Posting respectable 2011 sales numbers, the quietly successful Buick Regal outsold the Audi A4, Lexus IS250 and Acura TSX last year. For 2013, the Buick Regal has received some drivetrain upgrades. First, the performance trim Buick Regal GS will receive an automatic transmission. Second, the 2013 Regal will possess eAssist technology as standard.

Introducing the Buick GS with a manual transmission is an interesting move and, according to U.S. vice president of Buick Marketing Tony DiSalle, “With the Regal GS, we made a conscious decision to go against the current trend and give enthusiasts the manual transmission they desire as standard equipment. Adding an automatic simply makes the performance of the GS even more accessible.” The new Aisin AF40 automatic transmission will be a no-cost option from the manual. According to GM, the new automatic transmission will deliver firmer shifts, capable of matching the manual Regal GS to 0-60 at 6.7 seconds. EPA ratings for the GS is at 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.

For 2013, the Regal will come with eAssist hybrid technology as standard equipment. A system that provides a light, but effective, secondary electric motor that assists to either motivate the car during slow traffic or to provide an additional boost to the engine, eAssist was initially a $2,000 option for Regals equipped with the Ecotec 2.4 liter engine. According to EPA ratings, the eAssist Regal reaches 25 mpg city and 36 mpg highway.

GALLERY: Buick Regal GS

Toyota has launched a new social media initiative with a chance for participants to win a brand new 2012 Camry for themselves and one more for a friend. The opportunity will come tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 5, during a live NBC broadcast – we’re presuming Toyota means the Super Bowl, but the oddly worded press release mentioned no such thing.

To enter, you’ll need the Shazam music identification smartphone app, and use it, when prompted, during the broadcast of Toyota’s “Connections” commercial, which encourages the nearly seven million Camry owners across the country to share stories, moments and memories they’ve had with their camera in the past 30 years. By entering the giveaway using Shazam technology, the winner of the contest could start a new “Camry Effect” by not only winning a Camry for themselves, but also to gift another Camry for a friend.

Vice president of digital marketing at Toyota says, “The Camry Effect is one of the most ambitious social media campaigns we’ve ever implemented. Partnering with Shazam allows us to increase awareness of this effort on the national stage and give one lucky winner the opportunity to positively affect a friend and start writing his or her Camry story.”

Who’s going to tune in tomorrow?

Volvo has long been recognized for its boxiness and its Swedish sensibilities but it wasn’t always so. For February 2012, Volvo is celebrating the 30th birthday of the original 760 GLE sedan, the car that saved the Volvo Car Corporation.

During 1975, automakers across the world were badly beaten by the effects of the oil crisis. Struggling to build quality cars in a difficult economy and an uncertain future, Volvo needed to create a vehicle that would be successful despite the volatility of the times. With limited resources, Volvo did its best to thoroughly analyze trends that shift the market. Finally, Volvo determined that what it needed to create is a vehicle that highlights reliability, fuel efficiency, longevity, serviceability, low noise levels, design and performance. Project “P31″ was born.

For cost reasons, the foundation was built upon technical content carried over from the 240 series predecessor with minor modifications. However, the enhanced recipe was brilliant. The new rear-wheel drive Volvo would get a wheelbase stretched another 10 cm for stability while its overhangs were shortened for a shorter overall length than the 240. In the weight department, the new Volvo was effectively reduced 100 kg.

As for the design, Volvo needed to create an angular, straight, and flat body panel design to minimize production costs. While many sketches were proposed, Volvo head of design Jan Wilsgaard finally introduced a design with striking identity and market appeal. Known as the cutback, the Volvo sedan featured a drawn out rear end that ended abruptly, providing a spacious and comfortable feeling from inside the cabin, and a characteristic profile from the exterior. Amid all the slippery soap bar shaped vehicles that other manufacturers offered, the Volvo’s radical box design was sure to stick out and attract a following.

Close to completion, Volvo renamed the prototype as “1155″, or 5 minutes to midnight, to suggest the final phases of development. The 1155 was sent off to 3,200,000 km of field testing and shakedowns in 3 continents and the most extreme climates, where it was challenged in every thinkable manner.

The completed Volvo 760 finally made its public reveal on February 1982. Featuring an automatic transmission, air conditioning, a sunroof, power steering, and 3 engine choices including a four-cylinder turbo, a V6 bored out to 2.8 liters, and a Volkswagen-built turbodiesel, critics were surprised at how powerful, comfortable, and pleasant to drive the 760 turned out to be. At the time, the turbodiesel 760 was the quickest accelerating diesel car in the world.

Sales took off instantly, both in Sweden and abroad. Its success allowed one of the longest product-lives of any vehicle, when the 1998 Volvo V90 became the last Volvo car to carry its technical and architectural roots back to the 760. So why are we looking back to a car that Volvo introduced 30 years ago? Because it still stands as a pillar of what Volvo represents today.

GALLERY: Volvo 760 GLE

In a January 2012 sales conference call, Toyota division group vice president and general manager Bob Carter reported some surprising results.

Recovering from its mid-2011 slump, Toyota sold 124,540 units from its Toyota, Lexus and Scion divisions. Those sales translate to a 7.5 percent increase over last January. Toyota enjoyed a 9 percent increase in sales for January, thanks in tremendous part to a 56 percent jump in sales for the all-new Camry.

Surprisingly, the Camry garnering the highest customer demand is the sport trim Camry SE. Moreover, the Camry SE even helped Toyota bring in an unprecedented number of new and young buyers. Responding to the new trend, Carter said “demand for the SE model continues to top the Camry lineup and we could have sold more in January if we had them. So we’re adjusting our SE production mix in order to better meet customer demand in the months ahead, going from about 8 percent for the previous generation Camry, to more than 40 percent for the current production mix.”

As for Toyota hybrids, the Camry Hybrid’s modest 2,100-unit January sales represent a 146 percent increase from last year. Carter expects sales to increase as availability improves, announcing an annual sales target of 50,000 Camry Hybrids for 2012.

Toyota intends to continue its marketing focus on Camry, especially by dedicating airtime during the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500, where the Camry will also serve as the official pace car. Toyota’s notoriously bland midsize family sedan just got interesting.

GALLERY: 2012 Toyota Camry

Americans are saying “yes” to the 2012 Volkswagen Passat and the German giant is responding in kind by boosting production and adding jobs.

200 more positions are being created at the Chatanooga, Tenn. plant that already manufactures the car. According to Automotive News, the company will achieve this goal by increasing the number of cars produced per hour from 31 to 35. The plant opened in 2011 as part of VW’s plan to boost American sales to 800,000 by 2018.

We’re certainly not complaining about more Passats being available. Changes to the 2012 model make it feel a lot more like a luxury car. Some folks may struggle with the $33,000 price tag for the top-end model, but the base S starts at just $19,995. Read our review here and decide for yourself.

GALLERY: 2012 Passat SEL V6

[Source: Automotive News]

Since its reveal at the Detroit Auto Show, the new 2013 Dodge Dart has received a lot of positive reactions and Dodge intends to make it even better. Based on the Italian Alfa Romeo Giulietta platform, the solid European chassis will be further finessed for sport and performance under the care of Ralph Gilles and the magicians of SRT. The SRT4 is back!

While many of the components are carry-overs from Alfa Romeo, the SRT-4 will likely create an engine that produces no less than the 285-hp and 265 lb.-ft. of torque found in the forerunning Caliber SRT4. A likely powerplant would be a larger displacement, turbocharged and intercooled variant of the Dart’s Tigershark 2.0 liter engine.

Other hardware upgrades include stiffer springs and dampers, larger wheels, and stickier rubber. As for the exterior, think modern day Neon SRT4 as the Dart SRT4 will be stylized with aggressive yet functional vents, scoops, and rear spoiler.

Pricing on the SRT4 should fall near $30,000.

GALLERY: 2013 Dodge Dart

[Source: Motortrend]

Discuss this story at DartForums.com

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

The first semi-official photos of the new 2013 Ford Fusion have leaked online – sort of. The photos aren’t actually of the Fusion, but of the European-market Mondeo. Entirely different vehicles in the past, as a part of the new “One Ford” plan for global products, the two models are expected to be nearly identical starting with the 2013 model year car.

We don’t have any details on powertrains to share yet… but you won’t have to wait long with an embargo set to lift at midnight. For that story and all of our 2012 North American Auto Show Coverage, see here.

GALLERY: 2013 Ford Mondeo/Fusion

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport]

Cadillac has been steadily improving its products for a decade, shedding its old man stigma in favor of a new brand identity, favoring luxury with a performance twist. After all this time, on the eve of the Detroit Auto Show, the GM luxury division is finally ready to put its money where its mouth is, launching the ATS as a direct rival to the segment leading BMW 3 Series.

With a choice of a 4-cylinder, turbo 4-cylinder or V6, the ATS matches solid power with one of the lowest curb weights in the segment, with Caddy claiming the ATS will come in at under 3,400 lbs.

Weight reduction was key in the development of the ATS, helping to maximize the performance and efficiency of the powertrains while making the vehicle more nimble overall. Cadillac says every component of the vehicle was checked to see if a lighter alternative could be found. To help keep weight to a minimum the ATS features an aluminum hood, magnesium engine mounts and “natural-fiber” door trim panels. The result shows in the vehicle’s balance as well, with a 51/49 weight distribution.

Based on an all-new rear-drive architecture, the ATS uses a MacPherson front suspension and the brand’s first 5-link independent rear end. Both automatic and manual transmissions will be offered, as will all-wheel drive.

To maximize performance the ATS comes with an adjustable Magnetic Ride Control suspension standard, a ZF variable electric steering system and 17-inch wheels. Brembo brakes and 18-inch wheels are optional.

As mentioned, three powertrains will be available with a base 2.5-liter 4-cylinder making 200 hp and 188 lb-ft of torque. A mid-level turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder will deliver 270 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque from just 2400 rpm, while a top-level direct-injection 3.6L V6 makes 318 hp and 267 lb-ft. Cadillac says the ATS will get over 30 mpg highway – aided in part by grille shutters that close at highways speeds.

In terms of design, the ATS is clearly a Cadillac, with an overall shape similar to that of the CTS, while taking design cues from the new XTS flagship sedan. Most evident is a wider two-piece grille that’s still imposing but toned-down on the chrome.

Inside the cabin is a solid leap forward, using real wood, metal and carbon fiber as well as hand-stitched leather on the instrument panel, console and doors. Numerous color options are available and Cadillac says the cabin was designed to offer a driver-focused experience. Of note, sport seats with power-adjustable side bolsters will be available.

A focal point in the cabin is Cadillac’s new CUE telematics system, designed to be both high-tech and easy-to-use, with iPad like controls on the 8-inch LCD screen.

In addition, Cadillac has stuffed its new car with numerous safety and convenience technologies that include: a back-up camera, full speed adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, adaptive forward lighting, hill hold assist, a collision alert system and even intelligent brake assist that will stop the car on its own (going forward or in reverse) if a collision is detected.

“More than just another new entry, the ATS aims to change the status quo of the European-dominated segment,” says Caddy VP of marketing Don Butler.

The 2013 Cadillac ATS will go on sale this summer.

GALLERY: 2013 Cadillac ATS

See AutoGuide’s Complete 2012 Detroit Auto Show Coverage Here

Ford is pulling out all the stops for the upcoming Detroit Auto Show, creating an exhibition floor featuring a series of interactive displays that will help attract visitors at the show and bolster the image of both Ford and Lincoln.

According to Ford’s president of the Americas Mark Fields, “A positive experience is a positive image for the brand.” The Ford exhibition will feature a circular stand where 12 people are strapped into a carnival-like elevator ride that will lift them into the “cloud,” presenting the riders with an IMAX-like video experience that celebrates Ford’s vision and the extent its products, people, and the environment intertwine. The ride will be called the “Cloud Journey.” Visitors can even share their experience with friends by posting a video of their “Cloud Journey” on Facebook.

In addition, the Ford exhibit will also provide simulator booths that will mimic the excitement of riding in a Ford Fiesta ST hot hatch or the mighty Mustang Shelby GT500. Best of all, the simulator can also demonstrate the incredible driving skills of racer Ken Block in a “Gymkhana” motorsports video.

Ford’s premium brand, Lincoln promises a unique experience that will allow visitors to see the brand in a new light.

Mark Fields called Ford’s upcoming Detroit exhibit, “the auto version of Disneyland.”

Mike Beracchi, a marketing professor at the University of Detroit Mercy, says, “Getting noticed is Job One at the auto show. Drawing attention to vehicles is what an auto show is all about. For attention you need an attraction.”

Last year, 97% of the 735,000 Detroit Auto Show attendees visited the Ford display and 88% rated the experience as positive.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Ford intended to roll out a slow unveiling campaign for its important 2013 Ford Fusion sedan ahead of the upcoming Detroit Auto Show. However, a minor bug in its iPad teaser app revealed a complete front-three-quarter view of the new car. Acting quickly, the image has since been removed.

The iPad app only launched earlier in December and despite the rather limited amount of information, the new image leak looks to be very promising. Featuring a sporty and aggressive profile, the new Fusion also wears a new Ford corporate grill (also seen on the new Ford Focus Electric Vehicle). Overall, the exterior is handsome and well proportioned.

Moreover, we reported last week that the new Fusion will feature a trick lane-departure warning device as well. Be on the look-out for more information regarding the Fusion after its official revealing at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show on Monday and for a complete show preview see here.

[Source: Autoblog]

2011 marked another year of success for South Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Co. and affiliate Kia. Having capitalized on its Japanese rivals’ year of challenges, sales for Hyundai and Kia have climbed like a rocket.

Final global sales numbers for 2011 are 4.05 million and 2.54 million for Hyundai and Kia respectively. Boasting an increase in overseas sales by 14 percent, Hyundai sold 610,000 units in India and 730,000 in China. Kia’s overseas sales increased by 24 percent.

Determined to keep the momentum going, the South Korean automakers plan to increase global sales by another 6.1 percent this year for a combined sales amount of 7 million vehicles. While it is a conservative amount compared to the growth of the last two years, Hyundai will be taking 2012 as a year to thoroughly improve the quality  of its vehicles and to invest more in research and development. Clearly learning from Toyota‘s misstep, Hyundai hopes that its concentration on quality control as well as on other areas that might have been overlooked during the company’s rapid growth can help to avoid enormous recalls that would damage the company in the future.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Japanese automakers have ended 2011 worse for wear as the March 11 Japan earthquake as well as the rising yen exchange rate significantly damaged business. Unfortunately, Honda starts 2012 with new challenges.

October floods in Thailand have caused major losses to Honda’s plant in the central province of Ayutthaya. To reassure customers that no vehicles damaged in Thailand flooding will be sold, Honda has begun a scrapping process, destroying more than 1,000 cars over a month.

Executive VP of Honda Automobile Thailand Pitak Pruittisarikorn said, “While we were able to relocate many new cars that were awaiting shipment to a safe area, 1,055 vehicles that remained in the plant were finally damaged by the flood… We will not sell any of the damaged cars to customers, or sell or reuse any of the parts.”

Most vehicles destroyed are the Honda city sedan, and the Brio and Jazz hatchbacks. Unfortunately, production at the factory has yet to resume.

Many global supply chains were disrupted due to flooding and while water levels have receded, many areas require a major clean-up operation.

GALLERY: Honda Brio

[Source: AFP]

The lane-departure warning system will soon be found in a mainstream American family sedan as Ford introduces the new 2013 Ford Fusion at the upcoming 2012 Detroit Auto Show.

The 2013 Fusion will feature a digital camera mounted on the windshield that will detect lane markers and position itself between them. If the driver allows the Fusion to cross a lane, then the steering wheel will vibrate to alert the driver with a “rumble strip” sensation. If the Fusion drifts across the lane a bit too frequently, a chime and a coffee cup icon appearing on the instrument panel will politely suggest the driver pull over for refreshments.

Ford will bring its lane-departure warning system to other models in the line-up as well, starting with the Explorer SUV and will also include the technology on some new Lincoln models.

Ford Development Engineer Michael Kane said, “We’ve put a lot of effort into ensuring the accuracy of the lane-detection and the smoothness of the assist.”

The NHTSA has estimated that drowsy drivers have caused 100,000 crashes every year, 1,500 of which were fatal, 71,000 of which resulted to injury. These accidents also cost about $12.5 billion in losses.

GALLERY: Ford Fusion Lane-Departure Warning

Out of all the current 2012 vehicles available, which would you think are the most suitable when it comes to winter driving?

Well, given that the snow, sleet, ice, hard rain and other glorious aspects of winter weather are now with us for the next few months, making motoring conditions rather dicey at times, that’s something the editors  at Kelley Blue Book.com decided to investigate.

When all was said and done, the results of their findings revealed a rather diverse range of vehicles. From cars to minivans, trucks and SUVs, all which shared a common trait, namely a user friendly all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive system, designed to maintain traction under slippery conditions.

According to KBB.com executive editorial director Jack R. Nerad, the top 10 winter driving vehicles were machines that  ”help keep you on the road, whether that journey involves a mundane commute to work or a well-deserved weekend getaway to a favorite ski resort.”

Ranked on the list from 10th place to number one were the following vehicles:

10th Subaru Outback; 9th, Toyota Sienna AWD; 8th, Acura MDX; 7th, Ford F-150 4x 4; 6th, Honda CR-V AWD; 5th, Audi A6 Quattro 3.0T;  4th, Chevrolet Traverse AWD; 3rd, Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2nd, Subaru Impreza.

And the winner? Well perhaps not surprisingly, considering the accolades it’s been receiving since launch last year, was the 2012 Range Rover Evoque.

According to KBB.com, the Evoque not only represents “the smallest, lightest and most fuel-efficient model to ever grace the Land Rover lineup,” it’s also a highly capable machine both on and off the tarmac thanks to its “intelligent all-wheel drive system, Terrain Response feature and Tri-mode Adaptive Dynamics suspension designed to maintain optimal ride and handling characteristics under all driving situations.”

Click here to read Autoguide’s review of the Range Rover Evoque.

[Source: Kelley Blue Book]