After taking top honors for the North American Car of the Year at the 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, it’s no surprise that the Hyundai Genesis has also claimed to top prize from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC).

The Genesis appears to be the right car for the times, a well-priced luxury sedan from an automaker known more for well-built entry-level economy cars. In other words, the Genesis is all about value.

Coming standard with a 310hp V6, the Genesis also features an optional 375hp 4.6-liter V8.

This marks the first time Hyundai or any Korean automaker has won the AJAC Car of the Year award.

2009 Hyundai Genesis Review

Amidst all the excitement about the new Toyota Prius at the North American International Auto Show, no one at Toyota mentioned (and no one else seemed to notice)  that for 2010 the Camry will receive all sorts of updates.

The most significant change is the use of a slightly larger 4-cylinder engine – 2.5-liters, up from 2.4-liters. The engine will make 169hp on the LE and XLE models with 179hp on SE models – an increase of 21hp.

Incredibly, Toyota will offer the 2010 Camry four-cylinder models with either a 6-speed manual or a six-speed automatic.

The 2010 Camry will also receive a new front grille and new front bumper with a larger lower intake. The projector headlights will also be larger, the tail lights will get a styling update and XLE and SE models will receive new wheel designs.

The Camry Hybrid will also get a few aesthetic enhancements, aimed at differentiating it from the rest of the lineup. A unique hybrid grille design and new front bumper are a part of the update, as is a larger lower intake and redesigned fog lights. A new 16-inch wheel design is also coming.

In terms of safety, all 2010 Camry’s will come with Vehicle Stability Control as standard. Auto up and down windows that feature jam protection will also be standard equipment on all Camry’s.

2010 Toyota Camry:

2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid:

Official release after the jump:

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While in past years we might have handed out praise for the “Best Display” at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, a “Worst Display” nod seems only appropriate for the 2009 show.

And so, without further adieux, the AutoGuide “Worst Display” award goes to Mitsubishi. Why, you might ask? Well, there are several reasons. For starters, the enormous black wall behind the company’s display was barren of any mention of the company and created a somewhat bleak – if not downright ominous – feel to the booth.

Secondly, having had the opportunity to walk past the booth what must have been 100 times, we only noticed a staff member at the information table twice. The rest of the time the space was void of not only Mitsubishi representatives but also of any interested media.

Finally, the small information pillar located at the booth never had any pamphlets in it.

Apparently the display was not the doing of Mitsubishi Corporate, however, but created by a local dealership. With the limited resources of a dealership, it wasn’t bad, but hardly on par with the competition.

This year’s Detroit Auto Show saw several major manufacturers drop out and considering the lackluster appearance of the Mitsubishi stand, it would have been better if they had. Nissan was a no-show in Detroit and according to our sources when local Detroit dealerships requested permission from Nissan Corporate to create their own display (like the Mitsubishi dealership did) they were asked not to.

Runner’s up include Lotus, which really just had some carpet, velvet ropes and stanchions, and Jeep, which was actually just disappointing because in past year’s the display was so impressive. In Lotus’s defense, however, they are a tiny company and haven’t had a display at Detroit as long as we can remember.

Chinese atuo manufacturer Beyond Your Dreams (BYD) announced at the 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit that is it currently working on developing a pure electric vehicle that will offer impressive range.

The announcement was made following news that BYD has developed a plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid which is already on the road in China.

Called the e6, this stylish people-mover will be offered in four different power combinations with output ranging from 101hp to 269hp.

With a zero too 60 mph time of 8 seconds, the acceleration of the e6 is certainly healthy.

Even more impressive is BYD’s claim that the e6 will be able to achieve 249 miles on a single charge.

BYD’s claims may seem far fetched but the Chinese auto manufacturer has already beat automotive powerhouses like Toyota and General Motors to market with two plug-in gas electric bybrids (the F3DM and F6DM) which are currently on sale in China.

Audi released all the information on the new V10-powered R8 months ago but until now they have never shown the vehicle – to the press or anyone else for that matter.

The 525-hp version of the R8 was the first of two world premieres at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The other debut was the Sportback Concept vehicle.

The V10 R8 uses the Lamborghini-sourced 5.2-liter V10 engine (the same one found in the LP560-4) to make 525hp at 8000 rpm and 391 ft-lbs of torque at 6500 rpm. This is enough to rocket the R8 to 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 196 mph.

Thanks to Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system, the R8 is capable of a lateral acceleration of 1.2 gs. Braking is also astounding thanks to eight-piston front brakes.

Audi R8 V10

Complete information and specs on the R8 V10 after the jump:

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Lamborghini President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann didn’t have much to say at the company’s press conference at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, but it was still well worth attending.

Winkelman announced that the company sold a record 2430 cars in 2008 and opened up 15 more dealerships. The highlight, however, was the cars, two of which (the LP640 and LP560-4) featured a stunning new matte blue color offered as a part of Lamborghini’s Ad Personam personalization program.

Front and center sat the company’s latest car, the LP560-4 Spider in matte-white (Bianco Canopus). Lamborghini als offers two other matte finishes, a matt-luster black called Nero Nemesis and a matte brown finish called Marrone Apus.

“Ad Personam offers every Lamborghini customer the opportunity to acquire a completely exclusive vehicle from a unique brand – one that is perfectly in tune with their own lifestyle,” said Winkelmann. “A super sports car from Lamborghini is always a fundamental expression of the buyer’s personality. And that is why the highest levels of exclusivity are possible, right through to absolute one-of-a-kind Lamborghini vehicles.”

Along with the three different Lamborghini models, there were also three models of the female variety.

Official release after the jump:

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Chevrolet today announced that the Orlando Concept, unveiled at last year’s Paris Auto Show, and the Beat Conecpt showcased in at the North American International Auto Show in 2007 will go into production in 2011.

Little is know about either vehicle but the Beat production model, called the Spark, will be officially unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show in March.

GM says the Spark micro-car will get 40 mpg on the highway. There was, however, no word on if this impressive fuel economy will be a result of the turbocharged 1.2-liter engine.

As for the Orlando, this aggressive van-meets-suv crossover was powered by a 150hp 2.0-liter turbo when showcased in Paris.

Both vehicles will be sold in almost all markets as true world-cars. And if the production models look nearly as impressive as the concepts they are sure to be successful.

Chevrolet started the Beat/Orlando press conference by parading a long line of its recent award winning vehicles in front of the media. The Orlando and Spark are sure to join this list in the future, however, the 2011 production date is a long way off.

Official release on both vehicles after the jump:

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After  appearing just briefly at last year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, Jaguar is apparently set to launch its new 510hp XFR at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

With 510hp the XFR outpowers the already impressive XF Supercharged by 90hp, thanks to a new 5.0-liter V-8 engine mated to a Roots-type supercharger. Full power is available at 6000 rpm. Torque is rated at 461 ft-lbs and is available at just 2500 rpm.

Jaguar claims a 0-60 mph time of 4.7 seconds and a quarter mile time of 13.1 seconds.

Looks wise, it’s a stunner with a larger lower grille and chrome-trimmed intakes. The hood also gets a bad-boy look thanks to a raised center section and some vents that look like they were lifted from the Aston Martin DBS. Out back there is a new bootlid spoiler. 20-inch wheels (with even larger brakes) complete the package.

Inside, there are more alterations with sporty “R” and “supercharged” logos. There is also more luxury thanks to 18×14 way adjustable seats.

The XFR will be offered in eight colors: Ultimate Black, Indigo, Liquid Silver, Lunar Grey, Porcelain, Botanical Green, Kyanite Blue and Salsa.

2010 Jaguar XFR

[Source: Carscoop]

Scion will have on display a limited edition version of its popular xB at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Called the xB Release Series (R.S.) 6.0, just 2,500 of these vehicle will be sold and all of them with a bespoke paint color called Absolutely Red.

The xB R.S. 6.0 will also receive other exterior treatments including a custom black grille and R.S. wheel covers. (A paint-matched rear spoiler will also be optional).

Inside, the Absolutely Red color seeps through with red-detailed fabric seats as well as red lights in the foot-wells and red illuminated door sills that feature the “Release Series 6.0” logo.

The limited edition xB will also get a Pioneed headunit with a 5.8-inch LCD screen that can play DVDs when the car is in park. The headunit has a flash memory, voice recognition, MSN Direct and Bluetooth functionality, as well as iPod connectivity and slots for SD cards and USB sticks.

The Scion xB R.S. 6.0 retails for 1,743 over a standard xB, making it $17,493 for a manual version and $18,443 for an automatic.

Scion xB Release Series 6.0:

Official release after the jump:
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Just ahead of it’s official debut at the 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Buick has released all the info on the new 2010 LaCrosse.

Redesigned from the ground-up, the most obvious thing is the stunning new design, which isn’t far off from the Invicta concept Buick showed not that long ago.

Inside, it seems as though the LaCrosse is following it he footsteps of the Cadillac CTS and Chevy Malibu by offering a surprisingly up-scale interior. In fact, Buick might legitimately be able to call itself a luxury brand after they roll this car out.

Along with a classy and modern new design the LaCrosse receives a host of in-cabin features including a heads-up display, navigation, Bluetooth connectivity and an auxiliary input. Rear passengers can treat themselves thanks to a power rear-sunshade and a DVD system with integrated seat-back LCD screens (yes, two of them).

The Lacrosse wil be offered in three different trim models, as follows:
• CX – equipped with a new 3.0L direct injection V-6, premium cloth seats and 17-inch wheels. The 3.0L engine generates an estimated 255 horsepower and 211 lb.-ft. of torque and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
• CXL – also equipped with the new 3.0L direct injection V-6, adds leather-appointed heated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, fog lamps, outside rearview mirror with LED turn indicators and puddle lamps, and 18-inch wheels. Intelligent AWD is available.
• CXS – equipped with a 3.6L direct injection V-6; real-time active-dampening suspension; perforated, leather-appointed, heated and cooled seats, and chrome-plated 18-inch wheels (19-inch optional). The 3.6L engine, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, generates an estimated 280 horsepower and 261 lb.-ft. of torque.

2010 Buick LaCrosse:

For 2010 Detroit Auto Show News See Here

Complete specifications after the jump:

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