The Subaru version of Toyota’s FT-86 sports car has been overshadowed for its entire pre-existence with the big T showing sexy concepts at international auto shows while Subie was left with displaying significantly less-sexy bits like the chassis and engine. That, however, will change at the LA Auto Show, where Subaru is tipped to reveal its rear-drive sports car, the BRZ, in all of its glorious sheetmetal.

But wait, no….. it won’t be the production car, just a concept. And if the reports prove to be accurate it will be an over-the-top STI-inspired model (looking much wilder than our near-production artist’s rendering).

As for the production car, we expect it to finally see the light of day, along with its Toyota sibling, at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show.

Like it’s Scion FR-S sibling, the BRZ is expected to hit production with a direct-injection boxer 4-cylinder making around 200-hp.

Look for more into in the run-up to the 2011 LA Auto Show, which takes place November 16-17.

[Source: Car & Driver]

Discuss this story at SubaruBRZforum.com

We’ve certainly given up on believing that we’ve seen it all these days. Enthusiasts are getting more and more creative in finding new ways to set their cars apart from their neighbors, and this time around it looks like the newest craze are glowing wheels.

As shown in the below video of a BMW 7-Series, rim neons or LED lights are used to illuminate the wheels from behind, giving a Tron-like feel to your night on the town.

Check out the video after the break.

[Source: DUB Daily]

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The Saab soap-opera continues, but this week the news is good. Saab just won a court appeal to protect it from creditors while it awaits funding from its Chinese investors.

Earlier this year, two Chinese companies, Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile Co. and Pang Da Automobile Trade Co. agreed to buy shares in Saab, totaling $334-million.

Considering Saab currently owes $207-million to its employees and creditors, so once the money is received, it can easily pay down its debt.

The lower-court had initially rejected protection to Saab, citing that it had done so once before in 2009-2010.

How long will it actually be before Saab’s 3600 employees and its creditors will get paid? That is dependent on how quickly its Chinese investors can pay their due.

For now, the court has given Saab some breathing room. Saab’s production line has sadly been at a standstill since April 2011. Let’s hope they can once again start making beautiful and wonderful cars like the original 92 (pictured).

[Source: Automotive News]

While some automakers appear intent on taking fun out of the equation, Chrysler group seems is doing the opposite. With a raft of performance vehicles on offer through its Street and Racing Technology (SRT) brand, the company caters to those that still like a good ol’ fashioned dose of American pavement melting horsepower.

With the recent launch of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, it was perhaps a logical step for sister ship, the Dodge Durango to gain an extra shot of oats. Although there’s been no official confirmation from Chrysler, sources inside the company believe the project is very much a work in progress, slated for a possible 2013 model year release.

Like the Grand Cherokee SRT8, if and when a hot rod version of the Durango does surface, expect it follow in the same vein, being all-wheel drive only and powered by a 392 ci (6.4-liter) Hemi V8, generating around 470 horsepower, along with an adjustable suspension and monster Brembo brakes.

However, some questions remain. The Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 has been criticized for its relatively high sticker price ($54,470); especially considering it debuted amid one of the worst economic slumps in years. If a Durango version was to be offered it would likely be priced at a similar level if not more, which could severely limit the vehicle’s appeal, making it a stillborn proposition. Adding further fuel to the fire is that the R/T model (shown), currently the hottest in the Durango lineup, has so far accounted for just 7 percent of total sales since its introduction back in March.

Ralph Gilles, president of SRT, has gone on the record stating that the brand plans to ‘de-couple’ some of the features on the Grand Cherokee SRT8 in order to make it more price competitive, so if a ‘super’ Durango does indeed make the cut it will likely follow the Jeep’s lead. Stay tuned for further developments.

GALLERY: Dodge Durango RT

[Source: Inside Line]

It’s more luxurious. It’s bigger. It’s more comfortable. So it’s obviously a watered-down 911… right? Wrong!

Porsche‘s new 2012 911 Carrera S is faster, much faster, than the previous generation car, lapping the Nurburgring in a blistering 7:40 time, a solid 13 seconds ahead of it’s predecessor. OK, so that number’s a bit abstract, so let’s give it a little context. That time is identical to the previous generation GT3, despite the new Carrera S model being down 35-hp on the track-ready GT3 model.

So if there’s a lesson to be learned here, it;s that you should get your hopes up for the next GT3… way up!

GALLERY: 2012 Porsche 911

[Source: GoAuto]

It’s been rumored, confirmed, re-confirmed, axed and revived. If jaded skepticism about not just the car, but the Honda brand hasn’t gotten to you yet, then rejoice in this latest blissful report that the NSX will return.

That’s right, according to Honda CEO Takanobu Ito, a “new NSX” is in the cards, keeping very much in line with the principles of the original. What that means is that it will focus on having an incredible power-to-weight ratio rather than all-out power. That said, don’t look for it to win any drag races, but do expect it to humble the competition on the race track.

Sadly, the “new NSX” might not be the performance champ some are expecting either, with Ito commenting in an interview with AutoCar that, “The original NSX was about high power but also good driving performance, and today power-to-weight is what we have to focus on.” Wait! What? The original NSX was about high-power output? (On the contrary, the car is famous for being so incredibly fast on track despite it’s under 300-hp rating).

Ito, who worked on the original NSX says he wants the current crop of engineers to have the opportunity to work on a car like the NSX and so they’ve already begun on the project. “Our engineers are already looking at developing such a car,” he said.

So the new Acura NSX is coming. But will it be the NSX everyone is hoping for?

[Source: AutoCar]

There was a time, some 35-odd years ago, when the only engines found under the hood of a Volvo were four-cylinder units. Some were naturally aspirated, and some were boosted via a turbo-charger.

However, due to the demands and pressures from customers and share holders, Volvo started producing five-cylinder, six-cylinder engines. They even got Yamaha to design and build them a V8.

But that is all about to change for its future. According to industry sources, Volvo will not be employing any engine larger than a four-cylinder by 2020. Volvo is looking to develop a line of three-cylinder and four-cylinder motors. To get extra power, they will be turbo-charged, and diesels are also on the menu card.

This new engine line is dubbed VEA for Volvo Environmental Architecture. The idea is to reduce green-house emissions via smaller, lighter engines.

These new engines will start appearing by 2013 in a Volvo model near you.

[Source: Automotive News]

“I’m not satisfied with Cygnet sales,” declared Aston Martin‘s Chairman Dr. Ulrich Bez recently, though it’s not for the usual reasons. Rather than lack of demand, Aston’s main problem with the pint-size city car is actually lack of supply.

That said, wait times for the £31,000 (approximately $48,680 U.S.) machine are now starting to put customers off actually buying one, especially since Bez views the car very much as an impulse buy. “It is the sort of product a customer sees and decides they want on the spot – they don’t want to have to wait for their car to be built, but to drive it away there and then,” he said.

Bez says that in order to get Cygnet sales to where they should be depends on two things, firstly availability, which should improve once the company opens its first Cygnet store in London’s swanky Park Lane district and secondly, by taking a more active approach towards promoting the car, which may take time, given Aston’s limited resources.

In addition, with Toyota scheduled to release an electric version of the iQ, on which the Cygnet is based, it’s very likely that a version of this will form the basis for Aston’s first EV.

Aston’s city car has been a controversial topic since day one, yet in response to those who believe the Cygnet is diluting the Aston Martin brand, Bez had this to say, “it [the Cygnet] is a luxury piece, a great car to go around town in. Why would you take a Vantage through London when you could have this?”  He’s got a point.

[Source: Autocar]

Having entered a three car team in this year’s grueling Ferrari Enzo-killing Targa Newfoundland,  Chrysler‘s SRT/Dodge Motorsports entry managed to rack up first and second place finishes in the event, as well as raising almost $26,000 for the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.

“We are really pleased to have raised [this money] to help the [local Autism society],” declared Ralph Gilles, president and CEO of the Street and Racing Technology (SRT) brand and senior vice president – Product Design, Chrysler Group.

Gilles, driving in his fourth Targa event, finished second place in the Modern Category, behind the wheel of a Dodge Viper SRT-10. Dr. Rob Pacione, a veteran Targa Competitor, who drove a modified Challenger SRT 392 during the event, finished first in the Open Class.

The third vehicle in the triumvirate, another Challenger SRT 392, piloted by Los Angeles based journalist George ‘MotoMan’ Notaras, finished ninth in the Grand Touring category.

It’s interesting to note that all three cars were true production models, even Pacione’s mount, despite running a 392 Hemi Crate engine and performance exhaust, sported factory designed and engineered parts.

The money raised from the team’s participation this year will go towards providing services and assistance for families affected by autism.

It looks like mom can put her feet up and enjoy a quiet house for a couple of minutes – dads are getting more involved in kid carpooling duties, although they are more likely to drop the kids off at school in a utility vehicle rather than a minivan.

A new survey by Chevrolet shows that men are taking a much more active roll when it comes to dropping off and picking up the kids from school. The survey takes its results from an online survey conducted by Harris Interactive. The results show that 80 percent of American fathers with children aged 17 or younger enjoy an active daily family life and more than 70 percent drive their kids to school, daycare or extracurricular activities.

“According to recent Census data, there are 154,000 stay-at-home dads and more than 25 million dads who have kids under 17. The trend is shifting and men are becoming more involved with family-driving duties. We’re seeing the rise of the ‘Dadmobile,’” said James Bell, head of General Motors Consumer Affairs.

But according to these fathers, they’d much rather pull dad-duty in a utility vehicle. Moms still love their minivans (58 percent really dig them, thanks to features such as sliding doors), but dads think minivans aren’t manly enough. The survey also asked dads how cool their family vehicles were, and they came up with a 6.4 rating on a 10-point scale.

The dads surveyed in the poll went with SUVs and crossovers as their preferred family vehicle, citing they could accomplish all their daily activities in them, whether it be work or personal. Dads want to do everything in their vehicles – from holiday travel (94 percent) to work commutes (63 percent) to household do-it-yourself projects (54 percent). Less than one quarter of those surveyed said they prefer a minivan for these tasks.

The study showed that on the top of fathers’ family vehicle must-have list is a safe, fuel-efficient vehicle. And since they are “kidpooling,” passenger capacity is pretty important to nearly 40 percent of fathers, along with functionality, ample cargo space and comfort. The survey also noted that two of the most stressful things dads had to deal with regarding travel are high fuel prices and traffic jams.

So who performs most of the school drop off and pick up duties in your household? Leave us your two cents in the comments section below.