Initially rumored to be based on a Nissan GT-R, the Renault Alpine has been reborn and a lone photo has leaked ahead of the sports car’s planned debut at the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend.

New reports suggest the car is actually based on a tube-frame Megane Trophy race car while using a 400 hp Nissan VQ V6.

Styling for the modern-era Alpine is familiar, borrowing heavily from the Renault DeZir concept, which first bowed at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.

While no details are yet available, the car is expected to deliver performance through light weight, though it won’t be a stripped down machine.

Celebrating 50 years since the original Renault Alpine was created, look for more exciting details and photos as we approach the weekend’s race in Monaco.

Earlier this week in Tennessee, the 2013 Nissan Altima rolled off the line to an executive reception, but nestled into the release accompanying the event was confirmation of a 2013 Nissan Rogue. 

With little more than a name drop, the company’s release confirmed that next year’s model will, in fact, also come as the next generation. Reviewing the Nissan concept cars we’ve seen over the last few auto shows, the Hi-Cross concept seems as if it could be a likely candidate.

Though the concept debuted as replacement for the boxy X-Trail, the Hi-Cross could make a good update to the Rogue given that it uses the same inline four-cylinder engine, though it will also probably be offered with a hybrid powertrain as well.

While the seven-passenger concept would be a departure from the previous five-passenger vehicle, it would fit into Nissan’s promise for five new vehicles over the next 15 months (including the 2013 Altima). In the same release, the automaker also confirmed a new Leaf, Pathfinder, Xterra and Maxima.

Despite little news on the Lagonda front as of late, Aston Martin is reportedly continuing to prepare for the launch of its new sub-brand.

With an all-new DBS currently in the works as well, the Lagonda SUV could debut as early as the Paris Motor Show this Fall with Aston boss Ulrich Bez recently commenting that we’ll see a refreshed version of the much-maligned concept, “in the coming year.” In fact, Bez was reported to have said the car was “almost complete” six months ago.

While initially proposed as a brand that will focus purely on SUVs, rumors have also surfaced that a large sedan could also be built as a rival to the Rolls-Royce Ghost.

Initially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show back in 2009, the Mercedes GL-based Lagonda concept was not well received by the media and so the exclusive British automaker took a second look at the styling. Media commentary can, however, be misleading as we saw with the recent Bentley SUV concept, which offended journalists, but which stuck a cord with potential customers.

While sales of cars like the DBS continue to lag behind pre-recession levels, a high-dollar SUV like the proposed Lagonda is seen by many automakers as just the ticket to help improve sales – particularly in emerging markets like China, Russia and India where poor road infrastructure significantly limits the practicality of a low-slung sports car.

With Bentley recently showing its SUV concept and Lamborghini revealing the Urus SUV, the Lagonda can only be a question of when, not if.

GALLERY: Aston Martin Lagonda

[Source: AutoCar]

Along with the Q3 jinlong yufeng and RS Q3 which both debuted at the recent Beijing Auto Show, Audi will showcase a third Q3 concept car at the upcoming Worthersee Tour VW GTI meet in Austria.

Powered by the same turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder as the RS Q3 making 340 hp, the Q3 Red Track can sprint to 60 mph in just 5.4 – although its adventure capabilities don’t stop there.

Designed as an outdoor lifestyle vehicle the Q3 Red Track gets running boards and flared fenders, with a track that’s been increased by 1.57-inches. The Q3 has also been lifted by 1.18-inches to improve off-road capability. Special aluminum roof rails sit atop the crossover with integrated wide-angle LED lights. And to protect the underside, a special panels protect parts like the dual-exhaust system.

Along with a custom grille, the outside of the Q3 Red Track features numerous unique traits, including its Energy Red paint with matte gray detailing. Inside it gets a unique seat material that uses both leather and fabric, with an Alcantara headliner and black Nappa leather on the dash.

Other interior highlights put the focus back on the Q3′s purpose with a Thermos canister in the cup holder that can heat or chill drinks plus a charging station in the trunk for flashlights that can also function as infra-red heating elements. The trunk floor mat actually features heating coils and can be folded out over the rear bumper so you don’t scratch the shiny paint when loading items. Additionally, the Audi MMI navigation screen features a special function that displays the car’s longitudinal and latitudinal tilt angle.

Along with the three Q3 concepts, Audi’s participation at the Worthersee Tour will also include a display of 16 production vehicles as well as what it’s calling the e-bike Worthersee prototype.

The Worthersee Tour kicks off May 16th.

GALLERY: Audi Q3 Red Track

At last year’s Frankfurt Auto Show, Volkswagen displayed a Beetle “Fender Edition” concept car that paid homage to the legendary guitar brand based out of the U.S. A year later, the German automaker has decided to offer the package to interested buyers.

Unfortunately the production model won’t be as cool as the concept, which featured the ability to connect an electric guitar to a subwoofer of the Fender sound system. A subwoofer will still be in the production model, but musicians will have to plug it in via an aux-in port or through Bluetooth by means of a smartphone app. Missing will also be the auxiliary tube amplifier located on top of the dash.

What buyers will get however are 19-inch wheels and a leather-coated roof along with a high-gloss black paint job with red accents. The door mirror covers, handles, side sill accents, VW badge, exhaust tips, and trim strip beneath the side windows will be finished in chrome. The Beetle Fender Edition concept was also lowered 1.2-inch, though we expect the production model won’t be as drastic. On the hood is a guitar pick decal while the original Fender signature can be seen underneath the VW badge on the trunk.

Inside the Fender Edition Beetle, what will remain is its unique ‘Sunburst’ two-tone wood design pattern that’s seen on many Fender guitars. And of course there will be a high-end stereo system to enjoy your beats while driving around town.

GALLERY: Volkswagen Beetle Fender Edition

[Source: Car and Driver]

Buick is the latest brand to leave a breadcrumb trail for its future products by filing for a tradermark on May 3 to cover its Riviera moniker. While that doesn’t prove anything on its own, the company isn’t known for flippantly filing for trademarks on the off chance they might one day come true.

Instead, it seems more in line with the General Motors methodology to file when there’s a likely chance something might actually be produced (think “SS Performance”).

That’s why we’re left wondering what might be sitting up the secretive sleeves in the Buick offices. Winding back to 2007, Buick unveiled a Riviera concept at the Shanghai Motor Show, though it wasn’t ever green lit. It made an appearance again in 2008 at the Detroit Auto Show, but has since slipped into the depths of concept car limbo.

Our associates at GM Inside News learned last year that the company was considering a sporty coupe built on the rear-wheel drive Alpha platform, though such a car is unlikely until after 2015. It also possible that the front-drive Lambda platform could spawn something before that, but there isn’t any official word.

One way or another we’ll be keeping an eye out for further news on what could be another GM entrant to the sports coupe market in the next few years.

GALLERY: Buick Riviera concept

[Source: GM Inside News]

Having renewed its long-term business relationship with GM, Walt Disney Land has renovated, or “re-imagined”, an older test track feature at Epcot for a more up-to-date experience.

With an atmosphere that combines Tron themes and the appearances of a development lab, the new ride incorporates a new design center concept that allows visitors to design and create their own GM vehicles. Guests use interactive design and styling workstations to come up with their own prototypes, and will later hop aboard to experience their thrilling creation first-hand on the twisting and turning Test Track. After the ride, participants can also make their own pretend commercial, or take a picture with the new car.

Sponsored by Chevrolet, the ride is intended to provide a fun learning experience, sharing a look inside the process of vehicle testing and development.

Expect the new Epcot Center Test Track to be revealed this fall. To car enthusiasts planning a fun trip to Orlando, don’t miss out!

GALLERY: Epcot Center’s Test Track

Expectations are high for the successor to the iconic Ferrari Enzo and early reports suggest that the future flagship will not disappoint. Featuring a trick HY-KERS gas-electric hybrid system, Ferrari claims that not only will the application demonstrate an incredible 40 percent decrease in CO2 emissions, the system boasts superior performance numbers as well. Additional components add an extra 120 kg (265 lbs) of weight, but in a side-by-side comparison against a “standard” Ferrari, the HY-KERS sports car reached from 0-to-200 km/h (124 mph) a full three seconds faster.

Compensating for the extra heft from the Samsung-supplied batteries for the electric hybrid system, Ferrari looks to cut fat elsewhere by using Formula 1 grade carbon fiber for the construction of the new supercar body and chassis. Compared to the carbon fiber in the previous Enzo and F50, this new material promises to be both lighter and stronger.

Other Formula 1 derived technologies include highly advanced longitudinal and lateral dynamic management software to improve handling. Physics-defying devices include advanced torque management, traction control, and brake distribution systems.

No word on the curb weight or performance output of the upcoming Ferrari yet but early reports have predicted performance figures to reach as high as 920-hp.

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[Source: Automotive News]

Honda announced a technology breakthrough today capable of detecting the potential for traffic congestion by actively determining whether the driving pattern of a vehicle is likely to create bottle-necking.

Unlike GPS systems that actively reroute drivers to avoid roads suffering from heavy traffic, Honda’s system passively reacts to congestion situations, monitoring the acceleration and deceleration patterns from the driver to determine whether the car will negatively impact traffic flow. Based on its decision, the system can then guide drivers with the appropriate information for optimal throttle control from devices including on-board color-coded displays.

Working with University of Tokyo’s Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, Honda carried a series of experiments in order to refine its traffic congestion monitoring system. Ultimately, the tests resulted in significant gains in congestion simulation, improving the average speeds of leading vehicles to improve by 23 percent with trailing vehicles also benefiting from an 8 percent improvement in fuel economy.

Honda didn’t end testing there. By applying Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and combining the system with on-board terminals to cloud servers, Honda experimented with a network of communicating vehicles that can synchronize driving patterns in a wider scale. According to Honda, this resulted in a further 16 percent increase in the average speed of trailing vehicles and an additional 5 percent improvement in fuel economy compared to the results recorded when not using ACC and cloud technology.

Rather than focusing on hybrids and alternative energy as the only solution to emissions reduction, Honda found that solutions to driving behavior can curb traffic congestion and minimize its tendency to cause a higher potential of rear-end collisions, delay arrival times, and increase CO2 emissions.

Honda intends to introduce its technology into the market soon but will first conduct real-world testing in Italy and Indonesia during May and July.

Brabus established its name as the monster tuner of Mercedes-Benz engines capable of exceeding 1,000 lb.-ft. of torque. But for its latest project, the company drops its earth-shaking V12 in a bold pursuit for a more eco-friendly diesel hybrid.

The Brabus Technology Project Hybrid E-Class features a tiny 2.2-liter clean diesel engine combined with two in-wheel electric motors from Protean Electric. According to Protean, each in-wheel motor is capable of producing 110 hp at 590 lb.-ft. of torque. When combined with the diesel, the package is capable of propelling the sedan from 0 to 62 mph in a claimed 7.4 seconds.

Rather than creating a powerplant for outright performance, Brabus and Protean Electric claim that the application of the Protean Drive system can improve fuel economy by as much as 30 percent.

“We’re pleased to work with Brabus to demonstrate what Protean’s in-wheel electric drive can deliver to the world. Our in-wheel motors not only provide significant performance improvement, but do so in a very responsible way,” Protean CEO Bob Purcell said.

Unfortunately, full spec details on the car’s system aren’t available so we can’t report the size and added weight of the complete electric system or determine specific fuel economy gains.

Protean Electric and Brabus aren’t the only folks developing a high-performance hybrid — earlier this month, Ferrari announced its development of both a front- and mid-engine V12 HY-KERS system for a future line of hybrid road cars.

CLick though the gallery below for a closer look at the latest Brabus Technology Project Hybrid.

GALLERY: Brabus Technology Project Hybrid

Everything that Audi is putting into the e-tron R8 seems to be taking time, not that it’s a bad thing, but time is precious and the world is an impatient place.

Originally debuting in 2009 at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the automaker’s electrified halo car keeps slipping just out of grasp. in September, 2011 we reported that the car would launch in 2012, but news beyond that has been slow to surface.

Still, the car seems to be coming closer to production with new spy photos reaching us today of the car testing around the Nurburgring.

In case you haven’t kept up, or can’t remember, the R8 e-tron will feature four electric motors — one for each wheel to make a combined total 308 hp and 3,319 lb-ft of torque with a 0-60 mph time of 4.8 seconds.

GALLERY: Audi R8 e-tron

Audi‘s future hybrid drivetrain plans became much clearer today when it debuted the A6 L e-tron concept at the Beijing Auto Show.

Based on the A6 platform, but with a longer wheelbase (designated by the “L”), we’re getting a taste of what Audi’s advanced e-tron drivetrain system will look like as it is fitted to cars starting with the 2014 model year.

A 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder capable of 211 hp will be mated with an electric motor that makes 95 hp. As is becoming the standard, both motors may run in tandem, or alone, depending on the driver’s current requirements.

For superior acceleration, gasoline and electricity will power the car forward simultaneously. Aiming for maximum efficiency, the car can also run for up to 50 miles at a consistant 37 mph speed on electricity alone. Regenerative braking also replaces power to the liquid-cooled lithium ion battery which is located in a crash-protected space near the car’s rear.

Instead of a tachometer to show engine rpms, the concept has a power meter that shows output form zero to 100 percent.

The A6 L e-tron concept offers a luxurious interior with improved rear legroom for greater passenger comfort. As a fully-loaded luxury vehicle, it features all the amenities you might expect from an Audi: a Bose premium sound system, ambient lighting, a touch-sensitive pad-based MMI interface and safety features like active lane assist and night vision.

GALLERY: Audi A6 L e-tron concept