Ford is taking advantage of their Facebook page by asking their fans which of the four possible warning sounds that will be used in the upcoming Focus electric vehicle is their favorite.

All four sound clips are hosted on YouTube and feedback on their comments page will be used by Ford to help choose a sound. If you want to voice your opinion on what obnoxious sound you’ll be hearing from Ford’s Ford electric vehicle – as mandated by law – head on over to their page and put in your vote.

[Source: Ford Facebook via CNet]

Hyundai’s upscale 2012 Azera sedan will debut at the Los Angeles auto show this November. The redesigned Azera will feature the brand’s “fluidic sculpture” design, a vast improvement over the tame current design.

“We’re in the final stages of ride/handling tuning for the 2012 Azera, and it’s dialing in nicely. Look out for it at the LA Auto Show,” said John Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai Motor America.

Both powertrain specifics and pricing details for the 2012 Azera have not been announced, but a new 3.3-liter direct injection V6 engine is expected to be implemented. Power is likely to be around 300-hp mated to a front-wheel drive system. Hyundai is hoping the FWD setup will appeal to buyers in cold-weather states where the Genesis’ rear-wheel drive system can be a deal breaker. Pricing will likely be around $26,270, above the Sonata ($20, 455) and below the Genesis ($35,050).

Hyundai is excited about the Azera redesign, and expects the vehicle to sell very well. The Korean automaker has said the potential exists to sell 18,000 to 20,000 units annually after the redesign.

[Source: Automotive News]

Imagine you’re Indian royalty. Your favorite hobby is the Most Dangerous Game, the hunting of wild tigers in the wilderness—as befitting a maharaja. Such a gentlemanly pursuit requires only the most luxurious and extravagant of conveyances: when blasting tigers with a Browning 30-06 machine gun (the choice of professionals!), why would you settle for anything less than a coachbuilt 1925 Rolls-Royce Phantom?

This custom-bodied Roller was commissioned by Umed Singh II, who ruled from 1889 to 1940 and at the height of tiger hunting’s popularity (and before those pesky conservation laws). Hunters commonly stalked their prey from atop elephants, but some employed motor carriages such as this: with an 8.0-liter six-cylinder engine and off-road low gearing, the Rolls is pretty close to an elephant but with more places to stash one’s brandy.

The Rolls also came with some features not available on today’s Phantom unless you ask really nicely, such as a bronze Lantaka cannon and a trailer-mounted machine gun, as well as enough rifle and shotgun racks to make Jeff Foxworthy feel underappreciated. All the better to drive India’s endangered Bengal tiger population from a peak of 40,000 to around 1,700 today.

If that sort of PETA-annoying violence appeals to you, then Bonhams will gladly auction this relic of Indian royalty to you for the appropriately lavish sum of $1 million or more when it goes on the block on August 18th. Tiger-hunting season will probably start around then. And after you mount one on the hood, drive it to an ESSO station and put a tiger in your tank!

[Source: Automobile]

Turn to the dark side… and then turn right… and you’re at your destination. Darth Vader will guide with step by step instructions to your destination – good or evil – as he’s the newest voice available for Garmin GPS.

Joining the ranks of SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, and Squirrely the Squirrell, Darth Vader is going to tell you exactly where to go, complete with heavy breathing and thinly veiled threats. “Proceed as indicated, don’t make me destroy you” and “Go straight on, the Emperor awaits” are just a few of the commands that will ensure you don’t make a wrong turn.

You can download Vader from the Garmin website for $12.99. The bundle includes TIE fighter vehicle icon to display on your Garmin map screen as you drive on your far, far away commute.

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Dante Rubli is an artist based out of Bern, Switzerland and has been producing various works of art for over 25 years. His Iconic Sports Car series features sculptures of an Aston Martin DBS, Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing and will soon also include the Ferrari 250 GTO, which will be unveiled at the upcoming Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach. Each vehicle in the Iconic Sports Car series comes in three different scales with the option of traditional gold, white gold, silver, and other luxury finishes available.

For the reveal of the Ferrari 250 GTO, a 24-karat gold sculpture will sit alongside a special display of the rare Ferrari 250 GTOs left in the world. Dante Rubli stated in the press release that Ferrari’s 250 GTO is his favorite car of all time and that he is looking forward to the celebration of the 250 GTO and the collection of cars that will be in attendance.

We’re sure he’s also ooking forward to selling quite a few of the limited edition pieces of art to the collected owners at Pebble Beach.

GALLERY: Dante Rubli’s 24-Karat Gold Ferrari 250 GTO Sculpture

After much debate, the White House has lowered its CAFE target for 2025 from 62 MPG to 54.5.

The original 62 MPG figure has been dragged through the dirt before, having previously been lowered to 56.2 before this current figure. But now, the 1.7-mpg drop helps ease the concerns, however slightly, expressed by the auto industry that this annual mileage increase will drive up the cost of cars and destroy car sales as well as manufacturing jobs.

The CAFE situation dictates that cars will have to be 5% more fuel-efficient every year, from 2017 to 2025. On the one hand, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration believes that this would add $2,100 to a car’s base price. On the other, according to the Consumer Federation of America, with the earlier 56-mpg revision consumers would save over $6,000 in gasoline costs throughout the car’s lifetime.

As you can tell, even with a revised CAFE target the debate won’t be over anytime soon.

[Source: TheDetroitNews]

GM has announced the pricing details for the 2012 Cadillac SRX and the crossover will get a new, more powerful engine. Pricing for the 2012 SRX will start at $36,060, including a destination charge of $875 and the model adopts a new 3.6-liter V6 producing 308-hp.

The SRX will be get an improved six-speed automatic transmission which features an ECO mode for maximizing fuel efficiency.

The SRX will also benefit from standard Bluetooth connectivity, an all-ebony interior, an optional heated steering wheel, new xenon Blue Metallic paint and 20-inch rims as an option.

[Source: egm Car Tech]

The Audi R8 is nearly five years old, which is amazing because the sports car still seems relatively new, however the first details are emerging regarding a facelift for the model.

The details regarding the possible facelift include a tweak in power. Sources suggest the 4.2-liter V8 will produce 444-hp up from 430-hp and the 5.2-liter V10 will produce 533-hp up from 525-hp. The R8 may also receive a seven-speed S-tronic transmission which would replace the current R-tronic unit.

Styling changes will include  revised headlights, modest tweaks to the fascias and different rims.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Thanks to the success of Mazda‘s MX-5 GT, which competes in the UK’s Britcar Production GTN championship, the Hiroshima company has decided to release a pair of special ‘Black Limited Edition’ Mazda models, inspired by the race car.

Interestingly, despite it’s name, the ‘Sport Black’ Edition MX-5, available at UK dealers from July, is offered in exterior hues of Crystal White Pearlescent, Spirited Green Metallic and Velocity Red mica; that said, the car does sport a ‘Brilliant Black’ finished retractable hardtop; black trimmed upholstery with sand stitching and a black finished steering wheel and deco panel, though the 17-inch alloy wheels are actually finished in dark gunmetal gray.

Special ‘Black Limited Edition’ badging, unique floormats and a full roster of comfort and entertainment options, including a premium Bose sound system, climate control, and Bluetooth hands free system are also included.

All ‘Black Limited Edition’ MX-5s are based on the Sport Tech model and are powered by the 2.-0-liter 160 metric horsepower twin-cam four, coupled with a six-speed manual gearbox.

The Mazda2 based ‘Black Limited Edition’ follows a similar theme to its two-seater stablemate, offered in identical exterior colors, save for the red, which is a slightly different shade – True  Red. Other exterior touches include special black vinyl roof treatment, matte black finished 16-inch alloy wheels, privacy glass and special rear bumper trim. Like the MX-5 version it boasts special exterior and interior badging, standard Bluetooth and special floormats.

Just 500 examples of the MX-5 Black edition will be produced, along with 618 of its Mazda2 counterpart. Priced at £22,995 and £12,815 respectively both cars represent quite a good buy by UK standards.