Oh how quickly things can change. Just last month we were teased with the thought that MINI would be producing its Rocketman Concept and now new reports are suggesting that the Rocketman has been canceled, at least for now.

The latest issue of CAR magazine features a collection of new MINIs that BMW had recently signed off on, and the smaller MINI Rocketman was not one of them. It’s widely believed now that BMW canned the Rocketman due to investment costs in making the Rocketman-sized city car to meet current regulations.

Some of the problems that would arise with the smaller MINI model include stability, handling and crash performance. The Rocketman Concept measured in at only 134.6-inches long, a full 12-inches shorter than the current Cooper hatchback. For now we’re going to have to assume that MINI has no immediate plans of developing a vehicle smaller than its Cooper model.

GALLERY: MINI Rocketman

[Source: CAR]

One of the stand-out cars at this year’s North American International Auto Show, the Cadillac ATS looks extremely promising. In the 4th installment of Cadillac’s “The Journey” series, we witness GM’s commitment behind this product, from conception, to development, to its debut at the Detroit Auto Show.

Tuned during Nurburgring shakedown testing, the ATS aims to take on the best of what Germany has to offer– the luxury compact sedan segment. Weighing less than 3,400 lbs, the ATS is expected to carry 100 lbs less than either an Audi A4 or Mercedes-Benz C-Class. What’s more, the ATS will also possess an all-original chassis attaining 50/50 weight distribution, must like the segment leading BMW 3-series. But most of all, the party piece of the ATS’ handling dynamics will be its magnetic ride shocks– a first in this segment.

The Cadillac will come with as many engine trim options as its German rivals, offering a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder base power plant producing 200-hp, a 270-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and a 318-hp 3.6-liter V6. Expect a diesel engine offering later in the ATS lifecycle as well.

A lot rests upon the ATS as its success will draw implications to Cadillac’s future in the global market. GM North America President Mark Reuss is confident, boldly introducing the ATS at the Detroit Auto Show as, “this is the car to finally challenge the German cars at their own game and win.”

GALLERY: 2013 Cadillac ATS

Watch the 4th video of “The Journey” series below and look out for an appearance by AutoGuide’s very own Editor-in-Chief Colum Wood!

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Hinting at a possible tuner version of the new March/Micra sub-compact, Nissan has revealed a NISMO concept model at the Tokyo Auto Salon. Standing alongside similar NISMO-tuned versions of the Leaf and Juke, the March NISMO Concept gets the expected goodies.

Included in the package are lighter forged wheels and an upgraded (and lowered) suspension, not to mention a custom aero package with a rear spoiler. Inside the car gets sports seats and an upgraded steering wheel, while outside it’s coated in a pearl white paint with red highlights.

Similar packages were revealed for the Juke NISMO and Leaf NISMO which were unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in December. The Leaf NISMO is transformed into somewhat of a futuristic jellybean in the process, while the aero kit and lowered suspension make the Juke a mean looking sport-cross.

Check out all the cars below, as well as the Leaf NISMO RC race car and find AutoGuide’s complete 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon coverage here.

GALLERY: Nissan March, Leaf and Juke NISMO Concepts

GALLERY: Nissan Leaf NISMO RC Race Car

It’s a look into the future says Toyota. Unveiled last week at the Detroit Auto Show, the NS4 plug-in hybrid concept was built to showcase a new plug-in hybrid model Toyota is planning that will sit separate from the Prius in its lineup. The car will get a next-generation hybrid drivetrain and also features several safety technologies that Toyota will add to its cars in the near future.

To find out more about the Toyota NS4 plug-in hybrid, watch our fist look video below.

GALLERY: Toyota NS4 Plug-in Hybrid Concept

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Looking to reclaim its spot as America’s number one luxury automaker by sales, Lexus is planning an extensive product rollout in 2012 that will include nine new or updated models, plus three F-Sport cars. On the list are the new GS350 and GS450h, while later in the year we’ll see updated versions of the ES350, IS250 and IS350, as well as the LS460 and LS600h. In addition, an updated LX model arrived in 2012.

Lexus is forecasting a 21 percent sales increase for the year with Lexus GS Mark Templin telling Automotive News, “We will grow more than any other luxury brand this year.”

Beyond refreshing or introducing new versions of current models Lexus will look to add more cars and more versions of existing cars, likely starting with the CT200h hybrid hatchback – of which a higher performance version has long been rumored.

In addition, Lexus is still reportedly planning a new seven-seat crossover as the brand looks to phase out its body-on-frame SUVs with Templin commenting that he expects the brand to have moved almost entirely to car-based platforms for its “trucks” by 2025.

And finally there’s the coupe segment, which Lexus gave an impressive preview of at last week’s Detroit Auto Show, with the LF-LC Concept. A production version of that car could arrive in the medium-term with Lexus Japan’s global product boss Karl Schlicht telling Auto News that if it were to make it to dealerships, expect a price point between $100,000 and $130,000. (See AutGuide’s First Look Video of the LF-LC here).

But the design shown in the LF-LC may foreshadow more coupes than just one, with Templin commenting that he’d like an SC430 replacement, priced around the $70,000 mark. In addition, several rumors have suggested Lexus is also planning a GS Coupe to compete with rival Mercedes and its E-Class two-door.

Amidst all the product add-ons there will likely be one model removed from the Lexus lineup, the slow-selling HS. With sales dropping 73 percent last year to just 2,864 units its not surprising that Toyota Motor Sales USA president Jim Lentz commented that, “It’s a car that doesn’t necessarily fit the long-term needs of the brand in the U.S.”

GALLERY: Lexus LF-LC Concept

[Source: Automotive News]

Ever wonder what the next Toyota Supra will be like? So do we.

Could it be some sort of high-tech hybrid, using all-wheel drive with an electric motor for the front wheels and a gasoline or gas-electric hybrid drive for the rear? We suppose so.

You know… something like the GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II (above)? Um, well, yea. But let’s not start any rumors. OK?

First unveiled at the Nurburgring 24 Hour race in the summer, Toyota has recently displayed the hybrid sports car concept at both the Tokyo Motor Show and now at the Tokyo Auto Salon, hinting just how serious they are about keeping it in the public’s eye.

When it was first shown Toyota said it, “has long conducted active research on applying hybrid technologies to racing and sports cars” and said the GRMN vehicle is, “the next step in the evolution of these efforts.”

Just exactly when the next next step will be is anyone’s guess. Whatever Toyota decides to build and whatever they call it, knowing the company’s hybrid expertise and newfound passion for performance cars, we bet it’ll be supra…. er… super.

GALLERY: Toyota GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II

First unveiled at the LA Auto Show late last year the Subaru BRZ STI Concept is no longer just a hint at things to come. Just a month ago at the Tokyo Motor Show, the Japanese automaker officially drew back the covers on the production BRZ (while Toyota did the same with its GT 86).

An already impressive machine (read our review of its sibling, the Scion FR-S here), the BRZ makes 200-hp, has an amazing weight balance and a low center of gravity. The STI concept takes the car’s performance a step further with custom aerodynamics, larger 18-inch wheels, a light weight carbon fiber hood, custom exhaust and a carbon fiber roof – further lowering the car’s center of gravity.

GALLERY: Subaru BRZ STI Concept

Discuss this story at SubaruBRZForum.com

Built by Honda‘s Mugen tuning division in Europe, the on-again-off-again CR-Z RR concept is, at last word, off again. So weren’t we shocked then to discover not one, but two of the cars on display at the Tokyo Auto Salon.

As much as we’ll miss its good looks of the CR-Z RR with its wide body style, the bigger loss is the supercharged 1.5-liter hybrid engine that makes an impressive 197-hp while retaining much of the Honda’s fuel economy thanks to several different drive-mode settings.

The good news, however, is that we may miss out on such a Mugen model because Honda is planning one itself. Recent reports indicate the CR-Z Type-R is moving ahead with a Honda rep hinting to AutoGuide that the supercharged 1.5-liter hybrid engine is in the pipe.

GALLERY: Mugen Honda CR-Z RR Concept

10. Chevy Tru 140S Concept

For some of the more minor auto shows, a Top 10 list of the most important cars often covers most of the new debuts, but not so at the North American International Auto Show. Held each January in Detroit it’s the obvious launch site for major products by the Big Three domestic automakers and over the years has also become the venue for important new models by the rest of the auto industry.

Domestics made their mark at this year’s Detroit show, starting with one very different concept car revealed by Chevrolet. Called the Tru 140S it may look like some outrageously fast and expensive exotic machine, but it’s neither. Based on the same front-drive platform as the Chevy Cruze, it is powered by the same 1.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, which makes just 138 hp in that car. Designed, along with the Code 130R concept, as part of an initiative to attract youth buyers back to the brand, Chevy seems serious about the concept, even announcing that if it made production, the target price would be around the $20,000 mark.

Lincoln is desperate for one hot new model in its lineup, just not this hot. At the reveal of the new MKZ Concept at the Detroit Auto Show this week the car in question began to smoke. Embarrassed Lincoln reps ushered giggling journalists away with jokes aplenty. Reception of the new Lincoln wasn’t mixed, it was decidedly negative and the only more appropriate fate for the MKZ concept would have been if it had blown up. You know… because it bombed.

GALLERY: 2013 Lincoln MKZ Concept

Watch the video of the smoking hot Lincoln MKZ concept below:

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