The Sports Car Club of America’s B-Spec class is meant to give automakers and racers alike a relatively affordable platform to go racing with machines similar to those available from the factory. While safety and chassis modifications are allowed, engine power is restricted to keep the playing field even.

Honda and Mazda were among the earlier adopters, fielding Fit and Mazda2 B-Spec prototypes respectively. Now, Fiat and Ford are looking into the series, and the automakers tested Fiat 500 and Fiesta B-Spec cars at Michigan’s Grattan Raceway last week. Kuno Wittmer and Andy Vrenko piloted the 500 and Fiesta, while Peter Cunningham and Charles Espenlaub represented Honda and Mazda. All cars were equipped with engine restrictors and 100 pounds of ballast, while engineers were on hand to compare lap times between the four cars.

If the formula gains traction among racers, 2012 could be a banner year for American sports car racing, as an entry-level series has long been needed to reinvigorate interest among potential participants.

The Chevrolet Malibu will get a 1.6L 4-cylinder turbo powerplant when it debuts in China, similar to its Buick Regal platform mate. While North America will forgo this engine in favor of larger displacement 4-cylinder engines, the 1.6L mill still produces 186 horsepower.

GM is attempting to position Chevrolet as an upmarket, rather than bargain brand, in China, and the Malibu will be an important product for both China and world markets at large, having been designed with their needs in mind.

[Source: China Car Times]

While General Motors has had major success in South Korea, Japan has eluded GM for some time. The American automaker is hoping to reverse that trend with the introduction of their Chevrolet Sonic small car, which will be positioned above domestic entrants like the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris.

GM is launching a television campaign, a rarity for an American automaker, and pricing the Sonic at 1.89 million yen, or about $24,550. Japanese consumers consider a price tag of 2 million yen (about $26,000) as the cut-off for an “affordable” car. GM is hoping that the Sonic, which will only be offered in fully-loaded trim levels, will appeal to Japanese consumers that want to stand out from the crowd.

Chevrolet’s sales in Japan are minimal, but the brand has a high profile as an importer of quintessentially American vehicles like muscle cars and SUVs, which has given Chevrolet a cult following in Japan.

[Source: Automotive News]

Ford is revising their forecast for F-150 Ecoboost sales, estimating that the turbocharged 6-cylinder pickup will comprise 45 percent of F-150 sales, versus original estimates of 40 percent. Ford now estimates that the Ecoboost will sell 100,000 units this year.

The F-150 remains the best selling vehicle in the United States, and Ford was caught off guard by the Ecoboost’s popularity. A V6 option has only been available within the last two years, as the segment was dominated by V8 engines. Unstable fuel prices and a general trend towards environmentally conscious purchase choices are credited with helping Ford introduce a V6 powered F-150 in a favorable light.

[Source: Wall Street Journal]

Sorry to get your hopes up, but it looks like the 2013 Chevrolet TrailBlazer won’t be coming here after all. Despite teasing us with a preview of the upcoming mid-size SUV, Chevrolet representatives said that there are no immediate plans to bring the TrailBlazer to our market.

The TrailBlazer’s platform-mate, the Colorado pickup, will be coming here, so there’s no reason why GM couldn’t change its mind. Nevertheless, Asia and South America will get first dibs on the truck, with Thailand serving as the TrailBlazer’s first market. GM noted that the TrailBlazer was developed by their Brazilian arm, which means the TrailBlazer will likely be a more compact, fuel-efficient SUV, although it will ride on a traditional truck platform, rather than a car-based frame.

[Source: Inside Line]

Cadillac has released a video of its 2012 ATS testing at the Nurburgring, along with some photos of the heavily disguised sports sedan being put through its paces.

The ATS in the video is obviously a long way off from production, with a rollcage, bucket seats and other competition-grade pieces, and we can’t quite make out whether the engine is a high-strung 4-banger or a GM V6.

GM’s U.S. boss Mark Reuss says, “The ATS is probably the most sporty car that Cadillac has ever done and I think you’ll find this car more entertaining than anything else int he segment. And I think it’s also one of the most beautiful cars.”

Take a look for yourself after the jump.

GALLERY: Cadillac ATS At The Nurburgring

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The Chevrolet Volt has made Consumers Reports list of “recommended” vehicles after scoring above average on their 2011 Annual Auto Survey.

The Volt also scored favorably during CR’s evaluation (though it was criticized for its poor rear visibility and four seat configuration), but a full report won’t be available until next month when the new issue is released at news stands.

[Source: Consumers Reports]

According to General Motors’ PR machine, the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 set a Nurburgring lap time of 7 minutes, 41 seconds and 27 milliseconds.

For the sake of comparison that time is just a second and a half off the time released by the new 2012 Porsche 911 and is the same as the 997 Porsche GT3. The 2012 Corvette Z06 recently laid down a 7:22 lap time, while the current record holder for production cars is the Dodge Viper ACR with a 7:12 time.

We wish we were excited about this announcement, but knowing what a crock most Nuburgring times are, we’re remaining unmoved. The only accurate measure of its performance will be to actually drive the car, so until then, speculation on the ZL1′s performance will remain off-limits for us.

GALLERY: 2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1

General Motors much loved LNF engine, the same 2.0L Ecotec that powered the Pontiac Solstice GXP, Saturn Sky Redline and Chevrolet Cobalt SS is continuing on in the Buick Regal Turbo and Buick Regal GS, but a new generation of turbocharged 4-cylinder motor is set to replace the LNF next year, packing even more power.

While the LNF makes as much as 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft in the Regal GS, the new engine, dubbed the LHU, will be used as a replacement for V6 engines in mid-size cars, and is expected to make at least 280 horsepower in standard trim. Given that GM’s current “high feature” V6 makes 306 horsepower, we should expect a figure somewhere in that area.

The LHU will get its first use in the Cadillac ATS sports sedan and the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. Expect it to migrate to other products in the near future as well.

[Source: GM Inside News]

Anyone who has spent time looking for fake watches, knockoff handbags or other wonderful Asian products has likely come across the site Alibaba.com

Today’s find on the slightly notorious site is a lot of 150 right-hand drive Dodge Neons in Singapore. The vehicles are advertised as brand new and look like they have about 14 years worth of dust on them. For only $1,350 a piece, you can have your very own brand new car from 14 years ago – but whether it runs is another matter.

Alternately, The Truth About Cars has suggested a different use for the Neons – a spec racing series. There’s an idea we can get behind.

[Source: MotorAuthority]

The next generation Ford Escape is set to make its debut at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show and the decade-old SUV is set to be replaced by a much more modern crossover with three new engines.

Styling-wise, the new Escape should mimic the Vertrek concept (above) that originally debuted at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show in January, but the latest announcement comes regarding the new Escape’s powertrains.

Ford’s venerable 2.5L four cylinder will stay in the lineup, but a pair of Ecoboost four-cylinder engines, displacing 1.6L and 2.0L will also be on offer. We expect the Ecoboost motors to be the “premium” offerings, with the 2.0L, 237-horsepower engine being the performance offering of the range. Ford also said that the 1.6L example will beat the Escape Hybrid’s 31 mpg highway rating. Stay tuned to AutoGuide for live coverage of the Los Angeles Auto Show starting on November 16th.

Jeep has scrapped plans to build a replacement for their Patriot and Compass SUVs in Italy, and will instead build a subcompact Jeep product in Italy that will also be badged as a Fiat in world markets.

The car will replace the Fiat Sedici, which is itself based on the Suzuki SX4. Jeep will then build a replacement for their two small SUVs, as well as an Alfa Romeo-badged variant in Illinois.

The Compass/Patriot will eventually be replaced by a single model that will likely ride on the same architecture as the Alfa Giulietta, that will also underpin a replacement for the Dodge Caliber.

[Source: Automotive News]

Even though the Tesla Model S sedan has been delayed for far too long, with an expected reveal at year’s end before an official unveiling at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.

The crossover, dubbed the Model X, will be based on the Model S platform. “The time is right to unveil the car,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk told Autocar. “I’ve seen the latest design for it and I’m very happy with it.”

Tesla manufacturing head touted the company’s modular platform and innovative manufacturing facility in California as the key to the company’s ability to offer a wide range of products. “We can build many models on the same line,” Passin said. “The Model S is just one ‘top hat’ on a platform that is very modular. All our pressing modules are very adjustable and we’re working on improving that flexibility even further and making it faster at the moment.

[Source: Autocar]

Chrysler has launched their first two re-badged Lancia product in the UK (where the Lancia brand has been defunct for a number of years), with a pair of hatchbacks based on the Lancia Delta and Ypsilon compact and subcompact cars.

The Ypsilon shares a platform with the Fiat 500 and will be available with the 900cc TwinAir two-cylinder turbocharged engine, as well as a 1.2L 4-cylinder and a 1.3L diesel engine. The Delta is about the size of a Ford Focus and can be optioned with either 1.4L, 1.6L or 2.0L engines.

Hit the jump to see the official press release

Gallery: Lancia Delta & Ypsilon

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating Jeep Liberty SUVs built between 2002 and 2003 for an issue regarding the premature deployment of airbags.

NHTSA said that they’ve received 7 complaints regarding airbags deploying without a crash, with 5 of these incidents having caused injuries. 387,356 vehicles are said to be affected by the issue.

[Source: Automotive News]

Even though the accuracy of Nurburgring records has been debunked ad nauseaum, the low-IQ crowd still seems to take some stock in their veracity – or maybe they just need a lot of visual stimulation. Either way, the Dodge Viper ACR has apparently set a new lap record for the Nurburgring, and there exists video “proof” of this miraculous non-event.

The Viper Club of America has pandered to these folks by releasing video of the event (below the jump) which is really not all that exciting – although we do get some cool V10 sounds towards the end. Nonetheless, the slick production should hopefully convince any holdouts that these Nurburgring lap time runs are just contrived marketing ploys and nothing more.

Hit the jump to watch the video of the Dodge Viper ACR Nurburgring Lap Record

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Ford may begin building electric cars in China via joint ventures with Chinese auto makers, replicating the tactics of rivals like General Motors and Daimler AG, parent company of Mercedes-Benz. China is looking to add 1 million EVs by 2015 as part of an effort to curb emissions and the dependence on fossil fuels.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally was in China for the groundbreaking of a new engine assembly plant with local partner Changan Automobile Group, part of a $1.6 billion effort to build four new factories in China. Mulally expects China to play a key part in boosting Ford sales by 50 percent by 2015, and Ford’s Lincoln brand may become part of that strategy, as Chinese demand for luxury cars is rapidly growing.

[Source: The Detroit News]

An Automotive News article suggests that a re-designed Chevrolet Corvette, known internally as the C7, will bow in 2013. GM design chief Ed Wellburn said that work is ongoing for the new Corvette, and one of the main challenges is designing a car that can appeal to a younger audience while staying faithful to the brand’s heritage.

“Finding that right balance” is a challenge. “You want it to be a new design, but it needs to be recognizable as a Corvette.” Corvette sales are at their lowest levels in nearly 50 years, and GM needs to bring down the average age of the Corvette buyer to help draw in new customers.

[Source: Automotive News]

The 2012 Ford Focus will get a 1.0L 3-Cylinder Ecoboost engine, but it will only be offered in the North American market. Ford says that the motor will make 118 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque at just 1300 rpm.

An overboost feature will provide short bursts of up to 147 lb-ft of torque, while the flywheel and front pulley are designed to reduce vibrations without the need for a balance shaft. Ford says that the engine will also be used on the European C-Max van and the B-Max crossover.

[Source: Left Lane News]

Ford‘s designs have come a long way over the last decade, with practically their entire lineup looking sharp and attractive – but the Ford Evos Concept has just managed to move the bar substantially higher.

Revealed at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Evos looks like something that would have a V12 under the hood, but it actually packs the same 4-cylinder/plug-in hybrid powertrain as the C-Max minivan. Ford says that the powertrain can be hooked into “cloud computing” technologies that can tell the electric motor system when to increase or decrease energy flow based on changing conditions – a novel idea sure to give privacy advocates a good fright.

The Evos may never see production, but we’re happy that this is supposedly a sign of things to come for Ford’s styling. If only we could throw the Focus ST motor and drivetrain in there.

Gallery: Ford Evos Concept

Ford will show a concept version of their l0ng-awaited Fiesta ST hot hatch at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show. An ST version of the Focus hatchback has long been confirmed, and many correctly suspected that a hotter version of the smaller Fiesta would follow.

With the Focus making 250 horsepower from a 2.0L Ecoboost 4-cylinder engine, the next logical step down is Ford’s 1.6L Ecoboost, with an output of around 180 horsepower. Stay tuned to AutoGuide for more info as coverage begins on Tuesday, September 13th.

Fans of Italian cars should prepare to dry heave, as Lancia has just released an image of their new Flavia Cabrio, looking like a poorly rebadged Chrysler 200.

The only engine available is a 175-horsepower 2.4-liter V6 mated to a 6-speed automatic. Thrilling. Lancia will also get a re-badged Chrysler Town & Country, known as the Voyager as part of their rejuvenated, Chrysler-infused lineup. You can check back for AutoGuide’s for live Frankfurt coverage starting on September 13th.

Hit the jump to see the press release below

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Bob Buckhorn, the mayor of Tampa, Florida needed a safe, reliable vehicle for his family, and did what many cost-concious car buyers do – he looked for a vehicle seized by the police.

While most people have to attend an auction to purchase such a car, Buckhorn decided on a police forfeit since it meant that the city wouldn’t have to pay a dime to get him a vehicle. Buckhorn opted for a 2005  GMC Yukon Denali, and the car in question has what many classic car auction houses would call “provenance”.

Buckhorn’s Denali was formerly owned by Charles Melvin Fox, who was convicted of sex trafficking. Authorities allege that Fox’s Denali was used to transport prostitutes across state lines, making Buckhorn’s new car a pimpmobile in every sense of the word – the vehicle even had spinner rims installed, but they were eventually removed before Buckhorn took delivery. Buckhorn described the car as ”a product of ill-gotten gains is being put to good use.”

[Source: Tampabay.com]

The Dodge Caliber is scheduled to go out of production this November, as a new Fiat-based compact car takes its place. Chrysler enthusiast website Allpar confirms the Caliber’s demise, and lists November 23rd as the final date for the ill-fated Dodge compact.

The Caliber’s replacement is said to get 40 mpg thanks to a government requirement for taking bailout money. Fuel economy was a chief complaint among Caliber owners, and the vehicle never really moved well in the marketplace. As time wore on and sales withered, the Caliber became little more than rental car fodder, and Chrysler’s decision to end production was probably a wise one.

[Source: Allpar]