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The eagle-eyed among you may have spotted something suspicious lurking on the Chevrolet Code 130R and and Tru 140S concepts, both of which debuted here today at the Detroit Auto Show. Each concept prominently features the legendary Chevrolet Corvette cross flag emblem, or at least appears to at first glance.

The Tru 140S wears the badges in question on the center caps of all four wheels while the Code 130R proudly displays them as integrated turn signals on the front fenders. According to Nicholas David, a senior exterior designer with General Motors and the man behind the Tru 140S, the cross flag emblems identify both concepts as members of a new “passion portfolio” within Chevrolet.

Once upon a time, the cross flags found themselves on a number of sport-oriented Chevrolet vehicles from the Corvair to the Corvette. As the years progressed, the badges fell off of every model but the Corvette. Now, David says GM wants to expand its family of sports cars, and each new member will feature the cross flags. With SS and RS models lining showrooms, GM isn’t exactly short on sports branding as it is. Fortunately, the cross flags likely won’t detail a separate trim so much as a family of vehicles.

It’s worth noting that while the emblems on the two concept twins are remarkably similar to the cross flags of the Chevrolet Corvette, they aren’t identical. The Corvette relies on a curled flag with a gold Bow Tie and a flur de lis on a red field, while the Code 130R and Tru 140S make due with just the Bow Tie.

Why do the Chevrolet coupe concepts have Corvette cross-flag emblems?

Those of us on this side of the pond in the market for a luxury crossover should be familiar with the gargantuan Audi Q7 and its little brother, the Q5. Overseas the German automaker also offers an even more compact Q3. Today on the floor of the Detroit Auto Show, Audi announced it will be bringing the Q3 to the North American market, and this is the show car with which they broke the news.

Called the Q3 Vail, what we have here is a concept version of the overseas-market crossover with some added off-road trim. Named for the Colorado ski resort, the Q3 Vail has lower body cladding similar to the treatment on Audi’s Allroad wagons, in matte grey to contrast with the glossy red paint job. The theme is further accented by aluminum underbody guard plates and extra lighting, with 20-inch wheels to round out the package. The red, black and grey color theme carries into the cabin, and there’s a 314-horsepower, 2.5-liter turbo five-cylinder powering all four wheels through a seven-speed automatic for an impressive 5.5-second sprint to 62 mph.

There’s more to digest in the press release after the jump, and both stock and live images in the dual galleries. But what interested customers need to know now is that Audi is targeting a U.S. market launch for the existing production Q3,which will continue to be built by Seat in Spain, sometime next year.

Continue reading Audi lifts veil on Q3 Vail concept, confirms production Q3 for North America

Audi lifts veil on Q3 Vail concept, confirms production Q3 for North America

The crowd here at the Detroit Auto Show may be oohing and aahing over the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart, but something else caught our eye at the Chrysler display here inside Cobo Hall. The swoopy minivan you see above is the Chrysler 700C Concept, a vehicle that we hadn’t heard a peep about until we spent a few minutes talking with Rick Deneau from Chrysler Brand Communications.

Deneau told us that, in essence, the 700C is simply a design study of what the future of the Chrysler minivan could look like, and that its presence here in Detroit is simply to gauge interest from not only the media, but consumers and the general public. It’s a three-row vehicle, styled here at Chrysler’s headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and truth be told, that’s really all there is to say.

It’s a futuristic look for a minivan, and significantly more swoopy than the decidedly boxy Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan twins that currently roam the streets. The backward-sloping sheetmetal that disguises the B-pillar is interesting, as are the rear taillamps that extend upward onto the rear wheel well arches. Even so, many of the Autoblog staffers have mentioned that, while forward-thinking, this concept looks like it could have been designed ages ago. We can even see a bit of last-generation Nissan Quest in the rear three-quarter and side profile, too.

Check out the 700C Concept for yourself in our attached high-res image gallery, and give us your take on the minivan design study in the comments.

Chrysler 700C concept minivan quietly rolls into Detroit

As any Acura diehard would be quick to tell you, a revival of the iconic NSX is long overdue. In true Honda fashion, the automaker decided that, if it was going to go to the trouble of producing a legitimate sportscar, it was going to take on the very best in the industry. Suffice it to say, the NSX delivered the goods.

We now have a new concept to drool over. While the last conceptual sportscar Acura showed off left NSX purists with a sour taste in their mouths – a V10 engine mounted up front was a far cry from the lightweight and high-revving mid-engine V6 of the original – we have a strong feeling that nobody is going to turn their noses up at this new NSX Concept.

Like its forebear, this latest take on the NSX promises to shed excess weight through the use of a high-tech platform made from the latest lightweight materials. Power, as with the original, will come from a V6 mounted behind the two occupants that sends its power to the rear wheels; except this time, it will be augmented by an electric motor.

Acura’s latest SH-AWD incorporates one electric motor in a dual-clutch transmission, forming a hybrid setup. Additionally, two more motors can instantly send negative or positive torque to the front wheels during cornering for improved handling and efficiency, and the whole package can be tailored via software. Acura says the new all-wheel-drive system will provide “supercar acceleration while offering outstanding efficiency.”

We’re not so sure environmentalists are ready to accept the notion of an eco-friendly supercar, but it’s clear Acura’s parents at Honda are keen to keep emissions and fuel usage in check. “In this new era, even as we focus on the fun to drive spirit of the NSX, I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities,” says Takanobu Ito, president and CEO of Honda Motor Co.

Acura isn’t saying how much horsepower its V6 engine and three electric motors will amount to, but we’re not expecting outlandish figures. The automaker says it’s aiming for an “extremely favorable power-to-weight ratio.” We like the sound of that, and hope the production version, which is expected within the next three years, delivers on this laudable promise. Check out the complete press release after the break.

Continue reading Acura NSX Concept portends an efficient hybrid supercar

Acura NSX Concept portends an efficient hybrid supercar

It’s no secret that Acura has had a rough couple of years. After an extremely successful launch in the late 1980s, Honda’s luxury marque truly hit high gear in the mid 2000s with such successful models as the TL sedan and MDX crossover. And then things went south with a fury that sent the automaker reeling into regroup mode.

The brand’s stumbling blocks were many and diverse – from the styling of the redesigned 2009 TL and TSX, which we’ll charitably describe as divisive, to the scrapped plans for a V8-powered rear-wheel-drive RL replacement – but the net result was a precipitous drop in sales. Clearly, a new strategy was in order.

Enter the upcoming ILX sedan. While Acura isn’t calling its new compact luxury sedan a replacement for the TSX, we’re inclined to think the automaker doesn’t need four sedans, and the TSX is within spitting distance size-wise to its higher-priced sibling. Don’t be fooled by the ‘concept’ label, either – the ILX will be coming to a showroom near you in the spring of 2012 almost exactly as you see it here.

As you can see, the ILX is a mix of bold creases and flat surfaces, and it’s what we’d consider a much-toned-down version of Acura’s previous styling direction. Let’s all be thankful of that. There’s a shield-shaped grille up front, but it’s not nearly as prominently displayed as on models like the TL and TSX, instead blending in more seamlessly with the rest of the car’s overall design. Also note the boldly upswept character line highlighting the rear doors and quarters.

Three powertrain options will be available: a base 2.0-liter four cylinder mated to an automatic gearbox, a 2.4-liter four with an exclusive six-speed manual transmission and, finally, Acura’s first hybrid drivetrain, which will be very similar to the one seen in the Honda Civic Hybrid. Expect a 1.5-liter engine with Honda’s well-known IMA electric motor assist and a CVT transmission.

The Acura ILX is based on the same platform that underpins the Honda Civic, but, having seen the ILX sedan in person, we can tell you it doesn’t share any styling features with Honda’s compact. And that is a very good thing, as Acura needs its ILX to be seen as a premium product. To that end, there will be a number of high-tech options inside, including a Technology Package, Pandora internet radio and integrated text messaging functionality.

We’ll have live photos of the new ILX Concept shortly, but in the meantime, be sure to check these stock photos released by Acura, along with the press release that’s pasted after the break.

Continue reading Acura ILX Concept ushers in era of entry-level luxury

Acura ILX Concept ushers in era of entry-level luxury

The Smart team looked to none other than actor/comedian/SNL-alum Jon Lovitz to introduce its pickup truck concept. We’re not sure what is stranger: the other J-Lo at an auto show press conference or a Smart with usable bed space.

The Smart For-Us concept features a 75-horsepower electric motor that twists up 98 pound-feet of torque. The battery is a 17.6 kW/h lithium ion battery pack, which is more juice than a Chevrolet Volt. Smart promises zero to 60 times in the range of five seconds and an 80 mph top speed, which isn’t bad for a green machine with a bed. Smart claims that the battery pack can go from 20 percent charged to 80 percent in 3.5 hours, while a full juicing takes place in eight hours.

The For-Us boasts a smallish but undoubtedly handy 11.6 cubic feet of space. Smart no doubt isn’t interested in going toe-to-toe with the likes of the F-150 and the Silverado, but it’s still difficult to see such a concept model ever making its way to production.

Hit the jump to read over the press release, and feel free to peruse the live high resolution pics from the Detroit Auto Show floor.

Continue reading Smart For-Us brings truckness to the urban jungle

Smart For-Us brings truckness to the urban jungle

Don’t call it a Ragster. Though it shares its basic body shape with the slammed New Beetle that debuted at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show, the Volkswagen E-Bugster is a completely new concept that’s based on the latest version of VW’s iconic Beetle. And it’s electric.

That electric motor puts out 114-horsepower (85 kW) and 199 pound-feet of torque, which out to be plenty to get this squashed Bug down the road with a quickness. Range is listed at about 100 miles, courtesy of a 695-pound lithium ion battery pack that resides both under the rear seats and trunk floor. A charging port is located under the VW logo at the car’s nose, and, depending on the charger being used, an 80-percent charge can happen in just 30 minutes.

The electric drivetrain is only half of the story. The E-Bugster’s most distinctive styling element is no doubt its chopped roof, which, when combined with the wide, flat windshield, makes the E-Bugster look like a 2012 Beetle that’s seen a California-based plastic surgeon customizing shop. Also take not of the 20-inch wheels, which remind us a bit of the Fuchs wheels seen on many retro Beetles all around the country.

But you don’t have to take our word for it. Check out our high-res image gallery of live photos from Detroit, and then watch a video that shows the E-Bugster topless after the break.

Continue reading Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept electric slides into Detroit [w/video]

Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept electric slides into Detroit [w/video]

The Lexus LF-LC concept has been leaking on the Internet longer than most Detroit-bound reveals, but that doesn’t make the 2+2 coupe any less stunning. The concept clearly shows the design progression that started with the CT 200h and made real strides with the 2013 GS.

The hot-looking coupe was penned by Lexus’ Calty design studio in Newport Beach, California. It comes as no surprise to us that this rolling design study also packs hybrid power, but Lexus claims that the sleek sports car will also deliver cutting-edge driving dynamics.

Continue reading LF-LC concept proves Lexus can do sexy sports coupes

LF-LC concept proves Lexus can do sexy sports coupes

We got our first look at the Chevrolet Sonic RS in the flesh today, unveiled alongside two Chevy concepts – the Tru 140S Concept and Code 130R Concept – at the 2012 Detroit auto show. As much as we’ve liked the Sonic, this version looks to hit the enthusiast bull’s-eye.

While GM didn’t offer any more details about the car than what we already knew, we did get to see the upgraded interior, and it looks great. The special RS sport seats, thicker sport steering wheel, aluminum pedals and the MyLink infotainment system give this version of the Sonic a distinct personality, and we’re hoping the four-wheel discs, stiffer suspension and retuned (read: louder) exhaust seal the deal.

The Sonic RS also wears a slightly different front fascia with a new grille and fog lamps, but the change in appearance isn’t all that drastic, as the base Sonic is already pretty aggressive. Other exterior kit that’s exclusive to the RS includes a new spoiler and rocker moldings, a chrome exhaust tip, and a new five-spoke wheel design (though the wheels are still 17-inchers).

While there’s no power upgrade in the RS, we’ve found that the 1.4-liter, 138-horsepower turbo makes for a lot of fun when paired with the six-speed manual. An automatic will also be available, and Chevy says both transmissions will have different gearing in the RS, which should turn the fun dial up another notch.

Of course there’s always the possibility that Chevy could really turn up the wick, drop a turbo 2.0-liter Ecotec under the hood and slap an SS badge on the hatch. Maybe at next year’s Detroit show. Click past the jump to read the full release.

Continue reading 2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS is the hot hatch enthusiasts have been waiting for

2013 Chevrolet Sonic RS is the hot hatch enthusiasts have been waiting for

General Motors has just unveiled the Tru 140S Concept at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, the second of it’s youth-oriented concepts. Spiritual sibling to the Code 130S Concept, the Tru 140S is designed to bring exotic styling to the compact segment. Based on the bones of the Chevrolet Cruze, the vehicle comes equipped with the same 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, though with a bit more power. The vehicle puts 150 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels via either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Like the Cruze, GM says a production version of the Tru 140S Concept could be capable of up to 40 mpg highway.

Like it’s rear-wheeldrive twin, the Tru 140S Concept would carry an MSRP of around $25,000 were it to go into production. And how likely is that to happen? GM has made it clear it intends to offer a more stylish, evocative compact vehicle in the near future. Given the fact that the Tru 140S rides on the Cruze platform, there’s a good chance we may see something like it roll out of GM in a few years. Consider our fingers crossed. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Chevrolet Tru 140S Concept is the meaner Cruze

Chevrolet Tru 140S Concept is the meaner Cruze

General Motors would like to lure in younger buyers with a new small car that boasts more evocative styling. To that end, the company unveiled two new concepts at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show that may hint at things to come from Chevrolet. This is the first called the Chevrolet Code 130R Concept, which boasts a traditional coupe profile and seating for four. Subtle fender flares and an upright fascia help give the vehicle an aggressive, masculine presence, though GM says a production version could boast up to 40 miles per gallon.

Under the hood of the Code 130R, a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine delivers 150 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque, and an eAssist system lends an electric hand when needed. The Code 130R also boasts either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. With a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, the Code 130R would offer buyers an engaging drive and design in an economical and affordable package, if it were ever built.

While purely a concept at this stage, GM says a production version would likely carry a price tag of around $25,000. That would put the sports car in perfect fighting range with the likes of the Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S should the Code 130R Concept ever make it to the factory floor. Hit the jump for the press release and check out our galleries of live and official photos.

Continue reading Chevrolet Code 130R Concept is a rear-wheel-drive dream

Chevrolet Code 130R Concept is a rear-wheel-drive dream

When the original Ford Fusion Hybrid debuted in 2009 as a 2010 model, it was rated at 41 miles per gallon in the city, making it the most fuel-efficient mid-size sedan in North America. Ford aims to re-capture that same magic with the 2013 Fusion Hybrid, which makes its debut today at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Final EPA numbers have not been released just yet, but Ford’s preliminary data suggests that the 2013 Fusion Hybrid will be capable of achieving 47 mpg in the city, along with an immensely respectable 44 mpg highway. That’s better than the mid-size hybrid offerings from Hyundai, Kia and Toyota. Power comes from a new 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, rated at 180 horsepower and 130 pound-feet of torque in this application. Power is sent to the front wheels via an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission.

But that’s just half of the Fusion Hybrid story. It’s easily one of the prettiest cars in the class, combining elements of the Ford Evos concept along with design cues that look like they were swiped from the Aston Martin team (it’s all in that fascia). Click through our attached high-res image gallery above to see a new batch of Fusion Hybrid photos live from the Detroit Auto Show floor.

Continue reading 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid packs 47 mpg, dashing good looks

2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid packs 47 mpg, dashing good looks

There’s been no lack of dubious claims for us to raise our eyebrows at over the years, whether it’s about some fantastical car reaching the market on schedule and on budget, the veracity of a concept car’s space-age powertrain, or reports of a blogger actually stepping outside and into the sunlight. But this one, like all glorious claims of the past – may their memory bring honor to their country for a thousand years to come – takes the proverbial cake.

In an ongoing and largely futile effort to show their recently and rapidly promoted supreme leader as the experienced governor and all-around superhuman mastermind the rest of the world doubts he is, the so-called Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is painting one heck of a picture of Kim Jong Eun. According to North Korea, the scion of the late dictator Kim Jong Il was already driving a car at age 3. Impressive, but what’s more is that he could apparently speed down a dirt road – rally-style – at speeds up to 75 mph by age 8.

It may be too early to tell if Eun has achieved anything of consequence in between having mastered driving while still in diapers and assuming control of a totalitarian nuclear power, but we can tell you this won’t be the last dubious claim that we’ll hear from his office in the near future.

North Korea claims Kim Jong Eun mastered driving at age 3

Compared to most SUVs-turned-mommy-mobiles, the Nissan Pathfinder has had an odd 27-year existence. Like all ‘utes, it’s first iteration was built on a truck platform, which was then followed by a unibody second generation. But unlike the rest of the pack, the third-gen Pathfinder swapped back to a body-on-frame architecture and it’s stayed that way for the last seven years.

Now the Pathfinder is swapping its underpinnings, yet again, utilizing a unibody platform that weighs “substantially less than the previous design,” houses seven seats, a new V6 and a CVT, all of which adds up to a claimed 25-percent improvement in fuel economy.

But even with all that information, Nissan is still calling this a “concept.”

Before it goes on sale later this year, we’ll get a real glimpse of the interior, which Nissan says will have more interior and cargo capacity thanks to its new platform. The outside, on the other hand, is almost a dead-ringer for the production version, with an aero-honed nose that’s much more handsome than some of Nissan’s recent snouts, along with a low beltline, a sizable greenhouse and A- and D-pillars that should lessen the blindspots that plagued the outgoing model.

We’ll have more from the floor momentarily, but until then, get the full details in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading 2012 Nissan Pathfinder Concept goes back to unibody

2012 Nissan Pathfinder Concept goes back to unibody

Before we go any further, let’s just acknowledge the obvious: The Nissan e-NV200 Concept has a face only its mother could love. As far as styling goes, what we see is basically the Japanese automaker’s NV200 with the fascia of the electric Leaf grafted on up front. To top it all off, the e-NV200 is painted in the Leaf’s familiar shade of Aqua Blue.

Inside, the e-NV200 features two foldable rows of seating for passengers. The driver is treated to a unique instrument cluster that Nissan calls a flat C-cluster display. There are also some so-called EV Meters, which we assume must bean battery gauges and telematics.

Moving past its unfortunate exterior aesthetics, we see plenty of good in the electric van’s conceptual design. Nissan says that the e-NV200’s laminated 24 kWh lithium-ion battery will provide similar range as the Leaf. That means an estimate of between 47 and 105 miles. Like the Leaf, the e-NV200 is powered by an 80kW electric motor that’s rated at 207 pound-feet of torque.

Because it’s based on the NV200, there’s plenty of room inside for passengers, cargo or both. Nissan figures its electric van would be suitable for both commercial and passenger use in large metropolitan areas. The fact that Nissan’s small van is also slated for taxi use in New York offers one potential usage scenario. Under that kind of scenario, the fact that it doesn’t burn gasoline could turn into significant cost savings.

Though the e-NV200 is being shown in concept form at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, Nissan is calling the electric van a potential mass-production vehicle. Check out all the images in our high-res gallery above, and be sure to click past the break for a video and the official press release.

Continue reading Nissan e-NV200 Concept makes up for its looks with utility [w/video]

Nissan e-NV200 Concept makes up for its looks with utility [w/video]

Your eyes do not deceive you – the sleek, pretty, low-slung sedan you see above is indeed the 2013 Ford Fusion. But don’t think that the 2013 Fusion is all beauty and no brains. Ford is preparing the new Fusion, as well as its Hybrid and Energi fuel-mizing siblings, to be the most fuel-efficient, best-driving, tech-packed range of sedans in the mid-size segment.

Thanks to vehicles like the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima, we’ve seen that mid-size sedans don’t necessarily have to be conservatively styled three-box appliances, and this new Fusion is certainly a looker. Combining elements of the Ford Evos concept, not to mention a front fascia that’s decidedly Aston Martin-esque in approach, the Fusion has a wide, flat stance with strong character lines down the side that wrap around to a sleek rear end. Clearly the design builds upon the Kinetic language of the European Mondeo rather than the Fusion we’ve lived with in North America since 2010.

The standard Fusion – available in S, SE and Titanium trims – will be available with three engines. The base mill is a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-four with 170 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque, mated solely to a six-speed automatic transmission. We’re sure it’s a fine powerplant, but our interest is more settled on the next two: a 1.6-liter EcoBoost four with 179 hp and 172 lb-ft, and the range-topping 2.0-liter EcoBoost four with 237 hp and 250 lb-ft. Both engines can be had with the same six-speed automatic, though the smaller 1.6-liter engine can be mated to a six-speed manual box. Front-wheel drive is standard across the board, but top-of-the-line Fusions with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine can be had with all-wheel drive.

Ford is ditching a V6 for an all-four-cylinder lineup.

Like many other automakers, Ford is ditching a V6 for an all-four-cylinder lineup. That’s par for the course these days, and with the Fusion weighing in at just over 3,300 pounds (loaded, AWD Fusions will likely weigh as much as 3,600 pounds), fuel economy is expected to be the best in the class. Ford hasn’t released complete – or official – economy numbers, but Fusions equipped with the 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine (complete with start/stop technology) are expected to achieve 26/37 miles per gallon city/highway, while front-wheel-drive, 2.0-liter-equipped cars should net around 23/33 mpg.

But if fuel economy is your thing, Ford has two even more efficient examples of the 2013 Fusion. Their names? Hybrid and Energi.

Continue reading 2013 Ford Fusion debuts along with 47-MPG Fusion Hybrid, 100-MPGe Fusion Energi

2013 Ford Fusion debuts along with 47-MPG Fusion Hybrid, 100-MPGe Fusion Energi

The Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept is not so much an exercise in adding even more edge to the redesigned Beetle and its more masculine retro look. Nope, it’s more about what an all-electric Beetle would be like were VW to build one. The three-inch chopped roof and 20-inch wheels are just eye candy to get us to pay attention.

What’s really going on here is VW applying its Blue-e-motion electric drive unit to a sexier shape ahead of its production debut in the decidedly more plebeian Golf. In this application, VW has fitted the E-Bugster Concept with an electric motor and 695-pound lithium-ion battery fitted under the rear seat and trunk floor. Combined, they’ll be good for a 100-mile driving range, according to VW, and accept all kinds of charges, including a Level 3 quick charger that can get the pack back up to 80 percent in 30 minutes. The motor produces 114-horsepower (85 kW) and 199 pound-feet of scoot.

Besides the chopped top and big wheels, the E-Bugster also gets slightly reworked front and rear fascias that feature the trademark LED daytime running lights that VW uses on all of its EV projects. The only change on the inside of the car is a new instrument cluster with an “energy consumption display” where the tachometer would be and additional gauges for the battery charge, range indicator and braking regen.

This also isn’t even the first time that the Beetle has received the speedster treatment, with Volkswagen having shown the similar-looking Ragster concept at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show. We’d gladly welcome such a Beetle were VW to give it the green light, but expect the electrified drivetrain to reach dealerships before the chopped roof.

Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept gives sexier shape to upcoming electric drivetrain

Embargo breaks are par for the course with big auto shows, and this year’s Detroit Auto Show is no different. The 2013 Ford Fusion appears to be big target this time around, with this being our second early look at the Blue Oval’s redesigned mid-size sedan. These two images from Czech website Auto Forum, while a bit pixelated, reveal much more than the shot we showed you earlier that escaped Ford’s clutches courtesy of a bug in the Fusion iPad app.

Here the influence of the Ford Evos concept that debuted last August at the Frankfurt Motor Show is plainly evident. From the hexagonal grille to the headlights, fog lamps and lower air inlet, all of the Evos’ front fascia elements are there and arranged in a very similar fashion.

Unfortunately, we can’t say much more about the 2013 Ford Fusion until the actual embargo lifts at 12:01 AM EST tonight, but you can talk about it all you want in the comments. Just make sure to come back here at midnight for the full story.

2013 Ford Fusion leaks onto web… again

Borrowing a page from the launch of the Ford Explorer, Nissan will unveil its latest Pathfinder concept via Facebook instead of holding a traditional press conference. Unlike Ford, however, Nissan won’t completely keep attendees of a major auto show in the dark.

Nissan plans to fully introduce the car on Facebook at 8:30AM Eastern on Monday morning, while CEO Carlos Ghosn simultaneously conducts live interviews from the show stand during the first day of the Detroit Auto Show.

“Since we can’t bring everyone to Detroit to see the show themselves, this is a unique way to offer special access to Nissan,” said Nissan spokesperson Josh Clifton.

The Pathfinder concept is a seven-seater that the company says will haul through the muck with four-wheel drive when it goes on sale this fall. When details emerge, we expect to learn that the Pathfinder, which has been limited in recent years to a kind of hardcore cult following, has morphed from the current Titan-based body-on-frame chassis to a crossover-style unibody platform shared with the Nissan Murano.

Nissan plans to post new Pathfinder content to its 467,332 Facebook fans every two hours throughout the day. Already it’s released one image and a pair of videos teasing the vehicle’s new design.

In the summer of 2010, Ford took what was considered a big gamble and unveiled its 2011 Explorer exclusively on the social network. Now the social-media strategy is becoming a standard part of any marketing campaign.

2013 Nissan Pathfinder debut to be very social

We’ve still got a few days between us and the reveal of the 2013 Ford Fusion, but a minor bug in its iPad teaser app has given us an early glimpse of the all-new sedan.

As we showed you before, Ford enlisted the help of an interactive iPad app to count down the days until the Fusion’s reveal. But today, an error with the app gave us a nice front-three-quarter view of Ford’s new Camry-fighter, which has since been removed.

We’re digging the low-slung stance, blacked-out Day Light Opening (greenhouse) and pixel-perfect wheel size, but it’s the fascia that’s easily the most handsome, combining elements of recent Ford concepts and polishing them up for production duty (along with a fair bit of Aston Martin in that grille). We’ll be seeing much more in another three days, so stay tuned…

This is the 2013 Ford Fusion