The world’s least expensive car, the Tata Nano’s original purpose in design was to be a modern Ford Model-T, mobilizing millions of families in India.

Despite the Nano’s noble intentions, only 1,200 examples were sold in the month of September when initial projections expected a rather optimistic 20,000 vehicles per month. A new approach may be the remedy and that’s exactly what Tata hopes to achieve with its new Nano commercial.

Targeting India’s young, active, and likable college students, the ad features American idioms sprinkled throughout that frankly sound a little contrived.

The Nano boasts a passenger space increase of 21 percent. Tata also shows off the Nano’s acceleration (good for passing trucks on Indian highways) as well as ride quality and ground clearance capable of fording a spring creek. The Nano’s A/C is so strong that one buddy decides to hibernate, allowing everyone else to enjoy a popular college pastime that involves black markers and camera phones. Finally, the twisty and mountainous roads to the weekend getaway help to demonstrate Nano’s best-in-India 25 km/liter petrol mileage as well as its short turning radius.

See the commercial for yourself after the jump

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Our spy photographers have done it again, this time finding the 2013 Mercedes-Benz S-Class in the wild.

The S-Class is an important product for Mercedes, but this generation has the added burden of replacing the now-dead Maybach sedans, as well as acting as the flagship for Mercedes-Benz.

Expect to see VIPs, celebrities and African desposts chauffeured around in these starting in 2013. There’s a good bet your local hedge fund manager will have one, too.

Check out the video after the jump

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The 2007 Formula 1 world champion Kimi Raikkonen is making a comeback to the sport after a two-year break.

However, its not like he was sitting at home doing nothing for the last two years. Raikkonen dabbled in WRC rallying, and also tried his luck in the NASCAR Truck Series. But it’s F1 where his star shined the brightest, where he had won 18 races and 62 podiums while racing for McLaren and Ferrari. His only championship win came at the wheel of a Ferrari.

Raikkonen’s return to F1 was in the rumor-mill for several months, but many speculated that he will drive for Williams. But the 32-year old from Finland will return with Lotus GP (known as Lotus-Renault GP for the 2011 season). On this occasion, Raikkonen commented: “My hunger for F1 has recently become overwhelming. It was an easy choice to return with Lotus GP.”

Raikkonen who first entered F1 in 2001 with Sauber, raised many eyebrows in the paddock when he scored a point in his debut race. He moved to McLaren a year later.

Will Raikkonen’s return be heroic or will he suffer from the same fate Michael Schumacher has been dealing with during his comeback? Only time will tell.

Fuel Cell Vehicles that run on electricity and emit nothing but water vapor may sound like a pipe dream, but Toyota is reconfirming its commitment to making them a reality by 2015 with the new FCV-R Concept. Unveiled today at the Tokyo Motor Show, the FCV-R (Fuel Cell Vehicle – Reality & Revolution) is a strong hint that Toyota is far more serious about mass production hydrogen fuel cell vehicles than it was when it first began testing the modified Highlander FCHV back in 2007.

Toyota has said it will offer a fuel cell model for fleet use in 2015 and while that is still a ways off, this new car is a strong indication of the serious nature of the project, giving it a unique design language (similar to the Prius family). The car is also an original model in that it doesn’t ride on an obvious donor platform. Details are still scarce but Toyota has said the car is roughly 185-inches, which for a size comparison is 4-inches shorter than the current Camry. That said, it’s significantly more substantial a vehicle than the Prius.

Impressively, Toyota claims an emissions free driving range of 430 miles in the FCV-R Concept. We expect to see further renditions of this concept over the next few years, becoming increasingly closer to production at each stage.

GALLERY: Toyota FCV-R Concept

Even though it was originally reported that Mugen’s supercharged Honda CR-Z would never see production, it looks like Toyota‘s introduction of the GT 86 and Subaru‘s BRZ might have changed Honda’s mind just a little bit. Mugen Euro and Honda confirmed that their supercharged 197-hp CR-Z will see the light of day with an estimated base price of around $35,650 (£23,000) based on today’s conversion rates.

The pricing actually isn’t that bad when compared to the price of a standard CR-Z in the UK, which is around £18,000. With the extra dollars, enthusiasts will get a supercharged powerplant with a retuned ECU, upping the factory 122-bhp and 128 lb-ft of torque to 197-bhp and 158 lb-ft of torque. In addition, buyers will be able to choose from a plethora of Mugen accessories including suspension upgrades, larger wheels, bigger brakes, a carbon hood and even carbon doors. The electric motor on the CR-Z has been untouched.

Hopefully one day we’ll see this in the States, even in a limited quantity. With the lack of a Type-R variant on any of Hondas models, a supercharged CR-Z option would be tempting to some looking for eco-friendly performance.

GALLERY: Mugen Honda CR-Z

Proof that Toyota is serious about launching its own electric car is the FT-EV III Concept, unveiled today at the Tokyo Motor Show. The third in a string of such concepts this will be the last, as the near-production vehicle shows. A telltale sign of the vehicle’s roadworthiness is an interior not unlike that of a production model, sporting design cues from other Toyota products, while adding unique EV touches.

Using a lithium-ion battery pack mounted below the floor and with an electric motor, Toyota claims a total driving range of 65 miles with room for four. Toyota refers to the FT-EV III (Future Toyota – Electric Vehicle III) as a “near future” concept and we expect to see a production version, branded as a Scion iQ EV sold in the U.S. next year.

GALLERY: Toyota FT-EV III Concept

See AutoGuide’s complete 2011 Tokyo Motor Show Coverage here

We’ve already seen one result of the joint project between Toyota and Subaru, the Toyota GT 86, and now we have the official photos of Subaru’s variant, the BRZ. By now, nothing about the BRZ is much of a surprise even though we anxiously await the world debut at the Tokyo Motor Show.

The rear-wheel-drive BRZ will be powered by a 2.0L Horizontally-Opposed Boxer Engine with 200-hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. Transmission options will be either a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual and the sports car will weigh in at 2,689-lbs. More of the focus of the BRZ however is in its handling capabilities and its lightweight chassis, as Subaru aimed for “Pure Handling Delight” with their new sports car.

Throughout the design, Subaru focused on an ultra-low center of gravity, allowing for a low hood design and a perimeter-type body frame layout. On the inside, Subaru gave the BRZ a fun-to-drive notion, outfitting it with a smaller steering wheel, a tachometer with digitally displayed speedometer in the center of the gauges and bespoke sports car seats.

All BRZ models will come standard with 17-inch wheels and tires and electronic stability control. Stay tuned as AutoGuide will be at the Tokyo Motor Show for the official debut with plenty more photos for you to indulge in.

Get more Subaru BRZ news and info at subarubrzforum.com

GALLERY: 2013 Subaru BRZ

If you think you have what it takes to be an automotive tycoon, now is your chance to find out. Automation, the game that lets you design a car from scratch, is now available for preorder, and a new game trailer has hit the web that will help get your creative juices flowing.

Automation gives you the chance to make a car for the masses. The year is 1946 and you’re in charge of a new vehicle company. You design every aspect of it – from the chassis and engine to its exterior specifications. To edge out your competitors, you’ll need to research new technology in order for your company to grow. You don’t need any design experience to play the game, so even noobies can get in on the fun.

If you preorder the Automation game now, you’ll save $10 off of the final $30 purchase price. As well, you’ll get some exclusive content thrown in with the deal. You can find out more about the game at the Camshaft Software site and you can watch the video after the jump.

[Source: Autoblog]

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Ferrari is celebrating its partnership with luxury Swiss watchermaker Hublot with, surprise, a limited-edition timepiece.

There will only be 20 of the Big Bang Chrono Tourbillon Ferrari timepieces available, which also marks the 20th anniversary of the automaker’s presence in China. The watch features a single push-piece chrono movement with a flying toubillon, a 44mm dial and a sporty case made from carbon fiber.

“Ferrari is indeed one of the leading luxury brands on the Chinese market, and Hublot is very proud to become the exclusive strategic partner of Ferrari. The win-win agreement is a symbolic of a new beginning for our two brands, and will undoubtedly be a partnership filled with thrill and passion,” said Ricardo Guadalupe, managing director of Hublot.

The Big Bang Chrono Tourbillon Ferrari also comes equipped with HUB 6300 movement with clutch tourbillon escapement, while its strap is made of  hornback crocodile leather and adorned with PVD Titanium buckles. No word on the price yet, but with only 20 piece being made, we’re sure it’s going to be pricey.

[Source: Born Rich]

Garmin’s StreetPilot app for iOS just got an update that gives you even more detailed information about your commute.

With this free update, you can now get live weather and forecasts with the app. As well, there’s now a $9.99 add-on that will give you access to 10,000 street cams in the US and Canada. The app already comes with a street cam feature, but if you like to be one step ahead of traffic, the add-on will come in handy. Plus, with the add-on, you can set up a list of cameras you use on a frequent basis – kind of like a street cam play list.

The StreetPilot app comes with a host of other cool features as well, including voice-prompted, turn-by-turn directions, a 3D map view, real-time traffic updates and integrated iPod music controls. You can download the app from the iTunes Store for $59.99.

[Source: Autoblog]