Prior Design Fattens up the Mercedes-Benz E-Class W211

Own a W211 Mercedes-Benz E-Class and just desperately need to stand out from the crowd? Prior Design just dropped some pics of its new appearance package for just that model.

Owners can get new front/rear bumpers (€599 each), side skirts (€349), and roof/trunk spoilers (€199 each) made from Duraflex (other materials optional). Fog lamps for the new front bumper are €249.

An extra €900 nets a stainless steel exhaust, and to get those 20-inch rims involved people will have to cough up another €1,700. That really isn't terrible for the rims, as long as one likes them; no word on what kind of tires are painted on them.

Personally, I'd love to see the Halloween paint scheme and black rims from Prior Design's Maserati 4200GT. On an E-Class with a CLK Black Series face, the Maser's rims and colors would just make it pop.

TechArt Launches New Performance Kits for Facelifted Porsche 911 Turbo

Longtime Porsche tuner TechArt is at it again. This time, the object of its tuning affection is the refreshed and more powerful Porsche 911 Turbo that was revealed at last year's Frankfurt Motor-Show.

In particular, the German firm has launched a new performance kit available in two stages that provide the 911 Turbo with an extra punch and even more power.

The first stage is called the 'TA 097/T1' and it includes a recalibrated engine control unit and the use of a sport air filter. Theses upgrades add an extra 70HP bumping power up to 570HP. That allows the 911 Turbo to sprint to 100km/h (62mph) in 3.2 seconds and max out at 324 km/h or 201 mph.

On top of the aforementioned mods, the second stage kit 'TA 097/T2' also involves the installation of new manifolds and a custom sport exhaust system, pushing output to 620HP and 820Nm (604.8 lb-ft) of peak torque, up from the standard car's 500Hp and 700Nm or 516 lb-ft - with overboost.

As a result, the Porsche 911 Turbo complete the 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) sprint in 2.9 seconds, while the 200 km/h barrier is broken in 9.3 seconds and the sports car reaches a top speed of 333 km/h or 208 mph.

America Loses out on the New Chevrolet Orlando (but Canada doesn't)

Sadly, Chevrolet will not be selling the production version of the chunky Orlando compact-crossover to the States. Instead, the Bowtie will focus on its current lineup of much-improved vehicles.

Here's how Margaret Brooks, head of small cars/crossover marketing explains it like this: "The best thing to do for Chevrolet is to focus on the brands we've already brought to market: the Traverse, Equinox, Malibu and, soon to come, the Cruze. We feel that with those vehicles, Chevrolet has plenty of options for the modern family."

Bloomberg does a great job of pointing out that, while the decision to not sell such a cool little people mover is unfortunate, it's s sign of a General Motors that makes smarter, more economically-focused decisions.

Speaking of being smart, the lack of a US Orlando comes with a bonus: more capacity for the Equinox, Traverse, and Malibu (three very important vehicles for Chevrolet).

Oh, and just to get you interested in some gray market action: Canada will be getting the Orlando, so ownership of one is just a little bit of paperwork away. Or a fast burn across the border.

Infiniti Recalling 134,215 G35 Sedan and Coupe Models Over Airbag Issue

Nissan said on Tuesday it will recall close to 135,000 Infiniti G35 sedans and coupes to address a glitch with a wiring harness connecting the belt tension sensor (BTS) and the occupant detection sensor (ODS) control unit under the front passenger seat that may prevent the passenger airbag from deploying in a crash.

The affected models are G35 sedans manufactured from March 29, 2004 through August 25, 2006, and G35 Coupes built between April 1, 2004 and May 30, 2007.

Even though the Japanese automaker initiated the voluntary recall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on its website that Infiniti's parent company Nissan has yet to provide the agency with a fix or a notification schedule.

Nissan UK Confirms Prices for Refreshed Panthfinder and Navara

The facelifted Nissan Pathfinder SUV and its Navara pickup truck sibling are available for order now in Britain. Key enhancements for both models include the addition of a new 231HP 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine, some minor revisions to the 2.5-liter diesel that now produces 190HP, a refreshed exterior and improved interior with more standard equipment.

The Navara 2.5dCi 190HP pickup truck starts from £19,807 (excluding VAT) for the Acenta King Cab, while the Tekna, available only in Double Cab form, costs from £24,389.50 (on the road) for the manual or £25,682 (on the road) for the automatic.

Additional standard features on the Navara Acenta include side and curtain airbags, ESP stability control, front fog lights, new seat cloth, additional cabin storage. On the Navara Tekna, pop-up headlight washers, speed limiter, power fold mirrors, MP3 AUX input all come as standard.

The Pathfinder Acenta 2.5 dCi 190HP is priced at £28,495 while the fully equipped Pathfinder Tekna is available with either a 6-speed manual transmission (£31,595) or a 5-speed automatic (£33,095).

Extra standard features on the Pathfinder Acenta include Fine Vision combimeter for a crisp view of the instrument dials, new centre console and lidded storage box and MP3 AUX input.

On the Pathfinder Tekna, Nissan Connect Premium HDD, a sat nav infotainment system with 7-inch colour touch screen, comes as standard as well as new 18-inch wheels, headlight washers, speed limiter and new centre console with wood finish.
Nissan said that prices for the 231HP V6 diesel models will be announced at a later date with deliveries starting in September.

Mercedes-Benz Opens Styling division, Reveals Concept Interior for Eurocopter

Mercedes-Benz Style is the Daimler equivalent to all the other fancy design houses run by auto manufacturers (think BMW's DesignworksUSA and Porsche Design). The goal is build product portfolios for more than just cars (like furniture, household utensils, etc.) using Merc's international design studios.

Mercedes-Benz design head Professor h.c. Gorden Wagener explains, "Our unique design expertise is appreciated throughout the world. We have therefore decided to establish the Mercedes-specific styling outside the automotive field too – and so far we have met with a very positive response from a great number of manufacturers in a variety of sectors."

Daimler's latest firm will both take on commissions (where the project originator is sold the styling user rights) and create original work (where the styling rights remain at MBS).

For their first trick, MBS has created a sumptuous interior for the the EC145 by Eurocopter, an EADS (European Aeronautic Defense and Space) subsidiary. Designed in Como, Italy, the EC145's interior benefits from a variety of "deluxe materials" and available wood flooring, along with ambient lighting derived from the Mercedes' E- and S-Class.

The designers decided to use some other Benzes for inspiration, as well, such as a "modular" layout reminiscent of the R-Class. The track-mounted seating allows for up to eight passengers and removal/layout shift for extra space if necessary. Other than making the chopper more Mercedes-y, the brainstorm theme of the day seems to have been "effective use of space".

"There are...three multi-function boxes with features such as a cool box, cup holder, table, 15-inch monitor and DVD player. In the partition wall [separating] the cockpit from the cabin, extra storage space is provided by drawers...Multi-purpose storage [is]a feature of the tail as well. Whether it's golf clubs for a day on the links with business partners or bikes and surfboards for a family holiday, the high-capacity luggage compartment has numerous attachment points on the floor and walls."

Next up: designing the exterior of a luxury yacht (the one where my EC145 will be landing for those "family holidays").

Audi to Show Seven Customized A1 Models at Wörthersee

This year's edition of the Wörthersee GTI Tour that takes place in Reifnitz, Austria, on May 12 will see Audi showcasing seven custom versions of its new A1 premium supermini, including a model sporting an "FC Bayern" look, taxi and police variants.

The other four custom A1s are a "Hot Rod" version with a matt-finish look, steel wheels with white-wall tires and extremely low ride height thanks to the air suspension, one fitted with a "competition kit" that pays homage to Audi rally vehicles from the 1980s, the "Wasserwacht" model that's dedicated to the local water rescue service and a "Fashion" edition.

"The Audi A1 fits in with the GTI meet because customization has always been a central topic for the Audi fans here at the Wörthersee and will also play a special role for A1 customers," says the Head of Audi Design, Stefan Sielaff, who was responsible for the creation of the special edition models.

The seven special A1s will be joined at Audi's Woorthersee stand by an array of models including the new Audi R8 GT, an Ice Silver A8, the facelifted TT Roadster and the TT Coupé and the new RS5 Coupe.

BMW Z4 M, minus the M

The BMW Z4 sDrive35i is an excellent sports car. However, BMW's engineers, who must experience self-critical dreams every night about how much smoother a valve could be or whether changing the timing of a spark by a millisecond might improve combustion, couldn't leave it as is. They developed the 2011 BMW Z4 sDrive35is, a higher performance version of BMW's roadster.

Like the sDrive35i, the new roadster uses a twin turbo 3-liter straight six cylinder, but BMW fitted it with a new twin turbo unit to crank up the horsepower from 306 to 335, with torque up from 295 pound-feet to 332 pound-feet. This engine tweaking gives the sDrive35is acceleration to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds.

Beyond the engine work, BMW tuned the exhaust to give a more pleasing, sports car sound. Baffles and mufflers combine to give the car what BMW describes as a "deep rumble with a focus on the low frequency sound range." People will be surprised when they see a little roadster following that exhaust note as it works its way up the street.

The sDrive35is also gets BMW's seven-speed double-clutch transmission, a manual with two computer-controlled clutches. The driver can choose an automatic mode or shift manually, but doesn't have to push a clutch pedal. The result is no power loss at the wheels during shifts.

You can even get the car with some M equipment, including an adaptive suspension that uses electronically controlled shock absorbers to counteract roll and keep the tires gripping pavement. That's a lot of tech in a little car.

BMW will show the Z4 sDrive35is at the upcoming 2010 Detroit auto show.

New Toyota hybrid concept teased for Detroit

The 2010 car show season is set to kick off in January at the 2010 North American International Auto Show, affectionately and more commonly known as the Detroit auto show. Toyota is going to be there and, being Toyota, you can bet its booth will be stuffed to the gill with hybrids. We've just received a pair of teaser images for an unnamed Toyota hybrid concept.

The ultra-swept headlamps and rounded nose point toward a concept that's like no current Toyota offering.

The concept should be a new model and not simply a hybrid version of a currently selling vehicle. There's not much that we can tell from the pictures beside that it's a green Toyota hybrid. I'm guessing based on the steep angle of the A-pillar that this is going to be a tiny car. Perhaps a new subcompact hybrid that slots in below the Prius.

We'll keep our eyes peeled for more information as it comes available. In the meantime, give us your best guess as to what Toyota's got up its sleeve in the comments.

VW shows off hybrid coupe concept

DETROIT--Volkswagen on Monday rolled out a hybrid concept car called the New Compact Coupe, a machine the company said will get 45 miles per gallon by combining a four-cylinder gasoline engine from the company's TSI with a 1.1 kWh lithium-ion battery.

When the car's gasoline engine isn't needed, it shuts off and is disengaged from the transmission to cut down on drag, including at highway speeds. The braking system can recover energy by storing it in the battery, the company said at the concept car's unveiling at the North American International Auto Show here.

The electric motor, mounted between the engine and a 7-speed automatic gearbox, can be used for pure electric driving, Volkswagen said. The 1.4-liter gasoline engine generates power of 150 horsepower; the electric motor produces 27 horsepower.

The concept car's 8-inch touch screen can control the radio and navigation system. Climate controls are separate, located immediately below the screen.

The interior, done out in "Berry White" leather, seats four comfortably, VW said.

Ford foresees steady fuel efficiency gains

Rather than big surprises, expect a stream of technology improvements coming from Ford Motor's labs which, when added together, will deliver 5 to 10 percent gains in fuel efficiency in the next few years.

At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Monday, Ford introduced the latest Ford Focus, which is due in early 2011 and sports a 10 to 20 percent better fuel economy than the current model. The company also has plans to expand its line of hybrids, introduce an all-electric Ford Focus in 2011, and offer plug-in hybrids in 2012.

Making refinements to gasoline, diesel, and electric drive technologies will allow Ford to keep the fuel economy of its cars on an upward trajectory, according to Gerhard Schmidt, the chief technology officer for Ford's research and advanced engineering.

"There are a lot of steps which, sometimes from an external point of view, look small, but it all adds up to something that is really significant," Schmidt said from the Auto Show. "We can get 5 to 10 percent improvement based on the existing architectures."

Schmidt's lab at Ford is responsible for initially developing EcoBoost, which is now being rolled out across many Ford models. It uses turbo charging and direct injection to boost the power of gasoline engines, allowing Ford to use smaller engines and improve fuel economy. Gerhard said that Ford engineers are now working on the second generation.

In the area of electrification, Ford does not anticipate a breakthrough that will radically alter the cost or energy density of auto batteries. But there are significant efficiency gains by optimizing the power electronics that manage the mechanical systems in cars, Gerhard indicated.

Ford can also optimize gasoline engines to work with batteries and improve efficiency through aerodynamics and smart recharging, he said. Engineers are even looking at reusing waste heat from cars to inch up fuel economy.

Further out, fuel cells offer the promise of a similar range to what gasoline and diesel cars have today. But the technology is far more complicated than hybrids and there isn't the fueling infrastructure, Gerhard said. Ford expects to test out fuel cells in limited volume in 2015 through a partnership with Daimler.

"I'm still convinced that there's a place for fuel cell technology when you look to the future where fossil fuels are not available in the quantity that is needed and battery technology only has limited mileage," he said.

Honda's hybrid CR-Z to arrive in months

DETROIT--Honda Motor touted its hybrid CR-Z Monday, debuting the production version of the two-door, two-seat coupe and saying it's due to go on sale soon.

The hybrid CR-Z is "coming in just a few months," said Honda Chief Executive Takanobu Ito at a press conference here at the North American International Auto Show.

He was an engineer working in the 1980s on a progenitor, the "pocket rocket" CR-X, and said the new model is designed with a similar goal to be fun and fuel-efficient.

The car combines a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine with a 10-kilowatt electric motor to deliver 122 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, Honda said. The estimated fuel economy is 36 miles per gallon and 38 mpg for city and highway driving on models with a continuously variable transmission; the six-speed manual's fuel economy drops to 31 mpg city and 37 mpg highway by EPA standards.

Electronics equipment figures prominently in the CR-Z. It comes standard with a six-speaker AM/FM/CD/USB sound system, remote keyless entry, and cruise control. The higher-end EX model comes with a Bluetooth link and a subwoofer-equipped 360-watt premium sound system. A satellite-linked navigation system with voice recognition is an option.

Safety features on the car include six airbags and antilock brakes, he added.

Though Honda is getting more earnest with its hybrid program, its heart lies with vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells, which Ito called "the ultimate eco-car."

"We continue to believe the fuel cell electric vehicle is the ultimate solution to reduce carbon dioxide emissions," Ito said.

The company's fuel-cell powered FC-X was on display, and Ito announced a next-generation in-home hydrogen fueling station that, lacking a compressor, can "fit entirely with the user's garage," he said.

But in the near term, Honda supports hybrid electric vehicles and aspires to make them compact, lightweight, and affordable. Honda plans to release a hybrid Acura model, Ito said at the conference.

Blue-Will: Hyundai's plug-in hybrid concept

DETROIT--Green is all the rage at the Detroit auto show, but a different hue emerged in the Blue-Will plug-in hybrid concept car that Hyundai revealed Monday.

The car can run solely on its lithium polymer battery for a range of 20 to 40 miles, said Scott Margason, director of product planning for Hyundai Motor America, in an interview here at the North American International Auto Show. Like the Toyota Prius, perhaps the best-known hybrid car, the Blue-Will has an engine that's directly connected to the drive wheels and that runs in parallel with the electric motor.

Hyundai wouldn't talk specifically about plans to make the concept into a production model, but Margason did say the company's concepts are directly linked to real-world plans, often with a two- to three-year lag between concept and reality. "Concepts tend to be the foundation of production vehicles," he said.

The Blue-Will is code-named HND-4 and is the fourth concept vehicle from Hyundai's Namyang Design Center.

The lithium polymer battery in the system, built by another Korean company, LG Chem, is similar to the one in the first Hyundai hybrid, the Sonata BlueDrive that's set to go on sale later this year. Hyundai went with lithium polymer batteries for their superior energy density and weight, Margason said. Even though it's later to the hybrid game than some rivals, it got to skip past the nickel-metal hydride and lithium ion battery technologies, he said.

The Blue-Will also features low-friction tires and a full-length undercover for better fuel economy.

Another feature in the system is low weight, made possible through use of carbon-fiber reinforced plastics and bioplastics. Hyundai pledged to reduce the average weight of its fleet by 10 percent by 2015, said Dave Zuchowski, vice president of national sales at Hyundai Motor America.

"Weight reduction benefits almost everything--fuel economy, performance," Margason said.

Audi shows off second e-tron electric car concept

DETROIT--Audi drew praise when it showed off its e-tron electric concept car in Frankfurt last year, and just three months later the company has a second e-tron on display at the Detroit auto show. The new concept car differs substantially from the previous e-tron, with smaller dimensions, less overall weight, and a new look. Audi isn't too concerned about confusing people by using the e-tron name for two different cars, as Audi wants e-tron to be its brand for electric cars, much as Quattro is its brand for all-wheel-drive.

Where the earlier car had motors powering all wheels, the new e-tron gets only two motors, each turning one rear wheel. An algorithm decides how much power to send to each wheel depending on sensor input, correcting oversteer and understeer during cornering. Given the electric power train, the power steering uses an electro-mechanical unit.

The two motors driving the wheels, along with the 880-pound lithium ion battery, give the car 204 horsepower and 1,955 pound-feet of torque, getting the e-tron to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. The 45 kilowatt-hour battery also gives the car a range of 155 miles.

Toyota hatches a baby Prius

DETROIT--With few actual specifications to be had, Toyota showed off a new hybrid concept at the 2010 Detroit auto show, the FT-CH. This small hybrid would come in at a lower price than the Prius, offering an entry-level option for eco-conscious buyers.

The car came out of Toyota's European design center in Nice, France, and employs many typical concept flourishes. The LED headlights are set back from the front fenders in a configuration that would probably not past muster by most countries' regulations. The cabin has a monumental instrument cluster with graphics that look vaguely Klingon.

In a presentation at the auto show, Toyota mostly used the FT-CH to illustrate its hybrid plans. The company said its Synergy hybrid system will be its core powertrain, suggesting it will follow through with an earlier promise to offer hybrid variants of all its cars. Along those lines, Toyota promised eight new hybrids over the next few years, likely to be a mix of hybrid versions of existing cars and completely new models.

New A8 sports touchpad control and Bang & Olufsen audio

DETROIT--At the 2010 Detroit auto show, we got a hands-on, and ears-on, demonstration of the 2011 Audi A8. As the A8 is Audi's flagship luxury sedan, it showcases the company's latest technologies. This latest model uses a touchpad for character recognition, making destination input much easier, gets an updated Bang & Olufsen audio system that reproduces music with near perfect staging, and later this year will also feature a UMTS data connection for Google map searches.

Audi has been steadily updating its Multimedia Interface (MMI) over the years, and introduced a third-generation MMI last year. Although Audi still calls it the MMI in the A8 third generation, it advances a few steps beyond anything we've seen to date, either in an Audi or any other kind of car.

A touchpad with contextual backlighting sits next to the standard knobs and buttons from the previous MMI. With the radio on, the pad shows six numbers, indicating presets. Switch to navigation and destination entry, and the numbers disappear, the touchpad changing to character recognition mode.

Character recognition works very well in the A8.

In this mode, we traced letters on the touchpad to enter a city name. It recognized them with uncanny accuracy, confirming the input by speaking the letter and showing a nice block version on the screen. It makes navigation input much less tedious compared to the MMI in other Audis.

As Audi updated the model, Bang & Olufsen updated the premium audio system. Still present are the cool acoustic lenses, high-frequency speakers with a wide spread, which pop up from the corners of the dashboard when the stereo is turned on. Bang & Olufsen didn't neglect the rear seats, putting tweeters in the B pillars. There are 19 speakers in all, powered by 19 amps with an output of more than 1,400 watts.

We were treated to a variety of music during our demonstration and were simply blown away by the quality. In stereo mode, the system manages to place a sweet spot in front of each seat, staging the music directly in front of the occupant. We sat in the driver's and rear seats, and in each position it sounded like the vocalist was directly in front.

In surround mode, the system became very immersive, again placing the lead vocalist in front of us, but then bringing up backup vocals from the rear of the car. Instruments were also nicely separated.

We didn't try out our own audio sources during this demonstration, and the Bang & Olufsen representative giving the demonstration told us that the system wasn't designed to take into consideration compressed MP3 files. Rather, the company hopes that people will start putting uncompressed music on their MP3 players, considering that storage is so cheap.

GMC's Granite looks tough, is tiny

DETROIT--Of GM's four remaining brands, GMC was supposed to stick to big trucks and SUVs, but the company pulled a fast one at the 2010 Detroit auto show, bringing out a concept the size of a Scion xB. The Granite is a design study into how GMC might build vehicles for urban dwellers.

From our standpoint, the Granite looks feasible from the exterior design. The box on wheels has proved a popular shape for Scion and Kia, more recently. Not only does it have an individual look, but the interior space is very practical for a wide variety of purposes.

Of course, being a concept, the Granite has silly features, such as suicide doors, that would never make it to production. But we are intrigued by the OLED set into the dashboard, showing navigation, phone, audio, and climate.

An Italian in Chrysler clothing

DETROIT--Since Chrysler was absorbed by Fiat's global car empire, we've been waiting impatiently to see what direction the now Italian-owned company's cars would take. Our first clue came at the 2010 Detroit auto show, in the form of a new Chrysler model lacking a name or any publicity, but sporting a suspicious-looking grille.

This Chrysler is a Lancia Delta in disguise, a car sold in Europe as a mammoth family wagon, but appearing more compact in the U.S. Actually, we like the form factor of this Chrysler Delta, with its stylish curving lines framing practical interior space, where four adults can sit comfortably.

As sold in Europe, the Delta maxes out with a 2-liter diesel. If that engine can't comply with U.S. regulations, the next biggest gasoline engine is a turbocharged 1.8-liter, which might feel a little underpowered for U.S. sensibilities.

More interesting is the fact that the Lancia comes with Blue & Me, a Microsoft-developed technology that connects to MP3 players and mobile phones. Yes, it's the Fiat version of Ford's Sync. If Chrysler goes forward with the Lancia and sells it in the U.S., it would get a significant cabin tech boost.

Cadillac's XTS Platinum concept follows in Lexus' footsteps

DETROIT--Cadillac's latest concept, the XTS Platinum, looks like an attempt to compete directly with the Lexus LS 600h. Both cars have a hybrid power train, luxury interiors, LED headlights, and all-wheel-drive. If Cadillac brings the XTS to production, its competition will be ready and waiting.

One of Cadillac's stated reasons for building the XTS Platinum is to showcase its Platinum label, previously used for a special edition of the Escalade. Cadillac's Platinum cars get hand-built coachwork, with fine leather, wood, and metal. Given the European cars with which Cadillac wants to compete, this level of luxury is necessary.

But the XTS Platinum is also a serious tech barge, starting off with its plug-in hybrid power train, using a 3.6-liter direct injection V-6 for its gasoline component. The hybrid system is based off that used in the Escalade Hybrid. We noted that Cadillac isn't proposing using a version of the series hybrid system developed for the upcoming Chevrolet Volt. The sedan is supported by Cadillac's Magnetic Ride Control, which uses electro-magnets to adjust the ride quality to driver specifications and road conditions.

Cadillac didn't specify much about the cabin tech, except some innovative new display technologies. The instrument cluster is based on an OLED, with virtual gauges and information. The center stack uses back-out technology, backlit touch areas that fade to black when not in use.

BMW works toward an electric future

DETROIT--In search of what it calls a MegaCity vehicle, BMW launched a concept electric car at the 2010 Detroit auto show. The Concept ActiveE, an electric car built on the 1-series platform, will serve as the basis for a test fleet of electric cars that will further BMW's research toward its ultimate goal.

Currently, BMW is running a test fleet of 600 electric Minis, the MiniE, with vehicles in the hands of private users. The Concept ActiveE is the next car BMW intends to test, planning an even larger fleet.

Starting with the 1-series chassis and body, BMW fitted an electric motor onto the rear axle. A lithium ion battery pack is separated into two components, one near the motor and one under the hood, keeping the car balanced to a 50:50 weight distribution, preserving BMW's handling ethos.

With its current technology, the car has a range of about 100 miles, and the battery pack takes 4.5 hours to charge off a 32 amp source, according to BMW. Performance figures are not stunning, with acceleration to 60 mph in about 8.5 seconds.

The car is designed to drive very similar to the Tesla Roadster. Lifting the foot from the accelerator engages a generator, rapidly slowing the car and generating electricity for the battery pack. With this system, the friction brakes are rarely used, especially in urban areas.

GM hotrods a Buick and a Chevy

DETROIT--The Buick Regal and Chevy Aveo may not sound like cars for the racetrack, but GM decided to show how it can turn a turtle into a rabbit. The company launched two show cars, the Buick Regal GS and the Chevy Aveo RS, at the 2010 Detroit auto show. As show cars, neither is meant for production.

The Chevy Aveo RS precedes the launch of the next generation of this little car, and serves to build excitement about a model that could really use some. GM won't reveal yet how much of the body work of the RS will find its way into the production version of the new RS, but we like the hatchback style, with rear door handles hidden in the C-pillars.

The Aveo RS gets a turbocharged 1.4-liter engine, the same powerplant that will be used to power the upcoming Chevy Cruze small car.

The new Buick Regal has already launched, so GM is using this GS model to draw some enthusiast interest around the car. A front body kit and lowered suspension change the look of the standard car, and a turbocharged 2-liter give it 255 horsepower, enough to get the car to 60 mph in under 6 seconds.

BMW comes up with a pair of 7s

DETROIT--With Europe clamping down on CO2 emissions and Americans wanting to pay less at the pump, it would seem that big, luxury sedans would lose popularity. But BMW offers a couple of choices to keep its flagship 7-series sedan in favor. The company showed two new versions at the 2010 Detroit auto show, one with reduced engine size and a mild hybrid.

The new 740i marks a return to when the 7-series was powered by a mere 6 cylinders, rather than the 8 and 12 of recent years. But this car is no slouch, as its engine is a similar twin turbo 3-liter inline six that powers the 135i, 335i, and 535i, all very capable cars. In the 740i, that engine means 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. BMW hasn't released EPA mileage figures yet, but the 740i goes on sale this spring.

The ActiveHybrid 7 is much more complicated, and more powerful, than the 740i. With system output of 455 horsepower, it hits 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, making it the fastest hybrid in the world. BMW's hybrid system uses a small electric motor between engine and transmission, getting power from a lithium ion battery pack. This motor gives the twin turbo 4.4-liter V-8 a little extra boost, but, more importantly, enables a start-stop function. BMW claims 15 to 20 percent better mileage than the 750i. The ActiveHybrid 7 goes on sale in the second quarter.

Tata brings its Nano to Detroit--but it's still far from a U.S. car

Yes, that's a Tata Nano on display about 2 miles up the road from the Detroit auto show. And yes, Indian billionaire Ratan Tata still intends to sell the inexpensive car in the United States.

But no, the car on display at the Detroit Science Center isn't the car intended for U.S. consumers.

"It's too early," says David Good, chief representative for Tata's U.S. holding company, Tata Sons Ltd. in Arlington, Va. "We haven't designed the U.S. version yet."

Good has been turning away prospective U.S. retailers who have contacted the company to discuss becoming Tata dealers. "We are still three or so years away from U.S. sales," Good says. "We haven't decided how this will be structured."

Company Chairman Ratan Tata recently told reporters in India that the U.S. version of the car will have a larger engine and will have to be re-engineered to meet American regulatory requirements. Such changes are certain to inflate the price beyond what it sells for in India: about $2,500.

Tata is showing the car in Detroit to draw attention to the company's U.S. automotive engineering subsidiary in suburban Detroit: Tata Technologies, formerly known as Incat.

A spokesman for the engineering group said the U.S. operation had a hand in developing the Indian car and will help develop the U.S. version

2010 Bentley Mulsanne shows how luxury is done

DETROIT--When Bentley parted ways with Rolls-Royce in 1998, it still had some co-developed models in its line-up. The last of those, the Arnage sedan, has finally been replaced with a new flagship sedan, the Mulsanne, representing Bentley's new beginning under Volkswagen ownership.

Designed for absolute luxury, the Mulsanne gets a cabin filled with detailed coachwork, a powerful and sophisticated power train, Volkswagen's latest navigation system, and an outstanding audio system from Naim.

We spent some time looking over the Muslanne's details at the 2010 Detroit auto show and found a cabin that is covered in impeccable materials. The few plastics used for buttons are wrapped in metal enclosures, while the shifter is a big, wooden spindle topped by metal brightwork. Its wood details have matching grains from side to side. At this level of luxury, customers can opt for a wide variety of cabin materials and colors, or go completely bespoke.

The twin turbo 6.75-liter engine produces 505 horsepower and 752 pound-feet of torque, that last number needed to get this heavy car moving forward gracefully. We wouldn't expect fuel economy to be anything good, but an eight-speed automatic transmission will keep the engine speed low at high speeds. In addition, Bentley fitted the Mulsanne with active cylinder management, shutting down half of its V-8 at cruising speeds.

We wouldn't call the Volkswagen navigation system in the dashboard best of breed, but it is hard drive-based, and the maps use some texturing. The real treat will be the Naim audio system, with 20 speakers and 2,200 watts of power.

Hands-on with MyLincoln Touch and Sync in the 2011 Lincoln MKX

DETROIT--At CES 2010, Ford announced a whole new cabin tech interface for its cars, dubbed MyFord, MyMercury, and MyLincoln, depending on which model brand it is installed. At the 2010 Detroit auto show, we got a hands-on look at the MyLincoln interface in the updated 2011 Lincoln MKX, and a voice-on demonstration of Sync's new smartphone application integration.

In Ford models, MyFord is divided into two variants, MyFord and MyFord Touch, the latter featuring two 4.2-inch LCDs and one 8-inch touch-screen LCD. In Lincoln models, starting with the launch of the 2011 MKX, MyLincoln Touch is standard, with the two 4.2-inch LCDs flanking the speedometer and the 8-inch touch screen mounted in the center stack.

We started our demonstration by trying out the user configurable screens in the instrument cluster. Lincoln mounted five-way button clusters on each steering wheel spoke, which let you manipulate the look of the screens and make selections. These buttons are patterned after those found on cell phones and MP3 players, and we found them immediately intuitive to use.

On the left side screen, we went through menu options, changing the look of the engine speed gauge and opting for which kind of trip information we wanted to view. The system responded quickly, and seemed no more distracting than choosing trip information from current vehicles.

Electric cars advance in Detroit

DETROIT--We've seen a growing number of electric cars at auto shows over the last few years, but the 2010 Detroit show has more electrics from major brands than ever before. It is true that most are concepts, but it points to the fact that automakers are preparing for the future.

Nissan and Mitsubishi both had production-ready cars on display, models slated to launch later this year. Tesla also had a significant display at the show, with its Model S sedan showing the company can produce practical electric car with space for family and friends. Audi showed a new version of its e-tron concept car, and announced its intention to produce some form of electric car by 2012.

BMW and Volvo both showed electric cars intended to herald a test fleet, cars that would be leased to private parties or public entities to provide data on the feasibility of electric cars in the real world.

Then there was the oddball Tango, a strange-looking vehicle with astounding performance figures. Its manufacturer, Commuter Cars Corporation, proudly pointed out that George Clooney owns one.

Dynamic duo of American muscle

DETROIT--The 2011 Ford Mustang GT and the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe may be an unlikely pair, but they were two great examples of American muscle at the 2010 Detroit auto show. The Mustang borrows looks from the past, but the CTS-V Coupe is something completely new.

Both are bruisers, the Mustang GT's new 5-liter V-8 making 412 horsepower, while the CTS-V Coupe's supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 puts out 556 horsepower. The Mustang GT looks blue collar, while the CTS-V Coupe has a hint of European sophistication. And each delivers blistering performance.

Each car can also hold its own technically, with iPod integration, Bluetooth phone systems, and navigation systems that get you around traffic, so you can keep on the move.

U.S. Mazda2 launching at Los Angeles Auto Show

A burgeoning small car market in the U.S. convinced Mazda to finally sell its tiny Mazda2 here. The car, available around the world since 2007, will be shown in U.S. spec at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. It joins the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, Scion xD, and Kia Soul in a subcompact market that has seen increasing sales.

The U.S. spec Mazda2 will get a 1.6-liter four cylinder engine mated to a five speed automatic transmission. Cabin tech offerings will be minimal, although a Bluetooth phone system should be present, along with audio controls on the steering wheel.

The 1.6-liter engine is the biggest offered in its world-wide marketing, with smaller powerplants also available starting at a 1.3-liter engine. Diesel engines are also in the mix, along with manual and continuously variable transmissions. In Japan, the car can also be optioned up with navigation, something that won't be available here.

Check out our upcoming coverage of the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show for full details on the U.S. Mazda2.

Mustang V-6 slips horsepower, mpg past Camaro

Mustang fans have been nagging Ford Motors for a better V-6 engine in the base model of the long-running pony car--one with more horsepower and less hoarse power.

Next spring they'll get it when the old 4.0-liter V-6 is replaced by a 3.7-liter, 305 horsepower, 24-valve V- 6 with double overhead cams. It's the Mustang's first high-performance six-cylinder engine.

The old, rough, 210-hp V-6--which has been built in various displacements since the late 1960s--couldn't compete with the 3.6-liter V-6 in the new Chevrolet Camaro.

The base version of the 2011 Ford Mustang, due in the spring, noses ahead of the 2010 Camaro V-6--but not by much. The Mustang has one more horsepower and one more highway mile per gallon than the Camaro.

The 3.7-liter engine in the base 2011 Mustang is also being used in several front-wheel- and all-wheel-drive Lincolns. The Mustang is the first rear-wheel-drive application.

To boost horsepower, the intake areas of the engine's heads were ported and polished to increase the volume of the air-fuel mixture. The valve tappets were polished to reduce friction. A new intake manifold improves engine breathing. The changes helped raise horsepower from 273 in the Lincoln MKS to 305.

The Mustang also gets these upgrades:

• Two new six-speed transmissions, automatic and manual
• Stronger brakes and firmer suspension from the GT model
• A slightly revised interior with a new roof-storage system.

The updated engine includes such fuel-saving technology as variable valve timing and an advanced fuel injection system that cuts off the fuel supply when the car is decelerating.

The old engine was built in Cologne, Germany, and shipped to Flat Rock, Mich., where it was installed in the Mustang. The new engine is built in Ford's Cleveland, Ohio, plant.

Camaro sales have exceeded the Mustang's for six straight months. General Motors thinks the Camaro will outsell the Mustang for the entire year, although through October the Mustang still led, 56,469 to 47,233. The Camaro went on sale in April.

Ford plans to show the 2011 Mustang V-6 this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Upgrades are also in store for the Mustang GT that, according to Ford, it plans to introduce in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit