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Our man Jeremy Korzeniewski is attending a Kia event in Phoenix, Arizona this week, and during a press briefing this morning, JK learned that the Korean automaker will be unveiling its 2012 Rio sedan at the 2011 New York Auto Show. The four-door Rio will complement the hatchback bodystyle that bowed at the Geneva Motor Show in early March.

Four powertrains will be available on the Rio overseas – two gas and two diesel – and while mum’s the word on which engine(s) will be available here in the United States, we’re putting our money on the 1.4-liter gasoline four. This mill produces 108 horsepower and 100 pound-feet of torque, mated to either a six-speed manual or four-speed(!) automatic transmission.

In other news, Kia also let slip that the KV7 concept from this year’s Detroit Auto Show previews what’s in store for the next-generation Sedona minivan. We hinted at this after a conversation with Michael Sprague, Kia’s vice president of marketing, though it’s still unclear exactly what elements from the KV7 will be incorporated into the next-gen Sedona. The concept focused on a more traditional conversion van setup rather than the family-centric Sedona that currently graces our streets.

2012 Kia Rio sedan confirmed for New York Auto Show

Muammar Gaddafi has been running the show in Libya for the last 42 years. During that time, he’s also been behind the investment maneuvers of the Libyan Arab Foreign Bank. In 1976, he reportedly instructed that $415 million be used to buy a stake in Fiat. Over time, that investment has turned into a 14 percent ownership stake in the Italian automaker.

Fast-forward a bit to the 1980s and Fiat was looking to do business around the globe. That included the United States, but, due to our sanctions against Libya, any attempts to work with the U.S. were quickly shot down. This led Fiat to buy out Libya’s 14 percent ownership stake, and it wound up costing them $3.1 billion to do so.

According to Fiat, the connection to Libya ended when it cut that massive check. However, according to information obtained by Wikileaks, Libya may still own a small portion of the company. That information is supplied courtesy of the U.S. State Department, which maintains that the Libyan Arab Foreign Investment Company (LAFICO) owns a two percent stake in Fiat.

Head over to The Truth About Cars for a detailed breakdown of the possibly-still-existing relationship between Fiat and besieged dictator Gaddafi.

[Source: The Truth About Cars Image: Franco Origlia/Getty]

Is there a link between Fiat and Gaddafi?

The Smart brand, looking for a sales lift in China, has enlisted the lanky likes of Kobe Bryant for its “Big, In The City” ad campaign. A newly released video has the internationally known NBA star assuming the role of a quick thinking/driving man of both style and action with a keen sense of aim.

With the aid of a shiny black Smart Fortwo Brabus that he – or perhaps a stunt double – throws around corners and through traffic, Kobe comes to the aid of a damsel in distress with flair as he chases down an art thief and utilizes his on-court abilities to administer a chase-ending coup de grâce.

The campaign will reportedly undertake a 25-city Chinese road trip, the highlight of which is an appearance by the Los Angeles Lakers star at a Smart customer party in July. Hit the jump for some Smart Brabus and Bryant action.

[Source: Advertising @ Chinasmack]

Continue reading Video: Kobe Bryant uses Smart Fortwo Brabus to catch art thief

Video: Kobe Bryant uses Smart Fortwo Brabus to catch art thief

The concept of the art car may be one that’s been historically championed by BMW in particular, but it isn’t the Bavarian automaker’s alone. Recent years have seen McLaren, Infiniti, Bentley, Citroën, Rinspeed, Tesla and Fiat join in on the action, and now Volvo has followed suit with a display at the Zurich train station in Switzerland.

Displaying a white S60 sedan in front of a blank white backdrop, Volvo Cars Switzerland invited ten street artists to share their inspiration on the rolling canvas. Over 35,000 commuters passing through the busy bahnhof over the course of the five days, and a camera was set up – with the precision of, well… a Swiss train station – to capture a time-lapse clip of the artists making and re-making the S60 in their own visions. Follow the jump to watch the process unfold.

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Video: Volvo goes street in a Swiss train station with S60 graffiti art car

Video: Volvo goes street in a Swiss train station with S60 graffiti art car

The voice of the navigation system tells you to turn right, but you are absolutely positive that it’s a better idea to go straight for two more streets and then turn left. Do you listen to the sat-nav, or your gut? If you’re a man, you’re more likely to stick to your guns, at least according to a study by UK insurance retailer Swinton.

The study, which polled 3,000 users about their navigation habits, discovered that 83 percent of men have disobeyed their nav system at least once, compared to under 75 percent for women. The study also showed that one-third of all participants surveyed felt their navigation system took them between one and five kilometers astray, while half say the system’s directions led to an in-car argument with a passenger.

Steve Chelton, Insurance Development Manager at Swinton, points out that, “a sat-nav should aid your own navigational abilities rather than replace them.” That’s a good point to be sure, but what should a driver do to make sure their nav isn’t giving them the high-tech shaft? Two-thirds of the drivers in the study keep an old-fashioned paper map in the car just in case.

[Source: National Post Image: Chris Shunk/AOL]

Study: Men more likely to overrule GPS than women, still won’t stop for directions

Richard Hammond apologized this week for his offensive remarks about Mexicans during a Top Gear segment discussing the Mastretta MXT earlier this year. Hammond said he regretted the remarks, and sees now how they could have been offensive. Still, Hamster didn’t exactly come all the way clean, saying that his words – and those of his two co-hosts – were clearly a joke.

For its part, the BBC has stood behind Hammond, May and Clarkson, saying that off-color humor is an integral part of the show. The presenters and the BBC got a thorough shellacking over the comments after the show aired. Mexico’s ambassador to the UK called the remarks “offensive, xenophobic and humiliating.”

[Source: On the Box]

Report: Richard Hammond admits regret over Top Gear Mexico remarks

Just about every time we go through airport security, we notice there is at least one family that has to lug their bulky car seat through the airport, dropping a trail of Cheerio crumbs as they go. And then there is the coworker in your lunch carpool that has a kid, which means everyone must stand outside the car, rain or shine, while he or she removes the seat and jams it in the trunk.

A company has invented an inflatable seat that should theoretically relieve some of these problems. The Easycarseat is inflatable seat that can handle children ages four and older from 33 to 79 pounds. The seat, which inflates in under a minute, only costs about $90, weighs about two pounds and can be folded for storage whenever a mom or dad needs it for travel.

An inflatable car seat just doesn’t sound safe, but the company insists it has already met all applicable U.S. and European safety standards. The seat also features a pressure release valve that prevents the seat from popping in the event of an accident.

We’re not so sure we’d opt for a blowup car seat for everyday use, but for anyone doing a lot of air travel or car hopping, this seat seems like a real luggage-saver. Hit the jump to view a one-minute demo, and stay for the crash test footage.

[Sources: The Stir, Easycarseat]

Continue reading Video: Inflatable car seat is cheap, convenient… but is it safe?

Video: Inflatable car seat is cheap, convenient… but is it safe?

Hyundai is revealing its new Blue2 fuel-cell concept car at this week’s Seoul Motor Show – a vehicle that the automaker hopes will help it gain “early leadership of the FCEV market.” Does this mean that a production version of the Blue2 (pronounced: “Blue square”) is on its way? It’s hard to say right now, but if Hyundai does bring some sort of fuel-cell vehicle to market, we hope it looks a lot like this stunning concept.

The Korean automaker calls the Blue2’s exterior design philosophy ‘Intersected Flow,’ incorporating both innovative and dynamic design elements. Will Intersected Flow’s tenets replace Fluidic Sculpture as the surface language of choice at Hyundai? We’re not sure, but we like the wraparound-style greenhouse combined with a flat, slightly slanted roof (Saab 9-5, anyone?), and we’re surprisingly fond of the glossy black strip that runs from the bottom of the C-pillar all the way back to the bottom of the front wheel well. Hyundai has executed some exceptional production designs as of late, but this is the first concept that we’ve fallen for from the brand in some time. Notice the LED screen panels at the front and rear – they display messages about the vehicle’s condition. Like many new concepts, conventional door mirrors have been replaced with cameras, and the car even features a welcome system that recognizes the driver and automatically opens the door.

The big news for the Blue2 is its hydrogen fuel-cell powertrain, which delivers a stack power of about 120 horsepower and will return about 34.9 kilometers per liter – that’s 82.1 miles per gallon when converted to the U.S. cycle. The Blue2 is fitted with low-rolling-resistance tires and uses an extremely aerodynamic shape in an effort to reduce drag to aid overall efficiency.

Things are just as high-tech inside the cabin, where the Blue2 uses a combined center cluster and fascia, using an organic LED monitor and ultra-light tempered glass to display vital information. There are even seat-mounted entertainment holders that house things like Apple iPad tablets and other tablet devises, as well.

Follow the jump for Hyundai’s official release, and be sure to see the shapely concept for yourself in the high-res image gallery below.

[Source: Hyundai]

Continue reading Hyundai Blue2 fuel cell concept brings ‘Intersected Flow’ design to Seoul

Hyundai Blue2 fuel cell concept brings ‘Intersected Flow’ design to Seoul

A Vanilla Sport Sedan In Need Of Some More Sprinkles

Your available options in the entry-level luxury sedan segment rival the variety found at your local Baskin-Robbins. Interested in all-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or front-wheel drive? Nearly every automaker has you covered. Want to row your own gears, or sit back and let the silicon chippery do the work? The car of your dreams awaits. There’s an option for all of us, and if you prefer a good vanilla to rocky road, then you’re going to love the 2011 Lexus IS250 AWD.

Continue reading Review: 2011 Lexus IS250 AWD…

Photos copyright (C)2011 Jeff Glucker / AOL

Continue reading Review: 2011 Lexus IS 250 AWD

Review: 2011 Lexus IS 250 AWD

The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid was supposed to go on sale in December, but at the eleventh hour, the company decided on a last-minute engineering change to enhance safety. When the automaker learned that President Obama planned to sign a bill that would ban a switch that can disable a noisemaker designed to warn blind pedestrians, the Korean automaker decided it was best to remove the switch. The move delayed mass availability of the Sonata Hybrid from December to late April.

But what about its twin, the Kia Optima Hybrid? Ward’s Automotive reports that the mid-size hybrid has been delayed until late in the second quarter, or about five months after its scheduled January launch.

Will the substantial delay of the Optima and Sonata Hybrids hurt sales and satisfaction? We’re sure there are probably some impatient buyers out there who don’t understand why they have to wait, but in the long run, we’re likely looking at a mere bump in the road.

[Source: Ward's Automotive - sub. req.]

Report: Kia Optima Hybrid delayed due to Hyundai Sonata Hybrid push-back

The Audi R18 LMP1 enclosed prototype endured four days of rigorous testing at Sebring last week. Audi engineers used their time at the famed facility to test aerodynamics, fuel economy and reliability, using the R15 as a control.

You won’t be able to see the R18 compete until the six-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps on May 7th, but luckily you won’t have to wait that long to see the diesel-powered race car on the track.

Hit the jump to watch a two-minute clip of the R18 as it takes to Sebring like a duck takes to water. A second post-jump video is an interview with Audi Motorsport chief, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. The good doctor gives tells us about the R18, including how the 3.7-liter V6 diesel is all-new – a necessary step taken by Audi to conform to the sport’s ever-changing rules. Next, Ullrich Baretzky, Head of Engine Development at Audi Sport, tells us that if Darth Vader had a car, “this would be his.” We don’t know about that, but dark side is definitely strong with the R18. Hat tip to Earwole1!

[Source: Quattro World]

Continue reading Video: Audi R18 racer testing at Sebring in high-def

Video: Audi R18 racer testing at Sebring in high-def

General Motors says that its new Mi-ray Concept, which debuts at this week’s Seoul Motor Show, pays tribute to the sports car heritage at Chevrolet. Specifically, GM points out that the Mi-ray is “small and open” like the 1963 Monza SS, and “light and purposeful” like the 1962 Corvair Super Spyder. Whatever the case, the Mi-ray (Korean for ‘future’) is one sharp little roadster.

Powering the Mi-ray are a pair of front-mounted 15-kilowatt electric motors, mated to a 1.6-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack that’s partially charged via regenerative braking. The electric motor is mostly used for initial acceleration and urban cruising, but when higher speeds are demanded, power is sourced from the Mi-ray’s 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, mounted behind the cockpit. This powerplant is mated to a dual-clutch transmission, and what’s most interesting, is that apparently the Mi-ray can switch between front- and rear-wheel drive at the driver’s whim.

The majority of the Mi-ray’s exterior is made up of carbon fiber components, complete with ambient lighting worked into the main character lines along both sides. Out back, each rear fender contains individual storage compartments, and carbon fiber spoilers at all four corners help with downforce and airflow.

Inside, the Mi-ray uses leather, white fabric, ‘liquid metal’ surfaces and brushed aluminum to create what GM calls “sculptural velocity.” A long center console separates the driver and passenger seats, and all of the car’s vital information is displayed via a back-projected screen. The rear-view cameras are fully retractable, and in city driving, a forward-facing camera works alongside the car’s GPS to overlay navigation information with real-time video.

We highly recommend taking a few minutes to click through our high-res gallery of the Mi-ray Concept below – it’s seriously pretty. GM’s official press release is available after the jump, as well.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Chevrolet Mi-ray Concept to wow Seoul Motor Show

Chevrolet Mi-ray Concept to wow Seoul Motor Show

President Obama has outlined a new target for the White House energy policy, one that focuses on variety. According to news reports, the plan will include ways to generate more low-carbon electricity, reduce reliance on foreign oil, expand domestic oil production and ethanol production and push up the amount of natural gas used in vehicles.

The New York Times says that the administration has been asking “outside groups” for their input in order to get the widest possible consensus on the matter. In fact, the President is so confident in the plan that the Times’ headline on the story says he is “daring Republicans to call it ‘Froufrou.’” Here are some highlights:

• By 2015, the federal government will only buy alt-fuel vehicles.
• By 2025, oil imports will be reduced by a third through lowering consumption and increasing domestic drilling (does this make more sense now?).
• One suggestion on the electricity front is to have different energy goals in different regions. So, for example, places with more and reliable wind would be encouraged to build out more wind turbines. On top of this, dirty energy areas might be able to (or have to) buy clean energy credits from areas that are able to generate extra clean energy.
• The White House wants “the nation to break ground on four new commercial-scale cellulosic or advanced biofuel refineries to produce ethanol in the next two years,” the The Wall Street Journal writes.

Read the full text of the President’s speech after the jump.

[Sources: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal Image: WhiteHouse.gov]

Continue reading Obama: Entire federal fleet purchases to be alt-fuel by 2015

Obama: Entire federal fleet purchases to be alt-fuel by 2015

The name Naimo is Korean for “square,” and the new Kia EV concept certainly fits its name. But we’re not talking about a total box, as you can see from the photo above. The B-segment vehicle, which will debut this week at the Seoul Motor Show, looks primed to take on all comers in the emerging small car segment, with interesting lines, plenty of LEDs all around and a touch of Korean heritage. The Naimo has no B-pillars, and the rear doors open up clamshell-style, an auto show staple that almost never makes it to production. The concept also features massive 20-inch wheels, which almost look comical on such a small vehicle, and the square-themed wheels are wrapped in low rolling resistance rubber.

On the inside, Kia designers were looking for a tranquil feel, with Korean oak covering the concept’s floor and adorning the trim. A transparent organic LED display instrument panel and full connectivity gives the Naimo that futuristic concept interior look without going too Buck Rogers.

And since the Naimo is a 21st century concept, an electric powertrain is a near must. The permanent magnet synchronous motor provides a maximum output of 80 kW (107 horsepower). Battery power comes from a 27 kWh lithium ion polymer twin battery pack, giving the little concept a range of 124 miles on a charge. Speaking of charges, Kia says the Naimo features a special rapid charge mode that enables the driver to charge the battery to 80 percent capacity in a scant 25 minutes. A full charge will reportedly take five and a half hours. Hit the jump to look over the Kia press release and click on the gallery below to peruse our high-res image gallery.

[Source: Kia]

Continue reading Kia Naimo EV concept ready for Seoul Motor Show debut

Kia Naimo EV concept ready for Seoul Motor Show debut

Buick has a huge presence in China, where customers have placed the Tri-shield brand on par with the world’s leading luxury automakers. It makes sense, then, that Buick would choose the Shanghai Auto Show as the location of choice to showcase the brand’s new compact crossover concept.

General Motors says the Envision integrates global design with local Chinese-oriented aesthetics. GM says that the concept was made to have an “elegant and smooth exterior that emphasizes its modern styling and contemporary sportiness.” The concept is also said to pack the new technology that the company hopes will eventually be a staple of the Buick brand, including an advanced plug-in hybrid system.

The Buick team isn’t showing us much with this teaser sketch, but we can at least see plenty of sharp lines, a pair of sinister-looking taillamps and a lower rear fascia treatment that might look good on the Buick Regal GS. The General will officially unveil the Envision concept at the Shanghai Motor Show on April 18. Hit the jump to look over the brief press release.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Buick Envision crossover concept teased ahead of Shanghai reveal

Buick Envision crossover concept teased ahead of Shanghai reveal

China’s Geely has big plans for its Volvo brand, with a goal of reaching 800,000 global sales per year by 2020 or sooner. To accomplish that feat, the automaker will need to bolster its factories and hire more workers, and Automotive News reports the Swedish automaker plans to do just that.

Volvo has announced that it plans to add 1,200 workers in Europe to help satiate an expected jump in demand. A staggering 900 of those jobs will be of the engineering variety, bolstering the staff of the automaker’s research and development center in Sweden. Another 200 will fill spots at the automaker’s Ghent, Belgium factory, while the remaining 100 jobs will fill various other positions. Volvo is also looking to build vehicles in China to continue sales growth.

Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby says of the move, “We are investing in our future. It means that we have to work hard to continue to be cost competitive … our cars are selling very well globally.” Jacoby points out that the automaker is already experiencing “significantly” stronger sales than in 2010, with the XC60 crossover leading the charge.

Photos copyright (C)2011 Zach Bowman / AOL

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Report: Volvo hiring 1,200 in Europe, adding capacity

Regardless of any meddling from the aftermarket, the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG is quite a handful in its stock form. That said, Wimmer hasn’t exactly built a reputation for leaving well enough alone, and has now applied its expertise to the C63 AMG. The results are ludicrous.

Wimmer reworked the heads, added more aggressive camshafts, a bigger down pipe, high-flow catalytic converters, air intake and added a full stainless steel exhaust to the car’s 6.2-liter V8. After all was said and done, the C63 pushed out 601 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque. Wimmer has also removed the top speed limiter, which means the car will hit 203 miles per hour.

The car gets 8.5-by-19-inch BBS CH-R wheels up front and 9.5-by-19-inchers out back, wrapped in Dunlop tires. Keeping those huge meats planted is a fully customized suspension developed in-house by Wimmer.

The mod list to the C63 is impressive, and the work doesn’t come cheap. The engine work alone in the Wimmer C63 AMG rings the register at €19,900 – about $28,000 USD based on current conversion rates. Add another €3,600 ($5,000) to include the suspension in the performance package.

[Source: Wimmer]

Continue reading Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG gets the Wimmer treatment

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG gets the Wimmer treatment

Milanese coachbuilder and design house Zagato is known for some unspeakably beautiful works of rolling art. The Perana Z-One and Fiat 500 Coupe are two recent examples that have caught our eye, but even Zagato managed to out-do itself with the stunning TZ3 Corsa.

Unveiled at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este nearly a year ago, the TZ3 stands as Zagato’s continuation of a line that started in the 1960s with the TZ1 and TZ2 specials, which remain collectors’ favorites to this day. The TZ3 was commissioned by a private customer and was set to be a one-off, but the latest reports from Europe suggest that Zagato is preparing to roll out a limited production run of street versions – which could have been what Zagato was hinting at with its holiday greetings.

Dropping the race-specific Corsa designation, the TZ3 Stradale would not be, as the concept car was, based on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. Instead, its underpinnings would reportedly be borrowed from the Dodge Viper, no doubt facilitated by the fact that Alfa and Dodge are under common management these days. The Viper’s 8.4-liter V10 engine would reportedly be part of the mix as well, tuned to deliver as much as 612 horsepower, making this one report we hope comes to fruition… and to our driveways.

[Source: AutoBild (translated)]

Zagato to build Viper-based Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale?

The 2012 Chevrolet Malibu will officially be revealed at the Shanghai Motor Show on April 19, and General Motors has released this official teaser shot of its new ‘Bu, showing off its new Camaro-inspired LED taillamps. GM will also be bringing the Malibu to the New York Auto Show, which officially starts on April 20, where we’ll get our first glimpse of the new Chevrolet family sedan in the flesh.

We’ve seen quite a few spy shots of the new Malibu, and we know that it will ride on GM’s smaller Epsilon II platform that currently underpins the Buick Regal. Still, GM tells us that the new Malibu will be wider than the model it replaces, and we can expect a more rakish exterior design. The Malibu will be sold in nearly 100 countries on six different continents, and thus, a global design that would appeal to all markets is necessary in order for it to be a success.

Expect the Malibu to only be available with four-cylinder engines, including GM’s naturally aspirated 2.4-liter Ecotec four and its turbocharged 2.0-liter powerplant. Rumor has it that a hybrid version is also in the works, as is an all-wheel-drive model.

You can watch the official Chevrolet Malibu reveal on the automaker’s Facebook page on Monday, April 18 at 8:30 PM EST – right when the sheets are pulled back in Shanghai. For the full details, hit the jump for GM’s official press release, as well as a short video detailing some of the Malibu’s overall design elements.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading 2012 Chevrolet Malibu teased ahead of Shanghai debut [w/video]

2012 Chevrolet Malibu teased ahead of Shanghai debut [w/video]

Playboy (which we’re not ashamed to admit we read for more than the articles) has compiled a list of its favorite classic vehicles. The article, entitled Vintage Thunder, features six vehicles picked to earn a spot in the magazine’s fantasy garage.

Three American and three Europeans make the cut, all of which are beautifully illustrated by Etienne Carignan. The upper end of the price spectrum is claimed by the BMW 507 (shown above) while the least expensive on the list is the split-window 1963 Chevrolet Corvette. You can read a recap of Vintage Thunder by heading over to Playboy’s website (which is safe for work, as long as you don’t stray from the article). If you want to read the full piece, be sure to check out the April issue, which is on sale now.

[Source: Playboy]

Pics Aplenty: Playboy magazine’s Vintage Thunder sketches