We’ve been hearing a lot about the 2013 Chevy Malibu of late, now GM has given us a further update. This time it concerns pricing on the Eco model, which will start at $25,995.

Said price does include a $760 destination charge but not taxes, dealer fees, licensing and others usually required to actually get a car on the road.

Chevrolet says the ’13 Malibu Eco (which will be available in dealerships during the first quarter of next year), will deliver a projected 26 mpg in city driving and 38 on the open road.

That puts it within range of other mid-size Hybrid and diesel sedans, notably the Ford Fusion (36 mpg highway), Hyundai Sonata (40 mpg) and Toyota Camry (39 mpg) Hybrids, plus the VW Passat TDI (40 mpg), while providing a lower entry price point.

Besides the EcoAssist driveline (which includes an electric motor and lithium ion battery pack in addition to a 2.4-liter Ecotec four, standard six-speed automatic transmission, stop/start technology and regenerative braking), the Malibu Eco also sports 17-inch wheels and low rolling resistance tires and a number of weight saving measures, such as an aluminum hood and rear bumper beam, lightweight carpet and dash materials, which shave approximately 130 lbs of mass.

The Eco is actually the first of the 2013 Malibus to launch in the U.S., other trim levels, the LS, LT and LTZ will follow in the summer of 2012. It’s perhaps a smart move, bringing the specialty offering to market first and then following it up with the bread and butter models. Given that approach, many are curious to see how the much touted new Malibu will fare in the market. If it follows a similar path to the Cruze, then it’s likely the recently revamped Toyota Camry will face some serious competition in the months ahead.

GALLERY: 2013 Chevrolet Eco

If you thought Google was the only one with an autonomous Prius, you’d be wrong. At the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota will show-off a self-driving version of its best-selling hybrid.

At this year’s show, Toyota will participate in the “Smart Mobility City 2011″ exhibit, designed to showcase the future of transportation. One of the highlights of the display will be the Toyota A.V.O.S. (Automatic Vehicle Operation System), a modified Prius that can drive by itself. Designed as a valet replacement, the car can park by itself, drive to the owner when requested and avoiding obstacles.

Toyota’s booth is themed “A not-too-distant future where society and transportation are linked” and will also showcase the Toyota Smart Mobility Park with new charging stations for electric cars and plug-in hybrids, using wind and solar power. In addition, Toyota will reveal its H2V (Home to Vehicle) Manager, which allows an operator to control charging times for an electric vehicle via a PC or smartphone, as well as check the house’s power supply.

See AutoGuide’s complete 2011 Tokyo Motor Show Preview here and look for coverage starting November 30th.

A car has long been a tool of freedom. It allows an individual to reach any destination at anytime in whatever fashion desired. It’s a rite of passage and a sign of maturity and adulthood. So it’s no surprise, automakers have long directed its focus to the youngest demographic in hopes to instill brand loyalty as soon as possible.However, a new and unexpected opposition is endangering the market– the rising relevance and popularity of the smartphone.

Statistics from the Transportation Department noted that in 1978, 50 percent of 16-year-olds in the United States obtained their first driver’s license. By 2008, the number dropped to only 30 percent. According to Gartner’s lead automotive analyst, Thilo Koslowski, says, “Mobile devices, gadgets and the Internet are becoming must-have lifestyle products that convey status. In that sense these devices offer a degree of freedom and social reach that previously only the automobile offered.” As a matter of fact, Koslowski went as far as saying, “The iPhone is the Ford Mustang of today.”

Sheryl Connelly, Ford Motor Company’s manager of global consumer trends and futuring, continued, “The car used to be the signal of adulthood, of freedom… Now the signal into adulthood for teenagers is the smartphone.”

Connelly explained that driving a car may limit the valuable time a teenager could have used to text their friends our update their statuses. While public transportation is slower, it will still provide teenagers time to engage friends on their mobile device. Yet, Ford is undeterred. K. Venkatesh Prasad, Ford’s senior technical leader of open innovation, responded with, “We are not looking at this to ask how we can get teens to buy a car versus an iPhone. Instead, the car has to become more than just a car. It has to become an experience.”

What that means for Ford is to create cars that can better mesh with a teenager or a young adult’s life by making them more like smartphones– cars that could automatically check in on FourSquare when it arrives at a trendy hangout spot, read text messages aloud, and built in cameras to take profile pictures and videos for the passengers so that they can upload their experiences onto Facebook or YouTube. Shared music networks can be implemented on inboard infotainment systems as well.

Unfortunately, it seems as if sheer driving pleasure and the significance of mobility has been lost to the new generation. A scary thought, but soon a car could even navigate itself so that the teenager could give social networking its undivided attention.

[Source: New York Times]

Volkswagen will look to bring to market high-performance diesel models under the newly formed R performance division. In an interview with Autoblog, Ulrich Riestenpatt gt. Richter, the man in charge or Vee-Dub R has confirmed as much, telling the outlet that, “The future is diesel and all-wheel-drive.”

And while he didn’t say as much, that means we can more than likely look forward to a diesel Golf R. The notion isn’t as far from reality as it sounds either, with VW already offering a GTD model in Europe – essentially a sporty diesel with extra power and handling capabilities, inspired by the GTI.

In addition Richter says an R version of any model is possible. Does that mean we’ll see a Jetta R, Passat R or Tiguan R? Perhaps. It most certainly is a strong indication that the Beetle R is coming soon.

GALLERY: Volkswagen Golf R

[Source: Autoblog]

No one will ever accuse the Porsche 911 of being the world’s most beautiful convertible. But slap a made-in-Stuttgart badge on the front of it and people don’t seem to care what a car looks like.

With that in mind, Porsche has released details and photos of the next-generation (991) 911 Carrera Cabriolet and Carrera S Cabriolet, perhaps looking even more like their predecessors than the coupe does. (Is that even possible?)

According to Porsche, the cars get a new folding soft-top mechanism made of aluminum, magnesium and steel that helps the car weigh significantly less than the previous generation model.

Out back the engines remain the same with a 3.4-liter boxer six-cylinder in the Carrera making 350-hp, while the Carrera S Cab gets a 3.8-liter version good for 400-hp.

Both cars will hit dealers in the Spring, with the 2012 911 Carrera Cabriolet priced at $97,300 and the 911 Carrera S Cabriolet at $108,000.

GALLERY: 2012 Porsche 911 Cabriolet

In a week’s time at the Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota will unveil what might just be the most important car it will launch in decades. Sure the Camry makes the Japanese automaker plenty of cash and the Prius points to the future of the automobile, but if Toyota is going to succeed it needs an enthusiasts following, and that’s just what the FT-86 was designed to create.

Billed as having the lowest center of gravity of any production car, with 200-hp and a 2,700 lbs curb weight it promises to be a back-to-basics type of motoring, giving enthusiasts exactly the car they’ve been asking for. And all at a very reasonable price.

In a new video released today, Toyota teases a little more of what is presumably the production version of the FT-86, looking a lot like the original concept. One big difference, however, are the circular taillights, much like the Nissan GT-R or Corvette.

While plenty has already been leaked about the FT-86 (Scion FR-S), stay tuned for the official reveal with AutoGuide’s coverage from the Tokyo Motor Show starting here November 30th.

Watch the video below:

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The world’s cheapest vehicle has just gotten a whole lot (little bit?) better, with Tata announcing a batch of upgrades for their economical Nano. The 624-cc engine now makes a ferocious 37.5-hp, giving it a max speed of 65-mph.

In addition to the performance increase, the Nano also got its suspension reworked which included a new anti-roll bar in the front and a redesigned steering mechanism. The biggest improvement though is that the Nano Standard now comes with power-assisted brakes. Prior to this refresh, power-assisted brakes were only offered on some of Nano’s more luxurious models.

On the inside, buyers have a trio of colors to choose from for interior trim – beige, black and gray while the exterior colors have expanded to a portfolio of 10 choices. Those 10 colors are worth mentioning just for their names: Pearl White, Rouge Red, Aqua Blue, Neon Rush, Serene White, Meteor Silver, Mojito Green, Papaya Orange, Sunshine Yellow and Champagne Gold.

Hopefully these will help increase Tata’s Nano sales. They originally projected (or rather, hoped) to sell around 20,000 to 25,000 vehicles a month but saw only 1,200 leave dealer lots in September. Maybe it’s not paying off to be the world’s cheapest vehicle.

In celebrating the launch of Fiat’s 500 in America, Fiat has decided to release a special Nation Edition 500. The 500 Nation will be introduced at the upcoming Bologna Motor Show.

This special edition Fiat 500 is very patriotic, sporting a Stars & Stripes graphics package with 16-inch wheels. It will also come in an exclusive America Blue exterior shade (in hatchback form) while the convertible packs a tri-coat white.

Fiat plans to launch the Nation Edition in February with production limited to 500 units each and pricing set at $19,570 for the hatchback and $24,290 for the convertible based on today’s conversion rates.

GALLERY: Fiat 500 Nation Edition

[Source: WorldCarFans]

Spanish automotive manufacturer SEAT, one of Volkswagen’s mainstream brands will be attending the Guangzhou Auto Show in China and looks to expand into the Chinese market by opening 15 dealerships this year.

SEAT announced that 12 of the 15 dealership agreements have already been signed and that the remaining three are in their final stages of negotiations, with deals to be finalized within the next few weeks.

SEAT will target the most important cities in China first, with dealerships opening in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Chengdu and Chongquing. The Beijing dealership’s construction has already commenced. SEAT also announced that only their Ibiza and Leon will make it to China next year. SEAT has struggled in recent years, and their entry into China should give the brand a boost, considering its wealth of critical success.

[Source: LeftLane News]

Looking for a great stocking stuffer for the kids? Here’s a cute toy we wouldn’t mind playing with – My First Autobahn Tape Kit & Race Car.

My First Autobahn lets your kids set up a track wherever they are. All they have to do is peel the tape off, stick it on the floor and they are off to the races! The kitchen, living or bedroom – they’re all great places to set up this sticky Autobahn track.

The Autobahn tape sticks to any hard surface – floors, walls, tables, appliances – and comes off quickly and cleanly once the race is over. The tape, which measures 33ft long and 2 inches wide, won’t damage your floors, but feel free to set your own speed limits. My Fist Autobahn Tape Kit also comes with an assorted penny racer and pull back car. You can buy it just in time for the holidays for $17.95 at DannaBanana.com.