Nissan‘s all-new Pathfinder Concept is set to debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show on January 9th and the Japanese automaker has just teased us with two real short video clips highlighting the new SUV’s front and back.

The videos are complete teasers, but it clearly showcases the Pathfinder’s traditional SUV hallmarks that have been renovated for the new platform, complete with a dramatic new aerodynamic design.

Nissan continued to brag about the upcoming Pathfinder Concept’s features, which include “thoughtful” technology, seating for seven, and plenty of cargo room. The four-wheel-drive Pathfinder Concept previews the upcoming next-generation production Pathfinder that is set to go on sale next fall.

Check out the two short videos after the break.

GALLERY: Nissan Pathfinder Concept Teasers

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2012 already looks to be a year for firsts, as Craftsman is scheduled to debut its new CTX tractor at the upcoming 2012 Detroit Auto Show. This will be the first time ever that the Detroit Auto Show will be debuting a lawn tractor, alongside the highly anticipated Honda NSX and Lexus LF-LC Hybrid, just to name a couple of scheduled debuts.

Interestingly enough, Craftsman’s CTX tractor’s specifications sheet reads much like a vehicle’s, featuring Automatic Traction Control, an EFM system, Electronic Cutting Height Adjustment and Quick Deck Removal. It’s powered by a Briggs & Stratton engine that is good for 30-hp and can deliver 8-mph top speed going forward and 3-mph top speed going backwards.

The CTX tractor series will go on sale starting February 2012 at Sears stores nationwide. Two yard tractor models and two garden tractor models will be made available with pricing ranging from $2,999.99 to $6,499.99.

GALLERY: Craftsman CTX Tractor

See AutoGuide’s complete Detroit Auto Show Coverage here

Honda is bringing its famous NSX sports car back to life, only this time it will be packaged as a 400 hp hybrid model and will be sporting a unique powertrain system.

The NSX will be driven by a 3.5L V6 gasoline direct injection engine which will be strictly devoted to driving the front axle of the vehicle. The rear wheels will be powered by two in-wheel electric motors that operate independently of each other. This independent electric motor setup makes the car capable of delivering different power levels to the inside and outside wheels while cornering and maneuvering to add responsiveness and tighter handling.

Honda debuted this electric SH-AWD setup in late November (see here) but never announced officially when the system would see production or in what vehicle it would make its debut. The original SH-AWD system was paired with a new dual clutch seven speed automatic transmission which may or may not find its way into the NSX.

Representatives at Honda say that the primary focus of the system is to increase fuel economy while keeping power and handling intact.

In terms of looks, we have already seen spy photos from the set of the new Avengers movie(Pictured Above), so we can only assume the finished product will be heavily influenced by that early model. The NSX will bow at the Detroit auto show badged as an Acura, but will be re-branded as a Honda when it hits the streets in the UK.

To read AutoGuide’s coverage of the electric SH-AWD powertrain system click here.

[Source: AutoExpress]

It’s that time of year when lots of car companies are about to unveil new model’s at various auto shows around the world. Buick is no exception, and it will use the 2012 North American International Auto Show to unveil its latest creation, the Encore CUV.

Before the veil is fully lifted off this new model, Buick is using the same trick many other car companies have used, by releasing styling details one piece at a time. Well now they have shown us a lot more than before, by showing the entire greenhouse of the vehicle.

Their latest leak did not come courtesy of some spy shot or a car magazine that went to the printer a little early. No, this time it was Buick themselves who posted a half-revealing shot of the Encore on the Facebook page.

From what we can see, the vehicle looks quite attractive. No technical details are available at the moment, but since the official debut is on January 10th, you don’t have to wait too long to find out.

The newest edition of the Hyundai Genesis will debut for the first time in North America at the North American International Autoshow in Detroit in early January.

Since the release of the Korean specs there has been a buzz about the powertrain offerings in the new Genesis coupe. The base coupe will come with a 2.0L TCI turbo charged engine or a more impressive 3.8L direct injection motor. The 2.0L will put out 275-hp while the 3.8L will pack 350 horses under the hood. Both of the engines can be coupled with either an eight speed automatic transmission or a six speed manual.

Although we have seen press photo’s of the new Genesis a video walk through of the car has been awaited; and finally it’s here. Keep in mind that the vehicle in the video is built to South Korean Spec, so it may look a little different then what we will get here in North America.

Watch the Video below:

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Last week we received a macro image of a new concept car from Lexus that will be fully revealed at the upcoming 2012 North American International Auto Show. Lexus PR literature revealed only that the concept will introduce a new design direction for the luxury brand but did not hint what role the concept will play for the future line-up.

A new image has been released today revealing an illustration of the concept’s interior. The press release remained just as brief, stating, “The interior of this Lexus design concept hints at the new contemporary, upscale and uniquely Lexus design direction. Created by Calty, the company’s design studio in Newport Beach, Calif., the concept vehicle will debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit at 1:25 pm Eastern time on January 9, 2012.”

Details regarding technology or powertrain are unknown but the need for secrecy suggests an imminent paradigm shift for Lexus.

Nissan is set to debut their all-new Pathfinder Concept at the upcoming 2012 Detroit Auto Show, ushering in what they’re calling the next-generation SUV.

The 2013 Pathfinder will take all of its predecessors’ traditional SUV hallmarks and merge them into a new platform and “dramatic new aerodynamic body” according to Nissan. It will offer seating for seven, plenty of cargo room and thoughtful technology throughout the vehicle. The all-new Pathfinder is scheduled to go on sale in Fall of 2012, and the four-wheel-drive Pathfinder Concept is a preview to what the next-generation production Pathfinder will be like.

For now, all we have is a teaser to stare at which clearly shows quite a bit of curves and sleek lines on the Pathfinder Concept – let’s just hope Nissan didn’t take too much from the Juke’s styling manual with the new Pathfinder.

The 2012 Detroit Auto Show will be home for the world premiere of MINI‘s Roadster, a two-seating, soft-top model looking to innovate the small car segment. The MINI Roadster will become the sixth model in MINI’s line-up and will launch in the North American market with three variants to choose from.

Much like the Coupe, the base model MINI Cooper Roadster will have 121-hp while the MINI Cooper S Roadster will pack 181-hp. The top-of-the-line performer will be MINI’s John Cooper Works Roadster, sporting 208-hp. All MINI Roadsters will be front-wheel-drive and will be mated to a six-speed manual transmission as standard. The base Roadster and the Cooper S Roadster can be ordered with a six-speed automatic as an option.

In its desire of being a typical, fun-driving MINI machine, the Roadster features Electric Power Steering and Dynamic Stability Control. MINI also went on to tune the chassis with a torsionally rigid body while lowering the car’s center of gravity helping it deliver “addictive agility” and unbeatable active and passive safety. The MINI Roadster also features a rear spoiler on the trunk which automatically extends when the vehicle reaches 50-mph.

No pricing was announced on the MINI Roadster models, but AutoGuide will be sure to report anything we hear at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show.

GALLERY: MINI Roadster

See AutoGuide’s complete 2012 NAIAS Preview here and read our review of the 2012 MINI Coupe here

GM has announced the official debut of the anticipated Cadillac ATS at the upcoming 2012 Detroit Auto Show. According to GM, the Cadillac ATS will be available in three different engine trims. A new 3.6-liter V6, a 2.5-liter four cylinder, and a new-generation 2.0-liter turbocharged Ecotec four.

While a relaxed, naturally aspirated V6 and a fuel efficient inline-four comes as no surprise, the new 2.0 turbo caught our attention. The high-performance, direct-injection 2.0 turbo is tuned to produce 270-hp. Translating to 135-hp/liter, GM boasts that its power dense engine has greater horsepower per liter than the BMW M3, Porsche 911 GTS, or Lamborghini Aventador (although these are all lack forced induction).  Most importantly, the turbo 4-cylinder ATS packs 30-hp more than the turbo 4-cylinder found in the 2012 BMW 328i.

GM powertrain officials noted that the 2.0T Ecotec found in the ATS is 95 percent brand new compared to the 2.0T found in the Buick Regal GS. The new 2.0T features direct-injection, four-valves/cylinder with continuously variable valve timing, twin-scroll turbocharger with air-to-air intercooler, forged steel crankshaft with modular balance shaft system, and a two-stage variable displacement oil pump with jet-spray piston cooling.

In short, Cadillac vice president of Global Marketing Don Butler says, “This engine is the perfect match for the new ATS, which will be a refined performance luxury sedan. The 2.0T has an exceptionally smooth and responsive power curve that will make the ATS, nimble, quick and fun to drive.”

Chief engineer of the 2.0T, Mike Anderson, adds, “The 2.0T is one of the most advanced and efficient engines of its kind and contributes to the ATS’s exceptional balance of performance and great fuel efficiency.”

Check out the video introducing the new 2.0T after the jump: Continue Reading…

It appears that Volkswagen will be unveiling a concept electric vehicle at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, joining its Jetta Hybrid that will also be on display. The EV concept will not be based on any existing VW model, but will feature plenty of Beetle-esque styling cues. However, Volkswagen has confirmed that it won’t be a Beetle EV.

In fact, VW hints that it might not make it into production at all, but just proves that Volkswagen is dedicated to shifting some production, research and development teams towards hybrids and electric vehicles for their brand. It will be interesting to see if Volkswagen decides to take on the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-MiEV head on in the EV market.

The Jetta hybrid will also debut at Detroit, hoping to challenge the Toyota Prius. It’ll sport a 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine paired with an electric motor. VW did mention that it won’t be using the same 1.4L seen in Europe that’s both turbocharged and supercharged.

[Source: Autoblog]

With a new 429-horsepower twin-turbo V8 and a 308 lb weight reduction, the Mercedes-Benz SL finally has the looks to match its epic grunt, as these official pictures show.

Borrowing cues from the Mercedes-Benz SLS, the new SL will serve as the softer, but still very quick sports coupe in the Benz lineup, while deploying new technologies like Magic Vision Control (a novel new windshield wiper system) and a composite aluminum body structure.

Gallery: 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL

Before the Aveo’s name was changed to Sonic, Chevrolet had shown off an Aveo RS Concept variant at the 2010 North American International Auto Show. Now Chevrolet is ready to give the world a production Sonic RS model, set to debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.

It’s unsure if the Sonic RS will make an appearance in both sedan and hatchback form, but we are pretty confident that at least one of them will hit the market as a 2013 model next year. Regardless, we have reason to believe that the Sonic RS production model will be similar to the Aveo RS Concept that was shown off last year. Chances are, it’ll be powered by a 1.4L inline-four Ecotec powerplant with 138-hp with some extra go-fast goodies. We expect GM to also add some suspension upgrades to the vehicle, in addition to offering 18- or 19-inch wheels and upgraded brakes and styling accessories.

It is expected that the Sonic RS will feature a six-speed manual transmission with a six-speed automatic available as an option.

GALLERY: Aveo (Sonic) RS Concept

[Source: Left Lane News]

Mercedes-Benz has been teasing us with camouflaged pics of the 2013 SL-model for the last few weeks, telling us about its nearly all-aluminum structure, and if they could have had it their way, would have revealed their latest convertible model at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, MI, in January.

What you are looking at here are the first leaked images of the 2013 SL-series, and these seem to be scanned from its official brochure.

While there are no shortages of hoaxes on the net, these pics do seem to be the real deal, and gives us the first, unobstructed view of the sixth-generation model of the much-loved SL-class.

While the full technical details are not available at the moment, but we can tell you that this new model will be 308 lbs. lighter than the out going model, and will most likely be offered with the new 4.6-liter, twin-turbo V8 motor found in other new, big Benzes. This engine produces 429-hp and 516 lb/ft of torque. Power will be sent to the rear wheels via a 7-speed automatic gearbox.

Styling-wise the new SL-series looks very similar to the new SLK-series from the front, and also quite similar to the outgoing model from the rear. The interior looks similar to the SLS, which is not a bad thing.

If you want to park one of these new SL-models in your garage, you’ll have to wait at least until the middle of next year, so for now, enjoy these (leaked) pics.

[Source: Carscoop]

With the Dodge Dart’s official debut around the corner at the upcoming 2012 Detroit Auto Show, Chrysler has decided to continually tease us with exterior photos and now interior shots of the upcoming compact. Dodge is looking to make a statement with the interior of their Dart, boasting that it’ll feature materials and precision craftsmanship normally found in more expensive vehicles.

According to Dodge, the Dart will be loaded with state-of-the-art technology, loaded with cool amenities and unexpected delights for both the driver and his/her passengers. The Dart’s interior will feature plenty of personalization options with 14 interior color and trim combinations while the 7-inch TFT customizable gauge cluster display takes center stage in a class-exclusive floating island bezel. It also boasts the largest touchscreen – 8.4-inch – in its class equipped with UConnect.

The glove box houses a stowed iPad while the center console features auxiliary jacks for all your devices. Ambient lighting is plentiful throughout the interior while “racetrack” lighting surrounds the floating island bezel, giving it a really nice and luxurious feel to it.

Dodge also wanted to brag that the Dart will be the only vehicle in its class to offer Blind-Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path Detection. It’s shaping up to be a nice compact, but will it live up to its hype?

GALLERY: Dodge Dart Interior

Discuss this story at DartForums.com

Lexus will reveal a new concept car at the 2012 North American International Auto Show…and that’s all we know. Lexus sent a brief press release, two sentences in length, stating “Lexus will unveil a new concept vehicle at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 9, 2012. Designed by Calty, the company’s design studio in Newport Beach, Calif., the concept showcases the new design direction embraced by Lexus.”

No other details were given, so you’ll have to wait another few weeks to get any kind of info on the car. Real smooth, Lexus.

Amp Electric Vehicles announced that they’ll be heading to the 2012 Detroit Auto Show with a new electric vehicle based on an iconic American SUV. What SUV Amp has electrified this time around is not known, but recently they debuted their Mercedes-Benz ML, so it might not be a far reach to anticipate a Jeep Grand Cherokee EV.

In a recent interview, Amp CEO Jim Taylor expressed his wishes to produce another SUV that would be more affordable and use a domestic platform since they scrapped their plans for a Chevrolet Equinox EV. Amp did announce that the production EV SUV would offer 100-miles of electric range or more, while offering the same appearance and capabilities as the platform that it’s based on. Even cooler, those attending the 2012 Detroit Auto Show will be able to not only check it out in person, but go for a ride at the show’s Ride & Drive track.

Cadillac‘s upcoming BMW 3-Series competitor is set to take center stage at this year’s Detroit Auto Show according to Mary Barra, Senior VP of global product development for General Motors.

Speaking to the Automotive Press Association (APA) today, Barra disclosed that GM will debut four global concept or production vehicles with one of the four being Cadillac’s new ATS.

The 2013 ATS will be Cadillac’s entry-level compact luxury sedan, featuring rear- and all-wheel-drive options making it a perfect competitor to BMW’s 3-Series, Audi‘s A4 and arguably Mercedes-Benz‘s C-Class. The ATS’s production should begin this summer and will be built alongside Cadillac’s CTS sedan, coupe and wagon in Michigan.

Cadillac has high expectations for their ATS, doing plenty of testing out in Germany including on the Nurburgring. They plan on making it competitive with the best vehicles in that segment, if not better.

The North American version of the rear-wheel drive Subaru BRZ sports car will bow at the North American International Auto Show in January, 2012, but what exactly that means is anyone’s guess.

No details regarding changes between the North American version and the rest of the world were announced. The car’s basic layout and 2.0L Boxer 4-cylinder with direct injection will remain, as well as the available 6-speed manual and automatic transmissions. We’re guessing that some trim and equipment may be different – Japanese market vehicles have been known to offer a plethora of trims and options while North American versions generally get one or two distinct trims and option packages, to make ordering easier for dealers (versus the built-to-order phenomenon in Japan).

AutoGuide will be on hand at the Tokyo Auto Show as well, where the first glimpse of the production Subaru BRZ will be available.

Discuss this story at SubaruBRZForum.com

Toyota will add another vehicle to the Prius lineup shortly, with the upcoming Prius c subcompact. Intended to be the entry point into the Prius range, the Prius c will supposedly get over 50 mpg in the city.

Technology will also be at the forefront of the Prius c, which comes with an integrated app suite for use with websites like Bing, MovieTickets.com, Pandora and OpenTable, along with Bluetooth integration and a host of safety features.

Expect the Prius c to be about the size of a Toyota Yaris, but positioned as a more premium product. Performance details have not been announced, aside from the obvious use of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive hybrid system mated to a 1.5L 4-cylinder engine. The Prius c will get its official unveiling at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show in January.

Gallery: Toyota Prius c

Dodge will unveil its new 2013 compact car during the January 2012 Detroit Auto Show. Since this is the first all-new car designed by the combined Chrysler and Fiat Company that will debut three months from now, we are used to expecting information to leak prior to the car’s official unveiling, whether from spies and insiders or scheduled leaks from the company itself.

However, in this case, little is known about the new compact so far. Possibly named the Dodge Hornet (concept above), the new compact will replace the dated Caliber hatchback and aims to bring the fight back to its staple competitors Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Ford Focus, and Hyundai Elantra.

Built on a modified C-Evo chassis that underpins the Alfa Romeo Giulietta and sharing powerplants with Fiat, the Dodge compact will be slightly wider than the European variant in order to provide space for the mandatory-for-the-U.S. safety equipment, but will otherwise share identical dimensions. Because of this, a major concern has risen due to its length of only 171 inches, which is significantly shorter than its competitors. Comparatively, the length of a Chevrolet Cruze is almost a foot longer at 181 inches.

Falling between compact and subcompact, the success of Dodge’s new small car will greatly depend on how cleverly packaged the cabin space will be. After all, it’s now how big it is, it’s how you use it.

[Source: motorauthority]

Participating in an auto show is an expensive business. To rent the right amount of space for your display, then have a stage constructed to represent the brands image, plus hiring all the staff needed at the booth to answer questions from the public. It’s all a very big and expensive affair which can easily cost up to $1-million per show.

All this is fine when the company is making tons of money, but when a company is in the red, spending lavishly at an auto show is not the smartest thing to do.

Take Suzuki for example. Back in 2007, it was selling 100,000 vehicles in the States per year. Last year, that number was down to less than a quarter of that at 23,994 units.

While Suzuki sales are up slightly this year, but not by much, and it looks as if the brand will not have a great year ahead of them either. To save money, Suzuki has decided to skip the upcoming L.A. Auto Show, and will also skip the North American International Auto Show in January.

Suzuki’s spokesman Jeff Holland said; “For the upcoming season, our brand will selectively participate at auto shows where our distinctive and engaging story will resonate the most.

Apparently Suzuki’s story does not resonate with the California crowd, as only 430 new Suzuki’s were sold in the sunny state.

Part of the reason Suzuki has been struggling is because of the strength of the Japanese Yen compared to the Dollar. Apart from the Equator pick-up truck, all the Suzuki models are built in Japan, and the unfavorable exchange rate is hurting them very directly.

In its home market, Suzuki is still a very brand and the most popular new car sold in Japan is the Suzuki Wagon R, plus their motorbike division is among the most successful in the industry on a global scale.

[Source: Automotive News]

The Kia Mustang might be a reality later this year, when Kia shows off a pair of rear-wheel-drive coupe concepts in Frankfurt and Detroit.

Taking the sports and muscle car fight to their respective home turfs, Kia will gauge public interest in buying a V8-powered sports car with a Korean nameplate – first at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, then a second concept at the Detroit Auto Show next January. Similar what Hyundai does with its Genesis and Genesis Coupe, Kia will branch these V8 coupes from the K9 sedan that’s been caught testing back in Korea.

If Kia can draw enough people from the Mustang and BMW camps, the production version will enter production in 2015.

[Source: WhatCar?]

Most people would be rather content with the rarity of the standard Dodge Viper. With roughly 24,000 units made world-wide between all its model years, it is hardly a common sight.

It’s performance will also please most people. The original 1992 Viper made 400-hp, and over the years that figure raised to 600-hp. Considering these fiberglass bodied supercars weren’t exactly heavy, any Viper is a seriously fast machine. But there’s always room for improvements.

That is exactly what ASC (American Specialty Cars) and McLaren Performance Technologies (not to be confused with the McLaren Formula One team) set out to do, to improve on one of the fastest street cars ever made.

The collaborative effort resulted in the Viper Diamondback, a mostly carbon-fiber bodied Viper coupe with a tuned motor. This car made its debut at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The Diamondback was 1.25-inches lower, and 85-lbs. lighter than the standard Viper coupe. Also, the standard Viper coupe at the time produced 510-hp. McLaren Performance Technologies massaged the 8.4-liter, V10 motor by giving it a unique in-hood trumpeted air intake system with individual port throttle bodies, resulting in 615-hp. This Viper Diamondback is claimed to sprint from 0-60 mph in just 3.5 seconds. Thanks to custom stainless-steel quad-outlet exhausts, it should sound pretty good also while accelerating away.

This one-off project car reportedly cost $750,000 to make. Now this car is up for sale in Fresno, CA. and asking a much more reasonable $249,000. That is still a lot of money for a Viper, but exclusivity does come with a premium price tag. Owning a one-off Viper will certainly make you King of the snake-pit at any Viper gathering.

Gallery: ASC McLaren Dodge Viper

[Source: Dodge Vipers For Sale]

Soccer moms sometimes get a raw deal because of the vehicle of choice. But it’s not like they have much of a choice – a minivan is the best-equipped vehicle to haul their aspiring David Beckhams to games and practices. It’s time to stop mocking the soccer mom, and automakers are setting out to make the minivan cool… but will moms jump on the minivan band wagon?

At the recent Detroit Auto Show, a group of mothers from MomsLikeMe.com critiqued the latest wave of minivans. For the most part, they liked all the new creature comforts they came with, but when it came to the vehicle’s cool factor, they just couldn’t see it becoming any hipper than it already is (which means, not at all). They agreed that the minivan is all about practicality, not style sense.

“It is not worth the hassle to try and stuff everything and all your kids into a regular car,” said Patti Cleland, a 42-year-old mother of three from Grosse Pointe Woods.

The MomsLikeMe crew check gave critiques of the all-new Ford C-Max, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Dodge Grand Caravan and Volkswagen Routan. Even though it was smaller, the C-Max scored high marks, and so did the Sienna, thanks to its four up-front cupholders, the dual moonroofs and the reclining second-row seats with leg rests.

[Source: The Detroit Free Press]