Rumors that the next-generation Mitsubishi EVO would go hybrid first surfaced over a year ago and now company president Osamu Masuko has reportedly confirmed as much.

Speaking with the UK’s AutoCar, Masuko said the Evo XI will come with a hybrid powertrain and that it will be on sale within the next three years.

Rumors have suggested the car could be a plug-in hybrid, or that it could use a diesel-hybrid powertrain, helping it deliver substantial amounts of torque from a very small displacement engine.

Several months back came reports that the EVO would be discontinued as Mitsubishi poured substantial resources into developing future electric cars. That was eventually rebuked by Masuko has insisted the EVO would live on, but “evolve” in a different direction.

[Source: AutoCar]

Fanboys have been waiting for its arrival almost as long as Christians have been waiting for the second coming and now, lovers of Toyota‘s FT-86 sports car have a new way of passing the time until it arrives. Proving that there really is an App for everything, Toyota has just launched the “FT-86 World Report” App. Get ready to be disappointed.

It doesn’t let you race the FT-86 on the Nurburgring, or go behind the scenes of the creation or design of the car, or even have a great teaser of its exhaust note. Nope. Instead, the App let’s you digitally add a rendering of the FT-86 onto a photo you take and then upload it to the FT-86WorldREport.com website. Perhaps the only genuinely interesting part of this app is that you can see just how many others are as excited as you are about Toyota’s new affordable sports car.

Toyota will debut the FT-86 at the Tokyo Auto Show on November 30, with it’s sister car, the Subaru BRZ being unveiled the same day. The U.S. market Scion FR-S is expected to be unveiled at the New York Auto Show next spring.

Available for iPhone4, 4S and iPad2, download the app today here.

Watch the video after the jump:

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As automakers look for ways to save fuel and reduce emissions, idle shut-off systems are becoming increasingly prevalent. Now, Mitsubishi has jumped on the bandwagon, releasing the first details on its new 4J10 1.8-liter gasoline motor which features Auto Stop and Go technology.

The engine, which also incorporates an updated version of Mitsubishi’s MiVEC variable valve timing (that combines both valve lift and duration based on engine speed as well as continuously variable valve timing – previous motors had one or the other); will be available from this month in the Japanese Domestic Market RVR crossover, plus the Galant Fortis sedan and Sportback (known as the Lancer in North America and most other markets).

In JDM configuration, the new engine will be rated at 139 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and  126.9 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 revs and provides a roughly 12 percent gas mileage improvement on the Lancer and RVR. Although currently, the Auto Stop and Go system is only available on cars with manual gearboxes, Mitsubishi has been developing a version that can be used on those equipped with Continuously Variable Transmissions.

Given ever tightening fuel economy and smog requirements in other parts of the world, particularly Europe and North America, expect derivatives of this engine to appear in export markets in the near future, notably the Lancer sedan and Sportback, plus the RVR and ASX/Outlander Sport.

[Source: Carscoop]

Bespoke means that provided you have a specific quest, as well as time and money, just about anything is possible. So, how about a one-off pink Bentley?

Actually a factory job, commissioned by California concessionaire Bentley San Diego, this unique Continental GT was built to contribute awareness to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer foundation and appropriately perhaps, the car’s codename is ‘Cure.’

The 575 hp, W12 powered beast, capable of accelerating from 0-62 mph in just 4.6 seconds, will have a portion of the proceeds from its sale, go to the foundation to help further breast cancer research and prevention.

There likely won’t ever be another Bentley like this car, thus whoever ends up with it, will not only have helped contribute to a good cause, they’ll also never have to worry about losing their vehicle in a parking lot.

[Source: GTspirit.com]

Prodrive is synonymous with turning everyday family runabouts into championship winning rally cars. Most recently, they have competed with a Mini Countryman, which is faring quite well so far.

Now Prodrive is turning its attention to making a special version of a Countryman for those who don’t have a race seat in the FIA Rally Championship.

Based on information by some industry moles, the Prodrive Countryman sports a more muscular body, a large rear wing and some tasty alloy wheels.

The changes won’t be just cosmetic as it will also feature a Milltek exhaust and a performance enhancing chip by Superchips, which will easily boost output to 230-hp. It might get even more if they decide to replace the current turbo unit with a larger one.

No pricing or availability is known for now, but since North Americans never got to sample any other products Prodrive produced in the past, chances are we won’t get this one either.

Mini will eventually offer its own John Cooper Works version of the Countryman, which will be exciting enough for most of us.

[Source: Autocar]

Fans of the Land Rover Defender worried about the iconic off-roader’s impending demise should feel at ease, because the Defender has a long life ahead of it, with production scheduled until 2017.

While a new, more civilized Defender, will bow in 2015, the current vehicle will remain in production until 2017, and possibly as long as 2020. Changes in emissions and safety legislation that would have rendered the Defender unfit for sale have been ammended, or exemptions have been granted for the vehicle.

The Defender was also re-classified as a commercial vehicle a number of years ago, and reports suggest that this should help further safeguard the vehicle’s future in the European marketplace.

[Source: Autocar]

The guys over at Tjin Edition followed up the teaser of their two SEMA Ford projects with this rendering of their Honda Civic Sedan project from Gurnade Design Firm. This will be the fourth Honda Tjin Edition has built for SEMA and this time around, Tjin Edition teamed up with Wraptivo, Daley Visual, Gurnade, Rotiform, Function and Form and Baer.

The project will debut at this year’s SEMA Show and is the only Honda Civic Si Sedan Honda handed out to builders this year. Tjin Edition kept it clean and simple, focusing on form, function and family when building the project. The suspension comes courtesy of Function and Form coilovers, giving the Civic the adjustability it needs to look right on a set of 19-inch Rotiform Concave BLQ wheels. The color scheme is unique as well, as Tjin Edition informed us that it’s the last roll in existence of this particular color from Wraptivo. The matte exterior is clearly contrasted by orange-anodized wheels with Baer brakes peeking behind them. It’s further accented by the fact that the Baer calipers appear to be in a bright, purple finish.

AutoGuide will be sure to check out all the project cars in the Honda booth this year’s SEMA Show.

Discuss this story at 9thGenCivic.com

Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is making Alfa Romeo’s U.S. re-launch a top priority, calling it “the most difficult thing I have to do”. Alfa Romeo last sold cars in the U.S. in 1995, but the brand still has a strong image in the U.S., spurring Marchionne to focus efforts on North America.

Alfa Romeo’s image has taken a beating in Europe over its legendary quality issues, and this factor provided further impetus for Fiat to focus their efforts in the U.S., where Alfa’s are viewed with nostalgic fondness. Marchionne hopes that Alfa will sell 80,000 cars in the U.S.  in 2014, with 400,000 units sold globally – up from 150,000 currently.

Alfa will offer the 4C sports car and a compact SUV will be offered initially with the Giulia sedan and wagon, the Mito hatchback, a new Spider and a Chrysler 300C-derived 6C sedan coming as well. The 4C is said to be a key halo designed to capitalize on memories of Dustin Hoffman’s Alfa Spider in the iconic film The Graduate.

[Source: AutoCar]

U.S. private equity firm North Street Capital will give Saab a $70 million investment, including an equity stake worth $10 million and a $60 million loan to the ailing car maker.

With Chinese-backed financing looking increasingly unlikely, the investment from North Street Capital, a firm run by auto enthusiast Alex Mascioli, will give Saab the resources it needs to (literally) keep the lights on at their facilities. The Chinese government has yet to approve the bridge loan being offered by both Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile Co and Pang Da, and Saab’s owners fear that full payment will not be received on the October 22nd due date.

[Source: Automotive News]

He’s only been in the job since March, but Rolls-Royce Chief-Executive Officer Torsten Muller-Oetvoes says that so far, the ultra luxury marque has weathered the current economic storm rather well.

In 2011, Rolls is projected to beat the record 2,711 cars, sold last year, with China poised to overtake the US as the largest single market.

In addition, during a recent interview with Automotive News, Muller-Oetvoes said that Rolls-Royce is planning to expand its factory at Goodwood, Sussex, in the UK, as well as possibly boosting the number of dealers world wide, from the current 85, to around 100. In addition, he spoke about possibly adding a Ghost coupe to compliment the sedan.

Since being launched, the Rolls-Royce Ghost sedan has attracted a new type of customer to the brand which tends to be younger and more in-tune with today’s technology. That said, Muller-Oetvoes believes that the key to success in the future is will be down to a steady growth strategy, though not necessarily a significant increase in volume.

“Like no other brand, Rolls-Royce stands for exclusivity, quality and individual style,” he said. ” We will continue to grow steadily, but ours is not a volume strategy. For example, we have no long-term plans for sales in five figures.”

Muller-Oetvoes also believes that former stablemate Bentley (now owned by rival VW) isn’t really a competitor for Rolls, though the Mulsanne might come close as a Ghost rival. He said “they [Bentley buyers] purchase models of both brands, their garages are like closets, equipped for all of life’s occassions. Rolls-Royce competes with other luxury goods such as real estate, yachts, fine art and jewelry.” So no SUV is likely for Rolls then, which is probably a good thing.

Muller-Oetoves also says that V12 engines will remain very much in Rolls’ future, despite current fads towards smaller engines, diesels and alternative fuel powertrains, though company is exploring other options.  ”Our engines are highly efficient and our 102EX electric Phantom project is the first step in exploring the potential for alternative powertrains in the long-term,” he stated. In reference to diesels, he stated that while they might be popular in Europe, “a diesel could never deliver a true Rolls-Royce experience: effortless performance and, of course, silence.”

As for the possibility of introducing electric, hybrid or other such powertrains down the road, it will essentially hinge on buyer interest in such technologies, which among Rolls-Royce owners is currently, almost non-existent.  ”Few clients who have driven 102EX are prepared to charge a battery for eight hours for a range of just 200km,” he stated.

[Source: Automotive News]