With an almost Aston Martin look and feel about it, Ford has unveiled the Evos concept ahead of its official debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. Dripping with sex appeal, Ford global product boss Derrick Kuzak says the car was created to show the three key elements of the automaker’s One Ford global product strategy: design, fuel economy leadership and smart technologies.

Powering the car is the same plug-in hybrid drivetrain that will soon be offered in the production C-MAX Energi, although it has been optimized using stored driver behavior and patterns to predict the driving route and destination and thereby adapt the fuel delivery to suit. Calling it a “cloud-optimized powertrain” Ford says the system would, “‘know’ when to save energy and switch modes, using information about the vehicle’s predicted travel route, any emission zone restrictions during the journey and current weather conditions.”

As for technology, the Evos is designed to deliver a “provide personalised and safe connection to the outside world in an enriching manner”. How this is done is by using next-generation of SYNC technology that Ford says is currently under development, allowing the car to tap-into the driver’s “personal cloud” of information, in order to deliver a custom experience. This, says Ford, would then allow the car to adapt the handling, steering and engine controls to the driver as well.

Finally, there’s the stunning design of this concept, which Ford says points towards the next-generation of its models. “We wanted the Ford Evos Concept to give a clear message about where Ford design is heading – shaping vehicles that are fun to drive, have a strong premium visual appeal, and above all, are stunningly beautiful,” said J Mays, group vice president, Design and chief creative officer.

Look for ore details with coverage from the Frankfurt Auto Show starting September 13th.

GALLERY: Ford Evos Concept

At this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, Audi will unveil four new S performance models, all packing a version of the brand’s new turbocharged V8 engine. Displacing 4.0-liters, this V8 can deliver up to serious power with improved fuel economy over past S versions.

In the new S6 sedan and Avant models, the engine will produce 420-hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, enabling a 0-62 mph time of 4.8 seconds. The same engine, with the same output will also be found in the new S7, which will deliver a 4.9 second 0-62 mph time thanks to a slightly heavier chassis.

All models will come standard with Audi’s quattro technology, while the S6 and S7 will get Audi’s S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission. The S8 will come equipped with an 8-speed automatic.

Audi is also touting fuel economy improvements, due to a lighter chassis as well as a new ‘cylinder on demand’ technology that will reduce the number of active cylinders to four under lighter loads.

Cadillac has been given the go-ahead to create a new flagship sedan that will slot above the upcoming XTS, as General Motors aims to have Cadillac compete with the top-tier European luxury car brands.

While the XTS is a front-drive based luxury sedan intended to slot above the CTS, Cadillac executives and GM brass felt that an ultra-premium flagship would help re-established the brand’s luxury bonda fides. Proposals for the new car, codenamed “Omega”, are similar to the recently released Cadillac Ciel concept.

Cadillac is also set to launch a model based off the Chevrolet Volt, dubbed the ELR, as well as the upcoming ATS compact sports sedan.

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

Ford is experiencing tremendous success with its new Vista Roof option, a large panoramic sunroof available on their crossover vehicles. Take rates for the inexpensive roof option are climbing as consumers opt for more airiness and light bathed cabins.

Both the Ford Explorer and Flex are popular models featuring the Vista Roof. Almost half of Explorer buyers are opting for the $1,595 Vista Roof, despite Ford expecting a take rate of just 30-35 percent when first introduced. With Edge buyers, 56 percent are choosing the roof and 32 percent of Flex buyers opt for it as well. The Vista Roof’s success in SUVs and crossovers is due to their large interiors that can at once feel claustrophobic for rear passengers but also offer the extra space to best accommodate the headroom-snatching glasswork and mechanism.

Interestingly, there is some degree of regionality to the roof demand. Customers in hot, sunny markets are somewhat less inclined to purchase the option. However U.S coastal regions select the panoramic roof at a near 60 percent rate. Ford has attributed this success to customers desiring more open structures and having more light available. Ford’s success with the panoramic roof only betters its bottom line. One supplier said that the American automaker could be profiting 25 percent or better on the approximately $1,500 average cost.

[Source: Edmunds Auto Observer]

Ford is ready to take on Hyundai in a duel for fuel efficiency bragging rights. Hyundai has advertised the redesigned 2011 Elantra as a 40 mpg rated subcompact, regardless of options.

However, Ford can only officially say that the 2012 Focus attains 40 mpg when equipped with the Super Fuel Economy package and six-speed automatic transmission. Ford is eager to prove that the Focus is more fuel efficient regardless or its options, so the American automaker organized a media drive in Romeo, Michigan.

Ford invited reporters to drive the Elantra at a steady 45 miles per hour around the 2.5-mile track. Then the reporters drove a Focus without the SFE package and lapped the track at the same speed. Conditions were equal for both cars and an engineer sat in the backseat, monitoring the fuel economy. The results showed that the average fuel economy of the Focus was 40.4 mpg and the Elantra achieved 37.8 mpg. This proves that the Focus is more efficient at a steady 45 mph than the Elantra.

[Source: Automotive News]

Click here to read AutoGuide’s 2011 Hyundai Elantra Review

Click here to read AutoGuide’s 2012 Ford Focus Review

Now that we know the mid 1990s Honda Civic and Accord hold the top two spots amongst car thieves, what cars do thieves avoid most?

Well, aside from the BMW 5-Series, the common denominator on this list is that these cars are all pretty dull. Interestingly, midsize SUVs and German sedans are among what the Highway Loss Data Institute deems to be undesirable to car thieves.  These vehicles are likely on the list because they have proper anti-theft mechanisms that go beyond a mere alarm system. On the other hand, the Chevrolet Aveo is a rolling anti-theft system in itself.

Here’s the Top 10 car that thieves dislike:

1. Audi A6 all-wheel-drive, large luxury car
2. Mercury Mariner (2009-10) small SUV
3. Chevrolet Equinox (2010) midsize SUV
4. Volkswagen CC (2009-10), midsize car
5. Chevrolet Equinox four-wheel-drive (2010) midsize SUV
6. Lexus RX 350 (2010) midsize luxury SUV
7. Saturn Vue midsize SUV
8. Chevrolet Aveo (2009-10) mini station wagon
9. BMW 5 series all-wheel-drive large luxury car
10. Mini Cooper Clubman 2-door car

[Source: USA Today]

An old newspaper maxim posits that “dog bites man” won’t make for an eye-catching headline, but “man bites dog” will get people’s attention. Perhaps the automotive equivalent is “Toyota RAV4 Driver Shoots Boy With Crossbow”.

Although information is scant, this is undoubtedly one of the most bizarre stories of the year. According to reports, a boy in San Diego was throwing rocks off of a freeway overpass when he was shot in the stomach with a crossbow. The shooter was said to be driving a black Toyota RAV4, and no arrests have been made.

We would automatically question the motives of anyone riding around with a crossbow in their car, but the RAV4 strikes us as a strange idiosyncracy. There are a thousand other vehicles that one would picture an anti-social maniac drving, and Toyota’s crossover isn’t one of them.

[Source: Toronto Star]

So many of us has been waiting anxiously for Brabus to show the world their Mercedes CLS Rocket successor, and it looks like one enthusiast took matters into their own hands.

Dan Buzdugan did his own rendering of what he thinks the new Brabus Rocket will look like, giving a Brabus style to the entire project. There’s little to no details surrounding the new Rocket, but we’re positive Brabus will improve on their 2005 rendition that featured 720-hp from its 6.3L twin turbo V12 powerplant. At the time it set all sorts of records for a vehicle in its class, including the top speed of a street-legal sedan at 225.2-mph. It won’t be long until we see its successor and we hope it’s worth every minute of the wait.

[Source: PS-Garage]

“Fuel economy is becoming increasingly important to car buyers all around the world, and the Kia Optima Hybrid is one of our latest models to address this consumer requirement,” Senior Executive Vice President & COO of Kia Motors Corporation Thomas Oh, said.

Currently, the Guinness World Record for lowest fuel consumption in a hybrid car was set in October 2010 using a Toyota Auris Hybrid. Amazingly, the Toyota covered 307.58 miles while only using 4.53 gallons of fueling, achieving 67.89 mpg.

GALLERY: Kia Optima

[Source: Left Lane News]

It may be a dream of yours to own one of the world’s most sought-after and beautifully designed luxury automobiles. You may not be able to afford the real thing, but for a fraction of the cost, you can gaze at them longingly with The Impossible Collection of Cars book.

A limited edition, 144-page book of dream rides, The Impossible Collection of Cars showcases brilliant photography and brief overviews of a range of drool-worthy automobiles. This collection takes a look at exceptional luxury vehicles, from a 1909 Blitzen Benz to a 1997 Porsche 993 Turbo S. The book is presented on cotton paper, and comes cased in a black rubber presentation box and complete with a cutout metal plate – a package worthy of the cars it showcases.

You can buy The Impossible Collection of Cars for $650 once it becomes available in October.

[Source: Uncrate]