Toyota NS4 Plug-in Hybrid Bows

The Toyota NS4 plug-in-hybrid sedan may hint at elements of the next Prius, although Toyota says it was envisioned at "removed from the Prius family." It debuted on Tuesday at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.
The four-passenger NS4 previews a sportier, less conservative look for Toyota. The NS4 also provides a glimpse at Toyota's next-generation hybrid drive system — due out in about three years — which will be smaller and lighter with better fuel economy. No fuel-economy projections were provided, however.
"The NS4 was envisioned as a dedicated plug-in hybrid separate and removed from the Prius family," said Toyota in a statement.
However, certain elements, such as design cues and the new hybrid drive system, may end up in the next Prius. One key detail was missing in Toyota's presentation of the NS4 — that is, whether a future Toyota plug-in hybrid will have the older nickel-metal-hydride battery pack or adopt the newer lithium-ion battery pack.
The silhouette of the NS4 is what Toyota calls a "modified triangle." One key design element is a solar panel roof.
The NS4 also previews Toyota's next-generation pre-collision system, which uses millimeter wave radar and stereo cameras, as well as the automaker's adaptive driving beam headlights, said to "three-dimensionally tailor where the light beam is targeted," thus improving visibility for the driver.
Toyota said the central theme of the NS4 is "the human connection to the car." The concept features a multi-touch screen "with the look and feel of a smartphone," said Toyota. The human-machine interface in the NS4 can "learn" driver preferences "to anticipate driver responses in specific environments and situations," the company said.

Porsche Details New-Model Rollout

Porsche plans to bolster its U.S. lineup with the addition of several new models over the next two years, starting with the arrival next month of the redesigned 911 Carrera and culminating in the launch of the new Cajun compact crossover in 2013.
The 911 hardtop will be followed in the spring by two new convertible versions. The 911 Carrera Cabriolet starts at $98,250, while the 911 Carrera S Cabriolet is priced from $108,950. Both prices include a $950 shipping charge.
To be formally unveiled next week at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, the 911 Carrera Cabriolet is powered by a 3.4-liter direct-injection flat-6 engine that makes 350 horsepower, enabling 0-60 acceleration in 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 177 mph. The 911 Carrera S Cabriolet gets a larger 3.8-liter version of the boxer six, rated at 400 hp, providing 0-60 acceleration in 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 187 mph. Both engines come with a standard seven-speed manual gearbox and can be ordered with Porsche's PDK automated-manual dual-clutch transmission.
Also due here in the spring is the 430-hp Panamera GTS, followed by the Cayenne Diesel, Porsche's first diesel model in this market.
Porsche said the all-new 2014 Cajun, a smaller sibling to the best-selling Cayenne, will make its U.S. debut in 2013.
Edmunds.com says: Porsche's product blitz is being driven b

Mercedes-Benz E400 Hybrid

Mercedes-Benz will unveil two new hybrid versions of its midrange E-Class — one diesel, one gasoline — at the upcoming 2012 Detroit Auto Show in January.
The gasoline-electric E400 Hybrid is intended initially for the U.S. market and eventually will be sold in China and Japan. The diesel-electric E300 Bluetec Hybrid will go on sale first in Europe, and will be available as a sedan and a wagon.
The heart of both models is what Mercedes-Benz calls the "intelligent modular hybrid concept," which features a lithium-ion battery pack and a 20kW electric motor that produces 184 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid powertrain can accommodate either a diesel or gasoline engine, and includes a stop/start system to enhance fuel economy and reduce emissions, as well as regenerative braking to help keep the battery charged.
The E400 Hybrid mates the electric motor to a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine rated at 302 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. The combination should achieve projected EPA fuel economy of 24 mpg in city driving and 31 mpg on the highway, compared with 20/30 for the standard 2012 Mercedes-Benz E350 sedan.
The E300 Bluetec Hybrid couples the electric motor with a 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel that makes 201 hp and 369 lb-ft. Combined fuel economy on the European test cycle is projected at 56 mpg.
Mercedes-Benz said it will be the first premium manufacturer to offer a diesel-hybrid production model in Europe.

Ford Fusion

This is the midsize family sedan that Ford thinks can win back the hearts of American car buyers the same way the Taurus did years ago. The 2013 Ford Fusion not only has dramatic new styling, it has a wide-ranging lineup that now includes three different gas engines, a gas-electric hybrid and a plug-in hybrid.
For starters, there's the same 2.5-liter, 170-horsepower four-cylinder used in the current Fusion. No big news there, but then it gets interesting. There's a new 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that Ford says will make the Fusion the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid sedan in its class. It will deliver around 179 hp and 26 city/37 highway mpg, or at least that's what Ford says.
Then there's the new 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder, which will be the "performance" option. It's expected to deliver 237 hp and 250 pound-feet of torque. Not bad, especially when you consider that it will come with a standard six-speed, paddle-shifted automatic along with optional 19-inch wheels and tires and a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system.
For the eco-minded, Ford is doubling down on not one, but two hybrids. The standard Fusion Hybrid will pair a 2.0-liter, Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder with an electric motor powered by a new lithium-ion battery pack. Ford says the combination will result in EPA numbers of 47 city and 44 highway mpg, both of which top the latest Camry Hybrid.
If that's not enough, there's the Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid. Ford says the Fusion Energi will deliver more than 100 MPGe, an efficiency standard applied specifically for electric vehicles. For comparison, the Chevrolet Volt is rated at 92 MPGe, while the Prius plug-in hybrid is expected to arrive with a rating of 87 MPGe according to Ford.
All Fusions will ride on a new front-wheel-drive platform that uses a MacPherson strut front suspension and an independent multilink rear. Electric steering will come standard on all models, while the hybrid Fusions will also get acoustic underbody panels to reduce road noise and improve efficiency. The overall size is up slightly over the current Fusion, as the new version is an inch longer overall, has a nearly 5-inch-longer wheelbase and is slightly wider.
In terms of technology, the Fusion will introduce a new Lane Keeping system that does the pesky work of keeping the car going straight. A combination of an audible warning and even a slight nudge of the steering wheel will tell drivers when they're slacking in the steering department. The new system will be paired with adaptive cruise control, parking assist and blind spot detection to effectively make the Fusion almost idiot-proof. Almost.

Cadillac ATS

The 2013 Cadillac ATS is the company's latest attempt to build a better BMW 3 Series. Just about every luxury manufacturer has tried to do the same before and none of them have cracked the code with any great success.
This time Cadillac isn't trying the bigger car/smaller price formula it used with the original CTS. Instead, the ATS is nearly identical in size to the latest 3 Series. In fact, the ATS is not even a half inch longer at 182.8 inches and fractionally shorter and wider at 55.9 and 71.1 inches, respectively.
More importantly, Cadillac says the ATS is lighter than a comparable 3 Series, too. It hasn't provided any final numbers yet, but Cadillac says the ATS will weigh less than 3,400 pounds. We assume that's for the lightest configuration possible. In the 3 Series lineup that means a 328i with a manual transmission and it tips the scales at 3,406 pounds. Let's hope Cadillac does better than 3,399 pounds.
No matter how far under the 3,400-pound threshold Cadillac gets, the ATS will be well-equipped to outrun the 3 Series, provided you choose the right engine. Three different engines will be available, the least powerful of which is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder rated at 200 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque. We suspect this is the bottom-feeder special, or the car Cadillac will use to drop the price under $30,000 and suck in a few extra step-up buyers who might otherwise opt for a loaded non-luxury sedan.
The real fun starts with the optional turbocharged, direct-injected 2.0-liter four-cylinder. It develops 270 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, a significant bump over the 240-hp 2.0-liter engine found in the base 3 Series. Then there's the V6 option, which delivers 318 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque. Both a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic transmission will be offered, although Cadillac hasn't specified in which configurations.
An all-new rear-wheel-drive platform underpins the ATS. Cadillac says the new chassis delivers a nearly 50/50 front-to-rear weight balance. The front suspension is a multilink, double-pivot MacPherson strut design, while the rear suspension is a five-link, fully independent setup. An optional "FE3" suspension will be available that adds driver-adjustable Magnetic Ride Control similar to the larger XTS sedan. A set of 17-inch wheels will come standard, while 18-inch wheels and Brembo brakes will be optional.
As far as interior features go, the ATS will offer all the safety and convenience features you would expect in an entry-level sport sedan. Its one ace in the hole is the company's new CUE (Cadillac User Experience) system. It pairs a touch-sensitive screen with the ability to connect with up to 10 Bluetooth devices to deliver music, phone and navigation integration, with a minimalist design that keeps the button count to a minimum. Like so many other aspects of the ATS, we'll have to try it out before we'll know for sure if it's an improvement over the competition or not.

Bentley Will Unveil Continental GT V8

Bentley will introduce a new twin-turbocharged direct-injection 4.0-liter V8 at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show in the 2012 Bentley Continental GT. The new V8, which is being jointly developed with Audi and is said to deliver around 550 horsepower, will be extended to other models in the Bentley range.
Audi also plans to use a version of the turbo 4.0 V8 in the new RS7, among other models, with a formal introduction as early as next month at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show. Audi also may share its S tronic seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with Bentley, for use with the new V8.
Bentley will unveil a face-lifted Continental GTC convertible in Frankfurt, but that car will continue to carry the brand's twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12, which is rated at 567 hp. Eventually, the redesigned GTC, due in 2013-'14, will get the 4.0 V8, as will the coupe and convertible versions of the Mulsanne and the successor to the Continental Flying Spur sedan.
Also heavily rumored in the European press is a new Bentley SUV, which is expected to share a donor platform from the parent Volkswagen Group with the redesigned Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg.
Bentley has said little publicly about the new high-output V8, other than to note that it is "being designed specifically by Bentley's engineers" and will honor the brand's ongoing "environmental commitment to deliver a powertrain that achieves a 40 percent improvement in CO2 emissions."

Acura ILX Concept Debuts

Acura's new entry-level ILX sedan is based on the Honda Civic and will offer a choice of three powertrains, including Acura's first hybrid gasoline-electric drive system. The ILX, unveiled here in concept form, will be assembled at Honda's plant in Greensburg, Indiana, and goes on sale in spring.
The ILX is being positioned by Acura as its new "gateway" model, aimed at younger buyers. The basic version will come with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, while a more sporting edition gets a 2.4-liter four and a six-speed manual gearbox. The ILX Hybrid will share the Civic's 93-horsepower 1.5-liter gasoline engine.
Other features include a smart entry keyless access system and push-button start, as well as Pandora internet radio interface and SMS text message function. Acura also plans to offer an optional Technology package.

2013 BMW 1 Series Limited Edition

The 2013 BMW 1 Series coupe and BMW 1 Series convertible Limited Edition Lifestyle models will be showcased at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show.
The BMW 1 Series Limited Edition Lifestyle models get exclusive Mineral White metallic exterior paint, along with two other color choices.
Other details include 18-inch light-alloy wheels and a brown soft top with silver pigmentation for the convertible.
The cabins of the special models get brown leather trim with white contrast stitching and a brown sports leather steering wheel.
Pricing and launch date were not announced. The base 2013 BMW 128i coupe starts at $32,095, including an $895 destination charge.