japanese cars
Next-Gen Nissan Titan Could Get Diesel Engine Says Product Boss
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When Nissan finally gets around to replacing the Titan pickup truck, there’s a solid chance it will come with a diesel powerplant – at least as an option. Previous reports had indicted that there was a possibility, but in a recent interview, Nissan product boss Larry Dominique gave his strongest endorsement yet, commenting that, “diesel…
Mugen CR-Z Gets 200-HP from New Supercharger System
The CR-Z that Honda fanboys have been begging for is on its way thanks to Mugen. The European division of the tuner has just released new details on its high-performance version of the sporty hybrid coupe, with the big news being a supercharger under the hood to deliver 200-hp. Mugen Euro hasn’t released exact specs…
Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt Earn Top Safety Pick Status from IIHS
Thinking of buying one of the greenest vehicles on the market, but not sure if safe for the environment also translates into safety for you and yours? That’s no longer an issue and the latest Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests have just come in for the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf with both…
NSX Successor On its Way Confirms Honda Chief
Many a Honda fanboy is under the impression that the brand has lost its way, putting too much of a focus on green technology and not enough on driving enjoyment and performance. But Honda is looking to restore faith in the company by merging the two ideas says President Takanobu Ito, confirming that it is…
General Motors To Reclaim Sales Title From Toyota
General Motors is set to become the world’s largest automaker yet again, reclaiming the title from Toyota, whose operations have been hit hard by a production slowdown brought on by Japan’s natural disasters. With only a 30,000 vehicle gap in sales between the two companies at the end of 2010, GM should easily reclaim the…
2012 Subaru Impreza Video: First Look at Subie’s 36-MPG Compact
Debuting the new 2012 Impreza at the New York Auto Show, Subaru has followed through on a larger plan to deliver vehicles that better suit the demands of customers, with toned-down styling and more interior room. Plus, like all new compact cars, fuel economy has increased significantly. Billing the car as the most fuel efficient…
Nissan Leaf NISMO RC Video: First Look at Electric Race Car Concept
Unveiled at the New York Auto Show the Nissan Leaf NISMO RC is an electric race car concept based loosely on the world’s first mass-produced EV. Sitting over a foot lower and using a chassis made of carbon fiber, there wouldn’t at first seem to be much similar between the two vehicles – although the…
Nissan Leaf Wins 2011 World Car of the Year Award
Chevrolet may be proud of its World Green Car of the Year award for the Volt, but it was Nissan who took even bigger honors taking home the World Car of the Year Award for 2011 for the Leaf electric car. The Volt wasn’t even in the running for the more prestigious World Car title,…
Scion FR-S Redefines Sex Appeal [2011 NYAS] VIDEO
Easily the most anticipated debut of the 2011 New York Auto Show, Scion has just released its new FR-S Concept, based on the Toyota FT-86. Powered by a boxer 4-cylinder donated by Subaru, but using a Toyota direct-injection system Scion is promising sufficient power with “surprising” fuel economy. Described by Scion boss Jack Hollis as…
2012 Mazda3 Rated at 40-MPG [New York Auto Show 2011]
Debuting the car at the New York Auto Show today, Mazda has just confirmed that the 2012 Mazda3 will match the Hyundai Elantra as the most fuel efficient compact car on the market with a 40-mpg highway rating. The first vehicle to make use of the brand’s new SkyActiv fuel saving technologies, the 3 will…
2012 Honda Civic Hybrid Averages 44-MPG, Priced from $24,050 [New York 2011]
The 2012 Civic Hybrid will have the honor of being the second most fuel efficient vehicle on the market, delivering 44 mpg in the city and 44 mpg on the highway. While not quite as fuel efficient as the Toyota Prius, the numbers are still excellent, especially considering that Honda‘s hybrid technology is a few…
Lexus LF-Gh Video: First Look at the Brand’s New Design Concept
Twenty years ago Lexus unveiled the first GS luxury sedan sending a shot across the bow of the German luxury sports sedans of the time. The Lexus brand was just an upstart at the time and so the Japanese firm made the wise decision to contact an Italian design studio (Giugiaro Design) to sculpt the…
New York 2011: Lexus LF-Gh Concept Previews Next GS, Brand’s Design Direction
Twenty years ago Lexus unveiled the first GS luxury sedan sending a shot across the bow of the German luxury sports sedans of the time. The Lexus brand was just an upstart at the time and so the Japanese firm made the wise decision to contact an Italian design studio (Guigiaro Design) to sculpt the…
Infiniti JX Crossover Announced as 3-Row Luxury Family Hauler with Style
The Infiniti JX won’t be shown until the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August. But Infiniti already has big plans for the three-row luxury crossover, setting it into production in 2012 as a 2013 model. Don’t accuse Infiniti of not planning ahead: the concept will debut in August at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the production version…
Mazda CX-5 Confirmed as Official Name of Minagi Concept
First debuting in concept form at the Geneva Auto Show in March, Mazda has now confirmed that its Minagi Concept will be badged as the CX-5 when it goes into production. That will be quite soon, with Mazda set to reveal more details on the Minagi and its SkyActiv engines at the New York Auto…
2012 Honda Civic Lineup to Debut at NY Auto Show
Honda will reveal the all-new 9th generation Civic lineup at the New York Auto Show on Wednesday. Totaling six models, the next-generation of the Civic will include a Coupe and Sedan, Si Coupe and Sedan, Hybrid, Natural Gas model and even a high-mpg HF model. Powered by a 1.8-liter i-VTEC engine, the new Civic comes…
Nissan Leaf NISMO RC Race Car Revealed Ahead of NY Auto Show
Rumors had indicated that Nissan would unveil the next-generation Versa at the New York Auto Show this week, but no one saw this coming. Above is a lone image of what the Japanese automaker is calling the Leaf NISMO RC (Racing Competition). Yes, a Leaf race car! Build by Nissan’s NISMO racing division the car…
Hyundai And Kia Unaffected By Japan Quake, Production At Full Capacity
Hyundai and Kia remain unscathed by the parts crunch that is affecting Japanese auto makers, with both companies running their United States-based plants at full capacity and overtime shifts to help meet demand at certain plants. “We’ve been fortunate,” Robert Burns, a spokesman for the Hyundai plant in Alabama, told Left Lane News. “Our parts…
Infiniti to Announce New Model at New York Auto Show
Infiniti will announce the continued expansion of its lineup of luxury vehicles next week at the 2011 New York Auto Show. Details are scarce but it’s believed the two most likely candidates to get the production go-ahead are either the Infiniti branded version of the Nissan Leaf, or the Etherea Concept that was first shown…
Honda Insight Sales Up 62 Percent Amid High Gas Prices, Renewed Ad Spending
Despite being written off as a failure in both critical acclaim and unit sales, the Honda Insight has seen sales explode as higher gas prices, a promotional blitz and a general upward trend in sales resulted in a 62.2 percent improvement in year-over-year sales numbers for Honda’s hybrid hatchback. The Insight was regarded by almost…
Volkswagen Rumored to Acquire Isuzu
With Volkswagen‘s recent tie-up with Suzuki not going so well, a new report suggests the German auto giant may look to partner or acquire another Japanese company in its bid to become the world’s largest automaker. Rather than put a focus on small passenger cars, however, this tie-up would explore furthering VW’s commercial truck empire….
2012 Subaru Impreza Revealed with 36-MPG Ahead of New York Auto Show Debut
As rumored, Subaru will unveil its all-new 2012 Impreza sedan at the New York Auto Show. Partially revealed with a profile photo, Subaru promises its new compact sedan will be the most fuel efficient all-wheel drive vehicle available in North America, with a 36-mpg rating. Subaru has said it will showcase both the four-door sedan…
Lexus LF-Gh Concept: New Teasers of the Next-Gen Lexus GS
After being given our first look of the new LF-Gh Concept yesterday, we now have more photos of what promises to be a dramatic concept car from Lexus. Sporting plenty of angles, aggressive LED lights and what appears to be a simply massive grille, Toyota’s luxury arm looks to be headed in a new direction…
Subaru WRX STI Gets Free Power Upgrade in the UK
Subaru‘s UK division has just announced a factory upgrade to the WRX STI’s turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer 4-cylinder engine that helps deliver an extra 20-hp and 32 lb-ft of torque. Better yet, it’s free! The offer, which starts April 1st and runs to June 30th, will let new STI owners upgrade to this more powerful version…
