On July 13, Rainer Zietlow and his team set a new world record for driving the length of the Pan-American Highway covering nearly 16,000 miles  through 14 countries in a 2011 Volkswagen Touareg TDI Clean Diesel SUV.

The team set off on this journey to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the legendary Pan-American Highway. The team began their adventure on July 2 at the southern-most tip of Argentina where the Pan-American Highway begins, then travelling through Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, the United States and Canada. The team drove day and night, taking five hour shifts throughout the trip.

Zietlow chose the Toureg TDI Clean Diesel for its durability, high-performance and long-range fuel efficiency. The Touareg features a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 TDI engine that produces 225-hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The clean diesel SUV consumes  30 percent less fuel and produces up to 25 percent lower CO2 emissions than comparable gasoline vehicles.

The journey was to benefit charity organizations that work in 48 developing countries. Zietlow will donate 10 Euro cents for each kilometer that was driven to two villages in Latin America managed by Plan International.

Zietlow will travel to VW dealerships across the U.S from August 1-30 with the record setting Touareg so the public can learn about the record setting journey.

GALLERY: 2011 Volkswagen Touraeg TDI

For next year, Toyota will start offering AC electric outlets as an option on the Prius hybrid so drivers can plug in accessories or appliances to their car. Toyota developed the idea through the March 11 earthquake disaster in which people used the Toyota Estima hybrid van (pictured above) as a source of emergency electricity when the power went out.

Toyota eventually wants to add the AC outlet to the entire hybrid line, however the option will only be offered in Japan initially because of concerns regarding different voltages and safety regulations. Toyota demonstrated the option earlier today in the city of Sendai with the Prius was equipped with Japan’s standard 100-volt AC plug. The car was able to power appliances such as a fan, hotpot and refrigerator. Toyota officials noted that with one full tank of gasoline, the Prius can supply power at full output for two days.

[Source: Automotive News]

The ultra luxurious 2012 Audi A8L W12 is finally going on sale in the U.S, and has been priced at a whopping $134,375. This is an enormous sum of money considering the most expensive A8L sells for $85,575. The A8L is powered by a 372-hp 4.2-liter V8 and can get from 0-62 mph in 5.1 seconds – more than adequate for most people.

For the extra $48,000, the W12 buyer upgrades to a 6.3-liter twelve-cylinder engine producing 500-hp and 463 lb-ft of torque with a 0-62 mph time of 4.4 seconds. More impressive than that though are the standard 22-way power seats with ventilation and massage capabilities, a panoramic sunroof, a rear-seat entertainment system and the Audi Connect infotainment system with Google Earth.

Hey brah, Scion‘s launching a new car called the iQ, and it’s like, wicked small, dude. How many kegs can you fit in it, anyway?

For the launch of the diminuitive iQ, Scion will hit the airwaves with a barrage of TV commercials illustrating the advantages of its small size. The ads will show off its ability to jam two cars in one parking space, or its 11 standard airbags. Pretty conventional stuff.

But online  is where Scion will let its freak flag fly: one spot shows muscular Jersey-Shore-types crammed into an iQ (with some creative shoehorning, presumably), being driven around by a bikini model while they eat donuts and drink milk. Another ad spoofs Caddyshack with the Scion as Bill Murray’s gopher, while yet another ad shows an Obama impersonator leaving an iQ with three Secret Service agents, using the iQ as a clown car.

Remember, Gen Yers love this stuff.

Scion needs a splash if they want to regain market share, and maybe their own rapping hamsters. The xB has lost ground to the Kia Soul, but those within Scion believe that the cutesy iQ could be their brand’s Fiat 500. After all, targeting young people is Scion’s MO. And with the massive amounts of marketing dollars sunk into this campaign, the iQ will hopefully target those looking to stand out in small cars—despite the lack of Bud Light 30-rack space in the back, brah.

[Source: Automotive News]

Click here to read AutoGuide’s 2012 Scion iQ Review

Since it was launched, the McLaren MP4-12C has been criticized for lacking the emotional appeal of rivals such as the Ferrari 458, particularly when it comes to such aspects like exhaust note and the ‘thrill’ of acceleration.

As a result, the Woking based company has been hard at work instigating a few changes on the mid-engined machine, alterations that, according to an official statement from the company , were already in the planning stages, though the criticism has hastened their introduction.

Most of the tweaks revolve around the 12C’s Intake Sound Generator which incorporates a butterfly valve, to regulate the amount of noise entering the cabin. In track mode, said valve will now open wider, allowing drivers to experience more of the car’s V8 exhaust signature.

“It was a bit too sensible before,” declared a spokesman for McLaren. “You won’t notice the changes in normal mode, just when you’re having fun and really pushing it.”

[Source: Autocar]

Sales of convertibles are lowering like a power hardtop, with an over 50% decline in just four years.

Convertibles have never been the most popular of vehicles, owing to people eschewing fresh sunshine for such plebeian concerns such as seats and storage room. But in 2006, convertible sales still managed to account for 2% of car sales in America, with 350,000 drivers showing off their bald spots.

But by 2010, the decline of open-roofed cars sunk to 1.2% of the current car market. The stars of the convertible show are the Chevrolet Camaro, with 12.4% of convertible sales, and the Ford Mustang, following behind at 11%. And no surprise, either: no matter how bad any recession gets, the two pony cars will always have lasting appeal.

[Source: Autoblog]

There used to be a time when China was an “export-only” nation. But with China all the rage, foreign companies are making their way into this burgeoning market, and Caterham Cars is the latest entrant.

Caterham Cars has just signed an exclusive deal with Courtenay Trading International (CTI) as its exclusive importer. CTI will appoint six dealers in China, in some of its key provinces, and hopes to sell between 30 and 50 cars in its first year.

All of the current line of Caterham Seven’s will be offered, including the rapid Superlight R300 and the CSR 175. Models like the SP/300 R might be introduced at a later date.

On this occasion, Caterham Cars’ International Business Manager, David Ridley, said: “We are engaged in one of the most exciting new chapters in the Caterham Cars story and our entry into the Chinese market is another tangible sign of how Caterham is striving to become a truly global brand.”

While Caterham has been present in the Far East, namely Japan for quite a long time, this is the first time customers in China will be able to park one on their driveway. The first Sevens are scheduled to arrive in China in January 2012.

After 11 years of irrelevance, Ford silently buries its “Blue Oval Certified” program for dealers—to the surprise of absolutely no one.

The certified dealer program aimed to reward good Ford dealers for customer service; dealers spent thousands following guidelines from Ford and J.D. Power & Associates on how to achieve and maintain their certified status. And for many dealers, the payoff was worth it: some dealers received checks of up to $70,000 per month, as well as increased business.

But the payoffs ended 5 years ago, among with many other perks. Eventually, the only thing that dealers could reward themselves with were employee discounts—of which dealer employees already received in the first place. Customers didn’t know or care about the program, and neither did the dealers themselves, many of whom had stopped spending money on staying certified.

Ford even suggested that ending the Blue Oval program “isn’t a big deal.” But the end of a program that rewards dealers for being nice to their customers seems like a step back.

[Source: Automotive News]

Mike Burroughs is one of those BMW fanatics, but not in the sense that you might think. Rather than rocking E46 or E92 M3s, Mike’s all about the classic BMWs, having built the infamous E28 5-Series, dubbed “Rusty Slammington“, that unfortunately became a casualty when Burroughs’ garage burnt down. For some people, that would be heartbreaking enough to get themselves a dull daily driver, but Burroughs decided to go way back to his roots, finding this 1971 BMW 2800CS and making it his.

Thanks to a friend that spotted it on Craigslist, Burroughs headed down to Atlanta with cash in hand to purchase the 40 year old car. On his way to pick it up, the owner of the BMW classic warned him that it hadn’t been driven since 2004 and that it would take some serious work to get her back on the road. But to everyone’s surprise, the car fired right up and Burroughs had zero issues driving her back four hours to his home.

To add his own touch to the classic, Burroughs opted for a set of 18-inch BBS RS wheels that have been fully chromed out. He also purchased a CSL airdam to finish off the aesthetics. The result is a breathtaking BMW that is beyond classy.

GALLERY: Mike Burroughs’ 1971 BMW 2800CS

[Source: Stance Works]

Likely to arrive on our shores late in 2012 as a 2013 model year car, the Hyundai Sonata has received a mild facelift in its home market of South Korea… although you’d be forgiven for not noticing.

Updates include a revised front fascia (really?), new side mirrors, some new wheel choices and (of course) the obligatory LED taillights. Inside, look for improved materials, with some new trim options and better standard equipment. Several engine changes have been made overseas, but those updates are already a part of the current Sonata lineup in North America.

If we do in fact get these updates, expect an increase price as well.

[Source: TheCarBlogger]

Click here to read AutoGuide’s 2011 Hyundai Sonata Review

Click here to read AutoGuide’s 2011 Hyundai Sonata Turbo Review