The Honda Fit EV just made its World Debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show and we want to take this opportunity to tell Nissan that it needs to watch its mirrors. Promising a range close to the Leaf Leaf (123 miles vs 138 for the Leaf), and a price of just $36,625, the new Fit EV offers virtually all of the benefits of the Nissan, but with a  platform that has already proven to be versatile and fun.

Honda will initially offer the Fit EV on three-year lease plans for around $399/month and plans to find around 1,100 takers in those first three years. We don’t think that is an unrealistic expectation at all. The electric Fit joins natural gas, fuel cell and hybrids in the Honda lineup, making it one of the most diverse lineups in terms of alternative energy sources.

Honda will begin leasing the Fit EV to customers in select California and Oregon markets next summer, and will expand to six East Coast markets in early 2013.

Gallery: 2013 Honda Fit FV

While Volkswagen was displaying their “new” Beetle R “concept” and freshened 2012 VW CC at the Los Angeles Auto Show, there was also a new Passat sitting there which we have seen even more than the other two cars. Old news we were thinking… until Angus MacKenzie from Motor Trend stepped on stage.

Taking most of the assembled media members aback, Angus announced that the 2012 Passat had been chosen as this year’s Car Of The Year. From the largest field ever in the award’s 60-odd years of existence, the guys at MT picked the Passat. If we challenged you to name the 35 or so cars that were in the running this year, chances are you might have forgotten the Passat. But as Mr. MacKenzie pointed out, the new Passat was the best at meeting the magazine’s six judging criteria. We don’t have anything against the Passat, mind you, but we have to say that this selection was a big surprise.

Gallery: Volkswagen Beetle R Concept

Volkswagen today unveiled the freshened 2013 CC four-door coupe, with a revised front fascia and some spiffy new LED taillights that clearly distinguish it from the 2012 model.

Not much else has changed according to VW, but the German automaker did take a big step towards making the CC a bigger player by adding a five seat option in the form of a new three-across bench available in back. Engines will remain the same, at least initially, with 200 and 280 hp gas engines filling the engine bay, the smaller engine backed by a stick or DSG and the bigger motor going 4Motion and automatic only.

The standard equipment list on the 2013 Volkswagen CC has grown along with the occupant capacity, and now includes such features as “bi-xenon headlights with static cornering lights and a new LED rear lighting design. Also standard: fatigue detection, RCD 310 radio-CD system, stainless steel door sill plates and safety head restraints (front seats) with additional front-rear adjustment. In addition, new assistance systems are making their way into the CC. They include optional technologies such as Side Assist Plus including Lane Assist (warns of vehicles in blind spots and supports the driver via steering intervention to avoid an accident), Dynamic Light Assist (automatic main beam control) and a camera-based traffic sign detection system. Meanwhile, the ‘climate seat’ with integrated massage function optimises comfort,” according to the press release you’ll find after the break.

Gallery: 2013 Volkswagen CC

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Okay, maybe we’re reaching a bit with these “debuts” but that’s how Infiniti is billing the American auto show unveiling of the new G25 sedan at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show today. Of course, we’ve seen this G25 before, but…it’s a perfectly fine looking sedan so we’ll humor them here a bit. As its name implies, the G25 is powered by a 2.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 that produces 218 horsepower and 187 lb-ft of torque. Pricing will start $30,950.

For $30,950, the G25 sedan scores you features like 17-inch wheels, xenon headlamps, leather seats, aluminum interior trim, power seats, and six-speaker stereo. The upscale Journey trim level adds a backup camera, heated front seats and dual zone climate control.

As a more affordable G sedan, the G25 will likely be a new volume seller for the brand, rivaling the likes of the Audi A4 2.0T and BMW 328i. We haven’t driven the car yet, but with the G37 arguably the best alternative to a 335i, we have high hopes for the Japanese sports sedan.

GALLERY: Infiniti G25

Official release after the jump:

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Citing the company’s long history of affordable compact cars that are environmentally sustainable, Mitsubishi today launched the U.S.-spec version of the electric i-MiEV at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show.

With some 4,000 i-MiEV models already on the road in different parts of the world, the car is now somewhat familiar, but the U.S. version has a few changes on the outside and underneath. The front fascia, in particular, has been reworked for U.S. standards, and Mitsubishi tells us this four-passenger car is intended to be the first salvo in the company’s push towards better overall emissions and consumption by 2020.

Power comes from a lithium-ion battery and electric motor that can be recharged in 16 hours from a conventional household outlet or 8 hours using a 220V outlet. A special 220V quick charger will, however, be able to charge up to 80 percent in just 30 minutes.

The other announcement today was that Mitsubishi has teamed up with Eaton to supply home recharging stations, and Best Buy to sell and install them. One last mention was the pricing, which will start at under $30,000 before any government incentives – or the optional graphics packages that will be available when the car hits showrooms next Fall.

Cars will hit dealers in California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii in November of next year with larger scale sales at the end of 2012.

GALLERY: U.S.-Spec Mitsubishi i-MiEV

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Today at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, the group that hands out its Green Car of the Year award handed it over to Chevrolet for their Volt, which only made its official world premiere at the show the day before.

The Green Car of the Year is awarded by the Green Car Journal which uses an eleven-member panel to select the winner. The five finalists for 2010 were all 2011 models – the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, the Nissan Leaf battery electric car, the hybrid electric versions of the Hyundai Sonata and the Lincoln MKZ, and the straight-up gasoline-powered-but extremely thrifty Ford Fiesta, which achieves (40 miles per U.S. gallon (5.9 L/100 km; 48 mpg-imp) in highway driving.

Last year’s winner was the Audi A3 TDI.

GALLERY: Chevy Volt Debut at LA Auto Show

When Dodge boss Ralph Gilles introduced the 2011 Dodge Charger at the LA Auto Show, he said that they call it the “car that makes other sedans wet their pants.” When he introduced the 2011 Dodge Challenger, he smiled.

He explained that all of the work that had gone into remaking the Charger had been transferred over to the Challenger as well. The suspension and steering upgrades, combined with the upgraded Hemi V8, make the car handle like it weighs 500 pounds lighter than it really does. That should bring it into Camaro, if not Mustang, territory. Also new for 2011 is the Pentastar V6 in lesser Challengers, as well as a new 392 Hemi in SRT8 392 special edition models.

That new 392 cubic inch Hemi V8 produces 470 horsepower and 470 ft-lbs of torque. The SRT8 392 will cost $42,555 and will be introduced with an inaugural series of 1,100 units in the States. The Pentastar V6 equipped SE models will produce 305 hp and will start at $24,670. Dodge will also offer just about every option previously available on only one trim level across the board now, so you won’t have to upgrade to an R/T to get 20-inch wheels for instance.

GALLERY: 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392

Official release with pricing after the jump:

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When we saw the 2011 Dodge Avenger on stage at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, we noticed that it was parked next to a Challenger. Seriously, that’s about all we noticed.

Sure there’s some new styling cues at the front and rear, but basically it looks a lot like the 2010 model. Then we had a chance to see the interior and it changed our perceptions. When Ralph Gilles told us about how well this new model handles, we actually wanted to get behind that new wheel.

Let’s face it, Chrysler can’t just replace everything in the lineup with a completely new world-class product overnight, so making the best of what you’ve got is the only way to go for now. The changes made to the Avenger…under the skin…are probably going to pay more dividends anyhow. The new 283-hp Pentastar 3.6-liter V6 won’t hurt much either.

Dodge used the LA show to announce official pricing on the refreshed model with the base model Express starting at $19,245; the Mainstreet from $21,245; the Heat from $23,745 and the top-level Lux from $23,545.

GALLERY: 2011 Dodge Avenger

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The 2011 Durango had yet another “official” debut at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, with Dodge front man Ralph Gilles telling the assembled journalists how proud he is to show off his portfolio now, with six new or newish models in the lineup – including the all-new Durango.

While Gilles talked at length about how each and every model in this new lineup will surpass any expectation you may have of a new Dodge lately, he admitted that he is most proud of the Durango. He said the handling, overall performance, and materials are particularly praiseworthy, and then he announced the pricing, which make it seem quite the bargain. Available in three trim levels, (well four if you count an optional package thrown in on the mid-line Crew model), base pricing of the new Durango will range from  $29,195 / $31,195 for the 2WD/4WD entry level Express models, up to $41,795 / $43,795 for the range-topping Citadel.

The new base engine is a 290-hp 3.6L V6 and with a 6,200 lb tow rating, while the top-level 5.7-liter Hemi V8 can pull 7,400 lbs.

Optional equipment on the new Durango includes items like Blind-spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Path detection, Forward Collision Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control and Keyless Enter-n’ Go.

GALLERY: 2011 Dodge Durango Debut in LA

Official release after the jump:

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Of the six new models shown by Dodge at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, Ralph Gilles said the Journey was the one that required the most work.

Mentioning that the car had never lived up to its promise, he said that the Journey had to be almost completely rethought to make it what it was always supposed to be. The 2011 Dodge Journey is now a crossover to covet, Dodge claims. With a completely overhauled interior and suspension, it gets the same treatment as the rest of the Dodge lineup, but it makes a bigger difference in the Journey according to Ralph.

The Journey was always handsome if a bit anonymous. Now it features design cues that more closely match the rest of the family, both inside and out. With the new materials and layout for the interiors, these 2011 Dodge models have taken a huge step in the right direction. If they handle half as well as promised, they will be true competitors, especially with that new powerful and efficient Pentastar under their hoods – which in the Journey makes 283-hp and 260 ft-lbs of torque.

The 2011 Journey will start at a base price ranging from a really low $22,245 for the base level Express model to $32,740 for the Lux. Full pricing and live pics below.

GALLERY: 2011 Dodge Journey Debut in LA

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Mercedes easily had one of the coolest press conferences at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show. No, it wasn’t because of the Sprinkle’s cupcake truck on hand dispensing some of their legendary goods. It was all due to Nicky Hayden.

That name might not be too familiar to all of you unless you are into bikes as well as cars. Nicky (2006 MotoGP World Champion) actually was encouraged to drive on stage and do a nice little smokey burnout on his new ride – Ducati’s newest performance machine, the Diavel. After the brief hoonage with the new Diavel, Hayden stepped off to join the folks from AMG. The two companies announced a new partnership where AMG will sponsor the Ducati Moto GP team and Nicky and Valentino Rossi will presumably start driving SLS gullwings. Full info below along with live pics.

GALLERY: Nicky Hayden and the Ducati Diavel

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Nissan has completely revamped its Quest minivan for 2011, getting away from its quirky ugly past and moving towards Toyota’s “Swagger Wagon” Sienna when it comes to road presence and interior luxury.

Powered by Nissan’s 3.5L V6 (what else?) the van makes 253-hp and will start at a rather competitive $27,750.

Features of the new 2011 Quest include standard Quick Release fold-flat 2nd and 3rd row seating with an available 3rd row power-return seatback, heated front seats, a removable 2nd row console, Blind Sport Warning (BSW) and a RearView Monitor and an optional 11-inch monitor.

The 2011 Quest will be available in four models: S, SV, SL and LE. Base S models get 16-inch steel wheels, 6-way adjustable front bucket seats, wood-tone trim, Nissan’s Intelligent Key with push-button ignition and an AM/FM/CD audio system with four speakers. Quest SV models get one-touch power sliding doors, 16-inch aluminum wheels, Tri-Zone climate control, a power driver’s seat with lumbar, fog lights, a 4.3-inch display screen, USB port with iPod connectivity, Bluetooth, a RearView Monitor and leather-wrapped steering wheel. Quest SL models get leather, 18-inch wheels, a power liftgate, 8-way driver’s seat, heated front seats, roof rails, auto headlights plus heated mirrors. Top-level LE models then add on a Navigation system with 12-speakers, memory seating, 2nd and 3rd row manual blinds, 4-way adjustable front passenger seat, HID lights, an 8-inch display screen, DVD entertainment system with wireless headphones and an 11-inch rear DVD entertainment system.

Nissan says the van is designed to be a reward to parents or doing their job.

Oh, and in person it’s simply enormous.

GALLERY: 2011 Nissan Quest Debut in LA

GALLERY: 2011 Nissan Quest

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Official release after the jump:

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Sharing much of the same architecture as the Cadillac SRX, the new Saab 9-4x also comes with the same 3.0L V6 and 2.8L turbocharged V6 engines, pumping out 265 and 300 horsepower respectively. Torque vectoring all-wheel-drive is available, while a 6-speed automatic gearbox helps put the power down. It’s a handsome crossover in person, nice materials, and lots of room inside.

This is the last model jointly developed with GM, by the way.

New Saab Designer Jason Castriota is working on a new 9-3 that they promise will be instantly recognizable as a Saab even without any badging. Check out our live pics and the press release below.

Official release after the jump:

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When the retro-ish Dodge Charger debuted a few years ago, a lot of people groaned that the car had swayed so far from the incredibly awesome concept car that had preceded it. That concept looked an awful lot like the Duke’s of Hazzard General Lee era Chargers that most people remember rather fondly.

For 2011, Dodge has taken a step closer to that ancestor, adding scalloped sides and an equally contoured hood that do a fair job at copying those of the late ’60s and early ’70s, but it goes a bit wonky from there. It still looks a bit too much like the 2010 everywhere else. But if Ralph Gilles is to be believed, the suspension changes should transform this model. The interior, for sure, is a huge improvement. Take a look at the live pics and decide for yourself.

As for the powertrain, base models get the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 292-hp and 270 ft-lbs of torque, while R/T models get the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with Chrysler’s FuelSaver Technology that allows the big V8 to operate on just 4-cylinders when full power isn’t needed.

Read AutoGuide’s 2011 Dodge Charger Review by Clicking Here

GALLERY: 2011 Dodge Charger

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If you’ve been wondering what the replacement for the Nissan Altima is going to look like, we think we might have something that will interest you. At the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show today, Nissan unveiled its Ellure Concept, a front-wheel drive sedan that hints at future models. It’s probably safe to assume that Nissan wouldn’t have built the Ellure unless they were going to get some kind of production vehicle out of it and the Ellure fits the Altima mold.

Powering the Ellure is a supercharged version of Nissan’s 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to a hybrid drive system using a lithium-ion battery. And as the design of the Ellure hints at the next Altima, this powertrain is another clue that Nissan is planning a hybrid variant of it’s next mid-size sedan.

We’re excited to see Nissan stepping up its game with the Ellure. Back when the current Altima debuted it was as big of a shock to the industry as the new Hyundai Sonata is now and Nissan looks to continue to deliver models that are high on performance and style – even in the mid-size sedan segment.

GALLERY: Nissan Ellure Concept Debut in LA

GALLERY: Nissan Ellure Concept

Official press release and video of the Ellure from its LA Auto Show debut after the jump:

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Introducing the new Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG, the folks from M-B mentioned that there will be a free one day driving school for anyone who buys one of these beasts. With 550 horsepower and 590 lb ft of torque, we suggest adding a day or two to that free offer.

The particular bi-turbo V8 car they brought to the stage in L.A. was a matte finish and it looked amazingly menacing. In fact, those legendarily humorous Germans kept referring to it as their “Action Hero” for Los Angeles. The new CLS63 promises more power and a huge 32 percent improvement in fuel economy too, with an EPA estimated 24 mpg in mixed driving.

GALLERY: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS63

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Official release after the jump:

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Subaru just revealed what they had been hiding under that sheet the past little while at the LA Auto Show. It was the Subaru Impreza Concept.

A thinly veiled mockup of the future Impreza sedan, the car looks a bit like a bigger Mazda3. Actually it looks closer in size to the Mazda6. It has definitely bulked up. No matter, it looks just fine, sporting what we’d have to say is closer to WRX trim than a base Impreza has any right to wear.

GALLERY: Subaru Impreza Design Concept

See the official press release plus live video from the LA Auto Show after the jump:

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Nissan literally pulled the cover off its 2011 Murano in Los Angeles today, unveiling for the first time on these shores the new open top version dubbed the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet.

Painted seafoam green with a light interior, it looked ready for South Beach on the opposite coast. Nissan says they envision females in their 30s or 40s as the primary target audience for this massive convertible, but they held short of calling it the Murano CougarCabriolet.

They also announced pricing would start at $46,390 when this 2011 model hits dealer showrooms early in 2011.

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Get more info in the official press release after the jump:

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Volkswagen brought Heidi Klum on stage in Los Angeles to unveil the new 2012 Eos, unfortunately, totally drawing our attention away from the new handsome corporate nose…on the car, not on Heidi. The changes to the 2011 VW Eos are significant, but most of the attention is focused on its looks, so bringing out someone known for their fashion sense was perhaps appropriate.

One of the mechanical changes is that there is no longer a stick available, but we doubt many buyers will notice. In America, Eos gets the  2.0-liter TSI with a 6-speed DSG. That 200-horsepower engine might be recognizable as the engine propelling the hot and fun GTI. We suspect performance will not be comparable, and we also predict that few buyers will care. Check out the pics and press release below.

GALLERY: 2012 Volkswagen EOS

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What would you get if you took a Corvette Grand Sport, added Z06 wheels, and opened up the Genuine Corvette Accessories catalog and ordered up everything available with the Corvette Racing “Jake” logo? Well, you’d get the 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Jake Edition Concept debuting this week at the 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Although a few of the bits aren’t actually available at the moment, GM promises they all will be in the not-too-distant future. So basically you could have your own Jake today, or a pretty close facsimile at least. To your basic black Grand Sport Coupe you add Competition Gray Z06 wheels, the matte Jake hood graphic from the GT1 commemorative model, a full-width Carbon Gray rear spoiler, ebony leather with titanium stitching and red accents on the seats, the interior trim kit and racing pedal kit.

The stuff you can’t get – yet – are the Jake fender badges, floor mats, console lid, wheel center caps, underhood blanket and the windshield graphic. But keep checking the Genuine Corvette Accessories catalog for updates. It’ll be worth the wait.

Pics and press release after the break.

GALLERY: “Jake” Edition Corvette

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GM invited us out to Vegas a day early to treat us to a sneak peek at some of their SEMA Show cars. We met at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, home to the Ron Fellows Racing School – along with one of the best private member tracks in the world. The first car that GM showed us looked right at home in this setting – The 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06X Track Car Concept.

This white and black ‘Vette was developed by Pratt and Miller, the firm that prepares most of the Corvette race cars for Chevrolet – just like the C6R.S parked next to it. The Z06X concept starts as a Corvette Z06 with the 1LZ package, the Z07 Performance Package and the CFZ Carbon Fiber Package. Sounds like a perfect showroom selection from your local Chevy dealer. It goes a few steps further than that dealership darling however.

It uses a lot of off-the-shelf parts from General Motors Performance Parts to create a club racer of sorts. The Z06X Concept gets some full competition mods including an adjustable carbon fiber rear wing, a polycarbonate rear window, roll cage, racing seat and safety harness, racing wheels, suspension tweaks that include coil-over struts with fully adjustable camber plates, a racing-spec cooling system and more. It does lose a few things in the process, however, like the radio, carpeting and sound-deadening material. They won’t be missed.

Will they build it? Nobody is saying just yet, but if enough gentlemen racers show up with blank checks in hand, we can’t see any reason why they wouldn’t. Live pics and media pics below, along with the full press release.

GALLERY: Chevy Corvette Z06X Track Car Concept

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The Chevy Camaro was definitely the darling of SEMA 2009, and it looks like this last pony car to the party might steal a few hearts this year too. GM invited us out to Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Pahrump to preview some of their show cars, and along with the similar Corvette Z06X, they had this Camaro – the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro SSX Track Car Concept.

As Chevy describes it: “the Camaro SSX Track Car is a concept for transforming a street Camaro SS into a closed-course track car, and a showcase for new performance parts.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

The Camaro SSX Track Car gets many of the same changes seen in the Z06X, some of them straight out of the GMPP catalog, and others pure racing touches. The white and black paint scheme and carbon fiber accents look great on this show car, and the suspension tweaks that come as part of the package will probably make it go as look as it looks.

And who wouldn’t like a lighter Camaro? That carbon fiber and the deletion of some standard equipment should shave a few hundred pounds from the Camaro’s bulk. Like the Zo6X, Chevy was tight-lipped about production, but we’ll keep our fingers crossed. Pics and press release after the break.

GALLERY: Chevy Camaro SSX Track Car

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