Automaker Future "Youthmobile" Concepts Are Wacky

The 6th Annual Design Challenge winner will be announced at the LA Auto Show, picked from this selection of six radical concepts designed for sale in thirty years to appeal to the cell phone, internet and Guitar Hero generation. More »

Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85, Live In A Very Bright Color

The Spyker C8 Laviolette LM85 brought its funky livery and unecessarily complicated name to the La Auto Show floor. Based on the GT2 class Spyker LeMans racer, the LM85 comes equipped with an all aluminum Audi 4.2-liter V8 paired with a six-speed Getrag gearbox good for 400 HP. In addition to all the go-fast bits and luxurious appointments, new owners will be on the recieving end of a very special prize. More »

2010 Honda Insight Ecological Drive Assist System Grows Leaves, Gets Other Features

Details on the instrument panel and driver assist systems on the new 2010 Honda Insight have been released and it seems Honda is intent on training the new hybrid's drivers in much the same way other auto manufacturers have announced. The "Ecological Drive Assist System" uses a combination of color cues in the speedometer and "leaves which grow" to encourages economical driving behaviors. When you push the "Eco" mode button, the speedo turns green when you're being frugal or blue when you're hooning it, also a panel grows "leaves" to reward short term driving and displays the long term performance as well. This of course comes on the heels of the announcement from Ford about their "Smartgauge with EcoGuide" system in the Fusion Hybrid and Milan Hybrid which also rewards judicious use of the go-pedal with growing leaves. We expect everyone who complained about that system to bellyache about this too. More »

2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible Revealed

The 2009 Infiniti G37 Convertible will add the style of a hard top convertible to the venerable G-Series line. The new drop-top Infiniti is essentially an Infiniti G37 coupe with a folding lid, meaning that it'll get the same powerful 3.7-liter V6, good for 325 HP. In S trim the G37 will also get the same sport tuned steering and larger brakes. Both models have the choice of either a six-speed manual transmission or a paddle-controlled 7-speed gearbox. We like the looks of the regular G37 and the convertible is just as sharp. If the regular G37 convertible isn't special enough for you, 200 "premier editions" will be sold through the Bloomingdale's Holiday Catalog and features a few minor visual tweaks. Either way, we like it at least 3,000 times more than the Lexus SC430. Full details in the press release below. More »

2009 Porsche Boxster Revealed Live

Though the 2009 Porsche Boxster may appear to have received only a light visual refresh, limited to a few slightly tweaked lines and some LED lights from its big brother, the internals have received enough attention to launch the Boxster from hairdresser-chic to something the performance-minded could consider. The PDK double-clutch should provide a quick alternative for those unwilling or uninterested in doing the shifting themselves. Power also gets an upgrade to 255 and 310 HP in the base unit and the Boxster S, respectively. Perhaps most important of all, the new Porsche will likely have an optional limited slip differential for those that are inclined towards driving somewhere more challenging than the Palm Beach Mall parking lot. More »

2010 Mercury Milan, Hybrid And Lincoln MKZ: Live Cars For The Pulse-Free

Ford just revealed the 2010 Ford Fusion and the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and now we can bring you the live reveals on its platform pals the 2010 Mercury Milan and the 2010 Lincoln MKZ. The Fusions two upmarket friends split the hairs of luxury with the Milan going after the Euro-snob luxury buyer who can't afford a Euro-snob nameplate while the Lincoln chases the McCainiacs who want something smaller to replace their 1989 Lincoln Towncars. While both good cars on their own we have to question the wisdom of two cars chasing the luxury market. More »

2010 Mazda3 Sedan Smiles For The Cameras

Mazda's pint-sized, entry-level 2010 Mazda3 Sedan was just revealed at the 2008 LA Auto Show and if nothing else, it certainly is expressive. The new sheetmetal is complemented by more power, a new six speed manual transmission and a rather nice interior for the segment, heck for any segment. The new Mazda3 stands to shake up the compact car segment currently occupied by such excitement-machines like the Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra, and Ford Focus — success is virtually guaranteed. More »

2010 Ford Fusion, Sport, Hybrid Revealed Live

We gave you all the details on the 2010 Ford Fusion, Fusion Sport, and 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid at the break of day and now we've got the live reveal from the floor of the LA Auto Show. The trio of Fusionistas made their debut moments ago to bombastic loads of PR praise. If the improvements Ford is touting stand up to scrutiny, the Fusion stands to make some serious waves in the C/D sedan segment. We approve pretty solidly of the styling changes, the six speed manual and auto on the regular Fusion and the well thought out hybrid system on the twin powered model. More »

BMW X5 xDrive35d AdvancedDiesel To Challenge Audi Diesel Dominance

If your dreams involve stomping around Terra Firma in a BMW X5 xDrive while running on good 'ole American diesel, consider yourself a step closer. BMW unveiled their X5 xDrive35d today, with it's sequentially turbocharged six-pot diesel, at the LA Auto Show. Precisely the same powerplant is slotted for the 335d Sedan. Fuel mileage estimates sit at an acceptable 19mpg city and 26mpg highway while making 0-60 jaunts a 6.9 second affair. Power output is rated at 265 horsepower with 425 reality-bending pound-feet of torque. Full press release below the jump. More »

2010 Mazda3 Sedan Shows Off New Design, Peppy Engine

They've gone and done it, the new 2010 Mazda3 Sedan has debuted ahead of its formal unveil at the LA Auto Show and it looks like Mazda has gone and finally used a pinch of that Nagare design language. Those bellyachers complaining the US never gets good-looking compact cars will no longer have anything to complain about as the new Mazda3 is a looker by any standard. It also has the goods to back those looks with a 2.0 liter four cylinder with 148 HP and 135 lb-ft of torque and a 2.5 liter four pumped up to 167 HP and 168 lb-ft of torque, both of which are mated to either a five-speed or six-speed manual transmission as well as a five-speed selectable automatic transmission. Can you hear us panting over here? There are complete details below as well as loving, slow-mo video of the car in motion. More »

BMW Concept 7 Series ActiveHybrid Adds Power, Efficiency

Ahead of its official reveal at the LA Auto Show, the official details on the BMW Concept 7 Series ActiveHybrid have finally been released after months of us sitting on the edges of our seats, waiting with bated breath. The ActiveHybrid (as opposed to the other name considered, "LazyHybrid") is a "preview of potential" for things to come from BMW and shows off a mild hybrid operating from a motor integrated transmission, which was jointly developed with Chrysler and General Motors. The motor "assists" a 400 HP, 450 lb-ft, 4.4 liter V8 with its own 20 HP and 155 lb-ft of torque providing oil barons with cognitive dissonance the feel-good benefit of 15% better fuel economy. Complete details in an uncompromisingly self satisfied press release below. More »

2009 Porsche Cayman Shows Off New PDK Dual-Clutch Gearbox

Nobody at Porsche AG would ever admit it, but we suspect the newly upgraded 2009 Porsche Cayman has even more potential than the flagship Porsche 911. The new Cayman is set to make its public debut later today at the LA Auto Show and though it doesn't look much different, the car is boasting a new optional dual-clutch transmission that's sure to liven things up and provide improved efficiency. The car gets more power at 265 HP from the bigger 2.9 liter boxer and 320 HP in the 3.4 liter flat six in the Cayman S, which now trots to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds from a cold start. Here's the shocker in this whole equation - the added efficiency from that dual-clutch transmission allows the new Cayman to return 25.8 MPG in the 2.9 liter and 25 MPG in the 3.4 liter. As with the 2009 Porsche Boxster, the new Cayman should also sport a limited slip differential. What's that? A reveal video with driving footage and sweet, sweet engine sounds awaits below with the complete details? That's right. More »