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Toyota will continue its three-days-a-week schedule at North American plants for the rest of April and May, due to continued parts shortages as a result of the March 11 Japan earthquake. Toyota’s original production suspension halted lines on Mondays and Fridays from April 15 to April 25, but will be extended to include April 26 to June 3.

When Toyota’s U.S. plants are building cars during that period, it will be at 50-percent capacity. Added to the weekly Monday and Friday stoppages, Toyota is suspending production entirely for the week after Memorial Day in the U.S. and the week of May 23rd in Canada, in recognition of Victoria Day. Toyota hasn’t said what its plans are for production stoppages past June 3rd.

Despite the enormous production cuts and work stoppages, Toyota has promised there will be no layoffs just yet. According to the company, workers will spend time during production stoppages doing training exercises and “plant improvement activities.” By keeping some production going and maintaining its workforce, Toyota is hoping it can make it back to a full production schedule as soon as parts supplies allow. Click past the jump to read the official release from Toyota.

[Source: Toyota Image: Toshifumi Kitamura]

Continue reading Toyota drastically cuts North American production through May

Toyota drastically cuts North American production through May

The SixTen Sabre is just one of a seemingly endless supply of oddball kit cars available online. The Sabre, however, is unique among its bizarre brethren, with styling heavily derived from the Morgan Aero 8, with splashes of the Chrysler Atlantic concept and MG TC thrown in for good measure. With underpinnings from the SN95 Ford Mustang, the Sabre is a rolling identity crisis.

The result of this amalgamation of classic lines atop modern Ford architecture can only be described as odd. From the Morgan-style headlights and grille to the deeply strange custom taillights, this thing never seems to figure out exactly what it wants to be.

The good news is, all its mechanicals are from the Mustang, so its structure is infinitely upgradable, easily repaired and should be stone-cold reliable. SixTen claims the Sabre is available with anywhere from 215 to 550 horsepower. Keeping all that grunt moving in the desired direction is a fully-adjustable coilover suspension featuring unequal-length control arms.

The Sabre is designed to be assembled by the buyer, and includes all the epoxy and most of the fasteners you’ll need to get the job done. To make the kit as DIY-friendly as possible, SixTen says the build doesn’t require any cutting or welding, and comes with extensive documentation.

While SixTen’s website doesn’t have pricing info, the eBay Motors listing has a $10,900 Buy-It-Now option, not including the donor Mustang. To see more images of the SixTen Sabre and follow its build, check out SixTen’s website.

[Source: SixTen via eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: SixTen Sabre is part Morgan, part Mustang, and all head-scratcher

The story of the 1996 Ferrari F50 that was stolen from a Pennsylvania dealership, lost for five years, then crashed by two FBI agents, has gained some plot twists. The story begins in 2003 with Tom Baker, an airline pilot with a love for all things Ferrari and a serious talent for slick talking. It ends with an insurance company locked in litigation with the Department of Justice, trying to recover the $625,000 it paid Algar Ferrari/Maserati for the now-worthless Ferrari.

Baker, an airline pilot, realized he’d never be able to afford one of Maranello’s finest, and hatched a plan to live his dream by illegal means. Turns out the Pennsylvania F50 wasn’t Baker’s only heist. Baker started relatively small, convincing North Carolina Ferrari dealer Steve Barney to let him take a 1989 Ferrari 328 GTS for a test drive, never to return.

According to Barney, Baker worked a perfect con, making fast friends with the dealer. Barney, who was battling cancer at the time he met Baker, said the con man told him he was a radiologist, even taking the time to look at his X-rays and asking what medication he was on. One day, Baker asked to test drive the 328 GTS. Barney obliged, and never saw Baker again.

Continue Reading Followup: More fascinating backstory behind the FBI-wrecked Ferrari F50…

[Source: Philly.com Image: Ferrari]

Continue reading Followup: More fascinating backstory behind the FBI-wrecked Ferrari F50 is revealed

Followup: More fascinating backstory behind the FBI-wrecked Ferrari F50 is revealed

Europe’s longest ice road stretches 16 miles across the Baltic sea and connects mainland Estonia with the island of Hiiumaa. This may be the only road on the planet where seat belts aren’t just a bad idea, they’re illegal. If the ice gives way here, you need to be out of your car so quickly that removing a seat belt could be a potentially lethal waste of time.

The BBC decided to see for itself what kind of crazy you have to be to willingly accept commuting on a surface like the ice road. Apparently, Estonians love it for being much cheaper than the available ferries, which sometimes get jealous and run in to the frozen road. Still, Jeep Grand Cherokee at the ready, the BBC’s intrepid journalists set off on a journey into the frozen unknown.

Not only are safety restraints against the law on the ice road, it’s illegal to go any slower than 25 mph, which seems somewhat counter intuitive. Most of the time, the slower you can go on a slick, unpredictable surface the better, despite what Bentley may tell you. On frozen water, though, tires create dangerous vibrations between 16 and 25 mph that could crack the ice, leaving you up to your neck in the deadly cold Baltic. Thus, the recommended speed on the ice road is a pretty brisk 43 mph.

That may not seem like much, until you learn that the road is full of potholes and bumps, as well as being laced with wide gashes in the ice bridged by rough-hewn lumber. Between the dips, potholes, bumps, gashes and shaky bridges, the road is a fairly sensitive beast, which means cars over 2.5 metric tons are also banned.

Despite all its follies and hidden dangers, the route is widely traveled during Estonia’s long winter, and sometimes stays open as late as March. Even with a relatively high traffic volume, there were no accidents on the road during the 2010-2011 season, which came to a close at the end of last month.

[Source: BBC News Image: Raigo Pajula/AFP/Getty Images]

The BBC drives the one road where seat belts are illegal

Fiat will unveil the brand’s newest take on the tiny 500 at the 2011 New York Auto Show later today. The 2012 500c delivers a unique power-operated dual-layer panoramic folding top that leaves the vehicle’s roof arches in place, and Fiat says that the design protects vehicle occupants from wind noise and buffeting unlike any other convertible on the market. The design also keeps the roof from impeding on rear passenger and cargo room, which is a nice touch on vehicle about the size of a ballet slipper.

The drophead can lose its canvas cover at speeds up to 60 miles perh our, and the roof can be partially closed to serve as a large sunroof should the driver so desire. The 500c also makes use of a slightly taller windshield compared to its hatchback brethren – a trait designed to give occupants a little more outward visibility.

Inside, the back seats can still be folded down to offer up to 23.4 cubic feet of cargo area. With the rear thrones in place, that number drops to a scant 5.4 cubes.

The 2012 500c will get its pep from a Multiair 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine when it goes on sale later this spring. Buyers can expect to play with 101 horsepower and 98 pound-feet of torque. When coupled to a five-speed manual transmission, the engine is also good for up to 38 miles per gallon, and a six-speed automatic is also available. Follow the jump for Fiat’s full press release.

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading 2012 Fiat 500c drops its top in New York

2012 Fiat 500c drops its top in New York

Day One of the 2011 New York Auto Show has come and gone, bringing with it a whole slew of new cars, trucks and concept vehicles for us to obsess over. We’ve gone ahead and sorted through the day’s unveilings and put them all together in one handy-dandy spot. And of course, tomorrow will be more of the same. Stay tuned!

Nissan Leaf NISMO RC	MB SLS AMG Gulf Livery	Scion FR-S Concept
2012 Chrysler 300C SRT8	2011 Jeep Wrangler Mojave	2012 VW Beetle
2012MB C63 AMG	2012 Nissan Versa	2011 Subaru Impreza
2012 Ford Taurus SHO	2012 Chrysler 300S	2012 Jeep SRT8
2011 Panamera Turbo S	2012 Hyundai Accent	Lexus LF-Gh Concept
MB Concept A-Class	2012 MB E63 AMG	2013 Chevrolet Malibu

2011 New York Auto Show: Day 1 Round Up

Concurrent with its debut at the New York Auto Show, Toyota has released two videos (one long, one short) of the Scion FR-S Concept. While neither of them show the “friggin’ really sweet” Scion in motion, you do get a tantalizing glance at the promised front-engine, rear-wheel drive coupe’s spectacular Lexus LF-A-aping curves.

In true car porn fashion, there’s no curve left unexplored, and there’s more than one longing look at the concept’s lewd 20-inch centerlock wheels and massive 18-inch carbon ceramic brake rotors. There’s no indication how much of this will actually make production, but we can almost guarantee Toyota will have ditched the 18-inch brakes by the time the 2.0-liter four cylinder-powered FR-S goes on sale, whenever that is. Check out both videos after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Scion FR-S Concept shows off its curves

Video: Scion FR-S Concept shows off its curves

With stricter 2012-2016 fuel economy standards quickly creeping up on automakers, research and development departments industry-wide are looking for innovative technologies to improve fuel economy and reduce CO2 emissions. But while hybrids and electric vehicles provide the largest wow factor, most powertrains in the near term will be of the internal combustion variety, so Ford is looking to shed pounds as well.

TheDetroitBureau.com reports that Ford is looking to trim between 250 and 700 pounds from each of its vehicles by 2017 or 2018. That’s an impressive total given the fact that added safety measures and more technology have contributed to the bloated scale-breakers we have today, and an aluminum hood or high strength steel can only make up some of that distance. Engineering Chief Derrick Kuzak tells TDB that “weight reduction starts with new platforms.” That means aluminum and carbon fiber chassis components and lighter frames.

With the cost of aluminum far exceeding that of steel, using the lightweight material could be a costly endeavor. Kuzak believes the answer could be carbon fiber, but to use the strong, light material, Ford must “improve manufacturability and reduce costs.”

Cutting several hundred pounds from a vehicle will no-doubt cut fuel consumption and substantially improve performance, and the efficiency gains can be two-fold. Kuzak points out that lighter vehicles can be fitted with smaller, more efficient engines, giving the vehicles a second bump in fuel economy. Lighter vehicles could also lead to improved EVs as well, as less battery power would be needed to propel a vehicle, which leads to more miles per charge.

We’re all for lighter and more efficient vehicles, and we’re wondering whether it’s too early to put in an order for a 2,600-pound Mustang GT. Okay, so the largest weight loss is likely for the trucks and SUVs, but we can dream, right?

[Source: TheDetroitBureau.com]

Report: Ford targeting up to 700-pound weight loss across lineup

While the R-Design packages for the Volvo S60 and XC60 add a measure of visual flair to the Swedish family-haulers – as well as some suspension tweaks – the one thing they’re lacking is a commensurate boost in power. The Volvo R-Design models are closer to an AMG, M-Sport or S-Line appearance package than an actual Mercedes-Benz AMG, BMW M or Audi S or RS performance model. But Volvo is out to fix that with a pair of revised offerings for 2012.

Bearing the same R-Design nomenclature, the sporty versions of the S60 sedan and XC60 crossover will now benefit from an extra 25 horsepower and 29 lb-ft of torque coming out of their turbocharged six-cylinder T6 engine, bringing it up from 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque to 325 hp and 354 lb-ft respectively.

The rest of the parameters carry over from the existing R-Design models, but the increased output ought to make Volvo’s warmed-over range that much more enticing. Unfortunately, the upgraded engine does not appear, however, to be available on the V60 R-Design sport wagon that bridges the gap between the S60 and XC60 models.

Follow the jump for more details in Volvo’s official press release, and click the thumbnails below to scope out the fresh batch of images released with the announcement.

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading 2012 Volvo S60 and XC60 R-Design get slight boosts in power

2012 Volvo S60 and XC60 R-Design get slight boosts in power

Chrysler has officially announced that the company’s 2012 300S model will be the first of its products to carry a new eight-speed ZF transmission. We’ve been waiting to see the gearbox show up in a production vehicle since the smallest of the Big Three first made news about the transmission’s development last year, and it looks like the wait is finally over.

At first, the eight-speed will only be found in the new 300S with the company’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. Check the boxes for all-wheel drive or the more impressive 5.7-liter V8 and it’ll be all five-speed, all the time for you.

Chrysler is currently in the midst of retooling its transmission facility in Kokomo, Indiana to build the new gearbox here in the States. Until that happens, each of the new cog-swappers will be purchased directly from ZF in Germany. Hence the limited availability.

In addition to the new transmission, the 300S packs a Beats by Dr. Dre ten-speaker stereo system and unique piano-black interior accents along with the standard goodies found in the Luxury Package. That means Nappa leather, a rear-view camera, rain-sensing wipers and a power tilt and telescoping steering column are all part of the deal. Hit the jump for the full press blast.

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Chrysler]

Continue reading New York 2011: Chrysler 300S first to get new eight-speed transmission

New York 2011: Chrysler 300S first to get new eight-speed transmission

We may have fallen all over the 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 that debuted this past February at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show, but if we’re honest, The Pentastar’s latest LX-platform creation – the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 – is the one we’d want to take home. In its previous generation, this car was one of our favorite guilty pleasures, and with all of the new enhancements made for the 2012 model year, the top-rung Hemi 300 is sure to impress.

Gone is the 6.1-liter V8 of yore, and a new, fire-breathing 6.4-liter Hemi engine has been fitted underhood. With 465 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque on tap, the 300 SRT8 will easily sprint to 60 miles per hour in under five seconds, and all that grunt is managed by a five-speed automatic transmission, now enhanced with paddle shifters. Not the most modern transmission, yes, but we’re sure the 300 SRT8 will still be a total hoot to drive.

The 2012 300 SRT8 has made its debut this week at the 2011 New York Auto Show next to its Grand Cherokee SRT8 cousin, and we invite you to click through a handful of high-res images live from the Javits Center in our gallery below.

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

Continue reading New York 2011: Chrysler’s new 300 SRT8 is a tuxedo-wearing thug

New York 2011: Chrysler’s new 300 SRT8 is a tuxedo-wearing thug

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG has been unwrapped at the New York Auto Show having gained a new, more economical lease on life thanks to the brand’s 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8. For 2012, Mercedes-Benz is offering the mill in two levels of crazy, with either 518 horsepower in the regular E63, or 550 if you opt for the AMG sport package. That much grunt shuffles the standard car to 60 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds on to a top speed of 155 mph, or 4.3 seconds and 186 mph if you drop the extra coin for the sport pack.

Like its kissing but shapelier cousin, the CLS63 AMG, the 5.5-liter engine channels its substantial resources through AMG’s Speedshift MCT seven-speed transmission. We’ve sampled and enjoyed the unusual gearbox before, and this one also has a “Controlled Efficiency” mode, which is Mercedes-speak for a stop-start function.

Despite the loony power and performance figures, Mercedes says its big sedan is 22 percent more efficient than last year’s model, thanks to the new powerplant. To help keep things green(ish), the new heart sports spray-guided direct injection thanks to a set of piezo injectors. Mercedes has even gone so far as to develop an eco-friendly power steering setup which saves fuel by only drawing power when the wheel is being turned.

Inside, the car gets a new sports steering wheel with aluminum shift paddles and flat top and bottom sections. For those who go with the AMG sport package, the wheel is trimmed in Alcantara for the last word in racy luxury.

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading New York 2011: 2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG gets a twin-turbo heart transplant

New York 2011: 2012 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG gets a twin-turbo heart transplant

We just gave you a deep dive look at the 2012 Subaru Impreza. Now, we get to see the fourth-generation Subaru in its four and five-door flesh on the floor of the 2011 New York Auto Show. The new car is lighter and more fuel efficient, boasting a very impressive 36 mile per gallon highway fuel-economy rating. How is the new 2012 Impreza able to claim the title of most fuel-efficient all-wheel-drive car in the United States? Dropping a few pounds doesn’t hurt but there’s a bit more to it than that.

Beneath the hood lies a brand-new 2.0-liter horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engine, which produces 148 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. When paired with Subaru’s new CVT, the Impreza achieves the aforementioned 36 mile per gallon highway fuel-economy rating, and also returns 27 mpg in the city. And though the 2012 Impreza occupies the same footprint as the model it replaces, the wheelbase has been pushed out an extra inch, which allows for more interior space yet no trunk room was compromised.

The lightened-up Subaru Impreza sedan and five-door hatchback are scheduled to arrive at your local dealership later this summer. Follow the jump to read the full official press release from Subaru and check out our galleries of high-res live images from the show floor below.

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Jeff Glucker/AOL

Continue reading New York 2011: Subaru shows off 2012 Impreza with lighter figure, impressive fuel economy

New York 2011: Subaru shows off 2012 Impreza with lighter figure, impressive fuel economy

Hyundai is making a grab for more customer loyalty than it already enjoys with its newly launched Assurance Trade-in Value Guarantee, which, as its name suggests, guarantees future trade-in values on new car purchases. The move falls under Hyundai’s wide-spanning Assurance marketing scheme, and will give buyers a solid number to determine what their car will be worth two to four years down the line.

The new initiative will be go into effect starting in May, and affects all Hyundai models. The actual value of Hyundai’s models will be determined by the Automotive Lease Guide forecast of future value. Hyundai is quick to point out that the residual value for its models is now among the highest in the industry and it’s saying that this new program offers one of the major benefits of a lease program, but with all the benefits of actual vehicle ownership.

To qualify, the vehicle must be purchased at an authorized Hyundai dealership and then traded in within 24 to 48 months on a new Hyundai vehicle. See all the details in the official press release after the break.

[Source: Hyundai Image: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty]

Continue reading Hyundai launches Assurance Trade-in Value Guarantee

Hyundai launches Assurance Trade-in Value Guarantee

The 2012 Mazda3 has officially made its debut at the 2011 New York Auto Show, and it’s brought along the first production use of the long-awaited SkyActiv fuel-efficiency tweaks. That means the newest Mazda3 is good for a whopping 40 miles per gallon on the highway thanks to the addition of a new SkyActiv-G four-cylinder engine mated to either a new six-speed automatic or manual transmission.

Previously, the Mazda3 has only been good for up to 33 mpg in its most efficient form, but the new drivetrain advancements will go a long way toward making the model more competitive against ever sharper metal from Ford, Chevrolet, Hyundai and Honda. Mazda says that the new 2.0-liter, direct-injection four-cylinder is good for 155 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque, which offers modest increases over the old, non-DI 2.0-liter mill.

That old lump will still be around as standard equipment on the sedan, though don’t expect to see it on the Mazda3 hatch. Instead, the long-roof will still benefit from the larger 2.5-liter four-cylinder found in the last-gen vehicle.

In addition to the newly-efficient drivetrain, the 2012 Mazda3 also wears a suitably updated exterior. Buyers can look forward to redesigned headlights and an adjusted front fascia with a slightly different grille that tones down the exuberance of the car’s trademark grin. Likewise, the rears of both the sedan and hatch have received a subtle warming-over. Follow the jump to hear it from Mazda’s own mouth.

[Source: Mazda]

Continue reading 2012 Mazda3 with new SkyActiv engine gets 40 mpg, updated exterior

2012 Mazda3 with new SkyActiv engine gets 40 mpg, updated exterior

Nissan Leaf Nismo RC concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Countless auto industry pundits have suggested that there would be no better way to accelerate the development of EV technologies than for someone with the wherewithal to organize a racing series just for electric cars.

Nissan appears to agree with that strategy, having just unveiled its Leaf Nismo RC (Racing Competition) concept here at the New York Auto Show. The juiced-up hatchback has lost a couple of doors and nearly four inches out of its wheelbase in the transition to competition spec, but it’s a whopping 6.7-inches wider and nearly an inch longer – proportions that are exaggerated by its minimal ground clearance of 2.4 inches. With its carbon fiber body shot in special white paint, the Nismo RC ends up looking a bit like a really, really angry vacuum cleaner, and that’s just fine by us. All-in, Nissan says the motorsports special weighs just 2,068 pounds – around 40 percent lighter than your garden-variety Leaf.

The Nismo RC rolls up to the starting line packing 107 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque, and its lithium-ion pack can reach an 80 percent charge state in just 30 minutes. Still, if the Leaf is ever to be raced, we’re thinking that some sort of swappable battery solution will have to be developed; otherwise pit stops are going to be rather leisurely.

Despite its menacing appearance and real racecar engineering, Nissan says its top speed is just 93 mph and its battery would likely only last about 20 minutes in competition. In other words, while this is a promising start, we don’t see the Nismo RC spawning its own race series just yet.

High-res galleries below, official press release after the jump.

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

Continue reading New York 2011: Nissan’s Leaf Nismo RC ready to jolt motorsports world?

New York 2011: Nissan’s Leaf Nismo RC ready to jolt motorsports world?

Another auto show, another version of Toyota and Subaru’s joint partnership rear-wheel-drive sports car. We saw Toyota’s FT-86 II concept in Geneva earlier this year, along with the chassis for Subaru’s version of the car. Now here in New York, Scion has taken the wraps off of its FR-S, a sexy little number that rides on this same platform.

FR-S, which stands for “front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sport,” (or “friggin’ really sweet,” according to Jack Hollis, Scion’s vice president) is the automaker’s homage to the infamous AE-86 Corolla – a car that was highly praised for its lightweight body and superb balance without having to churn out a ton of power. Under the hood is a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter Boxer flat-four mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The FT-S rides on sharp 20-inch wheels, hiding an absolutely monstrous set of 18-inch carbon ceramic brake rotors that are fixed to the wheels like a motorcycle. Don’t count on those making production…

Hollis says that the FR-S’ design is inspired by the legendary Toyota 2000GT, and we can even see a bit of Lexus LF-A in the angular shapes that blend with sleek curves. This is one hot concept, and we’re told that it previews a new addition to the Scion family coming in 2012. (Yeah, we know.)

Enough with the drooling. Just give us the production car.

See the sexy FR-S for yourself in our high-res image gallery below, and hit the jump for Scion’s official press release.

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Scion]

Continue reading New York 2011: Scion FR-S Concept is “friggin’ really sweet”

New York 2011: Scion FR-S Concept is “friggin’ really sweet”

Revealed “simultaneously” as the new Tiida in Shanghai, the 2012 Nissan Versa drove onto the stage here at the 2011 New York Auto Show spouting some impressive numbers: 33 miles per gallon (combined, and 30 city/37 highway) for the low, low price of $10,990. Sure, 33 ain’t nothing compared to a Toyota Prius, but you could buy two Versas for the price of a Prius, and $10k buys a lot of gas at 33 mpg.

This is exactly the kind of thinking that Nissan wants car buyers to do, and the company is encouraging this train of thought by branding the Versa with its Pure Drive efficiency label – first applied to cars in Europe in 2008. The 2012 Versa, sporting a 1.6-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine and weighing 150 fewer pounds than the previous generation model, will be the first Pure Drive vehicle in the U.S. Speaking at the show, Nissan’s executive vice-president of the America, Carlos Tavares, said that this “is a real car, complete with air conditioning, vehicle dynamic control, CD/radio with aux in, electric-assisted steering and 15-inch wheels and tires.” You want more features, like satellite radio or “Fine Vision instrumentation?” They’re available of course, but they’ll cost you a bit more.

Tavares said the Versa is already the best selling car in it’s segment, and we can see Nissan selling quite a few of these if the numbers talked about today bear themselves out on the road. Check out the details in our gallery below and read plenty more in the press release after the jump.

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading New York 2011: 2012 Nissan Versa offers 33 mpg for $10,990

New York 2011: 2012 Nissan Versa offers 33 mpg for $10,990

It says something about the breakneck pace of America’s mid-size sedan segment that the departing Chevrolet Malibu was beginning to feel long in the tooth. Introduced for the 2008 model year to great fanfare and critical praise, General Motors‘ family four-door has seen its appeal dinged by new entries from companies like Kia, Hyundai and Volkswagen, along with massively updated models from companies like Ford (not to mention perennial favorites from Honda and Toyota).

Despite its evolutionary styling, this is more than a simple refresh of the current Epsilon-based car, the Malibu that debuted today at the 2011 New York Auto Show actually gains some revised proportions for its eighth generation thanks to its migration to GM’s Epsilon II platform. Shorter overall, the new Malibu nevertheless boasts increased trunk space and a number of enhanced interior metrics thanks to increased width, though sitting inside, we found rear-seat headroom to be tighter than we remembered. Part of the reasoning why Chevy has chosen to go with a shorter overall length is to increase the car’s global appeal – the Malibu will be sold in over 100 world markets (and in many of them, bigger is not always better).

Powered at launch by a 2.5-liter Ecotec four-cylinder paired with a six-speed automatic, the powertrain will produce 190 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. A forced-induction four-cylinder is expected at a later date, but the Malibu is likely to follow Hyundai-Kia’s lead in eschewing six-cylinder power altogether.

Thus far, Chevy isn’t releasing fuel economy figures, but it claims the 2013 Malibu is the most aerodynamic car in its segment (helped, no doubt, by drag-reducing active shutters up front), along with being the quietest. Officials have told us that they believe the car will return fuel economy above 30 miles per gallon.

Chevrolet surprised attendees at its press conference today by also rolling out the Malibu ECO, an eAssist-equipped high efficiency model that’s expected to earn fuel economy ratings of 26 mpg city and a lofty 38 mpg highway. Powered by a 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder and aided by the aforementioned eAssist mild hybrid system and special aerodynamic tweaks, GM says the Malibu ECO can go up to 550 miles between fill ups, delivering fuel economy figures that would make some hybrid family sedans envious.

Follow the jump for the official word from Chevrolet on the new 2013 Malibu models, and check out our galleries below.

Continue reading New York 2011: Chevrolet debuts 2013 Malibu, surprises with 38-mpg ECO model

New York 2011: Chevrolet debuts 2013 Malibu, surprises with 38-mpg ECO model

Mercedes-Benz is showing off its Concept A-Class in both New York and Shanghai. Now comes word that the baby Benz is officially earmarked for sale in the United States. The crew from Car and Driver cornered the German automaker’s higher-ups and got the good news. No word yet on a timetable for the arrival of the production version, however we do know that Mercedes is working on additional bodystyles.

While we certainly won’t get all of the dramatic styling touches of the Concept A-Class, the version for the masses will take cues from the aggressive front-end. After the initial launch, Mercedes-Benz will bring us a five-door hatchback and a shapely-sedan modeled in the CLS vein.

Live photos copyright (C)2011 Chris Paukert / AOL

[Source: Car and Driver]

Report: Mercedes-Benz A-Class confirmed for U.S.