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For all of you sitting on the edges of your seat waiting for the announcement of the 2009 Green Car of the Year awarded by Green Car Journal at the LA Auto Show, you'll be happy to know it went to the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. The Jetta TDI is a fuel economy monster registering 50 MPG returns while avoiding environmentally dubious battery packs and high gravity snobbishness. The other contestants (the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, the BMW 335d, Saturn Vue 2-Mode Hybrid, and Smart Fortwo) will now have to hang their headlights in shame. Press release below the jump. More »
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Nissan execs have apparently told the reporters over at Edmunds Straightline that the 2009 Nissan GT-R will be the first and last GT-R with the "launch control" system as the company is tired of dealing with the warranty nightmares that have convinced people they can't do GT-R donuts. Said one high-ranking exec: More »
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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 »
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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 »
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Hyundai debuted their efficient Hyundai HED-5 "i-Mode" concept today at the LA Auto Show, a clear sign the Korean automaker is hoping to get in on the green trend in time for gas prices to shoot up again. The HED-5 has been green-lit for American distribution at an uncertain future date. When it does arrive it will feature Hyundai's lightweight 2.0-liter Theta turbocharged, direct-injection four-cylinder engine. The 2.0T Theta, similar to the Theta engine found in the upcoming Hyundai Genesis Coupe, will be capable of 286 HP with highway mileage in excess of 30 miles-per-gallon. This new crossover was highly influenced by the Hyundai I-Blue concept, which debuted earlier this year. Details from Hyundai in the press release below. More »
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New York Congressman Gary Ackerman feasts upon a buffet of "delicious irony" as he asks the CEOs from the Not-So-Big Three to perhaps save some cash and fuel by using a single jet together rather than individual private jets from Detroit to D.C. to beg for bailout dollars from the Feds. We even hear Reagan National's got a diamond-festooned runway set up just for jetpoolers. [CNN] More »
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Nissan will begin selling electric cars in Oregon state as early as 2010, according to a statement by Nissan-Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn at the LA Auto Show. There's been a lot buzz surrounding Nissan electric cars, especially with the debut of the Nissan Denki Cube concept at the New York Auto Show earlier this year. Oregon's governor Ted Kulongoski is recommending the state replace the $1,500 hybrid tax credit with a $5,000 electric vehicle credit, essentially subsidizing part of the cost of the vehicle. Nissan also plans a larger scale production of electric cars by 2012. Details in the statement from Nissan below. More »
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The first Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 in the United States, an all-white copy of the latest raging bull, has landed in the hands of collector Benny Caiola, Jr. The 560 HP, all-wheel-drive supercar will be making its home outside of New York City, beside bull-headed cars like Lambo's Jalpa, Countach, Espada, Diablo, Miura and others. It's obvious Benny's a long time fan of the Italian bovine, saying "I've loved Lamborghinis my entire life and have owned nearly every model." There's a joke about old Jaguars that goes "Why do you always buy two Jaguars? To have one to drive while the other's in the shop." We're betting Benny has many, many Lambos for the same reason. Full press release after the jump. More »
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We just received a full load of pictures of the steamy and dreamy 2009 Ferrari California. Ever since the new Ferrari GT made its well-planned debut, we've been slowly digesting the few images we've seen, hungry for more like them. In full, high-color, close-up, car-pr0n detail, we're now treated to views of the new Ferrari from every conceivable angle and all sorts of interior and exterior details. For instance, the steering wheel is pure sex and the gauge cluster has a slick monitor off to the left which details all kinds of fun driver information. We're even able to see the car has a dedicated "launch" button. This, we like. But were we pleased about everything we saw? More »
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Alright, so there's this guy, Harvey Spivey, who's an efficiency expert. He lives the typical suburban life: wife, two kids, dog, minivan, self hatred. Basically, he's the total opposite of Edward Albright, a 2010 Chevy Camaro SS driving, multilingual, lethal operative. But get this: they share the same body. Whoa. More »
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No, it only looks like the Toyota Prius. The crafty car spies of KGP caught up again with the Honda engineering team in the hot desert sands out west. Just in the nick of time to take an exclusive first set of shots of Honda's new Prius-fighting hybrid. We don't know much about it other than we knew the boys from Honda had something in development to sit on top of Honda's hybrid hierarchy — in the slot just above the 2009 Honda Civic hybrid sedan we saw earlier today. We also know it'll be a global model. Otherwise, you're on your own. Hit the jump for the spy report. More »
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The sneaky car-spies at KGP have nabbed shots of what they claim to be a rally-style Subaru WRX STI Spec C testing on the Nurburgring, deep in the hinterlands of Germany. The stripped down Subie will feature only the bare essentials in an effort to save weight and go fast. Early word pegs the bottom line at 150-200 pounds lighter than the current STI. We're also told the car will get beefier brakes, engine enhancements and a redesigned rear diffuser. Full spy report and more photos below. More »
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A recent report in the Windsor Star claims the cars Chrysler plans to hybridize by 2013...will be minivans. On top of that, they're even looking at a diesel version of the soccer mom-mobiles, with both to be built at the company's Windsor, Ontario plant. More »
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The British motoring rags are clamoring to reveal "exclusive" details of the 2010 Lotus Eagle. Yesterday, CAR brought us the first shot of the exterior of the new Lotus 2+2. Today, Autocar brings us the first interior shots and details of the powertrain. Even Lotus has gotten in on the act, issuing a press release that's full of hints about future high performance and convertible derivatives. All this is good for you because it means we can finally bring you some real analysis of the facts surrounding the $90,000 car that won't even be called Eagle. More »
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Auto Motor und Sport is reporting BMW and Mercedes-Benz continue their relations discussions about a possible parts-sharing tie-up, with hopes of making a decision by November. The report claims the two knights of Teuton have developed the framework of an agreement on air-conditioning components and brakes, but hangups remain involving the sharing of Mercedes' faulty software and BMW's faulty styling. More »
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