Toyota has released a new selection of teaser images and a video, showing off some of the many angles on its upcoming FT-Bh Concept car. The hybrid mini-car is touted to have emissions roughly 50 percent lower than current segment competitors.

What really makes the FT-Bh a big deal, however, is that unlike some recent mini car concepts from the likes of BMW and Audi, the FT-Bh uses low-cost materials (ie. no carbon fiber) and economical production methods, allowing it to be an affordable machine. As a result, Toyota says it weighs less than 1,800 lbs – surprising when you consider the heavy electric components used in the hybrid powertrain.

To reach maximum efficiency Toyota has focused on five factors with this concept: low weight, aerodynamic performance, powertrain efficiency, thermal energy management and electricity saving.

Toyota will officially unveil the FT-Bh Concept at the Geneva Motor Show next month. Until then, see AutoGuide’s complete show preview here.

GALLERY: Toyota FT-bh Concept

Watch the video below:

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Following in the footsteps of the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari, this year’s Geneva Motor Show will see a 695 Tributo Maserati. The custom Fiat 500C is a special tribute edition for Maserti, with only 499 units to be produced by Abarth.

Powering the 695 Tributo Maserati will be a 1.4L Turbo T-Jet engine with 180-hp paired with an Abarth Competizione transmission. The exhaust will be Abarth’s Record Monza unit with “dual mode” volume control and will sport hexagonal-shaped tips, paying homage to the design found on Maserati vehicles.

On all four corners are Maserati-designed 17-inch Neptun wheels while Brembo brakes reside behind each wheel. Suspension changes include upgraded shock absorbers. Completing the aesthetics on this limited edition Abarth is a three-stage clearcoat Pontevecchio Bordeaux paint with a gray-fabric soft top. Xenon headlights will be standard on the Tributo Maserati.

The interior has been accented with sand beige Poltrana Frau leather and the number 695 has been heat-printed onto the headrests. A matte-carbon look can be seen on the dashboard and shifter trim, which also sports the 695 logo. The black leather steering wheel gets a tri-color treatment of leather inserts while famed timepiece manufacturer Jaeger LeCoultre produced the instrument panel. Of course each vehicle has been numbered.

Last but not least, as with all limited edition Abarth models, the Tributo Maserati will come with the Tramontano Tribute to Abarth Travel Pack, which consists of two gray leather travel bags.

GALLERY: Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati

Race cars, check. Beautiful women, check. Ken Block video, check. Gymkhana racing with Ken Block in video, negative. Wait, what? Ken Block is releasing a video that has no real action in it and it’s still worth watching?

The Ford Fiesta driver spoofs himself with the aid of actor and comedian Nick Swardson in this fairly hilarious video. From inventing his own vegetable called the “Blockli” to referring to rival Travis Pastrana as the drummer from Blink 182, this 2012 race season interview is not only creative, but well worth the laughs.

Whether you like Block or not, you have to admit that he certainly knows how to make a viral video.

Watch the interview below:

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Making its way to the upcoming 2012 Geneva Motor Show will be Rinspeed’s Dock + Go creation, an innovative yet strange concept that will leave some scratching their heads.

The Swiss-based tuner is marketing the Dock + Go as a backpack on wheels but is also a detachable range-extender for electric cars. The product essentially adds a third axle to the vehicle, adding an extra pair of wheels to a compact electric car – in this case, a Smart Fortwo Electric Drive. Essentially it’s a mini-trailer that can also serve as a range-extender, but its versatility is what leaves the possibilities endless for what it can be used for.

In its demo photos, for example, Rinspeed shows off its Dock + Go aiding in a pizza delivery company, camping, golfing, skiing, and more. We could definitely see these things being a hit out at tailgating parties in the US.

Rinspeed didn’t release exact figures as to how long the extended range is with the Dock + Go.

GALLERY: Rinspeed Dock + Go

See AutoGuide’s complete 2012 Geneva Motor Show Preview here

The acclaimed Hyundai Veloster receives a major upgrade for the 2013 model year. Recognized for its unique three-door configuration, provoking design, build quality, and great value, the Veloster has also been criticized for falling short in the driving department.

For 2013, Hyundai answers with the introduction of the Veloster Turbo, armed with a 1.6 liter turbo inline-four delivering 201-hp and 195 lb.-ft. Torque. While the base Veloster offered a choice between a 6-speed manual or dual clutch transmission, the Veloster Turbo will keep the manual but forgo the dual-clutch for a traditional 6-speed automatic instead.

The new Veloster Turbo hatch will be available for sale by summertime and, according to a Hyundai official that spoke to Inside Line, should receive a starting price at $21,500, or $22,280 when you factor in the $760 destination charge. An affordable price for cars delivering a similar package with similar performance, the more powerful Veloster is actually a $4,000 premium over the 138-hp base model. Of course, the Veloster Turbo will be provided with more standard equipment as well.

Strangely, a turbo variant for the Veloster was reportedly not a part of Hyundai’s initial product strategy in North America. Due to the daily practice of freeway driving by most Americans, we’re glad Hyundai reconsidered.

GALLERY: 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo

[Source: Inside Line]

America might not be blessed with the current-generation Audi A1 anytime soon, but Europeans may be getting a convertible variant with a retractable roof.

The A1 Convertible wouldn’t exactly be a full blown convertible, but a semi-convertible could be in the works sporting a retractable cloth top similar to what’s seen on the Fiat 500C. The German automaker has already tossed out the idea of a full convertible version due to high development costs.

The report comes courtesy of comments made by Audi head Rupert Stadler. The cloth top that could make its way onto the A1 body would cover about 80-percent of the roof, but unlike the 500C from Fiat, the roof wouldn’t incorporate the vehicle’s hatch section.

There’s no confirmation as to when this A1 variant would be available for purchase, but it’s believed that the model has already become an Audi road prototype, proving that it may have already received the nod for production.

[Source: Autocar]

MINI might be changing the way we think of minivans by the year 2020. The British automaker is considering expanding its lineup to include a five-door station wagon, a van, and possibly even a notchback sedan.

The all-new MINI Roadster will hit dealerships this month and is the sixth MINI model. Next on the list could be a station wagon based on the new BMW Group front-wheel drive platform that is debuting with the second-generation MINI Cooper hardtop in 2014. The MINIvan (see what we did there?) would share the same platform as the current Countryman.

The only model that is currently up in the air is a notchback sedan that MINI is considering for the Chinese market. According to a BMW inside source, “The MINI sedan is now being hotly debated.”

If these rumors were to be confirmed, one could look back to what MINI’s global brand boss, Kay Segler, said back at this year’s Detroit Auto Show. Segler announced that three models would be added to the MINI lineup by the end of the decade, but at that time didn’t express what those models would entail.

[Source: Automotive News]

In an ever continuing effort to provide more active safety technology to more cars, innovations once exclusive to premium and luxury vehicles are trickling down to family vehicles.

Mazda will offer its new Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) system for the new CX-5 compact crossover.  This new brake controller intervenes to prevent distracted drivers from frontal collisions at slow speeds.

SCBS is Mazda’s latest safety device, which operates at speeds between 3 to 19 mph. A windshield-mounted laser sensor act as the digital eyes of the vehicle, detecting oncoming obstacles while automatically shortening brake travel in order to minimize brake activation time.

If the driver fails to react to the obstacle ahead, the SCBS system will automatically engage the CX-5′s brakes while reducing engine output in an effort to prevent a collision, or to minimize its severity.

SCBS also incorporates acceleration control for automatic transmission, which will not allow unintended acceleration when the throttle is accidentally depressed when the driver is looking for the brakes.

Check out Mazda’s SCBS in action after the jump.

GALLERY: Mazda CX-5 Smart City Brake Support (SCBS)

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Up until now, we’ve been mostly admiring the Acura ILX under the auto show lights but the Japanese automaker has released a huge photo gallery of their new compact sedan model.

The Acura ILX is marketed as a compact, premium model that shares the Honda Civic chassis and powertrains. But its styling looks 100-percent Acura, with very little hints that this vehicle is based on a Honda Civic. The ILX is also the first hybrid from Acura, but will also be offered with a 2.0L four-cylinder with 150-hp and 140 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid variant features a 1.5L four-cylinder with 111-hp and 127 lb-ft of torque, similar to what is found in the Honda Civic Hybrid. The Acura ILX Hybrid only offers 35/38-mpg, significantly less than the Civic 44/44-mpg rating.

Lastly, those seeking plenty of performance can opt for a 2.4L-equipped model with 201-hp and a six-speed manual transmission. Even though no official pricing has been announced, Acura has been sticking firm to the fact that it’ll start “well below” $30,000.

Watch a video of our first look at the 2013 Acura ILX at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.

To discuss the Acura ILX, please visit our Acura ILX Forum.

GALLERY: 2013 Acura ILX

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Later this year, Volkswagen will reveal its all-new Mk7 Golf (Spy photo shown above). A pivotal new car for Volkswagen, the Golf will be improved in almost all aspects, including a swath of more luxurious features.

The staple hatchback will receive a wider range of powertrains including a natural gas variant, an electric variant, and a plug-in hybrid variant that would not only produce 243-hp, but achieve more than 50 mpg.

Mainstream engines for the Golf will include the 1.4 liter turbo engine expected to be good for 138-hp. Larger petrol engines will be available in 1.8-liter or 2.0-liter. Diesel options include a 2.0L diesel producing 181-hp and 280 lb.-ft. of torque as well as a twin-turbo diesel with an output of 220-hp. Finally, the new Golf GTI hot hatch gets hotter. The new GTI is expected to receive a 260-hp 2.0 liter turbo. To handle the newfound power, the GTI also features the new VAQ electrically controlled front differential. VW claims that the “agile steering behavior” offers fantastic feedback and cuts the lap time of a conventional diff Golf around the Nürburgring by 8.0 seconds.

Aiming to set a new benchmark, the new Golf will be the first model in the Volkswagen line-up to receive the new MQB platform, a radical chassis that will eventually serve as the underpinning for everything from the VW Polo supermini to the larger Passat sedan. Volkswagen also developed a tweaked Dynamic Chassis Control active damping system to complement the new architecture.

Promising a lighter weight version of the Mk7 Golf, Volkswagen will also create a platform with aluminum floor pressings, boot floor and windscreen base. The German automaker has yet to announce which models would receive this unique alloy-steel hybrid structure, but analysts suggest the Golf EV and GTI are best positioned to receive it. This structure is designed to be as light as the Mk4 Golf of the late 1990′s while providing much higher standards in safety.

Finally, technology found in the Golf include an 8 inch iPad style infotainment screen that includes adaptive cruise control, driver fatigue detection, 360 parking sensors with semi-autonomous capability, all features previously reserved for more luxury-oriented cars.

Expect to see the new Golf at the September Paris Auto Show.

GALLERY: 2013 VW Golf MK7 Spy Photos

[Source: Autocar]