The highly-anticipated Hyundai Veloster will start at just $17,300, very close to the targeted $17K mark that the Korean automaker first announced at the car’s world premiere at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

The news comes via Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik who made the announcement via his personal Twitter account, with Hyundai commenting revealing that full pricing will be revealed later this week.

The Veloster (a unique model with two doors on the passenger side and one on the driver’s side) comes powered by a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine that makes 138-hp and 123 ft-lbs of torque and is available with either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed dual-clutch automatic. Hyundai has said the Veloster will get 40-mpg on the highway.

GALLERY: 2012 Hyundai Veloster

Discuss this story at Veloster.org

See here for full details on the 2012 Veloster and after the jump for a video from its unveiling.

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A little cross-promotion between the automotive and powersports worlds has always been seen as a good thing. After all, many automakers also build motorcycles. And if they don’t, there’s a strong branding opportunity, with models like Ford‘s Harley Davidson F-Series trucks.

Ford’s latest tie-up is, however, a bit further off the beaten path – pun intended. The Blue Oval has teamed up with Taiwanese ATV manufacturer Kymco to produce a Ford F-150 Raptor themed ATV. The Kymco Built Ford Tough F-150 SVT Raptor Limited Edition MXU 500i ATV is powered by a 36-hp fuel-injected 498cc four-stroke motor and has 7.5-inches of suspension travel and is easily distinguishable by its Metallic Blue paint and alloy wheels, not to mention Raptor graphics and “Built Ford Tough” badging.

On display over the weekend at the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit, the new Raptor-themed ATV will be available through Kymco dealers and online at www.fordcollection.com.

We’re having our doubts as to whether the Made-in-America Ford truck crowd will flock to this import.

GALLERY: Ford Raptor Themed Kymco ATV

[Source: ATV.com]

David Coulthard and his Red Bull F1 team traveled down to Austin, Texas to check out the soon to be completed Circuit of the Americas track.

Over the weekend, David Coulthard took his 750-hp Red Bull Formula One race car on a cruise in and around the Texas capital, engaged in some hooning and put on a show for the crowd.

In this clip, Coulthard takes the high performance F1 car on the dirt roads of the soon to be grand prix track, as well as along some highways. It’s not every day you get to see one of these cars go off-roading, or tear through city steets.

Check out the videos after the jump!

GALLERY: Red Bull F1

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Surprisingly, large segments of Americans are willing to buy Chinese made cars. Market research company GfK Automotive did its annual Barometer of Automotive Awareness and Imagery, and found that 38 percent of the respondents would consider buying a Chinese car. According to the study, “The openness to purchasing a Chinese and Indian vehicle is highest among Gen Y consumers, with 52 percent saying they are open to a vehicle from a Chinese automaker and 41 percent saying they are open to a vehicle from an Indian automaker.”

Don Deveaux, managing director of Gfk Automotive commented on the issue saying, “When a relatively unknown auto brand enters the market, potential buyers are going to have some initial skepticism without a frame of reference into the company’s history and differentiators from other brands. Quality and repair support are critical factors that potential buyers evaluate before purchasing a new vehicle, and without an established history in the United States, Chinese and Indian manufacturers need to overcome the lack of knowledge of their brands among potential new buyers.”

Currently Chinese automakers suffer from a poor image due to continued promises to offer models in America (which never seem to come to fruition), not to mention numerous poor marks in crash tests. Then again, who cares about safety when you can get a Bentley-styled SUV, like the Huatai B35 above.

[Source: The Truth About Cars]

A single photo of the next-generation Mercedes-Benz B-Class has leaked onto the net, showing a compact MPV remarkably similar to the current model.

Mercedes has already announced the new B-Class will be offered with either a 122-hp 1.6-liter or a 156-hp gasoline engine. Diesel options will include a 1.8-liter B180 CDI with 109-hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, while a B200 CDI will make 136-hp and 221 lb-ft. A six-speed manual is standard with an optional 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Like the current model, the new B-Class features a sandwhich floor, with open space below the passenger compartment that can  be used for a future “alternative drive” (read electric) version.

Mercedes had said the new B-Class would change its shape dramatically from the current model, although that’s certainly not obvious from the photo. Surprisingly, however, when compared to the current B-Class the new 2012 model has a roof height that is roughly 2-inches lower, while the seat height has been lowered 3.5-inches so drivers will feel less like they’re behind the wheel of a bus. Inside, look for improved functionality with rear seats than can be moved forward or back by as much as 5.5-inches,

Mercedes will reveal the all-new B-Class at the Frankfurt Auto Show this September. Also expected at that showing is the new A-Class, which should provide a little more excitement.

GALLERY: 2012 Mercedes B-Class Interior Images

The time between your impulse to hit the brakes and a your right foot actually stomping down on the pedal amounts to as much as 15 feet of stopping distance – more than enough to make a serious difference in avoiding a collision or significantly reducing injuries.

This new research comes out of Germany, after scientists published their work in the Journal of Neural Engineering. The researchers took it a step further, however, identifying the specific brain waves that correspond to a driver’s desire to hit the brakes and then building a driving simulator to put it into practice. In total, 18 subjects were tested on a driving simulator, wearing a special helmet with built in sensors. The difference between the impulse to react and the actual reaction was quantified at 130 milliseconds, and with the brakes applied as a result of brain waves, the stopping distance from a speed of 100 km/h (62 mph) amounted to between 12 and 15 feet.

Stefan Haufe of the Berlin Institute of Technology and one of the researchers involved in the project admits that the technology is still far from reality, but points to the promising results.

Currently, some automakers are using radar-based technology to measure closing distances and apply the brakes before a driver has time to react. In a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Volvo’s City Safety was shown to reduce accidents, with vehicles using the technology showing a reduction in the number of property damage claims by 27 percent, while claims for personal injuries were cut in half.

[Source: ABCNews]

With a mix of elegance and brute force that only Aston Martin can provide, the British building of exotic cars has revealed its new GT3 class race car. Replacing the DBRS9, the V12 Vantage GT3 is based on the Vantage platform rather than the DB9′s, making for a shorter wheelbase and an engine that sits lower in the chassis.

Power comes from a modified version of the road car’s 5.9-liter V12 engine making 600-hp and around 516 lb-ft of torque, which makes it to the ground through an Xtrac 6 speed sequential transmission. Weighing just 2,755 lbs, the V12 Vantage GT3 is eligible to compete in numerous international series and allows Aston Martin to boast that it is the only automaker with a race car available for ever GT class of racing.

Aston Martin will begin testing the new car in October with deliveries to teams in 2012. The cost? £298,000 or roughly half a million dollars.

GALLERY: Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3

Now this is one subject that’s likely to polarize opinion, the fact that a Toyota Camry, will pace the 2012 Daytona 500 in February.

A generation ago, the very notion that a Japanese car would be leading the field during a NASCAR race was almost unthinkable, now, it appears to be a reality. However there is some logic to this. The Camry has, for the last 13 out of 14 years, been the best selling car in America and since 1986, all of those sold here, have also been built here, at Toyota’s Georgetown, Kentucky assembly plant.

As the car has woven its way into the heart of America’s psyche it’s started popping up everywhere and it seems to have been greeted with a growing amount of enthusiasm, even amongst stock car racing insiders.

“NASCAR and Daytona International Speedway provide a uniquely American platform for manufacturers to display their technology, innovation and overall automotive excellence,” remarked Joie Chitwood III; President of Daytona International Speedway. “After nearly eight years of competing at NASCAR’s highest level, I’m pleased to have the 2012 Toyota Camry pace the DAYTONA 500.”

Toyota has been competing in NASCAR since 2004, beginning with Tundra pickup based stockers in the World Truck series. It has won five consecutive manufacturer’s titles in that series, while propelling drivers to the championship on three separate occasions (Jeff Bodine 2006 and 2010; Johnny Benson 2008).

In 2007 Toyota began running Camrys in the Nationwide Series and has since claimed 60 wins and three manufacturer’s cups as well as propelling Kyle Busch to the driver’s title in 2009.

Getting back to pace cars, Toyota has already used Camrys at the following NASCAR tracks: Auto Club Speedway of Southern California, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Dover International Speedway in Delaware, California’s Infineon Raceway, Kansas Speedway, Martinsville Speedway in Virginia, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway, Richmond International Raceway; Wisconsin’s Road America and Watkins Glen International.

So, the very notion of a Camry pacing the Daytona isn’t perhaps too much of a stretch, though Toyota could perhaps use this opportunity to try and make the pacer at least a little bit exciting.

Click here to read AutoGuide’s 2012 Toyota Camry Review or watch the video review after the jump:

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Bentley has officially revealed the all-new Continental GTC with updates similar to those of the GT coupe. Originally hitting the market in 2006, the revamped second generation GTC is set to officially debut at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

There are no real surprises to the new GTC, as it was heavily anticipated to receive the same treatment as the GT coupe, but it will have a weight savings of about 154-lbs compared to the first iteration.

Standard to the second generation GTC will be stylish 20-inch wheels, with three styles of 21-inchers available as options. Compared to the first generation, the new GTC will feature a 40:60 rear torque bias as opposed to the original’s 50:50, helping minimize understeer during hard cornering. It will be powered by a 6.0L twin-turbocharged W12 powerplant with 567-hp and 516 lb-ft of torque and with a weight savings of 154-lbs the convertible can hit 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.

The new Continental GTC is now available to order with first deliveries starting in late 2011. MSRP is set at $212,800.

GALLERY: 2012 Bentley Continental GTC

Read AutoGuide’s 2011 Bentley Continental GT Review

Audi has just released official details on a new hybrid version of its A8 luxury flagship sedan, powered by a 4-cylinder engine. The 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder (what else?) is mated to an electric motor and makes a total of 245-hp with 345 lb-ft of torque while achieving an average fuel consumption of 36.75-mpg (on the European test cycle). Even more impressive is that the luxury sedan can travel up to 62-mph on the electric motor alone and can cover 1.86-miles at a speed of 37-mph with zero local emissions.

Separately, the 2.0L TFSI produces 211-hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, while the electric motor puts out 54-hp and 155 lb-ft of torque. Combined, this helps power the A8 hybrid to a 0-62 mph time of 7.7 seconds – a reasonable though hardly impressive time. Three driving modes are available to the A8 hybrid driver, an EV mode that gives priority to the electric drive, a “D” mode that efficiently controls both the electric and gas engine and an “S” mode can be combined with the tiptronic gate to provide a sporty driving experience.

On the outside, the hybrid version sports subtle differences than its gas-only counterpart. The 10-spoke wheels are unique and come in an 18-inch sizing as standard, with a 19-inch upgrade available as an option. Hybrid badges adorn the body while Arctic Silver is an exclusive paint finish to the hybrid model. Standard to the model are metallic paint, three-zone automatic air conditioning, LED headlights and a Bose sound system.

No pricing was announced for the A8 hybrid.

GALLERY: Audi A8 Hybrid