Mark Templin, the general manger of Lexus recently spoke with TheDetroitBureau about the possibility of a new smaller Lexus and if it would be sold in the US.

"There is a group of buyers growing up now who won't buy cars by the pound," said Templin. "We have already seen a structural shift" to the compact and more affordable models in the luxury market over the past couple of years.

So, said Templin, "Going forward, there may be a need for even smaller luxury cars," but they won't necessarily be targeting the budget-constrained "entry-luxury" buyer that today goes for such Lexus models as the ES and IS lines.

The LF-CH Concept will be at the LA Auto Show next month and at the Detroit show in January so that Lexus can gauge consumer reaction.

According to Templin if the response is possitive, the LF-CH could appear in Lexus showrooms by 2012 or possibly earlier.

The ZDX will be available in three trim packages, ZDX; ZDX with Technology Package; and the ZDX with Advance Package. All versions are powered by the same 300 horsepower 3.7L V6 that is mated to a new six-speed automatic transmission and Acura's SH-AWD system.

Pricing ranges from $45,595 to $56,045. Check out the press release for more details.

Bob Lutz confirmed back in July that the CTS-V coupe was still on and he also recently revealed that GM is also going to release a CTS-V Sport Wagon. Both CTS-V versions of the Sport Wagon and Coupe will be powered by the same 556-hp 6.2L Supercharged V8 that powers the sedan.

The 2.0L turbocharged Regal, which will arrive shortly after the car's launch early next year, will indeed be offered with a six-speed manual.

Many of us have always thought of Buick as the old man's car. It looks like GM is trying to change that...

The ActiveHybrid X6 features BMW's dual-mode hybrid technology mated to a twin-turbo V8 and a seven-speed automatic transmission.

The $90k gets a list of things that aren't standard on the X6 xDrive50i including Nappa leather seats, 20-inch wheels, rear view camera, soft close doors, power tailgate, 4-zone climate control, etc. If you want even more, there are extras like the active ventilating seat package, cold weather package, Rear seat entertainment system, etc. All of which would push the price even closer to $100k.

For this price you could also get the 555-hp X6 M, but I guess it's not quite as "green."

Audi will showcase the new Audi A8 at a Design Miami/ site-specific installation: a full-size car will turn into a miniature collectible on a coffee-table and be surrounded by supersized furniture.

Audi did not release any details about the new A8. Stay tuned...

"It's different now," said Doug Betts, senior vice president in charge of quality at Chrysler. "People are talking openly about problems now and how to fix (them.)"

Betts was recruited from Nissan two years ago under Chrysler's former owner, Cerberus Capital Management LP. At that time Cerberus also pledged to improve Chrysler's quality issues, but then the Chrysler ran out of money.

Chrysler sales are down 38.9 percent this year, so there isn't a better time than now to fix Chrysler's issues. Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles continue to perform poorly in quality surveys, which has hurt the automaker's sales.

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne has made quality a priority and Betts is hiring more than 200 quality engineers bringing the total to 1,700 from 200 when he started 2 years ago.

The 550i Gran Turismo is powered by a 400-hp 4.4L twin-turbo that is mated to BMW's first ever 8-speed transmission. It is capable of reaching 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds. The twin-turbo 535i GT will also be available, but BMW has yet to release pricing on that model.

The European Land Cruiser is powered by a 3.0L diesel with 171 horsepower and is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The body on frame design yields 8.5 inches of ground clearance and gives the SUV the ability to wade through 27.6 inches of water.

Toyota will offer the European Land Cruiser in three trim levels with prices ranging from £29,795 to £44,795. Of course we won't get this model in the US badged as a Toyota, but it could be a clue to what to expect from the Lexus GX 460.

The Camaro SS is powered by a 420-hp 6.2L V8 and is the most expensive Camaro in the lineup with a starting price of $31,595. In contrast the lowest priced V6 Camaro starts at $23,530. According to Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman, the V6 Camaros cost almost as much to build as the V8 models.

The Mazda2 shares its platform with the Ford Fiesta, which is also set to have its US debut at the show. Mazda has released one teaser of the subcompact, but didn't release any details about the engine lineup and what body styles we will receive. The preview shows the rear of the five-door hatchback model, so we can at least expect that model.

The 2010 Ford Fusion managed to beat out 23 other models for the award, which included the Toyota Prius, BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Ford also had three models this year that were in the running for the award. The Taurus, Fusion and Mustang.

"The MOTOR TREND Car of the Year award is another testament of our commitment to delivering a world-class car lineup," said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Ford Global Product Development, who accepted the golden calipers on behalf of the Ford team. "Whether it is the best-in-class fuel economy or quality unsurpassed by Toyota or Honda, the Fusion and Fusion Hybrid are clear evidence that Ford is serious about our car lineup."

This announcement comes on the heels of Ford announcing that the Fusion is now the best-selling midsize domestic sedan in the US and that the model is now in the list of top ten selling vehicles.

The 2.4L Theta II GDI four-cylinder took four years to develop and will debut in the 2011 Sonata. The engine officially puts out 198 horsepower and 184 lb-ft. of torque. The Theta II engine delivers 7-12 percent more torque across its rev range compared to a conventional engine. The engine is expected to see a 10 percent improvement in fuel economy, although final numbers have not been released. In addition to the direct-injection technology, the engine also gets variable valve timing on both camshafts.

When the 2011 Sonata debuts next year a V6 will not be offered.

The program will allow city employees to rent the cars for a few hours and then return them to a designated location. It's similar to Zipcar. Daimler also tested the program earlier this year in Ulm, Germany. If it's successful it will be expanded to other areas.

Car and Driver recently got some alone time with Lutz, in which he stated, "You know what's really going to get you guys [on board with wagons] is the CTS-V wagon."