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2013 Ford Focus ST Pricing Leaked: $23,700
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According to a leaked spec sheet, Ford‘s upcoming Focus ST global hot hatch will start at $23,700 ($24,495 with the $795 destination charge). Since its inception, Ford’s former Global Performance Vehicles chief Jost Capito intended for the Ford Focus ST to be at the top of its class, “We want to have the best hot hatch…
Toyota Prius to be Built in US by 2015
With the family of Prius models growing, Toyota is hoping to have production in the U.S. by the time the next-generation Prius model hits the streets in 2015.
Scion Brand Image Moving Toward Mainstream
In order to rectify the situation, perhaps going more mainstream would make more sense. If that proves to be the case, then models like the xB, which came to identify Scion’s youth focused approach would probably give way to more conventional replacements.
Audi S3 Prototype Caught Testing in Spy Photos
The newly redesigned Audi A3 debuted at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, and now we have spy photos of the S3 performance version out testing on the Nurburgring. GALLERY: Audi S3 Spy Photos
Toyota Concept Car Trio Let Loose at Beijing Auto Show
Toyota has fulfilled its promise from last week, unveiling a trio of new of new concept cars, including a China-only hybrid concept. The most interesting of the three cars is the “Yundong Shuangqing” concept, seen above. It features the company’s usual blue badge, signaling that it is a hybrid. In fact, the “Yundong Shuangqing” features technology from Toyota’s…
BMW M135i Slated for US Market as Coupe or Convertible
Although BMW M division president Friedrich Nitschke emphasized earlier that the BMW M135i will not arrive to U.S. shores, later reports confirm that we will get the sporty small BMW after all. Hinged on a technicality, the M135i concept shown at the Geneva Motor Show is based on a 1-Series hatchback layout exclusive to the European…
BMW M135i Hot-Hatch Caught Testing in Spy Photos
The BMW M135i concept was teasing us at the Geneva Motor Show, as BMW would not confirm if it was going to become a production car. Now, we know it will be put into production, and we caught the hot hatch in our spy photos out testing on the Nurburgring in Germany. The BMW M135i will get its…
BMW M Division Reveals Details on Future Products
BMW‘s M division president Friedrich Nitschke has revealed some new details regarding the line of future M products. First, the BMW M135i concept unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show is confirmed for production, offering a turbocharged six-cylinder powerplant mated to a choice of manual or automatic transmissions. What’s more, optional all-wheel drive is offered as…
Ferrari FF Competitor May be Coming From McLaren
We know that McLaren is working on a successor to its F1 supercar, but now we’re getting word that McLaren is tooling away on another vehicle behind the scenes. According to AutoExpress, the new McLaren will be a competitor to the Ferrari FF, meaning it will have shooting brake styling and more trunk space than…
Volkswagen Golf R Fan Contest Offers ‘Ring’ Track Day Prize
In celebration of the most powerful performance car it’s ever sold in the U.S., the 2012 Golf R, Volkswagen is launching a fan contest to reward one lucky enthusiast. “The Golf R has an incredibly loyal following of fans, and this is a way for Volkswagen to say ‘thank you’ for their passion and enthusiasm,”…
2012 Ford Focus Electric Road Trip Facebook Game Released
Ford is introducing its latest social media product, the “Plug N Play in Electric City with the 2012 Focus Electric,” a Facebook-based game, ahead of the official release of the Focus Electric EV. The Facebook game gives users and four of his or her friends the opportunity to create a short virtual trip in the new…
Mercedes-Benz A-Class AMG Will Get All-Wheel Drive Setup
The A25 AMG is Mercedes-Benz‘s take on a sport tuned version of the A-Class hot hatch, and more details concerning the makeup of the car are out. According to AMG boss Ola Kallenius, the A25 will be powered by a turbocharged four cylinder engine that will produce more than 335 hp. Original forecasts for engine power claimed that…
Nissan Leaf Software Update Reduces Range Anxiety
In order to help remedy the situation, Nissan has developed an updated Carwings system, with improved algorithms, that factors in such aspects as hills and detours.
2012 Ford Focus Recalled Over Windshield Wiper Defect
Ford Motor Company has announced a recall of 140,310 model-year 2012 Ford Focus vehicles built through Oct. 18 in the Wayne, Michigan Assembly plant over a potential windshield wiper defect. According to Ford, a seal plug on the passenger side windshield wiper motor electrical connector may be missing, causing water to fall into the motor…
2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek Hits US Shores: 2012 New York Auto Show
Known for its rugged terrain-capable cars sporting efficient four-cylinder engines, Subaru built its reputation on offering all-wheel drive and crossover-like ground clearance in an efficient package. Cars like the Forrester already offer that to U.S. customers, but the brand just unveiled another off-road clearance-oriented car at the New York Auto Show. Based on the Impreza…
Honda FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Powers Japanese House For Six Days
While many new plug-ins boast the convenience and simplicity of recharging the car battery from a household wall socket, how many vehicles can claim to provide the opposite? Honda has installed an inverter in the trunk of one special FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, providing output power that could supply up to 8 kilowatts of…
Volvo Shows Off The C30 Electric In Very Cold Climate
Batteries and cold climates often don’t mix well. Anyone who has tried to operate an electric device, like a camera that has been sitting in the cold, will soon find that the batteries have lost their charge. This sort of issue isn’t catastrophic with a small device, just a little inconvenient. The same can’t be…
MINI Celebrates a Decade Selling Cars in America
American motorists’ mentalities were very different a decade ago. Gas was selling at $1.25 a gallon, and thirsty SUVs like the Hummer H2 were popular. Fast forward to today and gas prices are more than triple the old average. That translates to buyer’s increasing interest in smaller, more fuel-efficient models like the MINI Cooper. “MINI launched in the…
Chevrolet Sonic 1.4L Ecotec Turbo Now With Automatic Transmission
Chevrolet has announced that its turbocharged Ecotec 1.4 liter engine equipped Sonic subcompact will now be available with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The quickest of its class, the 6-speed manual turbocharged Ecotec 1.4 liter engine propels the Sonic from 0-to-60 mph in 7.8 seconds, faster than the comparable 2012 Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, or Hyundai…
Audi has A4 “Superavant” Crossover in the Works
Going by present product development trends, the number of luxury crossovers to choose from will continue to expand as premier automakers offer more vehicles to fit all sorts of niche markets. Despite the BMW 5-Series Gran Turismo crossover’s lack of commercial success, BMW is moving forward with Gran Turismo body styles for its 1-Series and 3-Series…
Mads Østberg Goes Mad: Sets New World Snow Jump Record
Norwegian WRC racing driver Mads Østberg has enjoyed a bit of success in his World Rally Championship career but as it is with all athletes, practice makes perfect so a little snowy stunt driving is practically training. Record-breaking is just a bonus. Setting a new bar for himself, and the world, Østberg completed a world…
Toyota Struggles To Boost Prius C Capacity as Demand Grows
Introduced for the Japanese market last December, the Toyota Prius C had only hit U.S. showrooms on March 12. In only its first three days in the U.S. market, the Prius C sold 1,201 units, eclipsing the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf’s complete February sales performance of 1,023 and 478 units respectively. However, demand for the…
Washington State Trying to Penalize EV Owners for Saving Gas
Washington State doesn’t like people buying electric vehicles (EVs), or so it seems based on a proposed law to penalize EV owners. While the Federal Government is offering a $7,500 tax credit to those that wish to buy an EV, the Washington State Government wants to penalize owners to the tune of $100 a year because they…
Ford Focus RS Development Delayed
In an interview, Ford vehicle line director Gunnar Herrman reported that development on the next-generation Focus RS hot hatch have been delayed to bump development of various other vehicles and its trims and variants, especially the Ford Kuga/Escape and the Ford Focus Electric. Simply, Herrmann explained that “It’s just because we have other priorities to…
