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Volkswagen is on a role right now, and management in Wolfsburg hopes that winning streak results in the company becoming the largest automaker by volume by 2018 or sooner. Those ambitious sales goals stretch to VW’s many brands as well, including Porsche.

The Detroit Bureau reports that Porsche is looking to double sales by 2015, with new products and emerging markets leading the charge. The numbers involved are taking last year’s 97,000 vehicles sold worldwide and hitting a nice, round 200,000 by mid-decade. The new products that will help spur sales are the recently released 2012 911, the forthcoming Cajun mini ute and perhaps the sub-Boxster entry-level Porsche that we’ve been hearing about for years.

Those models would likely help improve sales here in the U.S., which is still the number one market for Porsche. But the performance and luxury car maker is also hoping to make inroads in the world’s three biggest emerging markets: China, Russia and India. Those markets are clamoring for luxury autos right now, and Porsche is all too happy to help fill the void.

Porsche board member Wolfgang Hatz added at a preview of the new 911 that profitability will remain a major focus. Porsche has long boasted a ridiculously good 15 percent Return on Sales number, and Hatz and company want to keep that advantage as sales improve.

Porsche wants to double sales by 2015

Maybe racing would stand on its own merits in an ideal utopia, but in the real world it has to make a business case for itself. So while the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix may have been a success in the purest sense of the term – bringing IndyCar, ALMS and several other series to the city’s harbor front – financial woes could relegate it to history even faster than it came about… or the race cars that made it the spectacle it was.

The trouble, it seems, is between Baltimore Racing Development, which organized the event this past Labor Day, and the city in which it was held. Apparently BRD failed to pay all that was required by the municipality, and now city officials are demanding it pay up or get out of town.

According to reports, organizers owe city coffers some $1.5 million for services rendered, taxes and other expenses. Combined with the estimated $1.8 million it owes third parties, the Baltimore Grand Prix is looking at a huge debt that could take years to pay off, but if it doesn’t get the chance to hold the remaining four races for which it’s contracted, that debt could prove insurmountable.

Baltimore Grand Prix collapsing under weight of debt?

There are few things in this realm or the next that can’t be cured with the judicious application of forced induction. Just ask the engineers at the Hyundai Technical Center. They were able to take the Hyundai Genesis Coupe and wring more than 450 horsepower from the vehicle’s 3.8-liter V6 engine. The result is the Genesis Hurricane SC we saw at this year’s SEMA show, and Hyundai has turned out a new video of the high-performance coupe to show off every last detail.

As you may recall, the Hurricane SC is more than a blower. The vehicle features a liquid-to-air intercooler, Bilstein monotube shocks coupled to adjustable ride control springs and Brembo six-piston calipers squeezing cross-drilled rotors. The vehicle also received a full aesthetic makeover to go with its impressive innards: a new front bumper, grille, hood and side skirts.

If you like what you see, you’re in luck. Hyundai says that Rhys Millen is planning to produce a range of aero pieces for the Genesis Coupe similar to what’s on the Hurricane SC. Follow the jump to check out the video.

Continue reading Take a closer look at the Hyundai Genesis Hurricane SC

Take a closer look at the Hyundai Genesis Hurricane SC

A new series of health studies may have discovered a link between vehicle exhaust and a range of ailments, including autism, Alzheimer’s Disease and more. The Wall Street Journal reports that scientists around the world have conducted studies investigating the impact of exhaust fumes on families living close to highways. The researchers are quick to point out that the results are still circumstantial at this point, but that doesn’t make their findings any easier to live with. For example, children who live in areas affected by high levels of emissions typically score lower on intelligence tests than their peers and are more prone to depression, anxiety and attention issues.

Then there are the autism rates. Researchers found that children born to mothers living within 1,000 feet of a major roadway in Los Angeles, Sacramento or San Francisco were twice as likely to be born with autism regardless of factors like race, gender or family education level. In Mexico, the studies found that exposure to exhaust can cause a type of brain swelling similar to what Alzheimer’s patients endure.

It doesn’t get much better for those of us who are occasionally trapped in traffic jams. The studies found that breathing in high-traffic areas for just 30 minutes can cause increased brain activity in the areas responsible for personality and decision making. Head over to The Wall Street Journal for a look at the full report.

Traffic jams and exhaust linked to autism, brain cell damage

The Motor Press Guild has named the 2012 Audi A7 as the its first-ever Car Of The Year. MPG calls itself the largest automotive media association in the United States, and says that the the A7 was chosen as the first recipient of the organization’s Car Of The Year award because of its styling, handling and slew of advanced technologies.

MPG says that the A7 faced some stiff competition from four other finalists chosen by a panel of members. The entire MPG membership then evaluated and ranked those vehicles at the organization’s track day in October.

Motor Press Guild President Laura Burstein will present Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen with the Car Of The Year award at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show. Hit the jump for the press release.

Continue reading Audi A7 wins Motor Press Guild’s inaugural Car Of The Year award

Audi A7 wins Motor Press Guild’s inaugural Car Of The Year award

Production of the original Bugatti Veyron may have drawn to a close, but that doesn’t mean the end of the Veyron altogether. Of the 150 examples of the Grand Sport earmarked for production, only 45 of them have been accounted for. That leaves another – carry the two, divide by the square-root of pi – 105 examples still available for order. And no two of them are likely to end up the same.

That’s because Bugatti offers a nearly endless array of customization options both inside and out, the permutations of which could stand to overshadow even its seven-figure price tag. And so to demonstrate what can be done with a Veyron, Bugatti has brought three specially outfitted examples to no less fitting a location than the Dubai Motor Show.

The first example is the most garish, but combines founder Ettore Bugatti’s favorite colors – black and yellow – with bright yellow bodywork contrasting with the exposed carbon fiber and black wheels. The second employs blue carbon fiber and anodized aluminum, and the third incorporates a newly developed weave of green carbon fiber along with polished aluminum. Each features matching wheels as well as an individually-tailored interior.

If you’re not planning on hitting the Persian Gulf for the exposition, you can check ‘em out in the high-res gallery above and the press release after the jump. And if you like what you see and manage to get to it before the oil-rich sheikhs do, you can place your order: 1.58 million euros (approximately $2.15M) will get you the bumblebee example, while the uniquely-tinted carbon examples are available at 1.74 million euros ($2.37M) per.

Continue reading Bugatti brings three special Veyron Grand Sports to Dubai

Bugatti brings three special Veyron Grand Sports to Dubai

We’ll be honest: Not only have we already seen the production 2012 Honda CR-V in the flesh, we’ve driven it. And we aren’t the only ones. In fact, these spy shots were taken during a local CR-V media drive that’s taking place in Detroit, and while we can’t talk about our impressions of Honda’s all-new crossover just yet, we can tell you that the vehicle in these pictures is the final production model.

Honda will officially take the wraps off its 2012 CR-V at the LA Auto Show next week, with the first examples hitting showrooms before the end of the year. It’s common knowledge that the new CR-V will continue to use Honda’s 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, though mated to a new (or, at least, revised) transmission that will enhance both performance and fuel economy. The CR-V’s interior gets a healthy update, too, with some new materials used throughout the cabin. The overall form and function of the interior, however, won’t differ much from the current model.

You’ll be able to read our full impressions of the 2012 Honda CR-V next week. Until then, click through our attached image gallery to see the production crossover out on the street.

Production 2012 Honda CR-V caught ahead of LA Auto Show debut

List price is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when considering the purchase of a new supercar. Never mind the premium you’re likely to pay a speculator to avoid long waiting lists, or astronomic insurance rates, for that matter. If you actually plan on driving your six-figure exotic, you’re going to be spending a whole lot on fuel, plus another chunk on gas-guzzler tax. Right?

Well, usually, but the latest intel suggests otherwise when it comes to no less a capable performance machine than the McLaren MP4-12C. While most supercars achieve dismal fuel economy figures – after all, that’s not why they’re bought in the first place – and are subsequently hit with the EPA’s fossil-gulping penalty, the MP4 has reportedly managed to avoid it with (relatively) respectable fuel economy figures of 15 city/22 highway miles per gallon.

That’s enough for the carbon-fiber wonder and its twin-turbo V8 to skip the extra tax, which just leaves more money for all the rubber you’re bound to burn through while gleefully sliding Britain’s finest around every corner in sight. It’ll undoubtedly come as good news by January when the buyers lining up for the 500 examples bound for the U.S. market will begin taking delivery. That’ll be taking place at a new network of dealerships, which will, incidentally, each display a vintage grand prix racer from the company’s illustrious racing heritage, and you can check ‘em out in the high-res image gallery below.

McLaren MP4-12C avoids gas-guzzler tax, U.S. deliveries commence in January

With the Tokyo Motor Show coming up around the bend, Japan’s automakers are preparing to roll out their best. And Mitsubishi isn’t about to sit idly by.

The Tri-Diamond automaker has two major world debuts planned for its home-market expo: one production vehicle and one concept. The former sees the return of the Mirage nameplate – most prominently used in the 1980s – in place of the Colt with a new entry-level model. The basic five-door hatchback packs an economical 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine with stop/start and a continuously variable transmission that will hit the Thai market first when it launches in March 2012.

Joining the new Mirage on the Mitsubishi stage will be the Concept PX-MiEV II, a plug-in hybrid crossover that joins the i-MiEV electric car and the Minicab-MiEV light-duty commercial vehicle in the company’s expanding portfolio of electric vehicles. A 2.0-liter four-banger is coupled to a pair of 60-kilowatt electric motors to drive all four wheels through the Lancer Evo’s S-AWC traction system to deliver comparable power to a 3.0-liter V6 while offering improved emissions and fuel consumption figures.

In addition to the usual battery-only and internal combustion generator modes, the PX-MiEV II also enables outdoorsy types to run portable appliances off the vehicle’s battery packs. There’s plenty more to digest in the press release, so hit the jump to check it out, and scope out both the Mirage and the Concept PX-MiEV II in the pair of galleries for a closer look.

Continue reading Mitsubishi rolls out new Mirage alongside Concept PX-MiEV II for Tokyo

Mitsubishi rolls out new Mirage alongside Concept PX-MiEV II for Tokyo

Jaguar has long been a company of split personalities. On one hand are the luxury sedans that shuttle British cabinet ministers around London and investment bankers to the country club. On the other are the sport coupes that stick it to the world’s finest on racing circuits and bar-stools the world over. But those two are getting closer and closer all the time. The GTs are getting more luxurious, and the sedans are getting sportier. So while Jaguar seems to roll out upgraded specs for its XKR with regularity, those on the four-door side of the Coventry equation can stop longing from afar with the latest options packages for the XJ line.

The offerings, in typical Jag style, are split in two: the Sport pack and the Speed pack. The former upgrades the styling, aerodynamics and rolling stock of the big cat with new bumpers front and rear, 20-inch alloys and red brake calipers, plus available sport buckets seats up front and a new array of cabin trim options. The Speed pack, meanwhile, tinkers with the electronic speed limiter to raise top end from 155 miles per hour to 174.

The packages are being released first in Jaguar’s home market but should make it to American dealers shortly. In the meantime you can check out the full details in the press release after the jump and the quartet of high-res images for a closer look.

Jaguar spruces up the XJ with Sport and Speed packs

The ordering guide for the 2012 BMW 3 Series has made its way to the internet courtesy of eGMCarTech, giving us all a better idea of what to expect from the U.S.-spec car when it arrives on our shores next year.

For starters, both the 328i and 335i will boast forced-induction powerplants and an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard driveline equipment, though opting for a six-speed manual won’t cost buyers anything extra. In addition, each 3 Series will come with automatic start/stop to conserve fuel. Larger 17-inch wheels are now standard across the line, as well.

Inside, a new 6.5-inch LCD screen is now standard equipment as is Bluetooth and an iPod interface. Three trim levels will be available at launch, but buyers looking to sink their teeth into the M Sport package will have to wait a spell. According to eGMCarTech, the M goodies won’t surface in U.S. dealers until July 2012. Remember, kids: patience is a virtue.

2012 BMW 3 Series U.S. order guide leaked, M Sport coming late

It must be a week for vehicular sacrifice. We’ve already seen a Lamborghini Gallardo go up in flames in the quest for the gold at the Targa High Country in Australia, but back here on American soil, Jeff Evans recently pushed his Acura Integra past the limit at the drag strip to break the eight-second barrier. The car campaigns in the True Street class with a 950-horsepower, turbocharged B-Series engine under the hood with a 67-millimeter Borg Warner turbo shoving 35 psi of boost down the intake.

That is no small number. On his third pass of the day, Evans lost control of the Acura shortly after crossing the quarter mile line, narrowly missing the EG Honda Civic in the next lane and bouncing off of two walls in the process. It wasn’t until later that he was informed that he had managed to run an 8.98-second quarter mile at 167 miles per hour, which was good enough to earn him a record in his class. How’s that for a bittersweet victory? Hit the jump to see the carnage for yourself, and be sure to check out the Evans Tuning site for more information on the car.

Continue reading In-car view of Evans Tuning Acura Integra crashing into the eights

In-car view of Evans Tuning Acura Integra crashing into the eights

Bringing The Shelby Name To The Masses

The Shelby name doesn’t come cheap. Vintage Shelby Mustangs and Cobras can command six or sometimes even seven figure sums. The current Shelby offerings are much cheaper – the GT350 is priced around $70,000 while the Ford-built GT500 is a little less expensive with a base price just short of $50,000 – although we still wouldn’t consider them attainable to the average guy with a mortgage and 2.5 kids.

Shelby sees that as a problem. The majority of its customers are the people who craved a GT500 or Cobra back when they were kids in the 1960s. Those customers are getting older, and like many other automakers, Shelby has decided to reach out to younger buyers. At the New York Auto Show earlier this year, Shelby announced the GTS, a new model designed to be attainable to the masses. The GTS would be available in both V6 and V8 form and, with a package price of $9,995, could be had for less than $33,000 in base form. “It’s a car that reaches a younger buyer while acknowledging the economic realities of our times,” said Shelby American president John Luft at the time.

We have to wonder, though. Are younger buyers interested in buying a Shelby Mustang? Will people actually buy a Shelby with a V6? We aimed to find out for ourselves and picked up a V6 model in Race Red with White Le Mans stripes at Shelby’s facility in Gardena, CA for a week-long test.

Continue reading 2012 Shelby GTS

2012 Shelby GTS

‘Tis the season, boys and girls. Sure, the holidays are around the corner, but with the end of the year in sight, it’s time for every magazine and its sister (publication) to choose its favorite car(s) for the year. And the latest to do so is Automobile magazine.

The venerable glossy book has already announced its 2012 Automobile of the Year, the Audi A7, along with its Man of the Year (Kia design chief Peter Schreyer), Technology of the Year (the trifecta of turbocharging, direct injection and variable valve timing) and Design of the Year (Fisker Karma). But now Automobile has revealed its ten favorite cars for the annual All-Star list.

The final list represents an eclectic cross-section of American, European and Asian vehicles – all available in the U.S., naturally – including the:

• Audi TT RS
• BMW 3 Series
• Dodge Charger
• Ferrari 458 Italia/Spider
• Ford Focus
• Ford Mustang Boss 302
• Honda Odyssey
• Porsche Boxster & Cayman
• Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
• Volkswagen Golf TDI & GTI

Think Jennings and company chose well? Follow the jump for the press release, and be sure to click here to read the full All-Stars story, as well.

Continue reading Automobile names its 2012 All-Stars

Automobile names its 2012 All-Stars

Honda plans to take to the Tokyo Motor Show this December with the largest display of any automaker in attendance. The company will show off a range of production and concept vehicles, including a slew of motorcycles.

Meanwhile, Honda says that the Small Sport EV Concept “maximizes the fun of driving while achieving excellent environmental performance.” Details are markedly absent other than that brief description, so we’re hoping Honda will shed more light on the model once it debuts in Tokyo.

The company is also planning to pull the sheets off of a new electric motorcycle based on a 250cc chassis. The RC-E is meant to show off the kind of riding enjoyment that can come from an all-electric drivetrain on two wheels. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Honda previews Small Sports EV and AC-X plug-in concepts for Tokyo

Honda previews Small Sports EV and AC-X plug-in concepts for Tokyo

When Porsche launches a new 911, it doesn’t just launch one model, it starts a process that will see literally dozens of variants to follow. Some with turbos, some without. Some with all-wheel drive, some driving just the rear. Coupes, convertibles, targas, lightweight models, and yes, even racing versions.

The 911, after all, is one of the most prolific racing cars on circuits around the world. This example, however, is not based on the new 911. What you see here is still based on the old 997. But it is the pinnacle of Porsche Motorsport’s range of customer racing cars.

The new GT3 RSR is built to race in the ACO’s GTE category, making it instantly eligible for competition in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Le Mans Series, the American Le Mans Series and the new FIA World Endurance Championship, as well as the International GT Open and a variety of other series and events.

Its 4.0-liter boxer six drives 460 horsepower (kept in check by a mandatory air restrictor) to the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential gearbox. Porsche has also fitted larger wheels front and rear, and given it a completely new aero package to keep it glued to the tarmac, slicing through the air and at front of the pack.

The best part is that you can buy one yourself. That is, assuming you’ve got half a million euros (about $675k) to spend on a track toy. Either way, you can check it out in the high-res image gallery and the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Porsche launches updated 911 GT3 RSR

Porsche launches updated 911 GT3 RSR

General Motors has unveiled its next-generation Chevrolet TrailBlazer at the Dubai International Motor Show. The model is set to go on sale around the world, though Thailand will have the first crack at the vehicle in early 2012.

The 2013 TrailBlazer features seating for seven, and, since the SUV is based off of the new global Chevrolet Colorado, it gets its power from a 2.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine. GM stresses that the vehicle on display in the Middle East is a show vehicle, but we’re guessing that the final product will look pretty similar to what you see above.

The next-generation TrailBlazer will feature second-row seats with a 60/40 split, and both the second and third rows fold flat to reveal a sizable cargo area. With most SUVs abandoning their rugged roots for the softer ways of the crossover world, the new Trailblazer sound pretty good to us. Right now, there’s no word on when the vehicle will show up in the U.S. or if it will come packing the same turbo-diesel engine when it arrives. Hit the jump for the full press release as well as a quick video.

Continue reading New Chevrolet TrailBlazer revealed in Dubai [w/video]

New Chevrolet TrailBlazer revealed in Dubai [w/video]

Here’s a bit of curiosity. GT Spirit is reporting that Audi has pulled the manual gearbox option for both the S4 and the S5 in Europe. The news comes courtesy of Fourtitude, who spoke with Barry Hoch, the product planning manager for Audi of America. Hoch said that while the sportier Audi models will lose their third pedal in the EU, American buyers will still be able to row their own gears.

Why would Audi abandon the manual transmission? The company’s DSG gearbox offers plenty quick shifts with improved fuel economy, constant application of power and a hefty convenience factor, but Europeans have traditionally been more excited about swapping their own gears than their American counterparts.

Of course, if true, this begs the question about the longevity of manual gearboxes on Audi models in the States. While it looks as if they’ll hang around on the S4 and S5 for a time longer, we have to imagine that it won’t be long before the automaker thins the option sheet for its American wares, as well.

Audi discontinues manual gearbox for S4 and S5 in Europe, U.S. models safe

The mini-truck is dead. Long live the mini-truck!

We aren’t alone in our love for compact cargo haulers. AutoGuide recently took the time to sit down with Jack Hollis, the vice president of Scion, who apparently shares our affinity for the smallest of pickups. While Hollis didn’t go so far as to say that a Scion pickup was first on his list of things to do, he did mention that he’s very interested in the idea and that a lot of Scion customers are, as well.

Don’t think that means we’ll see Scion-badged Toyota Tacoma models roaming the wastes anytime soon, though. Hollis says that in an ideal world, Scion would partner up with Daihatsu to create an entirely new vehicle in a similar fashion as what Scion cooked up with Subaru for the FR-S. Dragging one of the Toyota subsidiary’s current products through the federalization gauntlet would cost more than the effort would be worth, Hollis says.

We won’t exactly hold our breath for the model to arrive anytime soon, but we’re still thrilled to hear that the upper ranks of at least one automaker is giving the mini-truck segment serious consideration.

Scion considering Daihatsu-based pickup for US?

Get ready to add another item to your holiday wish list. Swann has taken a dive into the crowded pool of high-definition action cameras already on sale. While GoPro is arguably the king of high-quality video at the moment, ReplayXD and Contour have also thrown their hats into the ring. We recently played with a Replay XD1080 during this year’s Woodward Dream Cruise.

So, what does Swann have to bring to the game? For starters, every model comes standard with a detachable LCD screen, which means your footage will no longer start off with a puzzled face staring into the lens for a second or two. Even better, you’ll be able to review your footage without having to lug around a computer.

In addition, the Swann Freestyle HD boasts stereo audio, a 3x zoom and a remote control. Anyone who’s spent a track day jumping in and out of a vehicle to make sure their GoPro is running can attest to the value of that last feature. The camera will set you back $279.99. Head over to the Swann site for more information and click past the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Swann Freestyle HD enters crowded action camera market with unique features

Swann Freestyle HD enters crowded action camera market with unique features