#Sedan

Rumors of a Chevrolet Cruze 3-door hatchback appear to be just that, after an interview with General Motors North American President Mark Reuss surfaced, stating that the Cruze is too late in its North American product cycle for a hatchback.

It might come as a surprise to some that it’s possible to purchase a six-passenger sedan, but in previous decades, large sedans with front bench seats and space for an extra passenger in the middle were mainstays of the American automotive landscape.

BMW UK has released another dramatic video detailing the 2012 M5. The M5 won’t go on sale until spring 2012, so we still have nearly a year before it hits the streets but this commercial is getting us very excited.

With a BMW factory driver behind the wheel of BMW’s new M5, the luxury sedan has reportedly turned in a lap time of 7:55 around the famed Nurburgring. This makes it the world’s fastest sedan, ahead of Porsche‘s Panamera Turbo (7:56) and Cadillac‘s CTS-V (7:59), and puts it on par of other supercars such as Ferrari’s F430 and is even one second quicker than Porsche’s 996 Turbo.

If the regular M3 is too boring, the CRT (which stands for Carbon Racing Technology) should liven things up: it gets a carbon fiber hood that’s a quarter of the regular steel’s weight, carbon fiber seats, a titanium exhaust, lighter wheels and brakes, and less sound deadening. The new suspension gets stiffer springs and adjustable coilovers, and the 450-horsepower V8 is attached to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.

The result? An M3 sedan that’s 100 pounds lighter, but still features the comfort and convenience of the regular M3—like keeping its high-end audio system that you won’t be able to hear anyway. There will be only 67 units produced, each at an eye-watering price of $185,000. In that case, the video below (after the jump) will be the closest any of us will get to owning, or even driving, an example.

As is happening across the General Motor’s lineup, the Buick LaCrosse is getting a powertrain update. The previous 3.6-liter V6 is being replaced with a new LFX mill which will be available at no-additional-cost on select trim levels instead of the standard 2.4L four-cylinder engine with eAssist. The new engine features variable valve timing and will crank out 303-hp on the front-wheel drive LaCrosse (an all-wheel drive version will also be available). This is up 23-hp. Torque also goes up, by 5 lb-ft to 264 lb-ft without affecting fuel efficiency, allowing the LaCrosse to retain a 17 mpg city and 27 mpg highway rating.

Nissan is reportedly developing a new front-wheel hybrid drive system for the next generation Altima Hybrid that may be released as early as next year.

Volvo has planned several major changes for its 2012 model year lineup in the US. The automaker has discontinued the S40 and V50, after already cutting the V70 earlier in the year. The move is a big change for the Swedish company that built its name on safe and sturdy station wagons.

The all-new 2012 Buick Regal GS arrives this fall and will pack a serious punch. The GS has ow officially been rated at 270-hp and 295 lb-ft of torque and achieves a 0-60 mph time of 6.7 seconds. For the record, that’s 15 more horsepower than originally claimed.

Hyundai is taking the fight to  General Motors‘ OnStar System by offering its Blue Link system as standard equipment. The Blue Link system is capable of providing direct connection to emergency services but also delivers traffic and weather updates as well as allowing owners easy access to roadside assistance. The system also lets users pair their smartphones to locate the vehicle in crowded parkinglots. The system will also keep track of the vehicle position and how fast it’s being driven.

Ford is cutting 150 jobs from its Buffalo Stamping Plant in upstate New York, as production of the Ford Crown Victoria and Lincoln Town Car comes to a close.

The Japanese Earthquake disaster of March 11, 2011, has wreaked havoc all around the world and has affected Volkswagen by interrupting supply of their backup cameras. Consumers that want a rear view camera fitted to their VW may have to wait for shipments to resume.

The 2012 Buick LaCrosse will start at $29,960 plus an $860 destination charge, when it goes on sale later this year. The eAssist, which features a 2.4L four-cylinder and a mild-hybrid system, is priced identically to a V6 powered model, but can get 37 mpg on the highway, an impressive figure for such a large car.