Rumors of a new compact luxury sedan by Acura have been confirmed with recent spy photos of a “sub-TSX” model.

According to reports this smaller luxury sedan is based on the 2012 Honda Civic platform, but it won’t be identical to it, much like the Canadian market CSX sedan (previously sold as the EL). Instead the new model, which is rumored to wear the RSX badge, will grow slightly and be more of a true luxury model.

The addition of yet another front-drive sedan would make for three similar products in the Acura lineup, which could be one too many. As a result, look for the TSX model to be dropped when the new RSX arrives in two years time as a 2014 model year car.

[Source: TOV]

Nissan and Mitsubishi continue to cozy up, with the latest announcement including the sharing of Nissan’s newest flagship luxury sedan. Sold in North America as the Infiniti M, Nissan will supply what it dubs the Fuga in its domestic market to Mistubishi. The new Mitsubishi-badged vehicle will go on sale in Japan starting in the summer of 2012.

In addition, both automakers have signed on to work together to bring Mitsubishi’s MINICAB-MiEV (a larger version of the tiny electric car intended for commercial use) to market next year.

This news is the latest development from an agreement that began back in December of 2010 that has also seen Nissan supply its NV vehicles to Mitsubishi as well as a joint-venture to develop minicars for the Japanese market.

Q3 or not Q3? That is the question. Audi is weighing the merits of bringing its trendy entry level compact crossover Q3 to the U.S. market. Putting economic feasibility into the highest consideration, Audi has to guarantee the Q3′s success by determining the size of its demand and price sensibility. Audi North America CEO Johan de Nysschen stresses Q3′s MSRP must be low enough to entice buyers yet high enough to gain profits.

An unusual detail for an automaker to stall upon, Audi is currently executing a strategic front to gain a stronger market share in the upper luxury segments, notably for the A6, A7, and A8. Perhaps reluctance to throw the Q3 into the mix may in part be an entry model’s conflict to a premium image.

Moreover, BMW has delayed bringing its X1 crossover to the U.S. market as well. An Audi Q3 competitor, the X1 may be reconsidered for the United States after its midlife facelift.

Other Audi models coming into the United States include the A3 sedan for 2014. A ploy to attract owners of the older, smaller B5 generation of the A4, the intelligently packaged A3 is a very attractive model as the A4 sedan grows in size after every redesign.

GALLERY: Audi Q3

[Source: Autoweek]

It’s almost ready to rumble, but unfortunately, it won’t be doing any rumbling here. In an official press release, General Motors has stated that the new Chevrolet Colorado will indeed be built for ‘rest of the world’ consumption, much like its new Ford Ranger competitor.

The ‘global’ Colorado (currently undergoing final testing – see above) will be offered in a choice of extended and crew cab configurations and feature 2.5 and 2.8 liter Duramax diesel engine options under the hood with a choice of manual and automatic transmissions. It will be assembled at GM’s facility in Rayong, Thailand, which has undergone a tooling upgrade of some $300 million to handle production of the new truck and Thailand, understandably will be the Colorado’s launch market.

Launches in other markets across Asia and the Pacific Rim, as well as Africa, the Middle East and South America will follow.

Having spent much time in Thailand during the vehicle’s development process, in order to gauge the kind of buyers found in the local pickup market as well as driving conditions many trucks are subjected to, Colorado chief engineer Roberto Rempel and his team believe that Chevy’s new mid-size pickup is more than up to the task.

“We know customers of this type of vehicle want a workhorse and a daily-use vehicle all in one, so our product has to deliver. We have benchmarked the toughest, most flexible vehicles around the world,” Rempel said. “When you combine that approach with our detailed consideration of global expectations, we are confident the new Colorado will be a winner.”

So why can’t we in North America have one?

As part of Cadillac‘s continued rebranding efforts the Cadillac Racing team has been releasing “ride along” videos from each of its races this season in the SCCA World Challenge series. The latest comes to use from the glass-smooth and world-famous Laguna Seca, where pilots Johnny O’Connell and Andy Pilgrim take us through all 11 turns of the circuit, displaying some incredible driving.

Unfortunately the race itself wasn’t what Cadillac Racing had hoped with O’Connell managing just a 4th place finish in the GT Class, while damage sustained to Pilgrim’s car put him entirely out of the running.

This particular video is particularly worth a watch with Pilgrim and O’Connell getting rather close to each other on a few occasions. Plus, watch out for a grenading Volvo engine.

GALLERY: Cadillac CTS-V

Watch the video after the jump:

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One of the most respected names in the automotive business is Gordan Murray. Not only was he the designer behind some of the best Formula 1 race cars back in the 1980′s, he was also the mastermind behind the McLaren F1 road car, which is still widely respected as the best supercar ever made.

Having recently worked on such projects as the Caparo T1 and his own Gordon Murray Design T.25 city car, he has now pulled the wraps off his latest creation, the T.32.

Also known as the Teewave AR.1, the project was green-lighted by carbon-fiber specialists Toray Industries Inc. Toray wants to get into the business of making their own car, rather than just supplying panels for other manufacturers.

So Toray employed the services of Gordon Murray to design and develop their new car, which uses the running gear out of the Mitsubishi iMiEV. This 63-hp electric motor can propel this 1,874 lb. sportscar from 0-62 mph in 11.4 seconds, and onto a top speed of 91 mph.

However, the AR.1 is designed to be more of an urban sportscar, and thus its 0-31 mph acceleration time of 4.4 seconds will ensure it can easily keep pace with other traffic.

As with all electric vehicles, most people are more interested in charging times and range. The Teewave AR.1 will take six-hours to fully charge and can travel 116-miles before needing recharging.

Murray reveals that it took just nine months from concept discussion to running prototype. No dates have been given as to when this vehicle will go on sale, in which markets or how much it will cost.

Sheryl Crow put her 1959 Mercedes convertible up for auction to raise funds for tornado-damaged schools in Joplin, Missouri, and netted the cause a total of $260,000.

The auction took place on August 22 and the couple who bought the white Mercedes 190SL convertible for $130,000 also received one of Crow’s Gibson guitars, two concert tickets and a photo opportunity with the singer.

The couple has chosen to remain anonymous with their generous bid of $130,000 roughly double that value of the classic Benz. Having sealed the deal, the couple then tossed on an additional $130,000 donation.

“I am so touched by the donor making this very generous contribution on my behalf to Joplin schools,” said Crow, who is a former teacher and a Missouri native.

The May 22 tornado devastated the area, killed 162 people, destroyed Joplin High School and two other schools. Losses totaled more than $150 million. Joplin High School reopened on August 17, but thousands of students are still taking their classes in temporary facilities.

[Source: Reuters]

Only until recently did Kia find its groove and really start to deliver a lineup of attractive cars. However, Hyundai‘s vision for Kia’s future has something different in store. Rumors have suggested that Hyundai-Kia Automotive group may be performing an unprecedented hedge to have Kia carry a solely electric vehicle green model range while Hyundai continues to develop plug-in hybrid and fuel cell cars.

The motivation behind this strategy is to push Kia to unveil the automaker’s first highway-capable electric vehicle (code named TAM) by the end of 2011. Furthermore, Hyundai will continue their research and development over a hydrogen fuel cell Tucson concept set to debut for 2013.

Kia’s most recent move towards a production-ready EV came at the Seoul Motor Show, with the Naimo Concept, an electric car that’s slightly larger than the Toyota Yaris. In concept form it used an electric motor and lithium-polymer battery pack to make 109-hp and 207 lb-ft of torque with a range of 124 miles.

There’s no denying that leading automakers are vying to be future leaders in alternate energy. With Hyundai-Kia’s two prong approach, chances seem likely that the competition will be in for a surprise.

GALLERY: Kia Naimo Concept

[Source: Chosun via Autoblog Green]

GM has long intended to bring their Chevrolet Volt over to the Chinese market. It’s both the largest and the fastest growing market for automobiles and only within a few short years smog pollution has increased exponentially among China’s booming cities. To alleviate the headache, China will offer automakers planning to sell electric vehicles in their country a substantial subsidy of as much as $19,300.

But there’s a catch. GM is faced with a negotiation that risks handing the Volt’s proprietary technology over to the Chinese government. In order for GM to be eligible of the subsidy, the automaker is required to disclose one of Volt’s three main innovations — either its electric motors, the control system, or the batteries.

GM is understandably reluctant. Executive director of electrification strategy at GM China, Raymond Bierzynski, intends to have the Chinese officials allow Volt to qualify for the subsidies without the technology transfer and will, “… Bring it up in every conversation we have.” In addition, GM plans to import the Volt from Michigan instead of establishing a factory in China.

An obstacle not faced by GM alone, Nissan Leaf’s unavailability in China is likely rooted from the same problem. Nissan did not confirm nor deny this.

According to international trade experts familiar with the demands, China may be violating World Trade Organization rules, certainly teasing its the boundaries, by imposing this requirement.

GALLERY: Chevrolet Volt

[Source: Autoblog Green]

Nissan is promoting the 2012 Versa with some help from social media and comedian Adam Carolla. The My Versa Road Trip gives you the chance to create a virtual road trip for a chance to win a real one.

Earlier this week, Nissan launched a MyVersaRoadTrip.com, a Facebook Connect enabled website, where you can create your own road trip. Pick your own routes and a soundtrack to go along with it. While you’re at it, invite three Facebook friends to join you. Along with your road trip plan, tell Nissan why you should win a real road trip and share it with your social networks. The contest is on now until October 19, 2011.

Out of all the entries, six winners will be announced on November 14. They’ll win a 2012 Versa Sedan and take it on a 4 Day\3 night road trip with their friends. And as they take the trip, the winners will update the world on their progress via updates and photos on various social media platforms. There will also be stop-motion cameras inside and out of the Versas, and this footage will be used to create mini road-trip movies that will be submitted to an online film festival in January 2012.

Actor, comedian and TV personality Adam Carolla will also be joining in on the fun by taking his own road trip in a Versa. He’ll promote the contest by starring in a series of videos where he changes his name to ‘Adam Versa,’ heads to his hometown of North Hollywood and plays a “Hypothetical Road Trip Game.” But wait, there’s more! The September 21 episode of his podcast “The Adam Carolla Show,” will be changed to “The Adam Versa Show.” His guest will be Erich Marx, Nissan Director of Website and Social Media Marketing, and he’ll talk more about the My Versa Road Trip program, the 2012 Nissan Versa Sedan, and play the Hypothetical Road Trip game.

To enter the contest, go to MyVersaRoadTrip.com to plan your own road trip.

And while you’re being all social media-y, like AutoGuide on Facebook and follow us on Twitter too.