Porsche has unveiled the 2011 Boxster Spyder, which will become the lightest Porsche available. The third Boxster model will join the Boxster and Boxster S and debut at the 2009 LA Auto Show.

The Boxster Spyder features a low slung soft-top, extra low side windows and two bulges on the rear lid that make the Spyder reminiscent of the Carrera GT. The Spyder is powered by a 3.4-liter six-cylinder that puts out 320 horsepower, which is 10 more than the Boxster S. It also features an all-new sport suspension that lowers the Boxster Spyder 20 mm. The Boxster Spyder only weighs 2,811 pounds, which is 176 pounds lighter than the Boxster S.

When equipped with Porsche-Doppelkupplung (PDK) transmission the Boxster Spyder reaches 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds and has a top speed of 166 mph with the roof open.

The 2011 Boxster Spyder goes on sale February 2010. U.S. pricing is $61,200.

Here's our first look at what we can expect for the next BMW 3 Series, which is expected to debut in 2011 as a 2012 model. From these photos its clear that the proportions of the next 3 Series are not going to change much. The next-generation will also see the return of four-cylinder engines in the US market.

Ford has announced that it is in negotiations with China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. Ltd. to sell Volvo. If the deal does go though, Ford has no plans on retaining any ownership of Volvo.

Lewis Booth, Ford Motor Company executive vice president and chief financial officer stated "Ford believes Geely has the potential to be a responsible future owner of Volvo and to take the business forward while preserving its core values and the independence of the Swedish brand. But there is much work that needs to be completed in the more substantive discussions that are agreed to take place. We have no specific timeline to conclude the discussions."

Stephen Odell, Volvo CEO also stated that "Volvo's management team welcomes today's announcement as a positive step forward. At Volvo, we are continuing to keep our attention firmly fixed on engineering and building great Volvo cars, to reduce our cost base and to return the business to sustainable profitability at the earliest possible opportunity."

Chrysler is expected to unveil its 5-year plan next week on November 4th, but the Wall Street Journal has revealed many of the details we can expect to hear next week.

The plan is calling for the end of many of the Chrysler models that are currently in US showrooms. Many of the models will be replaced by vehicles from Fiat and Alfa Romeo.

Expect more details next week, but for now here's a list of what models we can expect to see either die or survive...

BMW recently released M versions of its X5 and X6 SUVs, but according to the latest reports BMW is not planning an M version of the 5-Series GT.

A source told AutoCar that the most powerful 5-Series GT will be the twin-turbo V8 550i.

BMW is also not planning an M version of the new Z4.

Motor Trend has announced the list of SUV contenders for its "SUV of the Year" award.

Of course this award is great to whomever wins, due to all of the bragging rights that come along with it. It's usually heavily used in every ad campaign. Last year the Subaru Forester took home the award.

Which SUV do you think should win this year's award?

The current VW Beetle was all the rage when it debuted in 1998. VW also managed to sell 83,434 New Beetles in 1999, but since then sales have continued to decline to only 26,477 units last year. Over 10 years since it was released, the Beetle now barely registers on the radar and has been overshadowed by other retro vehicles like the Mini. Well VW is finally working on a successor that will arrive in 2012 and according to Stefan Jacoby, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, the next model will have better packaging and a larger back seat.

According to Jacoby the major complaint about the Beetle, besides its age is that it has a cramped back seat. The new Beetle will indeed have a bigger back seat, but Jacoby was quick to state that that doesn't necessarily mean that it will be bigger.

Jacoby also stated that he sees the next Beetle as more of a halo car for the brand.

Volvo has released a few official photos of a 2011 S60 prototype being tested with Volvo's new Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake and Pedestrian Detection system in the streets of Copenhagen.

The new technology has been tested for the past ten years and will make it's first appearance on the new S60.

"Our aim is that this new technology should help the driver avoid collisions with pedestrians at speeds below 25 km/h. If the car is travelling faster, the aim is to reduce the impact speed as much as possible. In most cases, we can reduce the collision force by about 75 percent. Considering the large number of pedestrian fatalities that occur, if we manage to lower the fatality risk by 20 percent this new function will make a big difference. In specific situations the fatality reduction can be up to 85 percent," says Thomas Broberg.

Sources recently told the Automotive News that Porsche is contemplating a convertible (cabrio) version of its new four-door Panamera. If Porsche decides to green light the Cabrio version of the Panamera it will be a two-door with a soft top. There are also rumors circulating that a GT Coupe is also being considered.

Porsche hasn't confirmed that the existence of a Panamera Cabrio or GT Coupe, but Porsche R&D chief Wolfgang Dürheimer has implied that more variants of the Panamera could be on the way.

Before either the Cabrio or GT Coupe make it to market expect V6 and hybrid powered versions of the Panamera. A diesel powered model is supposedly also in the works.

During an event in Wolfsburg yesterday, VW officials confirmed that the recently unveiled Golf R will indeed be sold in the US as the GTI-R. The GTI-R will replace the R32.

When the GTI-R reaches the US it will be powered by a 265-hp 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder mated to either a manual transmission or Volkswagen's DSG. VW's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system will send the power to all four wheels. When equipped with the DSG the GTI-R reaches 0-62 mph in 5.5 seconds and the top speed is limited to 155 mph.

Expect the GTI-R to hit US dealerships sometime next year.

BMW has said in the past that the automaker has no plans to ever offer a front-wheel-drive, but it looks like that will soon change. It's being reported that BMW is currently working on a new line dubbed the 0 Series that will share its platform with the next generation MINI.

If the rumors are true, the 0 Series will hit showrooms by 2013 in three-door, five-door, and roadster versions.

Volkswagen of America president Stefan Jacoby recently confirmed that the upcoming sedan codenamed "NMS" will replace the Passat in the US. The new sedan is to be built at Volkswagen's new facility in Tennessee.

Jacoby admitted that the current Passat is too small for American car buyers. The new sedan will be introduced in about two years and arrive as a 2012 or 2013 model.

In addition to the news about the Passat, Jacoby also stated that pulling the Phaeton from the US market after the 2006 model year was a mistake. "You need to be patient to enter a new segment." The new Phaeton is expected to arrive by the end of next year in Europe. Jacoby did not state when it will be sold in the US again.

Just in time for your the start of your holiday shopping Jaguar is releasing a limited edition XJL Supercharged that will be featured in this year's Neiman Marcus catalog. Only 50 of the limited edition 2010 Jaguar XJL sedans will be sold.

The 2010 Jaguar XJL Supercharged Neiman Marcus Edition starts with the extended wheelbase XJL equipped with the 470-hp 5.0L V8 and adds exclusive Celestial Black paint and 20-inch wheels. Inside there is a special nameplate that marks the car as one of the special 50 produced.

If you can wait a little longer, the XJ will be on sale in early 2010.

Wolfgang Duerheimer, head of development at Porsche recently told Germany's Automobilwoche that creating a model that is significantly cheaper than the current Boxster is top priority for the automaker. What does this mean? It looks like Porsche is going to get a version of the Volkswagen Bluesport concept.

Volkswagen unveiled the Bluesport Concept earlier this year. The two-seater mid-engine roadster is powered by a 2.0L diesel. If a Porsche version is for sure in the works, expect it to share most of its mechanicals with the VW version.

Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen has confirmed that an electric vehicle based on the e-Tron concept that debuted in Frankfurt will be on the market in two to three years.

"I expect we will see running examples in the next 24 months," he says.

The e-Tron concept is powered by four individual electric motors, one on each axle. Audi says that the concept is capable of traveling 154 miles thanks to its lithium-ion battery. The e-Tron concept features styling that is similar to the R8, but is shorter with different front and rear fascias.

Bugatti unveiled the 16C Galibier Concept in Frankfurt last month and reportedly it has been given the green light for production according to Auto Express.

The four-door concept features a 8.0-liter quad-turbo W16 engine borrowed from the Veyron, which will be detuned to 800 horsepower and mated to a conventional eight speed transmission. It's estimated that the Galibier would reach a top speed of 220 mph.

If these reports are true expect to see the Galibier's release in 2013 with a price tag of £900,000 price tag, which is about $1.4 million.

Aluminum bodied cars are lighter than traditional steel models, so Audi has unveiled an aluminum A5 Coupe prototype that is over 200 pounds lighter than its equivalent steel bodied production model.

Audi engineers started with the traditional steel-bodied production car as its basis and then added the benefits of the aluminum Audi Space Frame (ASF) concept. According to Audi the use of the ASF principles lowers the body weight of a car by 40 percent. It shows here with the use of ASF and carbon fiber engineers were able to lower the body weight of the A5 from 3,130 pounds to 2,888 pounds.

A major benefit is that the lighter A5 prototype that is powered by a four-cyl engine offers the same performance as a V-6.

Audi's aluminum technology is bound to find its way into future Audi models, but Audi has no plans to produce the A5 prototype.

According to Inside Line, Jaguar is currently at work on a compact five door coupe based on the XF. Think of it as a competitor to the Audi A5 Sportback.

The coupe is codenamed RD7 and it has suicide-type rear doors and a side-hinged tailgate. Jaguar had been considering three and five door versions, but has decided to move forward only with the five door since it should have higher sales.

Although Inside Line has received word that the coupe is in the works, it is still about four years off. A new sportscar, codenamed XE is set to debut first in 2011, with sales starting in 2012.

Fiat unveiled the rally-spec Abarth 500 R3T at the 51st Sanremo rally.

The Abarth 500 rally version will be type approved for Group R3T. It's powered by a 1.4-liter four-cyl with a Garret GT 1446 fixed-geometry turbocharger that puts out 180 horsepower and is mated to a six-speed sequential transmission with a multiplate self-locking differential and twin plate clutch. 17" OZ rims and adjustable racing shock absorbers are also included in addition to Brembo discs on all 4 wheels.

The 500 R3T is fitted with a full roll cage and dry weight comes in at 2380 lbs, which is the minimum for the category.

Since it's unveiling many people in the U.S. have been hoping that the Fiat 500 would eventually be sold here. Well now that Fiat and Chrysler have hooked up our wish has come true. Its been confirmed that the Fiat 500 will be sold through Chrysler dealerships when it is released and it will be the only Fiat badged model in the U.S.

Chrysler brand CEO and head of sales for all Chrysler Group brands, Peter Fong stated that the Fiat 500 will likely have a dedicated corner in Chrysler showrooms rather than its own retail network like the Mini. Eventually four versions will make it to the U.S., the hatchback, convertible, a wagon and a high-performance version.

The Fiat 500 is expected to be produced at Chrysler's Toluca, Mexico facility in late 2010 or early 2011.

As expected, the next-gen BMW M5 is going to ditch its current 5.0L V10 engine for a smaller turbocharged V8.

BMW insiders have confirmed the change, but did not give any details about the V8. It's safe to assume that the M5 will be powered by the same turbocharged 4.4L V8 that is in the M versions of the X5 and X6. In the X5 and X6 it puts out 555 horsepower and 500 lb-ft. of torque.

Audi is also expected to drop its V10 engine from the RS6 for a turbocharged V8.

The BMW 5 Series GT has yet to reach showrooms, but BMW is already planning a GT version of the 3 Series. The 335i Gran Turismo will be released sometime in 2011 and will have a similar two-stage tailgate as the 5-Series GT. It's expected to be priced between the 3 Series and 5 Series. It's also possible that 4 and 5 seater versions will be produced with both diesel and gasoline engines. It's doubtful that an M3 version will be produced.

It's not yet known if the 3 Series GT will replace the 3-Series wagon in the US, since the 5 Series GT is expected to replace the 5 Series wagon here.

Earlier this week it was revealed that the new Mercedes SLS AMG would be one of the cars in the new Gran Turismo 5 and now Mercedes has released images of the car in the game.

Japanese luxury tuner, ASI has created a new bodykit for the 2010 Ferrari 458 Italia.

According to ASI the new kit, which consists of a new nose, air intakes and vents in front of the front wheels matches the aerodynamic performance of the stock 458 Italia. Of course the new kit is lighter.

It's not known if there willbe any performance upgrades to the 570-hp 4.5L V8.

The next-generation Audi RS6 is set to be unveiled early next year. Rumors are circulating that the next model will drop its 5.2L V10 for a V8 with twin turbochargers.

The current RS6 is powered by a twin-turbo 580-hp 5.2L V10. It reaches 0-62 mph in 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph. If the rumors are in fact true, don't expect a reduction in power. The turbocharged V8 will likely be between 4.0-4.5 liters.

The next BMW M5 is also expected to ditch its V10 for the 4.4L V8 that powers the M versions of the X5 and X6.

Land Rover has officially confirmed the production of the LRX concept, which is not really much of a surprise to anyone. The production version of the concept will join Land Rover's lineup in 2011.

According to Land Rover the new Range Rover will be the smallest, lightest and most efficient vehicle ever produced by the automaker.

Phil Popham, managing director of Land Rover said: "The production of a small Range Rover model is excellent news for our employees, dealers and customers. It is a demonstration of our commitment to investing for the future, to continue to deliver relevant vehicles for our customers, with the outstanding breadth of capability for which we are world-renowned."

Final details have not been released, but the official photo rendering of the production version shows that its styling will remain close to the concept.

Although Aston Martin originally stated that the V12 powered Vantage would not make it to the US, Aston Martin CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez has stated otherwise.

Bez recently told Car and Driver, that although Aston Martin originally planned on only producing 1,000 units over its one-year life span, more could be produced. Additionally the car is going to officially come to the US as well.

The Aston Martin V12 Vantage is powered by a 510-hp 6.2L V12. It reaches 0-62 mph in 4.2 seconds and has a top speed of 190 mph.

VW is expected to buy a stake in Suzuki by the end of 2009 according to the German industry publication Automobilwoche report.

The publication quoted an unnamed Suzuki executive, "For Suzuki and VW this connection would be a win-win situation. Suzuki would have access to a variety of VW's technology, while Volkswagen would have a solid supporting leg in India and Southeast Asia."

VW has declined to comment, but last week VW's Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn stated that Suzuki's current product lineup would work well with VW.

There has been speculation about a tie up between the two automakers since August.

Currently BMW does not offer a four-cylinder powered car in the US, while it does in the rest of the world. Well that will soon change with the 3-Series once again being offered with a four banger in the US by 2012.

BMW's U.S. chief Jim O'Donnell revealed in Frankfurt this week that BMW is planning on releasing new 4-cylinder engines in the US that will feature twin-turbocharging technology. BMW's goal is to release the four-cylinder powered 3-Series by spring of 2012.

Aston Martin's first ever four-door sports sedan is upon us and it is quite sexy...much sexier than the Porsche Panamera. The Aston Martin Rapide takes the current styling of the Aston Martin coupes and apply is it to a four-door design. The concept version of the Rapide was unveiled at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show and the production version remains true to the concept.

The Rapide is powered by a 470-hp 6.0L V12 engine that is mated to a six-speed Touchtronic 2 automatic transmission.

Chief Executive, Dr. Ulrich Bez said: "Rapide is the culmination of the Aston Martin range of sports cars, a car that seals the revival of a truly admired marque. There is now an Aston Martin for every taste and for every use.

"With Rapide, the entire family can enjoy their Aston Martin together in unison, in an invigorating yet comfortable environment, sitting low, with plenty of visibility from every seat and with new levels of comfort, refinement and entertainment."

Officially joining the Mini Coupe Concept in Frankfurt is the Mini Roadster Concept. The Mini Roadster is a two-seater with a chopped roofline and a more tilted windshield. Other than that the Roadster concept looks pretty much the same as the other Mini models currently being produced. In fact this concept is almost certainly the second new model Mini is going to produce in addition to the new coupe.

The front end of the roadster is identical to the convertible all the way until the a-pillar, where the roadster gets a more raked windhield. With the roof up the roadster has a more notchback look, further distinguishing it from the Mini convertible.

VW has unveiled the E-Up! Concept that was developed from the Up! concept and is supposed to give a glimpse of a new car in 2013 that VW claims will be the "Beetle of the 21st Century."

The small E-Up! is powered by an electric motor, which has a range of 80 miles. It sprints from 0-62 mph in 11.3 seconds. Depending on charging infrastructure, the lithium-ion battery can be charged up to 80 percent within an hour.

The E-Up! Concept is indeed a small car and has a 3+1 layout to make it possible to carry up to four passengers.

Although US buyers aren't getting the A5 Sportback, Audi has unveiled the sportier version, the S5 Sportback.

The S5 Sportback is powered by the same supercharged 3.0L V6 as the S4 that will also soon replace the V8 engine in the S5 coupe. It puts out 333 horsepower and 324 lb-ft. of torque and propels the S5 Sportback from 0-62 mph in 5.4 seconds with a 155 mph top speed. Audi claims that the S5 Sportback averages 24 mpg. Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system and seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic transmission are standard.

Visually the S5 Sportback is differentiated from the lesser powered A5 Sportback by side mirrors in aluminum trim, a single frame grille, S-design aluminum wheels, and quad tailpipes.

The S5 Sportback goes on sale in Europe in Spring 2010 with a starting price of 57,900 Euros.

Lamborghini has unveiled Reventon Roadster, which features the same jet fighter styling as the coupe. The roadster version is also powered by the same 6.5L V12 engine, which propels it from 0-62 mph in a very short 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 205 mph.

Only 20 Reventon Roadsters will be produced with a starting price of 1.1 million Euro. Deliveries will start next month.

Following the unveiling of the revised 2010 Volvo C30 last week, Volvo has unveiled the sportier C30 R-Design that will make an appearance in Frankfurt this week.

More than just sportier styling, the R-Design version of the C30 features more precise steering thanks to stiffer bushings, a lower steering ratio which yields a 10 percent faster response, and spring stiffness has been increased by 30 percent. According to Volvo the new sport chassis makes the C30 R-Design a more agile car. In terms of styling the C30 R-Design gets a new body kit that is painted the same color as the car and that makes the car appear lower to the ground than it acutally is. 17-inch Cratus aluminum wheels are standard, with 18" being optional.

Bugatti recently held an event to unveil its newest concept the Galibier four door supercar to its past customers and future Bugatti buyers. The Galibier is going to be officially unveiled in Frankfurt, but now we have an early look.

The Galibier concept features a two-tone exterior with polished aluminum for the doors and front fenders mated to a dark blue carbon fiber weave. The concept is powered by Bugatti's huge 8.0L W16 engine that is mounted in the front of the car. It's being reported that it will have a top speed of 217 mph.

Just in case you're wondering Galibier is the name of one of the most difficult alpine passes along the Tour de France.

Audi is set to unveil the e-Tron electric concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Audi has yet to officially release any photos or details about the concept, but these photos have surfaced today.

The e-Tron has the same profile as the R8, but with revised front and rear styling and wheels. Inside the E-Tron concept has a completely different interior compared to the R8 with a driver-focused console. It's not yet known what will power the e-Tron concept, but expect more details soon...

GM has finally announced the sale of Opel to Magna after months of debating. According to GM's press release, Magna/Sberbank will own 55 percent of Opel, while GM will retain 35 percent and employeeshttp://www.thetorquereport.com/us/sysdoc/blog/mt.cgi?__mode=view&_type=entry&blog_id=2 will hold the remaining 10 percent.

In the coming weeks binding agreements including the written support of the labor unions and a definitive financing package from the German government will be finalized.

Under the new agreement, Opel/ Vauxhall will continue to be a fully integrated part of GM's global product development organization.

Photo leaks are so common now that it was only a matter of time before photos of the upcoming drop-top version of the Audi R8 showed up. Well here you go...the first photos of the R8 Spyder are here.

Audi has yet to release the specifics of the R8 Spyder, but it is already known that it will be available with a 525-hp 5.2L V10 engine.

Rather than having a heavy retractable hardtop, Audi has equipped the R8 Spyder with a soft-top. These photos don't show the Spyder with the top up, but stay tuned for its unveiling in Frankfurt.

GM'S board is meeting again to discuss the fate of the Opel and Vauxhall brands and a decision could come out as early as today. The board is expected to hold its second round of meetings today after it failed to make a decision last month.

Currently there are two bidders for Opel, RHJ and Magna. Germany's organized labor is supporting a sale to Magna because it is expected to save more jobs in Germany. On the other hand GM is worried that a sale to Magna would hurt GM's Russian business. Although GM could delay the announcement again, political pressure may bring a decision sooner than later.

The first photos of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG have begun to leak out thanks to Australian site CarPoint.

The SLS AMG is expected to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show, so it's no surprise that photos are already leaking. It is powered by a 563-hp 6.3-liter V8 with 480 lb-ft. of torque that is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The SLS AMG can reach 0-62 mph in 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 196 mph.

Production is expected to start in late 2010.

Just like the C70 convertible, Volvo has given the C30 a facelift for the 2010 model year. The revised front end is very similar to the new C70 and the S60 concept.

"The front of the Volvo C30 has become more dramatic and expressive. The angled lines of the front bumper together with the new headlamps, which are drawn offset and up, reinforce the impression of speed and sportiness," says Fedde Talsma, Exterior Chief Designer at Volvo Cars.

In addition to the styling changes, the new C30 also gets new color and wheel options and a new optional sport chassis, which lowers the car 10 mm.

Rolls Royce has released several new photos and more info about the 2011 Ghost.

The 2011 Ghost will have its official unveiling at the Frankfurt Show. It is powered by a 563-hp 6.6-liter V12 with 575 lb-ft. of torque. That's enough to propel the Ghost from 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.

The Ghost was previewed by the 200EX concept earlier this year and for the most part remains unchanged.

"200EX is a modern execution of timeless Rolls-Royce elegance, breaking with some areas of tradition but retaining the core values that make our marque unique," said Chief Executive Officer Tom Purves. "We expect the more informal design to broaden the appeal of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, attracting people who appreciate its fusion of refinement, new technology and contemporary style."

Mercedes-Benz is planning on getting into the commercial van business in the US and will appoint up to 120 dealers to sell the Sprinter van. Currently Dodge sells the Sprinter van through 350 of its dealers. The contracts with the Dodge dealers will be canceled by Jan 1, 2010, which means there will no longer be a Dodge version of the Sprinter. Dodge has been selling the Sprinter since 2003.

In January the Sprinter will be branded as a Mercedes-Benz in the US. The Sprinter will be launched with a 3.0-liter, V-6 common-rail diesel in all 50 states.

BMW is only a few thousand units behind sales leader Lexus, which could mean that there could be a new top-selling luxury brand in the US by the end of the year. Lexus has been in the number 1 spot for the past nine years.

"We're really breathing down Lexus' neck," said Jim O'Donnell, CEO of BMW Group's North American sales operation, during an Automotive Press Association luncheon Tuesday.

"We were slightly ahead of Lexus (in sales) until July," he said. "But we expect business to pick up and have a strong fourth quarter. We could catch them."

Through August BMW has sold 129,176 units compared to the 131,469 units Lexus has sold.

Love the Porsche 911, but want something even more exclusive...well here you go. Porsche has unveiled the 911 Sport Classic that is only available to a very few, but lucky 250 customers.

Developed by Porsche's in house Porsche Exclusive, the 911 Sport Classic is based on the Carrera S, but features a wider body and a newly developed double-dome roof. It also features a new front apron with a unique lip spoiler and outback the rear spoiler is fixed in position like the legendary ducktail on the 1973 Carrera RS 2.7.

The 911 Sport Classic is powered by a 408-hp 3.8L mated to a six-speed manual transmission.

Inside the exclusivity continues with new materials that have never been used by Porsche, such as woven leather made up of smooth leather strips and woven yarn featured on the seat centerpieces. The dashboard is finished in Espresso Nature natural leather, which is a distinctive contrast to the exclusive body paint in Sport Classic Grey.

Sales begin in Europe in January 2010 for a starting price of 169,300 Euros.

Volvo is set to unveil a revised C70 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but the first shots have been unveiled. Although Volvo has yet to release an official press release with the photos, we have our first look at the changes to the 2010 C70.

The changes to the new C70 are mainly on the exterior with new more swept back headlights, a larger grille and new taillights and rear bumper. The single interior shot doesn't look much different than the current model.

Since Volvo has yet to release a press release it's not known if there are any changes under the hood.

Stay tuned...

Yesterday Mini released the first official images of the Coupe Concept and now we have more shots of the concept that is going to be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.

VW's executives have laid out an extensive plan to improve its sales in the US and to eventually surpass Toyota in terms of both sales and profitability.

VW's goal is to sell 800,000 vehicles in the US per year by 2018, which is three times as much as the automaker is selling now. To do so VW is planning on introducing several new models that will be designed specifically for the US market. This includes a new 7-seater SUV, sedan and an updated version of the Beetle.

In order to improve profits, VW is going to start building more models in the US or Mexico. VW is currently spending $1 billion on a new plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. that will produce a new midsize sedan in 2011. The new sedan will reportedly be larger than the current Passat, but will be priced competitively to go against the Accord and Camry.

"We want to be the No. 1 automaker globally," Stefan Jacoby, VW's North American chief said during a briefing at VW's U.S. headquarters in Virginia. "Not everybody believes in this goal. We believe in this vision we have, and we are working very hard on its realization.

VW plans to refresh its entire lineup by 2011. Additionally VW is making efforts to improve its quality.

VW has unveiled the three-door version of its popular Polo. For fuel conscious buyers VW is offering a new BlueMotion model, which only burns 3.3L of diesel fuel per 100 kilometers (71 mpg U.S.) The BlueMotion Polo will be available in either the three or five-door variants.

The three-door features an almost invisible B-pillar and more slender C-pillar than the five-door to give it a sportier appearance. The exterior, interior and cargo dimensions are identical to the five-door.

In total VW is offering the Polo with six engines, three gas and three diesel. An automatic 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG) is also being offered for the first time.

Porsche has unveiled the new 911 GT3 Cup ahead of its official unveiling in Frankfurt.

The 911 GT3 Cup racing car is based on the 911 GT3 RS for the first time ever. It features a body that is now 1.73" wider at the rear, which provides more space for larger wheels in addition to wider wheel arches at the front. The front spoiler lip is almost 0.6" lower to provide significantly more downforce on the front axle. Downforce on the rear axle is also increased due to an enlarged rear wing.

The 450-hp 3.8L engine is borrowed from the 911 GT3 RS, which is more powerful than the previous 3.6L engine.

The 911 GT3 Cup is only available in Carrera White and will set you back 150,000 euros.

Land Rover showed off the LRX concept at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year. The two-door concept was based on the same platform as the current Freelander/ LR2. It's expected that this coming June Land Rover is going to unveil the production version to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original unveiling of the first Land Rover. The actual date is June 17th and the LRX could be positioned as the new more environmentally friendly face of Range Rover.

Sources are claiming that the small SUV will enter production in 2011 as a 2012 model. Production would take place at at Land Rover's Halewood facility in the UK, which currently produces the LR2. In addition to gasoline and diesel powered models, a hybrid may also be in the works.

Mini is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the the public debut of the original Mini. To celebrate 50 years, Mini has unveiled the MINI Coupe Concept, which takes the Mini style even further. The MINI Coupe Concept features only two seats, but as a more speedster style than the current Mini convertible. It has a more swept back windshield and a roof design that cuts out the rear seats. The concept is 146.2" long, 66.3" wide and 53.4" tall.

The MINI Coupe Concept is designed to accommodate even the most powerful of the Mini engines, the the 1.6L twin-scroll turbocharged unit from Mini John Cooper Works. It puts out 211-hp and 192 lb-ft of torque, which can be increased to 206 lb-ft for a short period.

At this point it's not known if the MINI Coupe Concept will enter production, but it will have its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month, in addition to the production version of the Mini crossover.

According to sources over at MotoringFile, BMW is set to unveil two new MINI models in Frankfurt next month. The MINI Speedster concept, which is a sportier alternative to the convertible Cooper is set to be unveiled at the show. In addition, the Crossman R60 crossover is also going to be at the show.

If the guys over at MotoringFile are correct, we should expect to see an online unveiling of the two models sometime this week.

GM's board declined to name a winning bidder for the Open brand last Friday as was expected. Instead the automaker decided to ask the German government more information about state financing for the buyers.

The German government has been pressuring GM to announce the sale of Opel to Magna and its Russian partners, since it would mean that more jobs would stay in Germany. Although it seems that GM is preferring a sale to Brussels-based financial investor RHJ International. So rather than announce the sale on Friday, GM's board wanted to find out how much money RHJ would get from the government if they were chosen. It's also being reported that the reason that GM is keen on selling Opel to RHJ is because it would include a buy-back option.

Either way the German government is not happy about the delay and Opel's labor leader Klaus Franz has threatened "spectacular measures" if a decision is not made this week.

Maserati has unveiled the Maserati GranCabrio ahead of its official unveiling at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show next month. The GranCabrio is the Maserati's first ever four-seat convertible.

Unlike most new luxury convertibles, the GranCabrio features a folding cloth top. It is powered by the 4.7L V8 with 433 horsepower from the GranTurismo S. Maserati also boasts that the GranCabrio is the convertible with the longest wheelbase on the market.

The Maserati GranCabrio will hit showrooms next spring, but stay tuned for more details next month.

Porsche has unveiled the 2010 911 GT3 RS ahead of its official unveiling in Frankfurt.

The racing version of the 911 GT3 is powered by the same naturally aspirated 3.8L six-cylinder as the the regular GT3, but it has 450 horsepower, compared to 435. It also features an 8,500 rpm redline. The six-speed manual transmission has shorter ratios to give it even more speed on the track. A new option is a lithium ion battery that replaces the the conventional lead-acid battery and reduces the vehicles weight by 22 lbs.

Handling has been improved with a purpose-built PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) suspension and a wider front and rear track.

The 2010 911 GT3 RS goes on sale next spring with a starting price of $132,800.

GM and Koenigsegg have announced that a deal has been finalized between the two over the sale of Saab. The deal involves a 100 percent sale of Saab to Koenigsegg by the end of the year. The final piece of the deal involves funding from the European Investment Bank in the amount of 4.3 billion kronor, which is dependent on the Swedish government.

The exact price that Koenigsegg is paying for Saab has not been disclosed, but according to sources it is very low.

Following yesterday's photo leakage of the 2010 E-Class Estate, Mercedes has officially unveiled more images and info about the E-Class wagon, which officially joins the sedan and coupe variants.

The 2010 E-Class Estate gets a plethora of diesel and gas powered engines for Europe, while the US reportedly must make due only with the the E350 4matic variant. An E63 Estate is reportedly in the works, but who knows if it will come to the US. Especially since most car buyers in the US aren't fond of wagons...

The interior is largely carried over from the sedan, but there is a very retro-feeling rear-facing third seat that brings up not so fond memories of 70s and 80s station wagons.

The E-Class Estate (wagon) will make its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.

BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer recently told Reuters that BMW is going to launch a series of electric vehicles under its own brand, which kills reports of a stand alone fourth brand being created.

Instead of creating a fourth brand, BMW's board has decided to create a sub-brand for the new vehicles, kind of like the M sub-brand that is used for BMW's performance vehicles.

It's MINI's 50th anniversary and BMW is set to show off two special edition models to celebrate the the event, the MINI 50 Mayfair and 50 Camden at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month.

In addition to the birthday editions over at the MINI stand, BMW is set to have the official world premiere of the Rolls-Royce Ghost. Additionally the full fleet of the BMW EfficientDynamics models will be shown off over at the BMW stand. The BMW ActiveHybrid 7 and BMW ActiveHybrid X6 will also premiere.

MINI USA has been trying to build a case to bring the diesel powered MINI to the US for some time now, but it looks like that isn't going to happen.

The main reason that we will not see a diesel powered MINI anytime soon has to do with costs. It would cost the automaker a significant investment to convert the European-spec diesel engine to US standards. Even if MINI were to charge 10-15% more for the diesel powered model, the automaker would still lose money. Charging 40-50% more would pay for the development costs, but who would actually buy it at that price? So it looks like we will have to wait another 4-5 years to get the diesel when the next-generation MINI is released.

Plans are still up in the air for an R60 based Cooper S D to make it to the US, but we'll see...

Ferrari has officially unveiled the mid-engined V8 replacement for the Ferrari F430, the Ferrari 458 Italia.

The 458 Italia will be officially unveiled to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September, but Ferrari has been nice enough to release some of the info early. The 458 is powered by a 4.5L V8 that pumps out 562 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. The power is put to the ground through a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. 0-62 mph comes in a fast 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 202 mph.

Small cars don't usually do that well in the US, wIth the exception of a few models such as the Honda Fit and Mini, many of the small cars sold here are not that great. Especially the current small cars from Detroit. Because of this many US car buyers stay away from the sector, which means tiny sales and even tinier profits for automakers. Alfa Romeo's MiTo would be a great competitor to the Mini, but CEO Sergio Cravero recently stated that the small Alfa may not be coming here.

"A preliminary product assessment for a sporty three-door small hatchback showed potential volumes in the U.S. right now are roughly 20,000 units a year," Cravero said. "That is not enough to make it a viable business case."

Of course this could all change if US car buyers start buying more small cars. In the meantime we will be getting a five-door mid-sized hatchback, named the Milano in 2011.

BMW's first hybrid, a hybrid version of the X6 is expected to be released by the end of the year. The X6 hybrid in these photos was caught near BMW's Spartenburg, SC plant.

The 2010 BMW X6 ActiveHybrid is supposedly already rolling off the production line, which means we will start seeing it at dealers in the next few months. The X6's two-mode hybrid system is the same system used in GM's full-size hybrids and Chrysler's now dead Durango and Aspen hybrids. Although the system has been BMW-ized in the X6 hybrid. The system should improve mpg numbers by 20 percent over the regular X6. Prices are expected to start around $70k.

Audi has announced the pricing for the 2010 R8, including the new V10 powered R8.

The 2010 Audi R8 4.2 FSI quattro starts at $114,200, which is unchanged from the 2009 model, while the R8 5.2 FSI quattro starts at $146,000. The V10 powered R8 puts out 525-hp and 391 lb-ft of torque and reaches 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds.

"The R8 is a proven worldwide success story for Audi," said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. "The positive effects of the vehicle on dealers, customers, and Audi fans alike have exceeded all expectations. The addition of the V10-powered R8 5.2 FSI quattro adds further equity into the already sought-after R8 nameplate and the Audi brand."

Thanks to Autobild we now have our first look at the 2010 Saab 9-5.

Stay tuned as more info comes in.

Rolls Royce has released the official horsepower numbers of the Rolls Royce Ghost. The Ghost's 6.6-liter, twin-turbo V12 pumps out 563 hp and 575 lb-ft. of torque. The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic ZF transmission. The Ghost reaches 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

Rolls Royce also confirmed that sales of the Ghost in the UK and Europe will begin late in 2009 with pricing from £165,000.

J.D. Power and Associates has released the results of the 2009 Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) Study. For the fifth straight consecutive year Porsche tops the list as the industry's most appealing brand in the U.S.

The top three brands this year were Porsche, Jaguar, and Cadillac.

"Most automakers are on track in terms of designing new models that are highly appealing," said David Sargent, vice president of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates. "The greater challenge for manufacturers lies in creating models that launch with both strong appeal and high quality, which ultimately lead to improved sales through greater customer loyalty and advocacy."

Volkswagen managed to take four of the segment awards, while Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Nissan each garner two awards.

Jaguar has announced plans today to kill the slow selling X-Type and to lay off 300 workers at its Halewood plant in the north of England.

"Our industry has been especially badly hit by the recession and the premium sector more than others. Jaguar Land Rover's retail sales fell by 28 percent in the past 10 months," Chief Executive David Smith said in a statement.

The X-Type has been in production for the last 8 years and Jaguar has sold over 350,000 units. Production of the X-Type was originally planned to cease in mid-2010.

In addition to killing the X-Type by the end of the year, Jaguar is going to shut down the Halewood plant for three weeks to keep inventory levels in check.

Spy photos of MINI's upcoming crossover, which is based on the also new BMW X1 have been all over the place lately. Although the crossover has been confirmed and is expected to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September, we have yet to learn what the crossover is going to be named...until now. It looks like BMW AG (parent company of BMW and MINI) has officially registered the "Countryman" name for trademark for the new MINI crossover.

In the past the Countryman name was used for long-wheelbase versions of the Cooper in specific markets.

A company spokesperson recently told Reuters that VW is going to invest $1 billion in its Mexico plant to build a new model that will launch in early 2010.

Currently the plant produces Jettas, Boras and New Beetles.

"The production of the new model will start in March or April of 2010," spokeswoman Consuelo Minutti said.

Minutti did not disclose which new vehicle VW plans to produce at the plant.

Fiat has launched the 500 Abarth Competizione, which commemorates the first anniversary of Abarth's return to the Dutch market. Only 10 units will be produced with prices starting at €24,995 ($35,214 USD). The extra €3,000 premium over the the stock 500 Abarth gets you a black roof, black 17" wheels and matching black graphics. Inside there are new bucket seats and an upgraded audio system.

Jaguar took the wraps off the 2010 XJ last week in London and according to the automaker there have already been at least 55 pre-orders.

55 orders in a matter of days may not seem like much, but according to Jaguar that is about the same numbers it received when the XF was unveiled. Some of the orders were placed at the XJ's launch at the Saatchi Gallery in London last week and the rest have come from people who haven't even seen the car in person. Production is expected to start this fall, with sales starting in January.

Peugeot has released a few teaser photos of the production version of the RC Z sports coupe that was unveiled in concept form in 2007.

The 308 RC Z is about the same size as the Audi TT and will be powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder. Final specs have not been released, but we can expect to see it at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Jaguar has officially taken the wraps off the 2010 XJ in London that goes on sale in December 2009, with deliveries starting in early 2010.

The new XJ looks somewhat like a larger XF with coupe-like roofline and a rear end that is a big departure for Jaguar. There's also a standard panoramic roof.
The 2010 XJ will be available in regular and extended wheelbase versions.

In the US we will have a choice of three engines: a 385-hp 5.0L V8, 470-hp 5.0L supercharged V8 and a 510-hp 5.0L supercharged V8.

Pricing for the 2010 Jaguar XJ starts at $72,500.

Hertz Italiana has just announced that the Lotus Elise SC is joining the Italian rental fleet.

"I am delighted that Lotus Cars has entered into this agreement with Hertz, giving us the opportunity to make our stunning world class sportscars available to the rental market," Mr. Michael J. Kimberley, Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus said. "The iconic and multi award winning Lotus Elise and the stunning Lotus Exige are the perfect fun rental cars for those who desire exclusive and high performance motoring."

This summer Hertz Italiana will be offering the Lotus Elise SC at select rental locations throughout the country, which probably won't be cheap.

Once the BMW 5 Series GT hits the US, it may jeopardize the existence of the 5 Series wagon in the US according to some BMW officials.

The BMW 5 Series wagon barely registers a blip on the radar and once the Gran Turismo is released the little demand for the wagon may be gone. No official decision has been made, but don't expect to see a wagon version of the next 5 Series on our shores.

Volvo has announced, as expected, the introduction of the XC60 R-Design, which adds more "sport" to the exterior and chassis.

On the exterior the R-Design package adds door mirror housings, trim moldings and décor trim in matte silk metal finish, skid-plates and twin chrome tailpipes. The five-spoke Cratus aluminum wheels are also unique and are available in either 18-inch or 20-inches. The lower section of the XC60 is also color matched to the exterior with the R-Design package.

A more direct steering gear has also been added to add more sportiness to the driving experience, due to its faster steering response.

The R-Design package for the XC60 will have its public debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show and will go on sale shortly after that.

The upcoming 2010 Porsche Panamera is set to have its U.S. debut at the 2009 Pebble Beach Conours d'Elegance, which runs from August 9-16.

Porsche's first four-door sedan is expected in showrooms in October with pricing ranging from $89,800-$132,600.

VW has released its sales totals for the month of June 2009 and although VW sales were down 18 percent compared to the same month in 2008, VW has announced strong sales of its diesel powered models. Diesel powered versions of the Jetta, Jetta SportWagen and Touareg totaled 5,072 units, which accounted for 26 percent of VW's total sales last month.

Clean diesel TDI's accounted for 81 percent of SportWagen sales, 40 percent of Jetta sedan sales, and 29 percent of Touareg sales.

After all the photo leaks yesterday, BMW has officially released more photos of the X1 and released a brief press release which states that the X1 will be offered in the US, sometime in 2011.

The X1 will debut this fall in Europe with a choice of either three diesel engines or a gas engine. It will also be available in either rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive configurations.

BMW hasn't officially announced which configurations the US will receive in 2011.

BMW has announced that the 2010 BMW 7 Series will be offered with the xDrive AWD system for the first time ever.

The 2010 BMW 750i and 750Li will be offered with BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system. In addition the 2010 model year also sees the introduction of the V12 powered 760Li model, which brings the total to five variants of the 7 Series.

A new M Sport package is also available on the 2010 7 Series. The package includes an M steering wheel, lift-reducing aerodynamic kit, Active Roll Stabilization (RWD only), Shadowline trim, Anthracite headliner and 19″ wheels with ultra-high performance tires. 20" wheels are also available.

After many spy photos and teasers, BMW has finally released the official photos of the 2010 X1.

In Europe the X1 will be offered mainly offered with diesel engine choices with the most powerful model being the xDrive23d with 201-hp and 295 lb-ft. of torque. The most powerful gas powered engine will be the xDrive28i with 258-hp and 228 lb-ft. of torque.

The X1 is expected to be launched by the end of this year with sales starting in the US early next year. Expect more details once the official US press release is available.

Jaguar has announced the introduction of the 2010 Jaguar XF Supercharged, which brings the total XF models to four.

The XF Supercharged is powered by a 470 hp version of the 5.0-liter supercharged AJ-V8 Gen III engine and reaches 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. It slots in below the 510-hp XFR in the lineup and will start at $68,000 when it hits showrooms this October.

Just as the CLK has officially been renamed the E-Class coupe, Mercedes is also going to rename the revised CL the S-Class coupe when it launches for the 2011 model year.

The S-Class coupe will feature a facelifted front fascia with a more upright grille and LED headlights. Outback there will be new LED taillights and a new bumper design.
(2009 model pictured above)

The all-new Opel Astra is set to be officially unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show this September and now comes word that a two-seat convertible variant is in the works.

The new Astra convertible will replace the Astra TwinTop in the lineup and will only seat two. It will feature a retractable hardtop and will be sportier than the old TwinTop. The interior will be similar to the hatchback, but with sportier seats and more luxury appointments.

The two-seater is expected to go head to head with the Mini and VW's upcoming roadster.

More bad news for Detroit's automakers, a new study from Grant Thornton LLP's Corporate Advisory and Restructuring Service estimates that by 2012 they will produce less vehicles on US soil than their Asian and European competitors.

Although domestic automakers are expected to return to profitability by 2012, their production will be outpaced by import automakers like Toyota, VW, Hyundai and Honda. The estimated projection is that domestic automakers will reduce production in the US by 35 percent, while import automakers will increase US production by 20 percent. The final total from Chrysler, Ford and GM is estimated at 7.5 million with all other automakers coming in at a combined 8 million units.

Grant Thornton Principal Kimberly Rodriguez stated "Suppliers largely dependent on Detroit OEMs will have to present a new value equation to potential customers from Europe and Asia if they want to participate in the accelerated shift that is coming."

J.D. Power and Associates has released its 2009 Initial Quality Study (IQS) with Lexus taking the lead this year with only 84 problems per 100 vehicles.

This year's top five nameplates were Lexus followed by Porsche, Cadillac, Hyundai and Honda. Hyundai managed to move up to the number 4 spot from 13th position in 2008 and Cadillac moved up from the 10th spot in 2008.

Suzuki managed to have the most gains this year moving up to the 9th spot from the 32nd spot last year.

The study also claims that domestic automakers improved their quality by 10 percent compared to 2008, which is higher than the 8 percent industry average.

Yesterday Audi released two teaser images of the upcoming Audi A5 Sportback, which will debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Now comes word that Audi has no plans to bring the vehicle to the US.

The A5 Sportback will be available with a choice of two gasoline or three diesel engines. The two gas engines will be the 211-hp 2.0L TFSI and the 265-hp 3.2L V6. The diesel options are a 170-hp 2.0L, 190-hp 2.7L and a 240-hp 3.0L V6.

The reason that Audi is claiming that the A5 Sportback is not slated to come to the US is because the larger Audi Sportback Concept, dubbed the A7 is expected to come here. The A7 will mainly compete with the Mercedes CLS.

Luxury car maker Koenigsegg and a group of Norwegian investors have signed a letter of intent with GM to take over Saab according to Swedish television.

Final details of the deal have not been finalized.

A CAR Online reader (Simon Gregg) spotted the upcoming Aston Martin Rapide testing in the UK sans camouflage. The production version of the Rapide is expected to be unveiled this fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show and go on sale in early 2010.

The Rapide is expected to be powered by the automaker's 6.0L V12 with approximately with 470 hp and 443 lb-ft. ot torque.

Fiat has officially closed the deal and taken over Chrysler this morning. The takeover now means that Fiat's Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne will become CEO of Chrysler.

Fiat is now going to start transferring Fiat's technology, platforms and powertrains to Chrysler plants. Chrysler's plants are also going to resume production soon, since they were idled during the bankruptcy process and cost the automaker up to $100 million a day.

"We intend to build on Chrysler's culture of innovation and Fiat's complementary technology and expertise to expand Chrysler's product portfolio both in North America and overseas," Marchionne said.

"This morning's closing represents a proud moment in Chrysler's storied history," said the U.S. Treasury Department. "The Chrysler-Fiat Alliance has now exited the bankruptcy process and is poised to emerge as a competitive, viable automaker."

Fiat currently owns a 20 percent stake in Chrysler, which will eventually be increased to 35 percent, but Fiat cannot gain majority control until all taxpayer funds are repaid.

BMW has released a few official photos of the upcoming X1 draped in camouflage.

According to TimesOnline there will be three engine choices in Europe: a 177hp diesel and 204hp diesel, and a gas powered 272bhp 3.0L V6. The US is likely to only receive the V6 when the X1 is released here.

We can expect to see the official production version of the X1 at the Frankfurt Motor Sow this September.

BMW has officially released the specs and more photos of the 2010 5 Series Gran Turismo.

The 2010 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo doesn't stray far from the concept version that was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year. It basically gets smaller wheels and a more production friendly interior. According to BMW the 5 Series GT "combines elegance, space, comfort and variability in truly unique style." The design features a coupe-like roofline and frameless windows.

Europe will have the choice of three different engines, the 306hp 535i, 407hp 550i and the 235hp 530d. All three engines are mated to a eight-speed automatic transmission.

BMW hasn't announced which models will make it to the US.

This fall VW is going to release a more powerful Scirocco, dubbed the Scirocco R.

The more powerful Scirocco R gets the engine from the Audi S3, which thanks to a bigger turbo, uprated pistons, and high-pressure injectors puts out 265 horsepower. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual or the DSG. Unfortunately the power is still put to the ground only via the front wheels. The ride has also been lowered and there are larger brakes.

The R version of the Scirocco is distinguishable by a new body kit, spoiler, sports seats and R badges.

Too bad US drivers can only drool over this car, since VW has no plans to bring either version of the Scirocco to the US.

BMW has created a new concept of the X6 that no one has probably asked for, although a few ambulance drivers may rejoice. The BMW X6 xDrive50i Ambulance concept is going to be shown off at the upcoming RETTmobil rescue vehicle show in Fulda, Germany.

The concept is powered by the 407hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 and is being positioned as the first responder vehicle, which would carry a doctor or paramedic to a scene before the actual ambulance. Which is a good thing because its doubtful that an X6 ambulance could hold nearly as much as a regular ambulance.

Following yesterday's photo leaks, GM has officially unveiled the next-generation 2010 Opel Astra ahead of its unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show this fall.

The 2010 Astra borrows styling cues from the mid-size Insignia. The new Astra has more interior room thanks to a longer wheelbase. It also features a cab-forward design that exhibits Opel's new design language, sculptural artistry combined with German precision. The wing and blade design cues on the exterior are also used on the inside.

There are a total of eight engines that will be offered, four diesel and four gasoline powered. The diesel engines range in size from 1.3L to 2.0L units, putting out between 95- 160 horsepower. The four gasoline engines put out from 100hp to 180hp.

Now that Saturn is dead, it's been rumored that Buick will receive this new Astra.

Although the Saturn Astra may be dead, the US may still get the next Astra under the Buick brand. The first photos of the all-new Astra (Euro-spec) have surfaced.

The new Astra is based on the Delta platform, which underpins the Chevy Cruze and upcoming Volt. The sixth-generation Astra will be powered by a normally aspirated gasoline1.4L four-cylinder according to CarScoop and turbocharged variants will also be offered. A turbocharged 180-hp 1.6L is also expected. In regards to diesel powerplants, a range of diesels will also be available, including 1.3, 1.7 and 2.0L variants.

CarScoop also claims that the five-door Astra will hit showrooms this fall and a three-door GTC coupe is expected to follow. A wagon, four-door sedan, and a retractable hardtop model are also expected.

Now we just have to wait and see if the Astra makes it to the US, even though GM's ownership of Opel may soon be over.

Audi insiders have confirmed that the automaker is working on a convertible version of the R8 supercar that will be released in 2011.

The details are scarce, but the R8 convertible is expected to have a full length convertible roof that will likely be a made of fabric since the R8's mid-engine layout leaves no room for a retractable hardtop. Audi also has a preference for soft tops.

There has been no confirmation if the R8 convertible will be powered by the R8's V8 or V10 engines.

VW's North American CEO, Stefan Jacoby recently revealed more info about VW's upcoming mid-sized sedan.

In an interview with Automotive News, Jacoby discussed the upcoming sedan that will be built at VW's new plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The un-named sedan will hit the market in the spring of 2012 with a price tag around $20,000. It will be powered by VW's current 2.0L and 2.5L engines. No official photos are renderings of the car have been released, but the styling was finalized a few weeks ago. The car is expected to be larger and sleeker than the current Passat.

We've been hearing rumors for a while that BMW and Mercedes-Benz are considering bringing back 4-cylinders to the US to cut their brand's overall fuel economy.

BMW is currently working on a turbocharged, direct-injected four-cylinder that will likely be used in the 1 and 3 Series sometime around 2012. The new four-cylinder is expected to have the similar horsepower numbers as the current in-line sixes, but with better gas mileage and lower emissions. The engine is also slated for the X1 and new X3. BMW is waiting to decide on the engine for the U.S. until Washington releases what the new fuel economy standards will be.

Mercedes-Benz hasn't released any details on what the possible 4-cylinder engines could be, although a 2.2-liter four-cylinder turbo-diesel was shown in the E250 Bluetech concept. A four-cylinder will most likely be offered in the C-Class and GLK within the next few years.

Mercedes-Benz unlike many other automakers hasn't changed its emblem, And to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the three-pointed star emblem, the automaker is releasing a special anniversary edition of the Mercedes-Benz CL Coupe.

Mercedes chose the CL-Class because "it has been acknowledged as a masterpiece of automobile engineering since its inception." The 382-hp special CL550 4MATIC "100 Years of Mercedes-Benz Edition" features a paint finish from the designo collection, he AMG Sports package, premium leather, black piano lacquer trim and beautifully executed emblems of the original trademarks inset into the center console.

A limited number of the special edition coupes will go on sale this summer.

Audi has decided to not offer the 3.2L V6 in many of its models for the 2010 model year. The 2010 A3, A4 and TT will have to make due with the four-cylinder 2.0T engine.

Most A4s that currently leave dealer lots are usually equipped with the 2.0T, so its not a big surprise that Audi has decided to not offer the 250-hp V6 anymore. If you want something more powerful than the 2.0T in the A4 you will have to move up to the upcoming S4, which will be powered by same supercharged 3.0L V6 as the A6.

Jaguar has released a teaser image of the upcoming 2010 XJ sedan that will officially be unveiled on July 9th.

The next-generation Xj will feature an aerospace-inspired aluminum body and will be available in standard and long wheelbase versions. The XJ will be powered by a series of V6 and V8 engines, including the 510-hp supercharged, direct-injection, 5.0-liter V8.

The XJ will also feature the same JaguarDrive gear selector as the XF with paddle shifters.

The 2010 Jaguar XF is expected to hit showrooms in early 2010.

VW and Chrysler thought it would be a cool idea to take the Dodge Caravan and stick a VW front end on it and an interesting name, but apparently no one else does. Sales of the VW Routan have been so slow that it hasn't been produced since December at Chrysler’s Windsor, Ontario plant.

Production isn't expected to restart since of the 22,037 Routans produced, only 5,582 have been sold.

Fiat's CEO, Sergio Marchionne has told the Globe and Mail and mail that the possible partnership with Chrysler will succeed if the automaker cannot cut labor costs.

Marchionne told the newspaper that the partnership only has a 50-50 chance because of the lack of progress in talks with union leaders. He also stated that Canadian unions have been especially resistant.

"Absolutely we are prepared to walk. There is no doubt in my mind," Marchionne said in an interview posted on the Toronto newspaper's website.

In order for the partnership to work, Chrysler's unions need to agree to labor costs that are equal to that of Japanese and German automakers.

The latest version of the proposed partnership between Fiat and Chrysler states that Fiat would take a 20 percent stake in Chrysler in exchange for the technology to make small cars and access to foreign markets. Fiat would also gain access to the US market.

Fiat and Chrysler have until the April 30th deadline to finalize the deal. If a deal is not reached Chrysler will be forced into bankruptcy. If a deal is reached the U.S. government will provide an additional $6 billion in funding.

Although Opel and Vauxhaull's parent company GM may be having some financial problems, Opel and Vauxhall are still moving ahead with the unveiling of the 325 horsepower Insignia.

The Vauxhall version of the hot Insignia is dubbed the Insignia VXR and the Opel version is dubbed the Insignia OPC. No matter which name the Insignia receives, both models feature the same turbocharged V6 and Nurburgring-proven chassis.

Under the hood there is a turbocharged 2.8L V6 that puts out 325 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. of torque. That's 25 more horsepower than in the Saab 9-3 Turbo-X, which uses the same engine. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual that puts the power to the ground via all four wheels. According to the automaker the car reaches 0-62 mph in 6 seconds.

Deliveries are expected to start this fall.

Mercedes has decided to not replace the CLK63 AMG.

The CLK is officially being replaced by the larger E-Class coupe in Mercedes lineup and Mercedes has stated that it has no plans to release an AMG version of the new coupe. The apparent reason has to do with the positioning of the new coupe. The E-Class coupe moves up a class from the old CLK and Mercedes feels that an E-Class AMG coupe would be too close CLS63 both in positioning and price.

Aston Martin has officially uncovered the upcoming four-door Rapide with the release of a single side image.

From the single photo, its apparent that the production version remains very close to the original show car that first appeared in 2006. One noteworthy design element is what Aston Martin refers to as "swan wing" doors. The two rear doors rise upwards and outwards as they swing open.

Aston Martin Chief Executive, Dr. Ulrich Bez said: “The Rapide will be the most elegant four-door sports car in the world. It completes the Aston Martin range conveying our established attributes of Power, Beauty and Soul.

When the Rapide is finally released it will be powered by 470 horsepower 6.0L V12 engine that is mated to a Touchtronic transmission that sends the power to the rear wheels.

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the hybrid version of the ML SUV, dubbed the ML 450 Hybrid in New York.

The ML 450 Hybrid is powered by 3.5L Atkinson V6 mated to a two-mode hybrid system that results in a final output of 335 horsepower and 381 lf-ft of torque. The system manages to get 21 mpg city and 24 mpg on the highway and is classified as a SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emisssion Vehicle).

The two-mode hybrid system is Mercedes first application of the system that it co-developed with GM and Chrysler.

Last week word leaked that VW had officially decided to not bring the Scirocco to the US, via a dealer communication, but no official word had been stated to the press..until now.

Tom Wegehaupt, Volkswagen' of America's public relations coordinator, officially told Autoblog that the VW has decided to not bring the Scirocco to the US due to fears of the model cannibalizing sales of the new GTI and the sad state of the auto market.

It looks like fans that were eagerly awaiting the return of the Scirocco in the US will have to move across the Atlantic if they ever want to own the new one.

BMW has officially unveiled the M versions of the X5 and X6 Sports Activity Vehicles.

The 2010 BMW X5 M and X6 M are powered by a twin turbocharged 4.4L V8 that puts out 555 hp and 500 lb-ft. of torque that is mated to a 6-speed M Sports Automatic transmission with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. The M versions of the X5 and X6 are the first all-wheel-drive BMW M models. All that power returns a 4.5 second 0-60 mph time.

As expected there are some changes to the exterior of the two models to differentiate them from their lesser powered brothers. The hood, front air dam and headlights are nearly identical on the two models. Both models feature special gills in the front fenders and 20-inch alloy wheels are also standard. Out back there are quad tailpipes.

For those of you that want the the 555 horsepower, but in a sedan or coupe package, you'll have to wait for the next M5 and M6, which will feature the same turbocharged 4.4L V8.

BMW has announced what models we can expect to see at the New York Auto Show next week.

The BMW X6 M will officially be unveiled alongside the new Z4 roadster, the 2009 7 Series, and the BMW Advanced Diesel with BluePerformance models.

The 2010 BMW 5 Series and 6 Series will also debut at the show with updated navigation systems from the new 7 Series and the availability of an M Sport package.

There is still no word on the X5 M.

The 2009 New York Auto Show is almost upon us and the news is starting to trickle in about what we can expect to see next week. Mercedes is going to unveil the E63 AMG version of the all-new E-Class.

The 2010 E63 AMG is powered by a 6.3L V8 that puts out 518 horsepower and 465 lb-ft. of torque. The engine is mated to a 7-speed dual clutch Speedshift transmission. The E63 AMG reaches 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph (electronically limited).

The optional AMG Performance Package raises the top speed to 186 mph and also comes with a performance suspension with stiffer springs rates, ightweight 19-inch AMG light-alloy wheels, AMG rear axle locking differential with 40 percent locking action, and a performance steering wheel.

As it was rumored last week, VW has officially changed the Rabbit name once again back to the Golf for the U.S. market.

2009 will be the last year that VW's popular hatchback will be called the Rabbit. For the 2010 model year the Golf name will return on an all-new model.

"The Golf is an iconic nameplate for the Volkswagen Brand and it is known throughout the world," said Mark Barnes, COO, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "The Golf is Volkswagen's best selling global nameplate with more than 26 million units sold in over 120 countries."

The 6th generation Golf will have its U.S. debut at the New York Auto Show and be on sale this fall.

VW has unveiled the Golf GTD, which is the equivalent of a sporty GTI, but with a diesel engine.

The VW Golf GTD is powered by a 170 horsepower diesel engine that can be mated to either a 6-speed manual or an optional 6-speed DSG transmission, just like the GTI. It accelerates from 0-62 mph in 8.1 seconds, has a top speed of 137 mph and uses just 5.3 litres fuel per 100 kilometres (44 mpg US).

The Golf GTD also features a sport suspension and 17-inch alloy wheels. The designs of the front bumper, the radiator grille and the headlights are also identical to those of the GTI.

It's been rumored for a while that BMW has been working on a smaller roadster that will be dubbed the Z2 and according to AutoBild, BMW executives have now given the small roadster the green light.

The Z2 will be based on the 1 series and will be offered as a roadster and a small coupe, just like the previous Z4. The car was developed under BMW's Project i team and will be a front-engine, rear wheel drive car with a target weight of 2,200 lbs. Powertrain options are expected to be powered by a 1.6L turbocharged engine, an extended range hybrid, and an all electric motor with lithium-ion batteries.

A concept version is expected this fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show and the production version is expected in 2012 or 2013.

Audi has announced the world premiere of the Audi TT RS Roadstar at the Leipzig Motor Show next week.

The Audi TT RS Roadster is powered by a 340 horsepower turbocharged 2.5L engine that propels the car from 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds. It features all-wheel-drive and an ungraded suspension with high-performance brakes.

The Audi A4 allroad quattro, Audi A5 Cabriolet, S5 Cabriolet and Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro are also going to have their premieres at the show.

Over 30 years ago, the successor of the VW Beetle, the Golf was dubbed the Rabbit in the US. So while the rest of the world had the Golf, we had the the same vehicle as the Rabbit. Eventually the Rabbit name was killed due to quality issues with the first generation, and we got the Golf in the US.

Three years ago VW decided to revive the Rabbit nameplate, "Volkswagen customers want a relationship with their cars. Names like The Thing, Beetle, Fox, and Rabbit support this."

Well the sales proved that US customers didn't really care about the Rabbit nameplate, so it looks like its back to Golf for the next generation.

"The car will be called the Golf again in North America," Jochen Sengpiehl, executive director of Volkswagen marketing, recently told Motor Trend.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has launched a new roof strength rating system and has chosen to put 12 small SUVs up to the test.

More than 10,000 people are killed a year in rollovers and SUVs rank higher compared to cars and minivans.

In the Institute's roof strength test, a metal plate is pushed against 1 side of a roof at a constant speed. To earn a good rating, the roof must withstand a force of 4 times the vehicle's weight before reaching 5 inches of crush. This is called a strength-to-weight ratio. For an acceptable rating, the minimum required strength-to-weight ratio is 3.25. A marginal rating value is 2.5. Anything lower than that is poor.

Only 4 of the small SUVs earned the top rating of good: VW Tiguan, Subaru Forester, Honda Element and Jeep Patriot. the VW Tiguan had the strongest roof out of all the SUVs tested. The Suzuki Grand Vitara, Chevrolet Equinox, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, and Mitsubishi Outlander are rated acceptable. Roofs on the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape are marginal, and the Kia Sportage received a poor rating.

VW has announced that the sixth-generation of the iconic VW Golf GTI will be hitting dealerships in Germany in a few days. The more exciting news is that the new GTI will be available in North America by late summer.

The Mark VI builds upon the successes of the current generation with slightly more aggressive styling and a front-end similar to the Scirocco. The GTI is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder with 210 horsepower (up 10). It reaches 0-62 mph in 6.9 seconds. The GTI is available with either a six-speed manual or the six-speed dual clutch transmission (DSG). The DSG equipped GTI achieves the same 0-62 mph time as the manual.

Rolls Royce unveiled the 200EX concept at the Geneva Moor Show earlier this month and now has officially confirmed that the production version, dubbed the RR4 will be powered by a new 6.6L V12 engine that will have "upwards of 500bhp."

The V12 engine will be mated to a new ZF 8-speed transmission.

CEO Tom Purves confirmed the details at a press event in New York where the 200EX is currently starting a world tour. Purves claims that the RR4 will be more involving and dynamic for those owners that would rather drive than be driven.

Autocar is reporting that Lamborghini has shelved plans to build the Estoque four-door concept, an apparent victim of the current economic situation.

Maurizio Reggiani, Lamorghini's head of research and development stated "The timing and market conditions are just not right for an additional model line."

The Estoque concept was a four door, four seat concept that featured a front/mid engine layout with standard all-wheel-drive.

According to Reggiani, the Estoque has been put on hold for the time being, which means that the project could be restarted once the economy improves.

BMW unveiled the 5 Series Gran Turismo concept at the Geneva Motor Show now we have our first unofficial look at the production version.

As expected the production version remains mostly true to the concept, but with a much more toned down interior. Expect the production version to have its official world debut sometime later this year.

It's being rumored that Audi engineers are working on an even more powerful A3, dubbed the RS3 that could borrow the 340 horsepower engine from the 2010 TT RS.

Michael Dick a member of Audi's technical development management board told Autovisie Magazine that an RS3 could be in the future and could be powered by the direct injection turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder that powers the TT RS and propels it from 0-62 mph in 4.6 seconds.

VW is planning on selling two versions of its compact Polo in the US, a sedan that is smaller than the current Jetta and a four-door hatchback that will be roomier than the model unveiled in Geneva earlier this month.

Volkswagen Group of America CEO Stefan Jacoby claims that both versions will be designed specifically for the U.S. Jacoby recently spoke with the Automotive News and stated that although the new Polo is larger than its predecessor, its still too small for the US market. The US version will be taller and have a larger wheelbase.

"It's more like a cross between a compact minivan and a hatchback. In other words, it's more like the Honda Fit," Jacoby said.

Jacoby also said the Polo must be priced between $13,000 and $15,000 in the United States. Sales could start in 2011.

According to CAR, VW is rumored to be prepping an even hotter version of the GTI, dubbed the GTI-R.

The R version of the GTI will not use the 3.2L V6 from the R32, instead a turbocharged four-cylinder with around 266 horsepower, which could be the same engine in the Audi S3. All that power will be mated to an all-wheel-drive system. To make up for the added weight of the awd system, VW will also seek to cut the weight by removing some features.

The GTI-R is rumored for an unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show this fall and a release sometime in early 2010.

VW has unveiled the Polo BlueMotion Concept at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.

The Polo BlueMotion is powered by a 1.2L TDI three-cylinder with common rail injection. Combined with start-stop technology and regenerative braking, the Polo BlueMotion gets 71.3 mpg (US). That effectively makes the Polo BlueMotion the most fuel-efficient passenger internal combustion car available.

The Polo BlueMotion is expected sometime in 2010.

Aston Martin is going to officially unveil the One-77 at the Geneva Motor Show. The One-77 is a showcase of Aston Martin style and performance.

The One-77 is powered by a 7.3L naturally-aspirated V12 engine with upwards of 700 horsepower. The engine is mated to a six-speed transmission that is controlled via column mounted paddle shifters. It also features Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires (255/35 ZR20 front, 335/30 ZR20 rear) that were developed specifically for the One-77.

Aston Martin expects a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed over 200 mph.

GM is set to unveil two more versions of the Volt at the Geneva Motor Show. In Europe the Volt will be called the Ampera and sold under the Opel and Vauxhall brands.

The Ampera is essentially the same thing as the Chevy Volt although with a bit more style on the front and rear of the car.

The Ampera will enter production in late 2011.

VW has unveiled the 2010 Polo, which will be officially unveiled tomorrow at the Geneva Motor Show.

The all-new Polo looks very similar to the larger Golf and is larger than the outgoing model. Despite the fact that the new Polo is larger, the overall body weight has been reduced by 7.5 percent. The new Polo is also expected to attain the highest 5-star EuroNCAP rating.

Seven different engines will be offered on the Polo, four gas and three diesel, five of which are new.

Sales of the new Polo will begin at the end of June in Germany and the rest of Europe shortly afterwards. VW has also announced that the Polo will eventually be offered in the US, possibly as early as 2010.

Volvo has announced the changes to the 2010 S80, which gets updated styling, an enhanced interior and new diesel engines for Europe.

The 2010 S80 will feature three new diesel engines, the 2.4D, D5 and the low CO2-emitting DRIVE. In the US the S80 features a 235 hp 3.2L six-cyl, a 281 hp turbocharged 3.0L six-cyl or a 311hp 4.4L V8. The turbocharged six and V8 come standard with AWD.

The exterior of the S80 gets an updated grille with a larger Volvo emblem, and chrome on the lower fascia, side skirts and underneath the taillights. Inside there is a new steering wheel and updated gauges.

Alfa Romeo has officially unveiled the MiTo GTA just before its official unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show in a little over a week.

The MiTo GTA is powered by a 240 horsepower turbocharged 1.8L engine. Engineers lowered the weight of the car by using carbon fiber for the roof, tailgate spoiler and mirror housings in addition to employing aluminum in the suspension. The ride height has also been lowered by 20 millimeters.

Audi has officially unveiled the 2010 Audi A5 and S5 Cabriolet.

The droptop versions of the A5 and S5 will be in showrooms in Europe in the second quarter of 2009 and in the US this fall. In Europe engines range from the 160 hp 1.8L engine to the top of the line 333 hp supercharged 3.0L V6. There will be less engine options in the US.

The Jaguar XF, is definitely one of the best Jaguars in a long time. Jaguar has announced the pricing for the uber-fast version of the XF, the 2010 XFR that was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year.

The 2010 XFR starts at $80,000 and is powered by a 510 horsepower 5.0L V8. At that price the XFR starts less than the M5 and E63 AMG and has more power than both.

Audi has released the first teaser images of the TT RS, which is the ultimate TT that will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

The TT RS will feature over 300 horsepower from ts turbocharged 2.5L five-cylinder.

It's still up in the air if we'll get it here in the U.S.

GM has announced that Saab has filed bankruptcy in Swedish courts in an effort to reorganize the company and to become independent from GM.

The reorganization of Saab will lead to the design, engineering and manufacturing being concentrated back in Sweden. But in order for this to happen GM needs to secure financing, which is the main issue. The Swedish government already rejected GM's request for cash. According to the Automotive News Saab may need as much as $1 billion to remain sustainable on its own.

Currently Saab plans on launching three new vehicles of the next year and a half, the 9-3X, 9-5 and 9-4X...well that's if Saab can raise the money to sustain itself.

The Daily Telegraph has apparently broken the embargo on the Rolls-Royce 200EX Concept that will be officially unveiled next month at the Geneva Motor Show.

The Rolls-Royce 200EX Concept previews the new smaller Rolls-Royce RR4 that will be released in 2010.

Rolls-Royce chief designer, Ian Cameron, said: "The 200EX has a dynamic edge to its styling and is noticeably less formal than previous models. Its size, style and expression broaden the appeal of the car, making it more appropriate for a wider range of circumstances.

"It is a touring saloon with more than a little panache and perhaps more bravado than one might have expected from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. What you see is a modern car that is immediately recognisable as a true Rolls-Royce, even from angles that obscure the grille and Spirit of Ecstasy. Design elements such as the elevated prow, long bonnet, short front overhang, sharply raked A-pillar and elegant tail give the 200EX an air of informal presence – powerful but unobtrusive."

The 200EX shares about 20 percent of its parts with the BMW 7 Series and is expected to be powered by an all-new V12 engine. The production version of the RR4 is expected to be unveiled in Frankfurt this fall.

Mercedes is going to officially unveil the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe at the Geneva Motor Show next month. We've seen several spy photos of the new coupe, but here's our first official look at the successor to the CLK.

The E-Class coupe features many of the same design elements as the equally new E-Class sedan combined with a roofline that is similar to the current CLK. It also features no B-pillars and fully retractable side windows. All of these elements help the coupe achieve a Cd of just 0.24, which Mercedes claims makes it the most aerodynamically efficient production car on the market.

The engines range from the diesel E 250 CDI, which is 36 percent more powerful than the previous model while also consuming 17 percent less fuel. The range topping engine is in the E500 with its 388 hp V8 engine.

BMW is out to create another vehicle that no one has yet to ask for with its 5 Series Gran Turismo Concept, which BMW refers to as a Progressive Activity Sedan.

The concept is neither a sedan, wagon or SUV, instead its a combination of all three vehicles. It's overall shape is similar to the X6, but with a lower ride height. One interesting feature is the two-piece double-jointed tailgate. Just like the X6, the Concept only has room for 4 passengers.

Just like past BMW's concepts, the production model is expected to be very close to what we see here and is expected to be released sometime in 2010.

Porsche has announced the pricing for its upcoming 2010 Panamera four-door sedan. Pricing for the luxury sedan will range from $89,800 - $132,600 when it is released this fall.

The base rear-wheel-drive Panamera S with a 400-hp 4.8L V8 will start at $89,800. The all-wheel-drive Panamera 4S with the same 4.8L engine starts at $93,800. The all-wheel-drive Panamera Turbo with its 500-hp twin-turbo 4.8-liter V8 will start at $132,600.

The Panamera is expected in showrooms this October.

BMW had hoped to release the electric powered MINI E early this year, but due to overwhelming demand the release has been delayed until April. BMW has received 1,800 applications for the car, but only plans on producing 450 units. The high number of applications have delayed the process.

Since only 450 units are going to be produced BMW now has to go through the task of notifying most of the interested parties that they will not be receiving the vehicle. In order to qualify for the MINI E, a potential driver must live in Los Angeles, New York or New Jersey. In addition the driver must have a lockable garage that can accept a built-in charger to charge the MINI and lastly they must be willing to pay $850 a month to lease the car for a year.

Aston Martin is set to unveil a new V12 powered Vantage at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

The V12 Vantage is powered by a 6.0L V12 engine that puts out 510 horsepower and 420 lb-ft. of torque. It reaches 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds and has a top speed of 190 mph.

Aston Martin only plans on producing 1,000 units with deliveries beginning in the third quarter of 2009.

Pricing will be announced at the show.

Audi of America President, Johan de Nysschen apparently doesn't think that the U.S. is ready for a premium subcompact from Audi.

Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi’s worldwide sales and marketing boss, revealed last October that the automaker was reconsidering the A1 for the States, but now it looks like those plans have been stopped.

Audi polled its U.S. dealers about selling the A1 for around $25,500, with many of them saying it would be impossible to sell a small car for that price. Dealers were hoping for a price around $18K.

Well it looks like VW's attempt at a badge engineered Chrysler minivan is not going over so well. According to The Windsor Star, Chrysler workers are going to stop building the Volkswagen Routan, which is based on the Chrysler Town & Country.

VW has asked Chrysler Canada to stop producing the Routan due to inventory build up for the month of February. Currently Chrysler has been producing 300 Routans a day with about 29,000 already shipped to dealerships.

VW has only managed to sell a few thousand Routans.

Volvo has announced the pricing for the 2010 Volvo XC60 T6.

The 2010 Volvo XC60 T6 has a starting price of $37,200, which includes standard features like, leather seats, power driver's seat, SIRIUS satellite radio, Bluetooth ad HD Radio. The Panorama moonroof is also offered for no extra charge.

The XC60 T6 is powered by a 3.0L turbocharged engine that puts out 281 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. of torque. All-wheel-drive is also standard.

Porsche has officially unveiled the 2010 911 GT3 that will make its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The 911 GT3 is powered by a 3.8L naturally-aspirated six-cylinder that puts out 435 horsepower, which is up 20. The increased horsepower and mid-range torque help the GT3 reach 0-62 mph in 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 194 mph.

For the first time ever the 911 GT3 comes with a variant of PSM Porsche Stability Management, which offers the driver the option to deactivate the stability and traction control. Both systems will not turn back on either, until the driver decides to do so, even in the most extreme conditions.

The 2010 911 GT3 will be available in U.S. showrooms this October with a starting price of $112,000.

We all know that you're supposed to put the top up on your convertible before you take it to the car wash. Nonetheless here's a video of four guys in a new MINI Cooper Convertible hitting the car wash with the top down.

We don't recommend trying this at home...

Bentley has released a single teaser image of its upcoming biofuel car that will be officially unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.

Bentley hasn't released the official name of the car or any specs. According to Bentley the car will be Bentley's fastest, most powerful production car to date that also happens to run on biofuel.

Currently the most powerful car in the Bentley lineup is the Continental GT Speed with 600 horsepower and 553 lb-ft. of torque. So you can expect even higher numbers for this car.

Land Rover has announced that the automaker has officially sold 500,000 vehicles in the U.S.

Although gas prices and the economy have hurt Land Rover's sales recently, Land Rover sold 100,000 vehicles since July 2006. In contrast it took Land Rover 10 years to sell its first 100,000 vehicles.

Land Rover first entered the U.S. in 1987 and is also celebrating its 60th anniversary.

Chrysler and Fiat's newest agreement, which involves Fiat buying a 35 percent stake in Chrysler is going to lead to seven new fiat based cars making their way to the US.

According to unnamed sources four of the vehicles will be sold under the Chrysler brand and three will either be Alfa Romeos or Fiats. The official plan that will be announced on April 30th involves four Fiat platforms, a minicar, a subcompact, a compact and a mid-sized sedan. Chrysler's plants in the US are being tasked with producing the vehicles. Chrysler's Toluca, Mexico plant, which currently builds the soon to be killed PT Cruiser is going to produce the Fiat 500.

According to the Automotive News, under the plan its expected that Chrysler dealers will get two minicars, the Fiat 500 and a Dodge or Chrysler branded vehicle based on the Fiat Panda.

The subcompact segment will see the introduction of the Alfa Romeo MiTo and another Chrysler or Dodge branded vehicle.

A new compact car based Fiat’s C-Evo platform will likely replace the Dodge Caliber.

Lastly a replacement for the under performing Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger will be based on a stretched version of the C-Evo platform.

In case you are wondering what Fiat is going to get out of this deal, besides entry into the North American market, Fiat is going to sell the Dodge Journey and Dakota pickup in South America. In addition Fiat is going to use Chrysler's new Phoenix V6 engine in its own products.

Last week a few photos leaked of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe. It wasn't known how real they were or if they were just a good photoshop, well it looks like they are pretty accurate.

The first photos of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe with barely and camouflage have surfaced, giving us our first clear idea of what the new coupe will look like.

The car was caught at a company presentation in Mallorca.

The guys over at Autoblog.nl have posted a few photos of what may be the 2010 Mercedes Benz E500 Coupe.

It's not known if these photos are official photos of the 2010 E-Class Coupe, but if they aren't they are a good photoshop. The front end of the coupe in these photos is very similar to the recently unveiled E-Class sedan. The roofline is similar to that of the current CLK and it also features a B-pillarless design like the CLK. Outback the coupe features large taillights that are similar to the sedan and a short rear deck.

Stay tuned to see if these are actual photos of the 2010 E-Class Coupe.

This week Chrysler and Fiat announced a partnership that involves Fiat buying 35 percent of the U.S. automaker, which will give both automakers access to each other product lines and markets. The good news for Chrysler is that the automaker now has access to a whole new line of fuel-efficient small cars. According to Motor Trend the first fruit of the new partnership will be the Fiat 500.

Motor Trend editor Todd Lassa claims that the Fiat 500 is being fast tracked to U.S. showrooms within the next 18 months. The Fiat 500 would be sold in Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep showrooms.

Volkswagen Group of America CEO Stefan Jacoby has confirmed that VW is going to sell the small Polo in the US.

VW feels that following last summer's record gas prices, US consumers are more open to smaller more fuel efficient vehicles. Eventually gas prices are going to rise again, which would increase demand for a vehicle like the Polo.

The Polo fits in between the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit in terms of size.

Volkswagen development chief Ulrich Hackenberg recently told the Automotive News that "The small-car segment is the fastest growing segment in the U.S. and that Oil prices will rise again and that will drive small car sales up further.”

It's not known when the Polo will go on sale in the US, but production could take place at Volkswagen’s Puebla, Mexico plant.

VW unveiled the BlueSport Roadster Concept at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this week and according to VW engineers there will be a production version in three years.

The BlueSport concept was intentionally designed to be a production ready vehicle, but the reason we have to wait three years is because the concept is constructed of a mix of bespoke and production parts. The production parts are borrowed from VW’s new transverse, front-engined MQB platform, which isnt due in production until 2012. So since those parts wont be available until 2012, the BlueSport has to wait.

When the car is released it's going to go head to head with the Mazda MX-5 and Lotus Elise.

The VW Concept BlueSport represents VW's idea of what a fun, but environmentally conscious roadster should be like.

The VW Concept BlueSport is powered by a 180 horsepower clean diesel engine mated to 6-speed DSG dual clutch transmission that sits behind the driver. It accelerates from 0-62 in 6.6 seconds while getting about 35 mpg on the European cycle.

Audi has unveiled the Sportback Concept at the Detroit Auto Show. The Sportback Concept is supposed to be a preview of the upcoming A7.

The Sportback Concept and eventual A7 is Audi's version of a four-door coupe, like the Porsche Panamera and Mercedes CLS. In addition to providing a preview of the A7, the Sportback Concept previews Audi's future design vocabulary.

The Concept is powered by a 3.0-liter V6 TDI clean diesel. The diesel engine already meets the emissions limits of all 50 U.S. states and the EU6 standard scheduled to take effect in 2014. In addition it manages to get 39.87 US mpg.

Thanks to a few sites breaking the embargo, we now have an early look at the 2010 Jaguar XFR that will be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show.

The 2010 Jaguar XFR is powered by 510 horsepower 5.0L AJ-V8 GEN III engine that features with a 6-generation Roots-type twin vortex (TVS) supercharger. That power propels the car from 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

The XFR also features 20-inch Nevis alloy wheels and comes in eight colors: Botanical Green, Indigo, Kyanite Blue, Liquid Silver, Lunar Grey, Porcelain and Salsa.

We've already seen several leaked photos of the all-new 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, but now we have the leaked brochure and if you can read German you can read all the details.

In Europe the new E-Class will be powered by a series of 4 and 6-cylinder engines in both gas and turbo diesel formats:

The gas powered lineup:
184-hp E200 CGI, 204-hp E250CGI, 292-hp E350 CGI and the 388-hp E500.
The diesel lineup:
136-hp E200 CDI, a 170-hp E220 CDI, a 204-hp E250 CDI and the 3.0L liter 231-hp E350 CDI

Although the E-Class AMG is in the pictures we do not know the final specs on that model.

The 2010 E-Class will be officially unveiled in a few days at the Detroit Auto Show.

The BMW X6 may be something that very few of us asked for from BMW, but it isn't stopping BMW from releasing two new variants of it. Later this year BMW is going to release a two-mode hybrid and M version of the X6.

Porsche has announced that the four-door 2010 Porsche Panamera will have its official world debut at the 2009 Shanghai Auto Show on April 19th.

Porsche hasn't released the final specs about the Panamera, but instead has stated that the Panamera will be powered by modern V-engines with either six or eight cylinders. Horsepower numbers will range from 300-500 bhp. There will be two V8 engines, one normally aspirated and one with bi-turbocharger technology.

The engines are mated to either a six-speed manual or the new seven-speed double-clutch transmission. Rear-wheel-drive is standard and the top model with the turbocharged V8 will feature all-wheel-drive.

BMW has officially announced the pricing for the all-new 750i and 750Li models.

BMW's largest sedan starts at $81,125 for the 750i and $85,025 the 750Li. Both models are powered by a 4.4L twin-turbocharged V8 that puts out 400 horsepower and 450 lb-ft. of torque.

The all-new 7 Series will be in showrooms this coming spring with a 7 Series hybrid following sometime later.

Saab loves its special edition models and although the current 9-5 is close to the end of its life cycle, Saab is releasing a 9-5 Griffin Edition.

The 9-5 Griffin Edition is powered by a 2.3L 260 horsepower 4-cylinder engine that can be mated to either a manual or automatic transmission.

The exterior of the 9-5 Griffin features a matte chrome grill, Xenon headlights, rear spoiler, unique five-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels and Griffin badges. Inside there is a high gloss interior trim and Aero-inspired leather seats.

The 9-5 Griffin starts at $42,775 for the Sedan and $ 44,045 for the SportCombi model.

Maserati is going to unveil the new Quattroporte Sport GT S at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show next month to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Maserati's first Indianapolis 500 win.

The changes to the GT S from the Quattroporte S include a recalibated 4.7L V8 engine that now puts out 433 horsepower and the transmission also gets revised shift points. The front and rear suspension have been revised with stiffer springs and a lower ride height. A new sports exhaust has also been added to give the car an even better sound than the S.

Audi has announced the expansion of the A4 lineup with a new front-wheel-drive (FrontTrak) model and the addition of a six-speed manual transmission on the A4 quattro sedan.

The A4 2.0T FrontTrak features Audi's 2.0 TFSI engine that is paired to a multitronic continuously variable transmission. The setup helps the A4 get 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. The A4 2.0T quattro equipped with the six-speed manual transmission gets 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

The 2009 Audi A4 2.0T FrontTrak sedan with multitronic CVT transmission starts at $31,000. The MSRP on the 2009 Audi A4 2.0T quattro manual is $31,850.

Although there are rumors that Ford may soon sell Volvo, Volvo is continuing work on its current lineup. Volvo has unveiled the S60 Concept that will be officially unveiled next month at the Detroit Auto Show.

The S60 Concept shows that the next generation S60 will be more aggressive than the current generation with a coupe-like roof line. The concept also has no B pillar and features rear doors that open suicide style. Obviously the door setup will not make it onto the production model.

Inside the concept features many of the same design elements as the newer Volvos.

The concept is powered by a GTDi (gasoline turbocharged direct-injection) four-cylinder that puts out 179 horsepower and is mated to a Powershift dual-clutch transmission.

Stay tuned for more details next month from the show.

Next month Audi is going to unveil the A7 concept at the Detroit Auto Show in addition to the V10 version of the beautiful R8.

The A7 is Audi's version of the Mercedes CLS, which basically means its a four-door sedan with coupe-like styling. According to sources the couple-like lines of the concept mirror those of the production version. In addition to the concept version of the A7 and the V10 R8, Audi is also going to unveil a new diesel-powered vehicle. Rumor has it that it could be a new diesel powered A4 or maybe even the Q5 SUV.

Following several spy photos and photo leaks, BMW has officially unveiled the 2010 Z4 before its official unveiling at the Detroit Auto Show next month.

The new Z4 gets all-new styling that is both more aggressive (front end) and cleaner (back end). A new first for the Z4 is a two-piece retractable hard-top that ditches the soft-top from the last generation.

The Z4 also employs BMW's new naming scheme (sDrive) with the sDrive30i and sDrive35i. The sDrive30i is powered by a 255 horsepower 3.0L 6-cylinder engine and the sDrive35i is powered by the 300 horsepower 3.0L twin-turbo 6-cylinder engine. Both engines can be mated to either a a 6-speed manual or a dual-clutch 7-speed automatic with paddle shifters. The sDrive30i is also available with a six-speed automatic.

The all-new Z4 will be officially unveiled next month with sales starting in the fall of 2009.

Audi unveiled the Audi R8 V10 5.2 FSI quattro yesterday ahead of its official unveiling at the Detroit Auto Show next month. Now the first photos of the R8 V10 in red have been released.

The Audi R8 V10 is powered by a Lamborghini-sourced 5.2L V10 engine that puts out 525 horsepower and propels the car from 0-62 mph in 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 196 mph. The V10 engine is mated to either a a 6-speed manual or R-Tronic semi-automatic.

The first official images of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class have leaked onto the web today. We've seen lots of spy photos and renderings of the new sedan, so these photos aren't all that exciting.

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-Class will be officially unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show next month. Mercedes previewed the new E-Class with the Mercedes-Benz ConceptFascination and its apparent that the sedan draws many cues from the concept. The front-end ditches the four round headlights for four more angular pieces. There are also new led light strips on the lower front bumper. Overall the styling of the new E-Class brings it more inline with the larger S-Class and smaller C-Class sedans.

Expect more details soon...

Ward’s Automotive Group has announced its 2009 10 Best Engines list.

The list is compiled by Ward's editors and 2009 is officially the 15th year of the Ward’s 10 Best Engines program.

This year the list of winners is very broad with hybrid engines as well as high output turbocharged engines receiving the award.

“A decade ago, few consumers in the U.S. paid serious attention to hybrids or diesels. This year, they have to, if they don’t want to be pinched the next time fuel hits $4 a gallon,” says Tom Murphy, executive editor of Ward’s AutoWorld magazine.”The diesels from VW and BMW and the Ford Escape Hybrid all got better than 30 mpg (7.8 L/100 km) during our testing, and often they topped 40 mpg (5.8 L/100 km),” he says. “And the diesels meet the strictest emissions regulations in the world. If Americans want to find a vehicle that consumes less fuel and is fun to drive, our list is a great place to start.”

If it wasn't already sad enough that most of us can't afford the current Audi R8, Audi has unveiled an even better version of the R8, the R8 V10 5.2 FSI quattro.

The R8 V10 shares its engine with the Lamborghini Gallardo. The V10 puts out 525 horsepower and 390 lb-ft. of torque, which is a little less than the numbers that the Gallardo puts out. The R8 V10 reaches 0-62 mph in 3.9 seconds. The V10 engine is mated to either a six -speed manual or the sequential R tronic transmission.

The 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro wil launch in Germany in the second quarter of 2009 at a basic price of EUR 142,400.

Test mules of the 2010 BMW Z4 have been caught testing around the world many times, but now we have our first look at the new Z4.

The new Z4 borrows styling elements from the new 2009 3 Series and 7 Series. It's also expected that the Z4 will also feature a retractable hardtop. Too bad that guy is in the middle of the shot or we could have seen more. The Z4 shown here is apparently in a BMW dealership during the filming of a new Michael Douglas movie.

Stay tuned...

Just in time for winter, Audi has unveiled the Cabriolet versions of the A5 and S5.

For 2010 Audi is going to release drop top versions of its beautiful A5 and S5 coupes. But unlike BMW, Infiniti and Lexus, these drop tops will feature a fabric top. It's obvious that a soft top saves more weight over a metal folding top and also saves some cargo space, but its definitely not as nice to look at when the top is up.

The 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet will be powered by either the 2.0L TFSI four-cylinder or the 3.2 FSI V6 engine. The S5 coupe is currently powered by 4.2L V8 that it will keep until the end of the 2010 model year, but the S5 Cabriolet is already making the switch to the smaller engine with the 3.0L TFSI V6 that is also in the S4.

The 2010 Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet will be available in the fall of 2009.

Times are tough for the Big 3 and each automaker is trying to figure out ways to raise revenue. Ford announced today that the automaker is reevaluating its options for the Volvo brand.

Ford is being forced to reconsider selling Volvo dues to the significant economic decline in the last few months. Ford says it's going to be a few months before Ford makes a decision about Volvo. In the meantime Ford is going to work with Volvo to allow it to operate on a more stand-alone basis.

Porsche has finally released the official photos of the 2010 Panamera.

The 2010 Panamera is a four-door, four-passenger sedan that will join Porsche's lineup in the summer of 2009. Porsche hasn't released the official details about what will be under the hood of the Panamera, instead the automaker simply states that six and eight-cylinder engines will be offered with between 300-500 horsepower. The engines will be mated to a manual either a six-speed gearbox or the new seven-speed Double-Clutch Gearbox, the so called Porsche-Doppelkupplung (PDK). Rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models will also be available.

The Panamera will be making its world debut in spring 2009