Next gen Honda Civic might get GX version running on natural gas
Honda is taking its time with the next generation Civic, as the troubled economy is still impacting the spending power of regular Americans.
In order to bank on those that want to try alternative fuels, but aren’t willing to spend more on hybrids like the Insight, Honda is reportedly preparing a new Civic GX version, which will run on natural gas.
According to a new report, the 2012 Honda Civic GX will pack an extra cost, and might also force its customers to install a home refueling station, but it will attract those that don’t want their cars running on conventional fossil fuels.
According to Honda, the next Civic GX will also get a variety of high end options, including navigation and a premium audio system, in order to satisfy customers that are willing to pay a lot extra in order to have a well equipped car.
Seeing as how more and more people are willing to swap out fossil fuels in exchange for something a bit more green, Honda might be onto something with the 2012 Civic GX. What do you think? Is natural gas a worthy alternative? Share your thoughts below.
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Post tags: Tags: 2012 honda civic, cng, Honda, honda civic gx, honda-civic, natural gas
Black Suzuki SX4 SZ-L edition revealed for the UK
It seems that Suzuki UK really wants to appeal to the urban public, especially the younger demographic, and decided to release a special edition of its SX4 hatchback.
The Suzuki SX4 SZ-L, as you can see above, sports a black paint job (because that’s what young people like, right?) with gunmetal gray on specific things like the roof rails, wheels or grille. On the inside, Alcantara has been added, while contrast stitching is present on the leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Sadly, the SZ-L doesn’t really pack any upgrades in terms of mechanics. It is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, which is mated to the five-speed manual gearbox. All of its power goes to the front wheels.
No word yet on if the SZ-L will be making its way onto US shores, but in the UK it will start at £13,145 ($20,533).
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Post tags: Tags: black, special-edition, Suzuki, suzuki sx4, suzuki sx4 sz-l, uk
2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS gets ready for its Paris debut (video included)
It seems that a lot of people can’t seem to choose between a regular 911 Carrera S or a more hardcore 911 GT3.
As such, the 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS has been officially revealed by the German company ahead of its upcoming debut at the Paris Motor Show.
As you can expect, its performance and power figures fill the space between the Carrera S and the GT3. It has a 3.8-liter flat-six engine, capable of 408 HP and 310 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to a manual transmission that sends power to the rear wheels.
The car has the wider body of the all-wheel drive Carrera 4, and SportDesign front and rear fascias, not to mention the 19-inch RS Spyder wheels. The interior has also been wrapped with Alcantara and a few new features. It can also be had with all of the accessories currently available in the Porsche catalog.
The 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS will be available in coupe and convertible forms, starting at $103,100 and $112,900, respectively. If you want to see the new Porsche in action, hit the jump for an official video.
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Post tags: Tags: 2011 porsche 911 carrera gts, details, paris motor show, Porsche, porsche 911, porsche 911 carrera gts, sportscar, Video
Chrysler held a special dealer meeting behind closed doors a few days ago, where it revealed a lot of new models and refreshed existing ones. We’ve already seen the 2011 Town & Country, the 2011 Jeep Patriot as well as been teased with the promise of a 2011 Chrysler 200 sedan that will wipe the Sebring from existence.
But according to an inside sources, cited by the Wall Street Journal, dealers were also showcased one very special model, the 2012 Dodge Viper.
As you all know, the existing supercar has been axed from production, and will return at the end of next year as an all-new model.
According to the WSJ report, the car shown was a radical departure from the current Viper design, going for a more upmarket look. It will retain some of its flamboyance, as it was reportedly painted in 25 layers of red to make it stand out.
Other specific details aren’t known just yet, but expect it to retain the formula that made its predecessor such a huge success.
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Post tags: Tags: 2012 dodge viper, Chrysler, details, dodge-viper, next generation, supercar
Last week, the Mini Countryman WRC rally-spec prototype was officially revealed to the public, albeit fitted with the swirly camouflage, on the private test track of rally team Prodrive.
Now, a new video depicting the Countryman WRC in action has been revealed.
The footage showcases the Mini crossover taking on the tough gravel roads of Portugal in a very speedy manner. Don’t forget, though, that this is just a prototype, and the final version will be revealed in spring of 2011. Until then, check out the video after the jump.
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Post tags: Tags: crossover, Mini, mini countryman, mini countryman wrc, prodrive, rally, testing, Video, wrc
Say what you will about BMW, but the German company really knows how to promote its models through new and interesting ways.
With the upcoming BMW M3 Tiger Edition, limited to China, the company took things in a rather peculiar direction, and released a new short film, depicting the car’s upcoming launch on Asian soil.
For those who forgot, the M3 Tiger will boast a special Fire Orange Metallic paint job and have tiger heads embroidered onto the seats.
We’ve already seen some rather interesting promotional images but this new video really takes the cake. Check it out after the jump.
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Post tags: Tags: BMW, bmw m3 tiger, bmw-m3, marketing, Video
A few months ago, Hyundai revealed that for the 2011 model year, its Genesis Coupe will be getting a more hardcore edition, dedicated to those that want to personally customize their own rear-wheel drive sports car.
The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe R-Spec has now officially been detailed and priced, and it’s quite an interesting pitch.
For $26,750 (not including the $800 destination charge), you will be getting the 306 HP 3.8-liter V6 with a manual transmission. That’s the price that you would normally pay for a Premium spec 2.0-liter Genesis Coupe, and the cheapest V6 in the range.
Still, you will be getting some features from the Track spec, including sports suspension, Brembo brakes and a Torsen limited-slip differential. You won’t be getting luxuries like automatic headlights, cruise control, sunroof, a rear spoiler or chrome accessories though. But the less features, the better, as the R-Spec is 68 pounds lighter than the Track one.
Expect the 2011 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec to arrive in dealerships in the following months.
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Post tags: Tags: 2011 hyundai genesis coupe r-spec, Hyundai, hyundai-genesis-coupe
Among the myriad of refreshed and all new model announcements, Chrysler has also revealed a revised version of its bread and butter model, the Town & Country mini van.
The 2011 Chrysler Town & Country will add a lot of extra features, as well as a brand new engine, in order to attract practical families that want something to haul around the kids with.
First off, the new Town & Country is equipped with the SafetyTec package, which includes over 40 safety features, with things like blind spot assist or rear cross-path detection.
The interior has been slightly upgraded, but keeps the same Stow ‘n Go seating and storage system, which allows easier access to the third row of seats. The center console has been upgraded, as new features were added to keep passengers entertained. Customers can choose from dual DVD systems, which can play different discs on two separate screens, or even Sirius satellite TV or Flo TV, each with dedicated children broadcasts.
Under the hood of the new 2011 Chrysler Town & Country sits the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, rated at 283 HP and 260 lb-ft of torque. Even though its power is more than enough for a regular minivan, the fuel economy is also pretty decent. The EPA rates the new Town & Country at 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg highway.
The 2011 Chrysler Town & Country will be rolling into dealerships at the end of the year.
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Post tags: Tags: 2011 chrysler town & country, Chrysler, chrysler town & country, chrysler town and country, minivan, refresh, upgrade
Ford is definitely amping up its safety technologies, and after revealing the innovative seat belt passenger air bags at the beginning of the year, it has now presented a new airbag technology.
Set to premiere on the 2012 Ford Focus, the new airbags have an array of features. The driver airbag will use a tether to pull in the lower part of it, in order to protect the driver’s rib cage and chest in case of a front impact.
The side airbags have also been improved, with the addition of air vents. While that may sound weird, the air vents are there to soften the blow in case of an impact. Taller inhabitants will naturally block those vents with their shoulders, increasing the effectiveness of the airbags on their own.
Last but not least, the front passenger airbag will have adaptive venting technology. Basically, the car monitors the weight of the person riding in front, and adjusts the amount of air that is required to be pumped into the airbag in case of a crash. This will prevent the airbag from actually hurting the passenger if it’s blown with too much power.
Overall, this new technology sounds mighty impressive. Hit the jump to see a video with it in action.
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Post tags: Tags: 2012 ford focus, airbag, Ford, ford-focus, safety, technology, Video
Kia reportedly planning electric crossover in 2013
Toyota and Tesla are partnering up to launch a special RAV4 electric crossover around 2012, but this doesn’t mean other companies aren’t also planning similar things.
According to a new Reuters report, Hyundai and Kia have some big plans in terms of electric vehicles for the next few years. According to it, the companies want to produce 2,500 EVs by 2012. While Hyundai will no doubt build some of its early concepts, Kia will do much of the grunt work.
Reuters says that the South Korean company will launch an electric crossover by 2013. It will first be offered to government agencies as part of a test fleet, but Kia is confident it will launch it on the global market soon after that.
No exact details are known, not even what type of batteries it will use, the newer, more expensive lithium ion or the older, but less efficient nickel-metal hydride.
Still, expect more electric vehicles to appear from both companies, as they are partners with the South Korean government in a new strategy to have 20% of the nation’s passenger vehicles be electric by 2020.
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Post tags: Tags: crossover, Electric Vehicles, Hyundai, Kia, south korea, zero-emissions
Honda has recently announced a brand new recall, affecting specific Accord Crosstour models.
It seems that 3,336 models have a problem with the front passenger airbag. More specifically, the airbag hasn’t been tested properly with child-sized crash test dummies. Even though Honda specifically advises children under 12 to ride in the back, the Japanese automaker has issued a recall for the affected models.
Owners will be notified in the following weeks, in order to get their car back to the dealership so that it can have its airbag system inspected. If a fault is found, it will be replaced, free of charge. For more information, you can contact Honda at (800) 999-1009.
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Post tags: Tags: airbag, Honda, honda accord crosstour, honda-accord, issue, Recalls
After making us quite a while for Gymkhana Three, and then releasing a pretty shoddy music video for an annoying song, we can finally say that rally driver and stunt man Ken Block has officially redeemed himself.
How? By releasing the new Gymkhana Thee Part 2 video.
Shot on location in France, at the famed l’Autodrome de Linas, a banked circuit built in 1924, Gymkhana Three really showcases what made the first three videos (including 2.1) so popular all over the Internet.
Without further a do, hit the jump to see Ken Block push his 650 HP Ford Fiesta to new (smoky) heights and really wear the rubber right off the rims. Enjoy!
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Post tags: Tags: drifting, Ford, ford-fiesta, gymkhana, gymkhana three, gymkhana three part 2, ken block, stunt, Video
As soon as the 2012 Ford Focus was revealed by the Blue Oval at the Detroit Auto Show at the beginning of the year, fans eagerly awaited any detail on a more performance-oriented version.
Now, after plenty of rumors, the 2012 Ford Focus ST has been officially revealed, in the form of a design study set to be revealed at the Paris Motor Show later this year.
Even if it’s a study, at the moment, rest assured that this is how the Focus ST will look like when it will be available in 2012. The car is powered by an upgraded 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, capable of 247 HP.
Better yet, this new hot hatch will be available globally, meaning even Americans can enjoy the goodness that was denied for a lot of years in their country. Stay tuned for more details in the following weeks ahead of the car’s debut in Paris. Until then, check out the four high res pics of the Focus ST.
Photo Gallery: 2012 Ford Focus ST
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Post tags: Tags: 2012 ford focus, 2012 ford focus st, Ford, ford focus st, ford-focus, hot hatch, paris motor show, performance
Lamborghini has released yet another teaser shot, presumably for the replacement of the current top of the range Murcielago supercar. The Jota, as it might be named, has also received a few details in a dedicated press release from Lamborghini.
According to it, the Italian supercar manufacturer will follow a new philosophy with the next model. Instead of focusing on squeezing as much power out of the engine, Lamborghini will emphasize a low weight, which in turn will benefit the handling and the acceleration.
You might remember this strategy from the beginning of the year, when Lamborghini said that with the use of new carbon fiber materials, its future cars will outperform rivals, even though the power output won’t be as high.
Either way, we’re very excited about this new Lambo model, but we still need to endure the wait until the Paris Motor Show starts at the end of the month.
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Post tags: Tags: carbon fiber, Lamborghini, lamborghini jota, lamborghini-murcielago, paris motor show, replacement, teaser
The American Fiat 500 Sport officially revealed
After a lot of talk, Fiat and Chrysler have officially revealed the American version of the popular Fiat 500 city car.
In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months, you will know that the compact model will be appearing in dealerships later this year, and set its sights on the Mini Cooper.
Not a lot of details were revealed, except that it will be offered in three versions, the aforementioned Sport, Pop and Lounge. How they will be differentiated has also been left unexplained.
For what it’s worth, the Fiat 500 Sport will be powered by the turbocharged 1.4-liter MultiAir four-cylinder engine. It will feature a sunroof, 16-inch alloy wheels and colored brake calipers.
Expect more details in the following weeks.
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Post tags: Tags: Chrysler, details, Fiat, fiat 500 sport, fiat-500, north america, usa
