will do so not from its own cash but by re-financing existing debt.

Current terms of the government loans have Chrysler paying 12 percent interest per year. While Chrysler would not be out of debt, they would theoretically free themselves from the high interest rates and no longer owe money to both the Canadian and U.S. governments. An official announcement regarding the re-financing is expected later today.

[Source: USA Today]

Brooke Sheilds used to say “Nothing comes between me and my Calvin’s” but now you can come between Calvin Klein and his 1985 Porsche 911 Cabriolet.

The famous fashion designer is known for having great taste in design, and looking at his old car, we have to agree. This example, which currently sits at the Classic Car Gallery in Southport, CT., is in beautiful condition inside and out. In black on black with a factory whale-tail spoiler, the car looks menacing. The dealer also points out that the 3.2-liter flat-six engine has always been very well maintained and the clutch feels like new. Given Mr. Klein’s bank account has been quite healthy for several decades now, he obviously spared no expense in keeping his precious ride in tip top shape.

The car is currently listed on eBay and so far has highest bid is $24,100. So if you fancy owning a car with a celebrity first owner, this could be the one for you. You’d still have to pay extra for a new pair of CK Jeans.

[Source: Auto Evolution]

Anyone who has owned an exotic sports car will tell you that its one thing to buy such a car, and whole other to afford running it. Ferrari hopes to make ownership of their new cars a little easier by offering 7-years free scheduled maintenance.

For now, this plan is only available in Europe through authorized Ferrari dealers, but will soon be coming across the Atlantic. The coverage will include all necessary parts and labor and would also include oil and brake fluids. The warranty, which is offered on the 458 Italia, California Spyder and the FF, is attached to the vehicle, so if the car is sold within the first seven years, the new owner will benefit from this warranty also.

Over the years, Ferrari has dealt with a lot of negative press due to some of theirs cars spontaneously combusting. This new warranty program might help bring confidence back in favor of the Prancing Horse.

Since 1994, the Petersen Automotive Museum, located in downtown LA has been a must visit attraction for motor heads in the City of Angels.

And now, thanks to a major donation. the museum is likely to go from strength to strength, possibly becoming one of the most renowned locations for automotive exhibits in the world.

Margie Petersen, the wife of  the late Robert E. Petersen who founded Hot Rod and Motor Trend and went on to build a huge automotive and enthusiast publishing empire before opening the museum, recently handed over the hefty donation which includes 135 cars and motorcycles from Petersen’s personal collection, the actual 300,000 square foot building which the museum was previously leasing and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Buddy Pepp, Executive Director of the Museum, said that the donation is “breathtaking” and “will enable us to do all the things we’ve ever wanted to do and allow us to fulfill Bob Petersen’s vision.”

It’s nice to know that in an age where many museums are struggling, it’s nice to know that some, like this one, have a promising future.

Imagine waking up in the morning, going outside and seeing your car being repossessed. Hey, it wasn’t your fault… the check got lost in the mail. Now, imagine if you had a chance, right then and there, to win your vehicle outright – all you have to do is answer a few questions right for the repo men.

That’s the idea behind a brand-new game show called Repo Games. Brought to you by the producers of Jersey Shore (of course), this is a train wreak you won’t be able to tear your eyes away from. So here’s how it works: The repo men are real and are there to take away the reposed vehicle. But the twist is that is the owner can answer three out of five question right, they get to get the vehicle outright.

We’re not sure if the questions are going to be tougher then the ones in the clip, as they seem pretty simple, but it will still be fun to watch. You can tune into Tru TV to catch episodes and you can watch the promo video after the jump. Will you be an avid viewer of Repo Games?

[Source: Autoblog]
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We’ve all needed a tow one time or another, and for those who like off-roading, it seems to be inevitable. One unlucky Chevrolet Silverado owner found himself stuck in some not-too-deep mud, and the vehicle that was up for the job was none other than a Subaru Legacy GT, a family sedan with a pretty peppy turbocharged engine.

Conventional wisdom says that this situation should be reversed. But as the video shows, the little Subaru had no trouble hauling the big pickup out of the mud. Hit the jump to see the video below.

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Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby has announced that their plans for a flagship sedan to compete with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7-Series have been put on hold, and may be dead altogether.

“It is not in our midterm or long-term strategy right now,” CEO Stefan Jacoby said at last week’s Shanghai Auto Show. “That has been decided.”

Jacoby said that Volvo is preferring to concentrate on their core products rather than move upscale. Volvo is spending $11 billion to invest in new products and as many as 2 Chinese assembly plants over the next 5 years. The new plants would be a means of boosting sales in China, where Volvo hopes to sell 200,000 cars per year by 2015, but some capacity could also be exported.

[Source: Automotive News]

If you want a Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano but think it suffers from being too elegant, then the Mansory Stallone might just be up your alley.

Mansory has made quite a name for itself by customizing exotic machinery to its clients individual needs, and it is clear, money doesn’t necessarily buy you good taste. Hence over the years, we have seen many wild and extravagant modifications on many different exotic automobiles, and Ferrari’s are no exception.

Mansory had made just five copies of the modified 599. Along with changing the cars name to Stallone, Mansory has added a unique body-kit, special wheels and an interior of truly questionable taste.

Now you can have a Stallone of your own since one has propped up for sale in Dubai. The seller, Prestige Cars has not listed much information on this 720-hp supercar, so your guess on its price and mileage is as good as ours. Their website just states it is a 2008 model.

So if you’re interested in parking one of these in your garage, now you know where to find one.

GALLERY: Mansory Stallone

[Source: PrestigeCars]