When GM sold 9.03 million vehicles globally to become the world’s largest automaker of 2011, a great deal of the American automaker’s success came down to its dominant popularity in the Chinese market.

According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), the best selling car in China for 2011 was the Buick Excelle. While it has been reported China sold 253,514 Excelles while only 177,633 Buick cars and SUVs were sold in the United States, confusion with Buick’s naming system revealed that the hot Buick Excelle isn’t the same as the Buick Verano sold stateside as we presumed. Oddly, the Buick line-up offers a total of three unique Excelles. Of the three, it’s the oldest generation model based on a dated Daewoo design that earned the most amount of sales. Powered by an engine designed by Holden, this particular Excelle is also known as the Kai Yue and was last given a face lift in 2008.

The second and third Chinese market Excelles are known as the Ying Lang. Using Opel Astra architecture, the hatchback Ying Lang XT and the Verano sedan variant, Ying Lang GT, only sold a combined 8,381 units during December 2011 when the older Kai Yue model sold 13,846 units in the same month.

Much of its popularity is due to its competitive pricing. At just 100,000 renminbi, or $15k USD, the Kai Yue Excelle is the gateway vehicle into China’s coveted Buick Owner’s Club.

GALLERY: Buick Excelle

[Source: China Car Times]

Out photographers have snapped several spy photos of the upcoming Mazda6 undergoing testing in the frozen European north. Underneath this current-generation body there’s plenty of new equipment to evaluate, from an all-new Skyactiv chassis and suspension system, right down to the engine and a start-stop system mated to an innovative regenerative braking system.

The next-gen Mazda6 will look nothing like this mule, which sports a chopped-up body similar to the prototypes we’ve already driven. Instead, it will share the swooping lines of the Takeri Concept car, unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Mazda has confirmed north America will get a diesel engine in early 2013, but hasn’t confirmed which model it will arrive in yet.

Look for the debut of the new Mazda6 next fall at the Paris Motor Show.

GALLERY: 2013 Mazda6 Test Mule

GALLERY: Mazda Takeri Concept

Find out more about the next-gen Mazda6 by reading our prototype drive here.

Hyundai has made incredible gains in the global market, challenging larger automakers in markets they once dominated. While Volkswagen has globally sold a record number of vehicles in 2011, Hyundai Motors and its Kia affiliate have exceeded VW’s numbers in the United States. According to senior analyst of auto website Edmunds.com Jessica Caldwell, “Hyundai offers compelling design at an affordable price– a win-win for must consumers. Brand exposure has long been the problem for Hyundai, but that has certainly eased.” The South Korean automaker has made some smart moves to gain publicity, including ads aired during the Super Bowl as well as the company’s sponsorship of the World Cup.

The pressure on Volkswagen doesn’t end at North America, however, as Hyundai intends to bring the fight to Europe as well. Chief operating officer Allan Rushforth for Hyundai Europe said, “It’s very important for Hyundai to be successful. Europe is a top priority because it affects how the company is perceived elsewhere.”

Just as European nations tackle a debt crisis and consumers face austerity measures, Hyundai looks to offer products that mix great value, reliability, European styling and handling. While Volkswagen focuses its attention on challenging GM and surpassing them for the title as world’s largest automaker, Hyundai sneaked up on the German Automaker as Stefan Bratzel, director of the Center of Automotive Management at Germany’s University of Applied Sciences, said, “Hyundai is one of VW’s most serious challengers. The mix of good value, quality and design is a solid basis, and they’ve been getting more innovative every year.”

During the Frankfurt Auto Show in September, a video was posted on YouTube capturing a concerned conversation between VW CEO Martin Wintekorn and his associates at Hyundai’s show floor. Upon studying the adjustable steering column inside the Hyundai i30, Winterkorn  noted, “Nothing rattles. Why can they do it? BMW can’t. We Can’t.”

Winterkorn adds, “It’s become increasingly clear that whoever’s at the front has a lot of opponents. Our competitors are attacking Volkswagen all over the world.”

For Hyundai’s European offensive, the South Korean automaker has prepared a $12.4 billion investment, intended for plant upgrades and vehicle technology development.  Meanwhile, Volkswagen steels itself against imminent competition by holding onto a 62.4 billion euro budget to invest in factories and new vehicles over the next five years.

GALLERY: Hyundai Elantra

[Source: Bloomberg]

What do the Porsche Panamera and Nissan Juke have in common? Answer: the ability to love them only after you’ve driven them.

With styling that wouldn’t sell were it not for that Porsche badge, the German sports car maker has put its notoriously uncreative design team to work searching for a way to “modernize” the luxury sports sedan. As these new spy photos reveal, the updates will include slight changes to the front and rear bumper, as well as new headlights and taillights.

It’s not known if Porsche is planning any interior updates (one area the Panamera certainly doesn’t need improvement), nor do we know if any engine tuning will be performed. More power isn’t really necessary either, but it might help the Panamera more speedily escape from its former self.

GALLERY: 2013 Porsche Panamera Spy Photos

According to reports, the all-new Mazda 6 will be unveiled at the upcoming 2012 Paris Auto Show.

We have already seen a solid hint at the styling of the new Mazda 6, with the Takeri concept (pictured above) which the automaker revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show this past December. The new production version of the 6 will probably share some of the major styling of the Takeri, with maybe a few small changes.

The Takeri was built on an all new light weight platform, and features Mazda’s Skyactiv technologies to increase fuel economy. Mazda has engineered a new 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (as seen in the 2012 Mazda3), however, the Takeri concept made use of the brand’s new Skyactiv diesel engine, capable of producing 165 hp and over 300 lb-ft of torque.

Mazda has said it will offer a diesel engine in North America in the near future, but has yet to confirm if it will arrive in the new 6, or perhaps the CX-5.

GALLERY: Mazda Takeri Concept

[Source: Auto-Motor-Und-Sport]

See AutoGuide’s First Look Video of the Takeri Concept below:

Continue Reading…

It seems that Volkswagen, Europe’s largest automobile manufacturer, has no intention of slowing down. Sales results for 2011 revealed a sales gain of another 14.3 percent from last year. In a single December, Volkswagen completed 650,000 deliveries. However, the most staggering statistic of all is that Volkswagen Group delivered more than 8 million vehicles for the first time in a twelve-month period.

What made this result impressive is that Volkswagen reached its record figure while facing uncertainty in the European market, which only grew 5.1 percent. Volkswagen’s real gain was due to the success from its global market operations.

In 2011, the Asia/Pacific region saw its market grow 19.8 percent to 2.56 million units. China accounted for a significant majority, attributing to 2.25 million vehicles.

Next, India’s rate of growth has been so incredible, deliveries more than doubled in 2011, totaling over 111,600 Volkswagen vehicles delivered. Comparatively, Russia’s growth slots in at #2 with a 74.4 percent spike to 229,000 units.

In North America, Volkswagen delivered 666,800 units in 2011, a 21.4 percent increase over the year before. In South America, a 5.1 percent boost resulted to a total of 933,400 vehicles delivered to customers.

Finally, Volkswagen Group enjoyed a rise in deliveries in Western Europe, delivering 1.98 million new cars to customers. This performance indicated 7.0 percent growth in a market that suffered a sales decline of 4.4 percent over the year.

Regarding the company’s 2011 success, Volkswagen Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler said, “All Group brands reported further gains under difficult conditions on volatile markets. This outstanding result is clearly a team achievement. However, a very challenging year lies ahead. The risks on European markets in particular will multiply in 2012. In spite of this, The Volkswagen Group is well placed and well prepared to master the upcoming challenges and play a leading role on world markets.”

With a new flagship supercar planned in the NSX Concept, Acura also unveiled a new entry-level model at the Detroit Auto Show this week. Called the ILX, it’s based on the new Honda Civic platform, but significantly modified. It also gets some distinct bodywork and three unique engine choices, including a hybrid option – the first time ever for an Acura.

Find out more about the Acura ILX by watching AutoGuide’s First Look Video below.

GALLERY: 2013 Acura ILX

Continue Reading…

Unveiled on the eve of the Detroit Auto Show, we had our first chance to run our paws over Cadillac’s new luxury sports sedan, the ATS. The car is a bold move by Caddy, which claims the ATS was built not just to compete along segment hallmarks like the BMW 3 Series, but to beat them.

Notable highlights include a low 3,400 lb curb weight, an optional 270-hp turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, real carbon fiber on the interior, Brembo brakes and magnetic shocks absorbers – a first for the segment.

GALLERY: 2013 Cadillac ATS

For more on the new ATS, watch the video below:

Continue Reading…

Setting the new standard in the mid-size family sedan category, Ford will unveil its all-new 2013 Fusion today at the Detroit Auto Show. Unequivocally good looking and perhaps even downright sexy, the new Fusion will be available with five different powertrains, and Ford claims the car will get best-in-class fuel economy in the gas, hybrid and plug-in hybrid segments.

Starting with three gas powertrains, the Fusion can be had with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with 170 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque as a low cost entry-level model. Nearly identical in power is a 1.6-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder with direct-injection and turbocharging that gets a non-hybrid class-leading 26 mpg city and 37 mpg highway. In fact, that number is actually higher than the quasi-hybrid Chevy Malibu Eco.

Finally, in the gas-only department anyway, there will be an EcoBoost 2.o-liter 4-cylinder as a performance option making 237 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque – with AWD optional.

The new Fusion Hybrid will deliver 44 mpg city and 47 mpg highway to top the Camry by a significant margin, while the Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid is projected to get 100 mpge – better than even the Chevy Volt.

Along with technologies like SYNC and the latest edition of the MyFord Touch telematics system the new Fusion will also offer plenty of other safety and convenience technologies, including some that are segment exclusives like a new Lane Keeping System. A first in the mid-size sedan class, a camera that reads the road ahead will then signal an alert if the driver isn’t staying in his or her lane. If no corrective behavior is taken the system will then vibrate the steering wheel and finally, if no action is taken, the car will actually adjust the steering in order to return the car to its proper lane.

Other features include adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot monitoring system and Ford’s active park assist.

GALLERY: 2013 Ford Fusion

See AutoGuide’s complete 2012 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here

Setting a new industry benchmark, Ford will unveil its new Fusion and Fusion Hybrid today at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. What might just be the best looking mid-size sedan on offer, Ford’s hybrid model also offers class-leading fuel economy with an incredible 47-mpg city and 44-mpg highway rating. Those numbers best the current industry leading Camry by 4 mpg city and 5 mpg highway.

Helping achieve that number is a smaller 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack, delivering 185 hp – a number that is down about 15 hp from the competition. Helping raise the car’s highway mileage is the fact that it can now operate on pure electric power at speeds of up to 62 mph, compared to 47 mph on the previous model.

If not even those numbers impress you then Ford has one more card to play, the Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid. The car is projected to achieve a 100 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) rating. That number is actually 8 mpge ahead of the Volt and 13 ahead of the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid. What Ford has not released, however, is how far the car’s electric range is.

Taking a page from the Hyundai-Kia playbook, Ford admits that while the last Fusion was a smart choice for rational car buyers, it was hardly emotional. That has all changed with this latest model that is, simply put, one handsome sedam. Ford also promises a vastly improved and more spacious interior, with the obvious additions of SYNC and the latest version of the MyFord Touch telematics system.

GALLERY: 2013 Ford Fusion