[Autocar]

Think of it as a smaller, more efficient Hummer capable of traveling long distances without waking up the economy thanks to the AWD Q-Force system. Specs are impressive: achieves a sustained 80 MPH, climbs 60-degree grades, and fuel consumption 25% above similar vehicles. There's even a special weapons ring designed to help the gunner throw down serious fire across rough terrain.

The CREV is undergoing testing at Michigan's TARDEC to see if the military is ready to go olive Green.

[CNET]

[via CreativityOnline]

2010 Ford Taurus by Tommy Z Design
The Ford Taurus lends itself quite easily to the Superlux Youthful Styling and yet it remains sophisticated. Tommy Z embellished this great vehicle with his own classic VIP luxury style and components.

2010 Ford Taurus SHO by Mobsteel
The Ford Taurus SHO and Mobsteel are both committed to being anything but ordinary. So it's no surprise that the Taurus SHO by Mobsteel is one extraordinary vehicle. The trademark black-on-black Mobsteel paint job, custom fascias, and a host of trim touches and details give this 2010 Taurus SHO a tough menacing look, whether coming or going. And that's just the beginning, as this SHO has the goods both inside and out.

The bad boy rides on massive 22-inch Mobsteel forged two-piece wheels and super-low-profile Pirelli PZero Nero tires. A completely customized chassis with Air Runner front struts and Mobsteel adjustable rear air ride provide attitude to the max. The Magnaflow Performance cat-back exhaust and JL Audio equipment make this Taurus SHO sound as tough as it looks. (Ed. - We're actually really looking forward to this one and might try a visit to Mobsteel to take a spin.)

2010 Ford Taurus "Best of SHO" by MRT-Direct
MRT-Direct gives its signature classy touches to this Taurus SHO by adding subtle ground effect treatment, and a black cherry roof and custom vented hood. Increased performance is achieved through turbo system efficiencies, an exhaust upgrade, and wheel, tire and suspension modifications. The cabin is designed to be sporty and comfortable, while a Kicker sound system delivers the final beat.

2010 Ford Fusion Sport by Aaron Vaccar Signature Series
Young custom car designer Aaron Vaccar, most noted for his work with modern and sport compact vehicles, has taken his knowledge of next-generation styling and applied it to the new Ford Fusion Sport. Speed, style and sound – quite simply, this Fusion reveals that such a balance does exist in a sport-tuned street car. Upgraded with the thrills of a turbocharged motor, this Fusion now packs even more power to back up its stunning looks.

Noting that function needs to meet form, the entire audio and trunk enclosures have been designed to seamlessly integrate into the vehicle's styling and practicality. Tastefully mix the right combination of modifications, a bit of unique style combined with an already impressive platform, and what you get is this Aaron Vaccar Signature Series Fusion Sport.

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid by M&J Enterprises
This Ford Fusion Hybrid by M&J Enterprises showcases a variety of eco-friendly accessories and aerodynamic parts. These range from air splitters to heat-reflective paint, window film and a vehicle data display. All items are either lighter in weight than the factory items, increase fuel economy or eliminate petroleum-based products. The data display helps increase the consumer's environmental awareness. The whole package delivers a desirable, eco-friendly Ford Fusion aimed at consumers who like to customize their vehicles and are concerned with environmental issues.

2010 Ford Fusion "T4" by MRT
This custom version of the fun, sporty, fuel-efficient Ford Fusion successfully combines the best of all worlds. MRT started with clever but subtle appearance changes to the exterior trim and paint. Next, they brought the same sport feel and style to the interior with revised seating and interior trim accents. The fun-to-drive factor is kicked up a notch with a single intercooled turbocharger and Street Performance coil-over suspension. To unleash the full potential of the awesome turbocharged powerplant, MRT skillfully exhaust-balanced the system with a high-performance stainless-steel Max-Flow™ h-pipe and back half exhaust system using the finest CNC Mandrel bend tube and high-flow components. The result is a system that delivers enhanced power and truly satisfying performance-car sound. Twenty-inch wheels and tires add a final touch to set off the look and give this Fusion an even smarter, sportier stance. On the inside, a kickin' audio system from Kicker provides the perfect balance of amped-up entertainment.

2010 Ford Transit Connect by Azentek and Grant Products
Azentek and Grant Products teamed up to build this unique "Travel Inn" Ford Transit Connect van. Designed for people who are always on the go, it comes complete with the Azentek in-vehicle computing and navigation radio, and a Concept DVD for watching movies. You can cook while tailgating with your mini pull-out kitchen and even sleep in complete comfort in the upper bunk bed. You also will drive in style with the Grant Products body kit, race-inspired steering wheel and GAC interior. The vehicle features 18-inch BBS wheels with a Winona PVD chrome finish and Bridgestone Firestone tires.

2010 Ford Transit Connect by Ford Vehicle Personalization
This 2010 Transit Connect was developed by the Ford Vehicle Personalization team and it features Genuine Ford Accessories, Ford Licensed Accessories and various personalization concepts. Inspired by West Coast beaches, the vehicle is presented in a soft anodized Metallic Gold exterior paint with a large energetic side graphic depicting young people playing sports and having fun on the beach. Various racks and carriers on the exterior secure your favorite outdoor gear.

The interior is the main focus of this custom Transit Connect, showcasing the flexibility of space in the cargo area and the ability to create a realm of personal use around this vehicle rather than strictly commercial/business usage. Shown with two seats, the cargo area will house an audio wall with a custom audio/video system, a skateboard rack displaying four skateboards and a rear-mounted LCD flip-out flat-screen monitor with video game console.

2010 Ford Edge "RallyE" by Santini Paint
Santini Paint, combined with the talent of Steve Stanford Design, has taken the Ford Edge crossover to a level of design utilizing influence from the old-school British racing era, tuner cars and a little rally car, so that this "soccer mom" grocery-getter becomes the "cool" car for the family. With a few inches out of the suspension, the big wheel and tire combination, 3dCarbon body kit, British Racing Green color and an asymmetrical competition stripe paint scheme with some interior accents added in, Santini's Ford Edge becomes a "Coolover."

2009 Ford Focus by FSWerks
In its constant search for more power, the FSWerks crew has taken a 2009 Ford Focus Coupe and pushed it to the edge. Utilizing many years of racing, fabricating and powertrain experience, this transformed Ford Focus is now pushing more than 500 horsepower, making it one serious track Focus.

2009 Ford Focus by Creations n' Chrome
Creations n' Chrome has taken green technology to the extreme with its 2009 Ford Focus. The exterior starts with an outrageous green chrome finish using Cosmichrome water-based spray-on plating technology, 3dCarbon Euro Series six-piece body kit and lightweight Work Emotion wheels. To increase engine efficiency and aerodynamics, an FSWerks turbo kit and H&R coil-over suspension are added. The interior was custom refinished from top to bottom with House of Color paint and custom Katzkin leather.

2010 Ford Flex by Falken Tire
Breaking the mold of cookie-cutter project vehicles on oversized chrome rims, Falken Tire has envisioned the perfect blend of traditional "lowrider" styling and a 2010 platform while utilizing today's finest full-size CUV, the Ford Flex. Rolling on 22-inch Falken S/TZ04 tires and wire- spoke Dayton wheels, this ride will surely earn the respect of everyone from old-school purists to new-age tuners. Break the mold and Flex Your Style.

The Lexus LF-CH comes complete with all the marks of a concept vehicle: hybrid drive, expensive lighting, metaloflourescent paint, hand-cut tires, tiny mirrors, and metallic trim everywhere. Underneath all that is a clear look at where the company is heading, hoping to pick up market share in Europe's competitive premium compact marketplace where the Audi A3, BMW 1-Series and Mercedes B-Class currently dominate.

While it's possible the five-door hatch will eventually be offered with a hybrid powertrain, expect an entire suite of four-cylinder diesel and petrol varieties.

Lexus LF-Ch
* Premium compact concept with Lexus Hybrid Drive
* Practical 5-door body, meeting the core needs of customers in the premium compact market
Reinforcing Lexus' position as the only manufacturer to offer a range of hybrid vehicles, the LF-Ch concept will make its world premiere the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.
LF-Ch combines stylish design and full hybrid technology in a practical 5-door compact package to fulfil the needs of the most demanding premium compact segment customers.
Benefiting from an electric-only driving capability, a key feature of Lexus Hybrid Drive, LF-Ch will allow for virtually silent urban driving with zero emissions.

[AutoBlog.it via World Car Fans]

While the concept wears hybrid badges, expect the production vehicle to offer a range of powertrains starting with a plain-old earth-killing inline-four and ending with a full hybrid capable of limited-range and low-speed electric-only operation. We'll get a better idea of which Toyota platform this is based on when we see it live later this month.

The press release follows:

Lexus LF-Ch

* Premium compact concept with Lexus Hybrid Drive
* Practical 5-door body, meeting the core needs of customers in the premium compact market

Reinforcing Lexus' position as the only manufacturer to offer a range of hybrid vehicles, the LF-Ch concept will make its world premiere the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

LF-Ch combines stylish design and full hybrid technology in a practical 5-door compact package to fulfil the needs of the most demanding premium compact segment customers.

Benefiting from an electric-only driving capability, a key feature of Lexus Hybrid Drive, LF-Ch will allow for virtually silent urban driving with zero emissions.

We're fairly sure at least one VW Jetta TDI owner drove by swearing to himself.

Photo Credit For All Photos: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

We don't know if the SZ will reach retirement communities in the US or be confined to elderly Japanese drivers only, but it's black honeycomb grille and unique wheels add visual aggression to the big Lexus, while paddle shifters appear to be the only genuine performance enhancement.

The 2010 Lexus LS 600h receives a Lexus HS 250h-style grille, new wheels, turn signals integrated into the mirrors and revised taillights and headlights. Inside, there now appears to be a night vision system integrated into the instrument cluster.

The 2010 Lexus LS 460 doesn't get that hybrid grille, but does receive the rest of the tweaks. [via Lexus Enthusiast]

The volt will come standard with a portable 120-volt charger that'll work with standard home outlets. Just plug it into the wall, connect it to the car and come back six to eight hours later for a complete charge.

For impatient owners, GM is also talking about offering an optional 240-volt home charge unit that'll need to be hardwired into your garage, car port or whatever you high falutin suburbanites keep your cars in these days. Expect the price of the unit and the installation to be wrapped into one bundle that'll be appealing priced and available straight from dealers. A coil cord will extend from that wall unit to the car and can complete a full charge in just three to four hours. It's expected that the vast majority of owners will use this setup and carry their 120-volt portable chargers for on-the-go or emergency recharges.

The reason the 240-volt charger isn't portable is due to national electric codes which require the device to be hard wired and the nature of the 240-volt plug (think of the big three pronger that hooks your dryer up to the wall), which isn't designed to withstand repeated plug-ins/unplugs. Speaking as someone who has electrocuted himself with 240-volt electricity several times, hardwiring is probably for the best.

Both types of charger will connect to the car with a universal J1772 plug that's capable of withstanding the full weight of the car should your wife run it over, can shut the car off if she tries to drive away with it plugged in and "talks" to the batteries to regulate the flow of juice should the level of amperage being drawn threaten to trip circuit breakers or similar.

GM hopes to offer hardwired 240-volt quick chargers in the parking garages of major companies and retails outlets and at other popular commuting destinations at some unspecified date in the future.

GM has gone so far as to consider and then rule out the use of automatic plug winders, finding that they're prone to breakage and the tightly wound extension cords can generate dangerous levels of heat. Instead, a variety of cord lengths will likely be offered to suit individual needs.

How safe is all this? According to Volt vehicle line director Tony Posawatz the recharging system is idiot proof. He even went so far as to say, "You could dunk this in a bucket of water and you'd be ok." [via Edmunds]

The speculation on the future of the Vue platform in the face of the Saturn brand's impending death has been announced, and it's going to Buick. It won't be just a shave and haircut though, it'll also be introduced with the previously announced plug-in 2-mode hybrid system which was destined for the Vue. The new system is a modified version of the previous 2-mode hybrid mating the 3.6L V-6 flex-fuel engine to a new battery pack with the same technology as the Chevy Volt, but with half the capacity. As a result the compact SUV will charge on standard 110V power in four to five hours and run in all-electric mode for at least ten miles.

The BuiVues (Vueicks?) will all get upgraded interiors, but the standard IC models will include a standard powertrain of the 2.4L Ecotec four-cylinder or optional upgrades of a 3.0L direct-injected V-6 and all-wheel-drive. The actual name of the vehicle and price point have yet to be announced, but we're very interested to see just what kind of fuel economy that 2-mode plug in will be capable of.

[GM Inside News]

Indeed, the rumor has it development's been killed on the world-ending 600 HP 5.5-liter V10, and instead Honda will drop an advanced new engine into the car, a "valveless throttle" 3.5-liter V6 which gets hybridized with the system from the next-gen Acura RL for a total of around 450 HP. The resulting car wouldn't have quite the colossal performance as the previous version would have, but it will hold that sadly important green trump card against its competition. Since this is a major powertrain change, obviously, the timing on the car will inevitably be pushed back to match the development cycle.

We've got mixed feeling here. Should this rumor prove true, the return to a Honda V6 puts the car right back into the NSX tradition and it'll be potentially lighter weight and more nimble as a result. But at the same time, we already miss the notion of a high-strung Japanese V10 wailing away under the hood. Then again, we shouldn't be looking a gift horse in the mouth. (Thanks for the tip Morgan)
[7Tune]

In April, the Insight became the best selling car in Japan, with 10,481 units being sold. With the launch of the new Prius in May, that figure dropped to just 8,183 cars.

Of course, in America, many more Prius vehicles are sold, with 12,998 finding their way into the smug hands of new owners in May compared to just 2,079 Insights.

Starting at just $19,800 and averaging 41 MPG combined in the EPA cycle, the Insight is cheaper, yet considerably less fuel-efficient than the $21,000, 50 MPG combined Prius. Perhaps more importantly, the Prius is larger and has driving dynamics that are far superior to the Insight.

Autocar reports Honda is expected to boost fuel-efficiency on the revised Insight as well as increase its dynamic ability and improve its much-maligned ride.

These type of refreshes typically come halfway through a model's five- to seven-year life-cycle. Even if it's rushed through, don't expect to see a revised Insight before the 2012 model year. [via Autocar]

Honda sources announced today their decision, confirming a rumor we've previously reported. Details are scarce, but it's safe to assume it will draw some inspiration from the Honda CR-Z concept car, which is a CRX-style three-door hatch, and feature a hybrid system similar to the one found in the current range of Honda hybrids.

We're just hoping the "sporty" in "sporty hybrid" extends beyond the bodywork and you know, into the powertrain.